Growing Acceptance Ch. 04

Step one: label the coordinate system...

Pinching my tongue between my front teeth, I got to work. I worked as quickly as I could without rushing. A mistake was something that neither Lexi nor I could afford at the moment.

Assign variables, set up the equations before solving.

It wasn't the trickiest problem I'd ever encountered. But I was constantly second guessing myself about whether I'd made a mistake. In this subdivision of my mind, there was none of the calm assurance that came from being a priestess of Belini. I was wracked by insecurities and fears that I had to ruthlessly prune lest they affect my reasoning.

Stupid anxiety-riddled brain.

I chewed on my lip and looked at the answer.

Is that right?

Metal turn in box appeared next to me on the desk. I huffed a breath. The pen clacked as I let it slip from my fingers onto the desk.

It has to be. My succubus can't afford any further delays to let me be weak-willed.

The paper slipped from my fingers into the basket.

I hope to the goddess this doesn't melt my brain. Lexi, I love-

Swirling, I was yanked back out of the conjured space and into reality. I relaxed into the gentle calm of confidence as the tattoos settled across my body. The skull in my hands cracked, pink motes of light appearing and fading. It crumbled into dusk, the pieces slipping from my fingers into the ground into a pile of sand-like particulates.

My stomach clenched.

I winced as my tattoos sparked with the verdant green of the symbol that'd been carved into the skull. An ache settled into my core, growing more intense with every second. I levered myself from the ground. My feet stumbled beneath me as I worked my way back to Lexi.

My succubus was no longer punching the ground with bone-shattering haymakers. Instead she lay on her back, her breath heaving in desperate bids for oxygen. She was still clad in muscles and navy-blue tribal tattoos. Her body was giving out from the continuous strain of holding her enhanced form.

I ran to her.

Throwing my emotional probe at Lexi this time found its mark. Whatever the nature elemental's had done to mess with her emotions had been severed with the dispersion of the magic contained within the antlered skull. The connection blazed between us with glorious clarity.

Confusion. Fear. Worry. Pain. Fear. Worry. Sydney. Worry. Fear. Sydney. Love.

I threw myself atop her. My lips found hers and I poured whatever reassurances I could manage across the bond.

My spike of love shattered the bonds that held her captive. Her lungs released a relieved exhalation as she began to shrink beneath me. Her wounds closed and steam wisped off her body as she returned to her usual appearance. Thin lines were the only signs of the recent injuries. And even those faded with each passing second.

Flawless. She is always so flawlessly beautiful.

Distracted, my focus slipped for an instant. My bones ached like they were swimming with battery acid. Gasping, my hand caught me and kept me from falling over. Lexi's hand trembled weakly in a failed attempt to touch me. Unfortunately, I couldn't let myself succumb to the pain. Curling my forearm over my stomach, I placed a kiss onto Lexi's forehead. Grunting, I rolled onto my knees. A clenched jaw muffled my guttural scream. I huffed and pressed my fist into the ground to force myself onto my feet.

Ponderous, pained steps of my screaming body was piloted by my resolute mind over to where Annita lay propped up against a tree. Unbuckling the straps across my chest followed by a quick roll of my shoulder unburdened my back from the pack. Shortly thereafter, I followed it to the floor. Sweat rolled off my forehead, obscuring my vision.

"Hey, beautiful," Annita flirted weakly. Her expression was pained but she didn't look on the precipice of dying, which was better than I'd expected. "Nice to see the tats again. If I remember right, you're much more friendly when you're like this."

I chuckled. My tail reached out and swatted her in the head. I had nothing to do with it. I do so swear your honor. The lie I'd sensed earlier gave way to the truth as I looked at her bloodstained hands clasped around her midsection.

"Where'd the other one get off to?"

"Sent her back to the car. She could barely focus her eyes. Wasn't going to do any good hanging around here."

I pinched my lips into a sharp, shallow frown. "And you didn't have her bandage you up first?"

"I told you I was-" She winced. "- I am fine," she finished unconvincingly.

I rolled my eyes at her and got to work retrieving the material from my backpack. "I'm glad you kept the blade in, at least." I gently peeled her hand away and grimaced at what was exposed.

She released the polished grains so I could begin staunching the trickle of blood. I unloaded the bandages and began to gently wrap the cloth across her body and around the oval backside of the wooden blade. "It helped you from bleeding too much."

"Ah, so this is the right amount of bleeding. Good to know for the next time I get stabbed."

With the help of my emotional senses, I could sense her bravado for what it was: an attempt to keep me from freaking out.

"You don't need to do that." I said the words gently, keeping my chin down and focusing on what my hands were doing.

"Do what? Keep my wooden friend in my body. That's too bad, I feel like we've really bonded in our short time together."

We both chuckled. And then immediately winced with pain when our bodies informed us just how bad of an idea that was. I swatted her again with my tail.

"Stop it. Idiot," I muttered.

Annita gasped when I accidently jostled the blade with a shaking hand. The burn running through my veins was beginning to affect my physical performance.

"Sorry."

"No worries," she said in a thin voice. "My beautiful appearance should still be able to carry me even if the scar is a little longer. In fact, it might help if the scar is longer. That way I'll have a better story to tell when I'm picking up guys. Like I was mauled by a tiger or wrestled a shark. They'll be lining up to-"

I silenced her with a kiss. "Hush. It's okay. I'm here. You're going to be fine." I comforted her.

She froze. Her mask held for a moment before shattering. The tears leaked down her strong features. I rose to my knees so that she could bury her head into my chest.

"It hurts. It hurts so much. I'm scared, Sydney."

"The bleeding has stopped. The bandages are hardly even bloodied. You don't have anything to fear." I could sense her pain. "In fact..." Scrunching up my face, I focused on that sensation. One by one, I blocked out each of my other senses until only the special empathetic one remained. Then I gently began to shape the little streaks of lightning that flowed from her wounds to her brain. Softening the pathways, I stroked the pain until it slowed to a crawl. I opened my eyes to find my hands resting on my shoulder and reddened eyes staring at me from a short distance.

I leaned forward and kissed her full on the lips. It was more chaste than nearly all the kisses we'd shared during the game, but she didn't seem to have any complaints when we parted.

"You seem to be doing better," I mentioned softly.

"I am." She smirked. "I am." She glanced away for an instant. "Am I? We should kiss some more just to be sure."

I rolled my eyes.

She seems to be feeling better. I'm glad.

I went to stand and had one of my knees fold out underneath me. My chest strained with the effort of holding in the scream. After a few more seconds than I would have cared to admit, I was able to claw my wayward body back under control. The magic ricocheted throughout my core, unable to sync with my natural resonance despite Belini's help.

Fucking settle down!

To my immense surprise, it did. The magic actually responded to my internal command. Then it lashed out like an abused recalcitrant dog. Acidic claws raked through my guts.

Stop it!

I bore down with my will. Writhing beneath my skin, it jumped around before settling into a dull, bearable burn.

That's better.

It grumbled, stomping around like a nesting bear spiraling through my body to inform me of its displeasure.

Narrowing my eyes, I gave it my best evil eye.

Even though it doesn't technically have eyes. Or a brain. So this all might just be the imaginings of my broken mind.

Regardless, the magic quickly decided it was best to behave and curl up next to my bones.

My lids peeled back to expose Annita's worried brown eyes. I smiled reassuringly. While the expression was genuine, the overall effect was somewhat marred by the way I was curling over my stomach and the gentle trembling of my limbs. "I'm fine."

She started to laugh but forced it down. "That sounds about as true as when I said those words earlier."

I gave her a wry smile. "... You might be right."

"You're surprisingly hardcore, aren't you?"

"You have no idea. You should see me when Lexi breaks out the flogger." The words popped from my mouth without much thought.

Stupid priestess mode removing my filter.

"I look forward to it." Annita responded so casually I was somewhat taken aback.

How am I still getting culture shock from the sexual progressiveness of all these succubi? I mean, they're literally succubi!

We shared a smile before Annita held out her hand.

"Help each other up?"

"Is that the best idea?" I questioned suspiciously.

"Does it matter?"

My tired brain couldn't come up with any decent responses and I was forced to shrug. Her hand dwarfed mine as our fingers hooked together. We both let out pained grunts as we pulled each other up. Her greater mass meant that I had to work harder to get her up. When I did, I overbalanced, tipping forward into her chest as she leaned back against the tree. I was careful not to press or jostle the bundled up mound of bandages on her side. On its own, my neck leaned back so I could look up into her eyes. Beautiful, brown and glistening, I could practically smell the desire wafting off of her. My lips parted as I recalled the sensations of her kiss. Annita's hands fell on my shoulders and she began to lean in.

Lexi, who had regained a portion of her strength and trudged over to the two of us, coughed once to catch our attention. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Not at all. Care to jump in?" asked the cheeky little devil that lived in my throat. Turning, I pressed my head up into the hollow beneath Annita's chin, slotting in like I belonged there.

"Later. First, an order of business." With that sliver of warning, she moved in and had her way with me.

She started at my neck, her teeth nipping vigorously as she moved from my shoulder up towards my ear. Her breath was hot on my skin. I leaned against Annita as my knees suddenly went weak. Whispering in my ear, she snaked her hands down my pants. "When you saved me, you gave me a bit of insight on what triggers the return." Her pheromones swirled in a lovely cloud of enticement. I moaned. My brain pulsed, struggling to process the deluge of stimuli, the impressive logic of my enhanced state just as vulnerable to Lexi as the rest of me. Her fingers sought out and slipped into my wet folds.

"It's not about your release as much as it is the mental trigger that the orgasm provides." her voice was pitched low enough that Annita probably couldn't hear.

Probably.

Meanwhile her hand continued to work my sex. I protested, but it was weak. "Lexi... Is... Ooohhh. Is this the time and place?" I was hyper aware of how Annita's body felt against my back. The way her breasts pressed into my back and how, even through the layers of fabric separating us, I could still feel her nipples pebble into hard little points.

"You need this. Staying in the elevated state puts a strain on you. Even though it might not be as apparent as mine, it's unhealthy to stay this way for long."

"But, the danger..." I argued, my voice unconvincingly thready and wanton. Lexi didn't know that Belini had informed me that the nature elementals were the only active defenses still present in the base.

Maybe I can use that to stop her?

"What danger? There's nothing around but you, me, and the lovely woman at your back." And do you know how I know that?" She pinched my ear between her teeth.

I shook my head as I wiggled cutely around her fingers.

"Because you talked to Belini, and she would have told you if there was any further danger. If there was, you'd be doing more than these token protests of unnecessary embarrassment. You're safe here, Syd. And we both know what comes next."

I pinched my bottom lip between my teeth, stifling the moan. Her fingers continued to curl and press, my pussy dripping around her touch. My body stiffened, on the cusp of orgasm.

"It's okay," she assured me. "This is my haven. This is my home. Nothing brings me greater peace than feeling you come undone around me."

Her words and touch were too much. I orgasmed over her fingers. I whimpered and twitched up against Annita who bit back a groan of her own. Like a cramped muscle relaxing, my body's relief was palpable as my dusky-pink tattoos dripped from my skin.

"There she is. There's my girl." Lexi murmured into my lips. "Good to have you back."

Annita panted at my back. "You two are too much. Even for me."

I leaned my head back into her sturdy clavicle and reached up and stroked her cheek. "You secretly love it."

"I don't think I've made it any sort of a secret." Her arms curled around my waist. "Have I?" she asked Lexi.

"Not to my knowledge. You've made your intentions very clear. You desperately wish to bang my lover."

"Exactly."

I snorted. My stomach still heaving with panted breaths, I shook my head at the both of them. Annita's hands slipped reluctantly off my body as I pushed away. I winced at the myriad of uncomfortable sensations that were now harder to ignore without the single-minded focus of the priestess state.

"I don't know why I put up with you two."

"The mindblowing sex and devotion," Lexi chirped immediately.

I pointed at her and opened my mouth. Reluctantly I let it creak close, conceding the point. "Regardless, you should be nicer to me."

Lexi bumped me with her hip. "I'll work on that."

Annita joined me on the opposite side. Her entrancing brown eyes scanned the surroundings, still glistening with remnants of unfulfilled lust. "Is what she said true? Is everything clear? And do you trust the source?"

My foot stopped midair in the middle of my next step. My eyes widened as I stared at the ground. "You... Um... You heard that?" A scarlet blush had already started reddening my cheeks.

"..." Annita remained quiet. Arching one of her brows at me while waiting for a response.

"Right. Yes. Belini said there aren't any further defenses for the base. She also said it was mostly cleared out. I do trust her, enough that she was the first I sought for help when Lexi was in trouble."

"Very trusted then," Annita dialed it back, letting a portion of the tension slip from her back.

I turned to Lexi and skewered her with a stern look. Her smile was anything but apologetic. I pinched her in the snide. This only made her snicker with amusement. My ensuing glare promised later retribution for her embarrassing words in front of our friend. Still, the teasing felt good after the earlier worry. Together we stumbled forward, curiosity driving me, eager to see what remained within the abandoned facility.

The metal door stood, as imposing as ever, before the three of us. I was bracketed by lovely succubi, the three of us supporting each other in our weakness.

"Bel told me how to get in. She also said that there weren't any further dangers other than the guardians. Which I've already neutralized?"

Lexi arched her brow. "You neutralized."

Erp.

When Lexi and Sam had defeated the guardians, they'd merely dismantled their corporeal forms. The magic would alway regather and regenerate new nature elementals until the totem was destroyed.

"It's a long story that I'll have to tell you about later. For now let's get this base cracked open." I followed my words up with a fake sounding laugh.

Best not to let her know that if I failed to interface with the magic correctly it would've most likely melted my brain. Bel was sure I was fully informed of the risks before I embarked on that course of action.

Lexi didn't buy my innocent act, her expression promising further discussion of this topic at a later date. Frowning comically at Annita, I slipped away from the warm comfort of their bodies. Much like I did earlier, I sat my hand on the cool grey-metal door. According to Bel, I didn't have to do anything more in order to unlock the facility. The recalcitrant magic curled around my bones grumbled annoyedly and a spark of green outlined my palm. It was like a minor electric shock, surprising and a little painful without any lasting damage. Unfortunately for me that was the final bit that proved to be too much of my body to handle. My vision tilted, the edges going black. I barely had time to recognize what was happening.

"Catch me." My legs drifted further away from my awareness. The aches retreated before a comforting darkness.

"What?"

"Catch-"

Everything went black.

"What happened?" I asked blearily.

Lexi was immediately at my side, her face shielding me from the worst of the iridescent bulbs. My body was covered by a thin bed sheet and was lounging flat on a raised bed in what appeared to be a hospital. I closed one of my eyes fully and squinted at my lover.

"You passed out," she joked, but I could feel the thread of continued worry behind it. "I caught you."

I chuckled. "That sounds like me." I patted the back of her hand. "The gallant savior only to faint right at the end. Did everyone else make it out okay?"

"Yeah. More or less. Sam has a minor concussion and Annita had some blood loss but the blade missed everything major. They have her on some sort of magically enhanced donor blood. You only warranted a bit of rest and an IV."

"What about Bel?"

"She's here. We found her in the bunker. Although I didn't really know it was her until I touched it." Lexi rummaged in her backpack and came out with a glass cube. It seemed like nothing more than a simple paperweight with three inch sides. But it had a metaphysical presence that seemed to bend the space around it.

"May I?"

"Of course."

I took the container from her hands and laid it in my lap.

"Hey there. You did it. Almost. Tripped at the finish line. Twice."

"Twice?! What do you mean?"

Lexi's expression reminded me that the conversation was only happening in my brain. I shrugged sheepishly and mouthed sorry towards her.

"Once with the spell interface, and then at the end when you nearly went splat on your face."

Aahhh, that... Whoops. What did I get wrong?

"You only missed a single sign inversion when you were balancing your equations. Not a terrible mistake, but it's what led to the discomfort when you asserted control over the ritual totem."

That was slightly more than simple discomfort.

"And way less than your brain melting and dripping out from your ears," Belini responded bemusedly. "I do damn good work," she said immodestly.

Fair enough. How are you doing? Are you all right?

She chuckled. "That's my favorite thing about you, Syd. That selflessness."

I don't think I'm all that selfless. I was just worried about you when I didn't hear from you in a while.

"Right. Ahem. That..." There was a hint of awkwardness in the goddess' voice. "I may have exhausted myself having that little soiree with you and Lexi in the Walmart. A slight overextension and oversight by my part. I apologize if it caused you any unnecessary anxiety. I was merely regathering what dregs of energy I could obtain within this accursed prison," she grumbled. "But, that's enough about me and my problems. What are you still doing sitting around in bed? You should be out celebrating. Making merriment and enjoying the victory. Love thy neighbor is one of the first tenets for all my priestesses."