Authors: Robin Cavanaugh
*****
“Janet?”
“Yes?”
“You seem nervous,” Marla said. “Um, have you ever been with a man?”
“No.”
“Oh.
The two sat primping before a lavish vanity. The Geishas had provided everything that they needed. Marla wore a simple, deep maroon Vera Wang evening gown with matching heels. A slim garter belt hugged her waist and cinched sheer, smoky silk stockings. Janet had on a strapless Terani in nude with glittering, silver sequins that radiated in a starburst up the delicate bust-line, and down the length of the skirt that poured to the floor.
“Dinner is served,” one of the geisha’s announced.
“You going to be okay?” Marla asked quietly.
“I’ve seen the movie,” Janet replied.
Jarris was a true Morph. The portly, almost pudgy imp they had encountered in the office was now a slim, dark gentleman in a most excellent tuxedo. It was still the same Jarris, but this was the Hollywood version. His manners were impeccable, his grace was smooth and he had even charmed the reluctant women into something like an interesting conversation. The wine was heady and Janet indulged. Desert parfaits were served in long stemmed crystal glasses, and when the tinkling of spoons ended Jarris took the ladies hands and led them on.
His bedroom was, like everything in his apartments plush and elegant to the point of opulence. The room was lit by candles and soft, undefined music lilted. Jarris looked first to Marla. She couldn’t hold his gaze. He was taller than she, and he took her delicate chin in hand and gently kissed her on the lips. Marla trembled at his nearness and his touch made her shudder. He smiled as though she had met that kiss with her passion. He softly stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. She flinched. His fingers glided down her face, along her neck and then behind. He pulled the halter’s knot and her gown flowed along her figure, cascading to the floor like water. He brought his fingertips along her arm and then traced the outline of her breast.
Janet sighed. She stepped closer.
“You like ladies?” Jarris asked.
“I do,” Janet said.
Jarris smiled and stepped aside. Marla fell into Janet’s arms and the two kissed with a passion that was at once fervor and escape. Janet cupped Marla’s breast. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe it was just the need to hold and be held, but Marl felt a rush of arousal and she gave herself to that. Gone were any thoughts of being compelled or loving against her will, and she abandoned herself to her lust.
As the women kissed Marla slowly slid down the zipper of Janet’s dress. The gown, heavy with beading fell to the floor. Marla caressed the woman’s thighs and cheeks. Janet pulled Marla in closer and their breasts settled so comfortably together. And as their flesh meshed and entwined Marla hear a soft sigh. She turned to Jarris. His ears were laid back and pointed. He had doffed his jacket. He was fumbling with his bowtie.
Marla giggled. Janet looked at the werewolf. Then kissing Marla’s cheek, she strode to him, reached up and took over. Marla began on his shirt and they soon had his chest bare. He was hairy, and as his arousal grew so did his hair. Janet seemed fascinated. She ran her fingernails just beneath his curlies, gliding toward his nips. Marla stood by his side, teasing her tit against that rough fur. She began on his belt and slowly slid to her knees. Janet kissed him long and deep and Marla began to lick him. Then she took him.
His thrill was almost instant. He throbbed and the skin seemed to stretch tight at the knob. He was too long for her and so she stroked with her hand what she couldn’t reach with her mouth. He was so hairy at the base and the friction made him swell even more. Still wrapped in Janet’s kiss, he sighed so contentedly.
He stroked Marla’s hair with one hand, and fondled Janet with the other. He caressed Marla’s head and she thought that she knew what he wanted. She was surprised when he gently eased her up and away. He kissed her tenderly and then he led the two to the bed. Marla wanted to spare her friend from as much as she could and so she took the lead. Janet lay by his side, kissing and toying while Marla lay between his spread legs and began again her oral ministration.
Jarris lay like a king, moaning and sighing. He toyed with Janet. She fell to his touch. She wrapped her thighs around his, and pressed and thrust herself. Jarris laughed as he tickled her slit. Marla looked and saw the lust in his eyes. He was starting to shift, reaching to the girl. Marla moaned long and low. With a long, last slurp she pulled away from him, rose to her knees, straddled the werewolf and pressed herself against the bulb. Jarris lay back with a laugh of triumph.
Marla began to ease herself onto the warm, throbbing shaft. But even as she did Janet was there, giggling a soft, girlish giggle. She took his rod and Marla moaned, leaning back as her friend guided him into her. Janet yelped delightfully as Jarris started to finger her. Marla eased deeper and deeper until he was all inside. She wailed with bliss as the two fell into a rhythm, thrusting and riding.
But Janet was still with her. As Marla leaned back and humped, she felt Janet’s warm, wet tongue on her clit. Marla cried out. Jarris pulled Janet to him and it was Janet’s turn to wail as he buried his face between her legs. Marla clutched her own breasts as she drove herself harder and harder, faster and faster.
Janet wrapped her lips around Marla’s swollen button. She began to suck and lick the thing, even as she wailed, ramming pussy against the man. Marla shrieked in ecstasy and Janet’s tongue flitted like an insane butterfly. Jarris pounded her and when she felt the first explosion of bliss flood her inside she rammed as if she would impale herself, clutching Janet by the hair and crushing her face with her bliss.
*****
Jarris proved to be insatiable. After her first climax, the rest of the night for Marla was mechanical. When she woke Jarris was gone. She nestled and gazed at Janet until the woman fluttered open her eyes. The two just looked at each other a while.
“So,” Janet said. “Is that what all the hoopla about heterosexuality is all about?”
Marla chuckled.
“Overrated if you ask me,” Janet said shaking her head. “Jeeze, I’m sore. You always wake up feeling like this?”
“Some people like it.”
“So, how’re you feeling?”
“Like a cup of strong coffee and a long shower.”
They got both their wishes. The Geisha from the night before served them breakfast in bed.
“What’s your name?” Marla asked the girl. She was so petite and so delicate. Her face was covered with that innocent make-up, but Marla saw something running deep in her dark, pretty eyes.
“Mai,” she said in a voice so soft Marla could barely hear.
“That’s a pretty name,” Marla said. The woman just nodded. “Mai, do you know where my friend Laird is?”
“He is sleeping.”
“Is he okay?”
The girl said nothing, but Marla saw her flush beneath the make-up. The girl left silently. After breakfast they found a shower the size of Marla’s parlor and their clothes cleaned and pressed. Mai appeared again and announced that Jarris wished to see them. In the office they found Laird, clean clothes and a contented smile. After a few moments Jarris entered.
“I see everyone is all rested and refreshed,” he said smiling. “Did you enjoy your oriental delights, Laird?
“I did,” the alien smiled.
“Excellent, excellent. And you Janet? Cured of your lesbianism?”
Marla lit into him, but he cut her off.
“Don’t get your undies in a bundle,” he said opening a wall safe. “We both got what we wanted.”
He reached in and pulled out a small twig from a fir tree. Maybe two inches long it had three lonely green needles clinging to the end. He tossed it to Marla.
“What is this?” she asked.
“It’s your witch. Well, the key to her anyway,” he said. Then he shouted, “Mai-Lynn!”
The Geisha appeared instantly. She had her usual demure look, but she quickly realized that something was wrong. She glanced to the twig in Marla’s hand. Her eyes froze.
“Mai-Lynn,” Jarris said. “This is Marla. You’re going with her. She’s your Master now. Be a good little witch.”
Marla looked at the girl, then at the twig, then at Jarris.
“That’s her broom,” Jarris explained. “Or what’s left of it. Still it’s where she gets her power. Don’t lose it. She ever gets out of hand, or you need to punish her take a match to it.”
Mai-Lynn yelped softly. Jarris smiled.
“She’ll do anything to get that from you,” Jarris went on. “She can’t take it from you by force, that would be stealing and that would upset all kinds of balances and things. But she’ll try and trick you out of it any way she can. Be very careful.”
“Okay, then,” Janet said. “We got what we wanted. Let’s get the hell out of here
“Sure,” Jarris said. “Unless anyone wants to take another roll.” But he spoke to their backs.
They found Marla’s Blazer on the front drive. It too was cleaned spotless, and the tank was full. Janet drove. Laird took the passenger seat while Marla and Mai-Lynn sat in the back. The Head was still propped up in the cargo area.
“Holy shit,” Mai sighed as she flopped into her seat. “Thank you for getting me out of that fucking hell hole.”
She reached to her hair, pulled out the needles, and shaking her head she let her locks fall.
“Anybody got a cigarette?”
Laird and Marla stared. Janet glanced in the mirror.
“What?” the girl said. “Oh shit. Don’t tell me that you want me to play China-doll for you too?”
“No,” Marla said placing a hand gently on the girl’s shoulder. “No, I just – we just – we need your help.”
“You need my help,” she repeated.
“Yes.”
“Okay,” she said sweetly. “But first will you do one thing for me?”
“Sure. What.”
“Get your filthy hand off of me you,” she said smiling. “I’m a fucking Princess you idiot!”
Marla jerked back her hand.
“I thought,” Laird said, “that you were a witch?”
“Oh,” she sang, “I am all of that and so much more.”
“So,” Marla said. “Will you help us?”
“Were you born stupid,” the girl asked. “Or do you take lessons? I am your servant, you moron. I have to help you. But before I can help anybody I have to help myself. Can we go someplace where I can scrape this white crap off my face? And can I get some real clothes? And a cigarette?”
Back at the motel, Mai grumbled and complained. Janet shopped and got the girl some clothes and things. Marla and Laird explained their situation as Mai scrubbed her face and washed her hair. Dressed in jeans, a tee, a denim jacket and sneakers the girl looked nothing like the small and shy geisha. She listened and didn’t say anything until after her second cigarette.
“Vanessa you say,” she said exhaling a long thin stream of smoke.
“Yes,” Marla said. “Do you know her?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“I didn’t,” Marla said, “until just a few days ago.”
“You are a peasant.”
Mai stood and walked to the window. She was silent for a few minutes. Then she stubbed out her smoke on the sill.
“She’s a real bitch,” Mai said. “And she’s good. But I’m better. A frontal assault would never work, as you idiots found out. We need to approach by guile, and I’m gonna need you to trust me and do everything that I say.”
“That,” Laird said, “depends on what you say.”
“Look, star man, I’m all you got. And if I get into this I’m putting my ass on the line. We screw up and we’re all worse than dead.”
“Um,” Marla said. “I got your broom, remember? I can compel you.”
“Um,” Mai echoed. “Compel me and you get my obedience, that’s all. Work with me and you get an ally, a very real, very loyal and very powerful ally. But I’m gonna want something in return.”
“What?” Marla asked.
“Oh I don’t know? Let’s all put our heads together and see if we can come up with something that will make a princess who’s been a slave for seven bloody years happy. Anything spring to mind?”
“I have no need of a slave,” Marla said. “We just want Jason and Rachael back.”
“I agree,” Laird said. “Your freedom for our friends . . . it’s more than fair.”
“What about you, pretty tits?” Mai said to Janet. “You got a stake in this too.”
“All I want,” Janet said. “Is Rachael – and maybe someday wipe that smug look off of that werewolf’s ugly face.”
“You and me both, baby,” Mai said chuckling.
*****
“Then we are agreed,” Mai said. “your buddies for my broom. Done. So, can I just see it a moment? Make sure that he gave you the right one?”
Marla chuckled.
“I had to try,” Mai said. She lit another cigarette. “Okay. So, to get this operation off the ground I need to know where Vanessa is, and to do that I need to find a pool of unsullied rain water.”
“A what?”
“It could be a little thing,” she said. “A puddle will do, but it needs to be still, on the ground and unspoiled; no animals can have drunk from it, or stepped in it, or pissed in it – and no bugs. Definitely no bugs. Bugs are creepy.”
“Where are we going to find something like that?” Marla asked.
“And,” Mai added. “I need to know the current lunar phase.”
“Two days in a waxing gibbous,” Laird said.
“Cool,” Mai said nodding. “Full would be better, but it’ll do.”
“I will ask again,” Marla said. “Where are we going to find a pool of unsullied rain water?”
“Someplace where it rained last,” Janet said, “for starters.”
“Give the pretty little thing a prize,” Mai said.
The newspapers were useless and their phone batteries were dead. Laird struck on an idea and he soon had the head hooked up to a local Wi-Fi. The head found NOAA and reported that the day before a storm had tracked north along the Massachusetts-New York border. The closest wet place was Springfield, two hours away. Marla drove. Mai sketched out her plan; it required deception and a lot of guts. Marla, Laird and Janet would be putting their total faith in a snide, Japanese witch princess.
“Oh boy,” Laird said.
As they approached the city of Springfield they saw signs of rain.
“So now what?” Marla asked. “What do we look for? A park or something?”
“That would be stupid,” Mai said. “There are animals in parks, not to mention children. Yuck.”
“Maybe a cemetery?”
“Dead people spook me,” Mai said. “Why don’t you exit here, I’m, hungry.”
They got off in Chicopee and headed straight to the first truck-stop they saw. Mai feasted on cheeseburgers, French fries and chocolate shakes. While the witch gorged, the others racked their brains over the water problem. They lingered. The waitress was irritated. Trucks roared. The sun set. The moon rose. And then Janet got a look in her eyes.
“I got it,” she said grinning. “So simple. Finish your fries.”
She led them out. She skirted the building, past the parking lot and to the rear of the restaurant to the dumpsters and waste oil bins. Despite the stench Mai smiled. Among the garbage and waste, the pavement was dotted with lovely little puddles, on the ground and undisturbed.
“I like this one,” Mai said.
The four knelt looking down at the dark pool. They waited until the moon had risen high enough to reflect in the still water. The silver orb lay motionless.
“Beautiful,” Mai sighed, “absolutely beautiful. Now we need the broom.”
Marla held the twig over the water. Mai instructed her to place it so that its shadow crossed the mirror of the moon. Mai began chanting in a language that Marla didn’t recognize. Then she blew across the water, little ripples broke up the reflections. Then they waited until the water stilled again. Mai shook her head.
“You’re not holding it right,” she said.
“What am I supposed to do?” Marla asked.
“Hold it right – oh let me.”
“No way.”
Mai rolled her eyes. She placed her hand over Marla’s and adjusted the shadow a little bit one way, then another until she was satisfied. She began her chant again. This time Marla heard the word “Vanessa” twice. Again Mai blew across the water, but this time as the little waves stilled the moon began to change. It swirled brightly beneath the dark image of the twig. It seemed to glow just a little, then the swirling shifted and dark patches formed, then the dark coalesced with the light and Marla hissed as the image of Vanessa’s face emerged.
The witch’s eyes were closed but her brows were raised and stretched wide. Her mouth was open as if she were gasping for breath. Her head began to dart from side to side and it suddenly looked like she was screaming.
“She’s having sex,” Mai giggled.
But even as she spoke the image of Vanessa seemed to startle. Her ecstasy paused. Immediately Mai pulled the broom away and slammed the puddle with her other hand.
“That was close,” she said standing. “She almost saw us.”
“But we saw her,” Janet said.
“Yeah,” Mai smiled. “And now I know where she is.”
“Where?”
“I don’t have an address,” Mai said. “But I know how to find her and so we can go to her.”
“We can?” Marla said. “How?”
“With this,” Mai said waving her little broom at them. “Oh! Lookie what I have. Can you say ‘slave bitch’?”