When I came to, I was on the wooden floor, naked and completely confused as to where I was. When the memory of my lovemaking with Vanessa returned, I propped myself up on my elbows and stared at the bed. Where was she? Alarmed, I managed to push myself to my feet, groaning when my head spun for a few moments. I heard a mirrored groan and went to the far side of the bed to find the ebony woman crumpled in a heap on the floor. I scooped her into my arms and put her gently on the bed, staring down at her beautiful face with concern.
"Vanessa?" I queried softly, stroking her dark cheek with the back of my hand as she began to come around. Her eyes flickered a few times, finally opening to land on my face.
"Alex?" I nodded. "What happened? Am I... are we ... dead?"
I laughed gently at her question and shook my head.
"I've never felt more alive in my life." I told her honestly. And it was truth. My body did feel as if something had happened to stimulate the cells and my dick rested on my leg, limp, twitching slightly when I spared too much time staring at Vanessa's body. I knew that it wouldn't take much for her to stimulate it into action. I felt normal, finally, in that aspect of my life.
"I am starting to think that our bodies aren't compatible or something." My frown gave away how I felt about that thought. It was silly though -- she was not mine and after this night, I'd never feel the pleasure of holding her against me again. At the thought of thrusting myself inside of her once more, I felt myself grow slightly hard.
Sighing, I pulled the covers up and cradled her next to me, holding her like I had wanted to so many months earlier, but never had the chance thinking the woman dead.
"I love you, Alex." Her words caused me pain. She loved me. So what? She belonged to Tomas. My silence seemed to spur her onward. "Tomas never cared for Alera. No matter how much my baby girl tried, he would never hold her as if he loved her. Never touch her. The bastard wouldn't even look at her unless I forced him to do so." I winced at her words, feeling sorry for the little girl. It made me wrap my arms tighter around Vanessa, wanting to bring her comfort through the touch. I know she could feel my hardness, but I did not care. I was done having sex with her and she knew it. How could we possibly make love again without the pain?
"Vanessa --" I began, hoping to put into words of why we couldn't be together, despite the pain it caused my heart. But I was interrupted by a tiny figure standing at the foot of the bed.
"Mama? Daddy? Bad thing happen now." The moment the words tumbled from Alera's mouth, the southern wall to the bedroom was peeled away, leaving us exposed to the sudden night air. Vanessa screamed and wrapped the sheet around her as I dodged into my jeans lying nearby. I put my body in front of the ex-Curser's and our daughter protectively, holding my arms out to ward the intruders away. There were many of them; floating torches above their heads were not needed to tell me that they were all Cursers -- the red glow of their eyes gave it away. A curvaceous figure stepped in front of the glaring attackers and I grimaced when I recognized it to be the Asian woman who had the penchant for gold.
"Well, well, if it isn't 'Limp Dick'." She smirked and I realized half of her face was scarred, marring any beauty she might have once held. Not good. Nothing was as important to a Curser as their looks, well, except maybe getting revenge on an enemy. When her eyes locked on mine, her face twisted into an even uglier grimace and I knew I would probably not survive the confrontation. I glanced over my shoulder at Vanessa, still wrapped in the sheet, Alera cradled in her arms with her head pushed into her mother's shoulder. I knew the woman was attempting to protect Alera, but she knew the consequences of having the wee one fall into the hands of Cursers. It would be better to end the child's life. But would she be able to do that? Would I? And how -- if it were near impossible to kill a Level 5 - would we even attempt to harm her?
"I was told this was the place where the Level 5 was to be found." She tapped her temple as she studied each of us in turn. "But unless the little one is the Level 5, I'd say I just found a sad set of humans trying to live their dull, meaningless lives." The expression on her face as she stared at mother and child was not a positive one and I knew she was going to attempt to curse them.
"Wait!" I called out before she could do anything. "I know where the Level 5 is. Let this woman and her child go and I'll take you there."
The gold-lover snorted at me, which was quite unattractive, and pointed to Vanessa's bundle.
"Take the child. Kill the man and woman." She snapped her fingers and my heart constricted. How could I fight them? How could I keep them from hurting Vanessa and Alera? I knew they couldn't harm Alera, but if they tried to take her, one of us would have to do something drastic. There was just too much at stake.
"I'd say we need some light shed on the subject." A new voice appeared from behind the group of Cursers and I sighed in partial relief when I recognized Leo and other Blessers surrounding them. "May the light shine on us all." I had to cover my eyes as the blinding flash he summoned was intense, but I knew why he had done such a blessing and quickly pushed Vanessa and Alera through the door opposite of the intruders, throwing the trapdoor open as soon as I reached it. I followed the duo downward, ignoring the screams and explosions that marked a Blesser and Curser fight. I knew it would not be pretty and definitely not a place for Vanessa and me to be in the middle of, with a child especially.
We ran as quickly as we could, Alera in my arms so that Vanessa could hold onto the sheet covering her body.
"Ohh!" Vanessa's cry spurred me to her side immediately and I saw what had given her pause. Tomas was standing in her path, barring the way. He had two Cursers with him.
