BH Ch. 02: A Clockwork Myth

If what she had seen last night was a Leprechaun then they had found them again and the villagers weren't villagers at all. They were on the run!

Laela started to run towards the perimeter of the village. After being so keen to employ her, they had now fled. It was suspicious and she was going to catch up to them to find out what was going on. It was as she was running that she heard a peculiar noise. Her gear was always secure but there was an annoying clicking sound coming from her clothing.

She stopped and rattled her belt. The sound was coming from one of her pouches that stored her bombs. She reached in and explored with her fingers and felt a cool, circular piece of metal. She withdrew it and found a golden unmarked coin. It looked remarkably like a coin from the treasure trove the villagers had shown her.

What did this mean? Had they hidden a coin on purpose in her clothing?

As she was pondering the coin there was a shout from her right and a horse drawn cart jerked into view from a small barn. She made eye contact with the villager driving and her eyes narrowed. The felt hat was unmistakable and the man visibly jerked in his seat as he spotted her. The wagon was covered by a large burlap sheet but there didn't appear to be any other passengers.

Felt hat attempted to jerk the reins of the cart but the horse was slow to respond. Laela leaped onto the driver's seat and kicked the man square in the chest as he tried to raise his hands to ward off her attack. He went tumbling backwards and landed hard on the floor where Laela leaped down to greet him. He was trying to scoot backwards on his backside but the air had clearly been knocked from him as he grimaced in pain.

His ridiculous hat was askew on his head and a nervous sweat was already beginning to run down his face. Laela jabbed one of her stun rods into his sternum and brandished the coin in his face.

'What is this?' She snarled at him.

Felt hat looked between the coin and her eyes and shook his head. 'Never seen it before Miss!'

Laela raised her stun rod and activated it. Immediately, lightning snaked around the surface and she tapped it against a small rock by the villagers head. The stone shattered into a hundred shards, some of them drew blood from Felt hat's face and he let out a low cry like a dying farm animal. Laela deactivated the rod and rested it against the underside of his chin.

'Your head will do the same if I don't get answers,' she never broke eye contact with the feeble man.

For a while there was silence and then he started to blubber like a child. 'I'm sorry Miss, we never meant for this to happen.'

'For what to happen? Where did this coin come from?'

'It is part of the Leprechaun treasure,' he sniffed.

'And why would I want one coin?'

'One coin, one jewel, it is enough!' Felt hat whined back at her. 'We didn't think you would help us so we have forced you to!'

'How? With a coin?'

'Once you possess a piece of the treasure, you are cursed like the rest of us.'

Laela remembered what they had told her back at the tavern. How merchants and others had fallen to the Leprechauns as they hunted the spent treasure. She was tempted to turn his head into pulp now but somehow she kept her composure. 'So what if I give it back to you right now?'

Felt hat actually laughed this time. 'Doesn't work like that Miss. You think we haven't tried over the years? You saw the little beast last night. Once they find us, we have to move on. Now you have to help us to help yourself.'

'How do I break the curse?'

'Kill the Leprechauns.' Felt hat spat to the side to show his contempt.

'Easy enough, they didn't look too scary to me,' Laela murmured. 'How many are there?'

'Two that we know of but you can't kill them in this world Miss!'

'What do you mean?' Laela jabbed the stun road further under his chin.

'They are not from this world, killing them only delays them. You need to go through the rainbow with a piece of their treasure and destroy them.'

'This is ridiculous!' Laela stamped her foot in annoyance.

'Is it? Are you willing to bet your life that the myth isn't true?'

Laela stared at felt hat and saw the fear in his eyes, not just of her but of the creatures that had pestered them for possibly years. Now she was part of it if she was to believe the myth. 'Fine, you will take me to the rainbow.'

'R-rainbow Miss? I don't know where it is!' Felt hat squirmed under the pressure of the stun rod.

'They appear near water, right? Take me to the nearest lake. Now!'

Felt hat got to his feet gingerly, readjusted his headwear, and climbed up into the driver's seat. Laela hopped into the back with her stun rod pointed at his back. They rode in silence, Laela had to readjust her position several times due to the bumpy road and poor driving. She suspected one of the cart wheels was slightly shorter than the other as well due to an unpleasant dipping motion as it moved.

It didn't last long though as they soon reached the crest of a hill where a rocky shoreline gave way to a small lake. Laela told felt hat to wait and jabbed him in the ribs to emphasise her instruction. She walked around the perimeter of the lake but saw no rainbow. How did you make a rainbow appear?

Laela stood on the shoreline staring at the still water. She idly ran the Leprechaun coin between her fingers, flicking it up into the air and catching it as she pondered the situation. As she flicked the coin up in the air it caught the sunlight and she could have sword there was a faint glimmer on the surface of the lake.

She frowned and pursed her lips as an idea sprung in her mind. She looked back at Felt hat who was looking on from his cart intently.

'I guess there is only one way to find out,' Laela muttered to herself and she flicked the coin high in the air so it twinkled in the sunlight and then plopped into the lake surface.

Nothing happened apart from a few ripples in the water.

Laela was thinking she was going to have to go in after the coin when a sudden cascade of colour saturated the lake. Another myth she had heard of was that mirrors could form portals to other worlds so why not a lake which was like a huge mirror? She had no idea if this was going to work but she took a few steps back and then done a running leap into the lake.

Her body was sucked beneath the surface and Felt hat smiled.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It took some time for Laela's vision to clear, mainly because she had her eyes screwed up tightly. She could breathe fine and there was no sensation of being wet. Perhaps one of her bombs had triggered and she was actually dead and floating in the middle of the lake.

There was only one way to find out.

She slowly opened one eye and then the other to find herself in a very familiar place. It was almost as if she was dreaming again but this didn't have the slightly detached feel of a dream. This was real and the clouds she walked on were as real as dirt and the sky was a gigantic rainbow of colours. There was no prancing unicorn or happy mushroom people though. This strange, new environment was deathly quiet and very flat.

There was no horizon, just a fluffy white floor without even the most minor deviation. There were no trees or buildings, just a nothingness that was disturbing. Laela took a few steps and the ground was as form as anything she had trod upon before so she took a few more steps. She looked around as she walked without any kid of bearing - there was no sun or moon to gauge her direction.

She lost track of time as she walked, sometimes she ran just to break the tedium but no matter how far she walked, there was no changes to the landscape. She started to panic, she would not last long here without food or water. In desperation she started to spin around and shout at the desolate reality.

'Hello! Can anybody hear me!?' Laela repeated as she walked. It was on her seventh attempt that she got some form of response. She had sunk down to her knees in false hope when there was a disturbance in the ground.

Laela frowned and started to crawl towards it. 'Hello?' She asked the empty ground.

A high pitched laugh came from the ground a shrill voice mocking her own.

'Hellloooooo!'

Laela scooted away from where the voice had come from, fumbling for one of her bombs from a pouch. She stayed on her backside, poised to throw the device if anything unexpected made an appearance. Nothing did and the area was silent once again. She slowly got to her feet and tiptoed towards the area the laughter had from.

Suddenly the laughter erupted from behind her and she turned on her heel to see a plume of cloud rise into the sir like a geyser followed my more mad laughter. Then another mini explosion came from her right and then more and more in an ever tightening circle until it was almost beneath her feet.

She flung her body to the side just in time and rolled to her feet as a small figure erupted from the ground with a shriek of hilarious laughter. It landed deftly in a crouch, staring at her with huge yellow slitted eyes. Its face cracked a smile and the familiar teeth were displayed that she had seen the previous.

So, she was in the realm of the Leprechauns after all.

She noticed the creature was mostly naked now, wearing nothing but a small loincloth. Its whole body looked like it had been stretched over a skeleton it was so emaciated. A long tongue lolled from its mouth and licked its lips and another shrill chorus of laughter came from its throat.

It scurried left and Laela followed its movement - her arms cocked and ready to throw the bomb. Then it scurried right before standing slowly and pointing at her accusingly.

'You are lost!' It squeaked at her.

Laela was slightly taken back that it had spoken so she said nothing. It these creatures were ancient Fey then they would be tricksters and anything she said may have implications.

In reply to her silence, the Leprechaun began dancing merrily on the spot, raising its left leg and then right leg while throwing its arms in the air. 'You are lost! And you cannot leave!' It giggled in glorious dance.

Deciding that the dance was stupid, and she didn't like watching its genitals flapping against the loincloth, Laela armed her bomb and threw it at the creature. It watched in fascination as the device arced towards it and exploded just above its head. Laela's grin turned sour though as instead of a rain of acid, a rain of flowers cascaded around the Leprechaun sending it in a frenzy of more dancing and laughing.

Laela looked on in shock as the flowers fell from the sky and the Leprechaun pointed at her and hissed: 'You dummy! Your weapons won't work here!'

Rage filled her and turned her face red as she drew on of her stun rods and activated it. Instead of deadly blue lightning, a pleasant rainbow glow illuminated its length. Laela threw it to the ground in frustration which made the Leprechaun laugh even more.

'How do I get out of here?' Laela screamed at the little creature who instantly stopped laughing and extended an arm with palm raised upwards.

'Give us the gold back!' The Leprechaun said simply and with a hint of malice.

'I haven't got your stupid gold!' Laela stamped her foot petulantly. 'I threw it in the lake to get here!'

There was another disturbance next to the Leprechaun and another of the creatures rose from the cloudy floor. It was almost an identical twin of the other one. She recalled the villager mentioning there were two that they knew of. No others emerged but now there were two sets of yellow eyes focused on her.

'We want our gold back,' they hissed in unison.

Laela was trying to think quickly, she was unarmed and facing two creatures that seemed to be able to appear at will in their own realm. They started to advance towards her, their eyes gleaming with mischief.

'Wait!' Laela raised both hands as if the mere gesture would stop them in their tracks. 'I know where the rest of your gold is!'

The two Leprechauns stopped dead in their tracks and looked at each other. The one who had appeared first spoke: 'How do you know where our treasure is?'

'Show us!' The second one drooled in anticipation.

'I don't have it with me!' Laela clarified which caused both Leprechauns to hiss at her. 'But I know who has it!' She quickly added.

They both narrowed their eyes at her and the first one spoke again. 'Who has our gold?'

'Some peasants, at least they say they are peasants. They said they stole your gold many years ago and lived like kings and queens. You have been gradually tracking it down over the years to take it back. Maybe even killing those who have it. You know who I speak of don't you?'

There had been a hint of recognition on their skull like features as she spoke. They knew of who she spoke of alright so she pressed her advantage and played on their obsession.

'I can take you to them if you let me out of this place!' She said in a quiet whisper although there was nobody else around to hear.

'Not so simple,' the second one shook its head.

'Not so simple at all,' the first one agreed and then the two creatures starting chattering in a language Laela did not understand.

After several minutes of listening to the annoying dialect, Laela couldn't maintain her patience any longer. 'What are you talking about? Are you going to show me a way out of this place or not?'

The two Leprechauns stopped their chatter and looked at her as if she had just appeared from nowhere.

'Let you go?' The first one giggled. 'Yes, but to leave this land means giving us something.'

'Yes! Yes!' The second agreed. 'And since you have no gold to give us...'

Both Leprechauns reached around and unclasped their loincloths so they fell on the ground to stand naked before her. Laela stood with mouth agape as she watched their small grey penises rise stadily to curved shafts of lust. Their insane giggling signalled their intent and Laela shook her head.

'Oh no way! I am not letting you two things fucking touch me!'

She turned to sprint away but before she got more than a few steps in, the ground bulged and one of the Leprechauns burst from the clouds with its arms outstretched. Laela's reactions were quick and she ducked easily enough. The creature sank back into the ground to appear again to her right. She launched a high kick and caught it in the midsection which stopped its insane laughter briefly as it landed in a heap.

Laela moved towards the fallen Leprechaun with the intention of snapping its neck under her boot but the second creature suddenly burst from the ground. She instinctively raised her arms to protect her face but the Leprechaun was not aiming for her face. Its hands latched onto the bodice of her top and yanked down hard.

The material ripped and her breasts spilled out. Laela gasped and staggered back, using both hands to cup each boob to prevent the little Leprechauns seeing her exposed assets. 'What the fuck!' She screamed at them, 'You just ripped my clothes!'

Both Leprechauns laughed as they stood side by side, stroking their erections. Their pink tongue's wiggled obscenely as they licked their lips. Laela aimed a weak kick at one of them but the little creature caught her foot and tugged. She nearly lost her balance and crashed to her knees and the Leprechauns were on her.

Each one planted a foot on opposite shoulders and thrust their groins towards her face. She turned her head to avoid one of the shafts but the other pushed passed her lips and entered her mouth. She tried to prise the creature away with both hands but they were strong and the invading penis soon filled her mouth.

It tasted weirdly sweet almost like a sugared cane and was solid rather than pliable like flesh. She feared if she bit down on it then all her teeth would shatter. She gagged on the invading organ as saliva leaked from the corners of her mouth to dribble down her breasts. Her eyes watered and she banged on the Leprechaun's scrawny chest with her fists.

It eventually withdrew its penis and she coughed and spluttered trying to suck in air. Her respite was short lived as the second Leprechaun tugged at her hair and forced another erection into her mouth as deep as the first. It scraped against her teeth and filled her mouth. More tears streamed down her eyes and her vision became blurred.

The duo of Leprechauns repeated this for short bursts for what seemed like forever until Laela's arms hung limply at her sides. Just as she thought they would take pity on her, both shafts pressed against her lips insistently. She shook he head and tried to keep her mouth closed but they pinched her nose until she was forced to breathe from her mouth.

Both erections crammed into her mouth although they both could not reach the back of her throat thankfully as there simply wasn't room. They squeezed and jiggled her breasts in their hands as fresh strands of saliva coated their shafts and leaked from her mouth. The Leprechaun penises were making her choke badly and restricting her airway making her go red in the face.

She finally gagged and almost vomited before the creatures withdrew and she collapsed forward to retch up a puddle of spit and bile. She was so busy trying to catch her breath and wipe the tears from her eyes that she didn't really comprehend the Leprechauns removing her boots and then her leggings.

She was so desperate for air that she didn't care what they done next, she just wanted to avoid being choked to death by monster cocks! The Leprechauns were chittering at each other again as they tugged and pulled at her clothes. She yelped as one of them pulled at her pubic hair. One of them scrambled towards her as she began to sit upright and slapped her across the face.

It wasn't a hard hit but it was enough to shock her into laying on her back. The Leprechaun roughly pulled her hair and face and shoved its penis back into her mouth. This time it was not interested in deep throat and started to thrust in and out of her mouth, the tip making her opposite cheek bulge.

The second Leprechaun scooted between her legs, pushing her thighs apart and jabbing it's erection into her vagina. She cried out and her eyes bulged as it penetrated her. Luckily the earlier oral administrations had got the Leprechaun shafts slick enough to enter her as she was dry down there. Who would get turned on by these things??

Both of the Leprechauns were in a frenzy now, the one by her head was aggressively thrusting while the one between her legs was bucking and writhing. As disgusting as this was, Laela allowed them to use her as a plan formed in her mind. Her belt with her bombs was resting by her hip and she slowly tucked her hand into a pouch to withdraw one of them and hold it in her fist.

There was no better time to strike then when an opponent was at their weakest. Even if her bombs now exploded into flowers. The Leprechaun in her mouth ejaculated first, the semen was sweet and thick but she still turned her head and spat it out. The second ejaculated inside her vagina mere moments later, bucking so wildly, most of it spurted over her stomach and thighs.

As the Leprechauns reeled from their orgasm, Laela elbowed the one by her head to stun it and then shoved the activated bomb down its throat. She grabbed the second in a head scissors with her legs and squeezed hard. It tried to escape but she held firm even with the Leprechaun ejaculate over her body acting as lubricant.

The Leprechaun with the bomb down its throat had inserted both hands down its own oesophagus to try and pry the bomb out. It activated it with its desperate fumbling and a cascade of flowers filled its mouth, inflating its head to double the size. Its eyes almost bulged out and became bloodshot and red as it keeled over and hit the ground. The body immediately turned to dust and dissipated into the ground.