Gaia's Champion Ch. 16

He drew upon Gaia's magic, granting the Guardian not only extra power, but additional resilience and regenerative capacity. As he was sketching out the runes, he saw that Sheena had stepped up and was adding a bit of her own Shamanistic magic. This made the redheaded man smile as they finished their spells simultaneously. The Guardian growled and hummed in appreciation at the gift, smiling and nodding to them both.

"Come on, time to go!" Phalmina called out impatiently.

Chuckling, Sheena and Jason joined the others on the stone before they were off. They came out in the underground cave, which never failed to amaze them when they arrived in it from the glade. The lot of them walked forward, chattering as they meandered along towards the exit. They walked by Xaera's home when the troll woman hurried up to them, excitement painted across her face.

"Hey! You guys have got to see this!" Xaera nattered at them.

"What is it, Xaera?" Sheena queried.

"Come and see!"

Seeing no other course but to go along, everyone shrugged and walked over to where Xaera had been working. Jason glanced about but saw nothing but a pile of rocks by the workbench Xaera had set up. He was about to ask what exactly the troll woman had wanted to show them until he saw the pile of rocks move.

He thought Xaera had moved it with her magic, but saw that Xaera had done nothing but stand several feet away, with her hands behind her back. The rocks continued to move until they roughly resembled a rudimentary human shape. It was small, around the size of a five-year-old child, but still moving, like it had a life of its own!

"Is that..." he started blinking to be sure he wasn't seeing things.

"It's a stone golem!" Sheena exclaimed.

"Xaera, I thought we told to no go messing around with things you didn't understand!" Phalmina growled.

"What? It was one of the more basic creations in the Artificier's Book, and it didn't take much to animate it. Besides, I need to learn how to create more of them," Xaera replied defensively, as the golem ambled around.

"Create more of these things? Why?" Eva asked, fascinated by the construct which was shambling around aimlessly.

"In case you haven't noticed, there are no Guardians here. It's just me, keeping an eye on things here, and it gets lonely sometimes," Xaera replied.

"You know she has a point," Darren agreed.

"And raising more Guardians is impossible, as the spell to create them died with the Druids of old. Also, the females of their kind died centuries ago, which makes the ones still alive precious," Daelina stated.

"It's not like she created one that was eight feet tall with a need to crush all humans," Emalia laughed, peering at the golem with unabated interest.

"But... did you have to do that now?" Sheena groused.

"Maybe I could have waited, but I was excited and wanted to try it! Don't tell me you haven't done something you wanted to try because you were excited about doing it!" Xaera accused.

Everyone looked around, seeing that Xaera had a point and said nothing. Sheena opened her mouth to say something, but a look from Jason made her close it. He could state several times where she'd done something, even though she was explicitly told not to. Jason quirked an eyebrow and she let out an exasperated sigh.

"Oh, hush you!" she whined.

"What? I didn't say anything to you yet!" Jason responded, raising his hands defensively.

"Oh no, but you were thinking it!" Sheena accused, wagging a finger under his nose. Jason smirked before he opened his mouth and gobbled up her finger.

"Eewww! Why do you have to be so gross?" Sheena squealed.

"You bring that mischievous side in me, Sheena. You know that," Jason snickered.

"Ugh! Anyway, are you going to practice on making more of those then Xaera?" Sheena wondered.

"Maybe. I could use some help in refining its use. I'll admit that this first attempt is a little crude," Xaera said.

"I'll stay with you tonight, Xaera," Emalia offered.

"Are you sure? I know you were looking forward to some food tonight," Amy told the fairy.

"It's all right. Besides, there are a few places nearby and it's not like Xaera and I can't defend ourselves," Emalia told her friends. "Just don't go having any parties without us around."

"Deal! Here's a few bucks for a pizza or three for you two," Jason said to them, handing a few bills to Emalia.

She accepted the cash gratefully and the two women started talking about what they would do next and how they would refine the golem. The rest of the troupe let themselves out of the cave, coming into late afternoon in the park. There were a fair amount of people around, but a small dip in the ground concealed the entry to Xaera's cave. The trees and bushes that surrounded the area granted extra cover, which helped. Just as they made onto the path, Jason's phone rang. It was Luke, which Jason answered.

"Hey Luke, what's up? What's that? Yeah, yeah OK. Tell her I'm on my way," Jason blabbed over the phone before hanging up.

"What is it, hon?" Sheena asked, turning to her boyfriend.

"It's Carlotta. She wants to speak to me regarding a matter that she wants me to look into," Jason informed the women.

"A business matter?" Phalmina questioned.

"I guess so. Luke didn't give and specifics or details. He just said that Carlotta needed a word with me about something that had her concerned," Jason answered.

"All right, then. You go handle your business, dear. Sheena and I, we'll handle dinner," Phalmina told him.

Nodding, Jason headed off for the nearest bus stop while everyone else split between the remaining cars. Phalmina hopped into Sheena's Impala, while Daelina went with the Marstons. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he watched the brunette fairy make eyes at Darren. Jason was more than familiar with that look, catching it more than once on Phalmina's face.

Jason thought back to when they first met and how she appeared offended by him at first. He supposed he had earned some of her ire, thinking she was a figment of his imagination. The bus arrived, and he boarded, headed for the jobsite for his meeting with Carlotta. He smiled at the fact that he didn't really have to work anymore, not with his responsibilities now.

He thought on his former job and how his bosses had been sorry to see him go. They were left bereft of their best worker and even said so, but Jason had a plan already in motion. He'd been grooming Terry for the job of lead hand at the company, which Joe and Henry were thankful for. Also, a few of Jason's old high school friends were out of work, so they were eager to take the jobs offered.

From what he'd heard, the guys had also brought their girlfriends to help, which was a massive boost to the company's image. With the amount of help Joe and Henry had pulled together thanks to Jason, they could get themselves back on schedule. He'd been vague as to why he was quitting, as he couldn't very well tell them about his newfound power and responsibilities as a Druid.

Jason had been tempted more than once to tell them, but he erred on the side of caution. Though the power of the Sons of Caesar had been broken, at least in the city, there could still be fringe elements of them left behind. That was one chance that Jason and Sheena weren't willing to risk. The announcement of his stop coming up jolted Jason out of his introspections, and he got up to step off.

The bus hissed as it halted at the stop and Jason walked off, heading straight for Carlotta's trailer. He noted that Luke's van was present and couldn't help but grin. Since his suggestion that Luke make a play for Karla, the two of them had started dating almost immediately! Since then, he watched Luke grow more confident in himself, outgrowing the nerdy shut in that he was.

Luke was still a hardcore nerd through and through, but he was what you'd call a manly nerd. It was a lot to process, but Luke had taken more of a lead in his life. He was making decisions at a faster rate, requiring little time to think them over. His friend had also become a shit ton more confident and not just with Karla. In general, Luke was becoming more and more confident in his abilities and as a person.

Jason was genuinely happy for his friend, who had finally found some happiness. Learning the truth about why Dominique did what she did had hit the poor guy hard. Though he'd gotten over the woman years ago, it still hurt to know the truth of things. But now that the guilty party was in jail, Luke was determined to move forward with his life. Jason walked into the trailer, and in the middle of a conversation the couple was having.

"You've never played Dark Souls?!?" Luke queried the woman incredulously.

"No. I've heard of it and how it's ridiculously hard sometimes," she replied to him.

"Ok, we need to get you that game ASAP! You said you wanted a game that challenges you? Dark Souls will do just that! On top of which, there's a remaster of the game that was released more than a year ago! So you won't have to fuss about out-of-date graphics," Luke told her.

"OK, I'll try it. Oh, Jason! Auntie said you'd be stopping by! Please, come in!" Karla bid the man, who was standing in the doorway with a smirk on his face.

"What are you smiling about, bud?" Luke questioned as he typed away on his laptop.

"Three words; told you so!" Jason jabbed at him.

"Yeah, yeah! But you see the smile on my face? I ain't mad at what you suggested! Hell, I thank you for it!" Luke told his friend as he stood, and man hugged him.

"Jason? Auntie will see you now," Karla called out, interrupting the men. Jason broke the hug and walked into the office, but not before shooting a wink at Karla. The woman giggled and went back to her desk as Jason walked inside and took a seat. Carlotta just hit a button on her cell phone, finishing a call she was on.

"Jason, I'm glad that you could spare the time to see me today. I trust things are going well?" she asked the Druid.

"Well enough, I suppose. Eva is showing some progress, but it's slow. She has the strength and will, but its being hampered somehow," Jason groused.

"You might want to consider cutting the poor woman some slack. She was technically a prisoner in her own home and didn't even know it. There are still a shit ton of mental blocks she has to find her way past. Self-inflicted mental blocks," Carlotta clarified.

"Hmm. That can be trouble if you're still having trouble accepting a new normal, I suppose. Now, Luke said you wanted to see me about something?" the redhead man questioned.

"Yes. I have just recently come into a new acquisition of land. The reason I've called you here is that I want you to look it over," she told him.

"Wouldn't that be a job better suited to a surveyor?" he asked.

"It would be, if any surveyor would stay put for longer than a day. Any I've hired have refused to come back, for reasons unknown. I've gone to the land myself and while the entry point is quaint, the moment you go further into it... it's... it's just..." she shivered.

"What?"

"I felt an eerie sense of foreboding when I was there. Almost like I was being watched. The house which the property sits on is cozy enough, but beyond that... it feels... haunted," Carlotta finished.

"Haunted? By what? Ghosts?" Jason asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.

"That's what I'd like you find out. I know that you're a Druid, so either you or one of the fairies might have some insight or answers to this place," Carlotta stated.

"Carlotta, I'm Druid, not a Ghostbuster," Jason joked. But at that moment, he saw the seriousness in her eyes and changed his tone. "What exactly was the feeling you had when you were there?"

"Just a general... wrongness of this place. As I said, it doesn't extend to the house. You'd think with the state the house is in, it would, but it does not, which I find to be odd," she told him.

"This land you acquired, who did you purchase it from?" Jason wondered; his interest truly piqued.

"An elderly woman, whose family owned the property for years. She's been trying to sell it for years, but no one has had any interest in doing so. Until I happened along and bought it from her with no hesitation. I got it cheap too, which is odd, considering how much land there is," Carlotta went on.

"How much land does this property consist of?" Jason asked.

"Well over one-hundred and fifty acres, with the house on it. It's an old Victorian style, which adds to the charm of its location. Though it's been abandoned for decades, as the owner didn't live there," Carlotta explained.

"Hmm. Well, thanks for bringing this to my attention and I'll have a look at it first thing in the morning," he told her.

"Good idea. Wouldn't want you to discover something malevolent out there in the dead of night. If there is anything there, which I feel there is," the Danish woman shuddered.

"Don't worry. I'll look into it and Sheena and Mina will come along as well. Whatever is there, they'll help me figure it out," the Nordic man assured her.

"Tak, Jason. I appreciate your help in this matter," she said, standing and shaking the man's hand.

"Not a problem, Carlotta. Speaking of those two, I should probably get back home before dinner gets cold," he told her.

"They're cooking for you? Well, I suggest you hurry then! No woman wants her man to come home when dinner is cold," she admonished him.

"You don't need to tell me that!" Jason snickered as he returned the handshake and bid her good evening. He walked out into the main area of the trailer and watched as the two lovers were yammering and laughing. An idea then occurred to Jason, and he smirked evilly as he spoke.

"Hey Luke," he called out, getting his friend's attention. "I'm just curious if you've put together that outfit for Karla yet."

Hearing that made Luke jump to his feet and Jason laughed as he ran around the room, with Luke chasing him. He did one circuit before zipping out the door, closing it behind him while Luke grumbled at his friend. He turned back to Karla, who had a curious look on her face and gave her man a pointed look.

"Just what kind of outfit was Jason referring to?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Something from World of Warcraft and it's not important," Luke told her hurriedly.

"Hmm. Well, I have two questions for you, Lucas. First, is what does this outfit look like? I might be inclined to wear it," she teased him with a knowing smile. Hearing this made Luke's jaw drop, and he shook himself back to reality as his mind went rampant with some crazy ideas.

"Before I answer, what was your second question?" he breathed weakly.

"What server do you play on?"

* * * * *

Sheena and Phalmina had their hands full shopping for dinner, then getting everything prepped. Sheena was a little rusty working around a kitchen, but with Phalmina's help the two of them got everything prepped pretty damned quick. They were just finishing the final prep work when Sheena called it for the moment.

"Shouldn't we start cooking?" Phalmina wondered as they stopped.

"We should, but I instructed Jason to send me a text when he's on his way home. We'll start cooking when I get the text, so everything is nice and hot for when he gets back," Sheena told her friend.

"Ah! So, what do we do while we wait?" Phalmina asked as she doffed her apron.

"Well, let's sit down and talk, just us girls. We haven't really had much time for that since I walked back into Jason's life," Sheena stated as she moved to sit on the couch.

"True. What did you want to talk about?" the fairy asked as she sat opposite her friend.

"Well, they're a lot of things we could discuss, but one thing I wanted to discuss was Jason. What was it like for you, when you met him?" Sheena asked.

"Well... it was... interesting," Phalmina replied, blushing slightly.

"Interesting? How?"

"I did... kind of... slap him," the fairy woman admitted sheepishly.

"Slap him? Whatever for?" the ebon skinned woman exclaimed.

"He was... staring at me, you know? Like how he stares at something or someone he wants and..."

"... it leaves you feeling all gooey and melty?" Sheena finished.

"Yeah! Part of me wanted him to keep looking at me like that, but another part of was... offended that he would stare at me like that," Phalmina groused.

"The curse of being in the presence of a handsome man. Part of you wants to keep him from being too presumptuous, while the other part of you wants him to bend you over a log and take you," Sheena giggled.

"Exactly! Though he listens when he told to do something," Phalmina snickered.

"That he does! That's one of things that drew me in. His willingness to take orders from a woman, while still being a man," Sheena agreed.

"Also the sex... the sex is just..." Phalmina mimed her head exploding, which sent Sheena into a fit of giggles.

"I'm sure that he feels the same way about us. You see how the man is always smiling?" Sheena gushed.

"Oh yes! I also note the way you are often smiling, but that's not all that I notice," the fairy replied cryptically.

"Oh? What else do you see?" Sheena asked.

"I see how you look at me sometimes. Like you have a question that you want answered, but are almost afraid to ask it," the fairy woman told her.

"And question do you think that is?"

"What it's like, having sex with a fairy," Phalmina suggested boldly.

"Uh... ummm... well..." Sheena stammered as she blushed.

"There's no need to hide it, dearie! It's tough to fool a fairy, especially when you are giving off those 'fuck me' pheromones," Phalmina told her as she chuckled.

"How... I mean, what... huh?" Sheena stuttered.

"Take your time and collect your mind before you respond," Phalmina guffawed. Sheena sat there, thinking things over, and came up with a truthful response. She didn't want to lie to her new friend and knew that honesty was always the best policy.

"Well, I have... wondered about it, but I've been... hesitant to do anything about it," Sheena admitted.

"Oh? And why is that?" Phalmina asked, curious.

"I have... had women as... lovers. But they weren't anything... stellar. I'm not saying that it isn't fun, I just haven't had any real... desire to do anything about it," Sheena confessed.

"How about now?" Phalmina asked as she moved to the black woman, straddling her lap. Sheena's eyes widened, and she peered up into the fairy's face. She saw the desire written across Phalmina's face, and she could also feel her own temperature rise. She panted, her chest rising and falling as lust consumed her.

"I think it's past time you understood the delights in having a fairy lover," Phalmina told her huskily.

The fairy then leaned down and kissed Sheena, pressing their lips together. The move surprised Sheena, but the thing that caught her off guard was the jolt that rifled through her with that kiss. Her arms moved up of their own accord, wrapping around the fairy woman, drawing her deeper into the kiss. Phalmina purred happily, her wings tinkling as they vibrated with pleasure.

"You felt that too?" Sheena breathed as they came apart, sucking in lungfuls of air.

Phalmina nodded and dove back in, her hands roaming across Sheena's lush body. Sheena's hands did the same, but sought the hem of Phalmina's shirt, lifting it up and over her chest. The fairy tucked her wings away to make it easier to take the shirt off. Once it was clear of her head, Phalmina let her wings out again and moaned as Sheena started sucking on her tits.

Phalmina did the same to Sheena, peeling her cami off her body, freeing her pendulous tits from their confines. She licked her lips before latching onto Sheena's nipples, licking, sucking and nibbling gently. Phalmina watched as the woman beneath her undulated and groaned at the stimulation, wanting more. The fairy was more than happy to give more and dove back into Sheena's massive rack.