The Succubae Seduction Bk. 02: The Twins Ch. 27

"Wow, I like the new suit," Shlee added in, pushing past Eldon and stepping up to Brock. "I can't imagine that it's as tough as your old legs, but it looks slimmer. I assume it links to your mind through magic instead of technology?"

Brock looked flustered as Brooke tried to reassure their dad that she was okay. "Would you tell our son to put me down so I can walk?" she demanded. Growing even more embarrassed, Brock let his mother go, and the two older adults hugged.

Realizing that his question was going to be ignored, Eldon turned back into the cell to get Megan. Her head lifted as he approached, and he noted how her eyes were crossed. Her red locks tumbled around her unsteady head as she tried to focus on him.

"Mmf... My head feels funny," she mumbled as Eldon lifted her up. "Feels like I should be... um... Something?"

Eldon hadn't spared much thought for this woman, knowing how tough she was. But now as she spoke, he realized that she was in worse shape than he'd realized.

"Oberon, can you heal her?" He asked, before realizing that the little man was already halfway down the hallway, not waiting for them. Instead, he turned to his brother. "Brock, can you carry her? She's hurt, and I don't think she can walk on her own."

Brock nodded and reached for her. Eldon took quick note of Brock's new mobility suite and wished it had the offensive capabilities of his old one. At least he can move and doesn't have to worry about drying up, he thought.

"You're cute, Mister Fishy Man," Megan trilled as Brock lifted her in his arms. Her body slipped into the water surrounding Brock, soaking her, but she didn't seem to notice. "But not as cute as the fucker who took my virginity."

Eldon felt his cheeks burn, but moved to flank his father. Shlee stood on the other side, and together they took off after the Faerie King.

It wasn't until after they rounded the first corner that Eldon wanted to vomit. Gore and entrails littered the room. He couldn't tell where one person ended, and another bloody body part began. Noting the viscera that covered Oberon, he had no problems guessing who caused this carnage.

He tried again to shift forms and gritted his teeth at his continued failure. It wasn't fair that Oberon flung magic about like nothing, while Eldon remained stuck in one form.

They rounded another corner, and Oberon paused.

"There's a magical barrier here," he informed them, his tone not condescending for once. "If any of you fuck-nuts have any enchantments on you that you want to be preserved, I'll destroy it now. If they cast any spells on you that you want to be removed, step through that doorway."

Eldon barely took a moment to think before stepping through the opening. Electricity buzzed across his skin. His heart hammered in his chest, then felt like it stopped. He couldn't breathe. His lungs burned for air, but nothing came. Tears of frustration seeped from his eyes as he hit the floor and twitched onto his back. The electricity turned to lightning bolts playing across his nervous system as his body went into involuntary convulsions.

Then he saw Shlee doing the same next to him.

Panic sent a jolt through his system, reigniting his heart and making him gasp for air.

"Shlee?" he called to her through coughing fits as his lungs refilled again and again. Drawing in as much air as he could, he leaned over her, pressed his lips to hers, and forced air into her lungs.

Without warning, Eldon found himself flung off her until his back slammed against a solid rock wall. He just managed to keep his head from cracking against it as he picked himself up and looked to his girlfriend.

"Shlee? Are you all right?" he asked, unable to interpret the look on her face.

"Oh, yeah," Oberon chuckled as he destroyed the barrier and flew through. "I should have mentioned that it hurts like Medusa's snakes are using your nutsack like a punching bag."

Eldon ignored the annoying little man as he stared at his girlfriend, afraid of what the null-magic screen did to her.

"She ran through right after you," Brock said in a flat tone. "If it did the same to her that it did to Oberon, it removed Gloria's geis to love you. I'm sorry, Eldon."

"Oberon?" Eldon looked up at the smirking Faerie, then to the pitying look on his brother's face. With horror filling his chest, he turned back to Shlee. He still couldn't identify her facial expression. Somewhere between shock, nausea, and anger, and yet none of those.

Part of him, the part that always worried if she loved him for him, or because of Gloria's manipulation, felt relieved. While he couldn't identify the look she gave him, he knew it wasn't a loving one. The other part—the part that took comfort in having her there, and knowing that she cared deeply for him—shattered.

"Shlee, I'm..." he trailed off as he tried to find words to say. What do you say to someone who just woke up from being forced to love someone they didn't care about? It made him understand Becky's attitude earlier, even if she was tricked into believing that her love was false.

"Kind of liberating, isn't it, Bitch?" Oberon cackled.

"Don't call her that!" Eldon snapped at the Faerie King. "She could pick you out of her teeth if you piss her off."

"No," Shlee gasped, still trying to catch her breath. "I doubt he'd taste good, and I can't think of what wine he'd pair well with."

Eldon stared at her, surprised that she was capable of making jokes. She met his eyes and grimaced.

"Damn it, that was tougher than I thought it'd be," she said next, while Eldon waited for the hammer to drop all the way and shatter the remnants of his heart. "I had to be sure, though. Sorry, Eldon."

"It's..." He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and tried again. At least he knew that he loved her for her and that Gloria hadn't cast a spell on him. His eyes closed as he fought back the tears. When he was confident his voice wouldn't break, he opened his eyes and met her beautiful blues. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'll understand if you never want to see me again, but I hope you'll at least still help us escape."

"Never..." Shlee stepped up to him in two quick movements. Her hand moved with blurring speed, slapping him hard. He knew he deserved it for taking advantage of her while under Gloria's influence, but it hurt all the more because he still loved her. "Eldon, I... Do you no longer love me?"

His head snapped up to meet her fiery gaze. "I was never under a spell. At least, I don't think I was. I meant what I said when I told you how deeply I love you. I guess you're thrilled you didn't marry me now." He tried and failed to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

He saw the second slap coming, and braced himself for it, rather than dodge or block. If this was what she needed to recover and move on, then he would endure. What he didn't see coming was the way her lips pressed against his before she pulled back. Tears filled her eyes as she grabbed both his hands. He noted that her hands were slightly furred, and from the warmth dripping down his cheek, he guessed that her claws were out.

"Eldon, I still love you," she told him, though the words didn't make sense to him. He must have misheard. Those two slaps, plus getting thrown against the wall, must have genuinely rung his bell. "I'm sorry for making you wonder, but I had to be sure. I fell in love with you for you and for who you are. You've proven yourself as a worthy mate time and again with your actions, how well you've treated me, and your bravery. Honestly, the only part of you lacking is how little you're interested in geeky stuff, but I'm more than happy to convert you to the dark side. I know I hurt you—I can see it in your eyes—but some part of me worried my love was still because of the spell, and so I had to be sure. I hope you'll forgive me. I know now that I love you for you, Eldon."

"Forgive?" he asked, still trying to get his thoughts in order. "There's nothing to forgive. You have the right to be free and love as you choose. I'm sorry if I subjected you to anything you didn't really want."

"Um... While I confess that I never thought of myself getting into a poly-amorous relationship, I admit that I still love Mandy as well," Shlee said, worry filling her blue eyes. Her hand came up to cup his bleeding cheek before she gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Eldon... Are you hearing me? I'm telling you that I still love you."

She... Still... With a shake of his head, everything she'd said finally sunk in. His heart leaped into his throat, cutting off any chance of further speech, so he picked her up and hugged her close.

"As touching as this is," Oberon's voice cut in, "and as unexpected, I believe we're still in the middle of an escape."

"I'm so sorry for your cheek," Shlee said as Eldon put her back on her feet. He could see some of his blood smearing her cheek and used his sleeve to wipe it away. He felt giddy inside and invincible. She still loves me! Shlee Olsen loves me for me, and not because of some spell!

Then his eyes fell on Brock, and his heart broke again. The merman stared at Oberon with a longing that went ignored. This also explained the Faerie King's current attitude. If he was released from Gloria's geis, then he no longer cared for Eldon's sibling.

Why then was he helping them escape?

Eldon didn't know, but considering the carnage behind them, he was glad the little man was on their side.

"Dunk your head in your brother's water, and let's go," Oberon commanded without looking at them. "It has healing properties. I can feel a powerful sorceress approaching. She's no match for me, but I'd rather not expend the strength to destroy her."

"That's Becky!" Lyden said, stepping in front of the powerful-yet-small man. "We need to capture her and take her with us if we can. Don't harm her or my unborn child."

"Mother-fucker, you've got some balls on you Lyden Snow," Oberon growled. "Few men would dare order me, Oberon, King of the Fairies, Keeper of the Cup, Lover of Ladies, and Soulkeeper of the Fay like that. Too bad you didn't teach your child that gumption."

Eldon saw Brock wither into himself at that comment, but he didn't have the time to help his brother out. Becky arrived, coming down a set of carved stone steps with a coterie of Knights behind her.

"Well, I guess I know why you were so calm the last time we spoke," Becky smirked as she looked at them. "And I see you wasted little time in replacing Arethusa. Tell me, Lyden, how is the little statue? No matter. We're prepared to fight fairies. Even if they are uglier than your last lover. I know all your tricks, and you won't be escaping our justice."

"Ugly?!" Oberon spat and charged forward. "We'll see who's ugly after I—Hey, let go!"

Moving with a speed he never could with his mechanical legs, Brock managed to snatch the king out of the air, without dropping Megan, who appeared to be sleeping in his other arm. Either that water enhanced his strength, or Brock was stronger than Eldon gave him credit for.

"She was baiting you, you moron!" Brock snapped. "Look at her left hand."

Eldon looked and saw that Becky held a small dagger that seemed to be equal parts iron and silver. A deadly weapon against Oberon or Shlee.

But only a minor weapon against him. He hoped his ability was back as he stepped away from Shlee. Becky would know of all of his transformations and be prepared to counter them... Or at least, any that his parents knew about. There were a few that only Shelly and he knew of, though he hated using them.

He locked eyes with the Knight on Becky's left, and to all appearances, Eldon vanished.

His brain was too small for anything but the most basic of thoughts, and so he had only two. Get to the man before him, and become something more dangerous. His fly body zipped through the air, ignoring everyone but the sweaty man that was his target. He didn't remember why he needed to get to the man but knew it was necessary. The knight ignored him, looking around for something, so Eldon landed on the back of his exposed kneck.

Without preamble, he vomited on his forward hands and rubbed them together. The man moved, and he needed all his hands down to keep steady. There was something else he was supposed to do. Something important, but his mind was too small to remember. His minuscule tummy demanded to be fed, but there was nothing worth eating. At least, not in this form.

Without understanding what he was doing, Eldon's body elongated and grew. He heard a scream as the Knight jerked. A forked tongue slipped out and tasted the fear of the man as he tried to dislodge Eldon from around his neck. Instead, Eldon sank his fangs into the Knight's cheek, before a hand gripped him and flung him away. His fangs ripped free, but not before he managed to pump plenty of his viper's venom into the man's face.

He saw the blade coming for him, even as he twisted in the air. He was too large to dodge and had no leverage. While his brain was a bit better in this form, he still didn't understand fully what he was doing as he shifted back into a fly, landed on the mailed glove holding the swinging blade—everything seemed to be moving so slow!—and crawled up the leather sleeve of the Knight. This time, a snake would be too large.

An Indian Red Scorpion took the place of the fly, and he wasted no time in stabbing the arm with his stinger again and again.

Something smashed against him but failed to crush his body. It was time to move on again. He heard a sword clatter to the ground as his small fly form zipped away. With each transformation, it felt as though he lost a little bit of himself, but also kept a little bit more. He couldn't remember his name, or even that he was actually a man, but he managed to remember that he was in danger. He found a safe wall to land on that was out of reach, and through his multi-faceted eyes, looked around. He couldn't tell what was happening, nor where the danger lay. He needed to shift again. Something sturdier and better equipped to handle such giant foes.

Unfortunately, he was still too dumb to remember that while his current body could cling to walls, most of his other forms could not. An ogre crashed to the floor with a thud and a grunt.

Getting up, he found lots of nummy morsels around him. His much larger tummy reminded him that he needed to eat, and he grabbed the nearest bite. It screamed as he picked it up. Something long with an open end in its hand popped loudly, and Eldon felt something slapping against his chest, but he ignored it as he tossed the noisy end of the snack in his mouth and crunched down. The nummy went silent, but he didn't have much time to enjoy his meal. Despite its satisfying crunch, he had to work some metal out from his teeth.

Luckily, another meal provided a pokey piece—a shadow in his mind provided the word 'sword'—and he picked up that man, pinched off his arm, and used the sword to pry loose the previous mouthful's helmet.

Looking around for his next bite, Eldon saw a furry dog creature that he knew would tickle his throat on the way down and ignored it. Another morsel was surrounded in water, holding a rather tasty looking treat. He could quench his thirst and get a bite at the same time!

Taking a step forward, a tiny little man flew into his face and threw sparks from his hands. "Shit, you're an ugly ogre, Sheldon Lance. I much prefer you in your natural form."

Eldon blinked as he surveyed his surroundings. He was back to his original body, though he couldn't remember choosing to change. This was the first time someone else forced him to shift, and it left him disoriented.

His mouth tasted disgusting, and he turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, trying not to retch as he remembered the Knightly meal.

"You won't get away with this, Betrayer!" Becky screamed, drawing Eldon's attention, and reminding him that they were in the middle of a battle. Becky stood stiffly, her hands at her sides, glaring around the room. Though her bonds were invisible, he noted the way her clothing pressed in, and even her arms dimpled as though ropes of air held her in place.

Lyden held his right arm within the water encasing Brock, and as Eldon watched, a large gash closed, and the swirling water swept the blood away. Megan stood next to Brock, a bewildered look on her face, and her clothing plastered wetly against her curvy form.

A sound made Eldon spin in time to see Shlee changing back into her human form as she wrapped him in her arms.

"When you vanished, I was so terrified that she'd cast a spell on you!" She gushed before licking up his neck, chin, then pressing her lips to his. The kiss wasn't filled with passion or heat, but if he had any lingering doubts about her love for him, they vanished as his arms wrapped her tight.

"Speaking of spells..." Eldon trailed off with a nod to Becky. "Can we break the spell on her mind by shoving her through one of those barriers?"

"There is no spell on my mind," Becky glared at them. "I can pass freely through those barriers, which only confirms that my mind is free of your wicked—oomph!"

Her mouth hung open, but by the look in her eyes, it wasn't her choice to stop talking.

"I'm getting so sick of hearing her spout her stupid nonsense!" Oberon complained. "Lyden, if you don't shut her up—with your hand, a gag, or even your cock for all I care—I'll shut her up permanently."

"Don't you dare harm her," Lyden said in cold tones, before straightening his shoulders and modifying his speech. "Thank you for all your help, King Oberon, but I will deal with my wife as I see fit."

"I have a feeling I missed quite the party," Megan spoke up, looking around at the carnage. It was gruesome unless compared to what they'd walked through to reach this point. Half a Knight—that Eldon didn't want to consider where the other half was—rested in one corner. He could see the swollen black face of the Knight he'd bitten as a snake, but he couldn't tell which one he'd stung while a scorpion. Two Knights had their bowels and throats ripped open, and there was evidence that one Knight simply exploded by the number of pieces and gore staining the walls. Of the group that entered with his Step-mom, only Becky remained living.

"Are you okay?" Eldon asked the redhead. Most human women he knew would have tiptoed through the viscera, or been disgusted by the carnage, but all Megan did was grimace and shake her head as she walked over to him.

"My head's still ringing, and I'm not sure how we got here, but otherwise, I'm all right," she said, her Texas accent a little thicker than usual.

He nodded to her and moved to join where his father stood over Becky's short frame, but Shlee's sharp elbow to his ribs made him grunt. He looked down at his girlfriend, confused.

"Comfort her," Shlee's whisper barely reached his ears.

"She's a strong woman and doesn't need my comfort," he snapped back under his breath, knowing that her sharp ears would hear him.

That didn't stop her from shoving him at the redhead. He stumbled but managed to right himself before colliding with Megan.

He wanted to glare at Shlee, but instead placed a hand on Megan's wet shoulder and met her chocolate brown eyes. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked, not missing the way her eyes challenged him. Damn it, but this was a strong woman! Why did Shlee insist on him comforting her? Hadn't Megan already proven that she could handle herself? "You seemed pretty out of it after the accident, and we don't know what's ahead. I know you can handle yourself pretty well. I'm not offering to take care of you, but ensuring that you're up for a fight when it happens."

For a moment, it looked like she was going to snap at him, but then a smile split her pretty lips. "There's no shortage of excitement around you or your family. If I can find a couple guns, I'll be right as rain on a warm summer eve." Her eyes regarded him for a moment before her hand came up and wiped something from his cheek and chin. "The faerie was right, though. You're one ugly ogre. I much prefer this face. You still have blood on your face. Otherwise, I might be tempted to kiss someone so concerned for an ally."