Hi reader,
For those who have read my other story, this is the sequel to Pillar. I meant it to be a stand alone story, so if you haven't read Pillar, that's okay.
This book is different in theme and in feel from Pillar. There's a less pronounced focus on sex, and a stronger focus on emotional struggles.
Alex is not a part of this story, instead a new character is introduced. I hope you like her and I hope you get sucked into the story, giving her a chance to mean something for you.
There are BDSM-scenes where appropriate, but in some parts of the story I felt it was more important to focus on the stuff my characters are dealing with.
I think that's enough said, please read on and find out if you like my story.
[There will be 7 parts, for a total of 90+ k words, so it's shorter than Pillar.]
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: I'm looking for people who want to beta-read the whole thing (not looking for an editor). This means leaving some remarks and comments on each scene, so I can get input from outside my own head to point out anything that's unrealistic, confusing or dubious. Contact me via PM if you're interested.
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Prologue
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Ellie watched her little brother Jef flip his legs while he read outside in the garden. Her light eyes shone bright above her cute nose, one grey and one blue. Seeing him lying there so peacefully in the warm rays of the sun made her smile. She leaned back into her lawn chair and closed her eyes to enjoy the soothing calm of a lazy summer day.
Her straight, platinum hair hung over her shoulder in a loose ponytail. It curled around her full breasts and guided the eye across her flat stomach on to her long legs. The sun caressed her beautiful face.
Father had told her many times she looked like her mother. Too many times. It didn't matter. For now he wasn't here and she and Jef could enjoy themselves. Summer was filled with tiny holidays within the confines of their own home.
After some time spent sunbathing Ellie went back inside and checked if Jef had noticed her leaving. She shouldn't have bothered. A cannon could have gone off nearby and he wouldn't have noticed. She smiled and put her plan in motion. Jef squeaked when a cold jet of water splashed his neck and he rolled to the side. Ellie threw him a water gun of his own. With a firm expression, she said "There you go, soldier. Let's see how you handle a weapon."
The boy soldier didn't answer her, but Ellie could see he was game.
"You will take cover in this garden. Don't let yourself be detected. This lawn chair here is your target, the enemy fortress. Sneak up and spray me before I shoot you down. Is that understood, soldier?"
Jef saluted. "Aye, Ma'am."
"Dismissed, soldier."
Ellie put her chair on its side and folded it as much as possible before she squatted down and scanned the battleground. He could be anywhere. A small boy can hide in so many places. And young boys don't care if they get dirty when they're serious about something. Jef was always serious.
They loved these games together, acting out fantasies. Catching glimpses of other lives for fleeting moments in the summer heat.
Ellie heard a noise and scanned the suspect sector of the garden. That's where he came from the last time, he wouldn't use that route again so soon. Just as expected he'd thrown a rock to distract her, and she could see his cute little butt bobbing up and down behind a row of low bushes on the opposite side of the garden. She shuffled behind her fortifications and took a water balloon from her secret stash. With a precise lob throw it landed behind the bushes, and Ellie heard the satisfying sploosh as it doused Jef with water. "Surrender or I'll keep shooting mortars!"
"Never!"
He jumped up and dashed towards Ellie, water gun blasting. They soaked each other, and Jef tumbled over the chair straight into her arms. The two of them scrapped it out on the grass, and Ellie tickled him until he gave in. "You're such a little cheater."
"I am not!"
"You were already dead when you stormed my fortress."
"It was only my leg."
"And you don't need that for running?"
"I have another one."
She tussled his hair. "Of course. Come on, let's get you cleaned up and back into your room before father gets back home. Don't forget your book."
She tossed his clothes in the laundry basket and he peddled along naked. "Come on, go wash up. I'm not your maid."
He stuck his tongue out and soon his little footsteps pattered over the floor. Such a sweet boy.
***
Jef stayed in his bedroom until dinner time, like he always did. He didn't take his eyes off his plate while he ate and didn't speak.
Father was talkative today. He'd had a big sale and was in a good mood. Jef hoped he'd go out tonight to celebrate, then sis could come to his room and tell him a story. He was old enough to read them himself, but he liked it when him and sis snuggled close together and she told him about trolls and dragons.
The story books were the only books of hers he understood though. She was always reading difficult books. Books with difficult words and weird stuff in them. He liked the pictures sometimes, but the books she bought him from time to time were a lot better. He stashed them in his secret box under the bed. The box father didn't know about. Sis had given it to him and told him to always put anything she gave him in there, so father wouldn't find it.
Dinner was tasty. And his pudding was the biggest. He thanked sis while they did the dishes and she winked at him. Father shouted from near the door, "Elisabeth, I'm going out tonight. Lock up behind me. I'll be home late."
"Yes, father. I'll do it first thing after I finish up the dishes."
"Have the boy do them."
