The Battered Lamp Ch. 26

"You are sure?" Britney asked.

"We can die," Aaliyah whispered. "You ripped her body apart with the water before she blew away."

"She was Unbound," Zaritha said, and Aaliyah shivered, remembering the Ghul. "When you broke her chain, you destroyed what anchored her in this Realm. She is suffering in Haawiyah where she belongs."

"Who was she?" Fumi asked, kneeling before her. "Do you know her?"

"I presume she is one of Rashid's servants," Aaliyah said, shuddering in disgust at the foul things Rashid employed."

"She is," Zaritha said. "One of his five Unbound."

Aaliyah turned to see the Ifrit sitting up, fire burning on her skin. "Like the Ghul."

Zaritha nodded. "Five Unbound serve Rashid. That is, or was, Aalizunah. She enjoyed killing Mortals as they lay in her embrace."

Fumi shifted. "A succubus?"

"Not like you," Zaritha answered. "She would use more mundane methods to kill them. Usually, she plunged a dagger into their hearts when they spilled inside her."

"Guess it's a good thing she wanted to control you, big bro," Fatima giggled. "You dodged a bullet."

"You lay with her?" Aaliyah asked.

He shrugged, then winced. "I thought she was you."

"You're hurt," Aaliyah gasped, forgiveness coming easily.

"A lot of us are," Kyle said, looking around.

"We'll take care of it," Christy nodded, walking over to Kyle and laying her hands on him and began to heal him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sahabah

Rashid ibn al-Marid, Sultan of the Unseen Realm, stared in disgust at the broken chain of diamond. Jowdah had perished this morning and now Aalizunah. The Si'lat whore and the bestial Ghul were not the strongest of his Unbound, but it troubled him that two of his weapons were dead.

Could the boy actually unseat me?

He feared that Aaliyah must have brought her husband into the Hidden Realm. Kyle was more powerful than Rashid had imagined... The prophecy tightened about his neck, a noose threatening to strangle him. He stroked his white beard, pondering what his next move should be.

Only the Ifrit could be trusted. The Jann would fall in line behind Kyle, and the Si'lat would swoon like the whores they are for the handsome youth. The Ghul would not care who ruled, and the Marid would question his strength. They all ready whispered behind his back, questioning what had happened to his children.

His enemies were all about him, sharpening their daggers, eager to see his fall. He had ruled the Djinn for two thousand years, crushing all who dared oppose him. But his enemies all had kin.

"You need an ally," a hissing voice whispered from the shadows.

He stiffened, turning around. "Who is there?"

"An emissary."

A distortion moved in his room. A being so hideous that light itself warped around it, unwilling to illuminate Erinyes's foul visage. Rashid gathered his power, ready to lash out with water and drown Hecate's foul daughter.

"What is your message?" he asked.

"My mother wishes an alliance," Erinyes hissed. "Kyle and his women have wronged her greatly. They have slain and captured her servants, and one of his wives is a traitor." Erinyes let out a skittering growl. "My mother wishes for their deaths."

"And what is the cost?" Rashid asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Only to see her enemies undone."

Rashid believed not a single word of it. Hecate's offer always concealed a poisoned dagger. "What help does she offer?"

"Her newest servant," Erinyes purred. "A woman that Kyle will not be able to raise his hand against."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Spiritual Realm

Faiza lifted her lips from her Goddess's breast, the milk warm in her stomach. She licked her lips, kissing down her Goddess's sleek belly. Hecate purred as she nuzzled at her belly, spreading the Goddess's pale thighs open with her dusky hands.

"Do you accept me fully?" Hecate purred as Faiza's lips brushed her black pubic hair.

"I do, Hecate."

The scent of her Goddess's arousal filled her nose, urging her lips to slip lower. She let the aroma guide her lips. Her tongue licked out, savoring the tart flavor, loving the silky feel of her labia as she pleasured her Goddess.

"Will you be my instrument of my vengeance? Will you carry my retribution to my enemies?"

"Yes!" Faiza gasped, licking Hecate's clitoris. "I will crush Kyle, Britney, and Christy."

A memory tickled the back of her mind. Those names were so familiar. Faiza wondered if she knew Kyle before her death and rebirth. Was he the man who killed her? She tried to reach into her mind and unlock the memories buried by the trauma of her death.

"Will you be my avatar?" Hecate asked.

She looked up into the depths of her Goddess's eyes. "I will be your avatar. I will carry your vengeance to Kyle."

A face swam before her eyes. Dark, almond eyes, a youthful smile. Something stirred in her heart. Love? Did she love Kyle? She looked at her Goddess, opening her mouth, "Who is he to me?"

Hecate cupped her hands. "Your son."

Memories flooded her mind, her life blossoming before her. She tried to pull back from Hecate's grip, but the Goddess's pale fingers were hard as iron. This was Hecate, the Goddess that put her daughter in a coma and tried to drain Aaliyah's power.

This was the Goddess that Burke had served.

The memory of his whips and domination screamed through Faiza's soul.

"No!" she shouted as the Goddess slipped into her soul. "No, no, no!"

"You said yes," hissed Hecate in her mind. "You're my avatar now."

Faiza felt herself crushed down into her soul as Hecate possessed her body.

To be continued...