Chapter Three

Lyonesse - The Other Side of the Null

"Quon! Are you listening?" Jeremy released a huff, his irritation apparent as he came to stand behind the other man. A quick look over Quon's shoulder showed why he was being ignored. The other man was staring into a silver bowl, it shined in the light like a mirror; inside of the shallow middle was a small layer of purplish silver fluid. According to the oracle that had given it to Quon the looking glass would show many things: the past, the present and sometimes the future.

A quick glance into the fluctuating waters had him swinging his puzzled gaze back to Quon's expressionless face. "And of all the things you could see you decide to look at this?"

Quon was watching the moments he an Elisa met on her parent's small vineyard. A sad flickered across his lips, he could still remembered sitting in his bean bag chair, reading to her. At that time he'd had no idea why Roderick had chosen that place for them, or her to be his friend; all he did remember was the feelings of wellbeing that came with her presence.

"The future is cloudy," responded Quon, emotionlessly, never looking away from the brilliant fluid as it showed him pointing out some of the harder words to her.

Jeremy stared down quietly for several moments as if in thought. "What about mine?"

"It's impossible for me to do. The future changes with each breath we take," mumbled Quon reaching his index finger into the dish. He gently touched the rippling fluid and the images changed. "The oracle was grandstanding to an audience." The image of an 8 year old Quon disappeared and new images took shape. "I believe we will learn a lot from our past though."

"Like how to get Elisa to forgive you," grumbled Jeremy staring down at the scene as it unfolded in the waters.

****

Hungry.

That's the only thing that really registered in Quon's mind as he sat in the little cottage on the Chance Vineyard. His stomach felt like it was caving in; the need for substance was gnawing at him. A loud growl and twisting pain spurred him into action.

He started to look around for the bowl that Elisa and Willis kept in the room with little bite size pieces of chocolate. Nothing in the quaint little cottage had changed since Elisa's mom had left with Roderick; the walls were still the same warm tan color and the entry halls' wooden floors were still covered in multicolored hand knotted rugs.

Quon started to stand; he decided to head back to the cottage. Even with Roderick's screw up Quon had decided to stay in the human realm. He'd explained to the king that he still had a lot to learn and his leaving could impact their world. It was all bullshit but it worked and he was allowed to stay with minimum supervision.

Standing he felt his phone vibrate inside his jeans and he released a sigh. He quickly read the message from Elisa; she was running late and hope he could stay for a little bit longer. Felicity was going to be stopping by to drop off a sundress she borrowed and Elisa really wanted it back.

Quon dragged his hand through his hair and headed for the kitchen. Looking around he located a loaf of bread, a half empty jar of chunky peanut butter and a small jar of apricot jam. He quickly made the sandwich and devoured it slightly satisfied when it took the edge off his unrelenting hunger. Just as he was about to throw the paper towel away and look for something else he heard a loud knock on the screen door.

"That must be Felicity," thought Quon out loud heading to the front door.

"Hey lover boy," smiled Felicity bumping pass him. "Where's my girl?"

Quon turned to see Felicity making her way toward Elisa's bedroom and slowly followed. "She's at the grocery store. She should be back and a few."

"Okay," hummed Felicity making a weird face as she plopped down on the bed, "I'll wait. She said she wanted me to braid her hair."

Quon shrugged and turned toward the door.

"Don't leave silly," laughed Felicity leaning forward. Her tilt accentuated her small firm breast in a tight pink tank top.

"I'll wait in the living room," frowned Quon averting his eyes so he wasn't staring.

"Are you afraid of little ole me," smirked Felicity jokingly.

Quon gave Felicity a once over. At a little under 5'2 and 100 lb; she wasn't really his type. His overseer Miguel had a thing for Asian women the smaller and more doll like the better. Felicity was all breast; she lacked the hips, ass, and definition he liked about Elisa. Felicity was as gorgeous like one of those k-pop singers but when he looked at her all he could imagine was starting a fire as their pelvises banged together. "You're kidding right," joked Quon sitting down on the far end of the bed.

"What cologne is that," asked Felicity shifting toward him.

"I'm not wearing any," frown Quon standing up. "You know what I'm gonna go ahead and wai-." His words were cut off as Felicity surprised him by grabbing him around the waist. In the blink of an eye her mouth was covering his and she was sucking on his tongue hungrily. Before he knew it their clothes were off and he was sliding into her warm tight body with her nails digging into his back. The hunger that had been gnawing at him diminished to manageable portions with each stroke. He had no idea how much time had passed as he thrusted into her willing body.

"Filly! Sorry, I lost track of time but I have to tell you that Quon and I-." Elisa voice trailed off as she walked into her bedroom.

A sinking feeling engulfed Quon as Elisa voice penetrated the thick fog and reality hit with the force of a ton of bricks. It felt is if the wind had been knocked from his lungs. Here he was in his girlfriend's bed, on top of the pink and red dress with Felicity beneath him. His engorged dick slowly deflated as he looked over his shoulder.

"Oh my God," gasped Elisabeth her expression livid with anger. "You sons of bitches get the fuck out," shrieked Elisabeth crossing the room to grab Felicity by her long black hair. "You skank ass whore," she screamed into the shocked girl's face.

Felicity's skin was already pale from Quon draining some of her life force, yet some how she paled even further under her golden tan. Her lust crazed brown eyes cleared slowly until she stood staring at Elisa for several shocked seconds.

Slowly Felicity's eyes widened and a flush crept up her neck to her cheeks. "Elisa," she screeched. "Oh God! I can't explain," she cried trying in vain to pick up her clothes. " I- I," she stuttered pointing toward herself and then Quon. "I-I d-don't -."

The disbelief on Elisa's face was enough to make Quon cringe. But it was soon replaced by a calmness that chilled him to the bones, "Neither of you need to explain. I just need you to get the fuck out my house and never talk to me again! And for you," Elisa turned to stare with contempt at Quon. "I need you to pack your shit and join her by getting out. Not just out of my house but off my dad's property you fucking son of a bitch."

Quon tugged his blue and red flannel boxers up and over his narrow hips never once lifting his eyes from the floor. He knew exactly what got into Felicity and him but he didn't think now was the time to even try to explain that a demon made them do it.

"You know what," growled Elisa after several minutes of neither Quon or Felicity moving. She turned on her heel exiting the room only to return moments later with a butchers knife. "Get the fuck out," she screeched waving the knife toward both of them. "Effective now neither of you are welcome in my life"

Quon watched as felicity ran out the room; she had snot and tears streaming down her face.

"Elisa," whispered Quon cringing on the inside. The look in her brown eyes was cold while her face was twisted into a feral mask.

Elisa raised the knife and lunged toward him missing his arm by a few inches as he moved. "You fucking bastard! I hope you catch a disease," she screamed her words almost illegible because of her tears.

"Elisa," moaned Quon with his hands out in front of him. "Please I can explain," pain like he'd never felt before engulfed him causing his body to shake. The last thing he wanted to do was leave but he knew nothing good would come of him staying. "I'm leaving," he sighed.

Quon didn't want the knife plunged into him while he put on his shirt so he left with it in his hand. He felt like shit as he jammed the key into the ignition. To say he messed up was an understatement; he thought he had his incubus side under control. Why now when he was so close? Why now did it have to rear it's ugly head?

The buildings on Maple Road whizzed by but Quon could care less as he drove out of the small town. In all his years of living he'd never cried; not once. Not when he was being sent to the human realm by his father as a child, not when he received word his mother died, not when Roderick had betrayed him. Quon had come to the conclusion that he didn't cry; but at this moment tears streamed down his face and he couldn't make them stop. The pain in his chest was unbearable.

It wasn't long before Quon was pulling into the tree line driveway of his overseer and protector, Miguel.

***

"Damn," frowned Jeremy glumly shaking his head. "Of all the things you could have looked at you chose that," wondered Jeremy in confusion.

Quon tossed the shiny tray on the chair sloshing the liquid onto the seat. He smiled dejectedly, "that's the moment I'd give anything to rewrite. I should've came back when I first started filling the change but instead I thought I had it under control."

"I don't envy you," admitted Jeremy honestly. "The succubus was on your mom's side right?"

"Yeah," frowned Quon not wanting to talk about the taint of his blood. His family's lineage included water sprites, goblins, fairies and succubus with a smattering of vampire. He really thought he dodged a bullet when at 14 he didn't show any signs of being a vampire like his uncle and grandfather. It wasn't until he was about 17 when he noticed an all consuming hunger and it wasn't for blood like he'd hoped.

"She'll love you again once you get a chance to explain," insisted Jeremy taking the dry seat across from him. "Just sit her down and explain." Jeremy paused as he thought something over, "Or you could just hit her with that incubus whammy."

Quon stared deadpanned at Jeremy's little joke before he released a breath. "Yeah cause I can imagine it now. I'll sit her down and explain that ⅛ of me is succubus and it overrode my common sense making me sleep with her best friend in her bed," stated Quon sarcastically. "I can see that working out well don't you?"

Jeremy lip pursed as he fought a grin, "Even though you know she hates you, why did you say you wanted her to be there? You could have just as easily said the child."

"Because," bit out Quon jumping to his feet. "Where are we with the humans?"

"Oh we changing the conversation," chuckled Jeremy. "Marcus and I decided that we'll set up two colonies for them. We'll hand pick 500 to stay and the rest will be returned unharmed to the human realm," breathed Jeremy scratching his head annoyed.

Quon frowned, "That's not what we agreed upon."

"When we woke a few of them they became violent. Several were injured but none severely."

"Any casualties," asked Quon nonchalantly checking his watch.

"Not of our kind," stated Jeremy as they started to the door. "Two humans are dead though," he snorted. "The dumb asses attacked a halfling."

Quon shook his head on a grimace. "That sounds," Quon hesitated, "not good."

"It wasn't," scowled Jeremy. "They attacked Nhi."

Quon nodded in understanding. "He scared the shit out of them," stated Quon on a tired exhale.

"And you know it," chuckled Jeremy pointing toward a portal that would take them to where the humans were. "Marcus and I have decided to send them back when we get the kids and Elisa."

Quon shoulders rose in a shrug, "Why? It's not like we plan on interacting with them again after this." He didn't wait for a response before he stepped through the black vortex appearing in an area larger than the throne room to see humans huddled together in fear. "Why them?"

"They have rare blood types and unique physiology," stated Jeremy dispassionately. "Since we are doing this I thought it best to appease those that like to mingle with their kind."

Quon frowned as he took in a group of small children and shook his head. "Make sure that families stay together when you do this, Jeremy. It's not right for us to split them up. We don't want moms and/or dads here and the kids sent back or vice versa."

"Hmm," frowned Jeremy showing that never crossed his mind. "With everything going on I can't believe I didn't consider that." Turning Jeremy barked out the order that families were to stay together regardless of blood type.

"That's sure not to scare them any further," laughed Quon sardonically when he saw several women shrink away from the soldiers and start to cry. "I think you should try using a softer approach," added Quon with a smile pulling at his lips. "As a matter of fact why don't we keep it to single men and women with no children who want to stay?"

Jeremy heaved a sigh looking at the people they'd already separated from the group. "That sounds even better," nodded Jeremy waving for a senior guard to come over. "So," stated Jeremy squaring his shoulders. "We've changed our minds -"

"Again," whined the soldier signalling for everyone to stop.

Jeremy gave a curt nod, "Only single females and males over 16 but no older than 45."

"Put special emphasis on blood type and physiology," added Quon. "And if you have issues with your orders changing please let me know."

"No sir," stated the man walking away shouting the new orders.

Quon sniffed in displeasure at the guards retreating back. "This way we have willing people that are capable of helping start a new settlement."

"And what about people that meet the criteria that don't want to stay," frowned Jeremy turning to watch as the people were once again grouped together.

"With all those stupid books and movies out romanticizing vampires and werewolves we'll be fine," snickered Quon watching as three girls raised their hands enthusiastically when asked if they wanted to stay. "See," smirked Quon indicating the girls that were about 18 or 19 years old.

"Wow," remarked Jeremy watching in disbelief as a few teenagers both male and female raised there hands. "What are they expecting?"

Quon chuckled, "To be the mate of an alpha or vampire king."

Jeremy laughed as he shook his head at the nonsense Quon had just said. "Silly humans those don't exist."

"Shh," smirked Quon bringing his finger over his mouth. "You don't want them to hear you. It'll dash their hopes and dreams of living their fairytale."

"They're a bunch of idiots," frowned Jeremy shaking his head as he walked away.

Writer′ s NoteI had the story as freeium but decided to change it to free instead. Sorry if you had it saved in your library only for it to disappear. :-DRadish for writersCopyright © 2015-2016 Radish Media, Inc.