A City of Dreams

[Elayne]

New Eire was midnight black and charcoal grey. Cracked concrete streets twisted like writhing snakes through tinted glass skyscrapers that reflected only the night's darkness. Black poles held aloft street lights that did little to hold back the night's gloom. Half were shot out, the other half, tagged with graffiti to note who owned that particular corner.

The waterfront was dominated by the local steel mills and the heavy ships that carried away their treasures. The massive grey slabs that made up the production lines hunkered over the city with the might of a squalid ogre. Half of New Eire's economy was twisted up in those heavy factories that churned at every hour of every day. Even now, spouts of flame tickled from smoke stacks like asphalt candles, oppressive oily ropes of smoke rising as a tribute to the eternal smelting that went on in the blast furnaces below.

Away from the factories, at this hour, New Eire slept, with the exception of the occasional siren heading towards a late night disaster. This late, only a scattered few of the local lowlifes, prostitutes, drug dealers and the homeless still lingered on the streets, and even they hunkered low in the shadows with no customers to pursue.

Nicole couldn't sleep. She walked down the near empty streets with a brisk stride. Night in New Eire wasn't a good time for a woman to be out alone, but it was better than lying in her un air conditioned apartment, lying on top of sweat slick sheets and wishing for a whisper of a breeze to waft away the heat that hung over the city even in the night.

She moved quickly past the barred up shops, closed and locked and desperately trying to look unappealing to late night break ins. At this hour, even the bars were closed. Only two shops lay open. The bright neon blue that advertised the adult movie peep show still had a few late night patrons. Nicole avoided that store front. The other was a small door, nestled in between a strip club and a chinese restaurant, both of which were black and closed.

Nicole tugged open that small door and slipped inside. There was no foyer inside, just an immediate flight of stairs that loomed up and up, dark and unlit. Nicole began climbing the stairs. She rested on slim hand on the wall beside her, for balance. She couldn't even see the stairs that were under her careful feet. One story up, she was over the Chinese restaurant now, but the flight of stairs kept going, steep and looming. Nicole kept climbing. Two stories. Over the strip club now. Still more stairs.

Nicole kept one hand on the wall, but put one hand in front of her, blindly groping at the darkness. Three stories up. A wall in front. Nicole clumsily ran her hand across it, looking for the knob and opening it, stepping inside.

"Come in," called a soft voice inside. Nicole padded into the shop.

Madame Rosaline's it was called. Rosaline herself sat on a small couch behind her cashback. At no time, day or night, was Madame Rosaline's ever closed, nor had Nicole nor any of her friends ever visited the shop and not found Rosaline there, always awake and alert and unfazed.

"You couldn't sleep, Nicole?" Rosaline murmured. She had a soft voice, barely above a whisper, but clear and understandable. "Have a cup of tea, dear." Rosaline motioned to a pair of blue porcelain tea cups in front of her. Rosaline picked up one, sipping it.

Nicole moved to the counter, looking at the other. Sure enough, the tea was poured. Nicole guessed it was the herbal she liked, two creams and two sugars. Rosaline had an eery gift for remembering the names and preferences of every customer who came by the store.

Nicole picked up the cup, sipping it slightly. "It's this heat," she murmured. "I just can't sleep."

"Mmm." Rosaline replied, looking at the book she held in her hand for a brief moment. "Insomnia dear? Or troubling dreams that wake you?"

"Insomnia," Nicole replied, looking around the shop.

Rosaline's was an eclectic new aged shop. It seemed to offer a bit of everything. Tables and soft bean bag chairs in the middle. Rosaline's was an all night coffee and tea shop where you could get a decent latte or a nice herbal mix. Bookcases on the far wall. Rosaline's was a new aged book store where you could pick up any number of odd little books that you just couldn't find in Barnes and Noble, everything from Wicca to Kabbal to a first folio of Shakespeare. The wall behind the counter, curios and knick knacks. Ornaments, talismans, althumes and amulets, incenses and jewelry. Rosaline's supplied New Eire's Wiccans, Druids, even Voodoo Houngans, with everything their rituals would ever need. The back wall, a small podium for guest speakers to talk to the crowd and a small door that led to Rosaline's apartment. Rumor had it that if Rosaline liked you, she would read your palm or tea leaves or preform acupuncture... for a price.

Nicole had discovered this small shop when her friend Laura had invited her to come out to a speech by Dr Deirdre Vallon. Dr Vallon had spoken about wiccan and neo pagan beliefs to a small circle of women as the sipped on herbal teas. Nicole had listened with half an ear. She was curious, but a good catholic girl. Still, she'd come back the week after that, for Sandra Wu, who talked about Tantric Buddhism, then just for a cup of tea and a quiet chat with Rosaline. Nicole liked the little, cozy shop only a block and a half away from her downtown apartment.

Nicole sipped her tea. "Do you have anything herbal that I could use to get some sleep?"

Rosaline smiled slightly. "I have something herbal for everything, dear." Rosaline rose, closing her book and moved to the shelves behind the counter, bustling about.

Nicole looked around at the trinkets and curios that hung on the wall. One, a flashing silver charm caught her eye immediately. Before she could even ask, Rosaline chimed, "Balerael, the angel of dreams. You hang that charm from your ceiling and she'll protect you from nightmares."

Nicole smiled and let her eyes wander on. One in particular caught her eye. An obsidian circle. Three blood red interlocked triangles. In the middle, a veridian green eye, lidless and lashless, staring out of the charm. "What's that one?"

Rosaline returned to the counter with a small package. She looked over at the vivid charm, then crinkled her nose. "That? A charm I... acquired a few weeks ago." Rosaline pushed the package of herbs across the counter.

"What does the charm do?" Nicole said with a curious peek at the fist sized ornament. The brilliant green eye seemed to be staring back at her.

Rosaline hesitated a moment, then said slowly. "The woman who sold it to me said it granted sleep... and.. recollection of dreams."

Nicole smirked slightly. She barely ever remembered her dreams, and didn't want to. After all, dreams were just the brain reorganizing the day's information.

"How much for it?" she said. It might make a good little gift for Laura. She was into that wiccan stuff.

Rosaline hestitated again. "I'm not sure you want it, dear. Dreams can be.. disturbing."

Nicole chuckled. "Well, I guess I could use all the help I can get to get some sleep."

Rosaline shivered slightly, then reluctantly went to the wall and took the charm down, bringing it back. The heavy leather cord laced through her fingers, but Rosaline took care to touch no part of the charm itself.

"What are you supposed to do with it?" Nicole said, leaning down to examine it closer, reaching out her hand slightly to steady the swaying charm.

Rosaline pulled the charm back away from Nicole's hand. "You are supposed to wear it, like a necklace. The charm is to hang down, between your breasts, over your heart. You wear it when you sleep."

Nicole chuckled again. Laura would get a kick out of it. "I'll take it."

Rosaline sighed softly, setting it down on the herbal package. "Are you sure you want it, dear?"

"Sure," Nicole shrugged carelessly.

"Well.. alright." Rosaline said, then rang up the purchase.

Nicole paid Rosaline, finished her cup of tea, then strolled out, heading back to her too hot apartment. She stuffed the charm into the pocket of her jeans, carrying the herbs tucked under her arm as she walked the midnight streets back to her pad.

 

[cgraven]

Shadow in the night

The night was sweltering, New Eire reeked of sweat, bodies naked to the waist toiled in the hellish heat of the foundry, some would call it the price of progress, other the ninth circle of hell from Dante’s the Devine Comedy He hunched on the spire of New Eire’s city hall, its graceful spire straining towards the havens as if it was trying to claw its way out of the hell the city had become.

Mankind had become jaded, evolution now accepted no room for the divine, the sociologist rationalizing away evil as misunderstood youth, and the physiatrist cooing that it was not your fault you where an abused child, wife, or husband come back next week. Youth dabbled with the occult, witchcraft, all just silly games to them, to relive the drudgery of their hollow meaningless lives. Hunting had never been so good for when evil is ignored or denied it flourished and thrived unseen unnoticed till it was too late.

He lifted his yellow serpentine eyes to the heavens to behold the pale virginal moon in her flight across the night sky. Long fingers of wispy black smoke belched from the countless stacks of New Eire, rose like the claws of the demon to snare the virginal moon in her nightly flight, curling around her chaste pale beauty to drag her down into the hell of the city. His nostril’s flared the scent of innocence was on the night air so sweet so tempting, and so very enticing. Gorgathal spread his leathery wings, they caught the night’s wind he soared that scent of innocence drawing him on drawing him to its pure chaste source.

He slipped from shadow to shadow never lingering in the pale light of the moon. Till he came to rest upon the window sill of the small apartment and the cursed dim light that issued from its window. And then he saw her for the first time and his mouth watered and he longed to taste her.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole

The dark streets folded around her as she padded through them. Nicole's sandals slapped on the concrete sidewalks with a startling echo as she turned the corner and began down the street.

She passed the little gyro shop that nestled next door to her apartment. The place did good business from the two dance clubs down the street and Nicole herself went there for pick up when she was too lazy too cook, but of course it was closed at this hour.

As Nicole passed it, the street light above her flickered, sharply, with an electric buzz and hum. Nicole paused, looking up, blue eyes widening curiously as she peered at the lantern. It hummed and flickered, and with a sudden flare of illumination, brightened to near daylight... then flashed out, dead. The street plunged into sudden darkness.

Nicole continued down to the red door of her apartment building. A soft hiss and yowl from her right and a midnight shaped flashed by her feet so fast she nearly stumbled. Nicole yelped, looking around wildly for a moment. Stupid cat, she thought.

Nicole opened the dark red door of her apartment and fumbled in the pocket of her jeans for the keys to the inner door. She opened the bright glass door and began inside.

The apartment building had once been pristine white trimmed in green. But the years of downtown life had loaned the pristine white a dingy tan. Nicole began up the stairs of her walk up. A door on the first floor slammed, loudly.

Sherry, Nicole thought. Sherry was an almost skeletally thin woman, who's build spoke volumes about her addiction. Nicole strongly suspected Sherry was also a prostitute, but as long as she kept her trade out of the building, Nicole didn't comment. Nicole continued up to the second floor. Three floors, each with three apartments. Five laid empty. Sherry occupied a room on the first floor, and the other belonged to a Hungarian couple who couldn't speak a word of English. Nicole's only neighbour on the second floor was a tall olive skinned shaven headed man who might have been Jewish or Italian, but who's name Nicole had never heard. The landlord said he was a bouncer, though Sherry swore he was involved with drug dealing. Nicole heard his music sometimes, late at night, hard rock and street edged rap, but he never came out during daylight hours, never spoke to anyone else in the apartment building, never had guests and seemed to prefer being left alone which made him an ideal neighbour as far as Nicole was concerned. The third floor was occupied only by Max Krieg, the super, a 40 something man, twice divorced, and not an inch over 5'2". Krieg was lazy, always finding away to duck repairs and the tenants, except on rent day, and more than once he had peered down the stairwell to give Nicole a lecherous eyeing.

Nicole walked to her door, apartment 6. For some reason, the apartments on the second floor were 5, 6 and 7. There was no apartment four. Krieg told her that the construction contractor was Chinese and for some reason considered the number four to be unlucky. Four sounded like death in Chinese. Nicole thought supersitions were silly, but then again the elevator in her office building didn't stop on the 13th floor, so she supposed she couldn't judge.

Nicole opened her door and stepped inside, closing and locking it, then pulling the chain into place. The heat in her apartment was oppressive, like walking into an oven. Nicole flipped on the lights, then quickly walked over to the window at the side of her living room. Shadows flickered outside as Nicole pushed it open.

Nicole walked to her bedroom, moving to the tall window that led out to the fire escape. She leaned down and began to work the crank, slowly forcing the protesting window open. Nicole rested her knee on the sill then pushed up onto it, stepping outside onto the fire escape. With no balcony and no air condition, standing on the fire escape was the only way to get a cool night breeze in the summer's inferno heat.

Still, the fire escape itself was grated metal, harsh on her feet even through the sandals. Nicole stepped onto the metal steps, going down a few and then sitting on the steps. Beneath her steps was the broad open parking lot. The booth was empty at this time of course. Across the street from the parking lot she could see Inferno, New Eire's hottest dance club. Normally, it competed heavily with The Sanctuary, just down the street, but at this time in the morning, well after last call, the lights were out and the doors locked.

Directly across from the fire escape was the burned out shell of a tall building. It had been a warehouse once, fifteen years ago, but had burned to the ground in a blaze that refused to be put out. Now it was graffitied rubble. Nicole heard they'd be rebuilding it into condominiums as soon as the zoning permits came through, but for now, the dark alley that spread from the ruin, along the backs of the darkened shops, to the Nicole's apartment was a dark, dangerous place, the haunt of young kids who came out of Inferno with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.

Nicole sighed softly, then crept back up the fire escape, which gave a metallic creak under her feet as she bend and slipped back into her window. She paused for a moment then hopped down off the tall sill into her bedroom.

I need to get to sleep, Nicole thought to herself, wearily. It was past 3 am now, closer to 4 probably. Nicole pulled her wallet out of her pocket, tossing it onto her dresser, then drew the amulet out, placing it down on the dresser as well.

Nicole walked into her living room, heading over to the adjoining kitchen. She flipped the electric kettle on, the ruby light on it glaring brightly. Nicole switched off the lights of her apartment. They only made the place hotter.

Nicole walked into her bathroom, hitting the dully glowing switch for medicine cabinet's light. By the muddy lights of the cabinet, she pulled of her sweat stained t shirt and dropped it into her clothes hamper, then pulled off her jeans and tossed them in as well. Her panties and bra followed as she undressed for the night. Nicole looked in the mirror briefly as she gathered back her light brown hair into a loose ponytail, twisting an elastic around it to hold it together. She turned on the tap and pulled out her tooth brush, brushing her even white teeth, rinsing her mouth and turning the sink off.

She walked back into the kitchen. The kettle had switched off. Nicole pulled out her favorite mug, then unwrapped Rosaline's package of herbs. Nicole set some of the leaves into the mug, then poured the hot water in after by the light radiating from her bathroom. The steam rising from the cup smelled pleasantly of herbs as Nicole picked it up, flipped off her bathroom lights and carefully picked her way back to her bedroom.

Nicole set her cup down on her dresser. In the dark, her nude body was pale as a wraith. Nicole bend, her round rump swaying and full breasts bobbing as she pulled open her dresser. She picked out her light cotton pajama pants and a simple white tank top, then paused a moment. Nicole was twenty three now, her metabolism just beginning to feel adults. She rested her hand on her belly, then self conciously reached around to rest her palms on her rump. She was beginning to have to watch what she ate more carefully to keep her figure. As a teen ager, she had a shapely, girl next door appeal, breasts a touch larger than average, rump full and curved. Now, her figure had matured into a woman's. Her hips were maybe a bit broader, her breasts had taken on a certain fullness that hadn't quite yet succumbed to gravity, but demanded support. Still, Nicole had managed to battle the spread back admirably, watching what she ate, exercising enough to develop a healthy tone. She had turned the pouch of her lower belly into a flat stretch of abs that were her pride and joy as she slipped on her tank top, which fell just short of her navel.

She pulled on her cotton pants, then picked up her mug of tea and sipped it, feeling the herbal warmth radiating through her body. She moved back to the window sill, staring out at the charcoal city beyond her fire escape, finishing her cup of herbal tea.

Nicole set the empty cup down on her night stand, then flopped down on her bed, a comfortable queen size with a firm mattress and soft pillows. Nicole buried her head and relaxed, closing her eyes.

A few minutes passed, then Nicole sighed. She squirmed a bit, taking the covers and curling them over her body and closed her eyes again.

Too hot, she thought, pushing the covers down and rolling over onto her belly, burying her face in her pillow.

Still, sleep eluded her.

Nicole sighed and rolled over onto her back, wide eyed, staring up at the shadowy ceilling, her hand resting on her belly. She could feel a bead of sweat trickling down her breasts and a certain dampness on her forehead. Nicole shifted again, rolling onto her side and staring out the window. A few more minutes passed.

Ah hell, there's no one to see, Nicole thought, sitting up slightly. She pulled off her tank top, dropping it beside the bed, then laid out on her back, curling her legs in as she shimmied out of her pajama pants and laid out nude.

That was a bit cooler. Nicole stretched out on the bed again, her hand resting on her belly again, then demurely travelling down to cover herself a bit. I need to shave my legs tomorrow.

Ten more minutes. Still, Nicole was awake.

With a furious sigh, Nicole grumpily rolled out of bed. It was hot and humid and uncomfortable. For a moment, Nicole had a strong urge to go back out on the balcony as she was to cool down, but with her luck a police car would be heading back to the station, only two blocks away, or some homeless guy would be hanging out in the alley behind the rubble.

Another cup of herbal, Nicole thought, beginning to head towards her kitchen.

She froze as she passed the dress. Some trick of the light had caught on the eye of the charm. It seemed to glow with the dim lights of the city outside her window. A shift of a shadow outside the window, a flicker of light, and for a crazy moment, Nicole could have sworn the eye winked at her.

Well, it can't hurt.

Nicole picked up the charm. She slipped the leather throng over her head, pulling up her pony tail to tug it underneather. The leather was thick and warm. The pendant of the charm was surprisingly cool. It hung perfectly between Nicole's breasts, nestling neatly in her cleavage. Nicole played her finger over it, the textures odd. The outer ring seemed to be stone of some kind, but she couldn't exactly tell what the red triangles or green eye were made from. Hard and smooth, maybe metal, maybe wood, maybe glass. Nicole couldn't tell by touch alone.

Nicole shrugged, dropping her hand and going back to bed, sitting on the edge of her bed, the swinging her legs up and beginning to stretch out. Still don't feel sleepy, Nicole thought sheepishly, a bit amused at herself for even trying the charm. Guess it's back to herbal tea.

Nicole stretched out slightly, her head brushing the pillow.

Then she went out like a snuffed candle.

Zzzz.

 

[cgraven]

Gorgathal

He warped his great leathery wings around his body squatting in the dark, merging with the shadows to rest their like a medieval gargoyle, dark brownish gray flesh merging with the grimy dingy tan of the building. The fragrance of her innocence filled him, he could taste its sweetness she was so near yet so far away. The great winged demon of the night air could not enter, could not touch her mind unless she some how unwittingly invited him in.

Those yellow serpent’s had eyes that had seen the birth of the creation, had seen the fall of the Angel of Light, saw the Master cast down into the inferno, and had seen the fall of humankind by the hand of Eve. They now watched this daughter of Eve as she restlessly paced her small world. Gorgathal shrunk back from the accursed light, back deeper into the shadows of the night. Then she was there on the small metal grating, so close he could almost touch her lithe body so sensually seductive, yet the aura of her innocence was like amour and he dare not.

Nicole sighed softly, then crept back up the fire escape, which gave a metallic creak under her feet as she bend and slipped back into her window. She pulled her wallet out of her pocket, tossing it onto her dresser, then drew the amulet out, placing it down on the dresser as well.

The talisman, the invitation he needed to enter, lay there on the dresser. The obsidian circle, the three blood red interlocked triangles of power, the world of dreams, the world of waking, the world of man. In the middle, a veridian green eye of the gatekeeper, lidless and lashless, staring out watching master of the three realms. It lay there lifeless powerless waiting for an entity to bring it to life. The demon of the night winds slipped from the shadows outside flitted from shadow to shadow until he slipped within the talisman. Now all he could do was wait and watch

Some trick of the light had caught on the eye of the charm. It seemed to glow with the dim lights of the city outside her window. A shift of a shadow outside the window, a flicker of light, and for a crazy moment, Nicole could have sworn the eye winked at her. She slipped the leather throng over her head. It hung perfectly between Nicole's breasts, nestling neatly in her cleavage. Nicole played her finger over it.

Gorgathal could feel the beat of the young beauty’s heart, her life force pulsing through her body, the soft caress of her fingers. He could feel this innocent young daughter of Eve slipping from the world of the waking into the world of dreams and when she was in that half world where she was neither asleep nor awake he called to her.


Nicole, Nicole, come to me!

The voice was soft, seductive and so very sensual. The hot oppressive, apartment faded away, and the young woman found herself in an ornate hall. Pale moonlight filtered down through its high arched Gothic widows. The floor was an interacted pattern of inlaid parquet, so typical of the late Victorian period. Nicole’s, feet where shod in silken slippers, an elaborate ball gown graced her supple body, her shoulders bare, so pale in the moon light, and her breasts bared as was the fashion, the girl’s nipples barely covered. Unseen eyes could be felt watching her from the dark shadows.

Slowly the soft strains of music came hauntingly on the night wind, the softest of whispers more felt then heard, that filled the soul, and moved the spirit. Softly, sensually calling the listener to join the dance. Then a figure stood before Nicole tall muscular and darkly handsome his face hidden behind a mask. His attire, that of a courtly gentleman of the tutor period..

Nicole found her self at a masquerade ball. Couples whirling to the strains of a waltz, the dark stranger taking her hand his body pressed to hers, his hand at the small of her back. The haunting strains of the music seemed to call to her body. That great Gothic hall seemed to spin crazily around her as she danced with the dark masked stranger.
, his hot, moist breath stirring the whips of hair and the nape of her neck. As the music faded away Nicole was once again in that haunted hall illuminated only by the pale moon light. She stood their in the Dark stranger’s arms his lips just a breathe away from hers, they brushed her lips in a gentle, sensual kiss that slowly deepened.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole blinked, her bright blue eyes wide with confusion. She peered about herself. Where am I? she thought.

She stood in the shadowy hall of a cathedral... or perhaps a castle? The floor beneath her slippers was brilliant inlaid. Slippers?

Nicole lifted up a foot, a bit dubiously, her skirt rustling. She was wearing a blue slipper, like a ballet shoe, but finer, brushed with a line of pearls. Her skirt was broad and hooped, alternating cream and azure, with soft petticoats tickling playfully around her legs. Her shoulders were bared, to the tops of her breasts and a good portion of her soft cleavage peeked invitingly over the lacy bodice of the dress. I look like Cinderella, Nicole mused, raising her hand to her hair. Sure enough it was teased up and piled in wild ringlets on top of her head. The only thing that didn't make sense, for some reason on a leather thong around her neck that hung to her breasts, she wore an odd amulet of red triangles and a green eye, encased in a black circle.

The slow strains of music picked at Nicole's ears. She looked around. The shadows around her were beginning to swirl and spin in a dizzying whirlpool of light and darkness. The ball, Nicole remembered, looking around her for her dance partner.

He slid towards her across the darkened floor, quick as a serpent, his hands wrapping her around her waist. He was tall and powerful and wearing a black mask. It's a masquerade of course, Nicole thought to herself, feeling silly. But where's my mask? She must have lost it. The man led her through the first steps of the dance, her feet moving more gracefully than ever before, sweeping through the steps, spinning, her skirt flaring out, then swaying and being dipped, so deeply that her breasts were in peril of popping out of the bodice. He kept his hand on the small of her back, supporting and guiding her through the waltz, which kept going faster and faster, till the room blurred in a welter of dark stains that smeared across her memory.

Suddenly, the waltz reached a crescendo. He halted her in mid step, leaning in and kissing her, a brush across her lips at first, but deepening into a passionate embrace as she twined her arms around him, melting against him, moaning softly in delight at this romantic delight. She just wished whoever was knocking on the door would stop.

Nicole blinked, the veil of sleep falling off. From her window, rays of sunlight battled valiantly with smog, the horiizon alive with fire. Nicole groaned, stumbling out of bed. 8:00 am? Damn it, why didn't her alarm go off? "Hold on," she called as another persistent knock clunked on her door.

Nicole pulled on her pajama pants, hopping awkwardly, then slipped into her tank top, pulling off the charm and dropping it on the dress. Weird dream last night, she thought vaguely, then hustled over to her door opening it.

It was Krieg, the land lord. At only 5'2" he surrendered a good 6 inches to her, but always made a point of standing taller whenever he talked to her, like a rooster puffing up his chest. "August. Rent's due," he muttered eyeing her.

"Right," Nicole sighed. "Hold on." Nicole let go of the door, heading back into her living room, rummaging through her bookcase. Where'd I put my check book?

"Sorry I missed you yesterday," Krieg said abruptly. She had the distinct impression he was eyeing her as she bend to look through her shelves. She didn't bother to respond, the last thing she wanted was a chat with Krieg. Nicole found her check book, opened it and wrote out the August check, then stalked back to Krieg, tearing the check out of book and thrusting it at the unpleasant little gnome.

"Thanks," he muttered taking the check, looking it over suspiciously... as if she would try to cheat on her rent. "You've been here two years?" he said suddenly.

"Yes," Nicole, moving forward to try to shepherd him out of her place.

"You know, we should arrange to give you a good tenant discount, like Sherry gets..." he suggested in a tentative voice.

Nicole's eyebrows shot up. Sherry was perenially broke and paid her rent in trade half the time. As for Krieg, staring at her in the stairwell was one thing, but propositioning her at 8 o'clock in the morning was another. She opened her mouth, trying to frame a suddenly scathing retort in her mind.

"Hey," a voice interrupted before she could explode. "You want rent?"

It was the guy who lived next door in 7. He was wearing jeans, frayed around the legs from wear and a hawaiin shirt. For some reason, whenever Nicole saw him, he was wearing some sort of hawaiin shirt. Even as early as it was, a few beads of sweat had begun to form on his shaven pate.

"Yeah," Krieg yipped back.

The guy from 7 eyed Krieg malevolently. He had a good five or six inches on Nicole which made him tower over Krieg, but rather than pulling himself up and trying to loom, like Krieg would have, he seemed to hunker down. If anything, that made him more ominous, like an animal about to pounce. "Then you better have that drill bit I asked you for to repair my towel rack, hadn't you?"

His voice was deeper than Krieg's, more of a scotch stained growl than Krieg's high pitched chirping. He spoke a bit rapidly, chewing and tearing at his words. It made him a bit hard to understand. He turned and stormed back to 7, and Krieg scurried off after him, like a mouse chasing a wolf. Nicole shrugged, closing the door after the mismatched pair.

Nicole rushed back to her room, pulling off her pjs and tank top, tugging off the charm and setting it on her dress. She then dashed back to her bathroom. She needed to hurry if she didn't want to be late for work.

She brushed her teeth and took a quick shower, wrapping the towel around herself as she brushed out her hair, darkened by the wetness. Well, she'd have to go to work with it wet, she didn't have time to blow dry.

Nicole threw the towel in the hamper and then padded back to the bedroom, flinging open her closet. She pulled out an ivory and tan pant suit, classy enough to be business like, but tight enough in the legs and rump to show that she was still a young woman with a nice figure. She pulled on her bra and panties and pants, blouse and jacket, then pulled out the matching pair of low heels, slipping her feet into them. She grabbed her purse from the hanger, sweeping her keys and wallet off the dresser and into the purse, then hustled out of the apartment, closing and locking the door behind her.

Fortunately, she worked close to where she lived. She darted up the street towards Stratham Park. It wasn't really much of a Park, more a strip of green and fountains and statues in a sea of concrete. Still, it was the central hub of the city. All the bus lines ended up here, surrounded by a cluster of restaurants, check cashing places, a few lunch bars and a coffee shop, mixed in with several towering high rises.

Nicole walked over to the tallest of them. Eire Tower was 40 stories. It was nominally owned by New Eire Bank, which had it's central branch on the first floor and had various executive and loan offices scattered throughout the building. Of course, the Bank didn't occupy everything, so Eire Tower housed several law firms, a few accountants, insurance agencies, stock brokerages and one detail retail supplier.

Nicole padded across the marble floors of the foyer, her heels clicking like gunshots in the general hum and bustle of the tower. She squeezed into the elevator with the other people heading to work in the tower. "Fifteen, please" she murmured to an overweight woman nearer the panel.

The elevator hummed and clicked up the floors. Nicole squeezed out on fifteen. The clock over the elevator said 9:02. Nicole began to casually slink towards her office.

"You're late," a voice called behind her and Nicole jumped. She spun around to glare.

"Thanks, Laura," she hissed, then dropped her purse in her office.

Laura was her best friend, a honey haired blonde with two inchs on Nicole and a naturally slimmer build. She wore black rimmed school teacher glasses at work, which guys seemed to love for the innocence it loaned her. After work, she took off her reading glasses, which guys seemedto love for her pretty, pixieish face.

Laura shot her friend a grin and then moved past her into her own office. Nicole stepped inside hers, closed her door and moved to her desk. She worked at the Business Management office of New Eire's Bank. For clients with business accounts that didn't want to stand in line with the masses, she was a teller who handle deposits, withdrawals and cash flows. She also supervised business loans and disbursements.

She was also mind numbingly bored.

The day crept by reluctantly. Nicole handled a few outstanding cases, made a deposit for a secretary from Peters and North law offices, and filled out some paper work. Then she stared at her office clock for a good fifteen minutes.

Can't believe I went to college for this, she thought to herself a bit grumpily. Hell, I could probably nap away the last three hours of the day without anyone noticing.

Nicole sighed and hit her intercom. "Sarah can I get a moment?"

Sarah, the receptionist came into her office. Laura, Nicole, and a few other middle management types inhabited this office. None ranked high enough to warrant an individual secretary, so they ended up having to share Sarah, the office receptionist most of the time.

Nicole picked up two beige folders handing them over to the receptionist. "Please send these files down to storage...." then Nicole picked up two heavy envelopes "...these go out in todays mail...." and lastly a brown manilla envelope straight and smooth "...and this needs to go down to the business registry office, today. Have the mail room guy hand deliver it please."

Sarah took the armful dutifully. "Sure thing Nicole," Sarah chirped cheerfully. Sarah was always cheerful and bright. Nicole privately held the opinion that she had been dropped on her head in one long ago cheerleader practice, setting her permanently to pom-pom mode.

Nicole checked her clock again. 3:30 pm now. She picked up her phone and hit Laura's extension.

"Laura Van Der Schmitt's Office.." Laura began.

"It's me," Nicole interrupted her.

"What's up?" Laura replied casually.

"I haven't taken my lunch break yet, so I'm going to cash out and go take that now."

"Slipping out a bit early?" Laura said sympathethically.

"Cover for me?" Nicole responded.

"Sure thing, girl. Give me a call if we're doing anything tonight," Laura replied. Nicole could practically her the other woman's pen as she methodically hacked away at the endless stream of paperwork that streamed through their office.

Nicole nodded, then said into the reciever "Sure, but I don't think I'm going to be going out tonight. I've been a bit tired lately, so I might just go catch an afternoon nap."

Nicole said her good byes, hung up and counted out her register for the day. Everything was in order, so she picked up her purse and headed home. Her building was empty as she came in, but then most of the building seemed to be devoted night owls. Nicole slipped off her heels at the door, reset the chain and dropped her purse.

Nicole rummaged around her fridge, taking out a carton of milk, which she sipped, then a few assorted vegetables, which she chopped up into a simple salad. She took out some bread and a few shavings of roast beef, assembling them into a sandwich, then flopped down on her couch, flipping on her TV as she dully ate her light lunch/dinner.

Nicole sighed as she finished, picking herself off the couch and switching off her TV. She moved to her bed room, taking off her work clothes, unbuttoning her blouse and rolling off her skirt.

Four AM to 8 AM, Nicole thought to herself as she undressed. No wonder I'm tired.

Nicole fell onto her bed, stretching out with a comfortable murmur. A few minutes passed and Nicole sat back up. "At least it's not as hot as it was yesterday," she muttered, rising out of her bed.

The charm, winking on her dresser caught her eye once more. Why not? she thought. It worked last night.. maybe a bit of placebo but it worked.

Nicole picked up the charm, pulling the leather thong over her head once more. That thong is really annoying...I should get it replaced by something more comfortable.

Nicole flopped back down on the bed, settling the charm between her breasts as she stretched out, curling up into a sleepy ball.

Sure enough... soon she was asleep.

 

[cgraven]

Suddenly, the waltz reached a crescendo. He halted her in mid step, leaning in and kissing her, a brush across her lips at first, but deepening into a passionate embrace as she twined her arms around him, melting against him, moaning softly in delight at this romantic delight.

There was a deep seated passion in this young beauty one that seemed to be denied in her every day life yet in this half world , this world between waking and sleeping, where dreams and reality merged this fair young beauty openly responded to the sensually deepening kiss of the Lord of the Night Winds. her arms reaching out to him, her supple young body pressed to his hard muscular form, a hunger in her kiss as she surrendered to him. Then in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Gorgathal shrunk deep within the dark black comfort of the obsidian disk, back from the hated light of day, back into the shadows that where his natural element.

You've been here two years?...................You know, we should arrange to give you a good tenant discount, like Sherry gets..." he suggested in a tentative voice.

The Lord of the Night Wind knew that voice only to well, Krieg the diminutive human toad that he had tempted with dreams of the fair young Nicole, chained and bent to his will, and yet this excuse for a man simply watched her from afar dreaming his dreams.

The Night demon loathed when Nicole removed the amulet the soft caress of her silken skin gone, the youthful beat of her heart absent.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Warmth, the strong pulse of youth the soft yet firm caress of the young beauty’s breast Gorgathal rejoice as the amulet slid around her long slender neck for she would soon be his again.


Nicole, Nicole, come to me.

As in her dream before Nicole found herself in that strange hauntingly beautiful Gothic hall, the pale moon light bathing her as her masked lover’s lips slowly pulled away from her, clinging to her moist ripe lips until thee last possible moment. The music again filled the air and the strains of a jaunty polka filled the hall She was in his arms again his dark handsome presence seemed to enfold Nicole drawing her into him .

His strong hands where on her hips as he lifts the girl effortlessly, her skirts flaring out in their scandalous turn her trim ankles bared for all to see. As the dance, line brought them to the great French doors her masked partner took her hand and led Nicole out on to the terrace, down steps, and along the garden path till they reached a secluded arbor seat screen from prying eyes, except for the moon’s as she watched down from the night sky.

His lips again claimed hers slowly deepening into a searing kiss. Time stood still there was no past, no future, just their kiss. Deep in the rapture of that solitary prefect kiss, as they shared the same life giving breath, his hand strayed to the bodice of the Nicole’s gown, the slightest of tugs and her firm young breast was naked bathed in the soft light of the moon her masked lover slowly rolled her rose bud nipple between his thumb and fore finger as their kiss lingered.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole lay back on her comforter, her light brown hair loose around her shoulders as she closed her eyes. She could have sworn she heard a soft voice calling to her as she drifted off to sleep...

She blinked, wondering why she thought that as her dance partner leaned down to kiss her lips soft and deep. The dance hall was still shadowy and dark but shafts of moonlight strobed through the gothic castle like pinpricks, shedding scant illumination.

He was wearing his mask as he leaned over her, his powerful arms wrapped around her. Nicole gave a soft gasp, his strength radiating through his hold on her narrow waist. As the music began to swell, the song switching, he settled his hands on the sides of her hips, lifting her lightly. Nicole gasped and blushed, both embarrassed and exhilirated as his wild embrace swept her off her feet, her slender ankles flashing. The Court whispered and chuckled around them as he carried her off to the garden. What is so special about showing my ankles? a distant voice in her mind murmured, but she scarcely noted it.

Nicole gave a soft gasp as the garden swirled around her, shocked to feel the firm seat beneath her, the only thing that seemed solid aside from him. She could hardly remember crossing the garden. He sat next to her, his arms still folded around her slender waist ... Was her waist always that trim?... leaning down to kiss her. He tasted odd, a bit like smoke perhaps, or something... His lips bore down on her, shoving aside coherent thought as he leaned her back, her own soft lips parting eagerly under his probing, leaning back in his arms.

A soft, slightly chill breeze tickled fingers alonger her half bare spine and across the nape of her neck as she kissed him ... That's scarcely appropriate in a suitor ... What does he think he's trying to pull?!... the two voices were soft, the same, but different, and distant, Nicole could barely hear them as he leaned back and she leaned forward, her lips still lingering on his in their soft, sweet kiss.

They pulled apart briefly, his hands still on her bosom and her own still lightly clasped around his neck as they paused for breath, her stiff nipples swaying slightly as she straightened...What ...? Nicole flushed brightly. She had felt his strong hands sliding from the small of her back up her sides to the front of her bodice. She was aware that he had skillfully unlaced it and tugged it down, her round breasts bouncing free as he did. But entranced in their passionate kiss, she had not fully registered what had happened let alone objected. The depth of her blush left her red from the roots of her hair to the tops of her bared breasts. Nicole had no idea how long she had sat there, half naked and canoodling with him, but her nipples were aching and stiff and her breasts remembered the sensation of his strong hands cupping and squeezing and teasing for long minutes, if not hours. Even as they began to slip apart, he had kept his powerful hands on her soft skin, thumb and forefinger still playing across pink nipple, so skillfully that she was torn between jerking away and wanting to press her breasts forward in offering to those long fingers.

Nicole opened her mouth to object, but a dark sparkled between her breasts caught her eye. A heavy charm hung between her full breasts ... Where they always that large, or that perfectly formed? dark red triangles pointing in towards a brilliant green eye. Something about that eye... It was exactly the shade of...

 

[cgraven]

Nicole opened her mouth to object, but a dark sparkled between her breasts caught her eye. A heavy charm hung between her full breasts ... Where they always that large, or that perfectly formed? dark red triangles pointing in towards a brilliant green eye. Something about that eye... It was exactly the shade of...

Her masked partner leisurely lowered his head to the young beauty’s naked breast and his tongue circled her dusky rose areola, the tip of his tongue boldly flicked across the tip of Nicole’s puckered pert nipple. This masked stranger seemed to have a casual familiarity with her as if they where lover’s who had stolen away to this secret spot in the moon lit garden to enjoy each other away from the prying eyes of the other guests at the ball. The pale hypnotic pale eye of the moon looked down on the silent lovers bathing them in her chaste pale light as if smiling down in approval. The strains of a waltz floated on the night air her dark mysterious lover inhaling the young beauty’s taunt nipple between his lips to suckle it and roll it along the ridge roof of his mouth.

Slowly he enkindled the fires of passion that lay deep within Nicole’s soul.

 

[Elayne]

Before Nicole could finish framing her thought and fancy, he leaned forward, one hand cupping her breast as he slowly lowered his mouth on it. She could feel the faint brush of sharp, sharp teeth as he took her nipple. His tongue was slender and agile, like a serpent's, darting across her heated skin.

Nicole threw back her head, issuing a sound that was half throaty moan and half shriek. With a sharp tug of his hands, he scooped her up, depositing her in his lap like a doll. Nicole arched her supple back, feeling her elegant gown beginning to slip down a few inches more as he began to suckle at her breasts like a starving newborn, the sensation sending waves of delight through her, making her squirm in his lap as she thrashed and gasped.

 

[cgraven]

Nicole threw back her head, issuing a sound that was half throaty moan and half shriek. She arched her supple back, feeling her elegant gown beginning to slip down a few inches more as he began to suckle at her breasts like a starving newborn, the sensation sending waves of delight through her, making her squirm in his lap as she thrashed and gasped.

Her dark lover, so eloquently dressed had not said a single word to her, yet he seemed to have an intimate knowledge of her supple young body and what pleased her. His manner was familiar, as if they had shared many such intimate moments in the past. Just when his loving ministrations promised the most blessed of release…………..


Good Morning New Eire City it is 6:30 and it promises to be a hot, muggy day.

Krieg’s diminutive form seat already beading on his brow, his clothe grimy and his appearance disheveled lounged by the Front entrance.

“Nicole, we should really arrange to give you a good tenant discount, like Sherry gets.”


There was a lewd little smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he puffed himself up to his maximum height,

 

[Elayne]

Nicole jerked awake as her alarm went off, the harsh buzz followed by the beginning the morning news. For a moment, Nicole stared about confused.. Where was the high arching ceiling, the dark inlaid floors? Then she flushed, realizing she had been dreaming.

Nicole stared down her nude body, surprised to see her pink nipples were stiff and erect. A certain warmth lingered between her thighs she was experienced enough to recognize as near readiness. Not quite a wet dream, but certainly a pleasantly warm one.

Nicole swung her legs together, flipping off the radio and sweeping off the charm necklace, dropping it on her dresser and walking towards her shower. She turned the taps on... a long, hot shower seemed a good idea. Stepping in, she basked in the heat of the water, closing her eyes blissfully and turning slowly, feeling the massaging flow of water patter against her shoulder blades and mid back, then turning and letting it drip down her breasts as she lathered herself and rinsed off. Nicole took her time combing her hair and brushing her teeth, taking her pill, then looking at herself in the mirror. She felt.. different. Heavier, more awkward than she had felt in the dream. She was shocked and amused to see her nipples were still bobbing, stiff and alert. She had friends who claimed that they just wouldn't go down, but Nicole was never like that.

Still, as she pulled on her jeans and slipped into a bra and regular t-shirt, they were at attention, refusing to subside. Nicole blushed, then shrugged, picking up her purse and heading out. Thank God for casual Fridays.

As Nicole was walking down the stairs, her brunette neighbour Angela from the apartment right underneath her was coming in and climbing the stairs with her blonde friend. Both had sharp, thin features and distinct East European accents as they murmured "Hi" and squeezed past Nicole.

Krieg was at the entrance to the building, ostensibly checking his mail box, but Nicole felt a slightly creepy feeling as she began out the door, like he had been waiting there for her.

Krieg puffed up as always when he saw her, staring at her and saying “Nicole, we should really arrange to give you a good tenant discount, like Sherry gets.” Nicole stiffened. The man didn't even make a pretense of eye contact, never once taking his eyes of her chest as he spoke. Nicole was about to tear into him, but as she looked down, she noticed her t-shirt was a bit tented over her nipples, even through her thin bra. Nicole flushed slightly. No wonder the little rat was staring. Nicole choked her response and instead fled out the door, walking off to work.

The Eire Tower was blessedly uncrowded and Nicole quickly got her elevator up to Fifteen. 8:30 am. She was early for once. Nicole tossed her purse into her office and went over to the coffee maker, turning it on. A few minutes later, Laura came in, wearing casual slacks and a loose top for Casual Friday.

"What happened to you last night?" Laura called over as she set her things in her own office.

Nicole blushed slightly, pouring another cup of coffee. "I went to bed early and slept right through to this morning."

"Wow.. You must have been really bushed," Laura commented, coming out and taking the second cup with a grateful smile. "Have good dreams at least?"

Nicole spluttered a bit as she sipped her coffee. "Uh.. Interesting dreams at least,"

Laura looked amused but before she could comment, a heavy scent of cologne intruded.

"Hello, girls," said Mr Stratham. He was a Senior Vice President, technically in charge of their office, though his own office was a luxurious palace on the fourtieth floor. In his late fifties, his mindset seemed to be locked in the fifties as well. He walked about with a grandfatherly smile, called all the female employees 'girls' or 'young lady' and constantly gave them 'encouraging' pats on the rump in passing. Still, he was one of the wealthiest and most connected men in town, from one of the oldest families in New Eire, so everyone overlooked his behaviour.

"Hello, Mr. Stratham," Laura and Nicole chorused dutifully in unison.

"Has Sarah come in yet?" Stratham asked, smoothing his impressive salt and pepper mustache and beaming at the two much younger women.

"Not yet, sir," Laura replied briskly.

"Well, when she gets in, have her bring the Carlyle accounts up to my office please. I'm meeting Danny for lunch today." Only Mr Stratham could get away with calling Dan Carlyle, Mayor of New Eire with such casual familiarity. The two had been in the fraternity brothers together in College. So were their growns sons, who Laura and Nicole had dubbed 'the Twins'.

"Will do, Mr Stratham," Laura continued, as Nicole distracted herself with her coffee.

"Well, keep up the good work, girls." Stratham said, his hand snaking out give Nicole's round rear a firm pat that approached a squeeze before whirling and heading off back to the elevators.

"Good old Stratham," Laura muttered sympathethically to Nicole as soon as he was out of earshot.

Nicole nodded, heading to her office. Laura called after her, "Hey..What's on for tonight?"

Nicole paused, wanting briefly to beg off and call it another early night, but it was friday after all.

Laura continued, "Because if you're not doing anything, some of the cowboys have invited us out for after work drinks..."

Nicole groaned. The cowboys, the young brokers from the investment firm on 14, were always a good source of free drinks, but rarely had anything more interesting to say than bragging about their new cars or latest deal.

Laura glared at Nicole and said peevishly, "Well, we could always take the Twins up for racquetball!"

Nicole shuddered. The Twins were even more spoiled than the cowboys. "I'll think about it and get back to you," she said than walked into her office, firmly closing her door.

Nicole sighed as she settled at her desk, pulling out the first file of the day.

Time for another exciting day at work...

 

[cgraven]

Hated day light, sinful darkness

Again she tore the charm from between her firm young breast, again The Lord of the Night Winds felt the stunning young beauty’s essence fade from him as a portion of his being slipped back deep into the endless night of the obsidian disc of the charm, shrinking back from the hated light of the sun.

He reached out into the ethyl real realm where even in the brightest light of day men’s darkest thoughts and desires dwell. Krieg had been there lurking, his evil mind as diminutive as his body was in the corporeal realm. Gorgathal smiled as he saw the man’s dark desires for Nicole on her knees her soft pale blue eyes adoringly looking up at him just before her lips part, her silken brown tresses shimmering as her head bows, and her soft full lips part. A slight prod here and their and the night demon knew Krieg would act out his fantasies despite what the young beauty wanted.

The Charm had allowed Gorgathal to slip into Nicole’s mind, and the darkest most hidden recesses of her heart and soul, and he saw her innocent fantasies , the gothic hall, the masked stranger, the passionate kiss all aspects of the young human beauty’s girlish dreams, yet as she passed from childhood to womanhood those innocent childish dreams took on a darker more sensual aspect, On the Lord of The Night Winds would exploit.

For now he would wait and see where Nicole’s mind and soul would lead him, and how best he could tempt her in her fall from grace.

 

[Elayne]

The day dragged on in a dull blur of paper and near faceless customers as Nicole slogged through the endless, boring grind of work. She took a brief lunch at her desk, looking over in house memos as she ate and no sooner did she brush off the crumbs of her sandwich than another call came in demanding immediate attention.

Finally, 4:45 rolled around and Nicole began counting out her station and closing up for the day. Laura knocked on her door and poked her head in for a brief, "I'm going home to get changed, I'll call you later," and then slipped out.

Time for me to leave as well, Nicole thought, picking up her purse and locking her office door.

As Nicole began to walk out, Sarah's phone began to ring, insistently, the red light flashing angrily. Nicole was half tempted to walk past it, but she felt a tug of guilty, instead picking it up and saying "Business Management Floor..."

It was Stratham. He sounded annoyed. "Sarah?"

Nicole blinked, looking around. Sarah had been in and out all day and was currently out. "Sarah's not here, sir, this is Nicole. I was just heading out for the day as well..."

Stratham grumbled something indistinct and Nicole could picture him chewing on his mustache with patronly annoyance. "I still need those files. Sarah didn't bring them up. Would you be a dear and bring them up to my office before you head out?"

Nicole sighed, then dutifully replied that she would. A quick inspection of Sarah's desk showed the files lying out in plain view. The bubble headed receptionist must have let it slip her mind. Nicole picked up the files and walked over to the elevator, hitting the button for the 40th floor.

The elevator droned upwards, ticking with every floor. This late in the day, Nicole was the only one headed up.

Nicole got to the fourtieth and walked out into the reception lobby which lead to the four corner offices held by each of the senior vice presidents of the bank and the main board room. She walked over to the empty desk, wondering if she should buzz in, but as she looked over, Stratham came bustling out, his briefcase in hand and tugging on his jacket.

"Oh, Nicole, do you have those files?" he called, seeing her.

"Yes sir," she replied, lifting the files up.

"Good, good," Stratham said, walking past her and pulling out his key, twisting it to obey the executive elevator. "Come in, dear."

Nicole shrugged and stepped into the executive elevator. It wasn't as big as the three common ones, but it was more lavish and only people with keys could use it. Stratham took the files as Nicole offered them to him, looking them over briefly, then opening his briefcase and tucking them inside. Nicole considered objecting that the files were not supposed to leave the building, but she decided it wasn't worth the late in the day hassle.

"Thank you for bringing those files up, Nicole," Stratham said, reaching over to give her bottom a pat as the elevator hummed down.

"No problem sir," Nicole replied a bit uncomfortably. Stratham didn't retract his hand.

"I'll have to talk to that young lady Sarah monday," Stratham continued conversationally. "I don't know what's gotten into her."

Nicole was shrugged slightly. Stratham gave her a patronly smile and then squeezed her behind, as if to reassure her that she would be spared the talking to that Sarah would be recieving. Nicole started slightly, opening her mouth to object, eyes widening with annoyance.

Stratham, on the other hand, gave no sign that he noticed her outrage, or even where his hand was. He kept his hand cupping her rear almost absently, chatting amiably about the Bank and whatnot, casual as you please, occassionally patting or squeezing for emphasize. Nicole was flustered. She had no idea how to handle this.

"I've always wondered what's on the 13th floor," Stratham continued on casually, making a vague gesture with his briefcase.

"What?" Nicole said, confused at his wandering train of thought.

"The 13th.. The architect built it. But it's bad luck, so none of the elevators stop there and there's no door there on the stairwell." he replied.

"Aren't the floors usually just misnumbered?" Nicole mumbled. "You know, 12, 14, 15?"

Stratham exhale, blowing out his fluffly salt and pepper mustache. "Not in the Tower.. watch.. 16th floor .. 1.. 2.. 3.. 15th.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 14th.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7.. 12th." Stratham nodded grandly. Apparently, in his mind he had proofed the existance of a mysterious 13th floor. Nicole fleetingly wondered how much of his mental effort had been expended on this mystery.

They reached the first floor and the door whispered open. Stratham gave her a parting pat. "Well, you girls have fun over the weekend!" he said, then wandered off aimlessly.

Nicole sighed and adjusted her jeans. After 39 floors of groping, she was definitely annoyed.

Nicole stalked out of the building and walked home to her apartment building. She fumbled with her keys and began up the stairs.

She reached her door and went inside her own apartment. As she closed the door she heard a weird metallic creaking, like someone scuttling up the fire escape, but she paid it no mind as she dropped her purse and kicked off her shoes, walking over to the counter to flip on the kettle and make herself a cup of tea.

Out of herbs.. I'll have to go back to Rosalyn's and get more sometime tonight.

Nicole sipped her tea and headed to her bedroom. The bottom drawer on her dresser, where she kept her underwear, hung open. Nicole frowned. She didn't leave in that much of a hurry and didn't remember leaving it open. She pushed it closed with a foot and finished her cup of tea, then slipped off her watch.

5:15. Laura probably wouldn't call her to go out till 8 or 9 o'clock. Nicole sighed softly and decided to go for a quick nap till then. Nicole pulled of her tshirt and unclasped her bra, then slipped out of her jeans and pushed down her panties. She pulled out her pontail as she got ready to hop into bed, absently picking up the charm from the dresser top.

She lifted the charm, pulling open the leather thong and then paused briefly. The charm spun slightly, and the bright green eye seemed to wink in between the three crimson triangles. Nicole could have sworn the charm was brighter and shinier than when she bought it and the eye in particular seemed to glitter. For a weird moment, Nicole fancied it was staring at her naked body.

Nicole stared back at the charm for a minute, then shrugged and slipped it over her head, adjusting it between her breasts and then flopped down on the bed. She pulled the pillow over, curling up and quickly dozed off into a light snooze...

 

[cgraven]

The dark hungering presence of Krieg a tempting prod, a whispered thought, and the diminutive sweaty man was using his passkey to enter Nicole’s apartment, his beady little eyes searching hunting for a token to feed his dark fantasies. He found it in the bottom drawer of her dresser, he held the gossamer piece of silk to his face and inhaled deeply, her scent the fragrance of her sweet sex lingering on the cloth.

The metallic scrape of metal on metal the creaking of the door being eased open, the young beauty’s light tread, and the sweaty little man clutched his trophy to him, stuffing it down his shirt, and made good a hasty retreat up the fire escape.

The single all seeing eye of the charm eased open, the fair young beauty’s fragrance strong now She was close very close and that single eye searched for its prey.

[The innocent young beauty in the privacy of her bedroom pulled off her t-shirt and unclasped her bra, then slipped out of her jeans and pushed down her panties. She pulled out her ponytail as she got ready to hop into bed, absently picking up the charm from the dresser top.

The Lord of the Night Wind from deep within the shadows of the obsidian disk watched each graceful fluid move as the girl casually striped away each layer of clothing. He feasted on her beauty, and when she slipped the charm over her head, he turned to see the heavenly perfection of her supple young body. The more she came to rely on the charm for her sleep the stronger the demon became., the more he could travel between his dark realm of dreams and Nicole’s world off the waking.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Come to me my sweet pet, come to me Nicole!

The voice that called to her as she lay trapped in that half world neither asleep or awake fully, was more insistent, more demanding that the young beauty surrender to its haunting call.

The pale moon looked down on the formal garden the two lovers hidden in the shadows of the arbor. With a sharp tug of his hands, he scooped her up, depositing her in his lap like a doll. Nicole arched her supple back, feeling her elegant gown beginning to slip down a few inches more as he began to suckle at her breasts like a starving newborn, the sensation sending waves of delight through her, making her squirm in his lap as she thrashed and gasped. When her moaning became deep sighs and gasps of pleasure her masked lover guided her delicate hand to the crouch of his breeches he held her palm pressed to his iron hard manhood letting the young girl feel his passion for her. His lips trailed kisses back up her neck then he eased her back into the corner of the arbor seat. His lips brushed Nicole’s, and then he knelt before her, His hands slipped under the helm of her gown, caressing her legs as they climbed ever higher, till he began to pull down the girl’s bloomers exposing her sweet young sex, Once bared he dipped his head to feast on the sweet nectar that coated her chaste young pussy.

 

[Elayne]

The garden was dark and shadowy and the plants and hedges hung over her like oppressive vines, choking off the moonlight. Nicole would have sworn they had grown taller, stretching up, towards...

The sudden shock of his mouth and tongue probing over her breast ended that train of thought abruptly and Nicole moaned, arching her back wildly. His strong hands on her waist kept her firmly in place on his lap, even as she kicked her long legs frantically. In her passionate writhing, her dress slid down with a velvet whisper, falling off her breasts completely, leaving them bare and free. Nicole peered down at her own body, momentarily surprised. The breasts he had revealed were perfect. Largish, especially on her slender frame, but despite their lush fullness, they retained a perfect tear drop shape that simply wasn't natural... Like a lascivious man's dream... part of her thought... Like a plastic surgeon's pride and joy... that thought came right on top of the other , the source confused and obscured.

He pulled her hand down to rest on the front of his trousers and she could feel him inside. She blushed and gasped, but her hand didn't stir. He's big... a part of her murmured, but the stronger part murmured I mustn't!

Yet, that wasn't what he intended. He leaned forward to kiss her, hot and insistent. She could feel his teeth, sharp and pointed as they brushed her flesh, his tongue long and serpentine as he leaned her back, laying her out on the garden bench. Before she could do more than murmur a protest, he firmly pulled the hem of her skirt up, baring her soft stockings and garters. His hands found her bloomers with practiced ease... What am I doing wearing grannie panties?... and with a slight tug that urged her to lift her hips, he pulled them down to past her knees, baring her soft feminine area. She gasped slightly, fearfully as she raised her head off the bench, seeing him lowering hers to her guarded entrance. His tongue was long and serpentine as it flicked out and she wailed in pleasure as he began to feast on her body...

 

[cgraven]

The pale unblinking eye of the harvest moon looked down on Nicole, her shy chaste maidenly blush, her soft breathy gasps, and her masked lover that took the most indecent of liberties with her supple young body, as if it was his right to do so. His long serpentine tongue arched to catch the first dew drop of Nicole’s sweet nectar as if it was the most precious of sacramental wine. His hot moist breath stirred the light honey brown fleece of her Venous Mound , his long, delicate, supple, fingers parted the dew pink folds, the gate to Nicole’s Secret Garden , and that maddeningly long serpentine tongue began to tease and please its hooded Guardian sinfully coaxing it from its hiding place. Her masked Lover threw the young beauty’s legs over his shoulders as he claimed her chaste innocence with his tongue and mouth. The soft fur of his fox mask tickled the girl’s inner thighs, the gay music of the ball clearly heard from the Gothic manner house, at any moment they could be discovered.

A soft famine giggle was heard close to hand.

“Oh Percy you are such a cade. Papa would have you whipped if he only knew.”

The unseen beauty gasped and then a long husky passion filled moan. The tolling of a bell spoke of a night half spent. Nicole’s lover held her now throbbing clit between his teeth and he inhaled deeply drawing a steady cool stream of air over the girl’s feverous clit.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole arched her back wildly, bucking her round hips as his supernaturally nimble tongue probed her depths. Her dark blue eyes rolled back, eye lids fluttering as she squirmed underneath him.

In the distance, Nicole vaguely heard another soft voice, then another husky moan. The sound seemed to echo in the darkened garden, spilling over her and her lover till it was difficult for Nicole to say where the voice came from or who had spoken. Still, she flushed slightly, suspecting that if she could her another, than that other could hear her as well.

Nicole shuddered, slightly, shifting her hips in preparation to slip off his tongue and away from his grasp..

Then the bell began to toll, loud and long. The dark, oppressive ripple of sound spread out through the hall and garden, making the shadows shiver and the fracture, till Nicole's vision seemed to spin. What's happening...? she thought, half panicked, looking around wildly as the very air seemed to ripple...

 

[cgraven]

Then the bell began to toll, loud and long. The dark, oppressive ripple of sound spread out through the hall and garden, making the shadows shiver and the fracture, and the very air seemed to ripple.

There was a surreal quality to it as if two worlds where calling to Nicole each demanding that she give herself to them wholly and without reservation, The Gothic hall and moonlit garden with her masked lover, and the humdrum world of New Erie with all of its drudgery, drabness, and the lust full looks of its Klieg’s and the womanizing groping of it’s Mr. Stratham’s

The masked stranger held his hands out to Nicole guiding her to her feet. The night dew seeping into her silken ballroom slippers. Her gown’s bodice still around her waist he leads her in a run back to the Gothic hall, the gay lights beckoning them and the young beauty’s firm breasts bared to the night air.

“It is time for the unmasking.”

It was the first time he had spoken and his voice was as soft and seductive as the night wind.

Nicole pick up I know you are there its Laura come on girl answer the phone.”

 

[Elayne]

Nicole gasped slightly as he lifted his mouth off her skin, hearing his soft, smooth voice for the first time. It was frighteningly familiar yet a part of her could have sworn she never heard it before.

Nicole tensed slightly as he raised his hand to the mask, shuddering with anticipation as he prepared to reveal himself..

Nicole blinked groggily, lifting her head of the pillow with a groan. There was a persistent tapping in her ears and she could swore she heard Laura's voice. Nicole crashed out of bed, feeling heavy and discombulated, still half between the dream and the waking world as she stumbled into the living room to grab her phone bleerily.

"Hello?" Nicole said.

"Hey, Nic...I was beginning to think you weren't there," answered Laura's familiar tones.

"Oh.. Sorry.. What time is it?" Nicole asked, rubbing sand from her eyes and looking over at the clock. It was 9:48 pm. Once more, Nicole heard that persistent tap that had contributed to awakening her.

"It's almost ten... Did I wake you?" Laura replied.

"Yah.. Took a quick cat nap after dinner," Nicole murmured into her phone, yawning hugely and stretching.

"Well, it's still early enough to go out. Meet me at the Inferno in ten minutes?"

"Alright.. Actually, make it fifteen, I'll be there." Nicole replied, then hung up her phone. The tap came again and Nicole realized it was her door.

Nicole stalked over, wiping her eyes and pulled the door open. It was Krieg. He was wearing an old maroon suit jacket that looked like it had been mouldering in the closet for fifteen years.

"What?" Nicole said shortly.

For once, the little weasel appeared to be speechless, staring at her chest with wide eyes and trying to catch his breath. Nicole glared at him and considered slamming the door in his face, but he spluttered out, "P..papers,"

Nicole looked at him blankly.

"For the real estate agent, I need those forms, he's coming tomorrow morning.."

Nicole blinked. She knew the owner of the building was considering selling it if he could find a buyer and vaguely remembering getting a permission slip to let a real estate agent come through. She must have forgotten to sign it in the press of the busy week.

"Right," Nicole said shortly, turning and going over to her table, flipping through the mail quickly. No, not there. A flash of white caught her eye on the floor beside the table. It must have fallen off. Nicole bent over to grab it and she heard a creak on the floor behind her as she did. Krieg had taken two steps into her apartment and had taken the opportunity to ogle her behind.

Nicole glared at him, looked over the paper quickly to insure it was the simple real estate form, then signed it and handed it over. "There... Now, excuse me please." Nicole said, firmly ushering the spluttering Krieg out.

Nicole closed the door and went into the bathroom to quickly wash her face and hands, then brush out her hair, which was matted from being slept on. Suddenly, Nicole paused, staring in the mirror. She reached up to touch her hair... Was it her imagination, or were darker streaks underlying her sandy brown hair? Her roots looked raven black as she looked them over. Nicole shrugged it off and went to her bedroom, taking off the charm and setting it on her dresser as she began to get dressed to go out to the club with Laura.

She rummaged through her bottom drawer for a thong and bra. Her favorite pair was missing. Must be in the laundry hamper, she thought to herself, pulling out her second favorite, slipping into them. The thong felt good and sexy against her. The bra however, felt tight, a size to small. It must have shrunk in the wash, which annoyed Nicole. Nicole sighed and discarded it rather than having it digging at her.

Finally, Nicole went to her closet, looking through her dresses, then picked out a slinky black number. Nicole had loved the way it looked on the rack and bought it immediately, but found it didn't look quite as good on her sadly. She had resolved to loose a few pounds to wear it. Well, I'm going out dancing anyways, I might as well give it a try.

Nicole pulled the dress out, setting the straps up on her shoulders, the skirt falling to her mid thighs, showing off her tanned and fit legs. Nicole smoothed the dress over her curves, looking in the mirror and beaming. When she first tried it, the dress felt tight in all the wrong spots. Tonight, it felt comfortable against her waist and hips. Must be the crunches, she thought to herself. Nicole looked at the plunging V of the neckline. Surprisingly, even without a bra, she looked full and buxom, filling out the low cut cleavage revealing cut nicely.

Nicole was delighted to fit her favorite dress and immediately pulled out a matching set of heels, then grabbed her keys and purse, heading out and locking the door, going out to Inferno to meet Laura.

 

[cgraven]

“It is time for the unmasking.”

Nicole tensed slightly as he raised his hand to the mask, shuddering with anticipation as he prepared to reveal himself. His hand stilled his mask still in place as the stunning young beauty stood in the middle of the gothic ballroom bared to her waist.

Each time that Nicole went to that finely wrought charm, placed the leather thong around her slender neck so the cursed object nestled between her firm ripe breasts, so close to her young heart, and all its hidden secrets, secrets that where now slowly coming to life in her dreams, dreams so vivid that they called to the young beauty to linger longer in this world of sensual seduction.

Nicole stalked over, wiping her eyes and pulled the door open. It was Krieg.

"What?" Nicole said shortly.

he spluttered out,

"P..papers,"

The diminutive weasels eyes where drawn to Nicole’s chest her breasts seemed to call to him to fondle them but his fear stilled his desire. Gorgathal chuckled to himself as the little man became bolder when the young beauty bent over to retrieve the letter, the flash of anger in Nicole, the flare of lust in Krieg, and the Lord of the Night Winds could feel him self growing stronger. Already his power was beginning to affect Nicole as she regarded her reflection, the plunging V of the neckline. Surprisingly, even without a bra, she looked full and buxom, filling out the low cut cleavage revealing cut nicely.

Nicole was delighted to fit her favorite dress and immediately pulled out a matching set of heels, then grabbed her keys and purse, heading out and locking the door, going out to Inferno to meet Laura.

The a small select group of men and women at the Inferno where wearing masks that where quite desturbuning similar to the ones in Nicole’s dreams. And from a dark corner deep with in the shadows a tall stranger stood wearing the mask of a Fox.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole walked over to the Inferno, looking over the line for Laura. Nicole found the taller woman about half way down the line. Laura was wearing a mini skirt that showed off her longer legs to great advantage and a simple tank top.

"Hi, how's the line up?" Nicole asked brightly, looking over the stretch of people waiting admittance.

"Not moving at all," Laura said with a sigh, fiddling with her purse.

Nicole looked up to the front door. At this rate, it could be all night before they were allowed in. "Let's go talk to the bouncer," Nicole suggested, taking Laura by the forearm and tugging her out of line, heading up to the front.

Nicole flashed a bright smile to the bouncer at the door and began to chat with him casually. His eyes strayed to the V of her dress and Nicole knew she had him. A few minutes of flirtation later, he waved her and Laura past and the two slipped into the club without having to stand in line all night.

Inferno was packed, even more so than usual for a Friday night. The dance floor was so crowded it was impossible to tell if anyone was even dancing to the throbbing beat of the music. The main bar was ringed round twice with people vying for the bartenders' attention.

"Let's try the side bars," Nicole shouted to Laura over the din of the crowd and music.

The two began to squeeze through the throngs of people to the side bar, which was on a railed off platform. As they reached the steps, a large bouncer moved down to block them. "VIP party," he grunted and Nicole craned her neck to get a glimpse of the VIPs.

A shock and cold chill ran through Nicole's belly. The people who had booked the side bar and associated tables were wearing masks eerily similar to her dream. Nicole shivered slightly, staring over the guests. They were oddly disinterested in the rest of the club, still as mannequins or wrapped in their own private conversations.

Suddenly, a hand seized Nicole's elbow and she blinked, shaking off her reverie and looking around. It was Laura. "There," Laura called, motioning to the bar in the back corner, the smallest of the bars but the only one with a slight opening.

Nicole let Laura tug her through the crowd, heading back to get a quick drink, but she couldn't shake the peculiar tingling along her spine, like eyes watching her.

 

[cgraven]

He watched her move to the very back of the club, her movements graceful, the more she surrendered to her dreams the more she relied on the odd charm to grant her the sleep the rest her body craved the stronger he became. Slowly able to enter her world with form and substance. The Dark Lord of the Night Wind watched in silence, the pounding beat of the music, a force dark and primeval, sensual and seductive.

A diminutive little man in a worn maroon jacket watched Nicole from behind the mask of a mole his beady little eyes watching her as she gracefully moved through the throng of people packed into the Inferno. He lusted after the young beauty that had so often spurned his advances, he longed to have her in a position where she could not refuse, where she had to submit to him. Krieg nursed his drink and his dark fantasies. Yet his where not the only eyes that followed the young flaxen haired beauty. Dark brooding lustful eyes looked out from behind the mask of the fox, he knew her well he knew the feel and contour of her firm young ass, her fragrance filled his nostrils every day at work and he longed to see her naked and bent over his desk. Stratham sipped his drink, soon , very soon he would have to sample her charms. Tomorrow the proud young miss would find she had been promoted and made his executive assistant, then she would submit or find she was without a job and no reference.

Wheels turning with in wheels, schemes and plans for the nubile young beauty, men’s eyes devouring her beauty, lusting for her petite body. And the Dark Lord behind his Wolf’s masked smiled the most wicked of grins. For Nicole was a tasty little morsel ripe for the picking and in her innocence she was not aware of the fate that was in store for her.

The tall Dark stranger in the mask of a wolf stood before her, he extended his hand in an invitation to dance, the packed den of the Inferno making conversation nearly impossible.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole sipped her drink, looking around the bar casually. Laura was in rapt discussion with a thin, shaggy haired guy near the bar, faces leaned towards each other.

At that moment, a shiver and a shadow passed over Nicole and for a moment, she could have sworn one of the masked people from the VIP party was there in front of her, hand out and beckoning to her. For a moment, a powerful desire to reach out and take his hand welled up inside her. Underneath the throbbing, fast beat of the dance music, Nicole could have sworn she heard an undertone of a classic serenade, a dancing ballad.

Someone bumped into her elbow, a big guy who knocked her a step to the side, and Nicole blinked. When she turned her head back, the Wolf Masked shadow was gone without a trace, like he had never been there in the first place. Nicole blinked and peered about the club, but she couldn't see him anywhere.

"Hey," a voice came. It was the beefy bouncer who had cordoned them off from the VIP section.

"Yes?" Nicole said nervously, wondering why the man was glaring at her this time.

He produced a pair of heavy envelopes and handed them to her. "From the party, for you and your friend," he said abruptly, jerking his head towards Laura. Then, apparently satisfied, he turned and muscled off, pressing through the crowd back to his post.

Nicole opened her envelope. Inside was a sheet of paper, heavy and rich. It was spare. Invitation, To A Private Party, A Witching Hour Masquerade, Masks Provided. The vague words were followed by an address and a date. Tonight, at 2 am, Nicole read. An after party then? But a very elaborate one, it seemed.

"What's this?" Laura piped in,plucking her unopened envelope and opening it, reading it quickly.

As she did, Nicole looked around. She could see several other girls with similar envelopes, mostly the prettiest club girl types who had dressed to the nines for the occassion. Nicole was half flattered to receive an invitation along with the beautiful people and half offended that she was in their ranks.

"Oh, an after party?! I've never been invited to one, especially not one this fancy!" Laura gushed. "Do you want to go?"

 

[cgraven]

A shadow so sensual, so seductive, a hand offered to join the dance, the music strangely out of place as if from a day gone by, images of ladies in gowns men in evening dress, flash before Nicole’s eyes and haunting eyes touch her soul from behind the mask of a wolf. A bumped into her elbow, a big guy who knocked her a step to the side, and Nicole blinked the vision gone.

"Hey,"

It was the beefy bouncer who had cordoned them off from the VIP section.

Invitation, To A Private Party, A Witching Hour Masquerade, Masks Provided.

The vague words were followed by an address and a date. Tonight, at 2 am

Laura plucked her unopened envelope form her friends hands and was all a titter at being invited to an after hours party. Laura gushed.

"Do you want to go?"

Out of the corner of her eye Nicole caught a fleeting glimpse of the darkly handsome stranger in the wolf’s mask yet when she turned to see where he had gone he was nowhere in sight.

He was like a ghost, there but not there, seen from the corner of the eyes, but not when looked at directly. Seductively beckoning to her to come join him in the dance. Always he floated in the vicinity of the VIP party and if Nicole was to get any answers they would be at the Masquerade. The sepectaer of his image and invitation haunted her through the night.

 

[Elayne]

Nicole blinked, seeing the wolf masked figure again by the stairs to the private section. She leaned forward peering into the writhing mass of humanity on the dance floor to catch a glimpse of him again, but then Laura distracted her, asking if they would go to the private party.

"Oh? What...? Sure, I guess," Nicole replied distractedly, immediately going back to searching the private party section. Once more, he had vanished. Weird, she thought to herself.

Nicole had a few more drinks and headed out to the dance floor for a bit, enjoying the music in an slightly off pace way, floating through the night.

Sometime at around one a.m., she looked up from the dance floor and noticed that the VIP section had utterly emptied out, except for a disconsolate looking bartender. There was not a single masked person left in the club. They must have gone to the other place for the after party already, Nicole thought, thinking back to her invitation. Was it one or two?

Still, she had told Laura that they would go. She leaned over to her friend and murmured, "Let's take off in about half an hour."

Laura nodded her head in affirmation.

A few minutes later, the pair left the club. A few cabs were waiting outside to give people with a few too many drinks in them a right home. Nicole hailed one and slipped inside with Laura on her heels, pulling out her invitation as she got in.

"Hi, we're going to a private party, can you take us to this address?" she told the cabbie, a greasy, olive skinned man with uncombed hair.

"Yah," he muttered back with some accent. "Few minutes though, that's near the docks."

The cab read over the address again, then flicked on the meter, pulling the cab out and driving off. He drove out of the urban down town and towards the industrial section. Ahead, Nicole could see fires still burning from the tops of the smoke stacks, the steel mills still forging away even at this hour. Smoke was thick in the air and the buildings were massive, shorter than the skyscrapers in the heart of town but squat and oppressive, wide and intimidating in shadowy tones.

Even the night was darker in this part of the city, the city lights few and far between with no residential areas around.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Laura asked nervously, peering into the inky night and checking her invitation.

"Yah," the cab driver shrugged.

I hope he's not just trying to fill the meter, Nicole thought to herself.

After about twenty minutes, the cab pulled into an unlit parking lot of a blackened warehouse. The walls of the building were pock marked, like in some far off warzone. "This the place," the cabbie said.

"This doesn't look like it," Nicole started to say, but the cabbie just shrugged uncaringly.

Before Nicole could continue, she saw lights from the parking lot and then a limo pulled passed the cab, driving away back into the city.

Well, if a limo is out here, maybe this is the place, Nicole thought.

"We'll check it out," she said decisively, paying the cabbie and hopping out of the cab, smoothing her skirt as she did, heading over to the warehouse.