Beetlesmith's Ch. 22

She was rearing up to give me a fourth and probably fifth slap, when I caught her arm and pulled her into me.

Wrapping her tightly in my arms, I said, "You had your three. That's enough."

"Not hardly!" she blurted out, before she began crying in frustration and fear as Gloria was doing.

"Fine. Now, let's all calm down and talk about this, but first, I need a drink."

After I got the four of us a drink, the three of them sat around the kitchen table. After taking a long pull from my scotch, I asked, "I'm elated to see you Gloria, but why are you..."

"No," Karen interrupted, "You don't get to ask us questions and make us forget why we're all here. You have to answer ours first. What did you give us?"

"I told you already..."

"This elixir shit. Then how come we're all dreaming the same thing? And don't try and tell me you're not dreaming about those fucking chairs in that fucking cave, and those fucking gnomes, and that fucking...guy, or whatever he is, who fucks us silly."

"Yes, I'm dreaming the same things. What do you want me to say?"

"How is that possible? How can this elixir thing make everyone dream the same thing?"

I didn't answer Karen right off. Instead, I asked Gloria, "How long have you been having these dreams?"

She took a sip of her drink before answering. "They started the night I got home from visiting with you guys."

"Why didn't you say anything when I called that time? I specifically asked you if you were having strange dreams."

"I didn't really think you were seriously asking that. I thought it an offhand remark about whether I was dreaming of you. You know, kind of flirting with me. Besides, my dreams were kind of...hot in a weird and funny way, so they didn't bother me. I just thought...I don't know..."

"Wait a minute," Karen interjected, "You knew about this back then? And you didn't say anything to me about it?"

"Goddamn it Karen, are we going to go through this again? What could I have said to you where you didn't think I was bat-shit crazy?"

Karen answered, sarcastically, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe with, 'Hey baby, we're all having the same dream because of the elixir crap I gave everyone. Pretty fucked up, isn't it?' And guess what, I wouldn't have thought you crazy because Iwas having those dreams! And you knew it!" She stared me down for a moment before finishing, "But I don't believe it's because of this elixir thing. That just doesn't make sense."

"I didn't tell you because you wouldn't have believed me, regardless of what you're telling me now. As for what's causing the dreams. It has to be the elixir. What else could it be?"

She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again when she thought about it some more.

I then set about convincing them, using half-truths and subterfuge just as Beetlesmith would have done, how all of our current troubles was due to the use of the elixir, alone. It didn't make much sense, but it was more believable than the truth—Bright Ones, Cruel Ones, us as a fulcrum, and with the disposition of all life in the universe hanging in the balance. Oh yeah, they would have really believed that one.

I concluded my bullshit explanation by reminding Karen, "Don't you remember the party when some of our friends showed up wearing the same thing? I didn't tell anyone what to wear except you. And what you probably didn't know, but I noticed, was that it was only the women I gave the elixir to that showed up in the same attire." Karen stared at me slack-jawed.

It suddenly occurred to me to ask Gloria, "Out of curiosity, what were you wearing this past Saturday?"

Gloria turned red before answering, "I...ah...well...I got up feeling kinda naughty. I put on this really sheer, Chantilly lace shawl, and wore it like a skirt all day around my apartment. That, and a push-up bra. I didn't even wear any panties."

"Oh my God!" Karen exclaimed.

I responded quickly to Karen, "Exactly. You're starting to see. I was thinking about what to have you wear for that whole week before the party. What I think happened is with my increased mental powers, my thoughts were also transmitted to everyone else who had tried the elixir. Sort of like a subliminal message that everyone acted on. So you see, it is the elixir that's causing similar dreams."

Karen asked, "So what you're saying, it isn't really all of us dreaming the same thing, it's you dreaming this weird shit, and it's getting transferred to the rest of us as a dream?"

"I think so. It's the only thing that makes sense," I lied. I knew in my gut that it was Beetlesmith's mysterious Mr. A fucking with us for his amusement.

Denise had been strangely quiet up until this point, and asked, "I'm not seeing this at all Will. I need you to explain it to me."

"How much did Karen tell you?"

"Everything," Karen interjected.

"What's everything?"

Karen rolled her eyes before answering. "You know...everything. The party. What you told me before the party. What we did with our minds during the party. Everything."

I asked Denise, "And you don't believe it."

"I don't know what to believe, and I'm scared."

I went over to her, and lifting her out of the chair, wrapped her in my arms. "There's no reason to be afraid. And I know this is aboutyour dreams, and it scares you because they're different than ours?"

She nodded her head and cried into my chest. I felt the same cold pall descend on her as I did the day of the party.

Kissing her forehead, I felt warmth return to her body as she melted into me with great sobs of relief. Touching her cheek so that she would look into my eyes, I said, "This isn't just about your dreams, though? I've felt something else in you. Not all the time, but sometimes, and I'm feeling it now. It's something that you've been hiding: a very great secret. You've been hiding it from Jack all these many years. Hiding it from everyone,even from...no,especially from your children."

Denise blanched at my words while looking up at me in shock.

Karen uttered a very loud gasp, before exclaiming, "Denise! You and Jack have children? When were...Why didn't..."

Denise looked over at Karen, "I have two little girls. I'm sorry I kept them a secret." She smiled at Karen in embarrassment before continuing, "Funny I should say it that way. They're fully grown with families of their own, but over the years our relationship became strained because of my...because of my unwillingness to stand up for myself against their father. They knew of his philandering, and although they love him as a father, they knew what he's been doing was wrong. Worse, they don't understand my apparent indecision to divorce him. They think me a coward. And now, when I've decided to leave him, I can't bring myself to tell them." She thought for a moment, then added, "I'm not even sure they'd care anymore."

I said, soothingly, "They're wrong about you. I know. It's this other secret you have that kept you from moving away from Jack. You feared he would find out if he dug too deeply during the divorce proceedings. You knew if they found out about your secret, it would shame them beyond measure. It would be worse than knowing their father is a philanderer. So, you stayed with a man you didn't love and who treated you as a concubine, to protect them."

Denise was weeping openly as I revealed everything she had been hiding for so long. Then, with great tears still streaming down her cheeks, she asked, "How could you know all this?"

"These are just some of the powers. The elixir has given me and Karen an ability to read minds, and to see past and future events. My power is stronger than Karen's, but it's limited temporally. I can't see too far into either the past or future. Like this secret you're carrying. It's too far in the past for me to see clearly. All I know is that you have a great secret, and I sense it makes you ashamed and fearful that in may be revealed."

"I'm not as much ashamed, and I'm no longer afraid if people find out. But, I am fearful of the people I used to be associated with. About ten years ago I fell in with the wrong crowd when Jack was fucking anything with a pulse." Smiling up at me she added, "You look surprised, Will. He was far worse back in the day, than he is now. He thought me weak... Cold, sexually and personally...and...Oh, I don't know." She closed her eyes trying to find the words. Lacking any, she sighed, and said, "I guess I set out to prove him wrong. So I fought fire with..."

I put a finger to her lips, stopping her, and said, "You are anything but cold, my sweet. And I don't want to know the details. Even now, I can tell you don't want to say what it is, although you feel obligated to confess it to Karen and me. Don't. I think this is something you should keep to yourself for a while longer until you feel more comfortable talking about it."

She nodded her head in agreement.

"Are you beginning to believe our abilities?"

She responded, hesitantly, "W-What else can you do?"

"Reading minds is such a small thing. There are far more enjoyable things I can do. If you would like a demonstration, then kiss me."

"What?"

I smiled at her obvious look of embarrassment. "After everything the three of us have shared, you try to pretend modesty? I find that quaint... Kiss me."

Denise, still full of apprehension, looked sideways at Karen. Karen only gave her a little half smile while cocking an eyebrow in return.

"Okay," said Denise, just before softly touching her lips to mine.

It was such a gentle push with my mind, comparable to the force of a delicate breath of wind that barely moves a tattered cobweb.

The intensity and abruptness of her orgasms took Denise totally by surprise. So much so, all she could do was utter a loud, primordial grunt as the first wave slammed into her, followed by the continual shuddering of her body as subsequent waves pounded through her like a runaway freight train on dilapidated tracks.

"Jesus, what the fuck has been happening around here?" I heard Gloria comment.

When it was over, Denise took a step back, panting heavily. A large, wet spot continued to grow on the front of her slacks, and continued migrating down her pants legs. With her body still quivering, she rasped, "What did you just do?"

Smiling, I answered, "I very rarely do that anymore. It's just not as fun without my cock, but it's just as effective. Don't you agree?"

Her eyes were suddenly lit with a ravenous light as she stepped into my arms again, and kissed me with a deep and passionate lust.

I heard Gloria again, but louder this time, "Really Karen. What the fuck has been happening?"

I couldn't hear how Karen responded as Denise began to beg, "Do it to me again. Please!"

I stroked her cheek soothingly, "Another true believer is born. Are you wearing the chain I gave you?"

She nodded her head as she pulled up her blouse to reveal it.

"What does it mean to you?"

"Everything!"

"Show me. Remove everything but the chain."

Without hesitation, she stripped and let each article of clothing fall to the floor as the three of us watched. Within moments, she stood without blush or blemish, naked and proud, wearing nothing but a blue, sapphire stone suspended around her waist by a delicate, silver thread. Saying nothing, she waited for me to give her another command.

Wrapping her in my arms, I kissed her sweetly, while saying, "This is good. You have nothing to fear, Denise. Always remember you have nothing to fear. That's my promise to you. You're mine as long as you wear he chain. It binds you to me, and as long as you wear it, no harm will ever come to you." I touched the creases about her mouth, making her smile, and asked, "What will you do for me?"

"Anything! Everything!"" she panted, loudly.

"Good. Now, I want you to go clean yourself. You're all sticky from sweat and arousal. Use the shower in the master bathroom, and then wait for us in our bed. Karen will be along shortly to help you."

As Denise sauntered off to the bedroom with a slightly glazed look in her eye, Karen asked with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh, she will, will she?"

I smiled at her pride. She never liked playing second fiddle, even for a moment, even for a friend.

I didn't even touch her, just projected my command into her mind. She resisted as best she could, but I was far too strong for her, as her eyes assumed that half-lidded appearance of someone in the grip of absolute euphoria.

"Come here," I commanded.

After she fell into me with a deep kiss, Karen continued to playfully nuzzle my nose with her own, as I added, "I need to talk with Gloria alone. I want you to shower with Denise, and wait for us in our bed."

Lifting an eyebrow, she asked, "Do you want us to wait, wait?"

I smiled again, this time at her mischievousness. "No. I want you to be playing with each other when I enter the bedroom."

As Karen wandered off to the bedroom, I heard Gloria ask, "What has been going on, Will?"

"Much. Would you like another drink?"

"Yes, please."

"Let's go into the living room and get comfortable. I have a lot of important things to ask you."

I sat next to her on the couch.

I stared at her for a while, as she thoughtfully sipped her drink. She had changed since the last time she was here. The plain Jane, naïve motif was gone from her demeanor, replaced by a most alluring, worldly woman of accomplishment. That confidence was always there, inside of her. It's just that now she no longer hides it from the world

Brushing a lock of hair off her forehead, I commented, "You look beautiful. More than I've ever remembered."

She blushed before saying thank you.

"I know things are a bit confusing for you right now, and yes, much has happened since you were last here. And tonight, so many secrets were revealed to me. Denise's...yours?"

She furrowed her brow. "Mine?"

"Before we get into that, tell me what brought you here? It sounds like you had no worries on Saturday, feeling horny in a Chantilly skirt and matching push-up bra, and yet here you are on Monday."

Gloria took another sip from her drink before answering, "I don't know. It was around nine or ten the next morning when I got this feeling of urgency. That there was something I needed from you, and I couldn't wait."

"Just a feeling?"

"Funny, isn't it? I was in such a panic all day yesterday. I could barely book a flight without sounding like a deranged imbecile. When the agent told me the earliest flight was for this morning, and not Sunday evening, I swore at them. I mean I yelled, 'Fuck you!' and 'Fuck this!' and 'Fuck everyone!' into my phone, I was so pissed. That's when I really knew something was wrong with me. I never swear at people like that."

"Go on."

"You know the rest. I didn't bother calling you. I just got on the plane this morning, took a cab from the airport, and here I am, wondering what's been happening to me. When I told Karen about my dream and saw her freak out, that's when I really panicked and met you at the door the way I did."

"What else did you tell Karen?"

She gave me a questioning look. "What else? Nothing. I don't underst..."

"Did you tell her about the baby you lost?"

Judging by the look she just gave me, it appears Beetlesmith was telling the truth. Also by her look, I didn't even need to read her mind to know what she's thinking.

Taking a hold of her hands, I answered her question, "After everything you've seen and heard tonight, you still doubt my abilities." As she continued to stare at me, wide-eyed, I added, "I'm sorry you lost the baby, and I can feel it still hurts you. You should have called us. We would have been supportive."

A tear slid down her cheek, and then another before she answered. "I couldn't tell you."

"Why?"

"Because I was having it for you and Karen. I know how much it hurts Karen that she can't have children. She feels incomplete as a wife and as a woman. I know she doesn't say that to you, but she confides in me whenever we talk. I think deep down she believes you think less of her because she's barren."

"That's not true."

"I know it's not. I've told her as much, but you know Karen. Once she gets an idea inside her thick skull, as wrong as it may be, she still can't let it go. So after those wonderful nights we had together, I found myself with a baby. And I thought what better way to show my love for you both than to have your child. And I do love you both..." She didn't finish her statement as she began to openly weep.

"I'm sorry we weren't there for you," I finally said.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she said, "Please don't tell Karen. I'm not sure how she'll react to the news. First, with me getting pregnant by her husband, and then losing the baby on top of it all. I'd rather not explain it all to her."

"It will be our secret."

There was another secret standing between us that Beetlesmith had insinuated. "What are your plans now?"

"I don't know. I thought I would stay a few weeks, but that was before I found out about Denise. Now, maybe I should just head back in a couple of days. I don't want to put you guys out." Suddenly, a large smile erupted across her face, as she added, "Denise's really sweet, Will. It's nice that you're helping her out."

"A couple of days or even a few weeks doesn't seem long enough. Actually, I was thinking you could stay indefinitely."

I can't honestly say whether this was my idea or not. Although it felt right, there have been so many decisions made lately that I thought were mine, but were, in fact, put in my consciousness by another entity.

Gloria was taken aback by my offer. "I...uh...I...Well, I hadn't thought about that. I mean, what about my job, my apartment? Where would I stay?"

I chuckled that I had flummoxed her so. "Well, you'd stay with us, you dork. We have plenty of room. If you must work, there are plenty of good hospitals in the area. I'm sure you'll be in charge of the intensive care ward in no time. But, I'll see to it that you won't need to work."

"I know you and Karen are well off with the promotion and all, but how can you support..."

I cut her off, "Things are changing for Karen and me, and I want you to be a part of it. Money isn't going to be an issue. Trust me."

She thought on my words for a while. Finally, she asked, "What about Denise? I know you and Karen and she are...well, you know...more than friends."

"Before I answer that, I'd like you to answer something for me. What would have happened if we didn't have those wonderful nights together? How long were you going to stay a virgin?"

She answered with a tenor of embarrassment, "What a question! I don't know. I guess when I met a man I liked."

"We both know that's a lie. You never had any intention of pursuing anyone else or finding someone else...other than me."

There, I put it out in the open. The thousand pound gorilla she's always been avoiding throughout our friendship. And now that I brought it up, she didn't feign shock or surprise, or try to obfuscate or deny her feelings. Instead, she just lowered her eyes in acceptance that her secret was finally known to me.

It seems Beetlesmith wasn't lying about this either. Gloria has always loved me more than a mere friend should, and kept herself chaste all these many years.

Then, another, darker thought entered my muddled skull. Was what he said about Karen truthful as well? I didn't think so at the time, but now, in light of all that's come truth with Gloria... I'm not so sure.

I quickly pushed those other thoughts from my mind and returned my attentions back to my friend.

I cupped her cheek and ran my thumb along her moist lips as a prelude to a kiss. When she didn't back away, and instead, looked at me longingly with dampened, doe-eyed innocence, I leaned in to kiss her.