Chunks of rich forest earth dropped on linen. A breeze made red leaves dance.
Burying oneself was unnerving, to say the least.
Of course they hadn't dropped mirror-Gus' corpse into the hole as is, but even wrapped in cloth, Gus couldn't help but *know* that his own face was underneath.
Having donned ripped jeans and an already dirty sweater, the CEO of Bennet Timber had done most of the digging himself, going deeper and deeper into the ground between loosely spaced evergreens and thinning broadleaves, sweating despite the chill air.
He'd gotten intermittent help from resort staff and one amazingly huge black guy who had to be swallowing steroids like candy. He'd needed the help because he was digging a hole big enough for two. Apparently Jasper had managed to heal yet another victim.
Gus had just begun returning earth to the hole, when Kamron showed up. Gus rammed the spade into the pile to lean on it.
"Here for another shift?"
The man in khaki shorts shivered. "Sorry, got hotel work to do. I'm just here to ask what you'll have for lunch."
"Whatever Corry's having, make it two."
Kamron nodded and turned.
"Hey," Gus said. "Is it really okay for us to stick around like that? I mean, you know I *can* pay for the room."
Kamron shrugged. "I think since Jasper's concerned about long term side effects it would make Mordecai feel weird to make you pay for, like, medical examination. Just enjoy the vacation before it's back to your company."
And to planning revenge, Gus thought, even as he flashed a polite smile.
"Just," Kamron continued, already stepping away, "wouldn't be surprised if the 'side effects' are an excuse and Jasper's going to ask you to try a few concoctions. He can't exactly give his customers a survey if they're not 'initiated'."
Gus raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He'd been thinking about financial, reputational and personal vengeance against Fisher, but maybe Jasper would make for a good accomplice. He'd take his time.
==========+++++==========
Her portrait was restored to its place as the centerpiece of the courtyard. She seemed more radiant, more alive in her rapturous serenading than ever. Were the peonies blooming more than yesterday?
Mordecai was alone in the courtyard now, after a long evening of enjoying the company of his friends and family. But he hadn't felt less alone in years, decades perhaps.
Lined up on a three-drawer were a trumpet, a snare drum, a tattered guitar, a recorder, the long awaited chimes and a harp, now with its missing string back from Alec's wristlet.
And there was nothing special about these instruments anymore.
A terrible eternity too late to save her, Mordecai had nonetheless broken his father's curse, which had torn to pieces Laqueta's voice and with it her will to live.
No longer empty, the vinyl made her echo through the halls of Raven Manor. Powerful arias and sultry jazz performances and blues that made you homesick for who-knows-where. To think it had been long enough for him to forget her sound -- her essence.
"A dance?" said a voice behind Mordecai.
How long had he been staring at the portrait?
He turned and raised his hand to take that of the returned Lady in Black.
"With pleasure, my dear Sloane. Let's make the night ours."
She curtseyed lightly. "The night, Master Raven, is always mine."
==========+++++==========
"Just once," Jasper begged.
Alec rolled his eyes. "If we're getting in trouble, it's *you* burning at the stake, okay?"
Despite his reluctance, the mohawk muscle man, once again in leather pants with a sleeveless shirt to complete the attire, slid over to the bar of the club.
Jasper found the music to be at an obnoxious volume. Was getting heard even necessary for Alec's gift to work?
He watched his cousin say barely three sentences to two guys who had come in separately with their girlfriends. Jasper pulled on the hem of his white polo shirt to hide he was tucking away his boner.
The total stranger's eyes met Alec's, then each other's. The siren said something like 'would be cute if you made out' and after fumbling hesitation, the strangers leaned in and kissed sloppily, much to the shock of left-side girlfriend and the joy of right-side-chick and her drunk female companion who whipped out her phone.
Alec returned with an unbearably cocky grin. "Enjoying the show? Don't ask me to turn the place into an orgy."
"It's that easy?" Jasper yelled over stronger thumping beats.
Alec shrugged. "I think I got stronger. Maybe relying on the bangle kept me lacking confidence."
Back at the bar, the two men sheepishly parted, the left one aggressively pulled away by his girlfriend, the right one collecting high fives.
"You? Lacking confidence? Fuck off, hehe."
The slightly bigger of the two hunks looked around. "Where's Sammy?"
Jasper chuckled and vaguely danced in the direction he had last seen their friend. "What now? Is he your personal slave whenever you feel like it?"
Alec's grin got cockier as his shook his hips. "Something like that. Why not? He likes it."
==========+++++==========
Having surrendered much of his power, a calm phantom roamed the corridors of the hotel, watchful but gentle.
Orion was no longer truly alive and there was self-abnegation in that understanding, but he would keep his distant descendants company even in reduced form.
He began his sweep in the grand suite where Alec Reyes was pulling his thick dick out of Sammy's ass, ready to have it swallowed by Shadow's eager throat.
The two mirrored Mondragon boys serviced the siren voluntarily but the thrill of irresistible orders was part of the game they had agreed to play.
Alec pushed Shadow onto his back and sat on the slim young man's face.
"Rim, little bitch," the dark skinned hunk growled and Shadow held onto the ripped thighs as he tongued the hole.
Meanwhile Alec pulled the arching Sammy closer again and slid his dick back into the wet hole. His hands clapped down hard on the bottom's ass cheeks. "Ride it, slut."
"Urgnnn, yes sir, please sir."
Sammy moaned with high pitch as he drove himself down on the shaft. Alec grabbed the boy's neck and pulled him in to make Sammy's head rest on his pecs.
The boy reached underneath his own bouncing boner and rubbed his duplicate's dickhead, making Shadow writhe.
Alec pried Sammy's mouth open with four fingers and spat. "Ugh, I'm gonna... unload in your ass, cockwhore."
