Arianrhod's Vessel

holy crap! look at this! an update. i know it took a long, long time to update and i'm sorry for making everyone wait for this. hopefully, the contents make up for the length of time between chapters. sadly, RL got in the way, then i was obsessed with finishing Bound In Leather and, if it wasn't bad enough that i had three stories going, i came up with another idea and had to write that one. so, once again, i'm working on four stories again. hopefully it won't be another six months before i update. just please bear with me. and, just so you know..... i don't own anything but the ideas for this story and, of course, Nisha. anyone else in here you recognize belongs to the very talented miss j.k. rowling. she makes all the money, i don't. i'm merely doing this for fun and for your enjoyment.

a warning. this chapter will contain some underage sex. this one starts the actual relationship. if the idea of this squicks you, please do not read further. i do not condone this, but it is important to the story.

finally, if you like this, please feel free to leave me a review. i would be ever so grateful. it isn't necessary, but it is appreciated.

Chapter Nine: Memories Best Left Forgotten
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Nisha sighed, letting the water soothe the tension from her body. She wished it would do the same for her restless mind just as easily. The past twelve hours had been so difficult and all she wanted to do was close off the memories that threatened her sanity. She wanted to forget for a while. Her emotions were raw and too close to the surface. The discussion the night before about Draco had been hard enough. But it had been even worse when she'd needed to cling to Lucius in order to stave off the fear that the raging storm had brought to her. Laying in his arms had allowed far too many unwanted feelings to bubble up to the surface. Feelings that now threatened to drown her.

It had been in a tub much like this one where her world had changed so drastically. And laying here, the water lapping gently around her shoulders while a froth of white bubbles on the surface of the warm liquid blanketed her nakedness, Nisha couldn't help but recall that day from so long ago. Narcissa had been gone, off to some function with her friends. Lucius was supposed to have been at work, but only half an hour after Narcissa had floo'ed out, Lucius had returned. It had been his suggestion to go horse back riding and on a picnic. She hadn't recalled ever having done either of them, so she'd been more than willing to go.

Nisha'd changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, clothing Lucius had provided her, while he'd gone to change out of his work clothes. She hadn't been able to keep the lustful looks from her eyes when she'd spied him in his riding gear, looking so terribly handsome. The material of his trousers had clung wickedly to his backside, allowing her an excellent view every time he turned his back to her. She'd been filled with the exhileration of that day along with the thick, heavy feeling of need. Those rampant emotions had been her downfall.

When Lucius had joined her in the bathroom, she'd already been in the tub. Spying him standing there, his clothes askew, she'd been lost and unable to deny him. He'd shed his clothing without embarrassment and had strutted over to the tub proudly, knowing that Nisha had been staring at his perfect body with childish awe and adult hunger in her lion's eyes gaze. And then he'd climbed into the tub with her and anything she'd thought or felt had fled her mind the moment his skin had touched hers. Even now, the memory of the feelings that had flooded through her body was enough to make her hungry for him again. The desire rose in her like a beast pouncing on its prey and she couldn't help but clench her thighs together in a vain attempt to try and ignore her needs.

His body was warm behind hers, the thick length of his erection pressed tightly against her back. Even with the warm water surrounding them, she could feel the heat of his body. Tender hands slid around her waist and drew her closer. Long, supple fingers teased her skin with gentle caresses, sending shivers skittering up and down her spine. One hand slid up to curl about one breast while the other dipped lower and found the curls nestled between her thighs. Nisha couldn't hold back the soft sigh that rolled up her throat when those questing fingers slipped between the folds of flesh hidden there, brushing lightly over her clit.

"Even in all of this water, darling," Lucius purred into her ear, his breath tickling across the delicate shell to bring a noticable shudder to her limbs. "You're soaked, ready for me to take you. Its what you want, isn't it? For me to take you. Here, in the tub. You want me inside of you."

"I do," she agreed, her breath hitching when his hips shifted against her backside. He felt so large, so hard. She wondered for a moment if being in such a state hurt him. His fingers moved from her clit, sliding easily into her body. It felt to her as if his invading digits were too large. Muscles clamped down against the invasion, a startled cry falling from her lips.

"Relax, darling. Don't fight me. Its natural for it to be tight this first time. And there will be some pain in the beginning. But I promise it will fade after a few moments," Lucius whispered, his lips pressing a kiss to her jaw. The hand at her breast squeezed gently and brought forth another cry. Mindlessly, her hips arched forward and buried more of his fingers inside of her.

Nisha closed her eyes as her hands slipped down the front of her body. Her breasts bobbed in the tub, the tops chilled because they'd broken the surface of the water. But she didn't mind. She slid her hands down over them, her fingers slowly easing around her nipples, both of which were tight, aching peaks that cried out for the touch of his hands and his lips, the feel of his hot mouth sealed over them while his teeth grated and his tongue flicked back and forth. She knew the feel of those things, recalled them with vivid clarity even though it had been more than a decade since she'd had any part of Lucius on or in her body.

A small sound, a whimper, lifted from her throat when her fingers caught the tightened peaks of her nipples and began to twist and tug at them. She wasn't gentle, relished the harsh, rough treatment she gave them. Her body surged in the water, her hips bucking at the ghostly feel of his fingers slithering up inside of her. Taking her lower lip between her teeth, she bit at it while her fingers worked at her nipples slowly.

It had been a long time since she'd even considered engaging in self-gratification, but being in this house did it to her. Being near Lucius did it to her. Remembering his tenderness on that fateful day did it to her. Hell, even the dark, scowling image of Snape did it to her. Roger Finch had used her in the basest of ways, engaging in an act she couldn't even begin to consider enjoyable. Before that, in the harem, she'd been shunned and hidden away. Never once in the entire time she'd been there had her master dared touch her. Before that, she'd been from one place to the next, always trying to outrun her past and her demons.

But now.... Now she was going to indulge in a long bath and a hot session of masturbation. It had been building too long and now, with the scent of Lucius around her and the memory of his hands upon her, she couldn't stop herself. Even if she'd wanted to. Pushing the troubling memories of her past away, she focused on pleasing herself. She gave all of her concentration over to the aching tips of her breasts. She wished it was Lucius who was currently pulling on her nipples, twisting and turning them until the small measure of pain kindled into a nearly unquenchable need. Even now, after all this time, merely thinking of him had her hot, her body demanding to be filled by his own. Nisha tipped her head back, groaning softly at the intense feelings her own fingers brought to life, and allowed herself to once more slip into memory.

"Lucius," she whimpered, pain already building up deep within her body. She shook her head, ready to tell him she couldn't do this. His fingers shifted, stroking in and out of the tightness of her channel. The whimper became a long, low moan that vibrated up her spine and filled the room with intense passion.

"Shhhh, " he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, then trailed his tongue up the delicate column of her throat until he came to her earlobe. She shivered when he grazed his teeth over the lobe, then shuddered fully when he bit down on the tender flesh. A shaft of desire stabbed through her and she was startled to feel muscles, already tight, tighten down even further. Her pussy clenched around his intruding fingers, bringing her nerve endings screaming to life. Her moan was long and loud, filling the room. "Beg me, Nisha. Beg me for what you want."

Desire, confusion and fear warred with one another. She knew that she wanted this. She was in love with him, wanted to give all of herself to him. Though she was still naive in many respects, Nisha knew what sex was. She understood what it would entail. There would be pain and discomfort. Judging by the feel of him pressed against her back, there would be quite a bit of pain and discomfort. She knew what parts went where. But he frightened her. She couldn't possibly put her finger on it, on that one thing about Lucius Malfoy that scared her. But she knew that it was there.

"Nisha?" his voice was a gentle caress. It shot tingles up and down her spine. The passion she felt for him burst into flames, consuming the smaller, lesser emotions that were holding her back. The fear turned to ash before the burning need, the confusion quickly following until she was left with nothing but an all-encompassing desire. "You know what I want to hear, darling. All you need do is say it."

"Please, Lucius," Nisha moaned, arching her back so that his hand held more of her breast. Her hips pressed down, driving more of his fingers into her. "I need you. I want you to make love to me."

"Of course, darling," his voice was little more than a sigh. Wordlessly, his hands withdrew from her, leaving her feeling lost, empty. Then they curled around her waist, lifting her up off his lap. She followed his silent instructions without pause for comment. Easily, he guided her around until she faced him. She made to once again sit on his legs, but he stopped her. She looked at him with wide, fearful eyes, afraid she'd done something wrong. The smile he gave her pushed those fears aside.

"Move forward, darling." he urged gently, his hands drawing her closer to him.

Nisha allowed him to position her. When he finished, she found herself kneeling over him. The head of his cock was just brushing the curls between her thighs. He dropped one hand away from her waist, but left the other one in place. Her breath caught in her throat when his fingers once more slid between the folds hidden by those same curls. Glancing up, she found herself caught in his gaze, ensnared by the almost feral quality it held. She sucked in a breath, her gaze locked to his. She could see the hunger he had for her shining out from those stormy eyes and it made her want him all the more.

"Sit down, Nisha," he whispered to her, the words so soft that she had to strain to hear them.

Her hands moved from her breasts, her nipples having been thoroughly manipulated. They now hurt, a fiery throb pulsing in them from her rough treatment. But that pain was slight and it helped feed into her growing need. Even though she knew it was wrong, she wished Lucius were here with her now. She had to have him inside of her, needed desperately to feel his cock buried deep within her body. He'd been her first and she'd never wanted another. That had been true even before she'd discovered the real reason he'd seduced her. And now, now the need for him was this raw, unstoppable hunger that crept further inside of her and ate at more of her will. She would soon lose her ability to fend him off and she found that she didn't care.

The only thing that mattered was how he'd made her feel, how he could make her feel. She wanted that, craved it like some kind of junkie with a habit. Slowly, her hands crept down over her abdomen, her finger tips leaving a trail of tingling nerve endings in their wake. Her eyes were shut but, even if they'd been open, she wouldn't have seen anything. She was still staring off into the past, remembering with a startling clarity just what that first encounter had been like. What he'd been like.

As if he were guiding her hands, her fingers drifted lightly over the swollen folds of her nether lips. The touches were teasing, her work-roughened finger tips barely moving over her sensitive skin as she traced circles and other patterns against her body. Mindlessly, her body bucked upward, a silent plea for her to end her own torment. But she ignored it, her fingers deftly moving away from the gaping center of herself. In good time. She would allow that pleasure in good time. For now, she would continue to tease and taunt herself. She'd learned well at his hands and, even though she knew it was rather a sick thing to do, she wanted to relive the pleasure he'd given her in both body and mind. So she paced herself, her hands moving slowly, in time with the memory of his hands and body.

The pain was like nothing she'd ever felt before in her life. Even though he was whispering soothingly to her as he slowly lowered her down onto his thick shaft, the pain radiated upward into her body and forced her muscles to tense. She cried out, her narrow hands curved around his wrists as she silently begged him to stop. She couldn't tell just how much of him she'd taken, but it felt as if he'd stuffed her full of himself. That narrow space that his erection occupied seemed to be splitting her in two. "Nisha," he murmured her name. Then his mouth came, hot and wet, and covered an aching breast again.

A new kind of fire pulsed through her blood, fighting to win out over the pain his invasion was bringing. She shivered as his tongue lapped roughly at her nipple, his teeth grazing the soft flesh around it. Slowly, as his lips and tongue and teeth worked at her breast and nipple, the searing pain that centered in her thighs lessened. Nisha arched her back, pressing more of his mouth up against her breast. She barely noticed her body slipping down over his cock, the tightly muscled walls tensing a moment before widening around his thick shaft.

His mouth suckled and drew on her breast, forcing her body to react and to draw more of himself into her. By the time she realized what was happening, the blunt head of his erection had pushed past the barrier of her virginity. Tears stung her eyes and soft whimpers rose up her throat. Lucius pulled back and looked at her, his face soft and gentle with his regret. "I'm sorry, darling. The pain couldn't be avoided. But its over now and, in a few moments, will become a pleasure so great, you'll weep with the beauty of it. I promise you this, sweetling, that we will be beautiful and amazing together."

She noted that he'd stopped moving and that, as he'd just stated, the pain was already starting to lessen a bit. When she took a moment to assess the situation, she could feel that he was deep inside of her, her body slowly adjusting to the feel of him. Muscles that had been, up until moments ago, painfully tight, were now relaxing to allow him in. A tenative tightnening of those muscles told her that he was completely buried inside of her and there was, now that she thought on it, a slight pressure where the end of him met the end of her. She lifted wide, disbelieving eyes to him and found that Lucius was looking at her with a mix of wonder and deep lust that turned his eyes to molten, mercury silver. Nisha thought she could fall into those eyes and lose herself.

"You feel amazing, my sweet," he whispered to her. As if to prove his point, his hips shifted ever so slightly. She felt him slip out of her just a touch, then he slid back in. There was a shaft of pain to accompany his movement, but it was mingled with a tingling sensation of pleasure that promised to grown and overwhelm the pain. Once again wide, she lifted confused eyes to his own. His hands drifted to her waist, a slight smile on his lips. "Your body is adjusting to mine, love. Soon enough, it'll be as if they were made to fit one another. We'll fit perfectly together and our love making will be the most natural and amazing thing in the world."

Nisha gasped into the silent room, her fingers slipping into her moist pussy. It was no replacement for Lucius and his impressive cock, but it was all that was at hand. Slowly, with almost reluctant movements, she pulled them free before plunging them back into herself again. The sigh she gave was soft, full of both want and regret. She could imagine Lucius' hands doing this, his tongue.... his cock. Her memories hadn't dimmed or diminished their encounter and, even now, she could feel him inside of her, thick and hot and hard. Her fingers were a poor substitute, but part of her mind held on to the thought that allowing him to once more claim her as his own would be disaster. She couldn't go through that again. So she would keep him at bay for as long as she could, until she could find a way out of the Manor. And, until then, her fingers would have to do.

The tub was thankfully large. It allowed her to position herself in the best possible way. Her legs had fallen open almost as wide as they'd be if she had a man between them and they had yet to touch the walls of the porcelain basin. Her breasts bobbed in the water, her nipples poking up above it to pucker in the chill air of the bathroom. The feel of the bubbles surrounding them was like the gentle caress of a tongue and her body tightened ever further. Water, warm and thick and silky, seemed to pulse and flow around her limbs, stroking her skin for her. It even felt as if some of the liquid had taken form and shape and that it pushed into her body with her fingers. It left her with a feeling of fullness that was strange, even though it brought a satisfaction that her hand would never manage.

Slowly, she began shifting her fingers into her body. The water rocked around her, holding her in its embrace like a cherished lover. Each one of her motions was buffered and intensified by the water, trailing fingers moving against her belly and her thighs. When her fingers dipped into her weeping core, the water followed them, pushing into her as if a pair of ghostly hips surged against her own. Tiny, unseen mouths found her breasts and ate at them, the silky feel of the bubbles closing in around her nipples tightly. A groan rolled up her throat, a sound filled with the desperate want and need of something.... someone real.

Her head rolled on the back of the tub, her free hand sliding in to join the first one. While the fingers inside of her continued to quest deeper, aided by the feel of a firm, water-created shaft, two digits on her free hand began to stroke around her clit. In a moment, they were joined by fingers of water. Warmth rocked backward and forward over her aching nubbin, forcing harsh breaths from Nisha as her body started tightening down.

"We're going to begin now, darling," he told her softly, his hands tightening at her waist. Nisha nodded, her eyes dialated with pleasure and need. She brought her hands up to settle them on his chest, her fingers stroking lightly across the pale pink of his nipples. He groaned with pleasure, his eyes drifting shut a moment. When they reopened, she could see his desire for her burning in them. She was held captive by that look, leaving her unprepaired for his first real thrust.

His hands were tight on her waist, lifting and lowering her hips while his own drove his throbbing length into her body before withdrawing again. They held her in place, preventing her from moving away from him. A strangled noise sounded in the back of her throat, but her eyes never left his. It was as if he held her captivated with them. Each stroke of his shaft brought more pleasure, which drowned out the pain, until she was unconsciously moving her body in time with his.

He was large inside of her, so thick and stiff, and she could feel the individual veins as they scraped along her inner walls. The blunt head felt huge and it constantly pressed her muscles aside as he moved to fill her. A fine heat was coiling in her belly, the friction of his movements building a new kind of tension within her. After several long moments, his hands left her waist and moved to her breasts, once more teasing her nipples. Her head was swimming with wants and needs, things for which she wished to ask but didn't know how. She had no clue that she was shifting herself against him, that she was riding him. All she knew was that he felt so good inside of her, that she didn't wish this to end.

His fingers tweaked her nipples hard, sending her body into a bout of fine shudders. Her eyes went wide when her muscles tightened down around him and clutched at him, holding him within her. "Lucius," she gasped out, that single word a plea she didn't understand. But it was apparent he did.

He surged upward, water cascading off of his skin back into the tub, until he sat up against her. His chest met hers, his arms closing about her shoulders to draw her close. His mouth claimed hers, his tongue plunging deeply into her own to pillage and plunder its sweetness. He groaned, his hips churning up into hers. How he managed it, she didn't know. But he did. He held her close, his mouth locked over hers while his hips arched and bucked wildly to drive his cock up into her time and time again.

All Nisha could do was hold onto him, cling to his mouth and continue moving her hips against his own. His position shifted his angle and gave to her a different feeling of fullness. She was lost in the consuming fire of desire that swelled within her. He made her mad with need. She felt wicked and wanton, a woman full grown under the gentle ministrations of his hands and the forceful way his mouth savaged her own. This was what she had wanted, even when she hadn't known what this was. And now.... Now he was filling her, loving her as she'd longed to be loved. She knew she loved him with all her heart and, had she ever doubted it, this encounter reaffirmed those feelings. She never wanted to leave his side. She never wanted this to end.

She was so close. She could feel the tension growing, deep down in her belly. It was an old, familiar feeling, one she'd nearly forgotten in her sorrow and misery. Only one man had ever made her feel such things. The only man she'd ever known to the fullest extent of the word. Lucius had woken something inside of her all those years ago, something that only he could fully satisfy. Even now, the memory of him was more than enough to make her hot and tingly. Her hands weren't enough to satisfy her, even with the odd feeling of the water working in conjunction with her fingers.

A growl of frustration rolled up her throat, echoing loudly in the silent room. She needed something more, anything that would give the illusion of Lucius being there. Her eyes opened slowly, dialated with pleasure, and glanced around her. She couldn't say what made her do so. She just did it. Her gaze moved around the entire area of the tub. And sitting amongst the bottles of shampoo and condition, of body wash and shower lotion, she saw it. Her hand reached out and took it up, her fingers moving over the surface knowingly.

The phallus was made of white marble, veins of dove gray running through it. It was large, at least nine inches long and two inches in diameter. There was a mushroom shaped head, a tiny indentation carved in the very tip. The marble was cool to the touch, smooth and slick. It curved in the center just enough that she knew it would bring so much more pleasure to her. Her hands and eyes and lips knew the shape well, had once upon a time memorized them so that she would know them in her sleep. By whatever magic there was that ruled Malfoy Manor, the phallus she held was an exact replica of Lucius' own member.

She shifted her hands lower again, taking the phallus with her. The marble was cool against her heated flesh. Sighing, her eyes fluttering shut, Nisha rubbed the smooth surface of the head against her clit. It brought a soft moan to her lips, her hips surging forward slightly. A shift of her hands sent the head lower. It slipped into her body so easily, as if it were a part of her. And, to some extent, it was. Her hips rocked into it, the water still eddying about her body like fingers and hands gently caressing her skin. Since the marble had filled her so completely, the water now sought out other places to touch and play. It concentrated on her clit and abdomen while the bubbles still teased her nipples.

It was almost as good as the real thing, almost as good as being with Lucius. The curve to the shaft was wonderful in that it dragged the hard head against the top of her pussy and stroked across that one spot deep inside that could easily send her over the edge. The smooth walls of the phallus allowed it to shift in and out easily while the width and length were enough to give her the feeling of fullness that she desired. With slow, sure, measured strokes, Nisha shifted the phallus in and out of her body. It was exactly what she needed and she allowed herself to once more submit to the sensations that coursed through her.

The tight feeling was back. She knew she'd felt it before, knew that Lucius had brought it to life in her several other times. She didn't know what it meant. What she did know was that there was something primal that had come to life inside of her, something that pushed her on. Even now, though she wasn't thinking about it, her hips moved against his as her body sought whatever it was his had promised her. And she wanted it. Even though she didn't know what it was, she wanted it.

His hands continued to massage and fondle her breasts, his fingers alternating between squeezing the mounds of flesh and pulling at the nipples. The tips of his fingers, slightly roughened from use, twisted and turned the aching peaks, drawing soft sighs and mewling sounds from her throat. His mouth tasted hers time and again between exploring the curve of her jaw, the line of her neck, the slope of her shoulder. At one point, he somehow managed to bend himself down and take her nipples into his mouth, first one then the other. His mouth was hot and demanding on her body, his lips tugging at her flesh so that he could grate his teeth over her soft skin.

Each touch, each caress, was the more exquisite than the last. Her body was singing, tingles of wanton lust pouring through her veins as if it were water running through a pipe. She wanted and needed so much more. His hips were moving faster now, pounding his length up into her willing body. Subconsciously, she knew that she would be sore later. For the moment, though, she didn't care. She only cared that it felt so good and so right. The water acted like a cradle between the two of them, moving in time with their bodies and cushioning them.

"Please, Lucius," she panted, her voice low and husky. She didn't know how much more of this she could stand. The most curious sensations were rocketing through her system, sending sensory overload into her brain. Her breasts were tight and ached, silently begging for his attention now that his mouth had moved up to close around her throat. There he sucked furiously, his teeth scraping almost painfully over the flesh he held between them. His hands were once more on her hips, holding her still while his own did all of the work.

There was the most amazing feeling filling her, at the juncture where they were joined as one. Even with her lack of experience, she felt that he had been made for her. That they were two halves of the same whole. Even though having Lucius inside of her was still a tight fit, the small amount of pain that came from that was nothing in the face of the pleasure he gave her. That pleasure shot up through her body, driving all thought from her but the faint promise that there was something more coming. It was in the way her muscles kept tightening down, the way her body drove on and on when she thought that there was no way she could manage to do so.

Something great was building between them, something that would forever change their lives. The act they were engaged in had already done just that, but there was more. She knew it as easily as she knew her own name. Lucius was going to give her something else, something special. Something he meant only for her. And it was close. So close that she could almost touch it with her hand.

Lucius went up on his knees then, taking Nisha with him. She wrapped her legs about his waist without being told to, her arms around his neck to hold him close. He shifted them, turning them so that her back was against the tub, though she was only vaguely aware of the action. She was more caught up in the feel of him deep within her body and how he kept moving in and out at a steady pace. His thrusts were faster than they'd been when he started, and definitely deeper.

The muscles in his thighs, tucked up under her ass, flexed with each of his movements. She could feel them tighten and bunch just before he shoved himself back into her body. The room was filled with the sounds of water as it sloshed over the sides of the tub, as well as the breathy, panting gasps that fell from both of them. Nisha's hands were curled tightly into his shoulders, her nails scoring the flesh there. Absently, she registered the cool, hard surface of the bathtub pressed up against her back. Her head rested on the lip, the only part of her body that kept her from slipping under the water.

"Nisha," Lucius whispered, her name like a plea and a prayer on his lips. She surged up against him, the sound of her name sending a ripple through her. Surprise filled her when she found that her emotions and physical feelings were teetering on the edge of a high cliff. Fear held her in place, told her that falling would be the worst mistake she could ever make. At the same time, she felt the urge to throw herself headlong over the cliff. Damn the consequences. There was something deep in the abyss that she simply had to have.

"Darling, you..... I can't wait much longer. I have to finish. Are you ready?" his voice was a bare whisper in the room, but she could plainly hear so many different things in it. There was lust there, as well as simple need. Passion and awe. Deep pleasure. And something else. Something she couldn't name. His eyes were locked to hers, even though she'd not been able to tear her gaze away. His eyes had gone to quicksilver, dark and liquid. They were like a drug or drink, leaving her feeling addicted and intoxicated. She had to have more of that look.

"Please," she begged him, even though she didn't know what she begged him for. She was awash in so many things and it was nearly impossible to pick one from the other. Her need for him was still growing, blinding her to almost everything. But she knew something was about to happen. It was there in the way he moved against her, up into her body. His hips were moving so fast now, and she could swear that he was larger than he had been. New shafts of pain were working their way through her system, heightening her pleasure until she swore she couldn't stand it anymore. The tension was so great, her body strung so tightly that she thought she would burst if he merely touched her.

She didn't burst. She exploded. His fingers found their way down over her abodmen, carefully slipping between their bodies so that they slid across the swollen nub of flesh that he'd stroked before. They were harsh and abbrasive, rubbing at her almost too sharply. A cry climbed up her throat and spilled from her mouth only moments before she was taken by a blinding light. The tension that had been there was now turned to a kind of falling feeling while wave upon wave of pleasure crashed down over her head. She felt as if she were drowning in the glorious feelings he'd given her and only just realized that her body was spasming around his.

A shuddering groan announced Lucius' own climax, the sound reverberating within Nisha as if she were a string on a guitar, plucked and pulled until it echoed with the most beautiful strains of music. He was buried inside of her completely, his cock swollen until the walls of her very core held him within her securely. She keened out her discomfort with it, squirming around until his hands clamped down on her hips and held her in place. Small tremors ran from his body to his fingers, finding their way into her own flesh. His eyes had slid closed, his hips still churning ever so slightly against her body. There was a faint sense of being full, but it passed quickly as he drew her up to him, their chests pressed together, so that he could take her lips with his own.

"You were amazing, darling," he whispered between attempts at devouring her mouth. "Positively amazing."

Soft sounds of completion filled the near silent bathroom, drowning out the noise of sloshing water. Nisha's hand still directed the motion of the marble phallus, her strokes short and deep and hard. The water was closing in on her, pressing down against her body as if a real lover were laying on top of her, his body shoved into hers as he worked for his release. The fingers of liquid that teased her clit were merciless, each stroke sending more tingling tightness into her muscles. She felt, again, as if she would burst. And then it happened, the head of her toy hitting that one spot in just the right manner. Her body stopped for a heartbeat, every last muscle seizing up on her so that she stopped breathing, stopped living. Her orgasm burst over her in warm golden waves, the water and bubbles teasing and coaxing to prolong the ecstacy rushing through her.

When it was over, she eased back against the back of the tub and lay limply, still basking in the afterglow of her release, tiny shocks sending little swells of spent passion rolling out into her limbs. Sobs tore at her, breaking the silence that had fallen in the room, her wet hair thrown across her face to hide her tears. The moment had been beautiful. And it had been tainted with memories of what had been, of how simple and naïve she'd been as a child. She'd foolishly loved him then with all of her heart. And now, thirteen years later, she was no better than she had been. There was no escaping him. Never. Even if she found a way to leave, he'd follow her. If not in person, then in spirit.

The emotions she'd thought long destroyed had, with that one beautifully sweet memory, had roared back to live with painful tenacity. There was no way they would go this time, no way she'd be able to fool herself. She still loved Lucius, madly and deeply. She could never, ever get away from him.

~*~

Lucius stood in the doorway, his heart twisting painfully in his chest. That was twice in as many days that he'd seen Nisha cry. He didn't understand what had happened to her that had been so terrible. He could think of no reason for her to be so miserable. She was free of the brothel and any other place that would use her for such disgusting ends. She had luxurious clothing to wear, an elegant roof over her head. Someone who cared deeply for her. And yet, she was so terribly unhappy.

He'd returned from his morning business to find Narcissa alone in the drawing room. She'd been thumbing through a magazine dedicated to the latest fashions, her face still cast in pensive lines that let him know she hadn't forgiven him for their little spat that morning. After a short conversation which had covered nothing, he'd asked if Nisha had made herself known. The narrowing of his wife's eyes had told him that the girl was a sore spot and it would be best if he were to tread carefully when it came to their guest.

Narcissa had finally told him, after he'd made a good go at making her feel as if she were the only woman in his world, that she hadn't seen the girl all morning. Lucius had swallowed this information down with a slight nod, then had excused himself to his study under the pretext of working on some accounts and corrospondence. That had been enough to ensure that Narcissa wouldn't bother him. He'd locked himself away in his study, then he'd floo'd directly up to Nisha's room.

The bed hadn't been made yet, the pale golden sheets still in a rumpled pile at the end of the bed. He'd smiled to find that some things hadn't changed in the years they'd been apart. Even as a child, Nisha'd had a difficult time leaving the covers on her body. Some part of him had regretted missing the sight of her still sleeping, her nightgown caught up around her hips while the blankets were pooled at her feet to show off the line of her lovely legs.

He'd been wondering where she could have gotten to when he'd heard the splashing from the bathroom. It hadn't been too terribly difficult to cast a silencing spell upon the door. It had opened on hinges so quiet, one would think that the door wasn't real. And Lucius had found Nisha lounging in the tub.

He'd been transfixed from the moment he'd laid eyes on her. The bubbles that floated on the water were thick, centered over the trunk of her body. He hadn't been able to see her breasts in the white mounds, but he'd been able to imagine where they floated on the surface. There'd been a thickness to the air, as if some kind of presence had come to inhabit the room. He'd known, without having to look, just what Nisha had been doing. Her hand reaching out to lift up a wonderfully crafted, rather large phallus had only confirmed his beliefs. He'd watched as Nisha'd fondled the toy in much the same way she'd once fondled him and the memory of their first moment together had swallowed him whole. He'd found himself caught between reality and memory, his body reliving their first encounter while his eyes feasted upon the woman in the tub and what he imagined her to be doing.

Her hands had disappeared beneath the surface and, a moment later, her eyes had shut as she'd heaved a soft, long sigh. He swore he could see the shaft of her toy slipping easily into her body. And her sigh. It had been the sound of the angel's wings on the air. That sound had seen him recalling the very first moment he'd slid into her body, the tightness that had enveloped him and the amazing feelings it had brought to life within him. He'd remembered how she'd responded to him, how her body had fit his as if it had been made for him alone. And standing there, watching her pleasure herself, had gotten him so horny he'd barely been able to control himself.

The urge to go to her side, strip himself down and take her again had been strong. But her sudden tears had killed the need so that all he could do was stand in the doorway and watch her mourn. He wanted to go to her and hold her. He wanted to tell her that there was no reason to cry. He wanted to convince her that he didn't like to see her sad. He wanted to know just what it was that filled her with such sorrow. The Nisha that dwelled in his house now was nothing like the Nisha that had once filled it, and him, with passion and life.

He left on feet as silent as those he'd arrived on. A flick of his wand saw the door shut behind him in the same noiseless manner with which it had opened. He made his way to her hearth and stared at it, the thought that he was supposed to floo back to his study heavy on his mind because that's where Narcissa knew he was supposed to be. But he had no desire to go back to his office. All that he'd find there was solitude and drink. He didn't think that he should indulge in drink just yet. His wife would want to know why and would obviously suspect something. He was damned in his own home. A frown slid across his face as he debated his options.

There were few places he could go and have a measure of privacy. He could go to the Ministry and work, but he'd already taken the day off. There would be talk if he showed up now. He could go to Knockturn Alley and spend time in one of the dark, dirty little shops there that catered to the less savory crowds. But he was also likely to meet up with someone who knew him and then word would eventually make its way back to Narcissa. He realized that there was only one place he could go where he'd be assured of the kind of privacy he was looking for. He'd have to go to his club.

~*~

The Dark Horse Gentleman's Club had been graced with a full crowd, but Lucius was lucky enough to find himself a seat beside an empty table. A well dressed waiter came and took his order, then scurried off as if the hounds of Hell were on his heels. Lucius watched him go with a faint smirk on his face, then glanced around at the gathered throng. There were newspapers in nearly every hand, bringing him to believe that the latest news had gotten out. He allowed himself a small smile. It was only a matter of time before the men began asking the questions burning in their mind. Questions he was all too willing to answer.

"Your drink, Master Malfoy," the young server said as he deposited a glass of perfectly chilled brandy on the table near Lucius' elbow. He gave a thin smile to the man, then dropped a coin on his train and shooed him away with a glacial look. The moment the waiter was gone, the entire room buzzed with chatter and all eyes shifted toward him.

"Gentlemen," he inclined his head, then lifted his tumbler and took a drink.

"Malfoy, old boy," a short, squat Wizard with fly-away gray hair and a poorly grown goatee began. Lucius shifted his attention to the man, nodding his permission for the man to continue. "There are rumors abounding and in plentitudes that you are the new owner of The Birdcage. Is it possible?"

"We knew Finch was done for, what with the odd loss of patronage at many of his businesses, but surely he didn't lose the his customer base at that particular establishment," another added, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Apparently, the good people who found themselves visiting his establishment didn't appreciate the fact that he has a tendency to beat his women into doing what he wants of them," Lucius drawled, adding just the right amount of disgusted outrage into his voice. There was a moment of rumbled conversation as the men around him took some time to mull over what he'd just said. He took a sip of his drink to hide the smirk that played at his lips.

"I remember you mentioning a child the last time you graced us with your presence," came from the same, graying Wizard who'd been here the night he'd come in and laid it on thick about Roger Finch and what he'd done to Nisha. All eyes looked at him expectantly. While some of the men there wouldn't bat an eyelash at so abusing a child, none of them would admit it within polite company's hearing. "What ever became of that girl?"

Lucius paused for dramatic effect. He could practically feel the men in the room gravitating toward him. The silence was thick and heavy, weighing him down as if he were wearing a heavy winter cloak. He sighed and shook his head. "The poor dear still hasn't recovered from the traumatic events. It was found that she had parents and that she'd been kidnapped from them while on holiday to France. Roger Finch bought her from white slave traders and thought to use her in his business. We all know there are those out there with such disgusting tendencies."

A ripple moved around the room as the men gathered nodded their heads solemnly. He knew a few of them were some of those with such disgusting tendencies. But none would admit it in the company of such upper class individuals. Not if they wished to continue to frequent the hallowed establishment that was the finest gentleman's club in all of the British Isles. "This child. Does she recall the events?"

"No. She was so traumatized that she blocked them," he replied with a faint sigh. To some extent, that wasn't a lie. Nisha might not be a small child, but she'd been beaten and raped. And she had, for whatever reason, blocked out that part of her life when he felt she'd been truly happy. He knew, merely looking at her, that he was living with the shell of the woman that she should have been. Some part of him wouldn't let him skirt around the fact that he was the reason for that tragic event. Whatever had changed her, it was something he'd done to her. "I have heard, though, that she still has nightmares about what befell her. A member of the St. Mungo's staff has informed me that she wakes screaming in the night and has to be spelled back to sleep."

"Finch needs to die," someone muttered snarkily from the corner. Lucius turned and nodded his agreement, lifting his glass to sip at his brandy. Another hand dropped to his shoulder and gave him a masculine sort of squeeze before slipping away.

"Thank Merlin you were there to help that poor child," another added.

"So," a third voice began in drawling tones that immediately set Lucius on edge. "Does this mean that you'll be cutting a deal to your friends? Seeing as you are now the owner of The Birdcage, are you going to share your good fortune with the rest of us?"

Lucius pondered this a moment. He hadn't considered what he'd do once he'd taken possession of The Birdcage. Even at this moment, his solicitors were going over the paperwork, making sure that the men who represented Finch hadn't tried to lie and cheat. Even so, talking about buying the bordello and actually doing so were two different things. This wasn't something he could just enter into lightly.

The entire room awaited his answer in expectant silence, the air so palpably thick he thought he could cut it with a spoon. He gave the gathered men a slight smile and then pursed his lips as if he were still considering what to say. After a few moments, in which the tension grew to a physical thing, he shrugged one shoulder as if that motion would cover it all. "I haven't given it consideration. I wish to first look over my purchase before I decide what to do with it. I might close it down, given the bad memories it holds for some people."

Loud bellowing errupted, shattering the still that had settled over the room, as each man struggled to be heard over the next. He could plainly hear that no one wished to see him close down The Birdcage. There were one or two offers to buy it from him, no matter what price he asked. And, while the temptation was there, the possiblity of making money off the venture was far more appealing than selling it off to some perverted slob who wanted a way to get all the sexual play he wanted for free. There was no way he'd allow himself to subject those women to that kind of emotional and physical abuse.

"Gentlemen," his voice, strong and sharp and loud, cut through the protestations and declarations, bringing the room to near immediate silence once again. Each of them turned to look at him, eyes wide with curiosity. "I haven't decided what I will do as of yet. Tomorrow, I plan on looking over the house and speaking with its women. Before I make my mind up, I wish to know what it is I'm getting myself into. At least spare me the outrage until then."

With that, he picked up the nearest copy of The Daily Prophet and began perusing it. The men in the room took it as the cue it was meant to be and left him to his drink and paper. Lucius smiled behind the opened pages. Things couldn't have worked any better in his favor than they had. He was now owner of The Birdcage. Roger Finch's financial situation had taken a header into the loo. The man had paid for what he'd done to Nisha and Lucius couldn't wait to tell her.

Nisha. His good cheer evaporated when he recalled the last sight he'd seen of her. Blindly, he reached for his drink and lifted it, downing the fine brandy in one swallow. He never even tasted it as it burned a path down his throat. He still had to do something about her sadness. If only he could figure out what had happened in her past that had left her so melancholy.... So unlike herself. It hurt hm to see her as she was, he cared that much for her. But he couldn't find any way in past her natural defenses. No matter what he said or did, she kept him at arm's length. This wasn't the Nisha he'd known and come to care about. This was a stranger, wearing her face and speaking in her voice. He hated that she had come to this.

Worse, he hated that he was responsible for her sorrow, her lack of passion and smiles, her complete apathy for her life. Her derision of him. He didn't know how he'd brought all of these things about but it was more than obvious to him in the way she spoke and acted that she blamed him for the sadness and misfortune that had befallen her. He'd give anything he had to see her smile in genuine joy again, to hear her rich laugh. He'd give anything in the world just to know that, for what ever he'd done that so hurt her, she forgave him.

How could he earn forgiveness for something when he didn't know exactly what it was he'd done that required forgiveness? His mind clung to that question tenaciously while he pondered how he could find out what it was she blamed him for. And then it came to him, in a blindingly evil halo of sudden inspiration. His smile returned, the one he saved for frightening annoying children and idiots. He knew exactly how he was going to find out what it was that upset her so. He had the perfect weapon at his disposal. Nisha would never know what hit her, either. Not until it was far too late.

Working to school his features into an expression of supreme boredom, he set the paper aside and stood from the plush leather chair. Every eye turned to him in guarded expectation. Lucius could almost hear their hope, as if they were actually begging him with words to keep The Birdcage open. He had no intention of closing down such a money making business. He'd be a fool to do so. But let the lot of them squirm for a while longer, wondering and waiting anxiously. He'd tell them all that the brothel would remain open at a later date, when he felt they had suffered long enough.

For the moment, he had places to be and people to see. There were plans to put into motion. He would know what it was that saddened Nisha, no matter what it took.

~*~*~*~*~

It was black, dark as night without a moon, and she was alone. Lost in eternal shadow where something foul and evil stalked her. She was little more than prey for what ever cruel beast it was that chased her through the darkness. And she knew it was there. She could feel it breathing upon her neck, even though she couldn't see it. She wasn't afraid of the dark, but she was afraid of what lived in it. She was vulnerable in dreams, in this place where she had no control or power. Here, she was merely a girl. A small child who couldn't defend herself against even the smallest, least dangerous of foes.

The air around her was cold, prompting her to search for someplace warm to burrow herself into. It was always cold here, always black with shadows and fear. This place, where ever and what ever it was, was a place of nightmares. Her own personal Hell, because she never encountered any other living soul here. Just the feeling that something watched her from the darkness, waited for her to make one mistake. There was something out there in the shadows that wanted her dead. She could feel the malevolence as easily as she could sense the wrongness of this plane. Which ever plane it was.

Everything was vast here, a never ending stretch of nothingness that held a vague shape and form. It pressed down upon her shoulders and tried to pin her in place. Whatever it was, it wanted her to stay. It wanted her. She could feel that almost desperate want, the wrongness of it in the air around her. Where ever she went in her dreams, it was a real place. It lived and breathed evil intent and it welcomed her back every time she closed her eyes. Whatever this thing was, she knew it wanted to keep her in this nightmare.

She hated it here, hated the feelings of helplessness that this place brought to life within her. Whatever this place was, it had the ability to suck the life out of a person. It could take the cheer and the joy, the very breath from a soul. And she kept finding her way back here, even though she never wanted to return. One trip had been enough for her. The first time had left her cowering in fear when she'd woken and for hours afterward. Each time she found herself here, it was that much harder to make her way back to the land of light and the living.

A sound rose behind her, a low, feral growl that brought gooseflesh up along the length of her arms. She shivered and whipped around. Nothing stood behind her. But the darkness pressed in even harder. She felt her legs wobble and she stumbled to her knees. The weight of whatever it was that stalked her was mind-numbing, not allowing her to do anything that could save herself. It held her down, kept her locked in her place. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't. Her throat wouldn't work. The fear was so thick, it clogged her mind.

Cold, icy fingers crept up over her shoulder and clenched tightly. Dread trickled down her spine, the cold permeating her flesh to freeze her from the inside out. Her throat tightened, a painful cry for help lodged in it, and she lost the fight. The darkness washed over her and sucked her under, drowning her in its thickness. She was felt herself slip away, the last sound she heard an ominous laughter that was filled with glee.

Nisha roused with a scream that echoed off the walls of the vast bathroom. She wasn't at all surprised to find herself still laying in the tub. Even though it had been an age since she'd allowed herself to think of that first time, even memories of Lucius were enough to exhaust her. He'd done much the same in person when they'd been together those few times. His love making had left her sated and sleepy and she'd never been able to stop herself from drifting off. Even now, so many years after the fact, he still had the ability.

Tendrils of the dream still clung to her, cold fingers of memory that held her even though she was wide awake. To occupy her mind and drive the remaining bits of her dream from her, she forced herself to take stock of her surroundings. Her head rested on the back lip. The water had gone cool, all of the bubbles melted away. She had no idea how long she'd slept. It had been long enough, though. Long enough for the dream to come to her. She hadn't had the dream in a very long time. It was obvious to her that being back with Lucius had brought that fear back to her.

She wanted to get away, wanted to go somewhere far away. She needed to get away from him. Something told her that if she didn't get up and go now, she'd never be able to. There'd be no escape. Not that it mattered. There was nothing pressing waiting for her, no one who needed her. She had no where to go. Lucius had seen to that when he'd brought her here. Even though he had no clue as to what he'd done, he'd taken away the one thing she'd had left to her. Her freedom. She was, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner.

A sigh slipped from her as she climbed from the cold water. It wasn't like she'd ever truly been free. But, even as a prisoner in a Turkish harem, she'd had far more freedom than she knew she'd ever have with Lucius. A shudder rippled up her spine. Drawing a towel around her body, she allowed herself to think over her life as it had been. When she'd been a child, she'd been awed by the things Lucius and Narcissa had had, had offered her. She'd allowed her wants and needs to blind her to what was going on. And the results had left her lost and alone, suffering a pain that she didn't think would ever go away.

Back then, she'd never been able to recall anything that involved her family. Her earliest memories had involved fear and darkness. She'd longed to know who and what she was, to remember her mother and father. She'd wanted to know, simply, why she'd been cast aside and thrust away from the bosom of the people who were supposed to love her. If she'd known then what she knew now, she'd have never dared go down that road.

As a child, darkness had been her constant companion. Her earliest memories had been of hiding, of being caught in the dark. She'd never understood why she'd been afraid. But at night, her dreams had all the been the same. Cold, thick darkness that had closed in around her. Even now, so many years later, those dreams were still capable of making her cower. She still didn't truly understand them. But she hadn't had one in the past thirteen years. Not since she'd left Malfoy Manor. What was it about being here, about being with Lucius, that made her feel as if she was a mere fifteen year old girl again.

Nisha started for the door, then stopped in her tracks as some scent tickled her nose. It hung on the air, faint and incriminating. She knew it as well as she knew her name. It was musky, with a hint of spice to it. It had the smell of money and sin rolled up into one. Lucius' aftershave. She could remember burying her nose in his throat to inhale the smell of him. She had always loved that smell. Even to this day, it was one of her most favorite scents. He'd been here.

Lucius Malfoy, the rotten bastard, had been in her bathroom. She closed her eyes, felt her heart contract. He'd seen her. She had no doubt he'd watched her pleasure herself. Part of her felt violated and betrayed. Yet another part thrilled at the idea that he would stand in the doorway and watch her. She wondered if she'd aroused him, if he'd hurried off to relieve himself after lingering in the doorway. For a moment, she wished that he'd stripped off his clothes and joined her. Feeling him buried inside of her again was something that she couldn't stop herself from wanting. It was all the more reason to stay away from him.

Moving to the bedroom, Nisha headed for the wardrobe. Logically, she knew she should pull something on over her head, then leave and run as fast and far as she could. She was so tempted. This afternoon's events proved it to her. But she knew, if she left, that he would follow her and he would find her again. Snape was right in that she'd never be safe from Lucius. There was no where she could go that he couldn't or wouldn't find her. So the only option left to her was to avoid him.

Slipping a gown over her head, Nisha called for a House Elf. The little creature appeared with a pop and happily helped her fasten her gown. When the Elf was done, Nisha sat down and gave her a list of instructions. The Elf listened, her eyes going wider by the moment. Nisha could see the disapproval in her companion's eyes. She didn't care.

"Master will not be's happy," the Elf muttered before popping out of the room.

~*~*~*~*~

Hermione Granger stared at the page for a moment before leaning back to rub her eyes with her fingers. She'd spent the better part of her day in the library, deep within the Restricted Section, looking through books on magical beings and creatures. The day had passed her by with little notice. She'd even forgotten to have lunch, she'd been so involved in her reading. This assignment of Snape's was unusual, but he'd given it to her so she was going to do it to the best of her abilities.

She knew that what he'd given her had nothing to do with the school's approved curriculum. Just as it had nothing to do with her apparent inability to keep her hands to herself. There'd been a look in Snape's eyes as he'd given it to her, for just a moment, that had given her reason to believe that he wanted the information for something other than school. She wasn't such an simpleton that she didn't know what he was up to. The question was why? Why did he want her to look into the entire world of magic? What did he want to know?

She sighed and looked at the pages of notes that lay at her elbow. So far, she'd gone through the usual texts about the land and peoples of Faerie, about trolls and goblins, pixies, dawrves and the various familes of Elves. She'd come to discover, as she'd pulled out one large tome after another, that there were so many areas of magic that they were never taught about. Oh, she'd attended regular schooling and she'd learned about the Roman and Greek pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. And she knew that each culture had their own versions of the same. That kind of information could only mean one thing. That all religions and magics were bound up together by one common denominator. Finding that denominator was the problem, though.

Having gone through all of the basic information, she'd moved on to more exotic topics. Yesterday, she'd read about the Norse and their own belief system. It had surprised her to find that there were as many varied deities that belonged to Viking lore as had belonged to the Romans and Greeks. At the moment, she was reading up in the Middle Eastern beliefs. But she didn't know what that was going to get her. She didn't think that Snape would be interested in them. There didn't seem to be anything in them that he would have come across. There'd have been word of it in the paper.

Frowning, Hermione flipped ahead in the book. The pages went through the cultures by eras and she'd been moving through them systematically. What she'd turned to was a section she wouldn't be working on for another week or so, if she kept working at a steady pace. But she looked at it now, just to break up the tedium. She found herself looking at information about the Welsh and the Celts. Her interest came to life as she began reading and she pulled the book closer to her.

It was surprising to her that the Welsh, the Irish Celts and the Scottish Celts had deities that were practically interchangeable. Many of the names were the same. She found herself fascinated with what was on the page before her.

"Arianrhod (aree AN rod), whose name means "Silver Wheel", is a Goddess of fertility, the full moon, the stars, regeneration and reincarnation whose pathway is an eternal quest or thread that has no beginning or end. The spirit of Arianrhod is a symbol of prophecy and dreams. As a meditative glyph, She provides a glimpse of both the past and the further, but the traveler must follow the Spirit of Arianrhod with an open heart and mind. She controls the time dimension that allows access to the whirlpool of Creation; an enigmatic vision of the universe as perceived by the Celts. She is the personfication of the ever-turning Wheel of the Year. This whell was also known as the Oar Wheel, a ship that carried the dead warriors to the Moon-land (Emania). She is a primal figure of female power and authority and is considered an Ancestral Goddess of the Celts. The key to the nature of this Goddess is that She is a weaver, in control of the interactions of human lives and of the matter of creation itself. In Irish tradition, we find that the Goddess of the Land of Erin may manifest as a weaver. She lives in a stellar realm, Caer Arianrhod - otherwise known as the Corona Borealis - with her female attendants and there, she decides the fate of the dead. The Corona Borealis is the self-same constellation that is associated with Ariadne, a Greek resonance of Arianrhod. She is a very sexual Goddess and mates freely with any man she chooses, whenever she chooses, as her body is heres to do with as she wants. For this reason, she is often in open rebellion against patriarchal society. Many believe her myths represent the shift time of Celtci women's full freedom to that of male centered clans and male domination of women."

Hermione considered this information and gave consideration to skipping the Middle Eastern mythologies. Finally, she sighed and realized that she couldn't do such a thing. Snape had said he wanted information on everything. And that would include all mythologies. Heaving a sigh, she thumbed her way back to the page she'd last been on, then scooped up her quill, re-inked the tip and pulled the book closer so she could settle in for more reading.

end chapter nine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

as always, i must thank my usual posse for all their help and support. without them, i wouldn't continue doing this. i lurvs them all. extra special thanks to my kitty cat and onyx. i couldn't do it without them.

please be kind with me. i am my own beta and, since my request to join the ranks of the Gods hasn't been approved yet, i am still merely mortal. i do make mistakes, though i hope that they are few and far between. don't hurt me.

finally, thanks to those of you who read me. i hope this chapter makes up for the terribly long amount of time between posts.

the information above about the Goddess Arianrhod came from a website that i Googled. hopefully, you've found it as interesting as Hermione and i did.

and now, the last thanks

to Jess: if you're still reading, i do hope you like this chapter and find it as riveting as the rest of the story. thanks so much for reading.