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Sergey headed home at the end of his shift tired and annoyed. The Cappelli brothers had been given permission to open their new establishment, Club 2000 despite protests from police and locals. Sergey wondered how much money had changed hands to allow the club to go ahead. Everyone knew that the club would run illegal card games and rumour was that it was also going to house a thinly disguised brothel. Sergey had heard that the Cappelli boys had been hiring girls at their Valley home last weekend. Then there were the two bodies that had been found in back alley’s in the last two days. One Italian and one Chinese. Something was building there.
His son was in the kitchen with his girlfriend Britt. The teenagers had been dating for a few months ago and the girl was often at their house when he got home. Sergey tried to force a smile on his face. He had never really taken to the blonde girl, but he made an effort to get on with her because Ladislaus seemed seriously smitten with her. She gave Sergey one of her sugary smiles and a little wave.
“Hi Mr Solarin”. We’re cooking omelettes. Do you want one?” She asked.
“That would be great, thanks,” Sergey answered, thinking sourly that he would have to sit and eat with her.
It was a relief when they disappeared of to Ladislaus room to ‘study’ after they had eaten. Sergey turned on the TV and watched a comedy program that took his mind off of the day’s tension.
”Your father doesn’t like me,” Britt complained as she and Ladislaus lowered themselves onto his bed.
“He’s just tired,” Ladislaus answered.
He really did not want to be talking about his father right now. Britt had turned up over an hour later than she had said she would be here, looking so hot in a short denim skirt and a sweater that left her midriff bare. And those fishnet hose. She was so hot. She hadn’t let him touch her though, not even kiss her, until she had eaten. He was sure that while they were preparing dinner she had not needed to bend over quite so often.
She opened her mouth to speak again and he shut her up by kissing her deeply. Britt made a small moan and pulled him closer. One arm circled his neck while her free hand pushed under his T-shirt to stroke the skin on his back. Ladislaus pulled his mouth from hers and moved down the bed to kiss the exposed flesh between her sweater and the low waistband of her skirt. He planted slow, sensuous kisses across her naked skin.
Britt gasped, arched her hips upwards him and gripped his hair. She pushed him lower. Ladislaus kissed one of her knees then the other. Britt let her legs fall apart and he kissed up the inside of her thigh. Ladislaus found it hard to breath. His heart was raising and his pants were uncomfortably tight around the groin. He kissed her pubic mound through the fabric of the hose and her silky underwear. Britt whimpered and ground her hips against him. She twined the fingers of one hand into his hair and pulled his face back to hers and kissed him hard. With her free hand she pushed at her hose and panties until they rested around her thighs.
Britt took Ladislaus hand and drew it between her legs. Eyes wide Ladislaus touched her and let out a strangled moan. She felt so good there, warm and very moist. Britt kissed him fiercely and laid her hand over his, urging his probing fingers to explore further inside her.
She moved her hips against him, circling and grinding. Ladislaus echoed her movement with his fingers and watched her intently as she closed her eyes and bit down on her lip, uttering soft mewling sounds that turned him on even more. The movement of her hips quickened and her breathing grew harsher and faster. She jerked against his hand and uttered a long, low sound that made Ladislaus glance at the door. He watched her in frozen silence for several minutes until her breathing became regular. She moved her hand from between her legs and smiled at him.
“Mmmmm, that was good.” She smiled turning and cupping him through the fabric of his jeans. “Poor baby. You’re all turned on, and I don’t have time to do anything about it. I have to go.”
She fixed her clothing and stood up. Stunned, Ladislaus stood too. She kissed him lightly and headed for the door.
“See you tomorrow, Baby.”
Ladislaus did not move to see her out. He heard her call a cheery farewell to his father. It took several minutes for his breathing to calm and his heart rate to slow. A glance in the mirror showed him to be very flushed.
After a few minutes Ladislaus left his room and headed towards the bathroom. Sergey was sitting on the sofa studying.
“You okay, Slava? Britt seemed to leave in something of a hurry. You didn’t argue?” He asked.
“Uh, no. She had to get home. I’m just going to get a shower, then I thought maybe we’d play chess, if you like,” Ladislaus said casually.
“Sounds good.”
Ladislaus locked the bathroom door and stripped off his clothes. It was a relief to remove his confining jeans and underwear. He stepped beneath the shower jet and reached for the shower gel. He was still painfully hard and his mind replayed what he had just done with Britt.
As he remembered his hand moved to his erection and moved rhythmically as his fingers had moved in Britt tension building in him, his heart speeding up again. His release came very quickly and he gritted his teeth to stop himself crying out. He leaned against the wall for a few moments, his mind still on Britt. She was beautiful, she was hot and so much fun to be around, but sometimes she could be a total bitch. She liked getting him this aroused and then abandoning him so abruptly. She had done thing like this to him before. He finished showering, dried himself off and put on his pyjamas.
As he remembered his hand moved to his erection and moved rhythmically as his fingers had moved in Britt tension building in him, his heart speeding up again. His release came very quickly and he gritted his teeth to stop himself crying out. He leaned against the wall for a few moments, his mind still on Britt. She was beautiful, she was hot and so much fun to be around, but sometimes she could be a total bitch. She liked getting him this aroused and then abandoning him so abruptly. She had done thing like this to him before. He finished showering, dried himself off and put on his pyjamas.
He joined his father at the chess board. As they played they made chatted about school and work. Sergey told Ladislaus about Amarose’s new employee.
“Irissa. That’s the prostitute’s kid, right? The one you like. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to adopt her or something and bring me home a new sister,” Ladislaus teased.
“We don’t have a spare room and I don’t think you’d like sharing,” Sergey replied.
“Depends if she’s pretty,” Ladislaus retorted, waggling his eyebrows.
“I think she is, but I don’t think she’s your type. By the way, things are getting pretty serious between you and Britt. I hope you are being careful. Taking precautions,” Sergey said casually.
“Hasn’t come to that yet, Dad, but I’m not stupid.” Ladislaus replied equally casually. “Check.”
“You’re getting better at this. You are going to beat me one day,” Sergey grumbled.
‘Yet’, his son had said. Which said he expected that he would sleep with Britt at some point. Sergey wished he like the girl better.
Don’t Fear The Reaper
Irissa stopped and turned to look at the old man who was standing in the street, looking somewhat confused.
“Excuse me, sir, are you all right?” She asked.
For some reason the hair on the back of her neck was raised and her skin was breaking out in goose bumps’
He turned and gave her a confused stare.
“Why yes, Dear, I think I am. I believe I’m waiting for someone,” he smiled.
The chills on Irissa’s skin increased. She moved closer to the old man.
“Do you want me to call someone?” She asked.
The old man smiled and shook his head, still staring into the air. A boy Irissa recognised from school stopped and looked in the direction that the old man was staring in.
“What’s he looking at?” He asked.
Irissa shook her head, afraid to turn and look. The boy walked off, shrugging as he went.
Irissa felt the presence move closer to her and covered her eyes. The old man laughed.
“Don’t be afraid, my dear. It’s me he has come for,” he chuckled.
“ARE YOU READY?” A voice echoed around Irissa’s head.
“Lead on, my friend,” the old man said cheerfully.
His body fell to the ground but Irissa could see the small spark of light rise from it and head upwards, intensely bright, through the gaps in her fingers.
“Let me look at you, girl.” The voice in her head said, softer and much gentler.
Irissa raised her head and looked at the hooded figure.
“Hmmm. You don’t look like much.” The voice said, then the figure was gone.
Alone and afraid with the body, Irissa took out the cell phone Sergey had given her and called 911.
The police asked Irissa a few questions about the old man’s death and then let her go. Still shaken she wandered on, not really thinking about where she was going. Her feet took her along the route she had been heading when she first saw the old man.
Past Tom’s diner and into the shop she had wanted to check out. As if a map had been left in her head and she had subconsciously followed it. The store was called ‘Magick!’ and stocked a variety of unusual books and other interesting items. Irissa had been there once before but had not had the money to purchase anything.
As on the previous occasion she had visited, the shop was crowded. Among the patrons were several teenagers. Irissa knew that the other teenagers attended the local private school.
Rowena Porter, the store owner surprised Irissa by recognising her and making a point of coming to greet her. They had spoken very briefly on Irissa’s last visit.
“Irissa. It’s good to see you back. How are....my dear, whatever is wrong. You look as if you have seen a ghost!”
Irissa laughed nervously and looked around her to see who was listening. Then she found herself telling Rowena the whole story.
“So, I think I’m going crazy. I imagined I saw Death. The skeleton in the robes, the scythe, the whole nine yards. And what was craziest, he was wearing a pink floral garland like the hula dancers wear,” she finished, hearing the hysteria in her own voice.
“You felt that the old man was going to die? You knew something was wrong?” Rowena asked.
“Yes. I felt cold and concerned,” Irissa replied.
“Tell me, Irissa, when you call the Goddess, how do you see her?” Rowena asked.
Irissa hesitated. Why did this woman assume that she had done such a thing? Rowena’s steady gaze brooked no denial, though.
“Uuuum, black hair – blue black like the night sky, curvy and with pale, moon-white skin,” she replied.
“I see her differently. Silver hair, as slender as a moonbeam but also with moon pale skin. If we stood side by side in this circle....” she indicated the floor beneath them, “We would see a different image but we would call the same force. These forces have no corporeal form. We give them one. I see Death as Hecate, the crone. You just latched onto the most common archetype. You gave the energy a form you were comfortable with, although the garland is a bit odd. The thing is that you felt the power and you saw it here” She touched Irissa’s forehead. “In your third eye.”
“It still sounds crazy,” Irissa replied.
Rowena looked seriously at her.
“Help yourself to some tea, Irissa, and sit for a while. We’ll talk later. I don’t know who began your training, but I feel you could do with some more guidance. We’ll talk when you feel calmer, “she said.
“I have money, today, Rowena. I wanted to buy something. A nice book with plain pages that I can write some.... Lessons into. And some candles. Maybe some nice candlesticks,” Irissa told her.
“You want to start your Book of Shadows. I’ll find you something special. Look around. There are candles and things which will suit, I’m sure. If you need any help just call.”
Rowena turned to answer a query from one of her other customers. A very beautiful blonde girl with killer cheekbones and a haughty expression. Irissa found her eyes resting on the boy who appeared to be with the blonde. There was something achingly familiar about him. The blonde girl caught her looking and glowered, linking her arm through the boy’s and pulling him over to the coffee and tea bar. Irissa shrugged and turned to look at the rest of the stock.
“Rowena keeps the best stock of candles. All colours,” someone said casually at her shoulder.
Irissa realised that the second girl from the private school party was talking to her. She turned and smiled shyly at her.
“It’s a wonderful shop. I’ve only been in once before,” she replied.
“Oh, I’m in here all the time. I usually get more time to browse in peace, but the dread Britt decided to come with me.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper as she moved closer to Irissa.
“I can’t stand the stuck up bitch, but my boyfriend Jack and her boyfriend Ladislaus are best friends.”
Irissa glanced again at the boy she had thought familiar. Ladislaus. A Russian name. The penny dropped. He had to be related to Sergey. That was who he reminded her of.
“I’m into the Quabbalah mainly, but Rowena knows all sorts of stuff. Oh, I’m Zara Ottaker, by the way. I heard your name. Irissa, right? That’s pretty. Look, Britt is itching to be gone. Maybe I’ll see you here again. It would be nice,” Zara spoke quickly. Britt was sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed, tapping her foot and glaring.
“That would be really nice,” Irissa smiled.
Zara’s boyfriend left the shelves he had been studying and joined her. Britt stalked out of the shop with Ladislaus behind her. Zara’s boyfriend grabbed her and kissed her.
“Thanks for being so patient, sweetie. I know she wrecked your shopping trip,” he said.
Irissa smiled to herself as she watched them leave. It would be nice to see Zara again. She and her boyfriend seemed to be really nice people.
Irissa turned her attention to the shelves and selected a few purchases.
Neighbourhood Girl
The club opened on schedule. The clientele was exclusive and rich. The membership fees were extremely high. Suzanne’s first job was serving at the bar, but she soon became aware that she serving more than alcohol. Some of the items she passed to customers came in silver foil packets or small cellophane bags. Even some of the drinks were quite unlike anything she had served before.
Many of the customers used the gambling tables and Suzanne quickly became aware that the stakes were high. Suzanne made good tips for her work that night. At the end of the night Marco complimented her on her work.
“You’re a star, honey. The customers love you. Just the right mix of class and trash. I want you on a different job tomorrow. You get a chance to use those poker skills you showed me. You’ll be in charge of table four. I want the players kept off balance. And I want them thinking about using the upstairs ‘facilities’. I want them spending any winnings in here, get it? If you’re really smart you’ll have them requesting your services.”
The next evening Suzanne found herself in the gaming room sitting at a table with some very strange customers. One of them, a man in very formal evening dress and heavily made up, called himself ‘The Count’.
If the man had not been so intense and creepy Suzanne would have found that funny. She found herself thinking about the Sesame Street program Irissa had watched as a child. Suzanne had always approached her job as a professional and had never let her personal distaste for her customers desires stop her from carrying out their requests. She had one thing she would not do, but that was for the sake of her own health rather than distaste.
Yet the way The Count kept picking up her hand and sinking his teeth into the back of her hand she found creepy. In spite of the attention he lavished on her he kept his attention on the game and won several times.
In the end the other players left and in the last game Suzanne beat the Count to recoup most of the losses she had made. The man gave her a feral smile.
“That was stimulating, My Dear. Next time I should like to play a different kind of game with you,” he purred in an accent that Suzanne was sure lent more towards Boris Karloff movies than to Eastern Europe.
She smiled sweetly while cringing inside.
As the Count left the club Marco called to Suzanne.
“Upstairs,” he ordered. “I have a very wealthy customer with a request. You and Sandy, together.”
Suzanne shrugged. It would not be the first time she had worked with another girl to service a client, and she said so.
“This man doesn’t participate. He lies to watch,” Marco explained.
“That will be new,” Suzanne replied. I’ve never done a girl before.”
“Enjoy it then, or make Mr Baxter believe that you do. He’s a connoisseur. If he complains about the show, I won’t be happy, do you understand?”
If the Count had seemed a little creepy, the look Marco gave Suzanne froze her to her marrow
“He’ll be pleased,” Suzanne promised.
Sandy was lying naked on the bed when she entered the room. A grey haired man was sitting on a chair in the corner, his hands crossed on his lap. He looked like a banker or a lawyer, Suzanne thought.
Sandy giggled as Suzanne joined her on the bed. She leaned close to Suzanne and whispered in her ear
“Nice man, paying me to act out MY fantasy. I wanted you from the first day I saw you. Follow my lead, Baby and we’ll be fine. And I promise you won’t be faking.”
Suzanne started, then shrugged and let Sandy lead the way. She lost track of time as Sandy touched, stroked, sucked and licked. She couldn’t remember when she began to touch and stroke in return, but she became aware of the deeper, faster breathing from their client in the corner. Sandy cried out at the peak of an orgasm and Suzanne heard the chair being pushed back. The man was standing beside the bed. At some point during proceedings he had removed his clothes.
“You,” he ordered Sandy. ”Go sit in the chair."
Suzanne was confused when he joined her on the bed. Marco had said that Mr Baxter didn’t participate. He put his arm around Suzanne and leaned towards her. His tongue ran around her lips then pushed briefly inside her mouth.
“Sweet.” He murmured, then pushed her head towards his lap. “Suck.”
Suzanne took him in her mouth and brought him just short of orgasm then raised her head and wrapped her hand around his shaft and finished the job. The man’s cry was part release, part rage.
“You bitch. You ruined that for me. What the fuck did you stop for?” He rose to his knees on the bed. He opened the door and yelled for Marco. Sandy cowered in her chair as Baxter yelled and screamed at Marco. Marco picked up the client’s clothes and escorted him from the room.
A short while later he returned with Baxter, storming across the room and slapped Suzanne hard across the face.
“What the fuck are you playing at? Do you know how important Mr Baxter is? You refuse him nothing, do you hear, nothing!” He yelled.
Baxter watched with a smug smile on his face. Suzanne was too stunned to answer.
“I’ll leave you to punish her, and I expect better next time I’m here,” Baxter said, slamming the door behind him
“Explain yourself , you worthless slut,” Marco demanded.
“I never let a man cum in my mouth,” Suzanne replied.
Marco laughed harshly.
“You work for me now. Whatever niceties you allowed yourself before, they are gone. Understand. You do what I say, when I say. And you do what my customers want. Got it?”
He hit her again, harder this time.
“Do you understand?” He said, speaking slowly, as if speaking to slow child.
The look in his eyes was manic, terrifying. Suzanne nodded slowly.
“Good. Now, to prove that you understand and that you are going to do what I want my good little whores to do, I have some homework for you.
Marco chased Sandy from the room and took off his clothes. He forced Suzanne into the chair and stood in front of her.
“Show me how you will deal with Mr Baxter next time he is here.”
Still shaking Suzanne tried to close her mind to the fear that Marco had raised in her she turned on her professional mind and gave every indication enjoying what she was doing to Marco, and in making sure he was squirming and writhing with pleasure.
When it was done he pulled her out of the chair and pulled her body close to his.
“That’s my good girl,” He whispered, kissing her neck. “Get dressed, now. It’s almost time to go home.”
The other girls had already left by the time Suzanne had finished dressing. Suzanne was walking towards the stairs when Marco called to her. He and Angelo were on the gallery area of the club. Marco pushed her down to sit on one of the couches.
“Homework revision, Suzanne. Angelo would like you to perform the same lesson for him as you did for me.”
Marco stood with his arms crossed and watched intently while Suzanne worked on Angelo. When she was done Angelo fixed his clothing and walked away. Marco smiled sweetly at Suzanne.
“You won’t forget that lesson now, will you Sweetie?” He asked.
Suzanne shook her head meekly.
“Such a good girl,” he said. “Remember, Angel, without me you would just be another little street walking neighbourhood girl. Now, go home. I may have a little surprise for you tomorrow.”
Suzanne awakened with a thumping headache and a taste like old boots in her mouth. She had come home and headed straight for her bedroom where she had downed the better part of a bottle of scotch. It had taken that much alcohol to stop her from shaking and help her to sleep.
Suzanne was used to fear. She had managed to get into a number of scrapes and dodgy situations in her lifetime. Her arrival in Darksprings had been as a result of running from a man she had embezzled in a town of on the mainland.
Nothing and no-one had ever frightened her as much as Marco Cappelli did. In the last couple of days she had begun to realise that the man danced on the edge of madness. The afternoon was dull and the light dim.
The heavy drapes of the sitting room were still closed and only the kitchen light was on. Suzanne stumbled on something, stubbing her toe. She cursed loudly as she made out a pile of books on the floor beside the sofa.
“What the fuck is this pile of rubbish?” She yelled.
Irissa had been sitting at the kitchen table studying. She stood up and switched on the sitting room light. Suzanne studied the pile of items on the floor and on the table beside Irissa’s sofa bed. Irissa cringed at the sight of her mother’s enraged face.
“I asked what this crap is. Where did you get the money for all of this? What’s going on, Irissa?” Suzanne snapped, grabbing her daughter by the shoulder and shaking her fiercely.
“I got a job at the diner. I...I bought a few things,” Irissa explained.
“I got a job at the diner...bought a few things...” Suzanne mimicked cruelly in a high pitched parody of her daughter’s voice. “You selfish little bitch! Did you think that some extra money coming into the house might help a bit? There are bills to be paid! I work my fingers to the bone to keep you and this house......” She lashed out, slapping Irissa hard across the face. Irissa staggered backwards against a kitchen counter and bruised her arm.
“I did think,” she protested. “I only spent some of the money. I left the rest on you bedside cabinet for you.”
“Only part of..... Did you think to ask what I needed. Or did you think about sensible purchases, like clothes for school, or shoes? Books? Candle? What the hell is that about? More of your stupid airy fairy nonsense. You are not right in the head, Irissa Galloway!” Suzanne screamed, hitting out at Irissa again.
Irissa turned away, sobbing hysterically. Suzanne looked sourly at her and stalked off to her bedroom to dress. When she returned Irissa was still sobbing.
“I don’t know what you are making all that noise about. I’m the one who should be crying. What I’ve gone through for you and what do I get in return....” she sighed. “Oh, give that carry on a rest!”
Irissa tried to calm herself and stop crying, aware of her mother’s eyes like daggers on her back. She grabbed a tissue and rubbed at her eyes, taking deep breaths to stop her sobs then turned around to face her mother.
Suzanne started again as soon as her daughter turned around.
“Tomorrow you can take this rubbish back to the store you got it from and get your money back, you hear me? I won’t have it in this house. You and your creepy, weird ways. Why couldn’t I have had a normal daughter?” She screamed.
Irissa stared at her, hurt and trembling. Suzanne’s fist flashed out and caught her across the cheek. Irissa turned and ran out of the door, hearing her mother screaming behind her.
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