Purple Flames, Green Fire

By Bekka Mouri

Michelle took a deep breath before opening her door. She and Peryite had gotten their story straight and she was prepared to face the harem. She was going to tell them he was a runaway who wanted to become part of the harem. They decided to work out the particulars as people asked questions.

~Ready, mistress?~ Sudan looked back at his owner, who nodded. The liger led the way into the main common room, slightly amused at some of the looks his followers were receiving.

Tamy was the first to say something. “ Michelle! Who in Doom is that? “

Gina arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Michelle knew by the look she was getting they would be having a one-on-one talk later. The men present in the harem all looked at the young man. Most of them looked at him with a wary eye and the rest when back to paying attention to their women.

“ Ladies… and gentlemen, this is Peryite, “ Michelle waved a hand towards the young man. “ He wants to join the harem. “

Bekka stood up and screamed. Her voice didn’t sound quite right, almost like she was possessed. She looked at the young man, her eyes were two shades darker and glowing like purple fire. She raised a finger to point at him as the necklace she wore also glowed, the emerald stone flickering like a green flames.

“ He’s one of them! “ She hissed, sounding like a demon from Hell itself. “ He is one of the bounty hunters! “

Michelle shook her head, “ Bekka! No! He isn’t! Not anymore! “

Peryite looked at her, his eyes wide in surprise. “ You know? “

Michelle nodded, “ Please convince her you’re not a bounty hunter, Peryite! “

“ Bounty hunters? “ Trieze, Jetstorm and Maeve all looked at each other as they said it at the same time.

“ The ones that are coming after me! “ Bekka growled.

Maeve stood to her feet, “ Coming after Bekka, eh? Can’t you just leave the poor girl alone? Where are your friends? “

Peryite took a step back, “ I can explain! “

Trieze produced a .45 from underneath his cape, “ Can you? “

Jetstorm armed his laser pistol, “ I say we just fry him now, Trieze. Babycakes? What do you think? “

Maeve produced a firearm from her boot, “ He has a lot of balls coming in here… “ She aimed the gun right at Peryite’s crotch, “ Maybe we should take those off first. “

“ Would you all stop it! “ Michelle shouted, “ He isn’t one of them any more! “

“ Oh MY GOD! “ Gina gasped, making everyone look at Bekka. The woman was now floating a good foot off of the ground, her eyes still fixed on Peryite as she moved towards him. When she reached him, she wrapped her fingers around his throat. Almost the instant she touched him, she fainted and fell to the floor.

Sarah rushed over and looked at her. Everyone crowded around, curious about what happened. “ Would you all not hover like vultures? I’m trying to see if she is okay. “

Tim and Aly were the first to ask the question, “ Is she alright? “

Sarah sat back on her heels, “ She’s alive but exhausted. Someone go fetch a couple of the medical assistants. It looks like she’s going to be staying in the hospital for a few days. “

**

“ So Master Mehrunes wants us to meet him at the wall at midnight? “ Hircine and Clavicus walked through the palace on a mock patrol.

Clavicus nodded then grabbed Hircine’s shoulder, “ Quick! Hide! It’s Captain Dragon! “

The two men ducked around a corner just as the captain and Samara appeared at the other end of the hallway. They dashed past them without a glace backward. Both men sighed in relief right before they heard the sound of woman yelling something. They watched as a half-dragon/ half-human woman dashed past them with two burly men dressed in white.

“ Hustle! She needs to be taken care of immediately! “ She shouted, the two men walking a little faster. One of them was carrying a woman in his arms. Hircine smiled as he saw a flash of purple streaked blonde hair when the men passed them.

“ I think we found our elusive slave girl, Clavicus, “ Hircine said once the little group was out of sight. “ You continue your patrol and I will find out where they are taking her. “

“ But how will you keep them from seeing you? “ Clavicus asked.

Hircine smiled, “ Like this. “

Clavicus gasped as Hircine snapped his fingers and disappeared. “ I forgot you could do that! “

“ I will meet you and the master at the wall at midnight and I will bring the girl. Now go. I am sure you will do better trying to hide by yourself than with me around. “

Clavicus nodded, “ At the wall at midnight then, Hircine. “

**

~Child. I want you to wake up child,~ Hermaeus’ dark voice echoed in Bekka’s exhausted mind.

~What? Where am I?~ Bekka cracked her eyes to find herself back in the hospital. She remembered reading a book in the common room of the harem and passing out. ~How did I get here?~

~That is of little importance. Mehrunes is losing his ranks rather quickly. One of the hunters showed up in the harem but he is not evil. I tried to use your body to kill him but his heart was too pure.~

~USE MY BODY? I don’t recall giving you permission to do that, Hermaeus!~ Bekka felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She wondered if Hermaeus had used her in the past and she just could not remember it.

~As long you are wearing me, I can do whatever pleases me,~ Hermaeus snorted. ~I also wanted you to know that Mehrunes is no longer in the palace but don’t think you are safe.~

~Why not?~ Bekka asked, shutting her eyes.

~Three of his hunters are still here although one is being… used as we speak. He seems to have fallen into the evil clutches of that witch Hagger.~

~That’s right. I forgot he brought along some help,~ Bekka sighed. Hermaeus became very quiet all of a sudden. Bekka couldn’t even hear the low raspy sound of his breathing like she could when he paused from speaking to her. She became worried, thinking she was in danger.

~Hermaeus?~ Bekka tried to open her eyes or move her hand but couldn’t. ~What are you doing?~

~I’m holding you still. There is someone in this room.~

**

Hircine moved towards the bed. The slave girl had been awake for a few moments but seemed to have fallen back to sleep. When he got to the side, he looked down at her. She had been stripped down to her corset and a sheet covered the lower half of her body.

He grinned wickedly, finding that the girl was indeed as beautiful as the picture Mehrunes had shown the hunters. He rematerialized slightly and brushed his fingers across her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm. He could feel the fires of lust being stoked every second he was close to her.

He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, feeling its silkiness. He released it, brushing her cheek again as his fingers moved to her neck and the necklace she wore. He backed up slightly, ~I had better be careful. Don’t want anyone coming in here and interrupting me.~

After he had locked the door, he rematerialized fully and went back to the bed. He looked down at the girl again and knew he had to have her. He took off his uniform and climbed into the bed. He leaned over and took her lips in his as his hands slid the straps of her corset from her shoulders.

He eased one of his hands around to her back and lifted her slightly so he could unlace the garment. He grinned when he found that there were hooks instead. The corset seemed to be the kind that was laced on the sides. ~How wonderfully convenient,~ He thought, releasing each hook slowly.

Once it was undone, Hircine tossed the corset to the side and looked down at the girl’s ample breasts. He moved his fingers along the soft flesh slowly until he reached her nipples. He teased them slowly until they were hardened peaks. He grinned as a low groan escaped her lips.

He eased himself down her body until his mouth hovered over one of the buds. He wrapped his lips around it slowly and suckled her. He moved to the other one and did the same, eliciting another low groan from the unconscious girl. He wished she were aware of what was going on because he wanted to know what she was like awake.

He moved himself back up her body, his eyes fixing on the choker she wore. The stone the amulet was set with glowed like it were alive. He fingered it, sensing a great power around it. He looked up at her serene face, ~You won’t need this, my sweet. I will take it after I take you.~

**

Sarah dropped the files she had in her hands as a man’s blood-curdling scream shattered the silence of the floor. The entire staff of medical assistants came running to that part of the ward, looking for the source of the scream. A loud thud made everyone look towards the room Bekka had been put in a few hours before. Sarah ran for it, “ What is going on with her now? “

When she got to the door, she tried the knob but it would not turn. “ How did this door get locked? “ Sarah looked at the assistants around her. “ One of you! Go find a key! “

Three of them took off, leaving a small group with Sarah. They jumped back when a huge amount of blood spattered across the curtain that covered the window. Sarah blanched and looked at the remaining assistants. “ Forget the key. We have to get in there NOW! “

The two male assistants gathered in front of the door as Sarah transformed into her full dragon form. Once the transformation was complete, they formed a human battering ram. “ On the count of three, “ One of the men shouted.

“ One… Two… Three! “ The first try failed.

“ One… Two… Three! “ On the second, the door shifted under the combined weight.

“ One… Two… Three! “ The two men and Sarah slammed into the door one last time before it broke open, a blinding flash making everyone gathered close their eyes. Sarah went back to being half-dragon/ half-human and gasped at the scene that greeted them.

“ OH MY GOD! “ Sarah scanned the carnage before her. Bekka sat on the bed, her arms wrapped around herself as she rocked back and forth. She was covered in blood and tears were streaming down her face. Her chest was barely hidden by the blood soaked sheet she held to her body.

Across the room was an unidentifiable mass of bloody flesh. It looked like whatever it was had been chewed up by a mega-robeast. Sarah could not even make out any limbs much less a head. Halfway between Bekka’s bed and the bloody lump was her necklace, broken in half on the floor.

She picked it up and examined it. It was sticky with blood but she could tell the shattered stone was no longer green; it was coal black. Her eyes grew wide as the metal disintegrated in her hands. She blinked as the remaining dust fell to the floor.

She went over to Bekka, “ What happened here? “ She placed a hand on her shoulder.

Bekka looked up at her with wide eyes as she tried to speak. All she could do was make a strangled squeaking noise. She motioned between her legs, then to her neck and finally to the lump across from her. New tears moistened her eyes and she sobbed, obviously frustrated about not being able to speak.

Sarah patted her shoulder, “ It’ll be alright, honey. Sometimes, people can’t speak after traumatic experiences. You can tell me later, okay? “

Bekka shook her head, and pointed at the bed. She raised a trembling hand and struggled to sign out the word: Now.

“ You know sign language? “ Sarah could believe what she was seeing, “ Why did you tell me this before? “

^I learned it… when… I was very little… for my best friend… I don’t… remember much… but enough… to tell you what happened here,^ Bekka signed out with her trembling fingers.

Sarah nodded, “ Go ahead then. I’ll get the assistants to clean this mess up and you tell me what happened while we get you moved to another room. “

**

Clavicus was worried. He had not been able to find his brother all day and now Hircine was late. He was sure that the magician had somehow been caught trying to kidnap the slave. He wondered what he was going to tell Mehrunes when he came to the gate.

He jumped at the sound of his master’s voice, “ I thought I said I wanted ALL of you to meet me here at midnight? “

“ Master Dagon! I cannot find Molag or Peryite. It is like they have disappeared totally. “

Mehrunes waved his hand, “ Forget them. Have you found the girl? And what of Hircine? “

“ Hircine and I saw her this afternoon. She was being carried away by two men and a half-dragon/ half-human woman was it them. From what we have learned, she is the harem’s doctor. “

“ So, our prey is ill, eh? “ Mehrunes put his chin in his hand. “ This will make it much easier to take her. “

“ Hircine said he was going to get her and meet us here with her. “

Mehrunes snorted, “ He had obviously failed. It looks like I will have to sneak back into the palace and find her myself. I should have never hired you and your friends. No wonder you were starving on the streets. You are horrible bounty hunters. “

“ Please, Master Dagon! Give them time! I am sure they will show up! “

“ Open this gate now, “ Mehrunes growled. Clavicus did as he was told and let Mehrunes into the courtyard. A second later Mehrunes was holding his sword, the blade still stained with Malacath’s blood. Clavicus turned to run but wasn’t fast enough.

“ Master! What have I done? “ He howled as the blade sliced through his uniform and into the flesh of his back.

“ Not a damn thing! That is why you must die! “ Mehrunes hissed, raising his sword to slash at him again.

“ Halt! Who goes there! “ The sound of an approaching guard made Mehrunes freezes, giving Clavicus the opportunity to escape.

~Damn him!~ Mehrunes thought before making the sword disappear. The guard was still far enough away Mehrunes was able to hide himself in some bushes. When the guard arrived, he found no trace of either man. He shrugged and walked away after shutting the palace gates.

“ Must be seeing things, “ He mumbled and walked away.