Once Dead Twice Bound Ch. 02

My face gushed an almost lurid red as I realized the corniness of what I had just said.

"Were bonded. Soul mates. Fates decreed you were mine and I was yours. I'm not about to let you escape me now, love. Not now, not ever." Tara noticed my embarrassment, but held off on her usual teasing, favoring continuing our embrace.

"The lieutenant told me something about that." The last part came out unintelligible as I stifled a yawn. "I'm gonna go back to bed. Who knew changing the structure of my body took so much out of you. Care to join me?" I noticed the lustful glint in her eye. "To sleep. I was asking if you wanted to sleep with me, not sleep with me. Although I wouldn't be opposed to the latter later." I said that last bit through my yawn entirely too tired to think about intimacy.

"I'll behave. I promise." Tara gave me a quick peck on the lips before untangling her grasp, grabbing my hand and leading me to bed. She pushed me lightly onto the mattress.

I grabbed her hand tightly, looking up into her eyes. "Are you sure this," gesturing towards my inhuman, Mr. Potato Head like body. "Doesn't bother you?"

"Not now, not ever," was her response. She clambered into the bed pulling the covers over us both, draping an arm across my chest. I felt something flick over my eyes and the world gained a strange haze. Through my second set of eyelids, I could see the giant tunnel of life, love, and affection that glittered between us. Beautiful, it provided a concrete image to the warmth I felt connected us. The gentle flow of liquified loved ebbed and flowed between us, lulling both Tara and I into a peaceful slumber.

I woke with hair in my face, gently tickling beneath my nose. Tara was gently wrapped around me in a loving embrace. I went to get out of bed, my bladder pressing urgently against my innards. She tightened her grip, murmuring dissent at my movement. I stiffened slightly as I felt her breasts gently press into my side. I smiled at her antics, I gently extracted myself from her grasp. I hurriedly shuffled over the door number one of the three doors in the room.

Damnit, closet. Fifty percent chance this time.

I turned to door number two this time opening into a long hallway. Standing just outside this door was a familiar green form standing guard.

"Opal. I'm glad you're okay. You're looking much better than the last time I saw you." I let out an oof as she turned and grasped me almost painfully into a smothering hug. She quickly pulled back and punched me in the arm.

"That's for letting a stupid lich get the better of you." She then gave me a once over, glancing up and down my body, checking out my new form making me more than a little self conscious. "You look formidable." She paused for a second and licked her lips. "I like it. Now when we play I won't have to be so careful about breaking you."

"It's good to see you Opal but I really have to take care of business." I urgently hopped leg to leg in the universal sign of gastric distress. I rushed to the third and final door ripping it open.

Success.

It wasn't until I was leaning over the toilet, arm against the wall and relieving myself that I realized two things. One: I had just given Opal an eyeful. Tara wasn't the only one naked in bed last night. And two: My package had undergone a transformation as well. My penis was now a little longer, putting it slightly above average around seven inches and was probably fifty percent thicker than it had been. It was no longer veiny along the shaft, instead it was uniformly covered by the same cream colored microscales that had covered my chest. My pubic hair was gone and and my balls seemed slightly larger but were now held tight against my body by my similarly scaled sack. My biggest concern, however, was the fact that my penis was currently retreating inside my body while my morning wood deflated. This caused me no small degree of alarm. My member finished sliding inside me with a wet slurp and left a patch of creamy scales in its place. I poked around the flesh of the my retreated member, peeling the scales back revealing the slit that hid the head of my member. There was also harder tube of cartilage just under the skin above my pelvis. My lower torso area felt taut with a strange firmness. I tried to flex, forcing blood into my penis by tightening my kegel muscles.

The hidden shaft slid partially out, revealing the head to the air and providing a rush of stimulation as the wet sheath parted.

It's the little things they don't tell you at transformation camp that get you.

My penis retreated once more, and I shivered at the unusual sensation. Shellshocked, I flushed the toilet and washed my hands numbly before stumbling out of the bathroom. I was greeted with the sight of a sleepy bedraggled Tara looking blearily at me from across the room. She got up and wordlessly padded over to me, giving me a quick hug before going into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Leaving me alone with my thoughts and nakedness

I headed over to the closet that I'd discovered earlier. There was a set of sweats with matching sweatshirt. Pulling them up my legs, I discovered they had a handy slit in the waistband, designed to part around and accommodate my undulating tail. The sweatshirt completed the ensemble as I luxuriated in the soft embrace of new clothes.

Thank you thoughtful patron.

I walked toward the hallway to have a quick chat to Opal about what had happened while I was unconscious. I decided to shelve my new hide-a-penis biology discussion for a later date, still unnerved by my strange new physiology.

"Opal, would you mind answering some questions?"

"Sure." She entered the room and gestured towards the couch against the wall. They sat and Opal turned toward me. "Hit me."

I froze for a moment, unsure whether or not to take her literally, but decided on the safer course of asking my questions. "First off, where are we?"

"We are in the illustrious abode of Lady Diana Silverfang." She said adopting a posh accent. "But, more seriously, we do owe her a lot. I don't know what would have happened to you if Tara hadn't contacted her."

"Is she the reason I ended up like this?"

"Kind of. I don't know what she did exactly but you are much better off like this than the way you were going."

"Yeah. The lieutenant told me that I had some sort of magical black hole which exploded inside me or something."

It was Opals turn to look confused and asked, "Who?"

"The lieutenant. He was a resident in the spear which was evidently forged with part of my soul." I took a moment to look around. "Where is it by the way?"

"I am always with you now." Came an answer from inside my head.

Still freaky.

"Hold up your right arm." I did as the lieutenant's voice directed. I noticed the silver whorls of the spear had engraved themselves on his forearm in pale scars. On my wrist, where a wristwatch would normally sit, was a quarter sized obsidian diamond set flush to my skin.

Well that's interesting. I'm assuming I'm gonna have to spend some quality time with you now.

"Not really. God you're frustrating. You're completely clueless about women aren't you?"

Not everyone can be a womanizer you used to be. Why even say that?

The banter felt natural, like this was a conversation we'd had many times in the past.

"I say that because both of these women could use some reassurance, if you know what I mean." How the lieutenant's voice managed to impart an extravagant wink, I would never know.

Ugghh, you're gonna be a headache, aren't you? If we have to spend extended time together, I'm gonna need something better than lieutenant to call you. Any preferences?

"That'll hardly be a problem. My presence is already fading."

What?!?

"It's not a problem. When the matrix was reintroduced to your body it bonded to you and you filled up the gaps. There is no space for me in here and I'm glad. You know how frustrating it is to be trapped, unable to affect my environment? Not that I blame you or anything, I had a good life as a anthropomorphic spear of death, wielded by a heartbroken kitsune. I'm ready to see what's next."

How long do you have left?

"A few of hours maybe. I've been fading for a while now. I wanted to show you how to summon my physical form before I go, captain."

I can never thank you or apologize profusely enough for what you've done for me. Thank you, old friend. I hope you find someone, or someones, knowing you, on the other side.

"Fine. Fine. You're gonna make me verklempt captain." His voice grumbled sarcastically.

"You might want to address your servant though. She's looking a wee bit worried," he said, chuckling.

I looked over at Opal, seeing a very concerned look on her face.

"You okay master? You kinda went silent there." She said as she brought her face in close to examine my eyes.

"I was just talking to the spear." She gave him a skeptical look and the worry remained evident on her face.

"Is there a way I can prove you exist?"

Easy as pie, captain. Won't be but a moment. Pay attention to these feelings I suspect you'll be needing this a lot.

Accompanying these words, the whorls on my arms peeled off and became motes of light the circled in the air, outlining a shaft just above my right hand. With a little flash the spear materialized in my hand. Hefting the spear up, I felt its weight, looking over at the surprised orc.

"That's a new one." She whispered in awe, reaching out slowly to touch the spear. Pausing, she looked up at me for consent, her hand hovering a few inches from the spear. I nodded permission. Her fingers lightly brushed against the swirling silver pattern on the shaft.

"Oh baby. Just like that. She certainly knows her way around a rod." My forever crass lieutenant moaned in faux pleasure.

Stop that. But a grin creeped onto my face anyway.

"So that answers the question of where the spear went but who is Lady Diana Silverfang?"

"When Tara gave you the spear you started glowing and then screaming like a pig after that'd been disemboweled by a werewolf. I've heard quite a few screams in my life, but those were chilling, even for me. We didn't want to touch you because we didn't know if that would hurt you or not." A haunted look crept onto her face and she abandoned her stroking of the spear.

"You begged us to kill you. Tried to order me to do it." Her voice grew husky with emotion.

"Please don't do that again. It tore me apart to resist the compulsion." A wistful look pulled her lips into the little bit of a smirk, curling around her nubby tusks.

"Also, I'm pretty sure if you had died, your mate would shortly send me after you. But, back to the topic at hand, Lady Diana Silverfang is ..."

"Is standing in the doorway." A rich voice, like rolling molasses, seeped into my ears and sent off a low tremble throughout my body via eardrums. This was a voice that made you stand up straight and salute. I turned to look.

She was a short woman, dressed in absolutely nothing at all. Her most striking feature was the her reptilian violet irises framed by metallic silver tresses, that stared at me with careful consideration. Her own examination of yours truly reminded me of how one of my old highschool friends used to contemplate a painting just before he turned it in for a grade.

Now that I think about it. Isn't her eye color eerily reminiscent of my newly formed scales?

What I was most decidedly not looking at was her creamy white breasts or her privates. Both of which were covered in the same microscales that adorned my own flesh, although a different color. Nor was I staring at her tail, which drew a continuous lazy figure eight in the carpet behind her.

This cannot be a coincidence.

"I heard you're the one to thank for my continued breathing. Thanks for saving me but I think you might have gone overboard in the alterations." I wiggled my shoulder blades momentarily unfolding my wings.

"You have no idea who I am do you?" she said this with a fair amount of surprise.

Crap. Did I just piss off the supernatural pope or something? I need to stop and consider my words when dealing with creatures that could potentially eat or fry me or some combination therein. I wonder if she prefers her half lizards fully cooked or merely well done?

"Uhhhh. No. I'm sorta new to the whole supernatural scene. You should take everything I say with a grain of salt. Actually make that a cup of salt just to be safe. I'm sorry if I offended you but I'm still a little off kilter with the whole shape change thing."

"It's of no matter. It's refreshing to hear honest opinions for a change. I think you even managed to slip a joke in there. It's been years since someone had the gall to do that."

"Your majesty, it's wonderful to see you again. Thank you so much for your assistance.

We owe you a debt of gratitude." My foxy lover walked, sauntered really, towards the pale scaled dragoness. Taking Diana's white skinned hand into a delicate embrace Tara touched it to her lips.

Diana nodded at the display like it was commonplace before speaking. "I humbly invite you and your mate to dine with me this afternoon. Dress is business casual. We have much to discuss." Proclamation complete she pirouetted on her foot and exited the room, her retinue of guards I just now noticed, trailing dutifully after her.

"Well that was different. Hey... So how much trouble am I in?" I asked Tara.

"You're fine. She's not much for ceremony, so she probably appreciated the honesty. She deals with a lot of bootlickers and sycophants and I know it frustrates her. If you're really asking how big a deal she is, the answer is very."

I was giving her a quizzical look at this point.

"What?" Her tail wrapped around her waist and she nervously brushed it with her hands.

"How do you know so much about her if she's some sort of royalty? You're not a princess are you? Cause that would be a little too storybook for my case. I'm having a hard enough time believing this isn't a psychotic break as it is."

"Umm...well." She blushed and looked away as she wrung her tail.

"You've gotta be shitting me."

"Well my aunt is a duchess and a member of the council so that's how I know her so well. While I'm not a princess... per se... I am a member of a royal court. Sorry."

I couldn't help it. Deep, hearty chuckles burst out of me like a geyser. It took a couple a minutes and several shades of red on Tara before I managed to calm down. I reached out a hand and gently tousled her hair. Tara gave me a sheepish smile as her tail danced around in her grasp.

"Don't worry, I'll try not to hold it against you, your highness." I gave her a mock bow and lowered my head as I extended my left leg. I tried to flourish but was thrown off balance as my tail shifted unexpectedly. As I stumbled forward, my wings snapped out and impacted the wall which sent me into a crumpled heap on the floor. I laid on my back for a moment before I started laughing.

"Guess that what I get for trying to be funny. Karma's a bitch."

"Indeed. Thou should not mock thine betters. Best to know thine place," she said, assuming an old timey accent.

"And where would that be thy most holiness?"

"Ideally in a bed... but we have to get you ready to see the Lady." She started holding swatches of something that looked like breeches. Although, I wasn't exactly sure what breeches looked like, being honest.

"Nope. I've never taken much stock in authority figures if she wants to see me she can see me in these sweats. I'd much rather take the time to learn a little about my 'soul mate'." My new found confidence was strange for me, bubbling inside me like a strange well.

"Been talking to the lieutenant I see."

"Yeah I'm gonna miss that womanizing bastard, even though I feel like I both barely knew him and knew him for all my life. As strange as that sounds."

"Listen, I've known the lieutenant for a long time and he's ready to see what comes next. He says he's overstayed his welcome. Personally I think he's just eager to get some new material for the ghostly spank bank."

"Amen to that," the lieutenant chimed in.

"Now are you going to get dressed in something more formal or are you married to that look?"

"Is there something wrong with the way I'm dressed?" I asked confusedly. "Besides, I didn't see any other things in the closet that would fit me."

"Right. Didn't consider that. Hmmmm." She planted a quick kiss on my cheek. "It's fine. I'll have to dress well enough for the both of us." Tara disappeared into the walk in closet while I sat on the bed twiddling my toes and rustling my wings experimentally. Tara eschewed the stereotype that women need to take forever to decide their clothes, five minutes later she emerged wearing a deep navy blue dress that slung over one shoulder and was so tight it was practically painted on.

"I took the liberty of ordering some things in your size that should be delivered soon. Diana has a brownie on the staff who can work miracles with a sewing machine." She gave her perfectly coiffed hair a flip, enjoying my reaction. "Ready to go love? You probably want to pick your jaw off the floor before we eat dinner."

I shook my head and followed her into the hallway. Walking with a fair amount of trepidation, I examined the ostentatiously decorated hallway. It had a strange mixture of mansion with European sensibilities, lots of wood paneling with not an insignificant amount of tapestries. I flinched as something gripped my nervously clenched fist. My lack of confidence faded, replaced by warm love. Satin smooth flesh enveloped my hand as Tara tried to comfort my nervousness.

That's right. I'm not alone. She's has got my back.

"Can't we postpone this until I'm feeling more comfortable?" I whined at Tara.

"She wants you uncomfortable. At least a little. It places her in a position of power for the coming negotiations."

"Negotiations?"

"Like it or not we owe her a favor. And she is exercising her right to keep this a formal affair, and not the meeting between friends it could be. She wants something, and is willing to keep us off balance in order to get it. Besides..." She smiled wryly at me. "How long would it take for you to feel comfortable meeting a noble Lady?"

"... Forever would probably do it."

"There you go." Her lips pressed against mine in a brief but sweet kiss. "Then there's nothing to do but forge forward. Don't worry too much. Diana might seem intimidating but she's really a softie. Together, Lover, we will play her game. With Opal at our backs."

Said orc blew me a sarcastic kiss and winked at me.

Bolstered by their support, I steeled myself for what was to come. Straightening my spine, I walked as if I'd regained the strange entitlement that'd stolen over me before. My emotions still felt a little nebulous, liable to slide out of my control at any instant but I was feeling a little better.

I'm a monster now. But a good monster, like Groot or Swamp Thing. I can't imagine many things I'd be more afraid of than myself, although that may be a failure of my imagination more than anything else. For now though, I'm the thing I don't want to meet in a darkened alley.

A wolfish grin flashed across my features as my escorts pulled open the gigantic gold trimmed doors that led to the dining room. The dining table was large, long enough to seat ten or so comfortably, and dominated the room; laid out on top of it were a variety of foods that tended toward carnivorous tastes, the sight made me aware of just how hungry I truly was.