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."
"Please sir."
Alec kept still as Sammy's hole rubbed him to orgasm. The Raven-relative's face grew strained, then serene, while his hands stayed on the bottom's neck and nipples.
After a minute of milking Alec, the trio fell apart.
"May we jerk off, sir?"
Alec grinned. "I'll fuck you again later, so no, save it."
Shadow was sent to get the hunk a beer, while Sammy began cuddling up to the top. Soon the trio was snuggling, with Alec's arms behind his head, the 'twins' framing him, playing with his pecs.
"Question," Alec said after his last sip. "If Sammy gets a piercing it wouldn't duplicate for Shadow, but he'd still have the puncture to put in it, right?"
"I suppose," Shadow said, "we'd have to try. Why?"
"You could get a nose ring, like mine. Or something else."
"Wasn't planning to," Sammy said.
Alec grinned. "What if I order you to with the Voice?"
"Fuck. I guess that would be... exciting."
==========+++++==========
Orion moved on, slipping through the walls of the suite until he hit the oak room.
The bedsheets were ruffled but the bed was empty. Two small, empty flasks stood on the nightstand. Jasper had labeled them 'Mettle of Fire' and 'Dreams of Velvet'.
Two men were on the sofa, sweat-shining and out of breath.
Corry was sitting on Gus who hammered into the smaller man from below.
"Fucking hell, boss," Corry said with a loopy smile. "How long have we been going?"
"No idea," Gus said, repositioning himself to drive up with more tempo. "Starting to think that 'potion' was just actual drugs or some shit. Fuck, it's our own fault. He told me to go to the *gym* once I'm feeling my endurance rise."
Corry chuckled through the groans, his voice unsteady from the pounding. "I was supposed to relax. Well I guess I am. All thanks to you, sir."
Gus gripped onto Corry's thighs. "Nah. It's all *your* fault for having such a perfect ass."
Corry whimpered, still smiling dumbly. "Wha- what do we tell Jasper. Do we stop and you got to the gym?"
"Why? Do you need a break?"
The bottom flexed his body rhythmically. "Not really. I'm kind of falling apart, but in a good way? I'm definitely feeling the 'velvet' effect."
Gus pulled Corry in by the jaw. "You think too much."
Their lips met and Gus' desperate humping turned sensual once again. There was no end in sight.
Orion drifted away and bounced against an impenetrable barrier. He was not welcome in the nocturnal lady's room and though he was curious about her dealings, he was not going to spend his influence to disrespect the wishes of someone Mordecai trusted, however vampiric in nature.
