Defiant Destiny Ch. 11

Layla and Aurora were constantly fidgeting with each other - holding hands and playfully bumping into each other as their steps naturally fell in line. I could easily overhear their giggling brainstorming session about what type of dress that would look good on Aurora. Or rather - it sounded more like Layla's explicit daydream where she fantasized on how to dress Aurora as sexy as possible. Aurora on the other hand had never been shopping before, and was curiously listening to Layla's plans, seamlessly switching between an embarrassed blush or a surprised gasp at Layla's - rather lewd - dress suggestions.

Seeing the two of them engage in such sweet banter and meaningless touches was something I had not expected to happen - not after such a short time together anyway. Since Layla had such a severe reaction to Aurora's soul all those days ago, I'd sooner expected that would make things difficult or complicated between them. This I did not expect, and it made me smile.

I pulled Cyrea closer to me and let my hand linger on her hip, my fingers sliding over her thigh to the rhythm of our steps.

"You know, I never expected them to bond so well, and so...instantly," I mused in Cyrea's mind. "I mean, I had hoped Aurora would get along with both of you eventually, but her and Layla... it's almost..."

"Magical..." Cyrea sighed merrily in my mind and wrapped an arm around my waist, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

"Right? Especially considering Layla reacted so strongly to Aurora's untainted soul, I was worried that it might be difficult for them to connect, but it turns out I was wrong," I mumbled.

I could feel Cyrea's face bulge into a big smile against my chest. She wrapped her etheric tail around my leg and rubbed her face against my shirt, happily inhaling my scent.

"Destiny sure has a way to bring people together..." she mused with a tone I couldn't quite place.

"She sure does..." I replied and let my hand drop down to her ass and give it a playful squeeze.

I felt Cyrea look up at me, as if waiting for me to say something, but after a while she giggled softly and rubbed her head against my chest again.

As we neared the entrance to the shopping complex, I could hear the soft swooshing sounds of sliding doors opening and closing, like the mall's steady heartbeat. Next to the doors stood a large display with a detailed map of the mall showing the mall's layout through an array of colored shapes.

The tetris-like chart was largely obscured by two blonde people standing in front of it - a tall man with tangled blonde hair with his arm securely wrapped along a slightly shorter woman with long, ashen blonde hair reaching down to her hips. Her melodious voice drifted through the background static of footsteps and chatter like a robin in a city park as she was pointing things out on the map.

"Talk about two other people that destiny brought together..." Cyrea sighed happily and untangled herself from my embrace.

"Eir!" she called out enthusiastically and ran up to the blonde couple.

The lady in question turned around with a big smile on her face and embraced my mate with genuine enthusiasm.

I glanced at Alexis and saw his customary grin widely framing his face as he mumbled his greeting to Cyrea. My mate was warmly crushed in an embrace by Eir - an embrace neither seemed to have the intention of breaking. Layla and Aurora joined the ladies and I could hear shy introductions being made as Aurora and Eir met for the first time.

I took a moment to stare at the four women as they naturally fell into casual chit chat, complimenting each other on their outfits. I couldn't agree more, for all four of them had indeed dressed to impress today - gorgeous form fitting gowns were draped along the curves of our ladies - dresses that both covered up their skin, yet left nothing to the imagination. Layla had taken Eir out shopping a short while ago, and I had to applaud that sweet succubus of mine for finding Eir some gorgeous dresses that beautifully complimented her figure.

Judging by the grinning angel approaching me, he fully agreed.

Alexis clasped my shoulder.

"You're late," he grinned.

I took a deep and frustrated breath. I was so ready to open the verbal floodgates to release a tidal wave of reasons why we were late, to vent my frustration about the countless utterly unnecessary things my ladies deemed important before they considered themselves to be ready to go...

But I let it out as a silent sigh instead and shook my head.

"You're right..." I merely replied, nodding my head in defeat.

Both of us watched how our women talked to each other and made introductions. I could tell Aurora was a little tense - she had confided in me earlier that she was a little anxious to meet Eir. Allegedly, the angelic gossip that still circulated Heaven spared no detail in how Eir had taken the soul of an angel centuries ago. Details on how the fucker deserved it, were apparently lost to time.

Alexis stood next to me, gazing at how our women naturally fell in amicable conversation. Somehow I felt his grin before I could see it.

"It worked..." Alexis half grinned, half rumbled and from the corner of my eye I saw him subtly shift on his feet in excitement next to me.

"It did..." I replied with a grin of my own, looking at Aurora.

"To be honest with you, Dante, I wasn't completely sure that your soul would temper the purity of hers, but I'm very relieved to see that it did."

Alexis crossed his arms and stared at Aurora with a wide smile on his face, shaking his head in disbelief.

"If it hadn't, we wouldn't have agreed to come shopping with you, you know," I chuckled.

Alexis scoffed, yet kept his eyes on our ladies.

"Yes, yes, I know... Of course I knew beforehand that it worked, but seeing her out here in the open is wonderful. Dare I say, she even looks happy? Not at all the frightened woman you described her to be," he mused, gesturing with his hands.

I chuckled and a proud smile widened my face when my eyes found Aurora happily chatting with the other ladies. Through our bond I could tell she was a little nervous and shy, also because she kept fidgeting with her hands - after all, this was our first proper 'test run' in the outside world and her first shopping trip ever - but the pace and grace with which she'd been adjusting to this fear-free life was beyond admirable.

"No, she's definitely not that scared angel anymore. Having a partly demonic soul transformed her in more ways than one," I smiled. Aurora's black eyes briefly connected with mine and I sent her a large dose of love through our bond. Aurora's cheeks briefly bulged in an adorable smile as she seamlessly carried on telling a story to the other ladies.

Alexis nodded his agreement with a fond smile on his face.

After a while he turned to me, peering at me with an almost scholarly look, and for the briefest moment it felt like he was undressing me with his eyes. I chuckled, for I knew what his inquisitive mind was looking for yet could not see - just like he couldn't the previous times I claimed an immortal.

With an indulgent grin on my face, I waited patiently for my angelic friend to make eye contact with me. When his studious stare found mine, I briefly flared my eyes up with my demonic coloring and chuckled when I saw Alexis's lips split into an instant grin. He punched me in the shoulder, head shaking in joyous disbelief with his customary grin widening his face.

"The mark of an angel..." he mumbled, softly shaking his head again. For a long moment he stared at my now gray eyes and his breath came out as an astonished chuckle. "I think we're past the 'I told you so' stage in your destiny, aren't we?" he grinned.

I laughed.

"Oh yes, I'm long past doubtfulness..." I chuckled and took a moment to look at and appreciate the wonderful people who were now an important part of my life. "Most definitely..." I mumbled with a smile.

Our ladies had apparently finished their introductions and gravitated towards the colorfully decorated shop windows. Eir instead turned around and walked up to us. I had noticed her glance at Alexis a few times during our chat just now, smiling at his enthusiasm during our conversation. She came up to her mate and effortlessly flowed into his arms like a queen and rested her head on his chest with a happy sigh.

Despite still clearly being very excited, Alexis fell rather silent with Eir in his arms. His mate's eyes were on mine as her face contracted in more than a few sudden smiles against his chest. At one point she even rolled her eyes at me and with a big sigh she disentangled herself from Alexis.

"Well, go ask her then," she giggled at him.

Alexis took a deep breath, ready to say something, but Eir simply grabbed him by the shoulders, turned him around and shoved him towards my ladies. Or rather, she tried - for while Alexis was nowhere near the powerful Gatekeeper he once was, he was still a big man. Judging from the effort it took Eir to push him, he was rather heavy too.

Before allowing his mate to shove him away, Alexis quickly placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Yes, yes, I love you too..." Eir giggled in her melodious voice, and watched him eagerly hobble his way towards my ladies with a gorgeous smile on her face, softly shaking her head.

"It's all he ever talks about, you know..." she mused with a smile as we watched Alexis tap Aurora on her shoulder. "You, your destiny, how it will change everything once the club will be up and running... This adventure you've set upon...it gives Alexis purpose, makes him feel important and valuable again..." she said softly, almost whispering her words. "He's told me multiple times about how he feels so weak and useless ever since his fall, and seeing him like this - so ambitious and determined - it fills me with tremendous joy. I may have healed his angelic wings, but you Dante, you have healed the man behind the angel," Eir said, and I saw a distinct emotional shimmer in her eyes that I hadn't noticed earlier.

I smiled and took Eir's fidgeting hands in mine, bringing them up for a small kiss on her fingers.

"I'm very happy to hear that, Eir," I said, watching her smile widen. "Alexis is a good man and I'm relieved to hear he found his purpose again. And, that he found you in the process," I added with a wink.

Eir blushed and removed her hands from mine so she could start fidgeting again. I chuckled and turned to follow our mates, holding out my elbow for her. Eir smiled sweetly and linked her arm in mine without hesitation. Alexis's scent was strong on her, and I secretly hoped he wouldn't mind me being so close to his mate.

We leisurely strolled behind our mates as Cyrea and Layla perused the shop windows and Alexis and Aurora were enthusiastically chatting.

Eir's arm pressed into my side when she took a deep, satisfied breath.

"Finally, you and I have a chance to talk," she exclaimed with an airy chuckle, squeezing my arm with hers.

I tensed, feeling my heart rate pick up and glanced at her with a guilty look. However, with her eyes being completely void of irises, I had no idea what to read in them. This only amplified the guilt I felt for hardly having spoken to her since her return to Earth - my guilt translated her blank stare and fading smile as a painful indication that I had indeed neglected her.

I let out a troubled breath and uncomfortably cleared my throat.

"Look, Eir, I'm sorry for not having been very social or welcoming towards you since your arrival... It's just that when you left the factory with Alexis, I figured you'd want some alone time with him to... you know... and then I was so preoccupied with finding Aurora that I..." I stammered, feeling like an utter fool.

All those times I had postponed reaching out to Eir swirled around in my head making me feel exceptionally uneasy.

"Wait, wait, wait... No, no, no..." Eir interrupted me and grabbed my shoulder, making me turn to her.

Her eyebrows were raised well up on her forehead and scrunched in a slight frown. I was secretly relieved she emoted so well, because her eyes still looked like blank, emotionless marbles to me...

"We're not going to do this, Dante," she said rather fiercely in that beautiful voice of hers. "Both of us have been preoccupied, and both of us didn't reach out to each other, alright? No apologies," she said, with what I interpreted to be a stern look in her eyes.

I breathed a secret sigh of relief that she wasn't angry with me.

"Thank you, because I really..."

Eir made a firm and dismissive hand gesture.

"No, Dante. Sand over it," she interrupted me again, sternly this time.

I frowned, not understanding what she meant, but her gaze was dead serious.

"Sand...what?" I asked her slowly, not sure I heard her correctly.

For a brief moment Eir stared at me with a frown of her own. She then sounded a silent "Oh..." and sighed in poorly disguised frustration.

"Ah... It's uhm... that's an expression in my tongue. It's been such a long time since I've been among people, and I realize I keep literally translating things that just don't make sense in your language. Alexis has been helping me, but uhm... well... sometimes things slip through..." she sighed.

Eir looked surprisingly annoyed by her slip up as she sighed again.

"Don't worry about it. You've got a lot to get used to now that you're back on Earth," I tried comforting her. "What does it mean? The sand expression?"

A shy smile appeared on Eir's face.

"Well, I guess it means you bury the issue with sand... So you can move on," she explained slowly, trying to pick the right words.

"Excellent metaphor. Let's throw some sand over it then, shall we?" I told her with a smile and again held out my elbow to her.

A delightful smile spread across Eir's cheeks as she instantly linked her arm through mine with a sweet giggle and we continued our leisurely stroll behind our mates.

While Alexis was politely, yet eagerly, interrogating Aurora about her corrupted state, Eir and I managed to catch up on these past days where she'd been adjusting from her immortal-hating life in Hell to a new life on Earth - mated to an angel no less.

Alexis had told me earlier that his mate possessed a fierce intelligence, and it was clear as day - the rate at which she had adjusted to modern humanity was astounding. Of course there were things she still didn't understand, but the blonde lady at my side proudly told me she had already managed to purchase something online and have it shipped to their penthouse. To say I was impressed would be a dire understatement.

While Cyrea and Layla dove into a random looking shop, and Alexis was still enthusiastically questioning a now blushing Aurora, Eir told me about the progress they'd made with the magic required to hide the club from the deities. She proudly told me she had devised a new type of spell that could create an entirely new mini-dimension. Barring a few final tests, she believed this spell could be cast inside the club so that when people enter the building, they would actually enter a separate dimension - removing them from Earth entirely and away from the deities' sphere of influence. They would be free from doctrine in there, free to experiment, free to sin.

Enthusiastically, Eir began explaining the theory she used as a basis for her spell using a myriad of hand gestures, and words I had never heard before. She tried explaining in detail how she was finalizing a few tweaks that would make the entrance portal invisible to the human eye, so regular visitors would have no idea that anything was out of the ordinary.

While I honestly tried to understand what she was talking about, I didn't know the first thing about spell casting. Besides, my mind was still reeling from what she told me.

A separate dimension. Wow...

More than once she tried to hide her proud smile upon hearing me praise her for her brilliance, or evaded my gaze when my compliments made her blush. When she was done explaining, and I had utterly satiated her with compliments, she kept staring at her hands where her fingers were busily fidgeting.

In that brief moment I saw Eir as a brilliant woman who clearly had never received the praise, or love, she deserved. Not that I doubted for a moment that Alexis would not shower her with all the love and compliments she deserved.

Hoping Alexis wouldn't mind too much, I wrapped my arm around Eir, pulled her against me and placed a small kiss on her hair.

"You are wonderful. Thank you so much, Eir, for everything," I told her and saw her cheeks turn downright crimson from the corner of my eye.

"Thank you... I mean, you're welcome..." she whispered ever so softly, her cheeks bulging into a slight smile against my chest.

Eir wiggled out of my embrace and looked at me with more determination than her racing heartbeat would imply.

"Would you like to come over to the desert tonight? To see the progress we've made?" she asked softly.

"Oh, absolutely!" I replied. "I can't wait."

I couldn't help it and drew her closer to me again, and placed another kiss on her hair.

Alexis was wrong - I wasn't only past the doubtful stage in my destiny, I had become fully convinced that all of the events in my life happened to bring me to this very moment. By now, I had become a firm believer that the things I've been through and the people I've met all led me to this point - to the brink of my destiny. I couldn't wait to see the rest.

My succubi paraded out of a shop with Layla holding a rather delicate looking bag that looked like it was empty from the way it swayed so lightly in her hand. While Cyrea naturally flowed into my arms with a delighted smile on her gorgeous face, my other succubus casually, yet secretly beckoned to Eir and slyly pushed the bag into her hands. I couldn't see Eir's reaction, but judging from the secretive and hushed mumbling coming from the two of them as they peeked into the bag, I gathered it was a lingerie set for Eir. An enticing one, judging by the blush on her cheeks and sneaky glances to see if Alexis had noticed.

After having visited a few more shops, Layla suddenly squealed enthusiastically and steered all of us towards a shop that did not have those regular glass sliding doors, but thick burgundy velvet curtains instead. The curtains hid everything inside the shop from view except for the shop's name sign hovering above the curtains in curly, golden lettering. Loud music played inside the shop, making the curtains tremble ever so slightly to the rhythm of the heavy bass.

Layla bounced inside, dragging the ladies behind her, making the curtains ripple. Despite the loud music and heavy curtains muffling the sounds, Alexis and I could clearly distinguish wondrous cries of excitement from our female entourage.

I glanced at Alexis with a cocked eyebrow. My angelic friend just grinned at me and held open the curtain so we could follow them.

Inside, we were greeted by the sight of our ladies gasping at a display holding a wide selection of dildos in all shapes and sizes - each dildo more exotically colored and shaped than the next. There were some erotic dvd's and a rather large section at the back containing a myriad of sexy clothing. The smell of latex and leather hung thick upon the air.

That, and the unmistakable lingering lust of previous customers.

An older couple was purchasing some items I didn't recognize at the cashier who, along with her other two colleagues, were dressed in incredibly enticing latex outfits. One of the shop attendants was engaging our four ladies in a rather detailed conversation about all the different bulges and protrusions on a specific dildo that would guarantee the most intense orgasms.