The Succubae Seduction Bk. 02: The Twins Ch. 23

"Did you know, Lyden, that every time you're with the Pillar of Fire I have to work twice as hard in order to stop volcanos from erupting, heatwaves from scorching portions of both worlds, and even had to restore the rain forests a couple times. She puts you first in ways that you never see."

Lyden stood there, stunned. He'd never known any of that. He knew that there were times when he was with Gaia in the past that she lost a bit of her control, but he had no idea that the same had happened with Angela. He should have, though. He knew that Gaia had better control over her powers, than the relatively young Angela.

"Of course, I haven't asked you to readjust my age," he snapped at her. "There have been more important things than my age to concern us, or to use your power on."

"Is that the only reason?" she asked, one dark eyebrow rising as if to mock his assertion. "It would only take me a moment, right now, to return you to that old body. The power drain would be minimal, compared to everything else I'm already doing, or have done for your family. Basically, it'll be like blinking for me. I can even make sure it's painless. All you have to do is ask. Your body would age, returning to its previous state, with all that entails."

Lyden opened her mouth to argue with her, then closed it. He didn't appreciate what Angela had done to him against his will, but now that he'd grown accustomed to it again, did he really want to be old again? He remembered all his aches and pains that came with old age. Sensations he'd grown used to over the years. Those were gone now, and he had more energy, more vitality, to share with his wives.

But what had he lost? His first thought was that he'd lost some of his dignity, but he knew that wasn't true. He still had the same mind, just in a younger body. And thanks to illusion, he could still appear as old and dignified as he was before. Why had he really been so upset about it? Why was he so against this? He enjoyed his life, despite the dangers. He was happy with his wives, and happy with how his life had turned out, despite its tragedies.

It occurred to him that what bothered him, was that it had been done against his will. Now that it had happened, and that he'd had time to accustom himself to his new youth, he found that he truly didn't want to give it up.

He also realized that Gaia was starring at him, still waiting for his answer. He could see in her dark eyes that she already knew it, and was just waiting for him to give her that satisfaction.

"You said that we're ready to wake up Areth?" he said instead, changing the subject. The way her full lips turned up said she wasn't fooled. He hadn't expected to succeed. He also didn't expect what she did next.

The ground beneath her bare feet shifted, moving her forward until she embraced him. Her dark brown arms pulled him tight into her bosom as she stared into his gray eyes. "I said they were almost complete," she grinned at him, and then leaned in and kissed him. There was no heat or passion in the kiss, but Lyden found his arms wrapping back around her. His anger bled from him, despite how fiery it burned only moments before.

His hands slid up her smooth back, and he was just starting to wonder if they had enough time for a quickie, when she pulled away, a devilish grin on her face.

"Damn," Oberon's voice cut through the fog filling his mind, "I'll bet he's rock hard after that kiss. Get it? 'Rock hard' because she's—"

"We get it," Bridget groaned.

Lyden blinked as he looked around, confused. They were in a new room. Gaia must have transported them while they kissed. Now that she'd pulled away, he could tell that she'd used her magic on him to increase his libido. He tried to glare at her, but she faced away from him.

He noted that everyone was in a circle, with Sheldon lying on his back in the middle, the golden statue of Arethusa on his ragged breathing chest. Every now and then, his face grimaced as though he were in pain, but other than that, he was motionless.

He stepped up to move next to Sheila, and only then noticed how tight his pants still were. He couldn't adjust himself while everyone was around, and mentally cursed Gaia for her trick. His increased vitality also came with an increase in his sex drive that he'd long forgotten. Chances were, he'd have to suffer through this without relief.

He glanced around at everyone else here. Sheila stood on his left, and even Brooke had arrived, standing on his right. He still didn't know how he felt about the revelation about what was forced upon her by Jessica's nameless being. By the tear stains on her cheeks, and the concerned way she looked at him, he could see that the revelation of what she'd done with their son tore her up.

"I love you," he whispered to her, and then felt his heart break as she pulled him into a hug and cried into his shoulder. Jessica's ghost was going to pay for what she'd done. She was going to pay and suffer for the heartache she'd put his family through.

"Dad," Bridget spoke up. "I'm so—"

He cut her off with a look over his petit wife's head. "It wasn't your fault," he told her. "I know the power the Outsider's hold, and how they can twist you to do things you'd otherwise never do. I don't blame you, or your other half for what happened."

Brooke looked back at their daughter as Lyden spoke. Bridget flickered into Brock's strong form within their mechanical legs. His wife flinched and tensed in his arms. It might be a while before she could face the male aspect of their son, and he saw the pain that crossed Brock's face as he shifted back.

Oh yes, there would be retribution for the pain caused to his family!

Oberon sat on Bridget's shoulder, and he tried to comfort her, also sensing her inner turmoil. Despite his initial misgivings about the male fairy, he could see that Oberon truly cared about his child. If only the fairy king weren't such an obnoxious little twit.

Gaia took up the space next to Brooke's and his child. Alloria stood next to her, holding one of Mandy's hands. Shlee stood on her other side, holding another hand. Mandy's other set of arms were folded across her chest as she and Shlee looked upon their lover with concern.

Mei and Gokan were next in the circle, their dragon mother, Blue, resting on her front paws behind them. He rarely saw his children with Blue, as they chose to be more aloof, but he was glad to see them here... Even if both were as naked as the day they hatched.

The new redheaded woman—Lyden thought her name was Megan—stood next to his half-dragon children. He hadn't had time to get a read on her, or how she felt about Sheldon. He'd only received the briefest statement on why she was with his son. From what he'd heard, he needed to have a talk with Lysa; Pillar of Air or not, her behavior was questionable. And there was no way he approved of her sleeping with the Pillar of Darkness.

Jennifer came next in the circle. It came as a small surprise to him that she was fully clothed, even if that clothing accentuated her robust figure. Her mien was serious as she looked down at his son. Lyden was a little surprised to see her here, as he knew she rarely left Angela's domain, or her duties as the Pillar of Fire's personal security manager.

It took him a moment to recognize the woman between Jennifer and Sonia. Her eyes were heavily shadowed, and she appeared to be a lot frailer than he recalled. She was also encased up to her hips in a solid piece of crystal. He felt his anger start to rise once more as he pointed and asked, "What is she doing here?"

"I—" Gloria started to say, but Sheila cut her off even as she tightened her grip on his hand. He didn't miss Shlee and Mandy turning dangerous glares her way as he waited for an explanation.

"Gloria wasn't under her own control, Master," Jennifer informed him. "Gaia, Brooke, Alloria, and your dragon children helped her regain control while you recovered. She loves him, and wants to help." That was probably the least lewd statement he'd ever heard Jennifer say. "Of course, with that cock of his, I can't blame her for falling for him." That was the Jennifer he knew.

He was about to ask how they broke whatever spell Jessica's ghost put on her, but remembered that love had been the one thing that allowed his women to resist the Outsider when it commanded them to kill him. Perhaps it was something like that? Except that it'd looked like she was trying to kill Gaia, not Sheldon... He would have to ask after they were done awakening Areth.

Lyden looked to Shelly, and while she looked worn and haggard, she also looked determined as she held Sheila's other hand. He also noted that her pregnancy was already showing a little bit. He recalled hearing something about Gaia helping her with that, and wondered what else was done to his daughter. Was Shemhazau peering out from behind her eyes, watching them, or was he sealed away unless summoned?

He grew impatient as they waited, wondering what needed to be done to restore his fairy lover, and his son to their natural states. He recalled what he was told about the ritual performed to awaken him after his death, and dearly hoped it wouldn't be anything of the sort. He had no desire to participate in an orgy with his children and their significant others.

"If we're all ready," Oberon spoke up, standing upon Bridget's shoulder. "Please hold the hand of the person next to you, and concentrate on Sheldon and Arethusa. Bring up any memories you have of both, especially of Arethusa. Remember the good and the bad."

Lyden looked to the small statue and thought back to when he'd first seen Arethusa, trapped in Marchosias's storage closet. She was glued to a glowing orb that the demon setup as a trap for such fairies. He'd managed to free her, and in so doing, angered the too-attractive-for-his-own-good demon. Areth had called him a pervert and other sorts of names, but in the end, she ended up being almost as bad as Jennifer.

Oberon fluttered from Bridget's shoulder, and hovered over the two prone figures. As Lyden watched, the male fairy moved his hands and arms in a rhythmic gesture, as though trying to coax something from those below him. Lyden looked back down at his son, and saw darkness seep from Sheldon's pores. The young man began to shake, but somehow didn't budge the small statue on his chest.

Lyden knew that must have been Lucifer's blessing seeping from his son, and grew concerned when he saw it start to swirl around Areth's golden figure.

"Those holding the elements, bring them forth," Oberon intoned, his voice thick with effort. Eldon noticed sweat beading on the tiny man's brow. It didn't look like he was doing much, other than waving his hands, but his mien told a different story.

Alloria stepped into the circle, reached into her pocket and pulled out a pile of dirt. With a twist of her wrist, she dropped it on Sheldon and Areth.

A wind picked up, and Lyden realized that Lysa must have been there, though invisible, as the dirt on the two swirled into a small cyclone, centered over Areth's small form. The wind and dirt didn't affect the Devil's dark blessing.

Lyden wanted to talk to her, to berate her for her actions, but knew that now was not the right time.

Blue's head entered the circle, her long neck stretching until her head was directly over the center. Oberon moved from being in the line of fire. Lyden felt Sheila's grip tighten as the dragon breathed out a small flame, barely avoiding the concentrating Oberon, into the cyclone. As she pulled her head back, the flame remained lit in the center of the miniscule maelstrom.

Brooke released his hand and stepped forward then. She closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment; her hand outstretched. A moment later and a trickle of water dripped from her palm, mixing with, but not extinguishing, the fire.

Lyden looked around, wondering how the light would play into it. He already guessed that the darkness came from Lucifer's blessing as it continued to seep from his son to surround Areth. He wondered that it didn't join the cyclone, though.

Shlee and Mandy stepped into the circle as Brooke pulled back next to Lyden. The two women glared at Gloria as she joined them, her crystal shackles moving her frward, but no one spoke. Then he realized that everyone else was looking to him.

He hadn't been told what to expect, and didn't know what was needed of him.

"Of all of us, you love Areth the most," Sheila hissed at him.

Lyden blinked in confusion. Yes, he loved Areth dearly, and he knew that the three women already in the circle loved his son, but they were supposed to be giving elemental gifts.

He remained standing for only a moment longer, before Brooke nudged him and he stepped forward. Then it dawned on him. Love was a form of light, and he was here to give his. At least, he hoped that was what he was supposed to be doing.

He wondered why Sheila wasn't next to him, to give her love to their son. He didn't doubt her love for Sheldon in the least. Then he remembered that for every other element, only one person had stepped forward. Alloria had delivered Earth, when Gaia could have done the same.

But then again, there were three women before him, to give their love to his son. He wished Becky were still with them. She understood magic better than he did. Why hadn't he thought of his late wife lately? Something...

He shook his head, focusing on the task at hand. He squatted down to look at the statue on his son's chest. Light from the elemental tornado reflected from her golden features. He felt the warmth of his own memories surface in his chest, and had to fight back a knot that threatened to form in his throat. Despite how vexing she could be at times, Lyden loved and adored her. She was the most playful of his women, and with the way things were going, he needed that light-heartedness in his life again. Every one of his women brought something into his life that he needed. No one was more or above any other. He needed them all.

"Return to me, Areth," he whispered. "I need you. I love you."

He felt a tear slip from his eyes and pull away, into the cyclone.

Regaining his feet, he stepped back to his spot and gripped Brooke's and Sheila's hands once more.

Lyden watched, waiting. That was all of the elements. They continued to swirl above the two figures as Oberon continued to move his arms, mixing them.

Nothing else happened.

Had they failed? Did they make a mistake? Was there not enough of something? All these questions flit through his mind as anguish threatened to choke his heart. He was so close to getting Areth back. His hope was something he'd ignored until now, but as he watched and waited, despair filled in the cracks.

"But I'm the least innocent one here," he heard Sonia argue. He looked up and saw that Shelly and the android were having a heated argument.

"It's now or never," Oberon commanded, his voice stretched thin with effort.

Lyden watched as Shelly dragged her girlfriend forward. They didn't face the prone couple, but each other. Shelly hugged Sonia tight. Oberon gestured one hand out, and a bolt of pink lightning flashed from the couple into the maelstrom.

"Oh!" Shelly and Sonia gasped at the same time, before returning to their spots. Lyden was still confused. Sonia used to be a spy, and a seductress android. How could she be considered innocent? And while he might be her father, he knew his daughter wasn't all that innocent either.

Unless... Shelly's experience having all of her guilt removed from her by the angel could be considered a type of innocence. And While Sonia was in no way innocent to the ways of the world, she was new to her own portion of soul, and to what love truly was. He didn't know if that was his answer, but a groan from Oberon brought his attention back to the center.

Gaia finally entered the circle, but instead of walking to the center, she placed herself in front of Lyden. He met her brown eyes, and suddenly became aware that despite everything else going on, he was still hard. In fact, as Gaia continued to regard him, he could feel his lusts rising. Part of his mind knew that this wasn't the time, nor the place for fooling around, but it was getting overwhelmed by a powerful urge to release himself.

He tightened his grip on his women's hands, refusing to give into that temptation right then. He was here to restore Areth and his son. He was not here to get his rocks off!

"You've developed quite the willpower," Gaia smiled at him. His knees almost buckled as her hand shot forward and cupped his groin. He felt a powerful release, not of ejaculate, but of some other energy as Gaia's eyes fluttered. "So much life energy," she purred, then turned away from him. "So much vitality."

Lyden tried to catch his breath as he watched Gaia hold a bright ball of light about seven inches across out to the cyclone. It pulled away from her hand and as it connected with the swirling elements, they flashed bright enough to leave motes in his vision.

Lyden noted how gaunt and tired Gaia looked as she returned to her spot int the circle. He knew she would need a recharge before he left. A recharge that she had ensured he would be up to doing.

The darkness pooling out of Sheldon stopped soaking into Areth, and was pulled up into the cyclone, pulling away from both. The vortex no longer showed its separate elements, but consisted of a vibrant golden color, slightly brighter than Areth's normal hue. As the Pillar of Darkness's paradox was swept into it, it darkened to match her coloration. Despite his colorblindness, Lyden noted the moment the two colors came into alignment.

The swirling stopped, and in its place was a long, thin golden spike, poised over Areth's and Sheldon's hearts.

With one last cry of effort, Oberon shot down, slamming his small body, feet first into the smooth top of the barb. Before he could even fathom what was happening, the tip pierced through Areth, though Sheldon, and he could hear it impact the floor beneath. Oberon's feet were flat on Areth's chest.

In shock, Lyden stared, certain that he'd witnessed the murder of his son and wife.

* * * *

Eldon crowed in triumph. No one could defeat him. With a flourish, he twirled the bastard sword in one hand. Despite its size, it felt light as a feather to him.

"Is that all you've got?" He screamed to the cheering crowd. "Give me a challenge."

He couldn't remember how long he fought, or how many fights he'd won. He couldn't even remember how he came to this arena. All he knew was the constant combat, and unending victory. He'd take wounds from time to time, but his body always healed back up, and he never lost.

Three ogres appeared before him. One, the largest of the group, swung a tree trunk sized club at him. He dodged it with ease, and counter-attacked with his blade. The counterattack hit home, and the ogre bellowed in pain and rage as he clutched the stump of his arm.

The other two ogres chose that moment to strike, and while he managed to dodge the one swinging a chain at him, the one with the spiked mace connected with his chest. He felt the spikes pierce through him as his ribs cracked and his lungs collapsed. The blow was strong enough to launch him into the air, and he came off the end of the mace, his blood splattering the sand of the arena floor before he hit it.

Shaking his head, Sheldon stood up. He ignored his wounds, knowing that they would heal on their own. He couldn't breathe, but then again, he felt no need for air.

He saw someone appear momentarily before him. He thought he might recognize her, but as she dumped something in the dirt, she disappeared. A wind blew in and swirled dirt into the ogres' eyes as they prepared to renew their attack.