Chapter Nine

The TV was loud, the music louder, but Fae couldn??t hear it. Her gaze was locked on the screen, on the laughing children, on the people who cared for them. Knees pulled to her chest under her white silk robe, Fae rested her chin on her folded arms. Her toes curled into the rug beneath her and she rocked a little. Solidness in her throat made it hard to swallow. She took long, open-mouthed breaths.

??It??s not fair,?? she whispered to the vacant room. A close-up of a little girl??s face lit up with glee showed how little the electronic picture box cared for her opinion of injustice. This was a cold, cruel world, and she found many things were unmoved by her misery.

??Are you moping again??? The brisk clicking of stilettos crossed the room and the TV was turned off. Andrais lifted a remote and killed the music. ??I thought you were going to read those magazines.??

??I will.?? Fae wrinkled her nose and glanced at the pile of glossy magazines Andrais had left on the coffee table days before. They were filled with naked women like the ones who served the brothers, twisted in odd positions on top of different men.

Andrais looked at the pile then at Fae. She sighed and plunked down on the divan. ??Talk to me.??

The sweet aroma of the lilac bouquet centered on the coffee table tickled Fae??s nose. As soon as she noticed it, it seemed to fill the room, too much to be contained by four walls. Fae couldn??t breathe. She pushed off the floor and rushed out into the cool night. The wind snapped at exposed flesh, clearing her mind to the deepest misery she??d ever known. She slumped onto the stoop and dropped her head to her hands.

The scrape of Andrais??s heels brought her head up. ??What did I do to be cursed with this life??? Fae pointed inside the house, in the general direction of the TV. ??Why couldn??t I be born one of them, grow into this beautiful world, cherished just for being. To have it all, to have a choice between being good or evil????

Glossy crimson waves bounced lightly when Andrais shrugged. She brought one hand up to study the fake nails she spent an hour fussing over every day. ??That??s the gist of the questions asked before the first of us fell.?? Andrais peered at her over the nails. ??You don??t remember, do you???

Fae shot to her feet and slammed a fist against her thigh. Andrais??s aloofness sometimes spurred the urge for violence. Thankfully, Fae was an exemplary student of self-control. ??I don??t even have the knowledge I was born with anymore. This useless mind holds next to nothing.??

??Well, you can fill it with whatever you choose,?? Andrais said matter-of-factly. ??You have free will. Count it as the blessing it is.??

Free will? So long as you approve? Fae dropped her gaze to hide the thoughts that likely showed on her face. Irritating as Andrais could be with her imperious commands and her obsession with her own looks, she was keeping Fae alive. And teaching her how to handle Cravis??or be handled by Cravis. Either way, Fae should be grateful??and she was??but she needed a break from the monotony of expressing gratitude.

The darkness beyond the trees called to her, offering a brief escape from the puzzle of an existence made up of mostly blank pieces. Fae took a step to surrender to it, and then hesitated. She graced Andrais with the most serene smile she could manage.

??I??ll think on what you??ve said, but???? Her tongue traced her bottom lip in the slow way she knew distracted Andrais. ??Could I go for a walk? We can continue my lessons when I return.??

Groaning, Andrais gave her a little shove. ??Go ahead. As I??ve told you, this land will keep you safe. But hurry back. I plan to teach you the price of teasing me with your tongue.??

A skip forward and Fae wrapped her arms around Andrais??s waist, kissing her quickly before spinning off the stoop. She walked backward for a few paces. ??I??m always eager to be schooled by you, Andrais. I won??t be long.??

Husky laughter followed her into the shadowy weave of the forest, and everything seemed tinted by the moon smiling through the patchy canopy above. Frostbitten grass tickled her feet as she danced around the trees, spinning with her arms out, absorbing her first taste of freedom. A bird chirped at her and she sang to it, delighted when others responded with a beautiful chorus of high, pure tones.

A branch cracked in the bush. The birds took to the sky in a fluttering rush. Fae froze, crouching behind a low bough, gasping in the sharp aroma of pine as she scanned the woods for the trespasser. It could be Andrais, impatient to????teach?? her, but she doubted it. The presence was unfamiliar.

??Hello??? a youthful voice called with a hint of fear. Fae watched the young woman step into the narrow clearing, brandishing a small knife, twisting it to and fro, her blade casting a sliver of jerky moonlight into the trees. ??Who??s there? I can hear you breathing.??

??What is your name??? Fae called from her hiding place.

The girl squinted into the darkness, tension easing from her alert stance. ??Donella. Who are you???

??Fae.?? Fae slipped into the clearing, silent as a wraith, confidence building when the girl started and retreated a few steps. She didn??t think she looked very intimidating, but her height, a hand span more than the girl??s, gave her the advantage. ??What are you doing here???

Donella brought a shaky hand up to tuck a strand of dark, curly hair behind her ear. ??This is where the party??s at tonight. Is that where you??re going???

??What party??? Fae asked, looking the girl over. She was adorably petite, with elfin features and skin almost as dark as her hair.

Green eyes wide, Donella gnawed at her plump bottom lip. ??You don??t know? I thought all the Fallen knew.??

The guileless way the girl spoke soothed Fae. She sounded much like Fae had before she??d learned the harsher realities??from the brothers, from Andrais. And her essence marked her as kin.

??I guess I??m the exception. I was never invited.?? She inched closer to the girl, finding herself obsessed with the texture of the girl??s hair. ??How did you come by this beauty???

Smiling shyly, Donella reached out, curling her fingers and dropping her hands a breath away from Fae??s own hair. ??I used to have hair like yours, and my skin was just as pale, but it didn??t suit me like it does you. My master showed me how to change it, to make my outside match who I am within.?? She lifted her hand again, caught a strand of Fae??s silken hair and wound it around her fingers. ??I??ll bring you, but promise you won??t let anyone change you. You??match.??

Fae made a face. ??I wish I had your luscious curves.?? She smoothed her hands over her sides. ??Mine are too small.??

Donella shrugged. ??Lots of women have curves. You??re delicate, but sexy.?? She covered her mouth with her hand. ??I??m sorry. I??m too forward. Everyone says so.??

??I disagree.?? Fae thrust her hand into the dark mass of the other girl??s hair, wrapping it around her hand, rubbing the smooth thickness between her fingers. ??I like your honesty and that look you are giving me. Can I kiss you???

Shocked by her own forwardness, Fae braced for rejection at best, disgust at worst. Andrais had already warned her that few were as casual with touching as Fae was. She??d been lucky so far, but surely her luck would eventually run out.

The air sizzled between them an instant before Donella stumbled up to Fae, offering her lips. ??Please.??

Fae dipped down and their lips met in a desperate, wet kiss. They laughed into each other??s mouths as they tipped off-balance and rolled into the damp undergrowth. Donella fumbled with Fae??s dress, while Fae fumbled with the fishnet shirt she couldn??t quite figure out how to get off. After Donella had slipped the dress over Fae??s breasts, she rose up on her knees to remove her own shirt. Her light brown breasts pushed against Fae??s pale ones as she dropped to reclaim her lips.

??I??ve never done this with a woman,?? Donella said, bracing her hands by Fae??s head, arching when Fae scooted down to taste the hard nipples that jutted out for her.

Fae rolled the nipple around with her tongue. ??I have. If you want, I??ll show you what to do.??

??Yes,?? Donella gasped and rolled her onto her back. Fae rose up on her knees and worked the silk skirt and panties over Donella??s hips. Donella lay on the trampled grass like a willing sacrifice, surrendering complete control to Fae. The feeling of power was heady, but Fae took the dominant role with shaky hands, her tongue the victim of her sharp little teeth. She held Donella down in the dirt and felt some of her lust recede to the shelter of her belly.

Donella didn??t notice. She mewed and curved up. Fae covered Donella??s breasts with her hands and kissed down over her ribs. She could smell the rich arousal spilling from between Donella??s thighs, even sweeter than Andrais??s. She inhaled to stir her dwindling passions. Maybe she was thinking too much. Maybe she should just act.

??I want to eat you,?? she whispered, just above the curls that covered Donella??s sex, letting her breath rustle the crisp hair. Andrais shaved, so Fae had never felt those kinds of hairs brushing against her face as she dipped into the moist, luscious warmth. She found at least her curiosity piqued.

Donella lifted her hips to Fae. ??Oh God, do it.??

Fae pressed her face between Donella??s thighs, working her lips hungrily at her pussy. The dark bush grazed her nose as she gave Donella??s sodden flesh one long lick. The juices that slicked her cheeks and lips drew wetness between her own thighs. She brought her hand up to caress slick, throbbing skin, pushing her fingers into the tight sheath, groaning when the creamy walls of Donella??s tunnel undulated. She slurped the honey that poured out and turned her head to bite into Donella??s thigh when she cried out and bucked.

A scream and more juices spilled. Donella closed her legs against Fae??s face while she withdrew her fingers. A gasp and a curse and Donella thumped her head on the ground, lying very still. Fae brought her fingers to her mouth and sucked them clean. She felt a strange, empty satisfaction, as though she??d supped simply to appease her hunger, enjoyed the meal, but yearned for a dessert that hadn??t been offered.

Donella wrenched away from Fae and sat up, a fierce light in her eyes. ??My turn.??

Air rushed out of Fae??s lungs as her back hit the ground. Donella tore at her panties, then gave up and simply pushed them aside. Three fingers strained into Fae, stretching her so abruptly Fae couldn??t help but whimper and shudder at the rough treatment. Donella??s unskilled tongue jabbed at her, teeth tugging at any flesh she could find. It was savage and raw, lacking the practice of either Travis or Andrais, but the rush quenched like cold water from a sparkling stream. It was??nice.

The novelty wore off and Fae shifted her legs, searching for that electric current that Travis and Cravis and Andrais sparked in her before climax. She couldn??t find it. She gently nudged Donella.

??Something??s wrong,?? Fae said, her tone a soft apology.

Withdrawing her hand and sitting back, Donella hugged herself. ??You??ve been spoiled by those with experience. I don??t cut it.??

??It??s not your fault.?? Fae righted her dress and adjusted her panties. ??It was lovely, truly, but I???? She stood and walked over to a craggy tree with drooping limbs to rest her head on the rough bark. She felt like a failure. ??I don??t know what happened.??

Donella dressed then stood and stretched. She clenched her jaw and shrugged. ??Well, I enjoyed myself. Maybe we can try again sometime.??

Fae smiled but was uninspired by the suggestion. Her body was stiff, her muscles tense, and the juncture of her thighs throbbed with disappointment. She wanted to go home. Andrais would take care of her.

??Do you still want to go to the party??? Donella didn??t look at her as she asked. But there was a note of pleading to her words.

No! Fae??s body cried. But she approached Donella and took her hand. ??If you still want to bring me.??

??Of course!?? Donella said brightly. She drew Fae to her side and led her through the woods, swinging their clasped hands. ??I??m so happy I found you. I??ve been the youngest of the Fallen for so long????

Latching on to the change of subject, Fae squeezed Donella??s hand to get her attention. ??Can I ask how it happened???

??Sure!?? Donella??s eyes sparkled, as though she was about to tell a joke. ??I??d been around for a few years, mostly watching, trying to be good. But sometimes, just to stir things up a bit, I??d let people see me. They??d stare with their eyes so wide, it was almost like being worshiped. I could see how I glowed in their eyes, and even without wings, they knew what I was. One day an old lady got so scared that she ran out into the street, in front of a truck. I got her out of the way just in time, but that got me in trouble. No one knew I??d been seen, apparently a lot of angels do that ??by accident,?? but touching is a big no-no. I was told I??d get one last chance.?? She skipped over an exposed root and clasped her hands over her chest. ??Last summer, this guy came and dragged me into an alley. I was scared ??cause I??d seen the horrible things men could do to women, but part of me was excited. He had me stripped before he asked if I wanted to be fucked. I thought it was weird that he asked; he could have done whatever he wanted without my permission. I found out later that a demon who rapes an angel forfeits his or her life. So I could have said no and he would have left me alone. But I wanted him to do it. He hurt me, he was brutal, didn??t care that I was a virgin. But it was thrilling, you know??? Donella glanced at Fae then continued without waiting for an answer. ??He kept me for a while, then traded me off to one of his friends when he got tired of me. I didn??t mind being used so long as I was being touched.?? She slowed and there were shadows in her eyes. Fae wondered if Donella even knew those men treating her so despicably had scarred her. The shadows vanished as quickly as they??d come. ??But I ended up alone, with nowhere to go. That??s when I was invited to the party.??

??What is this ??party????? Fae asked, ducking under a branch that cut across the path.

??Oh, you??ll love it. It??s wild.?? Donella sped up, telling Fae they were close. Suddenly she stopped and pointed. ??There it is.??

Donella was pointing at a cave. Fae frowned. She??d pictured something more along the lines of the brothers?? club. The cave looked dead.

Dropping her hand, Donella straightened her skirts and took a deep breath. Then she charged in, leaving Fae to follow.

The mouth of the cave was the perfect size to admit a body. The rough rise broke the tree-lined horizon, giving the rest of the forest a disembodied look. Moonlight cast one last mournful ray through the canopy, and the floor of the cave flared briefly. Fae crouched and squinted at the dirt. It was littered with glitter.

Unnatural, and strangely alluring. Fae found herself creeping closer to the cave, like she was about to encroach on a sacred, forbidden place. She tossed her inhibitions aside but not so far that they couldn??t be retrieved. She had to take a look, and then she??d hurry home and let Andrais punish her for her impudence, for her disobedience. Her damp panties clung to her, the heat of longing chasing away the cool air that swooped between her thighs. Quick, in and out, and she??d be done.