by Andy
"Is it gold? " She cries back from the railing. She and I own the boat and used it to go treasure diving together.
"Yes there is gold but there is also something unique as well. It looks Minoan and this is the wrong ocean for Minoan artifacts!"
"Hold on and I'll come look at it!" She climbs on top of the rail as one of the crew men hastens to her with her scuba gear. She smiles at him. I was the captain but the all male crew would do anything Ashe, my sister, asked of them. Especially when she wore her bikini on deck. She grabbed the rig and jumped over, putting it on in the water. I doublechecked to make sure it was on right then dived back down to show her my find.
I swam back down to the sunken ship that looked strangely out of place near the sunken spanish galleons. When we got down far enough I pointed and there in what had been a concealed section of the hull was my find; odd gold coins and an obsidian and gold necklace with a gold labrys as a pendant. The labrys being the holy symbol of the Minoans it looked like a double bitted axe with curved blades. I had not touched it yet needing someone else to see it before I really believed it could be there. This find would make us famous! Richer as well but it was the fame that beckoned to me and the chance to be seen as more than a rich boy dilettante who only plays at being an anthropologist despite my having a degree. When this became public I, Roberto Velasquez, will become known as one of the duo who solved a great mystery about whether the people of the ancient world could have made this far or at the very least we were adding interesting footnotes to history. And further food for thought about refugees from the eruption of Thera, the Minoan island long believed to have been the basis for the myths of Atlantis.
Ashe pointed to the gold coins and the mesh collecting bag I wore on my wetsuit. I started collecting them, saving the necklace til last. When I finally had them all gathered in I reached for the necklace as did she and we both touched it at the same time.
Sudden disorientation; the next hour or so is a blur. There was motion and pain and strange sights and sounds. Then I woke up in a bed. It was not a bedroom I recognized. "Uhhhhhh" I heard and I knew Ashe was nearby. I lifted my head slowly and looked around we were in two beds in a room that seemed completely unfamiliar but was not a hotel or a hospital. The door open and an angel walked in. Well it turned out she wasn't an angel but that was my first thought as glided gracefully into the room on her long legs with her short golden hair framing her face.
"Hi, I'm Cherry. I know you must have questions ad I'll try to answer them for you but I was hoping to ask a few too."
I tried my voice and a little to my surprise it worked properly. "The sound of your voice is heaven but yes even it could be improved if you were to tell us where we are and what happened."
"Oh god, you never change. Put a pretty blonde in front of you and you start sounding poetic." Ashe was obviously awake and not happy. "Where are we? How did we get from the bottom of the carribean to here? And most importantly what the HELL attacked us?"
"You are at the home of the person whose yard you landed in. As for how you got here Anita, whose house this is, felt a large magic go off nearby and looking out saw you two appear and be...attacked. She realized you were not intruding on purpose, not thieves or other bad people and called us off you. I am sorry if it had not been full moon or if you had not appeared so suddenly..."
"Hold the phone! YOU attacked us? But, but, but we were attacked by animals! Right brother?" She sounded more confused than angry as she ended the sentence. I could understand that because the woman's whole statement seemed to make little sense. I answered, "Yes it was all very confused but I certainly thought it was some kind of great cat. Are you security then? At first I took you for a nurse..."
Eventually the whole story came out. We were attacked by wereleopards. After many expressions of disbelief and demonstrations from someone named Sylvie who was not a wereleopard but a werewolf. Sylvie was asked to demonstrate because she could change more easily and swiftly then any of the leopards. It was also explained that our hostess,her name was Anita, was absent. Which was mildly disconcerting but what was more interesting was that she apparently was a real life, honest to goodness magician! She was also in charge of this pack of, excuse me, pard of wereleopards who were roaming the house grounds during the full moon when they are of necessity all in animal form and it was while they were hunting food that we had the misfortune to appear in front of them.
We also found out that we likely to become wereleopards ourselves since we had healed in less than 48 hours from wounds serious enough to have been life threatening. All our gear and clothes were shredded in the attack but the gold was safe. We may have been stranded naked in an alternate and apparently very dangerous universe but at least we had money. Apparently our hostess passed the gold coins onto her associate Edward and he was out converting them into local currency plus all the papers necessary for us to be legal citizens. Where our hostess was was never made too clear. All we were told was that she was out working with the police although she was not a policeman herself.
It turned out Cherry was indeed a nurse and once she regained human form she had overseen our recoveries and made sure we healed without scarring. I forgave her and the others and reluctanly Ashe did the same. I was feeling smitten by her and my everloving sis was making with the sarcasm until she met Zane. Cherry was dating him but from the way she said it did not seem to be anything real between them. As soon as Ashe heard that she gave me a significant look which I returned. We had our targets in sight. We would work together like the well honed team we were to make sure things went properly. We expressed gratitude to Anita for letting us stay til we were oriented to this new world and then a middle aged lady doctor came in and checked over. She pronounced us fit and I felt normal except for a strange electricity or energy that seemed everywhere. It even seemed to come from Dr. Lillian and I mentioned it to her. This occasioned more explanations about lycanthropy and the fun fact that our doctor was wererat! We were also promised that we would meet a vampire as soon as it was dark.
"Well you look healed. Lets get you out of bed and walking a bit to make sure." That was the doctor talking, a middle aged lady with a good bedside manner named Lillian. I could almost forget hearing that she turned into a pony-sized rat at will or under the influence of the full moon. The problem I had was that she was talking to me and I wasn't wearing anything under the sheet. If it was just the doctor...well doctors don't count even lady doctors but aside from the doc there were 3 ladies and two guys present. There was Zane who was tall and thin and wearing black leather, Nathaniel who was a short guy with long hair, also there was a petite, dark, brunette named Vivian, and a tall, aggressive, pale, brunette named Elizabeth both of whom good looking in different ways, although no match for the beautiful blonde named Cherry. If I had to stand naked with her in the room it would be embarassingly obvious how attractive I found her. In fact if I dwelt too long on the perfection of her features or those long, long legs and that throaty voice... well lets say I was feeling shy. "I can't get up I don't have anything on."
General amusement all around and Zane said, "If you going to join this pard you can't be modest."
"Oh he's not really modest. Trust me on this." That was my loving sister. Hah, lets see how brave she'd be when it was her turn! She continued, "Maybe he wouldn't be so shy if you went first. I mean just to show us you practice what you preach." I thought I detected an ulterior motive there but either Zane didn't or didn't mind as he slid out of his black leather clothes as fluidly as an eel slides through water and stood proudly next to Ashe's bed. I heard her gasp as she saw the silver ring he had through his left nipple, she really liked things like that. But if I noticed others must have also so it was time for me to stand up not only in response to Zane challenge and the good doctor's request but as a diversion for little sister.
So I took a deep breath and threw off the covers and stood up arms to either side, "Well Doc? Am I healthy?" I felt healthy and while I was never great looking I've always kept my body in good shape with fencing and martial arts as well as SCUBA diving so I thought I made a pretty good distraction.
Looking up at my 6' 2" form Lillian gave me a wry smile, "I'll think you'll fit in just fine around here." While she walked around me poking and prodding a bit the taller brunette snickered, "Imagine, three men in the room and Nathaniel is the only one dressed." I was starting to not like her. Zane came to his rescue with, "Leave Nathaniel alone Elizabeth. Besides you are incorrect as usual, he slid out of his jeans right after I did. You simply failed to notice." Then the doctor pronounced me fit and with told me with a wink she was sure the owner of the house would find or buy me something to wear as soon as she got home. This broke the growing tension and created some more general amusement.
I figured it was time for my own tactical ploy. I turned to my sister and smiled, "I think its your turn now sister dear. Unless you also need a demonstration of good faith?" I pointed at the sheet and grinned at her at she both blushed in sudden embarassment and narrowed her eyes in annoyance.
Doctor Lillian spoke again, "Well I'm sure no one wants to see an old ratlady naked but I bet you could convince a younger lady to 'give for the cause'." Now I was blushing and Ashe came to my rescue by providing a similar distraction to mine. She is 5' 10" and athletic and we are both a fairly uniform brown that was noticeably paler but not white where our bathing suits normally covered us. I could tell the men there appreciated the sight and I was glad they did so politely. I guess they really are used to nudity here. "Well?" She said posing as I sat back down. "Anything wrong with me?" The doc just went on examining her with a noncommittal grunt but when I saw Zane trying to hide that he was sneeking peeks from Cherry and I figured our plan of divide and conquer had a fair chance.
The doctor pronounced us both fit and asked Cherry to drive her home. As soon as she was told she would not be needed anymore medically she grinned and loosened up. This made me happy, but I tried not to show it as Dr. Lillian packed up and Cherry walked her out to the car. I was too curious to stay inside the room til the mysterious owner appeared with something to wear so I wandered a bit after being told that no one still here would mind. Apparently several others were not here right now but off with Micah, one of the leaders of the pard, taking of some business and would not be back for weeks. "Hey this is a big house but you can't all live here can you?" Vivian and Nathaniel looked at Elizabeth and she frowned then smiled and said, "Its a bit complicated so let go out to the pool and I'll tell you while we swim. Don't worry," she continued wearing a remarkably catty grin, "you don't need a suit."
It was truly a lovely house with wide grounds and no neighbors near; but then again I guess it would have to be, considering. We went out to the pool and found Ashe swimming laps. It looked like a good way to stretch some unused muscles so I dived in and started to race her. Nathaniel and Vivian joined Zane on a pool float that was off to one side. Elizabeth sunbathed in a lounge chair nearby. I enjoyed that race. I'm not insanely competitive or anything but it felt good to use my muscles after time spent flat on my back. I felt vibrant with health. I felt stronger, faster, more enduring. I wondered how much of that was the lycanthropy. I mean I was in good shape before but this this was more than just good health. I turn to look at Ashe as she clove through the water next to me. I widened my eyes to show how shocked I was and she nodded evidently feeling similar awe at our new prowess. I pushed myself to see how much more I could get out myself. I slowly pulled ahead after many laps and I knew my sister was pushing herself too. It was a close race, very close but I was ahead and reaching the house end of the pool on my umpteenth lap when I heard clapping.
"You're winning. C'mon you can make it. One more lap and you'll beat the house record." I looked up and there was Cherry, clapping her hands and bouncing up and down with enthusiasm. I slowed involuntarily, briefly lost in admiration. She had changed out of her nurse clothes and not into anything else. Then as Ashe caught up I thought about getting a victory hug from Cherry if I won and surged ahead with renewed vigor. I won and breathing hard I climbed out of the water, "Thank you for cheering Cherry." I said smiling and panting a little, "Its what helped me pull ahead." I put my arms around her, "Time for victory hugs." She hugged me back and I could tell she was enjoying it too. Her nipples were firm against my chest and with my new senses I could smell her desire. And she did not need enhanced senses to feel my desire but all she did was smile up at me. It was all I could do not to kiss her right there. In front of everybody including Zane. Just as I started to worry about that I heard from behind me, "I know I did not win but maybe you would be willing to console the loser?" That was Ashe and I heard her climb onto the floating raft as Nathaniel and Vivian rolled off.
Vivian got out and asked me to hand her a towel. I reluctantly let go of Cherry and did so. She said she was going to dress and go over to Stephen's and asked Nathaniel if he need to be dropped off anywhere. Nathaniel agreed and I said I'd walk them out. Cherry took a look at Ashe and Zane hugging naked a raft in the pool and looked at me and decided to come with. My heart was singing for joy but I tried to be cool as we walked through the house. Although I guess I was fooling nobody still there are appearances to keep up. Everybody has their pride. Still I could barely keep from grinning like a fool. After the other two left I slipped an arm around Cherry's still naked waist and smiled shyly at her.
She smiled back and I kissed her, like I'd wanted to from first seeing her. It was a glorious kiss. Her lips are soft, her skin was silky but you could feel firm muscle underneath. I picked her up in my arms and carried her upstairs back to room I woke up in and back to my bed. She lay on the bed naked and smiled up at me and the blood roared in my head. We made glorious love.
I stroked down her long left leg and lifting the foot kissed her toes then kissed my way up the inside of her leg until I reached the soft blonde hair of her pubis. I spent some time there with my mouth but before anything too extreme happened I moved on up to her flat belly and kissed my way up to her navel. I licked it and she giggled. I kissed my way to her red nipples and kissed them and fondled them and sucked on them until I was sure they were as erect as they were going to get and then kissed my way up to her neck where she started kissing me back. We fell into the rhythm of lovemaking. I inhaled her scent and tasted her skin. I stroked her body with one hand as the other supported my weight. I looked into her eyes and it seemed I knew her that we were twining together at more than the physical that we were more the beast with two backs. I knew then that I loved her. It sounds corny and silly I know but it was true.
Right afterwards she rolled off the bed I was worried and frightened I had done wrong, "Love? What's wrong?" "Nothing But I need to change. I was holding it off til we were done but I can't any longer." As she spoke the last words I could hear her voice becoming growly and looking over the side of the bed I saw the change. It was like those movies with the really good CGI but Unmistakably, Unavoidably, Undeniably REAL. One moment she was a woman then the next her body started to flow and change and then there was a leopard in place of a woman. It was a beautiful leopard but I still got a chill, this was the woman I had just made love to, this was what had attacked me, and this was what I now was. Still as the leopard looked at me I could sense an affinity. This was now what I was and I could only go on from here. I could feel that this was still Cherry just in a different form. I sensed no danger. I could handle this. I worried briefly but sharply about my sister but was certain I could have heard if she screamed and that she could handle herself. If he had hurt her I would hurt him but if I fought Zane I did not think it would be over his treatment of my sister. I patted the bed next to me and the leopard, Cherry, climbed up next to me. I smiled, "I don't mind. I could not manage another anyway. I'm too tired after that race." I got no answer of course but neither did I get clawed or bit. So I figured everything was cool and surrendered to sleep there besides her.
In the morning over a breakfast we had to ourselves Ashe and I traded stories and I learned that she was in no danger and that Zane unlike Cherry was good for 2 times and did not have to shapeshift afterwards although it took some effort by him to resist. It had to do with him being an alpha or dominant male and the male wereleopards out with Anita were supposedly even more alpha. Over the next few days things slipped into a routine. Good times and peaceful for the most part.
There was a fight between me and Zane. More dominance stuff. Weird but I've never backed down from a fight without a damn good reason. We fought. I won. I had equal speed and at least equal strength now and since I was not able to shift until the first moon the rules said he had to stay in human form throughout the fight as well. With both of us in human form I could use my martial arts training and not have to worry about claws or fangs. It went fairly quickly with no one getting very hurt. Aikido used with supernatural speed is pretty damn amazing. We did it in a room where Anita practices hand to hand with Ronnie, her workout partner and friend. He would charge and I would 'help' him into a wall, or the floor. The last time I threw him at three walls, then the floor and ended with him in a double joint lock he could not escape. When he was convinced he could not win he surrendered. Battered a bit and bruised but not really injured. I had gotten it as bad when learning and I did not heal as fast as he does at the time.
That night Cherry told she was glad I had won, especially without really hurting him but asked me to promise not fight Micah who the Nimir-Raj or Leopard King. She was worried about me. After listening I assured her I would but left my reason hidden. I was not afraid of this small man whom I had not yet met but it seemed that part of the job of being Leopard King involved being the boytoy and yes man of the woman who really ran the pard. Anita the Nimir-Ra/Necromancer/Human Servant/Bolverk/Vampire Executioner. She sounded like a really bad woman to cross so if I decided I would wait to see how she led and if I could not stomach I would leave taking Ashe and hopefully Cherry with me. I just hoped it would not be too soon as this world was still pretty much unknown territory to me.
I discovered there is an inbetween form. One not fully leopard or human. I learned the history of my new world from the books in the house and the internet. I watched the news at night. Cherry was as fond of CNN as I was. It was strange being naked all the time at first but I got used to it pretty quickly and so did Ashe. She evened her tan out by the pool and we both got used to the togetherness of the pard. I would be glad to get clothes and I.D.'s delivered along with local money so we could go out sometime but I was still learning about this new world and spending lots of time with Cherry. It was an idyllic interlude.
I am not sure how many days passed like that. It was more than a week but less than a month as the full moon was still several days off when Edward showed up. He had two full sets of identity papers, Birth Certificates, Driver's Licenses, Social Security cards, even Swiss bank accounts and platinum American Express cards in our names. There was also a certificate showing we sold those coins at a Sotheby's auction for a little over a million each. He explained they were actually worth rather more as he was sure we knew but he had unavoidable expenses getting the other papers and he himself was not cheap. Looking at perfect seeming paperwork I agreed that he seemed worth the price and thanked him for the service. He was not all fazed by anything going on in the house and after he was certain we were satisfied he left without another word and was seemingly swallowed by the night as soon as he stepped outside.
The next morning I learned he was an assasin, no make that Assassin with a definite capital A, who was possibly the best in the world and at least in the top ten. He now hunted only the undead and the supernatural because humans had gotten too easy. I shuddered a bit and went looking for destraction. I was clothes shopping online when Damian found me.
He is a vampire. The one it had been promised we would meet. The honest to goodness supernatural undead. Lycanthropy being actually a disease with vaccines and everything was shocking but the presence of Vampires and apparently Zombies showed how different this world was from the one we came from. He had been a real looting, pillaging, burn the town when you are done Viking. At least until he picked the wrong castle and became from what I hear a third rate vampire. He is still scary when he wants to be and strong as all hell but nevertheless apparently fairly weak for his age, a third banana for eternity. Poor guy. He was an errand boy of sorts for our still absent hostess.
That was another thing that had made me decide I never wanted to get on her bad side before I'd even met the lady. He was looking for me to tell me that our hostess was finally on her way home from whatever she had been doing and that having been told of our survival and of our joining the pard she wanted to meet us. As one of her titles was Nimir-Ra or Leopard Queen it seemed a reasonable request. She was supposed to get here in an hour or two so I was asked to tell Ashe and be ready to meet her as she entered. For the first time in weeks I found myself wishing I had pants on or at least boxers but what the hell I'd gotten used to nudity and nobody but Damian ever wore anything here. Truthfully I had seen no one else wear a stitch since the day I first woke up in bed here. I did finalize some purchases over the 'net and planned to go out and get more when I could and I was sure Ashe would do the same but I had decided nudity at home was pretty easy to get used to and it most definitely saves lots of time on laundry day.
I went looking for Ashe to tell her and ask if she wanted me to get her anything online while I was in a shopping mood. I did not see her in my wanderings but I did run into Elizabeth. "Have you seen Ashe?"
"Yes," she replied but said no more just smirking as she looked at the TV.
"Well?" I said.
"Well what?" She replied, smirking even harder and still not looking at me.
"Well where is she?" I asked getting annoyed now.
"Why should I tell you?"I was feeling a growl rise up in me. I had developed a dislike for her, one most of the of the others echoed so I let the growl slip past my lips as I asked, "Elizabeth where is Ashe?"
She looked directly into my eyes then and I held the stare. I had noticed that if you backed down on one of these she just heaped more rude scorn upon you. After a few moments she relented, "In the pool." I turned away and so failked to see the face she made behind me but I wish I had it might have clued me in to what was coming.
I went through the house at a jog and burst out through the backdoors to a sight I'd have rather not seen. Ashe was on the raft her body now evenly tanned, those areas that had been paler were now the same even honey brown and her nipples were now the darkish red sometimes called brick red. By contrast her hair had been lightened by the sun and now had blonde streaks mixed in with her usual dark brown. I could see her hair falling down her back as her head was tilted back, the long line of her throat visible as a sinous continuation of her arched back. She shouted "YES!!!" It seemed I had come out just in time to watch my sister have an orgasm. She was riding Zane on the blow up raft that usually floated in the pool and he lay there beneath her naked and pale despite being often out in the sun. Obviously enjoying himself. With my sister. Who was also obviously enjoying herself, right there in front of me. Where a trained therapist when you need one? I was sure I'd require therapy, lots of therapy. But first I had to leave.
I turned and ran at full speed into the house blushing. I ran until I ran into Nathaniel, literally. After we picked ourselves off the floor I said, "Hey Nathaniel? Can you tell Ashe that Anita's coming home soon and she should....ah....get ready?" He looked at me and asked no questions. He's brighter than he seems.
"Sure!" He said as I raced off. By this time marginally calmer I started moving with a purpose. I was hunting for someone with my new senses. I had developed greatly enhanced senses since I woke up but had not made much use of them before; now it seemed urgent to get better at them especially those that could tell me of things before I SAW them. I found Cherry and hugged her. It was better than therapy.
She didn't ask any questions. She knew could see how upset I was and she just hugged me. This is one reason I love her. We just sat and wrapped our arms around each other. Eventually I told her what happened. "All these changes are hard for you both." She said still hugging me and stroking my hair, "You deal with it very well but still it must be a horrible shock. So let her adjust as she likes and you try to go with the flow more. It was an embarassing scene no doubt but it was only that. She's an adult and I think she and Zane have found what you and I have and what we were both missing before." She kissed me, "Just relax." I calmed down and put the incident out of my mind. This was definitely better than therapy, cheaper and faster too. It was right there in her arms that I knew that I loved her. I starting thinking that as soon as I was set up in my own place I'd ask her to move in with me and maybe even... Just then my train of thought was interrupted by the announced arrival of Anita. I stood up steady again and held out my hand to Cherry. Together we headed towards the front door to meet the Leopard Queen, Anita Blake.
As I neared I heard her talking, "But why is no one wearing anything?" She sounded a bit exasperated but not angry.
Zane was explaing, "Well the newcomers had no clothes and nothing we have will fit them so it just seemed the right thing to do to put them at ease. And it worked! They fit right in and... well here comes one now." That last of course was said as we can into view from the doorway. As I rounded the corner I saw three people in the doorway. One in front and two behind. The one front had to be Anita. She was just as described. Short, with dark hair and eyes and fair skin. The was a man a woman behind her. The man was her height and the woman was a bit taller than either. I met her eyes and held out my hand as Ashe came up next to me hair wet from a quick swim in the pool.
"Hi! I am Rob and I would like to thank you. I hear we have you to thank for saving us as we inadvertently appeared in your backyard and also for having your associate get us proper documentation so that we don't have any trouble with legal identities once we leave here." Ashe nodded latching onto Zane's arm. I continued, "We have ordered some clothes to be delivered and will go as soon as they get here so as not to impose any more on your generous hospitality then we must."
Anita nodded thoughtfully, "Well it was hardly your fault you landed here so it was the least I could do." she shook my hand firmly. "Do you by any chance know exactly what did send you here?"
I could feel something like the energy of the lycanthropes in her but it was only a part of an incredibly rich tapestry of energy sources I could feel inside her. "Yes, it must have been that necklace. Some cross world enchantment or other magic gone awry and producing the same effect."
"I would like to hear the story but I'm sorry I'm just not comfortable standing here talking to a naked man I barely know. When did you say your clothes were coming?"
I grimaced. "I am sorry but I was unable to order them earlier. It was only yesterday night when your associate Edward brought us credit cards as well as other essentials."
As soon as I said that all three stiffened and energy seemed to boil off the two weres behind her. "Edward is here?" Anita asked not quite fearfully but with more anxiety than anger.
"No after delivering everything he walked into the night and disappeared. What's wrong? That's what he was supposed to do wasn't it?" I looked around at the two behind her and noticed they were looking worried and scanning the area past the open door as if looking for someone. "Apparently Micah's pard did things while under the control of that bastard pan-were, Orlando King. Things bad enough to warrant someone hiring Edward. He is the assasin known as Death in the supernatural community. He killed the others before I could do anything. He would have killed Micah too, but first he told me why he was doing it. He said that the others aside from Gina were known to be involved and he was thinking that Micah was likely to be the one who gave them the orders. I saved Micah by swearing that Orlando King gave his orders personally. I'm not sure Edward believed me but if he just gave you your stuff and left without saying anything then thats a good sign. I was worried that he was playing with me and was going to be waiting here for us when we got home. He didn't give you any messages or warnings right?"
"Right! He said little and gave no messages or warnings." I was starting to feel a little anxious myself but if he was only killing those who were involved in past atrocities then I had nothing to fear.
"Good then the rest of us should be safe. None of them were legal residents or known to live here by the authorities so we can not have a funeral for them but you may all go mourn for them in private." She glanced at the others as she said that and then turned back to me. "Roberto, let's get you and your sister here some towels to wear and then you can tell me your story." Everyone filed upstairs except us three. I squeezed Cherry's hand in sympathy, then let go and followed Anita to the downstairs bathroom. Wrapped in big fluffy towels we told her our story starting from our treasure hunting in the carribean to when Edward left earlier today.
Afterwards, in light of possible danger to Micah and Gina I wanted to speed the day when we would leave here so I started searching for a house to buy online. I located several possibles and printed the info to share with the other three. I wanted to stay close to my twin as she was my only connection to that other world we both remembered as well as being my twin and somebody I was used to having nearby. No reason for marriage to change that so I was looking for a house with 2 master bedrooms and a backyard. I was trying to conserve money though as I did not know what we could do for income here. I knew that although a million each sounds like alot it wasn't if one had no income and literally everything to buy. On full moon nights we would to come here for a house like this would likely cost most of our money and the taxes would bankrupt us. Animating zombies must pay very well. Still the money was enough to provide us with a good chance at a nice lifestyle and time in which to find work and merge with the community. Only one thing was left before we could truly leave. Our first change. I had scheduled us to meet the real estate lady after full moon because it was coming up fast and I wanted it behind me before I planned further. Also it would take up til then for the clothes we had ordered to get here.
Anita was a little hard to take but we have an aunt like her so it was not too difficult to adjust and as long as she had Micah and Nathaniel to sleep with and be her yes men she was no real trouble to live with for a few days. Still from what I had heard of her adventures and exploits I was looking forward to getting a place of my own. I told Cherry I wanted her to live with me and seemed happy about it but told me to ask again after the full moon to be sure I knew what I was getting into. I told her it was too late for me to stop loving her now but I promised to wait if she would look at the houses I had found on the internet. Between the four of us we decided on a nice two story townhouse with a pool.
The night before the full moon Cherry told me she was feeling its pull and no longer sure she could hold human form during sex so we just held each other that night. The next day was the first day of the full moon. Our clothes arrived that but we had been told that the change would ruin new clothes and so we decided to stick to big towels for the moment. Everybody but Anita was wearing what we were, towels wrapped at waist. Our argument about ruining our clothes was smilingly repeated by all and she accepted the bare flesh muttering that at least we weren't bottomless. Still from her gazes at us guys I don't think she completely against us showing skin. It must be just some prudish reflex from her childhood. I was getting tense as the day wore on, the level of buzzing energy in all of us was at an all time high.
Anita left with Nathaniel and Micah and came back with two dozen rabbits which were let loose in her fenced in backyard. "For later..." she replied when I asked. I felt a little guilty about the cute little things but she said they would have been food for someone's pet boa anyway since that was the kind of store she got them from. As I as I watched the rabbits scurry and saw the sun slowly sinking into the west I wondered how much of me would be left when i changed. Sure Cherry seemed to remain mostly herself but she was used to it and this was my first time.
Well soon I would find out. As I stood brooding Cherry came over and wordlessly hugged me. Soon it was almost time. I tossed my towel in to the laundry room along with everybody but Anita and Damian who were off together. When I asked Micah said it was none of my business and stalked off muttering about the "damn ardeur". It came on me with suddeness, one moment I'm standing and admiring Cherry's naked form by moonlight and the next I change. I cannot exactly describe it. It is an utterly uncivilized feeling, not evil just... totally primal. They say every man has a beast inside him. One constrained by his conscience and society but still lurking inside like some killer ape from legend.
Lycanthropy sets this free and gives it a shape. For a while I felt nothing but overwhelmed. From both within by predatory desires and urges and from without with senses even sharper than the enhancement I had slowly grown used to. Slowly I imposed order on chaos. I was damned if I'd let some damn infection dictate my actions. I came to myself on a tree branch with a dead hare in my mouth. I pinned it to the branch for later with one paw, the change makes one very hungry just as the change back tires you, then I looked around and saw the others stalking or eating and it seemed normal to me. The pard was family to me although my twin was still extra special to me along with my love. I was no longer nervous or worried, I felt like a king on his throne lying there on that branch. I ate the rabbit raw and it tasted good. Its kind of weird, I reflected later, but while I'd never eat raw meat in human form and don't even like sushi in leopard form raw rabbit tastes great. After I finished I leaped down easily and spying a rabbit that had hidden so far I killed it and brought it to Cherry. Dropping it at her paws and licking her muzzle. It had been easy to find her in the group and I watched as she devoured my offering and then we ran together across the estate. Side by side the whole way. We played tag with Zane and Ashe. And when we passed Micah and Elizabeth and saw they were doing it in leopard form it didn't bother me in the least. In fact I only got a small twinge of embarassment when I woke up the next morning. I just squirmed out from under Cherry and headed for my room and the shower there.
I got dressed for the first time in a month. It felt weird and I decided that the leopards definitely had the right idea. dress only when necessary. Still since I'd be out looking at houses today I needed to be dressed. I went downstairs and saw Anita slurping coffee. "Good Morning. If I can find a house today the four of us will be out of your hair very soon." She just grunted and kept slurping coffee. I decided to skip breakfast and gathering the keys to the car I'd had Cherry rent for me I left the kitchen. I went back upstairs to find Ashe walking towards our room. "Hey sis, I'm going to go look at the house now. Want to get dressed and come along so you can give me your opinion?"
She yawned hugely, "Sure. I'll meet you after I get clean and sanitary."
I held up jingling keys. "OK, I'll be in the car doing the crossword." Soon enough we met the real estate agent and saw the first property. The real estate agent was a middle aged woman who thought it very cute that twins were looking for a house together and could not help but tell us how she wished her children would get along so well. The second house we saw was great. It had a pool in the backyard and a line of tall oaks marking the edges of the estate on 3 sides with rose bushes in front of them and a wrought iron fence and gate covering the front. It gave privacy with looking ugly or too much like it was, a privacy wall. We would have a fair bit of upkeep to do but it seemed perfectly suited to our needs as it also had 2 master bedrooms and 2 others along with 4 bathrooms and a library and space I could adapt as a Salle d'Armes. Ashe loved the kidney shaped pool and the French country decor. Elegant but sturdy seemed to characterize the furniture. All in all a great find. We took it. On the way back we bought two cars and returned the rental. Afterward two of us went out again and bought an engagement ring for me to give Cherry and friendship ring Ashe planned to give Zane as a hint.
We went home happy and I proposed to Cherry out by the pool with everybody watching. She said yes! I've never been so happy and there was much partying. The next day as we were moving Zane disappeared for awhile and he came back he asked us to gather around in the living room and proposed to Ashe. We decided a double wedding was fitting for twins and another party ensued.
The wedding day dawned clear and beautiful. I was standing on our bedroom balcony looking out at our backyard. The rows of chairs for guests were set neatly in place and the altar for the wiccan ceremony was already in place. Or rather ceremonies since Ashe, my sister, was also getting married today. Both she and Cherry, my bride to be, would have preferred a Catholic Church wedding but the priest refused to marry even one pair of were-leopards much less two. So when a Wiccan friend offered to perform the ceremony they agreed and dove into the plans for an outdoor double-wedding. The guest list was a bit short on one side since Ashe and I came from a paralell world a few months ago. All our relatives were back there except for each other and almost everyone who knew us also knew Cherry and Zane, our spouses to be. So we basically just divided the guests evenly into two halves and to heck with bride's side or groom's side. Oh well time to get dressed now.
I walked in off the balcony and kissed my wife to be as she lay sleeping. I'm glad I met her even with all the complications. She makes this strange world feel like home. I love her and would not trade her for all the money in the world. Fortunately money was no big worry. Between the gold we had come across with and a stock market not appreciably different from where we came from we managed to get ourselves established with new identities and a nice large house on several acres. I set up a portfolio and I also did some daytrading and both of these gave us a nice positive cash flow. I stepped into the shower already naked. I'd gotten used to casual nudity my first few weeks in this world. Stuck for a month with no clothing in a house full of nudists I had acclimated fast. Ashe got used to it at least as fast if not faster. We were twins and used to being near each other so when we left there we bought a house together and moved in with our respective fiance's and of course our new habits followed us. We walked around naked most of the time except when we left or when we had the infrequent squeamish visitor. Most of our friends these days were lycanthropes, vampires, and wiccans and none of these groups have much trouble with nudity. Still we did have a few friends who qualified as "normal humans" so we dressed for them.
Of course weddings are different. Even nudist brides go all out on their wedding dress. Both Ashe and Cherry would be wearing white floor length gowns, each carefully different from each other but blending well so neither detracts from the other. They had decided together on the dresses for the bride's maids. I was not there of course, grooms are not meant to have any input in such things. I will say that Zane knows how to throw a hell of a bachelor party.