Iron Rain Pt. 11

"He just left," she said a little out of breath.

"Okay, now let me write out that check and we can go see this museum of yours," I said still puzzled over whatever it was that I missed.

So as I took out my check book and we walked up to the front Akira availed herself of the ladies room and with a final shrug figured she would or wouldn't explain to me what the fuck just happened. The jewelry was placed in an appropriate box and before we headed downstairs I took a good long look at the ring and it was indeed a thing of beauty. The metal was dark gray yet bright catching the light from above nicely and the stones that been carved in the shapes of the swords and the eye were so dark they appeared black except under a full bright illumination and then they glowed like flowing blood. I didn't touch it I just turned the box this way and that so that I could see it from all sides. Then with a pinching gesture the box snapped shut. We headed downstairs and it was just Quinn, Sam and me; Akira was still occupied in the ladies room and I suspected I knew why... round two.

The basement was an attempt at controlled chaos and that the unopened crates lay neatly stacked in one corner of the unfinished level. While the opened crates that had not yet been processed were in another corner in some sort of system I guessed. Last were the empty crates that took up the last corner and it was this that appeared to be nothing more than a leaning pile that would and could come crashing down at any minute. We must have passed under the bathroom for there were the soft but unmistakable grunts coming from Akira.

"UNNN UNNNN UNNNN..." she was moaning for all she was worth.

"Well that answers where Oz got off to," I said and the other two just smiled.

"Doesn't it bother you that she is... well with Oz?" Sam asked genuinely concerned.

"Nah, she's a big girl and it isn't like we are exclusive," I told him.

"Ah, well I am sorry I pried," Sam replied a little saddened.

"No harm, no foul," I told him and we continued on to the single door unremarkable in every way and yet I felt that what lay beyond was anything but.

There was no lock and the door wouldn't withstand much punishment and yet there was a sense of privacy and something subtle that kept the curious away. The entire display began in the middle of the room and spiraled out from there in chronological order. At the very center at first glance an ancient hammer dating back to the late nineteenth century but the distinct impression in the business end of it was obvious to all; there inset into the head of the hammer a perfect impression of the Bloodstone Ring. Then there was an anvil and a larger hammer and the subtle but definite progression of heavier and heavier objects stopped and a more intelligent tack became apparent. Now there were crucibles and attempt to melt the thing but that failed as well. Then there was a most beautiful and disturbing thing off on one side of the wall. The long bar of metal that became more and more slender as it rose from the dull irregular base of lightning glass that held it up.

"It suffered a direct lightning strike?" I asked.

"Yep, that's when I realized this was going to be a very long process," Quinn said softly.

This was followed by various containers of acids and other chemicals. One of his last attempts surprised even me.

"Thermite really," I said amazed.

"Yeah saw it on a TV show and decided to give it a try; it was one of the more entertaining attempts I can tell you."

"Tell him about Hawaii," Sam said with a giggle.

"Oh yeah," he said laughing. "I heard there was an eruption so we booked a flight and managed to convince one of the volcanologists to allow us to use two of their suits for a half hour after a healthy contribution to their research of course. We placed the ring on a rod and dipped it onto the lava. Then we poured cold water over it hoping the extreme temperature change might do the trick but it didn't. It was difficult trying to explain how the ring survived to the on looking scientist but we just said... sorry wrong volcano and we walked away. Man the look on his face was fucking priceless."

"Yeah I wish I could have been there," I said then I saw it. "Is that a submarine?"

"Funny story that," Sam actually spoke up this time. "Nik Salte, you saw him at the diner, well he was contacted by an underwater research group to develop a small power plant for a submarine. We were able to convince them to take along an experiment of the effects of water pressure on a new alloy we were supposedly developing. We built this box with wickedly reinforced sides that would hold up to about four atmospheres of pressure before it failed. Inside the box was the ring of course. They lowered it to the bottom of a deep trench where the box failed and when they brought it up it was squished and the ring had almost fallen out but it was none the worse for wear."

"How did you explain the ring," I asked.

"We just told them it was the ring all along that was crafted from the alloy and they pronounced it a huge success," Sam finished the story with a big grin.

"Wow, it looks like I really do have my job cut out for me," I said thinking out loud. "I'll look at it as a project that will keep me amused for a while."

"Good luck, I'm glad it isn't my problem anymore," Quinn said as he led us out of the museum and we all looked up and heard that the noise from the first floor had ceased. "Well looks like she is ready to leave now."

"Yep," I said smiling. "If you guys ever come across anything interesting you know where to find me."

"Will do, I will give Jaime a call and tell her she has guests and she can get a room ready for you two." Quinn offered.

"That'll be great; of course we didn't plan on staying we may have to do some clothes shopping especially her." I said with a look of exasperation.

As we made our way towards the counter the door to the ladies bathroom opened and Akira stepped out followed by Oz. Akira was completely and utterly disheveled and Oz looked very pleased with himself as he tucked in his shirt and zipped his fly. Akira walked over and it appeared she was almost drunk. Then I spied the droplets of blood by her mouth and my long held suspicion had been proven without a shadow of a doubt. Akira Kusanagi, Majestrix of the Sisterhood, was a Nephilim and surprisingly I found that I was quite comfortable with that. I walked over and guided her back into the bathroom with words to the effect of...

"You need to put yourself back together before we step outside into the cold sweetness," I whispered in her ear. "You have been keeping a secret from me and we will talk at the bed and breakfast."

The expression of pain and sorrow on her face cut me to the quick but I managed a smile as I closed the door after her. I could hear her crying in the bathroom and knew that going in would only make things worse. I had two cups of coffee and the three of us sat on the couch waiting for her to reemerge but Oz had left the minute he was finished with her. He and I were going to talk about that. After what seemed like forever the door opened and she stepped out her clothing as impeccable as I expected her to be and no sign whatsoever of her drunken state.

"I just wanted to apologize to all of you," she said and bowed low.

"We need to go clothes shopping for our stay here in town," I told her.

"Staying? Why are we staying Kouryou?" She asked.

"Call it a gut instinct," I said. "There are people and things I would like to see while I am here and it may take a day or two."

Quinn told us he had talked to the manager at the nicest bed and breakfast in town Jaime La Chance and we had a room set aside for as long as we needed. We said our goodbyes and it wasn't hard finding the stores we wanted so we could get enough clothes for the duration. When I picked out some lingerie for Akira she knew that things were still good between us and that nothing had changed.

"Kouryou..." she began but I touched my finger to her lips and she instantly fell silent.

"No words are necessary," I said softly.

Eisermann's Daguerreotypes:

It was close to noon by the time our little shopping trip and self guided tour of the small town was complete. The snow had stopped and I finally got a good look at the town and was amazed on so many levels and wondered how it had managed to stay under the radar as it obviously had. There were no power lines or telephone poles anywhere in town and that could mean only one thing all the utilities were buried beneath the town. The layout of the town was so perfect it was as if the founders had laid out the streets and all the possible expansions ahead of time but that is highly unlikely, wasn't it? I was sure a bird's eye view of the town would be like a piece of graph paper taking into consideration the lay of the land and the steady slope from the eastern side of the town up to the higher elevation to the west and the mountains.

Akira and I drove to the bed and breakfast and deposited our purchases and my briefcase in the room.

"Would you like a fashion show Kouryou," Akira purred and as I sat on the kings sized bed I gave her the nod.

She began with the more conservative clothing she had bought first there was nothing here that would raise a single eyebrow while we were in town. Then she slipped into the first piece of lingerie that was black stockings, a garter belt and a smile. I smiled and then she returned wearing bright red mesh stockings, and a t-bar and bustier of the same shade of scarlet. Her last outfit was something straight out of young man's wet dream. Akira was wearing what could only be described as the epitome of the Japanese Schoolgirl's Uniform down to the pigtails, super short skirt and Patten leather shoes with knee socks. Smiling she lifted up the short skirt revealing a freshly shaved pussy and I could see that she was eager to make up with me about her indiscretion at Quinn's.

"I like, be a dear and get me my briefcase," I asked her.

Smiling she walked over and bent over letting the skirt ride all the way up until her pussy and puckered anus were visible. Then she slowly stood up and walked it over to me.

"Wait," she said confused. "When did you get a briefcase?"

"I was wondering when you were going to notice," I said smiling. "Now be a love and turn around and grab your ankles."

Smiling Akira eagerly followed my directions and faced away from me and bent over and grabbed her ankles. I opened the briefcase and retrieved the bottle of lube and put a dot on my index finger and wondered if it would perform as the product claimed. I began with her clit and slit and applied the lube liberally.

"MMMMMMM Kouryou what is thattttttttttttttttt OH MY GOD!" she moaned and bit her lip as I blew on her sex.

"It's supposed to make you more sensitive does it work," I asked.

She could only whimper in response.

"Good, well if a little is good more is better," I said as I applied the lube to her tight little asshole.

"UNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN," she moaned/growled as I began fingering her ass.

"Just testing, says it lasts for about an hour that should be long enough," I said smiling as I took the toy from the briefcase.

It was a small vibrator the color of deep sapphire; it had two independent motors that could stimulate her pussy or ass with different sensations at the same time. I eased the U-shaped toy into both of her holes and she nearly came and it wasn't even on yet. I cleaned my fingers and capped the bottle of lube and slipped it into my pocket, just in case. Then I took out the replacement watch that Jesse had sent to take the place of the one he had fragged onboard the Numenor. It took mere seconds before I was able to access the toy through the watch, perfect. With a touch the toy came to life and Akira's cry of pleasure echoed off the walls.

"That'll work," I said smiling. "Now get dressed and put on something presentable to meet the mayor. We are having a late lunch with him in less than an hour."

"Kouryou," she asked. "Not with the toy up inside of me?"

"Yep," I grinned savagely. "I want to see you squirm a little is all and it isn't like you aren't going to enjoy yourself."

"Master is cruel," she said pouting.

"Cruel would be teasing you with the toy all day and not fucking you afterwards."

"Oh... in that case... NNNNNNNNNNNNNNick!!!!!" she shouted as I tripled the pulse pattern's strength without warning in both her holes sending her orgasm crashing over her dropping Akira to her knees.

"Now get dressed or I will have to leave you behind," I said changing to a nice suit I had purchased for just this occasion.

"I don't remember us being invited," she said as she quickly stripped down and but on a nice long skirt, blouse and matching jacket.

"Sam came by while you were in the changing room at the lingerie store."

"Are you angry with me Master," she asked as she touched up her makeup.

"Not at all, I saw the toy and lube when we walked into the store and I decided right then and there to get your juices going with a nice new toy." I told her as I adjusted the pleasure to a more tolerable level... for now. "I do have one question though, how the hell did Oz fuck you at Quinn's without us seeing?"

"Have you ever heard of Inpo," Akira asked smiling remembering the feeling of her skirt being lifted up by unseen hands and a hard cock sliding into her pussy from behind as she was bent over looking at one of the displays.

"Sure I have and any other number of mythical martial art techniques, like Kaiajitsu," I told her.

"Well as it happens both of them exist and Oswald Sebastian Kane has somehow mastered Inpo," she said shivering remembering his voice telling her to bend over the glass display case in front of everyone while he drilled her pussy hard and fast.

"You are telling me that he can make himself invisible, really?"

"It is not magic it is the art of knowing where a person's blind spots are. Your vision is flawed you have to learn to rely on your other senses."

"I don't..." but even as I said it she looked at me intently and side stepped disappearing from my line of sight. "...what the fuck!"

However the minute I turned my head she reappeared but had proved her point.

"You can do it? How long have you known he could?" I was rambling.

"I suspected he was using some sort of stealth technique but I didn't know what or how much he had mastered it until today," she said with a pleasant shiver.

"I have been totally schooled," I told her. "And you say that Kaiajitsu is real too?"

"Have you ever heard of an opera singer breaking a glass with her voice," she asked and I nodded. "It's the same principal but with someone who has strong Ki skills you can utilize your voice for any number of effects. When a woman alters her voice to that sexy tone that is a very basic modulation now imagine someone who has spent years honing that skill alone. She could make you climax just by talking to you."

"That sounds like the legends of the Sirens," I said and she nodded.

"Much of myth has a basis in truth. I have heard of masters who can shatter stone, bone, even internal organs by the power of their voice alone."

"Whoa... that would be so cool, but it isn't like there are Kaiajitsu masters roaming the Midwest looking for students."

"You'd have more luck with the Inpo Kouryou," she said and smiled that dreamy little smile of hers.

"Just so I could fuck you in public and no one could see me?" and her purr was all the answer I needed. "I have to talk to Oz about this Inpo thing it seems."

The mayor's car picked us up at the bed and breakfast and we enjoyed the scenic route up the modestly steep climb up into the foothills of the mountains. Our path was one long half moon that took us to a spot that overlooked the majority of the town and a scenic view of the rest of the mountain valley.

"How the hell did they do it," I muttered out loud.

"Kouryou," Akira whimpered in response. "I don't understand how did they do what?"

"How did they manage to move a castle stone by stone from Europe all the way up here," I asked again.

"MMMMMMM," she moaned softly her eyes half closed. "Determination, I would guess sheer willful determination."

Her body shook suddenly as if from a deep chill but we both knew better. Akira opened her eyes all the way now and pursed her lips then with another smaller shiver she bit her lip as another smaller orgasm gripped her so soon after the first one.

"Enjoying the ride," I asked and she could only nod. "Good, I don't suppose we need to reapply your ointment do we?"

She shook her head vigorously and I couldn't help but smile. The car came to a halt parked on the west side of the castle and the driver came out and around to open our door for us. We stepped out and I couldn't help but gasp at the overwhelming beauty of the vista before us. The snow covered landscape that could have graced any art museum with its sweeping elevation from the distant eastern edge of the valley to the western foothills of the surrounding mountains. South lay the town proper and beyond that what appeared to be a small cluster of redwood trees climbing high above everything else in their ancient majesty!

"Wow," I whispered lost in the beauty around me.

"Wow indeed Nick," a cultured voice said and I looked up to see the middle aged mayor of Hammerton Augustus Eisermann. "You don't mind if I call you Nick?"

"No I prefer Nick to Mr. Shaw much less formal, if you don't mind my asking those trees over there..." I didn't even have to point them out.

"Yes, we call them the Sentinel Trees but if you want to see them I can give Mary Stone a call and she would gladly give you a tour. The trees are on her land you see but we all lay claim to them in some way or another."

"Who could blame you," I said. "I was surprised when Sam stopped by the store and told me you wanted to meet. But I am glad you did if only for the view."

"If you want a view of the valley," he said and pointed twenty feet up on the southern wall was a sheltered balcony. "The dining room provides a stunning outlook so if you don't mind we can move inside, warm up and chat a bit."

We followed the mayor inside and up to the dining room and despite his salt and pepper hair he managed to two flights of stairs easily. The castle's dark stone was everywhere in various stages of rough and polish. I had played any number of role playing games over the years but this place by its very nature redefined for me the word castle. This place could resist a siege and was the dark stone bastion of the valley. The furnishings and decorations covered hundreds of years of the Eisermann family occupation and I wondered what drove his distant ancestor to move this beast from Europe to the 'New World'.

The dining room was vast with huge vaulted ceilings and a massive hearth that you could imagine entire trees fed to its blazing belly. I took off my coat and one of the many servants who worked for the mayor was there to take it from me and offer a glass of a deep blue beverage that smelled fruity yet I suspected it was not grape juice.

"It's ice wine Nick and if you have the time, tomorrow is the Ice Wine Festival here in our tiny little haven," the mayor's deep voice filled the room.

I took a tentative sip and though I wasn't a wine drinker by nature it was excellent!

"I'll take two cases," I said smiling thinking of Petra.

"Consider them a gift then," he replied. "Plus I have a rather nice bottle I will send home with you for a special occasion."

"Thank you for your generosity," I said as we made our way to the end of the long table and the seats closest to the balcony.

"I hope you enjoy lunch everything on the table is from town either grown or raised."