A Long Time from Home Ch. 26

The old tale about being cleansed by midnight made a lot more sense now and I looked around. Having free flowing Vis Vitae around you does make you feel better, but for it to really work, someone must direct it. There was nobody to see, but the energy seemed to naturally convene around the bonfires, explaining where the tradition of jumping over them had come from.

On a whim, I inserted myself into the flow of Vis, enjoying the feeling as the energy ran through me. It also enabled me to see the Vis of the people around the fire I was sitting by and while some were shining brightly, others were dim, like they had been under a lot of stress or have had some bad experiences lately.

The fire also drew my eyes. Unlike what it looked like in the real world, it was shaping the flow of Vis into a pattern, that to my eyes looked a lot like the flowers I had sacrificed to the goddesses earlier. I don't normally believe in signs from the Goddesses, as they generally don't communicate with people in any direct way, but this time it did seem like a powerful hint.

I pondered it for a moment and then nodded to myself. If it were only my imagination running wild, it would make a lot of people feel good with no harm done and unless there were an experienced Vis user present at the beach, which was highly unlikely in this day and age, no one would ever know.

Taking a deep breath, I started shaping the flow of the Vis, twisting the fog of free-flowing energy into smaller rivers of more concentrated Vis that spread all over the beach like a wave coming from the bonfire I was sitting at. Since I was using the same pattern as in the bonfire, it looked like a giant bed of glowing flowers growing quickly across the beach in all directions, destroying any effect of negative Vis it encountered.

It would also give anyone embracing Vis Mortem willingly an exceptionally hard time, but I doubted that there were any of those on the beach tonight.

As the pattern came further away from me, it became harder to control, so I set up a self-replicating flower pattern within the wave of Vis and then released it, watching as it travelled down the beach until I couldn't see it anymore, going faster and faster as the pattern replicated itself.

The intensity of the flow increased, flared up in a sudden eruption that sent waves up and down the beach before it disappeared as suddenly as it had started.

However, the effect on the people didn't disappear and many of those who had shone dimly was now shining brightly.

"Happy Night of San Juan." I whispered into the air.

---------- Department 55 ----------

Maya drank the last of the beer Zavala had given her and looked around. There were partying people everywhere and just looking at all the happy people made her feel better.

A shiver ran through her body, as somebody near her in an excited voice shouted "Midnight!" in English. Zavala must had heard it as well, because he looked at her with another one of his charming smiles and extended a hand towards her. "Time to jump the bonfire and chase the darkness away."

Maya took the hand without hesitation and a moment later, they were running hand in hand towards the low fire, jumped over it and continued running into the ocean.

She gasped as she hit the water, but it was warmer than she had expected and after an initial cold feeling, it quickly became acceptable.

She stopped and looked a Zavala, who looked completely out of place, standing in hip deep water in his dark suit.

Abruptly the small hairs on her neck rose and she could feel a pressure wash over and through her, causing her to stumble and fall completely into the water for a moment, before Zavala pulled her up again, using his other arm to steady her. "Are you okay?"

Maya was about to say no, when she suddenly realized, that she did feel okay. The sense of dread from Curtis' house had faded, along with the sense of tiredness. She was in sunny Spain, standing in warm water in the arms of a gallant, charming and competent Spanish police officer, who knew what she could do and wasn't freaked out about it. On the contrary, he admired it, just as he admired her looks, without being creepy about it.

The light from the bonfires made his dark eyes glitter as she looked into them and the memory of her ex-spouse seemed to fade away along with the tiredness she had felt earlier.

Zavala must have felt the shift in her emotions, because without a word, he held her a bit tighter, turning her towards him and gave her a kiss, that made her world spin and her body tingle.

---------- Karen ----------

One of the few perks about having been moved from the vacation house to a luxurious beach hotel, was the view over the beach and Karen stood on the balcony attached to their rooms, enjoying the sight of the bonfires on the beach, when she felt something in the air. It was a pleasant feeling, like experiencing the first day of spring with friends, but it also reminded her of the feel in the small grove where she had trained with Ivan.

Concentrating hard, she tried to shift her vision, so she could see the Qi and after the third attempt, she succeeded. Then she gasped. The beach below her was a fog of energy, flowing freely from one bonfire to the next, creating beautiful flower shapes whenever it met the flames.

Then, without warning, it changed.

The fog of energy around one fire suddenly twisted and became a glowing flowerbed of energy, shooting out into the rest of the fog, changing it into more glowing flowers that did the same.

The flowerbed kept growing until it encompassed the part of the beach she could see, and she suddenly realized it would reach the hotel before she could move.

Energy washed over her, making her skin tingle. Curious, she tried to absorb some of it and giggled with joy, as the energy filled her, creating an incredible feeling of wellbeing.

Laughing softly to herself, she shook her head, whispering, "Ivan, you crazy man! What're you doing?" into the night.

---------- Ivan ----------

Feeling good about myself, I left the bonfire and walked back to the place, where I had agreed to meet with Nahia. She wasn't there yet, so I got another cider from the nearby bar and sat down to wait, enjoying the cold drink and the music coming from a group of people sitting a bit further down the beach.

Even this far from the fires the night was pleasantly warm, and I was just sitting there, enjoying being alive, when I noticed the lyrics from the music.

"Birds flying high you know how I feel

Sun in the sky you know how I feel

Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life

For me

And I'm feeling good"

That certainly fit my mood and made me smile. It was a new life, with new challenges, but I had money enough to last for a long time, a cold drink in my hand and there was no shortage of good-looking women. Not bad at all in my book.

More lines from the song reached me.

"And this old world is a new world

And a bold world

For me"

Again, I found myself agreeing with lyrics, but before I had time to think more about them, I spotted Nahia walking towards me and she did not look pleased. I guessed something, or someone had interfered with her plans.

"Sorry, Ivan." She said as soon as she reached me. "I'll have to take a rain check on our date."

"I guessed as much from the way your look. What happened?"

"My mom." She signed. "I had to promise her to make sure my sister got home and into her bed."

There wasn't much I could do about that, so I gave her a hug. "Sorry about that."

She hugged me back. "Do you think you're still here in four days?"

"I'll try, but I can't really promise it."

"Just try." Nahia said with a faint smile. "I got to run. My sister is waiting. What's your phone number? Then I'll call when I get back."

"I don't have a phone at the moment but give me your number and I'll call you." I said, projecting the 'no need to ask question' into her.

She accepted the answer and gave me her number, before giving me a final kiss and walking away.

I watched her as she walked. I would have loved to spend the night her, but apparently the goddesses had other plans.

---------- Department 55 ----------

The trip back to the car, the short drive to the hotel and the walk to her room was a surreal experience for Maya.

Her body felt like it was on fire and her mind floated on a lust driven high, as she and Hector Zavala kissed and touched at any chance they got.

They managed to walk normally from the car and passed the guards in the hotel lobby, but as soon as the elevator started to move, Maya kissed him again, pressing her tongue between his lips until it found his tongue and then teased it decidedly.

Zavala put his arms around her and kissed her back with a passion, that made her head spin again, but not more than she could feel the growing hardness of his cock against her body.

She eased up the kiss to give him a smile, making him shake his head and whisper breathlessly.

"We shouldn't be doing this!"

"Why not?" Whispered Maya back, brushing her lips against his, before continuing. "As far as I know, we're both single."

Zavala groaned at the contact, but said, "I know, but we're on a mission and..."

"And nothing." interrupted Maya with a grin. "The Department has no rules against it."

Zavala blinked a few times in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes. This isn't against the rules." Said Maya, got on her tiptoes and threw her arms around his neck to kiss him again, grinding slightly against his now fully erect dick.

Giving up on protesting, Zavala kissed her back, hugging her at the same time.

A 'ding' announced they had reached their floor and Maya broke the kiss. "Your room. Now!"

They had barely closed the door behind them when Zavala drew her in for another kiss. It was a kiss filled with heat and desire and Maya turned her head slightly to better match the angle, when she felt his hand gently caressing her lower back, feeding the flames inside her.

Happily, Maya reached up and buried a hand in Zavala's thick black hair as she kissed him back. The hand on her back slid lower, caressing the top of her buttocks, causing her to gasp.

Zavala broke the kiss but used the hand on her back to pull her in closer, pressing her breasts against his chest. His lips moved to her ear, gently nibbling and kissing her earlobe before he kissed the side of her neck, twirling his tongue in the skin in a way that sent shivers of pleasure all the ways through her body.

Then he kissed his way back to her ear, whispering, "let's get you out of that wet dress."

"And you out of those wet clothes." Maya whispered back and removed the hand from his hair.

He nodded and took a step back, giving her room, while taking of his jacket.

Getting out of the wet dress was annoying, as it clung to her skin and made it impossible to do with any form of elegance, but as Maya finally got the dress over her head, she noticed that Zavala had stopped taking his clothes of and instead was looking at her with the most intense stare she had ever experienced.

"God, you're beautiful!" Zavala said, sending her one of his little charming smiles.

Maya could feel her cheeks becoming warm in a flush, as she took in the sight of his broad, muscular chest and powerful arms. A sight that just made her even more turned on. The Spaniard was so much sexier than her idiot of an ex-husband that it wasn't even funny.

They kissed again, hands exploring each other's bodies.

Suddenly, Zavala bent his knees, locked his hands behind her and lifted her a few inches of the floor before he carried her to the bed.

Maya gasped in surprise and then giggled as Zavala placed her on the sheets, but instead of just letting herself fall, she reached out and dragged Zavala down with her, ending with the Spaniard laying between her spread legs.

"Ohh." Maya moaned into Zavala's mouth as she felt his erection throbbing against the this panties covering her pussy and the feeling sent more lightnings of pleasure through her body and made her dug her fingers into his back in return. His skin was smooth and hot, and she felt his muscles move under her palms.

Zavala broke the kiss, breathing heavily. "Are you sure about this?"

Maya nodded and dragged him down for a kiss with one hand, while the other reached between her legs and grabbed his dick, feeling the warm hardness.

Still kissing her, Zavala let a hand trail down her body until it reached the edge of her panties. There was a second of hesitation, but then the hand slid under the cotton, finding her wet pussy.

Maya gasped as he gently traced her pussy lips with his fingers. She spread her legs more, grinding her pussy against his hand. One of his fingers slipped in between her wet lips and teased the opening, before going inside her and slowly massaged her from the inside.

It was sweet torture and Maya loved every second of it, but it couldn't continue. It had been too long since she last had a sexual encounter and she couldn't handle much more teasing, having been turned on since the kiss on the beach.

With a little tug, she freed his stiff cock and closed her hand around it. It was bigger than she had expected, mostly because it was larger than her ex', but still not too large.

She broke the kiss and looked into his warm brown eyes. "No more teasing. Fuck me. Now."

She gasped, as Zavala removed his fingers from her, took hold of her panties and simply ripped them off her. Then his hips shot forward and Maya guided the tip of his cock to the entrance.

To her surprise, he didn't dive right in and she held her breath as he moved the tip of his cock along her slit, enjoying the smooth wetness.

She gasped again, as he pushed all the way inside her. That was followed by a moan, as she felt her pussy stretch to accommodate his cock. It felt amazing, but a moment later it became even better as Zavala slowly moved in and out of her, savouring every moment.

"God, you feel as good as you look." Zavala whispered into her ear as he increased the pace slightly.

"Likewise." Maya groaned as Zavala went so deep, she could feel his balls against her ass. Then he surprised her, by raising up on an elbow and tilt over in the bed, so her right leg was caught under him, while she was laying on his left arm.

The reason for the change in position became clear to Maya a moment later as his right hand found her clitoris and started massaging it.

"Oh, shit!" She groaned, feeling his cock penetrating her again and again, while his fingers circled her clitoris. She vaguely felt his left arm move and then her bra sprang open, freeing her tits. Without stopping his movements, Zavala bent his head and used his teeth to lift the bra off, before his mouth closed on a stiff nipple, tongue dancing.

With another moan, Maya grabbed his head and pressed it against her breasts. The added sensation building more pleasure on top of the rest. Each time he thrust into her, she felt a wave of pleasure building up deep inside of her pussy.

In response, she tensed up her muscles, clamping down on his stiff cock.

Zavala let out a moan. "Easy, Maya... I'm gonna come too fast if you do that."

Maya shook with pleasure. For some reason, the sound of him saying her name was the trigger and suddenly the orgasm overtook her, making her cry out loud as pleasure thundered through her mind and body.

Strong hands held her and then Zavala suddenly went into a frenzy, hammering into her hard and fast, making her come several times over. It was magnificent, heavenly.

Just as she came down from the last orgasm, Zavala groaned. "Outside or inside?"

The question sent a shiver through her body. "Inside! It's safe."

He groaned again and hammered into her a few more times, as she felt his dick swell and then his hot semen hit the inside of her pussy, the feeling alone making her come again.

Maya felt all tension leaving her body and she let her head fell down on the bed, still tingling with bliss all over. Zavala pulled out of her and lay down beside her and with a satisfied sigh, she rolled onto his chest, smiling when she felt his arm around her waist, holding her gently as he bent his head to kiss her hair.

---------- Ivan ----------

Since my plans had been changed, I walked over to the nearest bar and bought more cider, buying two bottles of apple cider this time, since the pear cider had been too sweet for my taste.

Having bought what I came for, I turned around to walk away but stopped as I saw a flustered looking young woman saying something in a foreign language to a pair of young men, who were standing in front of her with wide grins on their faces.

She emitted a mix of irritation and insecurity, combined with a hint of fear, but the two young men seem oblivious to the fact that they were making her uncomfortable. The strawberry red hair and pale complexion looked vaguely familiar and as she shook her head, her face turned my way and I recognized her as one of the three tourists, that had been watching Nahia and I earlier.

For a moment, I pondered what to do, but decided on a plan and walked over to her, saying "Here's your cider, Honey.", as I handed her one of the bottles. She looked at me in surprise and since the two, now silent, men couldn't see my face, I sent her a wink, before looking at the two young men. "Are they friends of yours that I haven't met yet?"

"No and they were just about to leave." She said, sending the pair a stern glance. "Right, boys?"

"Right." They said and sent me a dirty look before they walked away, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

"Thank you so much for the rescue." The woman said, holding out the bottle of cider I had given her.

"You're welcome and just keep it if you want." I said with a smile. "Have a nice night."

I turned to walk away, but she stopped me by placing a hand on my arm. "What's the hurry?"

Turning around again, I shrugged. "No hurry. I just assumed that you wanted to get back to your friends."

"They can wait." She stated with a smile, that showed perfect teeth behind full lips and I realized that she was quite good looking. The strawberry-red hair framing a face that wouldn't have looked out of place in the fashion magazines in the hotel. The insecurity from before was gone and had been replaced with a spike of interest. "Or are you in a hurry to get back to your lover from the palm tree?"

That made me laugh. "No. Unfortunately, she had to go home and are leaving for northern Spain tomorrow, so I guess that's the end of that." Before she could ask any questions, I changed the subject. "I'm Ivan, by the way."

The smile became a little wider. "I'm Natasa... and I better explain the two guys from before."

"That would be nice, but can we find a quieter place? It's quite noisy here."

"Sure."

We relocated to a low wall away from the fires and the crowd, and she started her explanation by saying. "I'm from Croatia and in Croatia there's a famous pornstar by the name of Ginger Joy, who unfortunately looks so similar to me, that people often confuse me with her."

It took me a few heartbeats to remember what a pornstar was, as Rita and Karen had mentioned it during a conversation. Another thing was that she was from Croatia. The same country Curtis had claimed to come from in Ivan Kolba set of fake ID papers I had found in the bag at the house.

"And why would that cause them to harass you?"

"'Cause they were insisting that since Ginger Joy got money from having sex in movies, they could pay me to have sex with them." She said calmly. "I tried to point out, that I'm not Ginger Joy, but they didn't believe me."