Part 29 (1/2)

Othman pushed her backwards so she lay on the rough pine needles. He removed her underwear, ran his hands across her flat stomach, playfully pulled at her pubic hair. We'll start together,' he murmured, lying down beside her. He kissed her deeply, filling her mouth with his swollen tongue. He ma.s.saged her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, sc.r.a.ped his fingernails across her belly, pushed his fingers inside her. Owen had never excited her the way this man did. It was like he made her drunk on s.e.x, where anything was possible. As he worked dextrously at arousing her, his free hand guided her own fingers down between her legs. It no longer seemed embarra.s.sing. Soon he was kneeling upright between her spread thighs, not touching her at all. She felt like a writhing ma.s.s of exposed nerves. As she continued the process he had begun, she was aware of him casting earth upon her. Fragments of leaves and twigs fell into her open mouth. She could see his hand moving above her. The ground beneath her body felt hot and wet like mud. Sharp things dug into her spine and b.u.t.tocks. She pressed herself against them. Then Othman was pulling her hands away from herself, dragging her body up into a sitting position. She felt delirious. Now, he would take her. Waiting for it was the most exquisite pleasure.

Something moved between her open legs. Something alive.

Lily uttered a squeak, thinking of insects. Othman said, Relax, give yourself up to it.'

An invasive pressure, like a rough finger, touched her body. A moment of panic combined with her heightened sensuality. What is this?'

You have invoked the man of the forest,' Othman said in a soothing voice. Relax. I am with you.' He still held her hands, her arms stretched out before her.

Lily sat quivering, her spine aching, as the spirit of the forest took on woody, loamy, mossy flesh and rose within her. It was a phallus of earth, rising up from the floor of the hollow, as thick as the organ of a stallion. The sensation was unlike anything she could ever have imagined: not exactly painful, but strange. She felt tears running down her face as the alien thing expanded within her, as if sucking up her own juices. Then it began to move, retracting back into the earth, thrusting up into her once more. It scratched her with twigs and bark, pressed painfully against her cervix. Now, as the hurt increased, her excitement mounted. She wanted the pain, wanted to be torn apart by the enormity of the alien thing that thrust into her. She pulled her hands away from Othman's grip, grasped her own b.r.e.a.s.t.s, added her own movements to that of the forest lover. Othman was irrelevant. When the o.r.g.a.s.m came, she screamed loudly, the cry of a mating vixen. With her release, she felt the phallus crumble within her, reduced to fragments of leaf and mould. She howled again, filled with a sense of power and rage. If she stood up now, her head would look over the tree tops. She was G.o.ddess; pure female.

When Othman pushed her back onto the earth, she fought him with nails and teeth. He thrust up inside her, grinding sharp fragments into the tender flesh. She gripped his body with her thighs, snarling, clawing at his back, lunging up to bite his face. When the next o.r.g.a.s.m crested within her, it was as if a saline tide washed all the particles of earth out of her, cleansing and healing. She could concentrate on the pure aspect of pleasure without any interference of pain, however intoxicating.

The next o.r.g.a.s.m was calmer, leading her inside her own head. Here, she walked a long corridor, that seemed to be deep underground. She could pause to look at the wall paintings. They were of people performing rituals, dressed in cloaks of feathers. The corridor faded into dimness. She was losing it. Then, another spasm of release brought it back into sharp focus. There was a dark circular chamber, its perimeter hidden in shadow. All, in fact, was dark, but for a tiny blue glow in the centre of the room. Lily approached it. A ring of stones surrounded the light. Lily knelt beside them, leaned forward and blew upon the flame. It flickered slightly. She blew again. Her breath seemed to blow something away, an invisible obstruction that blocked the flame. It rose as a straight, blue luminance, casting azure light around the chamber. Lily saw humped, motionless forms clad in rags positioned around the ring of stones. Seven of them. She stood up. The chamber was fading now, and there was no further spasm of o.r.g.a.s.m to rekindle the vision. She came to herself, panting upon the floor of the hollow in the High Place, Othman heavy and motionless upon her. She managed to push him off to get her breath. He lay on his back, looking at her. His expression was unreadable. Lily didn't care. He had given her something, or had he merely been a tool for her to use? She walked around the hollow, needing to move, to expel energy. Neither she nor Othman said a word. Presently, she retrieved her clothes and dressed herself. When she began to walk down the hill, Othman jumped up and said, Do you want me to walk you back?'

She glanced behind her briefly, shook her head, raised a hand in farewell. She needed to be alone now. The forest did not frighten her. She was part of it.

Once the girl had gone, Othman lay back down upon the earth. He could sense the flame beneath him, far below. There would be a temple of course, an underground vault. But where was the entrance? He didn't think it was here on the High Place. There were only two viable options, he supposed. The church of St Shem, or Long Eden itself. Probably both. Now could be the time to gain entrance to Long Eden. Now, the guardian of the house might let him inside.

When Lily got back to the cottage, she saw there was a light on. The thought that Owen might be home somehow rea.s.sured her. That surprised her. She felt very tired now, and sore. It was odd what s.e.x could make you do, she thought. It did not seem odd to her what s.e.x had appeared to make the forest floor do: that seemed only natural. She was a Murkaster, and they had been more than ordinary people. The idea of this did not seem strange now. She had acknowledged her connection with the vanished Murkasters and accepted it. Perhaps she would tell Owen about it now.

She opened the front door and went into the kitchen, calling Owen's name. There was no reply. Perhaps he was in the parlour.

Lily uttered a shocked cry when she found Emma Manden lying on her sofa, drinking some of her strawberry wine. I hope you don't mind me letting myself in,' Emma said. But I wanted to wait for you. Was it good?'

Lily felt herself blush; Emma's remark brought reality cras.h.i.+ng back in.

I told you he would come for you tonight, didn't I?' Emma said before Lily could answer her. Are you all right?'

Yes.' Lily sat down shakily on the sofa beside Emma.

Emma lightly touched her arm. Oh, don't worry. We've all had fun up at the High Place. I know what happened to you tonight. Unfortunately, I was never strong enough to wake the flame, but then I'm not Grigori, and you are. Well, partly.'

What is Grigori?' Lily took the bottle of wine and swigged from it.

The Murkasters were Grigori,' Emma said. They were not entirely human, which makes you the same, doesn't it?'

If I'm not human, what am I?' Lily laughed a little. She didn't feel at all human at the moment.

Just something else. The Grigori are an ancient race, who have existed amongst humanity for many thousands of years, hidden, yet not hidden. They are powerful people, and possess abilities and senses humans don't have. Perhaps you have felt the pressure of that deep in your heart, Lily. I know you must have felt different to everyone else you know.'

Lily nodded wearily. Well, yes, I suppose so. Mum told us we were, anyway.' She giggled nervously. But inhuman? That's a little hard to take!'

Any harder to take than some of the other things that have been happening?' Emma asked gently. Look into your heart, Lily.'

Lily sighed deeply. I can't think at the moment. It's all too confusing. A week ago, I was an ordinary person with a fairly ordinary life. Now, my life has become full of mysteries, and I'm not myself any more.'

Emma patted her arm, then jumped up from the sofa. Don't worry about it, my dear. Let me run you a bath. You look exhausted. Then we can talk.'

Lily said nothing, watched Emma walk from the room. She heard the woman go upstairs. Of course, she would know this house. After a moment, Lily got to her feet. She felt stiff now, as if she'd been exercising furiously. It was an effort to get upstairs.

Emma came out of the bathroom, and took Lily's arm. Don't worry, you'll be fine.'

I feel...' Lily's knees gave way, but Emma broke her crumpled fall.

Come on, into the bedroom. Let's get those dirty clothes off.'

Meekly, Lily allowed the woman to take control. It reminded her of when her mother was alive, of a time when she'd come into the cottage after falling off her bike and badly grazing her legs. The disorientation. The shock. It was the same. Also, the raw soreness, although it wasn't her knees that pained her now.

When the bath was ready, Emma helped Lily limp into the bathroom. The steam rising from the water was scented with herbs. Fragments of leaves floated in the bath. Healing herbs,' Emma explained. Just get in, dear. Come on.'

The water was exactly the right temperature. Entering it was like falling into a pair of comforting arms, relaxing against a soft body. Mmmm,' Lily murmured. She wanted to sink beneath the water, but Emma held her around the shoulders, gently flicking the water over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and neck. She rubbed Lily's arms and legs, stroking away the forest dirt. There, that's better, isn't it? Shall we wash your hair?'

Emma found shampoo on a shelf next to the sink. She used the toothbrush gla.s.s - murky and unwashed - to wet Lily's hair. Lily gave herself up to the enjoyment of having her head ma.s.saged. It's like when Mum was alive,' she said in a slurred voice.

Well, didn't I tell you I was a relation of sorts?' Emma said with a bright laugh. We all need looking after sometimes.'

When Lily got out of the bath, Emma wrapped her in a towel, and led her back to the bedroom. Lily had begun to s.h.i.+ver. Is it getting cold?'

No. Lie on the bed, dear. I've brought something with me to make you feel better.' She held a small, gla.s.s pot in her hands, and was uns.c.r.e.w.i.n.g the lid. Do you know, my mother had to do this for me once upon a time. I was very young, younger than you are now. This is a special ointment. I'll let you keep it, and you can use it for a couple of days. Take off the towel, Lily, and open your legs a little. This won't take a moment.'

The ointment stung at first, but soon eclipsed the soreness with a soothing numbness. Emma sat on the edge of the bed. Now I'll get you something to drink.'

Wine,' said Lily, flapping one hand against the bed.

No,' Emma said firmly. Wine won't do you any good at all. Get into bed. I shan't be long.'

Left alone, Lily began to cry. She didn't know why, because she didn't feel sad. Everything just seemed so strange. Grigori: what were they? She thought of Ninlil and Shemyaza in the garden. They hadn't seemed entirely human either.

Emma came back carrying a tray of tea things. I don't know, my girl. You need some lessons in housekeeping, you and that brother of yours. The place is a tip!' Her words were harsh, but she was still smiling.

Owen isn't here any more,' Lily said. He...' She couldn't go on.

Oh, he'll be back!' Emma said. She took her cigarettes and lighter from a pocket on her skirt. You've no need to worry about Owen.'

What am I going to do?' Lily said. So much is happening...'

Emma lit a cigarette, exhaled. My dear, we have to work together. Basically, the situation is this. The Murkasters, being Grigori, gave certain benefits to the people of Little Moor. One of these things was an extended life span. But when they left, the benefits went with them. The flame beneath the High Place has the power to rejuvenate but once the Grigori dampened it, none of us knew how to activate it again. The Murkasters were very selfish to leave in the way they did! But now, another Grigori has come. The man you know as Peverel Othman. What he's doing here, I'm not entirely sure, but we have to use the situation to help ourselves. He seeks to control us, but we must equally control him. If he leaves us, I shall lose everything I've regained.'

Lily felt very sleepy now. It was difficult to concentrate on Emma's words. Did you know Othman was coming here? Is that why you returned to Little Moor?'

Emma laughed. Allow me to let you in on a little secret, Lily. I never left the village!'