kickbackkanzaki

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Warnings: Smut (18+), drinking, drug use, mention of past assault, physical altercation, unprotected intercourse (p in v), swearing, possessive/toxic traits, rough sex.

Eddie slipped the final joint into line with its brothers then closed the cassette tape cover. Usually when he made the sojourn to the community college he would take an entire bag of product but this trip was social.

A friend of yours was performing in a concert this weekend and had invited you up for the night. You and Eddie had done a few day trips when you'd played a competition or needed a break from Hawkins but this was the first overnighter and Wayne felt compelled to be avuncular.

"Remember what I told you," he'd advised Eddie that morning when he'd returned from shift.

"I wont screw up," Eddie assured him.

Ever since the dinner date Wayne had been reminding Eddie to be smart with you. He didn't want to see a repeat of his brother's mistakes or a nephew with a broken heart.

The unmistakeable sound of the rusty Mustang in low gear came through the window so Eddie tossed the cassette tape into his duffel bag and headed for the door.

He was down the stairs before you had a chance to knock and twirled you in a hug.

"Ready to hit the road baby?" he asked enthusiastically after a kiss. "I brought the tunes."

"Robin's shotgun," you explained and started for the parked car, "so she picks the music. You can hang in the back with her friend."

Eddie peered through the rear window and identified the passenger by his hair.

"Is that Steve Harrington?"

"Yep. Robin says he's a good hang so I let him take the empty seat."

"I thought Red was coming?"

The original plan for the weekend was to include Max to show her the good things that came after high school. To prove the cliques and conformity she endured now would end after senior year.

"She was but her Mum heard 'community college' and said 'Hell No.' She thinks we'll be fornicating and getting high all weekend," you explained with some disappointment.

"Not all weekend surely?" Eddie quipped and smacked your arse playfully.

"I'll give you meal breaks," you said charitably and winked before opening the driver's door.

Eddie tossed his duffel in the boot smirking then jumped in the back seat.

"Hey man," Steve greeted him with a friendly nod and Eddie grunted in response.

From what he remembered of Harrington he was a popular jock working his way through the girls and tormenting the nerds. Not exactly someone he wanted to road trip with.

Still it was your Mustang so you made the rules.

"What's the plan baby?" Eddie asked so he didn't have to make small talk with Steve.

"We'll meet my pal then Robin wants to look over their Art program and it might be worth talking to their Intake Department for Steve," you ran through the loose itinerary as the car rolled past the neighbouring trailers.

"What about you?" Steve asked.

"She's going to Ivy League," Robin told him before putting on a pop tape that made Eddie cringe.

You laughed blithely at that remark before you replied.

"I'm a chess player, we don't go to college. We drink yourselves to death or blow our brains out before thirty."

"Which way are you leaning?" Steve asked a little unnerved by your morbidity.

"Maybe both."

"Seriously, you're not looking at any colleges?"

"The idea doesn't really appeal," you answered with honesty. "All I've ever done is school. It might be refreshing to do something different."

"Well minimum wage isn't fun is all I'm saying," Steve remarked and let the topic drop.

Eddie looked out the window so no one could see his little smile of triumph. Your lack of college plans was good news for him.

Since your wild night at the playground Eddie had been formulating his plan to leave Hawkins with you. He knew you were too logical to just hit the road without a map and the five hundred in his account wouldn't stretch far so he'd been brainstorming a sound strategy.

Corroded Coffin were dedicated to their Tuesdays at the Hideout but the other members were being ushered towards further study and employment by their parents. If the band was going to continue after this year it would be because Eddie used their homemade banner for a new formation in a bigger city.

He'd looked into chess tournaments too. Not all of them offered big prize money but most states held an annual one and if you both squeezed your pennies maybe you could fly on a budget airfare to compete internationally. You were good enough.

Some unskilled employment would be necessary until he cracked the music scene, no band ever got their break overnight, but Eddie was willing to endure it if it gave him a shot.

The alternative was playing it safe by staying in Hawkins and he'd seen what this town did to its lifetime residents. Slowly sucked the soul out of them until Tupperware parties and work picnics became social highlights.

He knew you'd have hesitations about leaving your dad but Eddie bargained if he could catch you in a good enough mind space you'd agree.

Someone with your overcalculating brain needed the excitement of a party, a joint and a decent bottle of wine to throw caution to the wind and jump on the Munson bandwagon.

So he needed this weekend to go without a hitch to prove the two of you could survive together.

You and Robin chatted for most of the ninety minute drive while the backseat boys lapsed into an easy chill. Having no common ground they didn't attempt conversation watching the passing landscape instead.

The Mustang slowed to suburban speeds as your destination neared and you peered at the house numbers until you found what you sought.

You parked outside an honest but unloved house and lead the group onto the veranda where you rang the bell.

A gorgeous Viking opened the door and crushed you against his naked torso so tightly your spine popped. He had an anvil for a jawline, long black hair tied in a ponytail and bulging muscles tattooed with rune symbols.

You both made noises of delight and animated chatter while the other three stared dumbfounded until you remembered they were there.

"Trav these are my friends Robin and Steve," you pointed to each in turn and Travis gave them both bone crunching hugs. "Guys this is my friend Travis."

You then put your hand in Eddie's and pulled him closer to your older friend like a child scared to approach a pony at the fair.

"This is my boyfriend Eddie," you introduced him and Eddie thrust his hand out before he could be hugged.

"Hello mate," Travis said jovially and shook Eddie's hand with an enthusiasm that wasn't returned.

Eddie took in the six and a half feet of sculpted muscles, perfect smile and bright blue eyes and decided he disapproved. Eddie didn't like being dwarfed, outmatched or upstaged and in under a minute Travis had done all three.

Your entire focus was on Travis as he invited his guests in and sat them in the kitchen while he prepared refreshments.

So you didn't notice Eddie's eyes studying your expression for any hint of amor or collusion as you chatted.

"Not to love ya and leave ya but I gotta throw a shirt on and get to class," Travis said after he'd prepped the hot drinks and passed around a pack of biscuits. "I'll leave a set of keys for you guys by the door, mi casa es su casa."

"Thanks Trav," you said and he patted your back before leaving the kitchen. "We'll see you at the concert."

It was decided after tea you'd walk to the campus and check out the art exhibition after nominating Steve to clear the dishes. The clean air and pleasant walk after the long drive supplied some natural endorphins and in your good mood you assumed Eddie's tight grip on your hand was affection.

"I thought you said Travis was a chess friend?" Eddie finally spoke when you were wandering around the student gallery half an hour later.

"No we met at a tournament his friend was playing at," you corrected absently and tilted your head at the canvas you were examining.

"Then what?" Eddie pushed.

His surliness was unusual so you peeled your eyes from the painting to give him a concerned look.

"You ok?"

"Fine. Tell me about Travis," Eddie demanded.

"I had some trouble and Trav helped me out," you said simply.

Had Eddie been thinking clearly he would have noticed your elusiveness but he wasn't.

He was jealous.

"Did he help you with his penis?"

A few feet away Steve and Robin ducked behind a sculpture like infantrymen sheltering from an incoming explosive.

Your eyes bulged in disbelief and rounded on Eddie like a dueller about to fire.

"What the fuck did you just say?" your low hiss was scarier than any shout could have been and Eddie knew he'd irrecoverably fucked up.

"I'm sorry," Eddie thought apologising quickly placate you. "I shouldn't have asked that."

"Too fucking right!" your voice was rising with outrage and a few gallery goers looked your way. "I don't ask where your genitals have been but you assume I whore around with my friends! Get fucked Munson!"

Eddie reached for you but you threw your hands up in warning and he withdrew.

"Do me a favour," you dropped your voice back to the angry hiss to avoid a spectacle. "Keep the fuck away from me."

You stormed off to the ceramics display and Eddie stayed rooted to the floor. Robin and Steve cautiously crept out of their shelter and after a second of surveying Robin followed you.

Steve hung back and looked at Eddie with an expression that articulated his predicament.

He was screwed.

"Give her a minute," Steve advised and Eddie obeyed. Listening to someone else might serve him better than his own judgement right now.

You shunned Eddie for the rest of the afternoon and whenever he got close he could feel an aura of rage radiating from your skin. Robin stuck to your side trying to distract you with campus highlights and light conversation but you'd always lapse back into brooding.

Steve didn't force Eddie to talk but kept a close orbit around the metalhead incase he had to prevent a doomed reconciliation attempt. No matter how repentant Eddie might be feeling, there would be no successful peace negotiations until you were in a gentler temper.

Travis' concert was held that night at the campus bar where the staff didn't ask Steve for an ID when he ordered a round of drinks. Travis found an empty table for your party then went backstage, if he'd seen the Berlin Wall erected between yourself and Eddie he didn't say so.

Much to everyone's surprise when Travis reappeared he was carrying a cello and followed by three other string musicians. Eddie and Steve swapped a look of dismay bracing themselves for a boring night of classical symphony when Eddie recognised the first few bars.

"Is that?" Steve asked in his ear.

"Ride the Lightning," Eddie answered as his interest perked.

He looked over and saw you watching the quartet with undivided attention as you sipped your wine. Your interest in metal music was only passing despite Eddie's attempts to covert you so friend or not, you wouldn't drive two hours to listen to Metallica covers.

Unless it was for someone else.

'Fuck,' Eddie groaned mentally realising the whole weekend had been set up for him.

While he'd been orchestrating his own plans to convince you into leaving Hawkins you'd been planning your own surprise. Remorse turned the beer in Eddie's throat bitter and he made a pinched face like someone had booted him in the guts.

Eddie reached for the hand resting in your lap and braced himself for a possible violent reaction.

You permitted the touch and squeezed his long fingers before letting them drop. You were mellowing but still bearing a grudge.

Still, Eddie thought as a little ember started to glow, there was hope.

Later that night Travis and his housemate Samantha brought half the bar back to the house to continue the music and libations. His cello rested in the living room corner while he chatted to you on the couch where you sipped a glass of red.

Eddie had passed around the joints from his cassette case then retreated to the kitchen where he could watch the party from the counter.

Robin was sitting on some beanbags with Samantha and her friends from the college's feminist group while Steve slipped in and out of groups.

Steve was at total ease, parties were one of the few settings he excelled in. He made his way around the living room pitching in on strangers' conversations here and there and making people laugh.

"You're like Norman Bates man," he said retrieving more beer from the fridge. "Stop spying and go talk to her."

"Do you think it's safe?" Eddie asked glumly. He had decided to stop hating Steve on the principal of being a popular jock.

"I don't think she'll kill you with so many witnesses," Steve answered in his unique brand of wisdom. "Though I can't for the life of me understand why you said what you did."

"I was jealous," Eddie confessed miserably and flicked a pretzel across the counter passive aggressively. "I took one look at Travis with his Calvin Klein good looks and freaked. I couldn't stand the idea she might want someone better than a weed dealing failure."

"Jealously is a powerful thing my man," Steve adopted a sage tone and clasped Eddie's shoulder. "One minute you're climbing in a girl's bedroom window and the next you're defacing a movie theatre with spray paint."

"Dude that sounds oddly specific," Eddie gave his mentor an odd look.

"Never mind," Steve said shaking his head. "My point is jealously makes you do dumb things. Just go and apologise before she realises she can do better."

"Maybe she has done better."

"Travis?" Steve asked with a little surprise. "Nah you're safe man."

"How do you know?"

"She and Robin were talking about it at the bar when they thought I couldn't hear," Steve opened the cutlery draw and dug around until he found a bottle opener. "After some big chess thing a bunch of players were partying and this creep from MIT couldn't take the hint to piss off. Travis caught the arsehole sleazing all over your girl and threw him out a closed window. It was a ground level apartment but still, pretty bad arse."

Eddie wasn't sure if he could loathe himself anymore than he did in that moment. Not only had he colossally screwed up with you but he'd spent the whole day hating a great guy.

He covered his face with his large hands and groaned into them to vent his humiliation. Steve was right, he had to apologise even if you didn't forgive him. It was the right thing to do.

Across the room you'd somehow gone from discussing Travis' pharmacology studies to Russians.

"All their athletes are pumped up on performance drugs, why do you think they boycotted the last Olympics?" Travis asked conspiratorially.

"Numerous political and cultural tensions with the rest of the world?" you suggested trying not smile at his conspiracy theories.

"Because their piss glows. Here I made you a sample for your next big match."

Travis pushed a tiny bottle full of white powder into your palm and you peered at it confused. Your house was full of your father's medications but none of them were unmarked or sold in doses this small.

"What is this?" you asked suspiciously.

"I don't have a name for it yet but I put it together from some old wartime amphetamine recipes," Travis said with pride. "This shit can get you off your back to charge a tank with six bullets in your chest, just rub some on your gums."

"This has what to do with chess exactly?" you asked with increasing concern.

"A bit of this and you'll be thinking faster than any super computer," Travis promised and tapped his nose.

"I can't caught with this shit!" you hissed pushing the untested substance back into his hand. "I'll be playing chess for smokes in prison!"

"Just keep it," Travis' massive hand closed around yours. "Payment for the joints your boyfriend brought. You just might need a boost next tournament."

"What joints?" you asked and suddenly the supplier appeared.

"Hey man," Travis held out his hand and this time Eddie took it amicably.

"Just wanted to say that was some bad arse playing tonight," he said with sincere respect. "I didn't think you would shred a cello like that."

"Mozart taught me to play but it was Metallica who taught me to rock," Travis said and stood up. "Take a seat buddy and I'll bring you a new one."

Eddie let him take the empty bottle from his hand and Travis wove his way through the crowd to the kitchen. You had found something in the opposite direction to look at and Eddie knew he was still in trouble.

"Can I sit?" he asked tentatively.

"Sure," you grumbled.

You were stuck with him until you got back to Hawkins so might as well keep it civil until then.

Eddie sat on the vacated couch cushion and kept a polite ten centimeter gap between you like a couple of church kids. He hated not being able to pull you under his arm like when you watched TV at his place but he couldn't force your forgiveness.

Desperate for a way in he looked over the strange wooden board on the coffee table. It was covered in tiny black and white tiles that made a pattern Eddie couldn't figure.

"This looks pretty cool, what is it?" he asked as he ran this fingers through a pot of small round tiles.

"Igo, ancient Asian game. It's about taking territory."

Your answer was snappy but at least you were talking to him.

"Is it as hard as chess?"

"Harder."

"Trav seems like a cool dude," Eddie took a bold leap into sensitive territory and braced himself.

He was afraid if you looked at him with the withering contempt you had in the gallery he'd melt from the inside out.

"You guys have a lot in common that's why I wanted you to meet," you said bluntly and finally looked at him.

Eddie could see you were tired, which could have been the wine, but he suspected you were drained from the fury you'd been carrying all day.

He hated being the cause of that. You'd been so relieved and upbeat to be free of Hawkins and your incumbrances for a little while and he'd set it all ablaze.

"You could have just told me about the creep trying to get into your pants," Eddie said gently.

"Gee, sorry I didn't want to recall attempted rape," you replied sarcastically as an old hurt burned. "It was kind of horrifying."

Just mentioning the experience made you smell the nauseating aftershave the fucker had lathered himself in and feel his bruising fingers ripping your tights.

When you'd robbed him of his championship title he'd tried to seduce you but when that failed he figured forcing you would prove his superiority.

"You're right, you're right I'm an arsehole, sorry," Eddie could see he was distancing you again and apologised to keep you close.

"You're not an arsehole Eddie you just don't think," you groaned exasperated and rubbed your forehead. "I honestly don't know what's gotten into you today. It's not like you to be so moody and nasty."

"Being in love with you makes me stupid."

Your neck nearly snapped it whipped around so fast.

"I can rephrase that!" Eddie blurted and poised himself to tackle you in case you ran.

"Don't. Don't say anything."

All you could do was stare horrified. Your brain was flying faster than a master's chess game as you tried to comprehend what Eddie had just told you. Maybe you'd misheard or his humour had degraded into poor taste?

No, he'd meant what he'd said. Eddie's eyes could never hide the truth.

"Can I top you up?"

Travis had returned holding a beer in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.

"Leave the bottle," you ordered without taking your eyes off Eddie.

"Ok," Travis said very slowly and retreated to the safety of other friends.

"I fucked up," Eddie just didn't have the good sense to stay quiet. "Tell me how I put this right baby."

The world had just tilted and you needed a crutch until you could untangle the mess in your brain. Something you could control.

"I want to play chess."

"Yep."

Eddie ran out to the car and got your travel board, you never left home without a chess set. His fingers fumbled the pieces multiple times when he tried to set them up so you snatched them away and arranged them like you were on autopilot.

You said nothing the rest of the night, not to Eddie, not to anyone. Your ruthless slaughter of Eddie and other unwitting opponents attracted a crowd but you hardly noticed your head was such a swirl.

At some point the liquor ran out and Travis' friends headed home leaving your travelling party to retire.

"Ok Steve you're on the couch, Robin you're sharing with Samantha and you two lovers can have the mattress in the laundry. Good night all."

Travis gave a yawn with an exhausted wave and your friends exchanged weary goodnights going their separate ways. Eddie took you under his arm guiding you towards the laundry where Travis had thrown some spare pillows and blankets on an old mattress.

You still hadn't spoken but your friends had assumed it was down to the long emotional day and booze. Eddie suspected you were too addled by his confession to construct anything sensible so let you be and started stripping once the door closed.

"How dare you," your sudden voice was low and full of accusation.

Eddie stopped mid undress and fixed on you like an animal cornered by a hunter.

"How dare you say I love you like that."

"Baby what's wrong?" Eddie let his shirt fall to the ground and stood straight to assess you. It wasn't like yourself to get aggressive without provocation.

"Isn't it enough to stay how we are?" you demanded and in a rush pinned him to the wall by his shoulders. "Why are you trying to ruin it all?"

Eddie caught your hands and flattened them against his chest so you couldn't gouge him.

"You selfish fucker!" you spat and tried to pull away but Eddie held you tight.

Your sudden violence scared him and had to stop before you woke the whole house. If the others saw you like this they'd call the paramedics to pump your stomach or sedate you.

Eddie dropped his knees on the mattress and tugged at your captive wrists. You resisted but he engaged a strength he never used making you fall forward.

"Cut this out!" Eddie growled as you tried to knock him sideways with your shoulder.

Using his long legs to his advantage Eddie straddled you using his weight to pin you in place.

"Cut it out now!" he repeated as you bucked against his pelvis and he pulled your wrists apart to pin them along your sides.

You felt like a beached fish with no limbs to help you escape. You grit your teeth and thrashed under his weight ignoring his pleas for calm.

Eddie was growing desperate, he would never hurt you but nothing he said was getting through. It was like you'd gone somewhere beyond reason and could only communicate with force.

He had to snap you out of this mania but he didn't have cold water to throw and refused to slap you. A primal solution came to Eddie and before thinking it through bit your neck with something close to a snarl.

You yelped and kicked your legs in response. Eddie had left hickeys on you before and you'd given him a fair share but the ferocity was new.

The million screaming thoughts firing through your brain like lubricated machine gun rounds suddenly silenced and your skin flushed hot as if his bite had injected a drug.

Your brilliant grandmaster mind devolved under the force of Eddie's teeth and a single undeniable need roared for fulfillment.

"Ravage me," you gasped with ferocity.

Eddie obeyed without hesitation.

He released the raw skin from between his teeth and let go of your wrists so he could pull your pants open. His cock had grown rock hard against your struggling arse and his stoked temper made his hands rough.

Your jeans and underwear came down in one pull and you spread your knees as Eddie hastily undid his belt. He hit the tumble drier with his foot in an attempt to kick his pants off then left them caught around his left foot.

The wine had made you wet and the beer made him sensitive so you both cried out when you connected. Who gave a fuck if everyone heard?

Without a latex shield you could feel every contour along the gentle curve of Eddie's cock. You held yourself tight to imprint his shape against your walls and heard him growl approvingly.

Eddie held you still for a few moments while you revelled in the sensation of fulfillment and he stayed in the bliss of you warm wetness. Without the condom he imagined you both blending together inside you as if your warm, sensitive skin was permeable.

What you were doing was reckless and beyond stupid but between the alcohol and emotional distress neither of you were thinking with your brains.

"Bad girl," Eddie grunted and reached under your shirt, his nails making red lines in your skin.

Your breasts comically fell out of their cups as Eddie unclipped the bra catch and roughly pushed your clothes over your head. His dry guitarist's hands squeezed the mounds possessively and you turned your head to nip a tattoo on his arm.

Eddie's right hand abandoned your breast and pulled your hair hard making you loosen your bite. A slight trepidation passed over you at his unusual roughness and you tried to reclaim control by disconnecting.

But Eddie wasn't having it.

You felt his palms move to your hips and he pulled you back against him hard. Your slickness lubricated the thrust but the sudden slam yanked a startled gasp out of you.

"You're not going anywhere," Eddie commanded in a dark voice.

His hand found your hair again and he wound the strands around his fingers like reins before thrusting into you again. You fell onto your forearms and the new angle allowed both of you to slip a fraction deeper into bliss.

Eddie pounded into you hard and fast holding you prisoner by your hair. Your mouth hung open in silent exclamation as you locked your lungs to stop the screams that would wake the house.

Eddie's face was contorted into a mad mix of anger and delight. Biting a corner of his lip his eyes narrowed on your swinging breasts like hypnotic bells. Sensually he was alive with pleasure but the anguish of your rejection and the long day of extreme emotions had him furious.

You were holding your lower abdomen tight but being so wet you practically had no control over Eddie's cock. Not that you cared, you needed every inch of his length to pound the chaos out your brain and the brutalness of his grip to ground you in the moment.

Eddie knew he wasn't going to last. Your wet pussy and absence of protection were living up to his most erotic dreams but even in his most carnal state he was still a gentleman.

You had to come first.

His hold on your hips vanished and he slipped an arm under you before forcing you flat on the mattress. You made a noise of surprise and tried to look around but Eddie's cheek flattened against yours before you could see an explanation.

You could smell the beer and pretzels on his breath and feel rough stubble along his jawline. Under you his hand was moving into your wet folds while his cock piledrived you from behind.

His weight was crushing and you nearly protested when his finger found your bud and you started to whine.

The double sensation in your vagina was overpowering and the alcohol in you system had every nerve alight to receive the pleasure.

You started making the noise Eddie had come to know and he threw the last of what he had into you as you came.

"I love you so much and I just want you to fucking love me back!" Eddie panted on his final thrusts then pulled out without warning.

You felt something warm spill down your thigh then Eddie collapsed on top of you. An inelegant groan escaped as his weight pushed the air out your lungs and you used your elbow to shift him just enough to breathe.

His long arms enveloped you and you intertwined your fingers with his. Until your facilities recovered touch was the only form of expression you had.

Eddie's long hair was sticking to your sweaty skin and his breath felt hot against your neck but you were comforted by the wild thudding you could feel in his chest.

Sometimes you needed to abandon intellect to communicate clearly.

"I know you don't feel the same way but I had to say it, I was going crazy," Eddie finally mumbled into your shoulder and he kissed the salty skin there.

"It's all right. I love you too."

Eddie stiffened against you when you said that and you were equally surprised. The words had come to you as easily as saying, "Checkmate."

"Don't say it if it's not true," Eddie's voice was kind but there was a warning to it.

"It's true," you affirmed and squeezed his hand a little tighter. "It terrifies me but it's true."

"Don't be scared baby I'm gonna look after you," Eddie promised and kissed your temple before sliding off you.

He dug around in a laundry hamper for a second then pulled out a towel and inelegantly clean his mess off your leg. He'd never done that on anyone before and was glad you hadn't freaked.

The sex had been amazing, no wonder everyone hated wearing condoms but he couldn't shake a nagging in the back of his mind. One that wouldn't fully go away until the next time he made you a hot water bottle and a bowl of chocolate ice cream.

The sweat on your skin was drying and made you shiver. Eddie pulled up the covers and held you against him tightly.

The buzz of orgasm was fading but he felt a new elation as he stroked the plastered hair from your forehead and kissed you goodnight.

The weight of his secret was vanquished and he'd been restored by your words.

You loved him. You, a sexy, intelligent, foul mouthed, fiesty chess queen loved him. Fuck whatever happened next.

You loved him.

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Warnings: Smut (18+), drinking, oral (fem receiving), intercourse (p in v), swearing, possessive/toxic traits, rough sex.

"Is it just my imagination," one of your customers asked as you passed her a wrapped book. "Or do they seem to stop women from writing more than men?"

"It's not your imagination," Robin told her. "Men are terrified by women with original thought."

"Especially when they write better," Max added.

"Anyone who reads Margaret Atwood feels threatened," you pointed out as you slipped the money out of sight. "That woman can critique society better than any old Ivy League man while spinning an entertaining tale. The woman's powerful."

"I still want a copy of Ender's Game," your customer told you then began to leave.

It was lunchtime at Hawkins High and you were conducting trade while the cafeteria monitor kept an eye out for thrown food and fist fights.

"I'm waiting on my supplier I'll be in touch," you answered and someone else approached your table.

Someone who didn't read.

"Hey I heard you and Munson were getting it on in the back of your shitty Mustang after school yesterday," Georgia from the cheer team sneered when you noticed her.

You'd never done anything to antagonize Georgia but she figured you were easy pickings for a popular bully like her. A chess nerd with straight As dating the school freak - you didn't have a leg to stand on.

"That Mustang has done less miles than your pussy," you shot back. "The tyres aren't as bald either."

Robin and Max laughed into their lunch and you watched Georgia gawk with some satisfaction. You had learned young to always answer a taunt as it proved you weren't afraid of where it came from.

"You can't say that to me!" Georgia screeched and gained a few more onlookers from other tables.

"Go home and brush your teeth your breath smells of dick," you said now bored and a table of good looking boys erupted into laughter.

Georgia had neither the quick wit or intelligence to counter that so she fell back on a classic popular girl threat.

"My boyfriend is going to mess you up!"

"Your shitbag boyfriend is busy under the bleachers eating out Meredith from the soccer squad," you told her matter of factly and Georgia's eyes grew round with horror. "Come on, you didn't really think he was getting chem tutoring at lunch did you?"

Georgia called you a name you'd heard many times before then ran out the cafeteria as the boys hooted.

"Is that true?" Max asked feeling uncomfortable by the vivid depiction of sexual depravity.

"Apparently," you said with an indifferent shrug. "The soft cock was boasting about it to Eddie last week during a business deal."

"You upset the hierarchy when you burn the bullies like that," Robin said wisely as she ate her pretzels.

She loved the way you eviscerated low IQ miscreants but she did worry about possible reprisals. There was still most of a year to endure before the two of you were free of Hawkins High.

"A cheerleader uniform doesn't give you a bitch pass," you stated unconcerned. "If Georgia wants to discuss things further I'll have a go. Hierarchy be damned."

"Where did you learn to say all that stuff?" Max asked.

As much as Max liked her older friend she had to admit some of what you said was downright disgusting and doubted it came from the literature you read.

"I was at boarding school for ten years," you explained. "I know every derisive word for genitals, the A to Zs of STDs and all the things a creative girl can fashion into a phallus. I promise you, those pornos where the drifter arrives at a girl's school full of blushing virgins are total fiction."

"I'm glad we're co-ed," Robin said for the first time ever and balled up her empty pretzel bag.

"Me too. It's way easier to look smart with boys around," you agreed and made Max smile.

As if on cue your favourite boy suddenly appeared and sat down next to you.

"We got trouble baby," he said frantically taking your hands.

"Did you get busted?" you asked in a worried hush and shot the cafeteria monitor a cautious glance.

"Kinda," Eddie answered cryptically. "Wayne knows about us."

"As in your Uncle Wayne?" you asked allowing your voice to return to normal volume.

So long as neither of you were going to spend the night in lock up on distribution charges it was fine for your friends to hear Eddie's risible stories.

"Yeah. I don't know he found out! I was getting my sheets out the dryer and -"

"Oh."

All three females exclaimed at once in mutual understanding.

"Hang on what?" Eddie's panicked spiel derailed from confusion. "Why'd you all say 'Oh' like that?"

"That was the give away," Robin explained. "Boys don't launder their own sheets unless they have something to hide. They'll roll around in their crusty mess for months before their mothers wash them."

"It's different with girls?"

Eddie felt like he'd stumbled onto a gender based conspiracy and was getting schooled.

"Our monthly bloodbaths don't keep business hours," you said tastelessly. "Early morning linen washes aren't unusual for us."

That had never occurred to Eddie but he had to admit it made sense now why the puritan lady at the checkout had given him a filthy glare when he'd bought a new flat sheet and laundry detergent in the one transaction.

"Anyway what's the problem with your uncle knowing?" you asked as you finally got a chance to eat your sandwich. "I didn't get you pregnant did I?"

Your friends sniggered but Eddie let it slide. He knew they laughed amiably unlike the jocks who preyed on his club.

"He wants you to come around for dinner this week," Eddie grumbled and ran his hands through his tangled hair in frustration.

"Ok," you said after a bite of sandwich. "Tonight I'm watching a movie at Max's and tomorrow's chess club but I can come after tutoring Thursday? Or Friday? Whatever suits."

"Really? You'll come?" Eddie stopped tugging his hair and looked at you in disbelief.

He'd assumed this would upset you but you were completely unphased. With conventional couples meeting the parents was seen as a milestone, one that cemented your commitment and hinted at a possible combined future.

As you two were aberrant individuals Eddie had predicted you'd scatter at something proper like family dinner.

"Why not? I suppose it makes sense, we've been hanging out for a while now. My Dad knows about you," you said pragmatically as you finished the sandwich and broke your chocolate bar in half.

"How?" Eddie asked in alarm and halted his reach for the offered treat.

"I told him doofus," you said and laughed with your friends again.

"What did he say?"

"Not a lot," you replied with a shrug. "He made me a reading list of Romantic poets and now buys me condoms when he gets his script filled."

You then turned to your lunch mates and added, "If you ladies need any let me know, I now have enough rubbers to get me to menopause."

"Gross."

"I wouldn't want to slow you down."

You engaged both middle fingers so you could flip your friends off in unison then turned back to your boyfriend.

"Tell Wayne I'd be delighted," you said and kissed Eddie on the cheek. "Now return to your flock shepherd I have censored literature to sell."

That night Wayne called Eddie from work to check which night he had to swap shifts so he could cook for the two of you. Eddie told him Friday and when the night arrived he came outside to meet you at the Mustang.

Eddie looked you over appraisingly as you climbed out the driver's seat and wolf whistled. You'd worn one of your nicer dresses with a floral pattern and had gone easy on the eyeliner in case Wayne suspected you leaned into heavier pastimes.

"Someone's pretty," Eddie sang and took a tupperware from your hands.

"Hello shit-stirrer," you said affectionately with a smile and kissed him on the mouth.

You made it a good kiss because it was likely the only one you'd get tonight being on your best behaviour.

When you walked in the trailer you nearly commented on how tidy it was but stopped last minute. You didn't want to let slip just how often you hung out there.

All week Eddie has been telling you how much of a crusty old curmudgeon his uncle was but you actually found Wayne quite pleasant.

He shook your hand, complimented your dress and didn't use any of the condescending pet names blokes his age often gave young women.

You asked about his job, his football team and his car, three things that could get any straight white man talking.

Wayne thanked you for the cake and was only a little surprised to hear your dad had baked it. That scored points with you as he didn't use that detail to lead into the more interesting things he'd heard about your dad.

Wayne had prepared the only meal he knew how to cook - steak with a three vegetable salad.

You gave appropriate thanks and gratefully accepted the diet soda he bought especially for you even though it wasn't your preferred beverage.

Eddie sat next to you and brushed your thigh gently under the table, the first touch since you'd come inside.

Usually by now the two of you would be in a state of undress or cuddled up in Eddie's room decompressing after surviving another day of small town banality.

But tonight you were abiding by the rules of polite society so kept your hands to yourselves.

"Eddie tells me you like chess," Wayne began after you'd taken a few bites of dinner.

"Understatement," Eddie muttered and received a poke from you under the table.

"I do," you answered enthusiastically. "I brought my board in case you wanted to play."

"Eddie played for a while in elementary school but I've never gotten the hang of it" Wayne confessed and took a sip of beer. "Too many darn rules to remember."

"There's a lot to learn, you need patience."

This was generally what you said when people labelled chess as too difficult. It stopped them from thinking you were pretentious or the game elitist.

"So I take it your mother's passed on?"

The sudden intrusiveness of the question after such a casual one made both you and Eddie stop chewing.

Not one person had broached that subject since you'd moved to Hawkins. The classic nuclear family was dying out so people usually accepted your single parent situation as it was.

"She was alive the last anyone heard," was the politest way you could put it after mulling the question over for a minute.

Eddie shot Wayne a warning look and the subject changed.

"So was it your father who taught you chess?" Wayne wisely returned to a safe topic.

"No, we had a heap of board games in the rec room at school and I was curious about the chess sets," you told him conversationally. "I signed up for a weekly chess club to learn the rules and it grew from there."

People always assumed there was a mysterious, romantic history to your passion but it had honestly begun the same as any other hobby. You'd found something you liked and applied yourself to get better at it.

The rest of the meal went smoothly with casual conversation and Eddie stole the light a few times so you wouldn't feel hot under Wayne's scrutiny.

After dinner you served the Black Forrest Cake then Wayne left the two of you to play chess at the table while he caught the end of a match on TV.

You moved a knight into place and seeing his defeat Eddie let his head fall on the table theatrically.

"That is mate," you said and smiled at his pitiful wails of defeat.

"I thought I was doing well," Eddie whined.

"You were! You made me chase you for a while there," you gave some constructive feedback to comfort him and leant back in your chair.

Eddie hated to lose but he would have hated you throwing the game more. Maybe it was time for you to sit in on a campaign and see the Dungeon Master in his element since you'd spent over an hour thrashing him.

"Let's me express my inner torment with music," Eddie said standing up with a defeatist sigh. "My room awaits."

"Might want to think of heading home," Wayne chipped in from the couch and turned the TV down.

"It's Friday night," Eddie protested.

"Don't want your dad worrying," Wayne went on as if he hadn't heard his nephew. "You two can catch up tomorrow."

"You're probably right," you conceded way too easily and Eddie's suspicion was aroused. "Thank you for dinner Mr Munson I had a lovely time."

You exchanged a few more pleasantries and had Eddie walk you to the Mustang where you shared the plan. He watched you drive out the park then went inside where Wayne had returned to his viewing.

Eddie subtly swiped a beer from the fridge then said something about listening to music before closing his bedroom door. Beer can now in his vest he threw on an Iron Maiden tape and jumped out the window.

The evening was a little chill but he would warm up once he got to his destination and the beer was inside him.

Creeping past the trailers of Friday night homebodies like a Hawkins version of Boo Radley Eddie heard snippets of televisions, stereos and domestic arguments as he hiked up the hill behind the park to the old playground.

The Mustang's headlights flashed when he was close and he heard you close the driver's door. You retrieved the lantern you keep in the boot for night time breakdowns and switched it on giving Eddie a guide to you.

"Uggh! I feel so wholesome and middle class!" Eddie yelled and threw his arms around you.

"You did well," you laughed as he lifted and spun you around. "Keep this up and you can take me to the prom."

"Can we park at Lover's Lake after?" he asked after planting a kiss on your mouth.

"Before and after," you said temptingly and pulled the beer out his pocket.

"That's my bad girl!" he cried and slapped your arse as you walked to the picnic area together.

You sat yourself up on the table while Eddie took the bench, seating himself between your feet so he could rest his head on your lap.

"What the hell was this evening about?" Eddie moaned as you stroked his hair and took a swing of beer.

You passed him the can and explained everything in your most patient voice.

"Your sweet uncle, who loves you, was just making sure you hadn't been ensnared by a harpy with wide legs and deep claws. He was worried I might be setting my sights on trapping you in early fatherhood and criminal enterprise."

"He thinks I'm that stupid?" Eddie made an injured face after a swing of beer.

"He knows you're young," you assured him. "Let the old man fuss, it means he cares."

"Well if it matters to you I think you passed darlin'," Eddie decided you were right and took another mouthful of beer.

"It'll make things easier going forward," you conceded.

Ever the gentleman Eddie let you finish the beer and returned his head to you lap where you stroked his wild locks.

Eddie enjoyed the attention for a few minutes then raised the hem of your dress and pressed his lips against the inside of your leg.

"What?" he asked when you didn't react.

It was hard to see your expression in the lamplight but your lack of response meant something was wrong.

"I need to tell you something."

"Oh no, no, no, no sentence starting with that ends well," Eddie now sat up straight and clutched at your dress. "What did I do?"

"Nothing!" you said quickly realising your blunder. "I just need you to know something but I didn't want to tell you before because it might scare you off. It's a little heavy."

"Are you in trouble baby?"

The genuine concern in Eddie's voice made your heart swell and you wanted to pull him close. He was sweeter than you deserved.

"Nothing like that it's just something Wayne asked that got me thinking."

"If he's upset you I'll go back and tell him."

"It's ok Eddie. It's about my mum."

"She left, it's ok," Eddie was quick to reassure you and hugged your knees. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want, I understand."

"No, well yes, she did leave I mean," you rambled because you might reconsider if you hesitated. "When I was five Dad was sectioned for the first time. Pretty soon after Mum decided single parenting wasn't for her so got herself a divorce and surrendered custody of me to a girls' home. I haven't seen her since."

Eddie didn't reply and his stiff form in the darkness gained a forebodingness like a nightmare figure. It was unlike him not to react animatedly to shocking news and his stillness unnerved you.

You could hear the crickets chirping in the grass and spoke again to break the unsettling quiet.

"I say it was a boarding school because it sounds less tragic. I don't miss her, she made her choice. It's not important but I wanted you to know so you don't think I've been dishonest."

Eddie released his grip around your legs and you went cold with dread. He had reached his limit with your mess and was walking away.

Suddenly warmth came back to your skin as Eddie put his hands on you cheeks and gave you a long, slow kiss.

"This changes nothing baby," he only pulled away far enough to talk. "I'm always gonna adore you. My mother hasn't seen me in six years and not called in three. I say to hell with both of them."

You groped in the dark until you found Eddie's shoulders and latched onto him like a lifeline. For a few terrifying seconds you had been adrift and helpless in the dark without his stalwart support.

It took some time holding him before you could talk again, now certain he wouldn't leave.

"I don't mean to trauma dump on you I just want there to be more between us than witty repartee and sex."

"There is darling. So much more."

You released Eddie slowly and exhaled the anxiety you'd been holding in your chest. A steak dinner with family had turned out to be far more emotional than you'd anticipated.

Eddie slipped his hands under you knees then tugged so hard you fell backwards. The cute ballet flats you'd been wearing flew off as your little feet kicked the air and your eyes were suddenly full of stars dotting the night sky.

"What are you doing?" you giggled as Eddie's hot breath tickled you under your dress.

He looked like a kid stuck in a sleeping bag as he moved around under your dress and you laughed at your own compromising position. Flat on your back with a boy between your legs.

Eddie worked his fingers under your panty line and shimmied them down your hips. You made a noise of surprise but allowed Eddie to move your legs until the garment was stripped and thrown over his shoulder.

"Hey," you said with mild annoyance to see your good underwear discarded but forgot it a second later.

His strong, warm tongue licking your vaginal opening roused a sensation in you so strong your body arched with a gasp.

Good authority had told you this wasn't something straight guys would do willingly so you struggled to comprehend what was happening.

You had assumed the practice would be sloppy and vulgar but Eddie used his mouth with as much delicacy as he did with his hands. His lips on your opening had the pressure of an intimate kiss and his tongue stroked your inner folds with a velvet touch.

Your fingers fluttered to your lips like a scandalised damsel and you stared at the sky with your mouth open in silent excitement.

The unique caress thrilled you in a new way and your brain didn't know the right response.

So you lay there helpless in your pleasure.

The tip of Eddie's tongue brushed something deep that elicited a meek "Oh" from your open lips and he took the encouragement. You were such a wet mix of fluids that his mouth glid across your vagina effortlessly and he took your bud in his mouth.

The nerves in your clitoris awoke like thunder in a gathering storm and your voice returned to express your assent. Eddie ran his hands tenderly over your thighs and backside to stimulate your cooling skin and titillated your bud with the tip of his tongue gently.

It the time you two had been intimate Eddie had learned to discount everything he'd heard third hand about sex and listen to you instead. You weren't shy to express your enjoyment and your reactions were the best guide to achieving mutual pleasure.

You were breathing in short, sharp gasps of sweet shock but Eddie knew the sound you made when you were close. He let his mouth melt deeper onto you and began to suck your bud hungrily.

The shift in technique threw you into fourth gear and you could feel your body rushing to climax. Usually your orgasms built slowly, the reward for patient penetrative lovemaking but this time it erupted like a flare igniting your lower body.

You gave a groan of relief like you'd been holding back a dam and felt the orgasmic energy spill from your waist to water your thirsty body.

Feebly you tried to reach for Eddie as you pinned for his touch but he still had you tilted so your grasp fell short. Eddie then pulled himself out of your dress and wiped his mouth ungraciously on the back of his hand to watch you recover.

In the dark you couldn't see his flushed face or his genuine surprise at his success. There was more guesswork in sex than he'd ever realised.

He could see your middle rising and falling as your ecstasy rush settled and he lowered your legs back onto the table. His fingers stayed firmly round your ankles however as he struggled internally with his good reason and his libido.

You could hear the question he wouldn't voice and had the same sense of incompleteness. Eddie's attentions had given you splendour but they'd also prepared you for more and your lower muscles ached for it.

"Do it Eddie I'm soaked for you."

Without hesitance Eddie pulled a condom from his back pocket and you heard his fly open. There was a small crinkling sound then you were roughly pulled towards him by your legs.

You could imagine his rock hard cock straining against the latex and your chest expanded with an excited inhale.

His length slipped into you easily and you let out a satisfied moan. The sensual orgasm had been bliss but the base physicality of being filled with his thick cock made you horny in a primal way.

Most times you made love but sometimes like now you simply fucked. After hours of upstanding behaviour you had to wash the genteel polish off with a bath of sweat and cum.

You surrendered totally letting Eddie manhandle your legs as he slammed into you. There would be bruises on your thighs tomorrow but right now the pain didn't register.

In the lamplight Eddie could see your breasts bounce with every pound and he longed to climb up on the table and rip your dress open. He could imagine the tight mounds breaking into gooseflesh from the evening air and how the tiny bumps would melt under his hot tongue.

But there was no time to ravish the rest of you, he was close to coming and this position was too perfect to compromise. Your cunt was practically a river soaking his groin and every time you arched your abdomen it would tighten on his cock pulling him closer to release.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Eddie grunted in time with his thrusts but your only reply were the shy gasps that escaped each time his tip hit your core.

He wanted to fuck everything out of you until only he was left. Obliterate the sweet facade you'd worn at dinner and the lonely girl abandoned by her mother. Fuck you until you were so full of him no one could claim a piece of you.

It was raw, possessive and toxic but Eddie didn't care. You were his and he's was branding you for the world to know it.

"Eddie!"

You hadn't expected a second orgasm. Honestly you didn't think they could happen, that it was something magazines had made up to entertain rarely serviced housewives.

You screamed this time, the extreme sensation on your already ravished body was too much and you couldn't stay quiet.

Your body spasmed and Eddie released his own orgasm with a growl. He pitched forward and clenched your hips with a bruising force as hot pleasure rushed through his cock and pooled in the sheath.

The two of you panted out of time in a collapsed bundle and began to notice how far the temperature had dropped.

Suddenly self conscious you looked around to see the park lights glowing down the hill and listened for anyone approaching. Someone out for a stroll or a sneaky cigarette might think to investigate the animalistic cries coming from the playground.

"You're a bad girl," Eddie groaned exhaustedly when his breathing steadied.

"Me?" you lifted your head off the picnic table and felt Eddie slowly move out of you. "You started this Munson."

"You invited me up here," Eddie rebutted and you heard a synthetic flicking sound in the dark.

You knew Eddie had shot the tied condom across the picnic area and you had an unpleasant image of a small child finding it tomorrow along with your underwear.

"I wanted to talk," you said in your defense and sat up.

"This is how all our evening talks finish."

"Unless you pass out watching Miami Vice."

"One time baby."

"Come up here and hug me," you held your arms out and decided to quit the banter. You were cold now and you wanted your boyfriend to wrap you up for a little while before you drove home.

Eddie gave no argument and climbed on the table beside you. You were still buzzing from your double high and snuggled in tight smelling his sweat and deodorant.

"That was a good fuck Eddie."

It wasn't what the poets would have said but it was true.

Eddie kissed you on the head and tried to pat your loose hair back into a respectable form before admitting that was impossible.

"I like making you happy baby," he said and linked his fingers with yours.

You stayed nestled together on the bench watching the trailer lights below and Eddie realised for the first time how small they looked.

He'd outgrown this suburb of budget building materials and knew now he could leave it. Since he'd met you his scope had widened to see past Senior year and Tuesday night gigs at the Hideout.

There wouldn't be much to pack besides his guitar and he didn't have a destination in mind but one thing was certain.

You were coming with him.

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Warnings: Smut (18+), fingering (f receiving), slightly rough foreplay, hand job (m receiving), nudity, intercourse (p in v), swearing.

For the first time all week you were alone.

The library manager had seen an article about your win in Detroit and asked if you could do a chess presentation for the local children. She had left you the keys to lock up and drop in the returns slot when you were done but unfortunately none of the attendees had stayed to help pack up.

It hadn't paid anything and most of the kids had just enjoyed pushing the pieces around the board but it'd gotten you out of your suffocating house for a while.

Mrs Cunningham had decided not to press charges in light of your black eye and the psychiatrist had passed Dad but it had been a long week of bated breath.

Waiting for all that to resolve plus school and tutoring had nearly driven you to breaking point. Robin and Max had done their best to distract you but there was no real way to escape the terrifying potential outcomes that played out in your head all day and kept you awake at night.

"How much longer are you going to ignore me?"

The voice was too deep for a child and too loud for a library goer.

Eddie stood behind you scowling and you swore silently. His posture was rigid and his hands balled into fists like he was ready for a fight.

His eyes scanned you as you stood frozen and lingered on your shocked face. The bruising around your eye had lightened to yellow which you hid with cosmetics but Eddie could still see the mark.

His expression softened a little at the injury but you couldn't accept his pity. You'd hurt him too badly to deserve it.

"Go away Eddie," you ordered.

"Oh good you do know my name," he said sarcastically. "I thought you might have forgotten it after a week of dodging me at school."

"I blew you. Big deal. Get over it."

You sounded as cruel as possible to make him go. You wanted him to believe you didn't care, that what happened in your room was a dumb mistake to be forgotten and he didn't matter to you.

"Look me in the eye and say that."

You couldn't. You adored those warm emotive eyes and couldn't endure the pain that would show in them after your vehement words.

"Get lost already," you told him and turned around to end the conversation.

You tried packing away the chess pieces but your shaking fingers fumbled and some fell out their bag. A wayward pawn rolled across the table and you reached for it when Eddie covered your hand and slammed it down on the piece.

You gasped at the harsh contact and stared at the large hand holding yours in place. The trapped pawn was imprinting on your palm and Eddie's rings were hot against your skin. Your fingers felt so brittle and small under the masculine hold that you kept them still.

Eddie wrapped his free arm around your middle and pressed himself against your back. A few strands of his mane fell on your face tickling your cheek as he inhaled the scent of your hair.

Your free hand grabbed his jacket sleeve and you breathed through your mouth so you wouldn't smell the intoxicating aroma of him.

"Let go."

You meant to sound commanding but the words came out feeble.

"I can't. You're tearing me in two when you wont see me."

His emotional words were muffled as he spoke into your neck and you quivered under his hot breath on your skin.

You'd been wanting this so badly since you'd run out your room that day. For him to hold you tight and protect you from all the mayhem flying around you.

To just forget everything for a while and feel whole with someone who made you feel wonderful.

"I'm a mess Eddie," you confessed weakly and tried to wiggle your trapped hand free.

"We all are baby," Eddie replied and with his free hand turned your neck so he could kiss you.

Your lips touched and you grabbed his wrist, not to stop him but to make sure he didn't leave. Your resolve to be alone had evaporated in his warm kiss and you no longer had the ability to feign coldness.

You craned your neck to deepen the kiss and parted your lips to let your tongue search for his. Eddie released your hand to use both of his to cup your face and you turned into his hold.

No more hiding.

Your hands wandered down his flat belly and you slipped your fingertips between the denim and tucked death metal singlet.

Suddenly Eddie wrapped his arms under your backside and lifted you onto the table. You gave a squeal of surprise and blinked with wide eyes at his hungry smile.

"You're not getting the upper hand this time darling," he declared and pulled your head back with a sharp yank on your braid.

A heat flared in you at his roughness and when he pulled away from the next kiss you held his bottom lip between your teeth for an extra second.

You made a playful snapping noise and he answered with a low growl before diving in for more.

Eddie Munson wanted to rip your clothes off right there in the public library and that was fine by you.

His unoccupied hand stroked the stretch of skin between your knee high sock and skirt then slid upwards. You felt the fingers journeying towards your middle and you parted your legs to ease their way.

His mouth was busy working along your neck, nipping the erogenous flesh making you pant with anticipation. You felt Eddie's thumb push on your clitoris and you let out a mewling sound as a jolt went through your body.

"Are you going to purr kitten?" Eddie teased in your ear and slipped one of his long fingers under your thin underwear.

"Kitten wants to come," was your sultry reply.

Eddie's finger stroked the outer lining of your entrance until it was moist and practically quaking for more.

You gasped as the first finger entered your tight opening and Eddie bit your neck at the same time, tearing you between two passionate acts.

"Fucker," you puffed and loosened his belt.

"You love it," he accused and sighed a little when the pressure on his groin eased by the opened pants.

You lifted one knee to rest your heel on the table edge and Eddie slipped another finger in. You groaned appreciatively and started to pump his liberated cock in time with his ministrations.

Eddie made a familiar noise of elation as his member grew in your hand and for a moment your stomach swirled with regret about your bedroom encounter.

It only took a second of looking in Eddie's eyes to know this wasn't a repeat.

The way he was watching you with adoration made you bashful, you'd never been physical with someone who liked you before.

Sex had always been functional for you - a way to exchange intimate energy or release pent up frustration.

Eddie didn't want to use you as a disposable outlet. He was expressing genuine affection for the first person he'd found interesting in a long time.

Your sexy rebel routine and intelligence had hooked him at first but it was the compassion you showed for your loved ones that made him fall.

No one could give so much of themselves to others if they weren't sincere.

"Ah! Ah! Stop!"

Your sudden cry of pain ceased his attentions and he looked at your wince perplexed.

"What's wrong?" he asked alarmed.

"Rings!"

The tiny points on the carved jewellery had scratched your sensitive wall making you recoil.

Eddie's throat dried slightly with embarrassment and there was a damp noise as he carefully pulled his fingers from your hot centre. Their sudden withdraw left you dismal, mourning the potential for more.

The elastic in your underwear made a small pop noise as it fell back into place as if sealing you from further pleasures.

"Sorry! I'll take them off just a sec baby."

Eddie started twisting the demented dragons and demons off his fingers then nearly dropped them when they slipped on his lubricated tips.

"Eddie," you said quickly looking around. "I'm not sure the kid's section is the best place for this."

In the momentary lapse of passion you could suddenly smell the stale books and unvacuumed carpet of the public library. The exaggerated smiles and wide eyes of illustrated animals on the children's story books unnerved you as you held Eddie's cock tight.

"Do they still have those beanbags in General Fiction?"

"Eddie!"

"You're right let's get out of here."

Reluctantly you relinquished your hold on his manhood and pulled his underwear back up. The appendage looked farcical now, far too large for the garment with precum making a puddle on the fabric.

It took two seconds for Eddie to buckle up and pull you away from the scattered chess sets. The librarian would give you hell but you would make up some family emergency excuse.

Eddie barely let you lock the door he was in such haste to get you in his van. The return slot hadn't even closed before he dragged you down the stairs and around the corner where he'd parked.

It had been a lovely day when you'd dressed this morning and decided to walk into town but now the grey clouds were seconds away from opening.

Eddie went to unlock the back door of his van when you gave him a playful shove.

"I don't think so Munson!" you cried indignantly but smiled.

"Oh?" Eddie threw his hands up in mock offence. "I'm sorry madame, do you think you're better than that?"

"Yes I am!" there was laughter on your voice as you pulled Eddie by his vest and kissed him hard. "You shit."

"You adore me babe," he boasted when you finished and the first few drops of rain landed on his wild hair.

Needing no further encouragement you climbed into the passenger seat and Eddie turned the engine over. The stereo came alive blasting your eardrums with death metal and you recoiled violently as Eddie quickly turned the volume dial.

"Sorry babe," he apologised sheepishly, "not used to passengers."

"I felt that in my fillings," you whined rubbing your jaw.

"Soon you'll be feeling me everywhere," Eddie said slyly and received a smack on the arm.

By the time the van pulled up at Eddie's trailer the rain was hammering down.

"Wayne's at a buddy's today watching the game," Eddie assured you as he pulled the handbrake up. "We've got the place to ourselves for a few hours."

The two of you made a mad dash for the door through the pouring rain and stumbled inside laughing. The downpour and cold wind had exhilarated you both into a giddy state.

Your hands had gone icy from the rain but Eddie's were warm from driving and you obeyed his tug towards his room.

You'd never been in Eddie's bedroom but it was about what you'd imagined. Messy as yours but instead of books he had cassette tapes and Rolling Stone magazines scattered over every surface.

You spied the guitar hanging on the wall and stepped closer to inspect it.

"That's my other girl but she's no threat to you," Eddie told you as he threw some clutter off his bed.

"This is no girl. She is a queen!" you exclaimed and marveled at the amazing shape and colour of the instrument.

Eddie wrestled his tangled bedcovers into a more a more presentable state then tried to pull you down to join him.

"Slow down, slow down."

Instead of crashing on the mattress you pulled him to up to stand in front of you. Taking a moment to stay still in the tiny room as rain thundered on the roof.

"What's the matter baby?"

Eddie watched you carefully as you slipped his wet jacket off gently and hung it over the desk chair.

"Nothing," you assured him and slowly wrapped your arms under his. "I just want us to take our time. Enjoy ourselves."

The truth was you couldn't survive another fuck up.

If things didn't go exactly right this time there wouldn't be another chance. You were too scared your teenage sexual blunders would tarnish the enjoyment and leave you both regretting the whole experience.

Eddie joined his arms around you and the two of you rocked gently to the steady beat of precipitation. You rested your cheek against his singlet enjoying the softness of the dark cotton and the thudding of his heart against your ear.

Eddie fell in step with your slower stride and rested his chin on your head.

You stayed that way for a little while like a couple of middle schoolers at the Snow Ball. It dawned on Eddie you'd never done anything as sweet as hug, before the oral in your bedroom you'd only performed petting for the school population.

The two of you had jumped from illusion to reality without pausing in the middle to talk and take time with each other.

"You know babe," Eddie said brushing some loose hair away from your face. "We don't have to this if you want to wait. We can watch a movie or just hang out and listen to some tunes. You could use a lesson in metal."

You pulled your face away from his chest so you could look up at his handsome face.

"I want to," you confirmed softly with an easy smile. "Just not the way we have been."

"Me too," Eddie spoke quickly to assure you he was still on board. "It's just that I want you to know, this isn't something I usually do. I don't fool around I mean, not sex I have sex, just not with someone I really like and I really like you."

"That's good," his words were both a relief and a joy to hear. "Because I really like you Eddie Munson."

You kissed each other nice and slow taking time to learn the contours and texture of each other's mouths. No frenzied rush to get to the next stage or urgent groping.

You gently worked your fingertips under his waistline and pushed his singlet up keeping your palms against his smooth skin as he raised his arms to assist.

Eddie had a complexion a model would envy. His impartiality to outdoor activities kept him out of the sun and covered in heavy clothes. The black ink of his tattoos stood out boldly on his flat chest and you took your time examining them before you kissed each one.

"Like 'em sweetheart?" Eddie asked as he ran a finger down the back of your neck lightly.

"You're a canvas," you giggled and traced your fingers over your favourite ones.

The texture of your shirt on Eddie's middle was mildly irritating and he started to pull the hem upwards. You allowed it and he mirrored the gentle pace you'd undressed him.

He'd of course seen you topless before but his admiration was different this time. Then he had devoured your uncovered skin voraciously but this time he was controlled, brushing his fingers along your arms and collarbones like a jeweller studying a gem.

Your skin responded by breaking into goosebumps and you moved closer to steal his heat. You were used to intimacy being sloppy and rushed because you'd never had the privilege of time, liaisons for you were typically opportunistic.

"Ok baby?" Eddie asked and you nodded. Even now you couldn't admit you felt vulnerable.

"Maybe we should warm up?" you suggested and motioned towards the bed.

The thin walls of the trailer did little to insulate but it wasn't warmth you craved right now. You wanted touch uninhibited by clothing.

Eddie sat on his bed and held his arms open for you to fill. Your bra was feeling restrictive so you quickly unclipped it and tossed it across the room.

Eddie's brown eyes latched onto your breasts following them as you sat next to him and swung your legs onto the bed.

He looped an arm under your back to support you as you held onto his shoulder with one hand and buried your other in his unruly hair.

Eddie took to this new arrangement with enthusiasm and ran a hand under your panties making the elastic flick against your arse playfully.

"Tease," you said against his mouth as you broke apart for a moment.

"That's your name," he countered and dove back in for more.

You knew Eddie liked your arse since he was always smacking it playfully when he passed you in the hall.

He squeezed your hip making fingerprints on your muscular backside then ran his thumb across your pelvis until it rested on your clitoris.

Your mouth opened and you made a little 'oh' noise as he began making circular motions on the sensitive spot.

"Tell me what you like."

"Just keep doing what you're doing."

"Come on tell me. Fast or slow?"

Eddie was getting anxious now because he'd stepped into new territory. He'd only had sex with older women at the community college a few towns over when he'd gone to sell merch at parties.

Those women always latched onto him and did what they wanted without verbalising but Eddie never complained because he'd always achieved release. In a way it was more business than pleasure.

He didn't want to be that way with you because he wanted you to feel as good as you could make him feel. He needed your guidance to do that though.

"A little faster," you said with a small lump in your throat, "and a bit more force."

Eddie complied and your hips bucked involuntary at the surge that shot through you.

"Good?" he asked needlessly.

You nodded and he pulled you upwards again to continue kissing.

The pleasure building in your core was sending tremors down your legs and your feet slid back and forth on the bedspread. It had been a long time since you'd last indulged and you'd forgotten how intense it could be.

Eddie had musician's touch so his thumb played you until high whimpers escaped your lips.

"Wait a sec," you said suddenly halting his hand.

"What's the matter baby?" he asked as he kissed your cheeks and neck. "Don't you want to come?"

"I do," you replied positively. "With you."

You gently pushed him on his back so you were lying side by side on the single bed. The space was tight but you would have kept close even if you'd had the room to stretch.

"Have you got something?" you asked and kissed his ear.

Eddie reached for the nightstand and ran his hands through the draw without taking his lips off you. His blind groping produced a handful of guitar picks and other useless assortments until you lost your patience and rolled on top of him to see for yourself.

You found the condoms and ripped one off the strip before passing it to Eddie.

"Know what to do?" you asked seriously.

This was one thing you couldn't afford to fuck up.

"That was the one Health class I showed up for," Eddie answered and opened the wrapper.

You helped pull his pants off then tickled his feet when you took off his socks. You got a playful kick for your mischief and when his cock was sheathed you crawled up the bed and squeezed it hard.

"How do you want me?" you asked.

"Can I," there was a beat of hesitation, "get on top?"

Eddie's experience with college girls had all been with him seated while they went wild on top of him. It had been great but he'd never been in charge.

"Sure," you said sensing his trepidation and gently encouraged him to roll you over.

You sank into the weary mattress as Eddie climbed on top and you could feel some of the fire dying down. The engagement had gone from passionate to perfunctory because of nerves.

Eddie rocked a little bit as he figured where to put his hands while you grabbed his cock and rubbed the covered tip on your entrance before lining it up.

Eddie looked at you silently until you nodded then pushed into you hard.

He didn't hurt you but the lack of style and dryness of the condom caused you to pull a face that made Eddie panic.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked in a tight voice.

"No just go slower," you advised.

"Are you sure? I can stop?" Eddie was beginning to spiral into doubt.

This was not how things went in the videos he'd watched, those people never fumbled. They slipped straight in and had the girls screaming after a few thrusts.

You shifted your hips a fraction and wrapped your legs around his waist so your ankles crossed. Eddie let out a little noise as he sank deeper into you and you caught his chin forcing him to look at you.

"Take your time," you told him firmly but kindly.

Eddie didn't reply but started to rock his hips against yours until you settled into a matching speed. His hair had fallen like a curtain over your faces so you bunched it together and rested a hand against his cheek, thumb dragging along his bottom lip.

"You feel good darling," he puffed and you hummed appreciatively.

He felt good too and you were getting slicker with every thrust. Eddie was gaining confidence and you wanted to take things up a notch.

You took a breath to tighten your core then pulled your pelvic muscles to clench around his cock.

"Jesus Christ!" Eddie yelled and nearly lost his rhythm. "What the hell was that?"

"Did you like that?" asked biting your lip naughtily.

"Do it again!"

You laughed at him and tightened yourself causing Eddie to pull a face of sheer ecstasy as his thrusts got faster and rougher. Your feet were bouncing against his small backside and the poor bedframe sounded ready to split.

"Baby I'm not gonna last," he puffed and looked at you with desperation. He knew you hadn't come. "You're so fucking tight."

"Move with me," you said quickly and you awkwardly rolled together until you were reversed.

"I came out," Eddie puffed as he looked down to see his cock now slickened with your moisture pointing at the roof.

That didn't happen in those videos either -those people stayed together like industrial glue.

"I got ya," you said and took a firm grip before lowering yourself down on him.

During foreplay you'd forgotten to take your skirt off and it bunched around your hips as Eddie filled you from underneath.

It was your turn to pull amusing faces as this new position allowed his cock to reach you in a spot that itched for attention.

"Mmm, mmm," you managed as you felt the tip tickle your center.

"What's that sweetheart?" Eddie asked teasingly and you swatted his decorated chest.

Fuck his smart mouth you wanted to come. You had forgotten how good this could be and in that moment you were oblivious to the burdens that weighed you down.

You were alone with someone who made you feel alive and happy every second you were with him.

Eddie felt more confident in this familiar position and squeezed your hips as you ground into him.

"Come on, get it," he growled and dug his thumbnails into your skin.

Your high socks chaffed your knees as you rocked back and forth viciously greedy for satisfaction. The two of you had found your perfect synch and you rode him furiously for the pleasure to consume you.

Eddie's nails were clawing up your back leaving red marks and he was swearing with every roll of your wet centre. He wouldn't last much longer but you weren't ready to release him yet.

You still needed him.

"Here! Here!" you yelled and pushed his fingers into your clitoris as you rocked him mercilessly.

Eddie rubbed your bud vigourously and yelled with you as he tried to contain his own orgasm.

"Eddie! Fuck! Yes!" You felt an unmistakable sensation rising as all the stimulations clashed together then you screamed as the first burst rippled through you.

You slammed into Eddie with each wave of your orgasm and screamed so loud you didn't hear him curse out his ejaculation.

For that minute you weren't a student, a chess champion or a dutiful daughter. You were a girl getting fucked hard and you embraced it with every iota of your being.

You rode him until you were sure the sublime sensations had passed and your pelvis came to rest. Beneath you Eddie puffed as he rubbed the red marks he had made on your back and you stroked the sweat from his handsome face.

Every so gently you separated yourself and wedged yourself between him and the wall. Your head made a cushion of Eddie's shoulder and the dry sheets absorbed the sweat from your skin sending a sudden chill through you.

You snuggled closer and laid a soft hand on Eddie's flat stomach, watching it rise and fall with his laboured breaths.

"It's official sweetheart," he puffed after a little while, "you have fucked The Freak of Hawkins High."

You didn't answer and Eddie figured you were ignoring his dumb joke. He was too lost in orgasmic high to keep playing and instead tried to get everything straight in his head.

One day you meet the boss of an underground book cartel, give her ten bucks to play chess, swap some witty banter then she winds up in your bed giving you the time of your young life.

It made perfect sense right?

A tiny whimper floated to his ears and he looked over to see you crying silently on his shoulder.

"Hey, hey, what's this?" he said reaching over. "I was just being stupid."

He wiped your tears away with his big thumbs and made you look at him.

"No it's alright," you said as you moved into an embrace. "I'm just really happy."

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Warnings: Smut (18+), unprotected oral, oral (m receiving), swearing, nudity, foreplay, mentions of abuse, mentions of violence, mental illness, dirty talk, mentions of drugs.

The van screeched to a halt outside your house and Eddie jumped out onto the kerb. He double checked the address Robin had scribbled on a torn corner of note paper then slammed the driver's door closed.

Robin had found him holding court in the cafeteria with The Hellfire Club and told Eddie to get to your place quick. There was a rumour spreading fast that your father had gone crazy in the supermarket and the police had arrested both of you.

"She wont answer the phone and I can't get there," Robin said as she wrote your address out for Eddie. "Steve can't leave the video store to drive me."

"I don't think she allows visitors," Eddie protested remembering your firm rule of no tutoring at your house.

"Just bang on the door and see if she's ok," Robin pushed back as the whole table watched her and Eddie. "Yell through the mail slot if you have to."

So Eddie was at your door twenty minutes later knocking in a steady rhythm and calling your name.

A dark blob appeared in the security glass after a few seconds and you yanked the door open.

He'd never seen you so unkept. At school you were a stylish dresser with your hair and make up done with precision. Now you were wearing an oversized t-shirt with a pair of track pants and your hair loose.

There was no colour in your face except for the ugly splotches of purple and and black around your right eye. The lower white of your battered eye had turned red and there were two stitches in your bottom eyelid.

You saw your visitor staring at you open mouthed for a minute then tried to close the door.

"Eddie! You can't be here!" you said shaking your head.

"What the hell!"

Eddie jumped forward and jammed his boot between the doorframe and you. He couldn't pull his eyes off your black eye and felt his skin flush with fury.

"It's fine, leave it. You've got to go!" you struggled to force him out but Eddie now had an arm braced against the door.

A calico cat tried to slip through the opening and you let go to catch the slinky animal. Eddie used the distraction to push his way inside and stumble into your hall.

"I'm serious, you can't be here!" you insisted desperately but Eddie didn't heed and reached for your face.

His rough thumb ran a line under your bruised cheekbone and you jerked back with a wince. The throbbing and pounding headache had stopped last night but the skin was still tender along the cut.

"Who did this?" Eddie demanded. "Was it your Dad?"

"No!" you answered scornfully with a glare. "Mrs Cunningham."

"What?"

"I'll call you later and explain everything but you need to go now," you promised and lowered your voice. "Dad isn't well."

You then looked down the hall anxiously but no one was coming.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what happened," Eddie vowed stubbornly as the cat slithered out your hold and dashed away.

You swore softly as the fluffy tail disappeared into another room and you turned back to Eddie who was watching you with his arms crossed. The expression on his face said he wasn't budging and you were too exhausted to keep arguing.

"All right," you relented, "but keep quiet. He was up all night."

Together you crept past the living room where your dad was sleeping in an armchair beside a stereo softly playing classical music.

Eddie peeped in to see him wrapped in a dressing gown with his arms dangling over the armrests and face turned away. You two had the same colour hair but his was peppered with silver.

You pinched Eddie's arm to stop him staring and he followed you to your bedroom where you closed the door.

There were books everywhere, shelves filled to capacity as well as towers rising up from the floor. The spines had various colours and in different stages of wear with titles Eddie had never heard of. There was a chess board set up mid game on the desk and on the chair another cat, this one black, was curled up asleep.

With nowhere else to sit Eddie lowered onto your unmade bed as you dashed around the room gathering dirty laundry and throwing it in the wardrobe.

"Relax sweetheart," Eddie said soothingly and reached for your hand. "Come sit."

You looked around the chaotic room for another minute and decided getting it guest worthy was futile. You ignored Eddie's offered hand but sat beside him on the bed, looking straight ahead at the wall where you had some art prints tacked.

"Robin told me there was a fight at the supermarket," Eddie started when you wouldn't look at him.

"I suppose I better tell you everything before the story gets all twisted up at school," you said with defeat and leant back against the wall.

"We were grocery shopping yesterday and we came across Chrissy Cunningham and her Mum in the dairy section. Mrs Cunningham was going off at Chrissy for putting some cheese in their basket bitching about how it was going to make her fat and didn't she care how she looked and how she should be ashamed of herself and all this shit."

Eddie took in the story silently as you relayed it in a weary monotone.

"So Dad gets upset and starts having a go at Mrs Cunningham saying she should be the one ashamed and how dare she treat her daughter that way and how fat shaming proves how truly vile she was."

"Then she hit you?" Eddie rushed.

"No," you said tersely at being interrupted and made an irritated line with your lips.

"She and Dad started screaming at each other and things escalated. He wound up dumping a family sized tub of yogurt on her head and she took a swing at him."

"You got in the way," Eddie concluded.

"Never be a hero," you grunted and pointed to your stitches. "Cut me open with her engagement ring. When the paramedics got there they had to give Dad a sedative and we all wound up at the police station."

"What did they say?" This was the part Eddie worried about the most.

If you'd spoken the police the way you had to Principal Higgins it would be bad.

"They took statements from all of us and booked in a psych assessment for Dad. We're waiting to see if the Mrs Cunningham will press charges. I'm not sure what kind of assault throwing yogurt is but I'd think it's less severe than punching a minor in the face. If she wants to sue I've got a countersuit right here on my face."

You let your gaze roll upward to the roof and grumbled as you tugged your hair with frustration.

You didn't go on to explain the horror it had been once the sedative had worn off and Dad went into a full manic episode that lasted most the night.

"You're under a lot of strain sweetheart. Tell me how I can help."

Eddie's voice brought you back to the present and you rolled your head to see his beautiful eyes full of sympathy.

"My brain is like a freight train right now," you tried to explain the chaos in you mind. "One that's flown off the tracks and is plowing through a town at breakneck speed. I can't shut off."

"I can get you something to take," Eddie offered. "Something to relax you and help you sleep? Or something to drink? I wont tell anyone."

"No, not with my brain. It'll just make things worse," you said shaking your head.

Your brain was abnormal so you hated to think what a bit of weed would do to it.

"We could go for a drive somewhere?" Eddie suggested. "Get some air and something to eat? You're a little cabin feverish."

A cruise by Lover's Lake would have been divine with fresh air on your face but it wasn't possible.

"I gotta stay here, Dad will go into a tailspin if I'm gone when he wakes up."

"Let me keep you company at least," Eddie wasn't going to be deterred easily. "We can play chess or listen to some music. I have tapes in the van."

"Actually, can you read to me? I like the sound of your voice."

Your request was unusual and Eddie felt the impulse to tease. Say something about being a 1800 kinky caller but he sensed your mood was too low for lewd humour.

"Sure, anything in particular?" he asked pleased you were finally accepting his help.

"Doesn't matter."

Eddie reached for the closest piece of reading material and you closed your eyes allowing your head to fall against the wall.

Yesterday at the station had been hell. Mrs Cunningham was screaming so hysterically the officers had to move her to a room on her own while Chrissy sat outside crying.

You spent over an hour on the phone trying to track down your dad's social worker so he could attest that his client was not a danger and could be released.

The police had asked you a lot of uncomfortable questions about what happened in the home and if you were subjected to anything untoward. You'd been furious but had forced yourself to stay calm to get through the nightmare.

Dad meanwhile gave unclear answers due to the sedation so it wasn't until the supermarket manager came by with the security tape that you were allowed to leave.

Tomorrow the social worker would visit and assess the living situation. That could potentially effect how you would live from then on.

It was too much.

Eddie was reading you something about the Sicilian Defence but his words didn't register, his voice sounding like a hum. You didn't know when he had taken your hand but you were holding his and felt his warmth.

Eddie put the magazine down when you nestled your head on his lap and he swallowed uncertainly. He'd come over with the intension of checking on you but honestly had no idea how to help.

You were always so strong and in control it unnerved him to see you this way. Eddie was a considerate guy but he hadn't been raised in circumstances that required emotional intelligence.

He and Wayne were buds and his dad was a selfish arsehole. His mother was another case but he tried not to think about her.

Sometimes one of his lost sheep would feel the pressure of being a high school pariah and he'd have to step in to affirm their worth but no one had crumbled on him before.

It wasn't until he felt his jeans dampening that he realised you were crying.

"Hey, hey baby," he soothed and tossed the magazine on a nearby book pile. "You're all right."

"No I'm not," you sobbed and gripped a handful of denim. "It's all coming apart. What if they send him back to the psych ward? He wont survive another stay."

"You don't know that yet," Eddie said rationally. "Don't stress over something you can't control."

"I can control it," you sniffled. "I just have to figure out how."

"Come here, come here," Eddie encouraged and pulled gently at your collar to get you sitting up.

You sat up on your knees but Eddie had to turn your face gently to look at him. You were so ashamed of your own weakness you couldn't look him in the eye.

"Life is not a game of chess darlin,'" Eddie said forcing eye contact. "It doesn't have rules and order. It's chaos and we just have to keep our heads above the water. Sometimes it's overwhelming and we feel like we can't cope. That's why I sell so much weed, nobody can keep it together all the time."

You couldn't articulate your appreciation so you headbutted his shoulder lightly like the cats did to express affection. He smelt like weed mixed with something distinctly him and you breathed in a lungful like a fortifying incense.

It was the wrong time but Eddie took his shot. Your intimate proximity overwhelmed his good sense and he kissed you on the lips.

You were stunned and blinked at him with puffy eyes with a dazed expression when he broke away. Your head was such a squall at the moment you weren't entirely sure it was even real.

Maybe you had a concussion after all.

"I'm so sorry," Eddie said suddenly with a face of total remorse. "I shouldn't have done that."

A second later you were in his lap and kissing him fiercely.

Eddie made a startled noise then recovered quickly to cup the globes of your backside with his hands. He opened his mouth and met your tongue, massaging it with his own.

You had your fingers entwined at the back of his neck and were using your thumbs to massage the tight muscles under his skull. The gentle rotations on his neck sent relief through his head and Eddie moaned with euphoria against your lips.

You jerked your mouth away and planted a line of swift kisses along his jaw sweeping his hair back to bite his ear lobe gently.

Eddie responded by pulling the t-shirt down your shoulder and sinking his teeth into your neck. You hadn't showered since yesterday and your skin tased salty as he sucked animalistically.

"Oh Eddie," you groaned as you grabbed handfuls of mane. "Make me feel something."

The numbing misery that plagued you was being burnt away by pleasure. It had been a long time since you'd let anyone touch you ibtimately and Eddie's touch was reviving something within you.

You could never bring yourself to admit your need for physical affection. It would be exposing a weakness.

Eddie rolled his shoulders to make his jacket fall off and you reached down to undo his belt buckle.

"Is this ok?" you puffed between kisses and he nodded.

Eddie ran his hands over the front of your t-shirt but the sensation annoyed you, you wanted to feel those guitar tough fingertips on your skin.

In one swift move you pulled your top off and threw it on the floor. You weren't wearing a bra and Eddie froze for a minute taking in the sight of your breasts.

He'd imaged this moment half a hundred times but fantasy can only prepare someone so much. He was turned to stone by the sight and glanced up at you with an almost pleading look.

You took his wrist lightly with a thumb and forefinger and brought it to your firm breast.

Eddie held the weight and curve in his hand and felt the mass push against his squeeze. Tight and high, they were close to his face and he fought the crude urge to smother himself.

The belt now unbuckled Eddie's jeans practically unbuttoned themselves from the pressure pushing against them. Eddie had his hands on your shoulder blades as he kissed your breasts delicately and you reached under the chain store boxers to run a fingertip lightly along his length.

His gaze met yours and his attention on your breasts halted.

"Ok?" you asked seriously looking deep into the brown eyes you daydreamed about so often.

"Yeah," Eddie affirmed and you could feel his hold on you tighten.

"I'll stop any time," you promised and he kissed you on the lips again.

"I don't want you to stop," he assured you then kissed you deeper.

You kissed for a few minutes with Eddie running his fingers through your hair. It was always so tightly braided he felt a thrill playing with the loose tendrils and bringing a fistful to his face to inhale.

His wild hair was an open 'fuck you' to the establishment but yours struck him as something regal. A crown you'd grown yourself.

You slipped you hand under his boxers again and took ahold of his cock with a firm grip moving it to a slow rhythm as you rubbed your crotch against Eddie's thigh at a matching pace.

"That's good baby, that's good," he whispered and lent back.

His hold had moved back to your arse which he gripped tightly to steady his carnal instinct to throw you on the floor and fuck you senseless.

With your free hand you tenderly rubbed your thumb over his bottom lip and he bit at your fingers playfully making you giggle.

You couldn't believe someone as vivacious and unapologetically himself wanted you this way. You were too guarded, too course and encumbered with complicated responsibilities. The attraction had you confounded.

Eddie had lapsed into a sluggish bliss and desperate for more affection you let go of his throbbing cock and wiggled your behind out of his hold.

"What's wrong baby?" Eddie asked concerned and suddenly felt very aware of his erection poking out his pants like a flagpole.

Your dad could wake up any minute and there'd be no convincing him this was perfectly innocent.

"Nothing," you said and got comfortable kneeling on the floor.

You gave Eddie a wink and slipped your hands around his waist before leaning forward and taking him in your mouth.

Eddie let out a shaky gasp and and clenched the bedsheets either side of him. He instantly forgot his concern of being interrupted and tried not to buck his hips in reaction to your sudden action.

You moved your head up and down slowly, taking him deeply with your tongue sliding against the underside of his cock. Every few strokes you would drag your front teeth along his shaft ever so lightly to make him gasp.

"Jesus shit baby," Eddie groaned and nearly ripped the bed sheets as he yanked them in surprise.

No one had done this for him before. Sex he'd had but nothing this tender. Porn had mislead him to believe blowjobs were frantic and fast not this slow and sensitive.

Somehow the paced pleasure was making it harder to contain himself than if you were going at it like rabbits.

Feeling neglected you reached for one of Eddie's arms blindly and pulled his hand towards you as you kept the pace with your mouth. Receiving the message Eddie pushed his ringed fingers through your hair and held tight, not enough to hurt, just enough to convey his excessive delight.

Taking the encouragement you moved faster and Eddie began a long, low moan.

"Shit baby, that's good, so good, let me -"

Suddenly his voice broke into a shout and your mouth filled with with a warm salty substance you didn't expect.

You pulled off in a hurry and covered your mouth but it was too late, you had already spilled down the leg of Eddie's jeans and the floor.

You coughed as you retched ungracefully and Eddie swore repeatedly as he fumbled with himself.

This had never happened before, there hadn't been any warning. One second he was in the comfortable high of your ministrations and the next an orgasm had ripped through him.

He was beyond embarrassed and horrified of what you must think of him. He knew some guys just used girls as receptacles for their jizz but he'd never do that to you.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he repeated over and over and put his hand on your back as you coughed doubled over.

You moved out of reach and pulled some tissues out of your desk holding them to your mouth as you tried to regulate your breathing.

Eddie pushed this still throbbing cock back in his pants and buckled up before standing. Your breathing had slowed and you threw the bunched tissues in a bin.

The cat was now glaring at the two of you scornfully for waking him so rudely and you felt the shame rising in you.

What the fuck were you thinking? You were an emotional mess and you thought sucking off a school friend would help? What was wrong with you?

"I didn't mean that baby," Eddie came up behind you but you stepped away before he could hold you.

"Really I didn't," he insisted but you wouldn't turn around.

"It's not your fault it's mine," you said as the swallowed cum burnt in your throat like a cruel reminder of you mistake. "You should go."

"No baby I want to stay with you," the ecstasy from Eddie's orgasm was wearing off to make way for dread.

Did you hate him now?

"We should -" he began but suddenly someone outside began calling your name.

"Shit," you swore and quickly threw your shirt back on and made for the door.

"Wait a sec," Eddie moved to intervene but you pushed past him aggressively.

"Go home Eddie," you ordered as you opened the door and nearly tripped over the cat as it shot past you.

He said your name but you couldn't take anymore. You'd fucked up phenomenally and hated yourself for it.

"Just go home!" you shouted and slammed the door behind you.

Eddie stood in your room alone with his jeans turning sticky and his his cock drying from your spit. He'd come over to help and instead fucked everything up.

With your guard down he'd had the perfect opportunity to tell you how he was starting to feel about you but had got his dick out instead.

He stood for a second trying to think how he could turn everything around then in an mad outlash knocked the chess pieces across the room.

"Fuck!"

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

A/N Not so hot and heavy this chapter but I'm cooking up something for chapter four if you hang in there...

You were actually at band practice to enjoy some music and read a book on the bleachers while you waited for Robin. The two of you had a date for fries and the local bookstore afterwards but you let the onlookers believe you were there for Eddie.

"We can meet at your place or the public library, your choice," you whispered to Eddie as you twirled some of his hair around your finger.

Eddie had his hands on your hips with his fingertips hooked around your belt loops.

"Whoa not my place," he said a little frantic.

"Library it is," you declared and kissed the lock of hair twined around your finger.

Eddie made an unusual face that worried you.

"Yeah the thing is, we can't. I've got a lifetime ban there."

"How'd that happen?"

"There are a lot of details but it all boils down to a first edition Hemmingway and chocolate pudding."

You had several questions but thought it better to move along. Rehearsal would start in a minute and you needed a location for tomorrow's tutoring.

"Having guests is difficult for me," you explained a little cagey, "and the school wont let us use a room after hours because of our past shenanigans. So it'll have to be your place."

Eddie relented reluctantly and you pecked each other on the lips before he took his place in the band.

The next day you parked your rusty Mustang outside Eddie's trailer making a worrisome noise until you turned the ancient engine off.

You had just spent the past hour with Max shooting the breeze after delivering a batch of meals for her freezer.

When her Mum's roster fell on night shifts you provided a regular meal service so Max didn't eat from tins all week and feel crappy at school from all the chemical additives she ingested.

She rolled her eyes at the elaborate dishes your dad had portioned into tupperware but she was yet to complain about how they tasted.

Eddie heard you pull up and opened the trailer door for you.

"Where's your oven? This sucker needs to heat for ninety minutes," you said holding up a casserole dish with both hands.

"You brought your dinner?" Eddie asked as you passed him.

"Our dinner," you corrected and turned around trying to find the oven in the submarine sized kitchen. "Dad always cooks my student and I a meal when I do afterhours tutoring. I hope you like cassoulet."

Eddie lived on a steady diet of ham sandwiches and tinned spaghetti so he honestly couldn't say if he liked cassoulet or not. You weren't listening for an answer anyway as you were trying to open the oven door with your elbow.

"Guess your old man likes to cook," Eddie remarked as you slipped the dish in and set the temperature.

"He earned two Michelin stars before he gave it up," you answered then looked at him expectantly. "Where are we doing it? The bedroom? Or is the couch better?"

"Sorry?"

"Study," you clarified. "Do you have a desk in your room?"

"Oh right. No. Not the bedroom. I made room on the table."

You were oblivious to the blush rising on Eddie's cheeks as you returned to the living room and claimed a seat. The table was covered by towers of paraphernalia save for a corner Eddie had cleared for the session.

"I'll need a cup of tea and grab yourself some water," you called to Eddie who busied himself looking for a clean mug.

He gave one next to the kettle a suspicious sniff then ran it under some hot water hastily.

Sometimes the guys dropped by to rock out to metal tapes or watch a horror movie but Eddie had never entertained female company at home and it had him on edge.

'Hang on she's not your girlfriend,' he reminded himself as he opened all the jars in the pantry trying to locate a teabag.

That felt weird to think since he'd been making out with you publicly for weeks now. You'd seen him in his underwear and he'd had his hands all over your arse in the janitor's closet. Neither of you held back when you kissed either, your authenticity had earned you a few jeers about swapping mono.

Still, it was all a ruse to protect their business interests, no feelings to hurt.

Right?

The milk had gone bad and you declined sugar so you accepted your beverage as it was and opened a lunchbox of chopped fruit when Eddie sat with his water.

"Natural sugar for the brain," you explained as he looked baffled then you turned away from his smile.

There was something about that smile that made you giddy and invited you be playful.

It was probably the reason you never felt nervous kissing Eddie in front of a crowd. You knew he would never take advantage of you, there was a genuineness to him you trusted.

'Don't' your better judgement warned and you reverted to professionalism.

"Ok let's start with what's most urgent," you ordered. "What's due this week?"

Eddie handed you some crumpled sheets of paper which you flattened against the tabletop smoothing out the creases. He then pulled a math book out of his bag and opened it to a marked page.

You looked over the questions and nodded after a second of processing.

"Write the answers you get on some paper while I go over this then we'll take a look together. See where you're running into trouble."

Eddie "Yes Mamed" and followed your instructions faithfully. You noticed he wasn't shooting quips today or teasing so you suspected he felt embarrassed.

The humbleness of the trailer didn't bother you, your Dad had rented some awful apartments over the years and your current house was hardly The Ritz.

Nor were you gloating over Eddie's aptitude level. You breezed through your classes because of how puzzles deconstructed and realigned in your brain which you knew was rare. Plenty of people had commented about your neurotypical cognition when you had triumphed in no win chess matches.

That didn't give you an ego though, being smart didn't make you superior. You had more failings than you could count - your sporting efforts were laughable, your temper was always running hot and your domestic duties were never going to make you a housewife.

Meanwhile Eddie was creative in ways you'd never be, plucking new riffs from the air and bringing them alive on his guitar. He could write a D&D campaign with the skill of a fantasy novelist and his physical humour was hilarious.

Also the little sketches he'd done in the margins of his essay were quite good.

'Stop thinking about Eddie,' your better judgement piped but again and you concentrated on covering Eddie's handwriting in red pen.

You worked for a solid ninety minutes and found that most of what Eddie did was correct, he just had things around the wrong way.

He made some astute points in his essay but there was no structure to the piece and math he understood, he was just working it out backwards.

You supposed that was why his music was so original, a linear mind rarely came up with anything extraordinary.

The phone rang breaking the silence and you were glad for the disruption. There was something about being in Eddie Munson's private space that had you thinking fond thoughts.

Distractingly fond thoughts.

"Let me grab that," Eddie said and got up.

"Go for it," you said and went to the kitchen to refill your tea. You could hear Eddie on the phone as you searched for a fresh teabag.

"This is he, yes, yes. Sorry what did you say? How much? From where? You're sure? As in five two zeros? Right, thanks, bye."

You headed back to the table but froze when you saw Eddie. He was frowning, something you'd never seen him do and his hands were on his hips.

"That was the bank telling me the cheque you deposited into my account cleared," he said slowly after clearing his throat.

"Oh good," you replied cautiously waiting for the guillotine blade to fall.

Your casualness snapped his thin restraint and Eddie threw his hands into the air in an angry fit.

"Where the hell did you get five hundred dollars?!" he bellowed.

You relaxed knowing there was no emergency and walked back to your seat. If Eddie was going to be dramatic you'd rather take it sitting down.

"It's your ten percent just like I promised," you explained calmly and pulled his essay rewrite closer to read.

"You won five hundred bucks playing chess?" Eddie was flummoxed and couldn't comprehend your coolness.

He wasn't sure what had him wound up more, the amount of money he now possessed or how unperturbed you were about parting with it.

His bank account had never been so far in credit or his lunchbox full of crumpled dollars. His only investments were the guitar hanging on his bedroom wall and the jacket on his back but now he was loaded because you'd made a handshake deal with him behind school.

"Oh, your math is worse than I thought," you said with worry. "When you want to know a total amount of a percentage you write down the-"

"I know how percentages work!" Eddie bellowed. "When you said ten percent last week I though it would be about forty bucks or a couple of chocolate bars!"

"That was your assumption," you replied with an indifferent shrug. His hysterics were starting to bore you.

"Do they really give out five grand at high school chess comps?"

Eddie had heard of people living off games but they were usually card shark cocaine addicts or Russians with Einstein intellects. If someone sponsored D&D he could make a million as Dungeon Master but unfortunately he'd picked a game under persecution by the Christian middle class.

"No I was at the Michigan State Tournament," you said slowly to keep him placated. "I did mention Detroit to you remember?"

That's right, you'd needed the ten bucks for a bus ticket to a chess competition. It then dawned on Eddie he was talking to a state champion and he had to sit down.

"Shit girl," he puffed as he dropped in his chair like he'd just finished a marathon. "I didn't know you were that good."

"I do ok."

"A bit more than ok!"

"Yeah but no one likes a wanker."

Eddie silently agreed with that summation and finished his water before slamming it on the table like a beer pint on a bar.

"I can't accept the money," he declared in a seldom used serious voice. "It's too much."

The writing paper you were reading slowly lowered and Eddie could see your dangerous eyes staring at him lethally. It reminded him of a cowboy's eyes glaring down a gun barrel in a High Noon duel.

There'd be no arguing with whatever you said next.

"Don't start that shit. The deal was ten percent and you got ten percent. Buy some new music equipment, plant more marijuana or blow it all on D&D I really don't care. It's your money Eddie."

It was pretty rare that Eddie didn't get his own way. His band and Hellfire Club heeded his commands like loyal underlings and most adults simply gave him what he wanted to make him go away or stop talking.

Wayne had raised him on a loose leash because Eddie had always respected him enough not to abuse that liberty.

Thinking of Wayne, he'd have to keep the money a secret as he was already suspicious of where the weed cash was coming from.

Eddie hated to admit it but you had him pinned like one of your chess pieces. You wouldn't take the money back and he couldn't tell anyone who might have the influence to overrule your decision.

Zugzwang.

The one chess expression he knew. No matter which move he made it would be a bad one so he had to make the least bad decision he could.

"All right Grandmaster," he resigned himself to defeat sulkily and flopped in his chair. "What will you do with the rest of it? College fund?"

"Why's it matter?"

"Just curious." Eddie was a little taken aback by your snappish answer. "It's pretty cool that you beat a couple hundred people in another state. Most chess players are old dudes but you kicked their arses in a cute skirt. You should be proud of yourself."

Proud.

You'd never been proud of your chess abilities as you'd been warned too many times about the folly of pride. It always cometh before the fall.

You loved chess, the strategy, the cunning, the limitations and the possibilities all in sixty-four squares. Every time you played you discovered something new about the game or your opponent.

You hated the pressure of needing to win prize money though. It was like Van Gough pouring his heart into a painting then having to sell it for a pittance to keep him from begging.

Nothing destroyed your passion faster than making it lucrative.

Eddie's eyes were still on you and you could see his concern. It made you regret arguing and admitted he deserved some honesty. In the short time you'd known him he hadn't lied to you once.

"Some of what you've heard about my Dad is true, he has mental health problems," you began and picked up your mug so your fingers wouldn't fidget. "Very severe bi-polar."

"That's..." Eddie's uncertain expression told you an explanation was needed.

"They used to call it manic depressive. It's when you can't control your emotions so you can shoot up to an amazing mood only to crash into depression without warning. So he can come across as a little intense or strange which unsettles people. Hence all the stories."

Eddie nodded but didn't interrupt because he could tell you were struggling and had heard about your Dad's oddities to follow the story.

He'd never seen you vulnerable and realised you must trust him to talk about this. The two of you had done a lot of kissing but hardly any talking.

"I had to stay in boarding school a long time because he was never well enough to be responsible. He'd do ok for a time with his therapy and medication only to crash out and wind up back in the psych ward. Then last year his social worker said he was steady enough for me to come home."

Eddie didn't interrupt so you continued.

"However no one is keen to employ a man who's spent half his adult life in mental hospitals and Dad can't cope with anything stressful."

"So the prize money-" Eddie began.

"It takes more than a disability cheque and my two side gigs to cover everything. Chess keeps Dad's meds stocked, the rent paid and the bills in the black."

"That's a lot."

"That's just family."

The oven suddenly dinged and you felt a rush of relief. Literally saved by the bell.

Eddie followed you into the kitchen and together you assembled dinner. Eddie usually ate straight from the tin or without cutlery so it took him a minute to find everything.

Sitting back at the table together Eddie felt a sensation of surrealism. He and Wayne usually crossed like ships in the night with Eddie's days at school and Wayne's night shifts so they only ate together on weekends.

Even then it was usually on the couch and only if neither of them had plans. So using the dining table for its intended purpose and eating French food was not something he had anticipated for the evening.

"I've been getting a lot of company around the Coke machine lately," you attempted dinner conversation and Eddie raised his eyebrows. "Cheerleaders and Party Girls asking just how many tattoos you have under that Hellfire shirt and if you have a penis piercing."

"What did you say?" Eddie asked with a half smile.

It was good to see you perking back up after that heavy confession.

"That my lips are sealed but what you did to me on the pool table at The Hideaway last week left me gasping," you said in a sultry voice and added a little gasp for dramatic effect.

Eddie laughed a little as he chewed his dinner. For someone who liked a game so clinical you had quite the sordid imagination.

"You gotta go easier on the risqué stories sweetheart," he said and scooped up another fork of food. "If you give me a Cassanova reputation I'll disappoint the frustrated housewives of Hawkins when I'm cleaning their pools next year."

"You wont be servicing housewives in your future," you assured him. "You'll be a million miles from Hawkins tearing it up on stage at a Swedish Death Metal festival knee deep in Nordic babes."

"You really think so?"

Eddie had never discussed his music ambitions with you but you'd seen his enthusiasm at band practice. You'd seen his frustration too, having to keep to the dull notes of patriotic school pep songs instead of making that guitar roar.

"You've got just as much chance as anybody but not if you stay in this town," you said rationally. "Get your diploma and board a bus to LA or New York where there's actually a music scene. People around here are still playing The Doobie Brothers and The Beatles on vinyl."

"True," Eddie agreed.

Moving out of Hawkins had long been the dream but he'd never had any idea how to go about it. Wayne had gotten stuck here and his father had become a criminal.

Starting fresh successfully required cash and education neither of which he'd had much of.

Until now.

Later when you'd finished dinner Eddie shelled out some tens for your time and you made sure to remember the casserole dish when gathering your things. Dad was very particular about his cookware.

Eddie walked you to your car and unlocked it so you could pile your bags and dirty dish into the passenger side.

"Thanks for tonight," Eddie said as you took the keys back. "I think this helped."

"That's ok," you said dismissively. "Let me know when you need another session and I'll make time."

"I mean for everything tonight. It was really great."

The outdoor light on the trailer didn't cast enough light to see Eddie's face but his tone lacked its usual amusement and sureness.

Like you, it wasn't easy for Eddie to show vulnerability.

Theatrics and showmanship were how Eddie protected himself just as you used stinging insults and wit. Right now you weren't sure how to answer as a factious remark would be a barb on Eddie's exposed nerves.

"I'm glad. I had a good time too," was the first honest thing that came to mind.

Eddie kissed you then. Not one of his exhibition kisses but a gentle one that lingered on your cheek for a second then flew away.

"Oh, um," you would have been less surprised if he'd shoved you aside and stolen the Mustang.

Luckily in the dark Eddie couldn't see you blush. You hadn't received a kiss so sweet and chaste since a chess club boy has kissed you when you were twelve.

"Goodnight Eddie," you blurted and jumped in the car. It spluttered into life and you stomped the clutch to throw the gearstick in reverse.

Eddie looked started in the headlights for a second then you swung the wheel around and shot out the trailer park well over the five mile limit and didn't slow until you saw the lights of town.

Eddie Munson had changed tactics on you and your pieces were exposed to attack.

It was time to put your defences back up.

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

It was morning break on Monday when Eddie came to find you.

You and Max were enjoying the quiet isolation of the picnic bench Eddie usually dealt at. You were sitting lotus style on the table with your chess board set up mid game while Max read a graphic novel you'd found in a thrift store.

Eddie's boots made enough noise to announce himself but you were completely transfixed by the still pieces on their squares. Max saw Eddie but went back to reading without a word.

Today you'd separated her hair into multiple braids and woven them together into a crown. Eddie thought of suggesting you swap book selling for hairdressing but he supposed a legitimate business wouldn't supply the same thrill.

"Sinclair said you two sometimes come up here before class," Eddie tried to get your attention away from the stalled game. "I hope I'm not disturbing you guys and your invisible friend."

Max muttered something about Lucas being a snitch and went back to reading.

You were more polite lifting your eyes and smiled at your visitor.

"I was hoping to catch you actually," you said and motioned for Eddie to join you.

"Really?" Eddie asked suspiciously, "Most people don't say that."

"Do you have ten bucks?" you got the point before he could waffle on. "One of my clients stood me up so I'm short."

"Oh so that's how it works does it?" Eddie asked with mock indignation. "You think a hot time in the janitor's closet opens an account at the Bank of Munson? Well credit denied madam!"

"I left half my good lipstick on you!" you protested joining in the joke. "You owe me! They're quality cosmetics!"

"I'll pay that," Eddie conceded with a chuckle and passed you some crumpled notes from his vest pocket. "What are you buying?"

"Greyhound tickets to Detroit," you answered and smoothed the currency on your leg. "I'm playing at a tournament this weekend. I'll pay you back next week plus ten percent of anything I win."

"Done deal honey."

"Hey, ten bucks doesn't buy you familiarity," you warned jabbing the notes his way threateningly.

"We're beyond familiar babe," Eddie replied then turned to Max. "Scoot kid, I need to talk to your mum."

"Do what I've shown you Max," you sighed returning your attention to the board.

Max flipped Eddie off with both middle fingers and told him to, "Die in a fire."

"I see you're a big inspiration for the youth," Eddie remarked snidely as Max packed the graphic novel in her bag.

"Says the man running a cult," you countered and turned to Max who was on her feet. "You don't have to go because of this guy."

"I don't want to hang around for the pillow talk," Max grunted. "I'll see you later?"

"Yep. Science Lab B for chess at lunch. I have a new opening for you."

Max stomped away through the undergrowth and you were left alone with Eddie and the chess board.

"Did you say I was a cult leader?" he asked when Max was out of earshot.

"You're a charismatic guy with wild hair who recruits young people to join him in practices outside the mainstream and adorn themselves in matching garb," you answered with a small shrug. "Pretty apt description."

"That doesn't make me a cult leader," Eddie retorted and crossed his arms.

"Whatever you say," you said as a smile started rising on your lips. "Just don't run a Kool Aid stand at the next school carnival."

That tickled Eddie's macabre sense of humour and he had to laugh. He and his Hellfire Club had been called a lot of nasty things but no one had the nerve to tease him to his face.

Besides, coming from a chess captain it was insults amongst outcasts.

"What did you come here for Eddie?" you asked.

The bell would ring soon and you needed to cut the banter.

"I wanted to check how you were with the suspension and everything," Eddie slipped his long legs over the bench so he could sit near you. "I would have called but none of your friends would give me your number. Robin said I'd make heavy breathing calls."

"Probably best you didn't. Dad has a habit of answering and trapping people on the line," you admitted.

"Yeah I heard your dad's a little-" Eddie broke off when he saw your friendly expression suddenly drop and eyes narrow.

"Go on," you dared.

"Never mind," Eddie was smart and changed the subject. "How much trouble did I get you in?"

"Got me in?" you nose crumpled from your confused expression. "I got you in trouble, I undid your pants to conceal my controversial library."

"Which I made you show me," Eddie interjected.

"Let's not squabble over details," you said rubbing your temples. "All Dad asked was who I was kissing and why so nothing came of it."

"He was cool with you kissing me? Really?"

One time he had seen his lab partner with her mother at the supermarket and had helped load their shopping onto the conveyor belt. Come Monday he was reassigned a new lab partner because the mother didn't want her daughter subjected to a "long haired thug" who would destroy her chemistry grade.

"A really nice guy who helped prevent a book burning? What's the problem with that?" you asked with open hands.

Eddie was rarely silent so you worried he was catatonic by the way he stared at you blankly while the birds chirped and trees rustled around you.

He thought your fiery defense of his character in the principal's office had stemmed from your need to rebel against Higgins, not genuine faith in his character.

He could count on one hand those who would stand up for him.

"Eddie?"

"Um yeah," Eddie came back online and blinked a few times to dissolve the glassiness of eyes. "I was wondering something else while you're here."

Your stomach began to twist and you held your breath. You'd been worrying about this possibility during your suspension, that Eddie would mistake your cunning romantic ruse for something real.

Something he would want to pursue.

"I hear you do some tutoring for the middle schoolers," Eddie continued before he lost his nerve. He never like admitting he was vulnerable. "I was wondering if maybe you could help me out with a few subjects?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," you stumbled through your quick reply. "We can sort something."

The bell rang and you both leapt into action relieved to end the awkward conversation. You had been rehearsing the 'Let's Be Friends' speech since the weekend and were elated to now know it wasn't needed.

Eddie was likewise pleased as he's half expected you to be contemptuous. He hadn't been suspended like you, he'd spent the last week in after school detentions where he'd asked around about the impressive grades Principal Higgins had mentioned.

Apparently you would be this year's valedictorian if only you could tell people to fuck off less. Hawkins High was not going to let you make the graduation speech for the Class of 86.

One of his fellow reprobates mentioned his younger brother was getting tutoring from you and Eddie started to think. He could feel this was going to be his year and now he knew why, the universe had brought you to him.

Eddie helped you pack up the board and offered a gentlemanly hand to help you off the table.

"Who won?" he asked showing his good mood. "You or Mr Invisible?"

"I lost that one," you admitted as you made your way down the hill together. "I was trying to find where they first made the play I didn't see."

"Who in the club beat you?" he asked curiously.

"That was a match from a local tournament three years ago. I like to go over my old games and analyse my opponent's strategies," you explained.

"You're shitting me," Eddie scoffed as the prison of Hawkins High came into view. "You can't remember the layout from that long ago."

"I shit you not," you countered and gave him a dead serious look. "I remember all my games. Even my first one."

That sounded incredibly spurious but somehow Eddie could believe it. He'd never seen you play but an amateur wouldn't take a six hour bus to play chess against strangers on a weekend.

"Well you better give me a kiss before we go to class," Eddie said changing the subject as you walked into the building.

"Pardon me?" you asked amazed at his hubris.

This guy had some serious balls if he thought you were going to dish out kisses like lollipops on vaccine day.

"The Eye on Sauron is upon us babe which means-"

"Principal Higgins is watching us for any further sign of felonious behaviour," you translated before you got buried in Tolkien theology. "So we best feed the gossip mill who will quilt us a cover with their vicious whispers and spiteful stories. I read Lord of the Rings too."

"Baby I'm not sure if you can get any hotter right now," Eddie purred silky and leaned in for the kiss.

Your lipstick printed on his mouth and you slipped a hand around his neck to feel the smooth skin under his jacket collar. There was no passion in the exchange but you had to admit the way Eddie brushed your hair behind your ear with his calloused guitarist's fingers wasn't entirely unpleasant.

You received a few catcalls and crude comments then pulled away from each other.

Mission successful.

Eddie had such a smug smile on his handsome face you couldn't let him swagger away in victory.

"Tolkien was overrated," you whispered in his ear and wiggled your butt so it suggested you were promising future favours. "Too many descriptions of fucking trees."

Eddie's nostrils flared like an enraged bull's and he opened his mouth to destroy you but your hand was already moving towards the winning move.

"I'm gonna eat this for lunch!" you yelled over the student herd migrating around you and gave Eddie's crotch a tight squeeze.

The crowd went wild with whoops and shouts and you held the delicate bulge just long enough for an appropriate amount of people to witness it.

Eddie was frozen in place and his bag slipped from his shoulder landing on the floor spilling his pens and books. His mind couldn't comprehend what was going on but his cock could.

The warmth and strength of your grip had opened the hormone floodgates and blood rushed straight into his length. You'd let go but his dick was crying out for more like a semaphore flag waving frantically for attention.

"Don't leave me hungry baby!" you hollered and ran towards your history class.

Checkmate.

[kickbackkanzaki]

The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen

You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

"Eddie! Hey Eddie!" Dustin call and waved his had in front of Eddie's fixed eyes.

"Forget it, he's watching his girlfriend again," Gareth said between bites of his sandwich.

"Huh what?" Eddie jolted out of his trance and blinked at the Hellfire Club who were all staring at him.

"We were asking about the next campaign but you were too busy staring at Max's pretty friend," Mike explained in an annoyed tone.

You were sitting at a table across the cafeteria occupied by a motley mix of Robin, some of her band friends, a few chess club members and Max who was having her fire red hair tamed into a braid by your practised fingers.

"His girlfriend," Dustin repeated with a giggle.

"She's not my girlfriend," Eddie shot his young follower down, "I've never even spoken to her."

"You've been staring at her for weeks and you haven't talked once? Since when are you shy?" Dustin batted back and the whole table waited for an answer.

"It's not what you think," Eddie answered boredly.

"Sure dude."

"No really, she's up to something," the club leader came clean because there was no way Dustin would drop the subject otherwise. "People are always whispering to her and she hands out lunch bags randomly. It's weird."

"Maybe they're just hungry?"

"Think bigger Henderson. She's got a business going on."

"Why do you care?" Mike asked.

He didn't really care much for anyone's relationships since his own girlfriend had moved to California.

"Because Wheeler," Eddie answered impatiently. "I've spent six years building my cliental at this school and I'm not about to lose it to some new chick with a chess fetish."

"Dude," Jeff had just demolished his lunch and could finally talk. "Your balls are heavy and it's making you crazy. Just go ask her out before one of the basketball douchbags do."

The Hellfire Club's laughter was cut short when their leader's fist slammed the table.

"See! See!" Eddie half stood out of his seat and pointed across the cafeteria at you. "It's happening now."

A girl had approached you and said something that made you stop braiding and pull an item from your shoulder bag wrapped in brown paper.

Only because they were watching so intensely did the Hellfire Club see the crumpled note passed discretely between you two.

"That is it!" Eddie bellowed and shook the table so hard all the cafeteria plates jumped. "I'm putting an end to this now!"

The attention the Dungeon and Dragons players were giving you went totally unnoticed by yourself. Most of the time at school you dissociated mentally, preferring to solve puzzles in silence than listen to the state certified lessons.

But you enjoyed the company of your patchwork friends so you put up with the classes and cafeteria babble.

The first thing you'd done when you enrolled in Hawkins High was locate the chess club and challenge the reigning president for his position. He had demanded you win a simultaneous exhibit which you did by nailing all dozen club members in an hour.

Robin had been paired with you for chemistry and she'd won you over with her natural spunk and charm. Musical talent wasn't something you possessed but her band friends were nice and helped you navigate the school hierarchy.

You'd noticed Max pretty quickly as it was hard to miss that flaming hair. You sensed she was struggling with more than just the adjustment to freshman year and had taken her under your wing.

She'd pushed back at first, not wanting anyone to interfere with her problems but you persisted and she realised you wanted to support her, not fix her.

Max had booed braids as girly and dumb when you first offered to style her hair but after she read the books you loaned her on Viking women she'd relented.

You were so focused on keeping Max's hair threads even you didn't notice Eddie Munson sideling up to you holding his lunchbox.

"Have you got a moment?" he asked as everyone at the table stopped to stare at "The Freak" in his regular outfit of denim and leather.

"Sorry comrade," you said without looking up. "I am currently tackling a very complicated reverse braid and I have my friend Owen in check. So unless you can speed one of these along you'll have to come back later."

Eddie watched your fast hands weaving Max's hair for a few moments and decided to try the chess board instead. You had lost more pieces than Owen but your remaining ones were stronger. At the moment your queen and rook had Owen's king pinned and his other pieces were no support.

Eddie reached over and moved the trapped king in a direction Owen hadn't considered. You looked over for a second then knocked the king flat with a bishop you had been hiding in the back flank.

"Aww screw you man!" Owen whined and slumped back in his chair.

You and Max laughed and the final touches were added to Max's hairdo.

"There," you said handing her a mirror from your bag. "A true Valkyrie."

"So can we talk now?" Eddie asked naggingly.

"Alright," you said with a shrug and put the mirror back in your bag. "I'll see you in the carpark after school Max."

You gathered your things and followed Eddie out of the cafeteria and through the corridors to an out of order bathroom.

Without inhibitions you passed the door he held open for you and lent against a sink while Eddie made sure the cubicles were empty.

You only knew Eddie Munson by reputation and you were doubtful anything about that reputation was factual. Some had said he was into the occult and dangerous but you were yet to believe it.

So far he just seemed like a board game nerd who blew his eardrums out to metal music.

Satisfied you were alone Eddie kept a polite distance by a cubicle door and put on an professional expression.

"I'm all for empowering women in business but you need to stop," he began. "I've built a trusting relationship with the buyers here and I can't allow an interloper to come in and ruin it. So please, stay out of my territory."

For a moment you were both dead still and only a dripping tap could be heard.

"I think we have a misunderstanding," you said slowly breaking the silence and tried not to smile at his seriousness.

"I've seen your hustle lady," Eddie changed tactics and tried to sound suave. "Sneaking around handing out lunch bags like a suburban mummy. Only difference between us is I have more style."

You had a laugh a bit then. He was so serious it was adorable. The bell rang and you knew you had to resolve this misunderstanding quick.

"Come and see what I'm dealing and you'll understand I am no threat to your enterprise," you said with a smirk.

"Now?" Eddie asked uncertainly as a mass of students moved passed the door. "We'll be tardy."

"Come on, live dangerously," you teased with a wink.

You waited until the halls emptied and classroom doors closed then motioned for Eddie to follow. Both of you kept your footsteps light and peeked around each corner before scurrying towards the janitor's closet.

Eddie kept an eye out as you unfolded two hairpins from your pocket and worked the lock. After a bit of delicate maneuvering the lock popped and you both slipped inside, hitting the light switch as you went.

Eddie stood back as you dropped your bag and went over to a heating vent in the floor. The cover came loose with little effort and you pulled out a cardboard box.

Intrigued, Eddie stepped closer to take a cautious look at the contents.

"I deal in the most dangerous of contraband," you whispered seductively then theatrically opened the box.

"Books?"

"Brilliant books," you corrected and handed him a stack.

Eddie fumbled with the load then flipped through the pile reading each title aloud.

"Catcher in the Rye, The Colour Purple, The Bluest Eye, hang on why do I know these?" Eddie rarely read anything outside of fantasy but these were familiar to him.

He spied a bright red book in the box and the penny dropped.

"Holy shit!" he jumped on the spot and snatched the novel up. "This is the one they were picketing on the news!"

"The Handmaid's Tale," you said with a sagacious nod. "A frighteningly believable premonition of women's future. I've got a waiting list as long as my arm for that one."

"These are all banned aren't they? Is that what you've been dealing in? Illegal literature?"

"Ten dollars to loan, twenty to buy," you said and took the novels back to carefully replaced them in their box.

"I guess I owe you an apology," Eddie confessed and started smiling.

He was embarrassed to admit his spying and conspiracy theories had been paranoia but he could see the funny side to it. Eddie was man enough to admit when he'd made a fool of himself.

It was a nice smile you thought. Eddie's brown eyes warmed and you could feel your defensive shield melting a little. His leather jacket and demonic jewellery was just a facade too fool simple minds. Which accounted for most of the student body.

'Stop that,' you warned yourself when you started looking at his soft lips. 'It's a trap.'

"I thought you were dealing drugs but this is way more dangerous. Like state crime dangerous."

"Don't get turned on," you warned and tried to stop thinking of that smile. "In a small town there is no greater crime than new ideas."

"Baby you're speaking my language."

You were about to cuss him out for that moniker when there was a pounding on the door.

"Mr Munson!" came a shout. "I know you're in there! Unlock this door immediately!"

"What the fuck?" you gasped and quickly returned the contraband to its hiding place.

"Principal Higgins," Eddie blanched and his eyes rounded like a frightened deer. "He's been watching me all week. I think someone snitched on me."

Another bang rattled the door frame and you both backed into the tool shelf.

"Mr Munson! Open this door!"

Eddie looked down anxiously at his lunchbox with its hidden compartment full of weed. Higgins had searched his bag and locker heaps of times but he'd never suspected the unstylish lunch pail. If Higgins was to catch him holding it now...

He could see his underwhelming future flashing before his eyes. Expulsion, community service sentence, Wayne shaking his head in disappointment, a job cleaning septic tanks, alone on the couch every Friday feeding his beer gut, a funeral with three mourners.

"Final warning!" Higgins yelled then speaking to someone outside said in a quieter voice, "Unlock it."

"Drop your pants," you ordered as you snatched the lunch pail from Eddie's hand and dropped it on the tool shelf behind you.

"What?" Eddie asked frantically.

"Just do it!" you barked and grabbed his denim vest with both hands.

A second later maintenance man Sergio and Principal Higgins opened the door to see you kissing Eddie Munson madly. Your legs were wrapped tight around his waist as his hands gripped your arse tight under your skirt.

Your fingers were tangled in his hair which smelt fresh and clean to your surprise. You had expected the brown triffid to be knotty and full of crumbs but it was fabulous like a lion's mane.

Eddie's breathing was laboured as he strained holding you and tried not to trip on the jeans around his ankles. Your intimate proximity was overwhelming him and he was struggling to balance the conflicting feelings of fear and arousal.

The skin around your underwear was cool and firm in his hands but your lips were warm and soft. Only millimeters of fabric separated your privates and he could feel your heat warming his sensitive area.

"My office now!" Principal Higgins yelled and Sergio made his escape muttering about needing to be somewhere else.

With the mood instantly killed you dropped out of Eddie's hold and he rushed to pull his pants up. He had the decency to look embarrassed by the compromising situation but you were struggling not to smile at the principal's disapproving glare.

You enjoyed the childish thrill of upsetting authority figures, a fault you should grow out of but probably wouldn't.

You and Eddie were marched into the principal's office where you were subjected to a scolding about playing hooky, inappropriate behaviour and worst of all, not showing the proper school spirit.

Eddie took your hand as you sat side by side opposite Principal Higgins. You went to pull away but he winked and you realised he was trying to maintain the lovers charade.

The heat of your palm warmed the metal rings and his long fingers nearly enclosed your whole hand they were so long.

You zoned out for most of what Principal Higgins said, these speeches were liked cracked records to you now. Not that you incited trouble, it's just that you stood up for yourself - something an institution that demands blind obedience disliked.

"-don't let him influence you with his underachieving behaviour."

"Hang on what?" you were suddenly reengaged in the conversation. "Did you just take a swipe at Eddie?"

"Leave it darlin'," you hear Eddie mumble behind a pensive hand gesture.

"No, no," your irritation was up. "What do you mean underachieving? Eddie is in three of my classes and he shows up to every one on time. He shuts up, does his work and answers questions. Underachieving is how I'd describe those basketball Neanderthals who stumble in late and butcher Shakespeare."

Last week you had to sit through a double period of English where the basketball goons has sniggered as every mention of "ass" in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

"You're still new to this school," Higgins had changed his tone to one for a simpleton. "You may not know this is Mr Munson's third attempt at graduation."

"Which is brilliant," you said imitating his tone. "Most people would just give up."

Eddie squeezed your hand warningly but you were on a roll. Everything the principal said now was lubricant for your bulldozer.

Principal Higgins pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He had heard about this in the staff room. How you took to an argument with the ferocity of a bulldog and pulled a verbal knife on any bully who crossed your path.

"You are one of our best students," he began.

"Oh piss off," you shot him down before he could continue. "I get the best grades but I'm an awful student. Which is why I never get approached for extra advancement or early college admission. You give all that to the 'best' students who are spoon fed conformists while the students who put in twice the work just to keep up get ignored."

"We accommodate every student," Higgins puffed his chest up defensively.

"No you don't!" you said louder and now you were the one squeezing Eddie's hand.

"The only college scouts who come here are after athletes. Art subjects are undersupplied, the library hasn't a single book published this decade and our history textbooks are written from a very biased, white, male view. Less than half of graduates go to college, most stay in Hawkins and find blue collar work. These kids are falling into apathy because you're putting all your attention on the golden children."

"You're suspended for the rest of the week," Higgins couldn't argue with you so he resorted to punishment. "I'll be calling your father."

"You'll wish you hadn't," you chuckled and grabbed your bag.

"You need to wait while I do the paperwork!" Higgins called as you walked to the door.

"Send me a fax," you replied nonchalantly and after a second remembered you were supposed to be madly in love with Eddie Munson.

"Farewell my darling," you said with longing and blew him a kiss.

Eddie caught it and held it over heart. He smiled again triggering a tingling sensation on your skin and you had a flashback to your tongue tickling his.

'Don't,' you warned yourself. 'You don't need the trouble.'

But you were going to get into a lot of trouble.

[kickbackkanzaki]

Pomegranate Seeds and Black Roses

Diana, the daughter of Lucilla and Acacius becomes an obsession for Emperor Geta. As rebellion in the colosseum rises and danger stalks her family Diana must outmanoeuvre her enemies to keep her loved ones alive.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Diana had never been to a gladiator match and had very low expectations. So far everything about the had emperors disgusted her and she didn't expect their favourite entertainment to be an exception.

Neither of her parents had any love for the spectator executions but Lucilla could not refuse the command to attend. Acacius' fleet had made port the other night and he would be home before the end of the week. Which was when hopefully these summons would stop.

Diana hated hiding behind her father's protection but she was exhausted from performing to Caracalla's whims and anxious around Geta. He was yet to seek a reprisal for the blood spilt but Diana was certain he was only biding his time so she would twist herself tight with fear in the meantime.

The two women were escorted by Mensca who lead them through the labyrinth of colosseum tunnels to the Emperors' balcony. At the foot of the stairs he stopped and Diana gave him a quizzical look.

He shook his head at her and after a moment she nodded back. Mensca had seen enough carnage in the fighting pits of Baia, he didn't need to watch a second more.

Lucilla and Diana held hands as they ascended the stairs into the royal viewing area where the brother emperors socialised with a group of favoured senators. Slave girls slipped between the guests filling glasses and praetorian guards flanked the box to keep the rabble from leering at the rich.

They had deliberately arrived late to receive as little notice as possible but when Caracalla saw Diana he hugged her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Thank you for inviting us Emperor Caracalla," Diana forced a smile and touched his clasped hands around her neck.

"Of course!" he practically squealed and pushed his face into her cheek affectionately. "Pullo said you'd never seen a match so I had to bring you."

"Did he?" Lucilla asked and looked at Pullo with a stony expression.

Pullo was in conversation with another senator seated nearby but caught Lucilla's gaze at the edge of his vision. He smirked but carried on without acknowledging her.

Lucilla Aurelius was a remnant of a past monarchy, Pullo's only royal interests were with the emperors in power.

After a few more minutes of fawning Caracalla released Diana and moved onto a senator she didn't know. With plenty of colourful distractions present Caracalla was less likely to lapse into melancholy or rage today. Meaning hopefully he wouldn't monopolise her for the entire games.

Diana excused herself as Lucilla conversed politely and took in the grandness of the colosseum. It seemed even bigger on the inside than it had outside but still looked like it would burst from the multitude of people packed in the seats.

Never before has she seen so many people in the one place, not even an army encampment. The spectators were speaking amongst themselves at a polite level but together their voices sounded like a hornet's swarm before an attack.

Currently the behaviour in the stands was sedate but Lucilla had warned that when wagers were lost and favourites triumphed the decorousness would give way to debauchery. By which time they could depart without much notice.

Diana heard Senator Thraex at the far end of the box, his ingratiating voice a little shrill.

"You are injured Highness! How did that befall you?"

"Just some broken glass it's nothing," she heard Geta say curtly.

Diana couldn't help smirking but didn't look their way. She could remember Geta shrieking like he'd been speared and brought the praetorians running when she'd bitten him.

Geta was a glutton for pleasure and revelled in another's agony but pain was an unfamiliar sensation in his ivory tower. No one had raised a hand to him since his father's death and the years following had numbed the memories.

The trumpets suddenly blasted out a short tune and the Master of Ceremony was greeted by raucous cheer. Lucilla called Diana to sit and passed her a red beverage.

"Oh no," Diana began but Lucilla silenced her with a look.

"Pomegranate juice," she whispered conspiratorially and took a sip from her own glass.

The young emperors were known for their decadence and took insult to anyone not gorging themselves similarly in their presence.

Formalities were performed with the emperors waving to an adoring crowd and Lucilla nodded acknowledgement to the people before the first game began.

It was a swift affair with two men dueling. Diana was impressed by their athleticism and form but when one was pierced under his armour she recoiled against her chair. She knew the violence would be distasteful but she'd expected the distance from the fighting sand would dilute it.

Lucilla held her hand and Diana didn't breathe again until Geta gave the signal for mercy.

"Must we stay?" Diana whispered to her mother once the cheering died down.

"Wait until they are inebriated and bored," Lucilla advised her. "Then they will retreat to the palace for other pastimes."

They endured another two rounds of combat, one with a dozen cavalry men and a duel with foreign weapons before a recess was called to clear the arena.

The slaves had laid a lavish table for the midday meal but Diana had no appetite so she refilled her glass and went to observe the crowd.

She noticed a heavily pregnant woman sitting below suffering in the terrible heat. The bawdry man beside her, Diana guessed the husband, had his entire focus on an argument with a man two rows away yelling curses and spilling his wine when he gesticulated wildly.

Diana said something to a nearby slave who nodded and departed down the stairs. Her green eyes scanned the crowd until she saw the slave reappear below walking through the rows of spectators carrying a parasol and jug of water.

She gave both items to the struggling woman and the husband suddenly stopped his raging. The slave indicated to Diana and the confused couple both bent their heads to her in reverence.

Diana nodded to them the same regal way Lucilla had for the crowd then turned to see Geta standing behind her.

"You can't help being kind can you?" he purred and smiled at how her green eyes widened with fright.

"It's only a small gesture," Diana answered humbly and tried to step around him.

"That makes a world of difference to her," Geta moved deliberately so she would bump into him. "You see people suffering and intervene. What you offer is better than money or favour, it's empathy. People love you because for a moment they think you understand their plight as well as they do."

Geta was short tempered and often blinded by his ego but he was not stupid. He'd been studying Diana and seen the influence she had. Not just with Caracalla but in the senate and with the barbarian bodyguard she could call to heel like a pup.

"I understand what people need and provide," Diana tried to stand a little taller to appear less intimidated. "Is there something you need Sire?"

Geta lent forward until Diana could feel his hot breath against her lips.

"I need to taste you. It's all I've thought about since I last saw you."

Diana tried hard not to scrunch her nose at his distasteful answer.

"I suspect there will be enough blood spilled today to satiate your thirst Emperor," she replied flatly.

"I don't want to drink from your veins Diana," Geta's smile widened at her innocence. "I want to taste what's between your legs."

The comment struck her dumb and broke her mask of indifference.

Diana's instinct was to run for help but stopped herself. How would a queen reply? She remembered what Proserpina had told her and knew demureness would not work here.

"Perhaps I have teeth down there too."

She narrowed her green eyes dangerously and held her ground as the gladiators had done during their duels. Even if they were terrified and outmatched they still projected the confidence of a victor.

Geta broke into a grin which annoyed Diana. She didn't want to be amusing, she wanted to be terrifying.

She lifted her top lip to show her incisors momentarily then tried to move past him but Geta snatched her arm and squeezed painfully.

"You're riling me Diana. I like it," he growled in her ear.

"If you want a female to amuse you and play with your pretty hair you should get your own monkey," Diana suggested nastily and blew a puff of cool air through his ginger hair.

Gods he was rock hard and ready to fuck her in front of the whole colosseum right then. Geta could imagine the hot blood of her first time slickening his cock as gladiators slaughtered each other below for his entertainment.

He'd sink his teeth into the tight skin of her large breasts and tease her clitoris with his thumb until she begged for release. She'd be at his mercy this first time then he'd teach her how to please an emperor. Not in the ways his concubines did but in all the titillating ways he'd imagined since that sunrise at the palace.

"Geta it's starting!" Caracalla called and the trumpets blared.

Diana dug her thumb into Geta's stitches hard and he snatched his hand back with a hiss. Then quickly she wove her way through the guests to sit by her mother.

"You mustn't encourage him," Lucilla admonished as she passed Diana a small corsage of lavender and sage.

The day had gotten hot and the stench of putrefying flesh had reached even the high seats.

"I'm encouraging nothing," Diana replied in a low tone. "I'm telling him where the lines in the sand are."

"He'll see that as a challenge."

"I'm prepared."

"Don't overestimate yourself Diana," Lucilla warned. "Geta is not a moral man, he will not play by the rules of decency."

"Neither will I."

It occurred to Diana that she'd never been so stubborn before. She had always deferred to Lucilla's better judgement or believed her limitations were best kept to. But there was something about Proserpina's words that emboldened her.

'Show him your fury.'

Diana hadn't realised she'd possessed any fury when the goddess had said that but the second her teeth broke Geta's skin dormant fury had burst from its dam.

She'd always believed her illness made her weak but she had endured Caracalla's exhausting behaviour alone for a month now without incident. Also no one had been there when Geta had manhandled her, Diana had fought him off herself.

Between fights Geta would turn in his throne for another beverage or delicacy. He'd catch a glimpse of Diana sitting behind him drinking temperately as she hid her disgust at the violence.

Geta knew technically he could have any woman he wanted, free or slave, married or unattached. He just needed her consent and that of her closest male relative. In the past emperors had dalliances with other men's wives, they just had to pay the husband the right price.

A similar situation would be impossible with Diana however. Even if he granted Lucilla the freedom Acacius fought for they wouldn't order their daughter to his bed. Diana was too treasured.

Also, Diana wouldn't consent and even an emperor was not above rape. True, he could be tried and possibly found guilty but the punishment would only be monetary. The real problem would be loss of support with the people who loved their hero general and princess.

This is why concubines were easier. They spread there legs without seduction and would worship him upon command. Their only ambition was to learn all his proclivities so they could maintain a place in his bed. Some had stayed for a time but eventually Geta grew bored and returned them to their owners for new ones.

What was really concerning Geta though was why he suddenly wanted Diana so badly. The scuffle in the hall had begun as some light bullying, putting a scare into the toy Caracalla refused to share.

Now when he fucked his whores he imagined her face.

There had been something about the split he'd witnessed when she'd bitten him. One moment Diana had been an innocent walking in a dream and the next vicious as a hunting dog. The duality intrigued him and he wasn't certain he would find the answer in her cunt.

But it was worth trying.

His quarry wasn't looking at him though.

Diana had her glassy eyes fixed on some point in the distance, disengaged from the chatter around her and expressionless.

"Diana you're staring," Lucilla said and lightly brushed her arm.

Diana jerked like a sleeper suddenly awoken and blinked hard a few times. Her face quickly reanimated and she drank some juice to reawaken her body.

"I'm fine," she said quickly and nodded to reassure her mother.

"The emperors have been drinking all afternoon," Lucilla remarked and scanned Diana's face or any warning sign. "They'll lose interest soon and we can slip away."

"Good," Diana said genuinely.

When she'd heard people discussing gladiators she had imagined the exquisite bodies of Grecian statues with the fighting discipline of Achilles.

What she'd witnessed so far was just butchery.

The Master of Ceremony shouted something she didn't catch and the crowd roared in response. The noise overwhelmed her ears and she looked around dazed.

The emperors were now leaning on the balcony banister to see something in the arena below and the other guest were on their feet.

"Diana! You must come and see this!" Caracalla called looking over his shoulder at her with a beaming grin.

Lucilla looked on with worry as Diana made her way down to Caracalla's throne. She was trying to keep the stagger out of her step but was struggling and wouldn't last much longer.

"See! See! It's Glyceo!" Caracalla clapped and pointed down to the fighting sands where a man was saddled on a monstrous beast.

It was huge, larger than a horse, maybe even a house. It's skin a grey leather and from its nose protruded a giant spike of bone wider than a grown man. The horn was farcically sized next to the animal's tiny twitching ears and lashed eyes and it bellowed confused rage from deep inside its enormous belly.

A man in armour was riding it towards a row of men shakingly holding a defensive line with shields and swords.

"What is it?" Diana asked in amazement as the animal made an earth shaking advance on its tiny opposition.

Caracalla was laughing hysterically as he hung over the banister and Dundas scrambled over his head as the noisy crowd panicked her.

"That my darling," Geta said in her ear silkily, "is a rhinoceros. A ferocious beast from the plains of Africa. Glyceo has never been defeated while mounted on it."

"What will it do?" Diana asked nervously and gripped the banister for support.

"Just wait," Geta instructed and kissed the shell of her ear lightly before turning back to the game.

A suddenly sickly feeling came over Diana like she'd drunk too much wine and her vision wobbled. Geta put his hand over hers pinning her in place possessively and Diana took a deep breath for what was to come.

Glyceo whipped the terrifying beast and it broke into a charge for the tiny gladiators. The crowd's mania rose as the distance shrunk then all but one man scattered before the beast. The one who froze in fear was slammed by the enormous horn and set flying into the arena wall. Blood exploded from his nose and mouth like a terrifying flower blooming then hit the grown limp as a doll.

The crowd screamed thunderously and Diana's knees nearly buckled. Sweat was streaming down her skin and the sickly feeling was making her nauseous. Geta's hand lifted off hers to applaud the carnage and Diana made her escape.

Nearly knocking a slave over Diana charged out of the viewing box and down the stairs to Mensca. She was on the second last step when the seizure began pitching her forward.

Mensca caught her before her head hit the ground and held her shaking body against his on the ground. From inside his pocket he produced a carved wooden stick which he forced between Diana's teeth as her mouth frothed and her eyes rolled back in her skull.

Lucilla descended the stairs quickly as another wild roar came from the crowd and knelt in front of Diana. To hold her steady would be dangerous, a medicus had warned restraining a seizing person could cause broken bones or torn muscles.

"Diana," Lucilla called sweetly as Diana thrashed uncontrollably. "Come back my darling."

Mensca didn't give any merit to Lucilla's coaxing, he knew the tremors were unaffected by force or kindness. They would simply cease on their own accord.

Saliva ran down Diana's cheek as she bit the rod like a hound gnawing a bone and her dress was soaked with urine. Her muscles contorted into angles impossible for the conscious and her unblinking white eyes saw something in the beyond her blazing brain wouldn't remember.

Suddenly the convulsions slowed and her limbs stopped thrashing.

"Diana, Diana," Lucilla called gently and Diana's green eyes reappeared. She wheezed heavily and flopped against Mensca like an unstrung puppet.

Lucilla reached for the rod and gently eased it out from between her teeth. Diana's mouth closed and made a sucking sound as she swallowed the pooled drool in her mouth.

Her body had settled but it would take time before her mind came back. When she was a child Diana would return in minutes, dazed but coherent, but as she'd aged the return to cognition took longer.

"Diana, let me take you home," Lucilla said standing and Mensca rose to pass Diana to her.

"Shaking sickness. So that's why."

Diana had no reaction to the new voice but both Mensca and Lucilla turned to see Pullo standing behind them, his approach covered by the crowd's noise.

"Emperor Caracalla will want to be certain his favourite has the best care," Pullo said with a jackal's smile. "She wont be allowed out of his sight.

Mensca carefully slung Diana's arm around Lucilla's shoulders and flexed his hands. Lucilla wrapped one arm around her daughter's waist and squeezed Diana's fingers in the other hand.

"Emperor Geta will be relieved however," Pullo went on stroking his chin thoughtfully. "As there's no conspiracy here to endanger his reign he can safely pursue his...interest in Diana."

Mensca marched up to Pullo and in one deft move covered Pullo's face with his massive hand and smashed his skull against the stone wall behind him.

There was a wet crack like a boiled egg being crushed as his skull split and brains splattered across the hot brick wall.

Lucilla was quiet the entire time. There hadn't been any warning, no time to cry out or plead with Pullo. Mensca had murdered the senator with as much ease and consideration as throwing a pebble into a pond.

Mensca looked up the stairs and when certain no one was coming turned to Lucilla. Their eyes connected for a brief second then he grunted and jerked his chin towards the open tunnel.

"Come Diana, come," Lucilla whispered coaxingly as she helped the young woman walk. "We're going home now."

Lucilla hadn't wanted Pullo killed but she didn't lament his death either. He was willing to feed Diana to the beast for his own gain but now she was safe. Mensca had performed his duty as protector and now she would do hers.

"Mensca?" Diana mumbled and started stumbling away.

The Germainian said something to her and Diana nodded her head not really registering the words. Mensca had seen enough of these episodes to know Diana would hardly recall anything so he just said something soothing.

Lucilla was going to advise caution but stopped knowing Mensca could do the necessary without her advice. She refocused on Diana and lead her out of the colosseum before anyone came looking for them or the deceased senator.

Pullo's shattered head hung limply in Mensca's grip like a dead pigeon in a fox's mouth. Mensca then dropped him on the stone ground and tore the expensive toga from Pullo's body, wiping his bloodied hands on the white garment.

A dead body in the colosseum was normal but not a well dressed one. Pullo hadn't a warrior's build or slave branding of the other corpses and the elegant clothes would arouse suspicion. He heaved Pullo over his shoulder as if the tall man was a sack of grain and marched down the tunnel until he was unable to hear the revellers above.

A few people passed him, rough characters like himself, but none raised an eyebrow to his cargo.

The passageways became noisier and Mensca soon found himself in the company of gladiators. Some were having wounds tended to, others nursing injuries that couldn't be repaired and some sat silently trying to fathom how they had survived another day.

A pair of jailers were dragging away what remained of the rhino's opponents and Mensca followed them, blending in with the crowd. They ungraciously discarded the wasted gladiators on a pile of remains in a room where the caged animals paced restlessly, salivating at the scent of blood.

Mensca dumped Pullo on the pile and left the stinking room for a few moments. He then returned with fewer coins in his pocket and an axe in his hand. It hadn't been difficult to acquire a temporary loan for some coin, men close to death were exceptionally venal.

Pullo's open head displayed his bashed brain but blood was no longer leaking. The dried blood disguised the man's face but his body did not blend with the pile of brutalised gladiators.

It was too clean and cared for, not like the sunburnt and scarred forms around him. If someone came looking, they could pick him from the mound.

Mensca flipped the axe in his hand to gage its weight then with expert aim severed the blonde head from the body. He continued slicing through all the body joints - thighs, hands, shoulders, feet - separating the once person into pieces.

Sometimes in the pits of Baia his master would make a few extra coin hiring Mensca out for disposal labour. Mensca would see his opponents' faces a second time as he rhythmically swung a cleaver until they lay in chunks to be carted away.

He'd learned to avoid hitting the nerve endings that would send the corpse into spasm and where the major blood pools were to reduce the mess.

Never on the battlefield had he done anything more depraved than decapitate the enemy for pickets but in the Roman Empire it wasn't enough to kill for entertainment. They had to desecrate the dead too.

Pullo had no distinguishing scars, military tattoos or brands that would identify him from the piles of meat but Mensca cut the quarters into eights out of caution.

It wouldn't matter soon though, the blood left in the remains would soon solidify and blacken the skin and he'd plucked out Pullo's eyes as they were distinctively blue.

Behind the rotting pile a tiger snarled and Mensca looked up to see the beast staring him. It's fangs were bared and its black pupils locked on Mensca's own dark eyes. The tiger made a low grumbling sound but the man didn't flinch, having a witness to his crime could not conjure any guilt.

After a moment the tiger silenced and lowered its lips unable to intimate from behind the metal bars.

Mensca had swapped savagery for servitude years ago but felt an affinity with the caged predator. Even now he still lived by the same creed as the tiger - kill a Roman whenever you could.

Smiling his rare smile Mensca threw a hand from the rotting pile, the hand Pullo had used to brutally beat the slave girl at the palace. It landed in the tiger's cage where it was quickly devoured by the animal's bone crunching jaws.

Finally Senator Pullo had done something valiant. Provided food to the hungry.

[kickbackkanzaki]

Pomegranate Seeds and Black Roses

Diana, the daughter of Lucilla and Acacius becomes an obsession for Emperor Geta. As rebellion in the colosseum rises and danger stalks her family Diana must outmanoeuvre her enemies to keep her loved ones alive.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Pullo stood waiting and tried not to let his impatience show.

Geta had summoned him to a private audience but the emperor was yet to grant him any acknowledgement. He was instead inspecting a set of foreign swords laid out in a velvet box held open by a slave.

The swords of the defeated leaders had been sent ahead of the returning army along with the news of Numidia's annexation.

"It is inspiring news that Rome now has full control of the North African Kingdoms," Pulla said fishing for a reply.

"I've heard whispers that Acacius was dispirited when he took Numidia," Geta said absently as he admired the largest blade in the light. "I can't have our finest general rethinking his loyalties. The army will not perform for anyone less than the noble Acacius."

"You have his wife under house arrest," Pullo pointed out. "He's in no position to refuse his emperors' command. Also his daughter could be used as a bartering piece, though adopted he is exceedingly fond of her."

"Yes Diana," Geta said with some regard. "Your little project."

Pullo wasn't sure where this was leading. Emperor Geta's moods were unpredictable majority of the time so Pullo knew this current calm could shift any second.

"Did Your Majesty learn what you needed?" Pullo asked cautiously.

A wiser man wouldn't have probed but Pullo was too sycophantic not to seek commendation.

"I learned that Diana is insolent and rough," Geta plunged the sword's end into an imaginary foe. "Hardly something I can use against Lucilla and Acacius."

"Was my information not useful?" Pullo dug further. "Concerning her birth parents?"

"She told the story of their demise with as much sorrow as you would give a sack of drowned kittens," Geta grunted as he swung the sword through the air.

He then replaced the weapon and chose another from the box. Swivelling on her heel he turned to the senator and looked at him down the deadly edge.

"Lucilla's dissatisfaction with my reign is obvious," he told Pullo in a terse tone, "and Acacius votes against empire expansion at every opportunity but they are under my control. If they wanted the power to oppose me they could have made an alliance with a wealthy senator or foreign prince by marrying Diana off. Why haven't they? Why stay shackled?"

Pullo had to freeze his face to conceal his scorn. Was this really why he was here? To entertain a young man's fantasy about a pretty girl?

Admittingly Diana had been impressive when they'd fought over the typhoid action but she was otherwise unremarkable.

Pullo's thoughts were, 'Fuck her and move on,' but he phrased his words more diplomatically.

"With all due respect Your Majesty would it not be easier to seduce her? Foolish girls have spilled many a secret when they are in love."

Geta remembered Diana's audacious attitude in the thermae and smirked. Bedding her would be a sincere pleasure but he doubted she'd be willing.

"Diana wont be seduced. She's too smart for that."

Pullo noticed Geta said that with something closer to respect than disappointment.

"Perhaps Emperor Caracalla could be of assistance?" again Pullo tried to divert the chore away from himself. "Considering the relationship between the two."

"They don't fuck," Geta replied impatiently. "She tells him stories of the gods and the Greek poets to calm his fits.

His brother was too possessive of his favourite to share their conversations with Geta but his whores had loose lips.

'That explains it,' Pullo thought. In the senate meetings of late Caracalla had been spouting lines from Homer and promising divine retribution to those who rejected his proposals.

However public support for the crown had risen since the typhoid action and Emperor Caracalla's recent appearance at the Temple of Juno.

The senate had also noticed his settled temperament whenever he attended meetings with Diana tethered to his wrist. The poor girl hid her misery well but it was clear she had no sway in the relationship, she was his hostage until Caracalla grew bored of her.

Geta motioned for a nearby slave to stand before him and raised the sword to his chest.

"Perhaps there is nothing amiss Your Majesty," Pullo suggested as a last resort. "Lucilla lost a son and Acacius has no children of his own. Maybe they are simply overprotective."

"Perhaps," Geta mused and slowly pushed the sword's point into the slave's shoulder. The owned man gasped as it broke his skin then closed his mouth as any unsanctioned sound would receive punishment.

Geta moved both hands onto the sword pommel and sliced through the slave's muscle and cartridge. His tunic bloodied and eyes watered but Geta didn't stop until it was satisfactorily lodged in his shoulder.

Suddenly Geta's interest evaporated and he released the sword, leaving it to wobble painfully in the slave's chest.

"Keep an eye on her Pullo," he said and waved another slave over for a glass of wine. "If there is even the slightest hint of her whispering Lucilla's beliefs into my brother's ear come straight to me. Her family serves the empire, we do not serve them."

"As you wish Majesty," Pullo answered with a respectful bow and took his leave.

Pullo waited for the heavy doors to close behind him before he let his anger show.

His was a fifth generation senator of Rome but he was being tasked with spying on upstart girl. A little cunt who curried more favour with the mad emperor than he because she read him stories and played parlour games.

It had taken long hours of bribery and veiled threats to reel out the little information people had about Diana but it had amounted to nothing. No revelation or reward.

Geta thought there was something unearthly about her that allowed her to calm his brother but that was because he hadn't a drop of emotional intelligence.

'He wants a pussy that can't be bought,' Pullo thought vehemently.

Pullo was now in a hard place. The small well of information he'd found was pumped dry but Geta demanded more. Acacius was due back soon and when he did, getting near Diana would be impossible. Acacius had enough political sway to terminate Pullo's promising ascension if he discovered the young politician's intensions.

A young slave girl was passing him carrying fresh linen and when they met he violently threw her down. She cried out as she landed hard but was silenced a second later when Pullo struck her in the face mercilessly three times.

'Meddlesome bitch,' he cursed internally.

Unconscious the girl's bloodied face fell to the floor and Pullo's sandals made red prints as he marched away. He rubbed the blood out of his heirloom ring with the inside of his toga sleeve and replaced his mask of pleasantness.

The same guards who heaved the beaten girl down to the slave quarters were the same ones guarding Caracalla's bedchamber that night.

Hours before the room had been a swirl of inebriated concubines supping on aphrodisiacs and each other as music played and wine was poured. Then suddenly Caracalla started screaming paranoid accusations and beating his lovers.

They'd scattered in all directions naked and bruised as Caracalla tore his possessions to pieces in a wild frenzy. He swore and screamed until his throat was hoarse and ran out of things to throw.

Then he began to wail. He had been abandoned and only Diana could placate him.

Diana had been helping Lucilla sort threads for a new tapestry when imperial guards had pounded on the door demanding her immediate presence at the palace.

Lucilla had tried to accompany her but Diana insisted on going with Mensca. In the past month these last minute demands from Caracalla had become frequent and she'd learned it was better to obey and extinguish the hysteria than resist.

Arriving at the emperor's room she saw the drapes torn to shreds and priceless statuary smashed across the floor. Diana hadn't found shoes before the escort had thrown her on Mensca's horse so she carefully made a path through the disaster with her toes.

Caracalla was whimpering naked under a table, his syphilis rash blazing scarlet on his pale skin. Dondas had no interest in him instead eating some split fruit from a shattered fruit bowl.

Diana waited to see if he would acknowledge her then bent down to his level.

"Sweet Boy I thought you'd be asleep," she said kindly and brushed his fringe away from his puffy eyes. "It's late."

At hearing his endearment name Caracalla stopped snivelling and looked up with her in total hopelessness.

"You wont betray me will you?" he croaked.

"Never Sweet Boy."

Caracalla crawled out from his refuge and buried his tear streaked face in her breasts. Diana wrapped him in a gentle embrace and kissed his red hair as he whimpered.

It was a well rehearsed routine now and it astounded her how quickly this had become normal.

Just over a month ago she had never been inside the city and now she was nurse to the ill emperor. Life before had been content bordering on dull but she would have gladly traded her new arrangement for it in a second.

Slowly the night passed and Diana coaxed the troubled emperor to his bed tying a sheet around his waist for modesty.

Diana had never had a lover but she felt neither alarm or arousal at Caracalla's nudity. He may have been a man grown but his mental state was like a child's, making him sexless.

Caracalla calmed his crying but refused a medicus saying a tonic could be poison. This disappointed Diana as it meant she wouldn't be returning home soon but she didn't pressure Caracalla to change his mind. The smallest hint of manipulation could send him spiralling.

Instead she listened to him babble about his fears and fantasies, believing none of them but never interrupting. It seemed once Caracalla voiced his torments his temper would steady and fatigue would set in. It was just a matter of waiting.

"Will Proserpina come for me?" he asked after he'd been quiet a while.

Caracalla had asked a lot about the Queen of the Dead since Diana had told her story.

"No Sweet Boy," Diana assured him and stoked his acne covered cheek. "You are a king. When you are old and grey her husband Pluto will come for you in his chariot and escort you to the Elysium Fields himself. Only a god is fit to collect an emperor but you will have a great and wonderful life before then."

"How do you know?" he asked worriedly.

"Remember the Temple of Juno? Remember the children? They loved you. People pray to the gods that their emperor will stay and care for them for a long, long time."

They had visited the temple together after Diana had told him some stories of the goddess queen. How even though Jupiter had tricked her into marriage and insulted her with numerous infidelities Juno stood high above the shame to guard mortal women proudly.

Septimius had only schooled his sons in the tales of Jupiter and Mars. Kings and War were the only lessons he'd wanted them to know.

Diana had veiled her hair in the temple feeling conspicuous as people in the street stopped to watch her and Caracalla mount the stairs. She was again wearing one of the costumes the emperors had made for her with expensive adornments.

"Wave," she'd whispered to Caracalla who turned and waved to his subjects grandly while holding Diana's hand.

They offered prayers to the goddess and followed the high priestesses through the temple. Children had rushed out of a school room at one point and surrounded them, pulling at their elegant clothes and jeweled hands.

"Where do they come from?" Caracalla asked with wonderment as he'd let the children play around him.

"Everywhere My Emperor," the high priestess answered. "They are left on the steps for us to care for. Their mothers too young or too poor to care for them."

"I shall care for them," Caracalla declared and Diana mirrored the high priestess by kneeling in reverence. "I will love them and they shall love me."

Diana never thought her knowledge of the pantheon would ever be useful, Lucilla had always encouraged her to read the philosophers and poets over the myths. The old tales had been a reward after a long day of lessons but now they were more valuable than Plato's wisdom and Virgil's verses.

"Stay here tonight," Caracalla said sleepily.

"Of course."

This wasn't the first time Caracalla had made this demand but Diana wasn't afraid of assault anymore. Like a child he wanted her close to protect him from nightmares and monsters that lurked in the dark.

Once he began to snore on the pillow opposite her Diana finally relaxed and let her eyes close heavily. As unpredictable as Caracalla could be she'd noticed his moods were always worse at night as if he feared the approaching dawn.

There was a better chance of slipping away in the morning when he'd be distracted by the potential pleasures and excitement of a new day.

The sleepless nights and long days at senate meetings were wearing her out and Lucilla had enforced a strict regiment of rest and medicines. Anything that would fortify her against the crippling headaches that would expose her vulnerability.

"Diana."

Still exhausted Diana sat up on the bed and looked over at Caracalla. He was sleeping soundly in a puddle of his own drool and there was only the dim glow of dawn lighting the room.

Her green eyes scanned the wreaked bedchamber but didn't see the speaker. Maybe it had been a bird outside chirping or a nearby guard coughing. Or more likely, the sheer exhaustion of late toying with her dreams.

Then she saw her.

Standing at the far end of the room Proserpina watched her.

The Goddess of Duality stood split down the middle, one half of her face beautiful with flawless skin, red lips with a high cupid's bow and a pale green eye with yellow speckles. The other side was a skull bearing an unsettling grin and a void where an eye should have been. A black well you could drown in if you gazed too long.

Her dress and mantilla were a fight of light and darkness, the bright colours of spring fighting against the mourning black like a celebratory bonfire flickering on a moonless night.

Perched on her head were two crowns made whole. One half a simple woven line of red roses meeting a half of harsh spikes made of fingerbones.

Diana wasn't afraid, the goddess' presence felt as natural as the air in the room and the morning sun creeping in. Despite her astounding appearance Proserpina looked as though she belonged.

Life and death were everywhere.

The goddess turned and walked soundlessly to the door and Diana followed like a somnambulist. She had no questions for her visitor and needed no command.

They passed two guards stationed outside but they either didn't see them or didn't care, staring straight ahead. Mensca was across the hall weaving a thread between his fingers to keep himself amused.

Diana didn't call to him and passed without catching his attention. There was an aethereal feeling around her as if she was neither asleep or awake, walking in a world in between.

She wasn't sure how long she followed Proserpina through the palace but suddenly the goddess stopped and turned to a large window. Diana came aside her and looked out at the waking city, the colosseum a monolith above the humble dwellings of the people.

Like an egg the colosseum was absorbing the heat of the early sun and starting to glow against the cool blue sky. Soon that egg would crack and the cries of the crowd would erupt as the day's games played.

"Can you smell it?"

Diana could. That stench had saturated the hillside villa for weeks filling her nostrils and robbing her sense of taste. She'd never forget it.

"Death," she answered dispassionately.

Her mouth felt odd when she spoke like a muscle twitching in her sleep.

"Change."

That word scared Diana more than death.

Change was uncertain, it could be for the better or for the worse and it never affected everyone the same way. No matter how big or small a change, there was always someone who suffered more loss than benefit and it was never known who they would be until there was no reversal possible.

"Why do you come to me?" Diana asked in her neutral voice.

Proserpina collected the dead but there were no perished souls here for her to escort to eternity. She had made her mark on Diana long ago but never explained why.

"We are both imprisoned queens."

"I'm not."

"You will be."

Diana was confused but in the gloom that encircled her she could not raise her emotions. A statement like that should have frightened her but so only felt dull.

"You have to be brave Diana."

"Fear is keeping me alive. It makes me cautious, makes me safe."

Diana said this without shame. She wasn't a symbol of strength and fearlessness the way her parents were. She was simply a survivor.

"If you are afraid he will devour you. Show him your courage, let him know your rage. Your kindness will save you from Caracalla but your fury will save you from Geta."

"How do you know?"

"I am both Goddess of Spring and Queen on the Dead. I am as compassionate as I am terrifying. A woman must be many things to survive the schemes of gods and men alike."

"I don't want this," Diana said honestly.

Proserpina lifted her arm and delicately lay her living hand on Diana's mark.

"Forge your future."

Suddenly her scar blazed iron hot and the dull malaise that had been circling her dissipated as her body came alive with blaze with pain. The shock made her stagger forward and fall towards the window ledge.

"Careful!"

The shout broke the spell enchanting her and an painful hold made Diana gasp.

The world storeys below bobbed back and forth nauseatingly as she was pulled back onto her feet by the person behind her.

"Let me go," she panted. Had she been asleep or awake? One second she'd been wandering hypnotised and the next she alarmingly awake being held tight as the rising sun stung her eyes.

"No," Geta said in her ear excitedly. "Your heart is beating like a caged bird. It's exhilarating!"

Diana could still feel the sting in her breast from Proserpina's touch but Geta's grip frightened her more. He had one arm wrapped around her ribs and another hand under her shift.

Geta had seen terror in a person's face many times but he'd never felt someone's heart race under his hand. It beat so hard he thought if he peeled back Diana's skin it would jump straight out of her chest.

His hand on her was anathema and Diana twisted to free herself. Geta felt her tight backside rubbing against his crotch as she squirmed and her hands pulled feebly at his strong arms.

Feeling lust rising Geta's smile became wicked and he brushed his face against her uncombed hair. She wasn't perfumed like his harlots, she smelt of sleep, sweat and something distinctly her own. His nose touched her shoulder and he opened his mouth to taste her tender skin.

Diana felt the disturbing sensation of his lips on her and she pulled the flesh out of his mouth before he could mark it. Geta laughed loudly as she squealed and caught her chin to stop her fighting.

"I like you Diana," he said softly in her ear. "I sometimes think if we'd had a sister like you Caracalla and I could have been happy children. Father had no time for girls, you would have been all ours."

His hand under her breasts slid down her stomach, his thumb finding the divot of her navel before he grabbed the hem of her shift. He lifted the bunched fabric up to see her toned thighs as Diana trembled against him.

"If you are afraid he will devour you."

Suddenly Diana's body reacted faster than her reason. She yanked the shift from Geta's grip and stomped her heel into his uncovered toes. Geta's broke his hold on her and she slammed an elbow into his sternum sending him backwards.

"I don't care what you like! Get your hands off me!" Diana yelled with rage.

Geta grabbed for her dress but Diana caught his wrist before he could touch her. He stepped forward threateningly to close the gap separating them and something primal sparked in Diana.

She pulled his hand to her mouth and sank her teeth into the soft flesh between his thumb and forefinger. His shriek bounced off the palace's high ceilings and a clatter of approaching armour could be heard.

Diana savagely pulled her head away and spat a glob of flesh and blood onto the pristine floor.

"Don't ever put your hands near me again!" she screamed and bared her blood stained teeth like a she wolf. "If you do I will bite your manhood off!"

Geta stared at her bewildered with his brown eyes wide as he cradled his bleeding hand. What had happened? A second ago Diana was a helpless maid squirming in his hold but now she was a fanged fury with a mouthful of his blood.

Diana was breathing heavy from the adrenaline and holding herself tight for the next attack but regret was slowly rising. Attacking royalty was a death sentence and she had no protector to fight the advancing guard.

Suddenly Geta grinned widely and Diana's heart nearly stopped.

He was thrilled.

"You bit me," he giggled with a manic chime. "You bit me."

Geta reached for her with a bloodied hand but Diana backed away like a hound shrinking from a whip. The blood in her mouth suddenly turned cold and rotten, the righteous empowerment she'd felt biting him fading away.

The purple praetorian guard arrived and circled their emperor not noticing the blood on the girl's lips. Two broke off to chase an invisible assailant down the hall and Diana took her chance to flee.

She ran back to Mensca her bare feet slipping on the stone floor and gasping for breath. Her head started to pound but she couldn't stop and risk Geta revenging his wound.

"You've tasted me Diana!" Geta's deranged howl followed her, "and I shall taste you!"

[kickbackkanzaki]

Pomegranate Seeds and Black Roses

Diana, the daughter of Lucilla and Acacius becomes an obsession for Emperor Geta. As rebellion in the colosseum rises and danger stalks her family Diana must outmanoeuvre her enemies to keep her loved ones alive.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The knife sliced through the ripe apple with barely a sound. The blade was double the the fruit's length but the owner used it with no more caution than a simple dining knife. Nor did he care how peculiar he looked.

At nearly seven feet tall with the muscles of an ox Mensca cut an intimidating figure and was almost always scowling. With leather tough skin marked with gruesome scars he was feared by most and feared none.

His black hair fell past his shoulders but was usually tied back in a tight bun for practicality. He'd stabbed the Roman who'd shorn his hair in the thigh with his own shears and now the only blade to touch his locks was his own.

The housekeeper was crossing the yard when she saw him chewing his apple slowly, watching her with warmthless black eyes. She, like the other domestic attendants were free. General Acacius and his wife did not support slavery, but Mensca sought no comradery with the servants.

His misanthropy was hard set and saw no benefit in socialising. Anyone he had ever cared for was dead and slavery had taught him to distrust everyone.

Except for one.

He heard someone step next to him and stopped the knife mid stroke. When he saw it was Lucilla he cut the final piece of apple and ate it in a mannerless way.

"Mensca where is Diana?" Lucilla asked shading her eyes with her hand as she looked across the yard.

Mensca replied by jerking his chin in the direction of the chicken coop and grunting. The lady of the house did not speak his language and he refused to speak hers.

In Germainia he had been a warrior who'd fought against the armies of Maximus Meridius then been enslaved to serve as a rower in the Roman fleet.

Not taking well to captivity Mensca had thrown three rival slaves overboard when they tried to cut his throat in the night. He killed two roman soldiers who attempted to intervene and was condemned to death, a sentence that did not scare him.

On the morning scheduled for his execution another Roman ship came aside them and the general journeying home took an interest in Mensca's story. He took the condemned slave to Baiae and entered him in the fighting pits where for years he had killed more men than he could remember.

Now twenty years later he had refused freedom to guard his once owner's only surviving descendant.

Acacius provided him a wage and liberties but Mensca barely spent his coin or strayed far from Diana's side. As he explained to her new father, he had a debt to repay.

"Will you fetch her for me?" Lucilla always asked Mensca to perform tasks politely and only if they related to his charge.

Mensca threw the scraped apple core into the garden and set off across the yard. He never dignified any Roman with a reply or show of respect. They were filthy murderers who slew innocent people in the name of expansion and entertainment.

He had sent Diana outside with a parasol earlier but he saw it abandoned by the chicken coop. Unsurprised he picked it up and turned the corner.

Diana was still in her nightdress and barefooted with her long hair braided over her shoulder. On one arm hung a sling full of fresh eggs and she was too focused on her feathered pets to notice Mensca's arrival.

"Your mother wants you," he told her in gruff Germainian.

"I'm getting into trouble early today," she quipped cheekily in the same language and closed the coop.

Mensca took the eggs and handed her the parasol. Diana didn't want it but knew better than to argue, he was still annoyed with her for the other night.

Diana had been positive the party would be uneventful so Mensca had stayed behind. But upon their return Lucilla had urgently summoned him to carry Diana to her bedroom and bring the medicus.

The ill girl had spent the next day in bed with the curtains drawn and a wet cloth over her eyes. Whenever the pain rose Mensca administered a tonic and fed her sips of broth in the evening. He cleaned her mouth when she threw it back up and burnt healthful herbs until Diana had floated back to responsiveness.

Another two days inside the villa the dark rings under her eyes faded and she was keen to be out in the fresh air.

Diana had told Mensca the details of the party as they'd walked the garden together and shared her anxiety about the Emperors' reprisal. Mensca promised if a praetorian guard crossed the threshold to take her they would not live long.

Believing him, some cheer and colour returned to Diana's face and she stopped ruminating over Caracalla's mad antics.

Lucilla was inspecting a gold tiara with inlaid emeralds when Diana and Mensca entered the dining hall. When Diana's sixteenth birthday was approaching Acacius had considered commissioning a similar piece but Lucilla had laughed.

"She prefers flowers to jewels and would rather tend her animals than attend a party. Save your coin dear husband."

Spread across the dining table were opened packages of quality fabrics and and jewellery.

"What's all this? Diana asked her mother with merriment as she inspected the pile of goods. "Do you have an admirer?"

"They're for you," Lucilla said grimly and handed Diana a rolled scroll of parchment. "From the emperors."

"Why are the emperors sending me gifts?" Diana asked slowly as her eyes scanned the elegant script.

The dread that had disbursed these past few days came rushing back forming a stone in her stomach.

"You've done a dangerous thing Diana," Lucilla explained solemnly. "You impressed them."

"This doesn't make sense," Diana let the scroll drop on the table. "I didn't think they'd acknowledge what happened. There'd be too much fuel for rumour if they did."

Diana was a smart girl but Lucilla lamented that she did not see the tactics of their enemies. She knew danger but had never been stalked and hunted.

"Emperor Geta is growing desperate to hide his brother's condition," Lucilla explained. "On the night of the party you pacified Caracalla, something Geta is failing to do. He now seems to think you are a solution."

"What does he want me to do?" Diana demanded with frustration. "Nurse him?"

"It's unclear," Lucilla's tone was steady to stop Diana's rising anger, "but we have been summoned to tomorrow's senate meeting."

"I don't know anything about the senate," Diana admitted exasperated.

"I however do so we will accept the invitation. The Emperors' favours are fickle and once we disprove whatever misguided notion they have about you they will leave you alone."

Lucilla did not know if what she said was true. The boy emperors had kept her under house arrest and paraded her for public support for years. If they saw Diana as a similar instrument there was no telling what they'd force her to do.

Acacius' unwavering dedication to their empire still couldn't cut the chain of captivity she wore and Lucilla was a princess of Rome. If she couldn't free herself then there would be no hope for Diana, even a high born woman was powerless against imperial rule.

At the same time however the emperors discarded favourites without warning and made decisions capriciously. Diana might disappoint them and be forgotten like she hoped.

From behind them Mensca spoke.

"Mensca says he's coming with us," Diana told her mother who nodded.

"Prudent. I'll summon the seamstress to sew these together," Lucilla ran her eye over the fabrics again and began planning, "and I'll send word to Gracchus. We will need an ally."

The next day they arrived at the palace early to find a suitable seat in the hall. As each senator arrived Lucilla would whisper their names and policies into Diana's ear and made small talk with those who approached them.

Diana had her hand kissed many times as she was introduced but she knew it was only for show. She was not of the right status or gender for them to consider her worth their attention but she was actually grateful to be overlooked. The new clothes and jewels she was wearing to satisfy the emperors made her feel conspicuous and uncomfortable.

Mensca was waiting in the hall unarmed, the praetorian guards would not allow anyone to carry a weapon near the senate hall. He had given up his knife easily as one call from Diana was all he needed to tear the guards apart with his bare hands.

The hall was full before the Emperors graced the senate with their presence. They swept into the room with their long robes dragging behind them and wearing identical laurel crowns.

Geta gave the crowd a lordly glance before sitting but Caracalla looked around the room wide eyed.

He spotted Diana and and his gold tooth twinkled when he grinned. She dipped her head lower in reverence and Caracalla strode towards her without acknowledging the senators.

"Come, come," he cooed and pulled Diana away by her hand.

She shot a concerned look to her mother who nodded almost imperceptibly and Diana obediently followed Caracalla to his throne.

"You will be Dundus for the day!" he declared and pulling a thin gold chain from his robes tethered Diana by the wrist.

"Get her a chair!" he yelled to a slave and the meeting halted until Diana was seated on a luxurious sofa beside Caracalla.

She received some confused looks from the crowd but no one questioned the unusual behaviour or voiced an objection.

Diana's green eyes flicked to Geta who wore an expression of amusement, covering his lips with a pensive hand pose to hide his smile.

Her jaw clenched with anger but she slacked it a second later when she noticed Caracalla beaming at her with joy. She smiled back and that satisfied him enough to commence the meeting.

Diana understood very little of what was said in the hours that followed. She was not ignorant but the finer points of legislation were unknown to her. Politics was not her passion and being lectured to annoyed her, she hated being spoken at like a child.

It was hard to remain interested but she feigned it well enough to fool Caracalla who would turn every now and again to smile at her.

The room grew warmer as the morning wore on and Diana grew dozy listening to the arguments of old men.

"There has been an outbreak of typhoid in a poorer quarter of the city," Gracchus announced and suddenly he had Diana's full attention.

"Quarantine the area wait for the pestilence to pass," Geta said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"No."

The entire senate turned to her and Diana froze under their sudden scrutiny. The word has escaped her mouth before she could stop it and didn't realise how far it had carried across the stone room.

"The monkey speaks!" Geta declared with a grin and was received with raucous laughter.

The golden chain tugged at her wrist as Caracalla encouraged her to stand.

"Let her speak," he ordered over the dying laughter. "She has old eyes. Speak Diana."

Diana swallowed hard and took in the room of staring people with their scrutinizing eyes. Some faces were pitying, some curious, some contemptuous and then she saw Pullo watching her with abject smugness. Seeing him look at her with such ridicule stiffened her quivering insides and her voice rose.

"I mean to say that we can do more than simply wait. We can aid those not already infected and provide comfort to those beyond help."

Pullo cleared his throat and stood from his seat.

"Are you saying we expose healthy citizens to the pestilence in a futile effort to assist those who could not support Rome before they fell ill?" Pullo asked and there was a muttering of support. "These paupers are a parasite on the public purse. It would be a waste of resources and a danger."

Diana felt the gold chain tighten and saw both Emperors watching her with intense anticipation. The invitation to the meeting hadn't been for their infantile amusement, it was a test.

"Typhoid fever is passed through infected food and water," Diana replied firmly and clearly. "Not by miasma or touch. If proper precautions are taken we can tend to the ill and maybe even discover the source of the outbreak."

Pullo went to object but Lucilla's voice cut him off.

"Senator Cimber," she said calling upon an older man with a black beard and rotund belly. "You were a medicus before you joined the senate. Is there truth in what my daughter says?"

Not used to being addressed Cimber bumbled for a second then said, "She is quite right my lady. If our men refrain from ingesting anything in the area and practice the required hygiene the infection will not spread."

"But why?"

Geta stole the attention from Lucilla.

'Why wouldn't you?' were the words on Diana's lips but she stopped before they verbalised.

Geta was holding her still with a challenging stare and despite his domineering expression, she could see a hint of amusement on his cruel lips.

"These people are amongst the least of our citizens. They haven't the capacity to serve Rome so why should we be troubled by their plight?"

"Because," Diana spoke slowly knowing there would be no recovery. Geta did not grant second chances and the senate would dissect her words to humiliate her.

"An Emperor does more than expand his empire. He cares for those in his charge and ensures their future. Then he is rewarded with their loyalty and love."

A memory twinged in Caracalla's tormented mind and he squeezed Diana's hand painfully.

"Yes!" he shouted loudly. "I want to be loved! Show the people how much their emperors love them! Send aid!"

The senate buzzed with approval and Geta stood.

"I agree with my brother. Send aid to the ill taking all necessary precautions. Cimber, you will be in charge."

"Of course Your Majesties," the fat man bowed his head and everyone rose to their feet.

Geta left the room and after patting Diana on the head like a spaniel Caracalla followed him. Senators separated into pods to discuss the day's outcomes and Diana looked for Pullo but the devil had already slipped away. Gracchus was speaking to Lucilla intimately but Diana decided she could stay no longer.

Resisting the urge to flee Diana walked with dignity to where Mensca was waiting. She told the guards to return his knife and they followed some departing senators to a room where a table had been laid with refreshment.

Diana removed her heavy earrings and tiara as they fed themselves and waited for Lucilla to join them. Some of the senators cast her nasty looks for allowing her servant to sup at the same table as them but none raised complaint.

Diana had often seen men turn coward in Mensca's company and ignored them. Cowards they were but their silence was for another reason - displeasing Emperor Caracalla's new favourite could be disaster for them.

When Lucilla finally came Diana poured her a cup of water before the nearby slave could attend. She took it gratefully and drank quickly.

"Can we go?" Diana asked hopefully and Lucilla nodded as she finished drinking.

As they stood to leave a slave girl approached them meekly and bowed her head to Diana.

"Emperor Geta requests your presence in the thermae my lady," she said trying to not to shake before their barbarian guard.

"It is not proper," Lucilla cut the order down hostilely. "Tell the emperor her attendance is impossible."

"I'll go," Diana overruled then said something to Mensca.

Lucilla turned her face away from the slave who no doubt had been ordered to return with a full report of everything said.

"It's dangerous Diana."

"It's a game mother," Diana replied with annoyance. "One I am getting tired of playing."

Her win in the senate had watered her confidence and was starting to see that behind their magnificence the Emperors were spoilt, sadistic children.

"Diana-" Lucilla began with worry.

"Mensca will chaperone," Diana assured her, "and if we are gone too long please come find us. I'm sure no one will raise an eye at a mother concerned for her daughter's reputation."

Relieved, the slave girl lead them to a room where Diana stripped and took the towel offered for her modesty. Mensca averted his gaze from her nakedness but Diana had no qualms if he hadn't. She'd known Mensca since she was a babe and their relationship had never been amorous.

The slave girl opened the thermae door and both went through, Mensca's sandals leaving muddy prints on the tiled floor. The steam stung Diana's face and she had to blink the water from her eyes before she could see Geta clearly.

His damp hair stuck to his forehead and Diana realised this was the first time she'd seen him uncrowned. Like she, Geta had a towel for modesty but his lay across his lap carelessly.

"Tell your man to go," he told her bluntly when he saw them standing at the door.

"I prefer he stay," there was some fear in her voice but Diana's resolve stood firm. "For propriety."

"Propriety," Geta chuckled and smiled. "Very well, I'll allow it. I suppose a young woman must protect her virtue even in the company of an emperor."

Geta then waved lazily ushering her over.

"Please sit, no, by me," he said when Diana tried to seat herself on the bench opposite him.

Diana sat cautiously next to Geta on the hot bench and ignored his intense study of her. Being the highest in the land he didn't not care if his examination was obvious or unsettling.

Her curly hair was turning damp and darker in the heat but he could make out a few red and gold threads in the brown tumble. Her skin was a healthy hazelnut from the sun and although she wasn't muscular there was definition in her arms and legs.

Her nails were the most startling- unpolished and cut low into practical crescents with a few flecks of dirt trapped underneath from the morning's egg collection. He had never met a woman with worn hands before, wives and whores alike kept their hands silky and perfumed to grace a man's skin.

'This one is not groomed for marriage,' he thought. 'Why is that?'

While he made his examination Diana surreptitiously made her own.

Only ever seeing him garbed in the most opulent fashions Diana found it odd that Geta had flesh. His riches always gave an impression of superlativeness that formed a barrier between him and his subjects. Now near naked she realised he was simply a man.

Unlike Acacius or Mensca there were no marks of hard work or combat on his skin and his paleness proved how little he ventured out the palace.

Taller than his twin Geta's limbs hung longer and Diana could see the contours of muscles running throughout. He might not have the epic strength of a centurion but he was no weakling.

'Wrestling and swordplay,' Diana supposed. Most Roman boys were schooled in both from a young age and the emperors were likely to have done the same. Emperor Septimius would not have wanted his sons to appear weak.

"What service does my Emperor ask of me?" Diana asked formally breaking the silence.

"I wanted to speak with you on a private matter. I believe you to be versed in the subject," Geta said conversationally.

"I am at Your Majesty's service."

"Is dying of typhoid a long, painful affair?"

Diana did a poor job of hiding her reaction. Her neck snapped towards Geta with her lips slightly parted and green eyes wide in surprise.

'How'd?...Pullo.'

Diana chastised herself for not suspecting more from the snakish senator. With his ambitions he must slithered his way around politicians and soldiers to gather information on Marcus Acacius' unusual daughter.

Geta's brown eyes danced with speckles of delight and she regained her composure. Her shock had entertained him but until she confessed her tale of woe his sadism wouldn't be satiated.

Like gold to fire he would test her mettle to see if she had inherited the temerity of her adoptive parents or the weakness of her birth family. Only someone exceptional could control Caracalla.

"The first few days are excruciating with stomach pain and bloodied stools," Diana said matter of factly when she'd gathered herself, "but once the body rejects fluids it's a quick end."

She didn't tell him about the fever dreams that trapped the sufferers in nightmarish delusions as they soaked with sweat and rolled in their own vomit. Her father had raved until this throat was dry, vowing to kill everyone and bellowing commands at imaginary soldiers.

If Geta fed off misery she would starve him.

"But you didn't succumb." Geta was disappointed with such an unattached answer and prodded for more.

"I never fell ill."

"Why not?"

"I wasn't thought of," Diana explained simply. "I was left in my nursery until the fever had spread through the household. By then the slaves who hadn't perished had fled and my family were all ill. Whatever brought the fever into the villa had passed on by the time I emerged."

The memories were vague but Diana could remember the warm days in the nursery playing with her toys. It was odd that no one came to bathe her or put her to bed but she had water and fruit to sustain her until someone came back. She had wanted to visit the chickens in the yard but a disturbing wailing had started in the slave quarters and she was too scared to venture out.

"Why did they leave you alone?" Geta was getting annoyed with her passionless answers but kept his voice level.

"I was unwanted," Diana explained with an apathetic shrug. "Mother hadn't expected another child so late in life and had no desire to raise me so kept me out of sight. Father had no interest in daughters and my brothers were too old to play with babes."

"Were you devastated when they died?" Geta smiled wickedly.

"No."

It was the truth. Her parents had never paid her any regard, a new child at their age was a nuisance and she'd barely known her two older brothers. They were always being drilled in swordplay and studying military strategy.

When she wasn't in the nursery Diana would follow the slaves around like a duckling watching with intensity how they performed their chores.

The slaves hadn't minded the cheerful child's company and would sometimes answer her curious questions if their master was out of earshot.

"How very callous of you." Geta couldn't hide how much he delighted in that answer. "Not even a tear for your sweet sister?"

"I didn't say I had a sister."

She gave Geta a dark look and his smile widened. Finally he had found a nerve.

Diana didn't want to talk about Julia with this monster. The memory of her was the only bright thing she had about her life before Marcus Acacius had lifted her into his arms.

She didn't think Geta wanted to kill her, she was too useful with Caracalla to toss aside yet. But he wasn't beneath hurting her for refusing his questions.

Her or someone else.

"She cared," Diana finally said curtly not wanting to bless the Emperor with hearing her sister's name. "We'd play sometimes but she had been promised to a man in Rome. It wouldn't have been long before she was sent away."

Geta knew the rest of the story. A legion under Acacius' command had been deployed to Baia to investigate the outbreak in a large village. Once there they evacuated the few left alive then burnt everything to the ground to exterminate the sickness.

Then Acacius' went to search the hillside villa belonging to his comrade. None of the common people knew anything about the family's well being as they were rarely seen in the village, only sending slaves for their supplies and daily water from the well.

The only two survivors were now standing in the Emperor's thermae for his enjoyment.

Geta sighed and leaned back on his seat. He'd had fun provoking Diana but her story hadn't been half as tragic as he'd hoped. He'd predicted she might crumble into tears or express sordid details of the disease that had ended her family but she'd denied him.

She wasn't a simpering virgin after all, she had fortitude with a nasty temper simmering just under the surface. He would enjoy drawing that out.

Diana's skin was reddening in the heat and that's when Geta saw it. Shining silver in the sweat of her skin.

"What is this?" Geta asked as he stared down at her left breast.

"A birthmark," Diana replied simply and pulled her wrap higher.

"No," Geta pulled the cloth back down roughly to expose her full breast. "This is something else."

There were five thin streaks that began above her collarbone and ran down meet to an uneven circle on her breast. He ignored her alarmed expression and placed his hand precisely over the markings.

'A handprint.'

Diana took in a sharp breath but didn't resist. This was just another part of the game and to react would be to lose.

The skin wasn't shrivelled like a burn or course like a callous, it was arousingly smooth and tight.

"Who touched you?" he asked and pushed harder. Her firm breast resisted the pressure of his hand and Geta could feel his excitement rising.

A shout from behind them made Geta jump and Diana turned her head to reply in a foreign tongue.

"Silence your brute!" Geta barked, embarrassed to be frightened by someone so primitive.

"I can't," Diana replied unapologetically. "Mensca isn't a slave so I can't control anything he might do."

Geta heard the threat and dug his fingernails into her blemished skin. With his other hand he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her face close to his.

"My praetorian guards will cut you both down," he hissed with his face an inch above hers and eyes dangerous.

"They can try," Diana admitted without changing her unperturbed expression, "but they'd be too late."

For a few moments the only sound was the steam rising through the vents from the underground kettles. The warnings had been thrown down, now they had to see who would give the final order.

'She does have old eyes,' Geta thought staring into her green orbs. 'What has she seen?'

"Go," Geta snapped and pushed her roughly. "I have no further need of you now."

"Your Majesty," Diana said with exaggerated reverence and bowed her head. Her beautiful breast still hung out her wrap but she showed no shame or embarrassment.

She then turned and walked out the thermae with an air of audacity. The barbarian's black eyes lingered on the emperor for a moment longer then he followed her path.

"Fetch mother," Diana instructed as she took her clothes from the slave girl and threw them on haphazardly. "We're leaving."

Mensca was watching the thermae door daring the puerile emperor to emerge and give him reason to eviscerate him.

"Mensca," Diana repeated and stopped dressing.

Finally Mensca grunted and turned away. Today would not be the day he revenged his people but there would be another chance. The boy king was too mercurial to act wisely and one day he would supply just cause for a cut throat.

Diana was wearing her new clothes incorrectly but didn't allow the slave girl to help. She just wanted to get as far away from Geta as possible, the brave face she'd been wearing through their confrontation had been false and now she felt fear flooding through her.

In the hall the cool afternoon air slapped her face and she was suddenly annoyed by her heavy garments and wet hair. She wanted to go home and dump the stupid dress on the floor for a simple shift.

The hall was monitored by two praetorian guards but they did nothing as Caracalla rushed at Diana with a knife.

"We need to cut off your hair and breasts!" he shrieked and pulled her hair hard. "Then Geta wont want you!"

Diana pulled away but Caracalla held tight and sawed off a chunk of her curly brown locks then grabbed another handful.

Thinking fast Diana grabbed both his wrists and held them hard before slipping her foot behind Caracalla's heel and tripping him backwards.

Caracalla landed hard on his backside and the knife went spinning across the floor. He looked up at her wide eyes for a moment then like a toddler he wrapped his arms around his knees and rocked back and forth as he wailed.

"He wants to bed you! That's the only thing he wants women for!" he cried not looking up.

Diana was appalled and wanted to walk away from the miserable whelp but she'd seen Caracalla's misery shift to fury before and couldn't take the risk.

"No, no, my lord he did not," Diana assured him in a calming tone.

"Tell me what he wanted!" he demanded still not lifting his head.

Diana lifted her dress slightly so she could bend her knees and sat down beside the sobbing man. Caracalla leaned into her but continued with his hysteria as Diana suppressed her revulsion.

"He wanted me to tell him a secret," Diana whispered in his ear feeling his cold gold earring on her lips. "But I wouldn't."

"You wouldn't?" Caracalla sniffed and finally lifted his head to look at her.

Diana shook her head slightly and felt the uneven weight of her cut hair. She then lent in to touch her forehead to his and gazed into his blue eyes warmly.

"No because I want to tell you. I know you're different my lord, Emperor Geta would tell but I know you'll keep my secret wont you?"

"I will!" Caracalla's eyes were hungry like child's who is about to be bestowed an amazing gift.

Holding her breath to avoid his fetid breath she whispered very quietly in his ear.

"I've met the goddess Proserpina."

[kickbackkanzaki]

Pomegranate Seeds and Black Roses

Diana, the daughter of Lucilla and Acacius becomes an obsession for Emperor Geta. As rebellion in the colosseum rises and danger stalks her family Diana must outmanoeuvre her enemies to keep her loved ones alive.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

No one would have thought Lucilla worried to look at her. The mask of absolute calm she'd moulded over a lifetime of violence and political intrigue had fooled both the intelligent and powerful many times.

When their escort had mounted their horses outside the villa their lady had seemed so unapprehensive they wondered why she was interrupting her evening routine to attend a party. She seemed entirely uninterested in the occasion.

They expected some sign of worry about stepping back into the Imperial court. Everyone knew the emperors' reputation for quick tempers and violent moods but Lucilla stepped into the carriage with no apparent concern.

On the inside however anxiety was clutching at her lungs trying to suffocate her.

"We should have gone to the coast," she lamented aloud as the carriage rocked along the road.

"It doesn't matter mother," the young woman beside her said calmly. "They would have summond you no matter where we were. Noone can refuse the emperors' call."

"Did you have enough to eat at dinner? You left some bread on the table," Lucilla's question came fast as she shifted her worry to her daughter.

"It's warm today," Diana explained calmly. "I lose my appetite in warm weather, you know this."

"We should have brought some water with us," Lucilla chided her own lack of forethought. "You'll get a headache."

"We'll be there soon," her daughter assured her. "I'll have water when we arrive."

The gold bangles around Lucilla's wrist jangled as she reached over and held her hand to Diana's cheek.

"You're still looking pale," she declared stiffly when she felt no fever. "Are you sure you're not feeling faint?"

Diana pushed her mouth into an annoyed line and crossed her arms. She knew Lucilla was anxious, she always was when Acacius was away, but she resented being treated like an invalid.

Diana disliked these summons too but she couldn't deny the curiosity she felt. For nearly fourteen years she had lived only a few miles outside the city but had never passed through its walls.

She wanted to see the famed pinnacle of civilisation with its libraries, museums, temples and other splendours. Both her parents had dedicated their lives to this place and she wanted to discover what about it inspired such devotion and reverence.

"I still think the green was nicer," Diana jumped to a new conversation to lighten the mood.

She was pulling gently at the lavender cloth of her new dress. Several bolts had been brought to their villa but Lucilla had ordered the simplest design with a matching ribbon to hold her long hair back.

While she herself was adored in luxurious silks and eye catching jewellery Diana wore no decoration with just a light layer of cosmetics to brighten her skin.

"It was too bold," her mother sat back against her seat defeated. "It would have called too much attention to yourself."

"What is wrong with that?" Diana asked innocently.

Lucilla snapped her head around to stare Diana straight in her green eyes.

"You must be forgettable!" Lucilla admonished and Diana retracted a little. "You'll only be safe that way."

"We're going to a party mother," she answered defensively. "No one goes unnoticed. People always prowl and pry."

"I don't think you fully comprehend how dangerous Rome can be," Lucilla explained with some exhaustion. "It's a grass infested with hidden vipers and quicksand. Everyone is waiting for you to stumble, show weakness or manipulate you. It's almost impossible to know who you can trust."

"You've protected me from the worst of it," Diana admitted, "but I'm aware of the danger mother. I overhear you and father talk more than you realise."

Lucilla felt a pang of guilt then. She had always thwarted any inference that her daughter's condition made her stupid but there had been times she hoped Diana too simple to follow the hushed conversations she had with her husband.

She had not wanted it with malice but for her beloved child's safety. No one would suspect a simpleton of dissent if their family ever came under suspicion. Lucilla had already lost one child to the dangers of Roman royalty, she would not lose another.

Unable to show Diana her guilt Lucilla focused her gaze on the far wall of the carriage. A shadow passed over the shuttered windows and she knew they had passed under the arch outside the city. The crowds gathered to gawk at the distinguished party guests would slow their progress but wouldn't delay their arrival long.

She felt no joy returning to her former home. The years of delight and safety with her father and Lucius were eclipsed by the terror of her brother and the nefarious schemes of senators.

Suddenly she felt a warm hand squeeze her fingers and she turned to see her daughter looking at her with a soothing expression.

"I will be careful mother I promise."

Lucilla lifted the unadorned hand to her painted lips and kissed it gently. She had never thought she could love an adopted child as much as one from her womb but Lucilla barely remembered Diana was not her own.

"You're right," Lucilla said as she pulled Diana close to kiss her temple. "Everything will be fine."

They stayed huddled together on the carriage seat until the horses pulled up and a pretorian guard opened the door. He looked them over with a cold expression then satisfied, nodded to their attendants.

The women alighted and joined a small group of guests walking together to the palace stairs.

Diana had been told to act indifferent towards the city's splendors but she couldn't help staring. Lucilla had shown her drawings and told her stories of the imperial palace as a youth but the sight was beyond her imagination.

Even in the dying light the royal structure dominated the sky, it's sheer magnitude striking Diana dumb. Every stone had been laid with perfect precision and the imposing columns reached high to hold the magnificent structure above everything in Rome. Lights glowed from inside the multitude of rooms like braziers aboard ships anchored in a bay.

Even when she was small Diana knew she lived better than most. The villa on the hill had shadowed the tiny houses beneath it but she had never thought a marvel like this possible.

"Equisite is it not?" Senator Gracchus asked smiling kindly at her awe.

"This must be how the chickens feel looking at us from their coop," Diana replied with a delighted smile.

'So young,' Gracchus thought with some unease. 'She will learn.'

Gracchus was one of the few confidants Lucilla and Acacius had introduced to Diana when Acacius had carried her home on his stallion.

He thought her bright and kind but worried her parents had sheltered her too much from the world.

Most girls her age had been sent to Rome by now to meet suitors and learn the rules of society but Diana had been kept home to study the great writings and tend her pets.

"I will watch over her tonight," Gracchus assured Lucilla when Diana turned her wide eyes back to the palace.

"Gratitude Gracchus," Lucilla whispered and lightly touched her daughter's arm to lead her inside.

As they proceeded through the labyrinth of halls Diana's head was constantly twisting to see the wonderous artifacts decorating the halls.

Busts of past emperors, art from across the seas and bronzed weapons of Roman heroes. Diana could hear a rumble of voices rising and she stopped marvelling to set her face into impassiveness.

'If the book is closed no one can read it,' she remembered her father saying and she always followed his logic.

The three of them entered the hall together and Diana was almost overwhelmed by the mass of people.

The richest people in Rome were squeezed into the hall together draped in the finest garments twinkling with gold and precious gems. With their heavily painted faces and high voices Diana couldn't separate one person from another. They didn't even sound like people, they were a swarm of wasps - hovering together tightly and buzzing loudly.

With heads bent in submission slaves passed through the crowd offering wine and refreshments to the greedy guests who consumed them with gusto.

"This is horrible," Diana blurted but she went unheard over the deafening din. Her nose crinkled in revulsion as she watched the party goers gobble their food and paw each other lustily.

How could a place so beautiful house such disgusting creatures?

'It's a gilded sty,' she thought in disgust.

The red garb of a pretorian guard striding through the crowd caught her eye and she unlinked her arm from Lucilla's. Taking a step back Diana bowed her head to the guard so he'd mistake her for a handmaid.

"The Emperors request your company my lady," the pretorian said after crossing his arm over his chest in salute. "I will escort you."

"Of course," Lucilla heard the command in his voice and followed him obediently as Diana and Gracchus moved stealthily behind a column.

They both watched covertly as the crowd parted to permit Lucilla passage. Some had the decency to bow their heads in respect while others assessed the princess with critical eyes.

'Swine,' Diana thought with irritation as she saw people whisper behind their raised wine glasses.

The hall was so wide Diana had to stand on her toes to keep her eyes on Lucilla as she approached the Emperors' seat.

The brothers sat beside each other on identical thrones surrounded by their entourage. The taller, Geta Diana supposed, had a woman draped across the back of his seat with her hand stroking his open robe.

Caracalla sat slumped like a sulky child biting his nails. At his feet a pile of painted harlots of all genders sat like lapdogs waiting for affection.

"Are they as people say?" Diana asked as the brothers spoke to Lucilla.

"The young Emperors are passionate about expanding the Empire," Gracchus chose his words carefully. "They wish to honour their father's legacy."

Diana saw through his masked statement and nodded. Their rulers loved war and conquest and maintained their power through cruelty as Septimius had.

"Come Diana," Gracchus said kindly after Lucilla had taken a seat beside their rulers. "Let me introduce you to better company."

Diana nodded and reached out her hand but froze when someone spoke behind her.

"I had heard General Acacius kept a rare jewel guarded in his villa but I did not expect you to be so stunning," an oily voice remarked.

"Who are you?" Diana demanded to know.

She didn't recognise the flatterer and narrowed her emerald eyes suspiciously. Her father had always warned her to beware the sweet words of perfumed men.

"Allow me to introduce Senator Pullo," Senator Gracchus intervened before his slippery colleague could speak. "Senator, this is Diana, daughter of Lucilla Auruelius."

"My lady," Pullo dipped forward from his waist and grinned in a way he thought was convincingly charming.

"You're very young to be a senator,' Diana remarked as she took him.

Pullo stood taller than she and Gracchus with pale blonde hair and blue eyes. Diana supposed him handsome but there was something about his smile that didn't ring true. It reminded her of the masks the players wore in the Greek plays, carved into exaggerated expressions of joy.

"Senator Pullo is from a long line of distinguished senators," Gracchus explained before Pullo could begin. "His family is nearly as old as Rome itself."

Diana understood the inference between the facts. Money and name had gotten Pullo his position, not loyal work or the people's approval.

"I need some air," Diana declared and nodded to Gracchus.

"Perhaps we can talk another time?" Pullo suggested still wearing the false smile.

"Doubtful. I don't like you," Diana said promptly and walked away without excusing herself.

"She is strange," Pullo remarked as he watched her go out to the gardens and snatched a goblet of wine from a passing slave.

"Quite the contrary," Gracchus replied boldly. "I believe the young lady to be a fine judge of character. Good evening Pullo."

Once outside Diana took in a deep breath of night air and exhaled all the noise and outrageousness she'd absorbed in the hall. The tingling in her ears abated after a moment and she put her nose in a nearby flower to refresh her senses.

She was downhearted to have found Rome was not the utopia she had dreamed of but she felt more vexed than disappointed. Seeing her wise, dignified mother forced to consort with such hedonist pretenders made her angry.

No one in that room had done half as much for the empire as her parents. They were people who performed the noblest of deeds without reward while their inferiors spoiled themselves at parties.

Diana soon found herself at a bench and lay down on the cool slab. Above her the nearly full moon glowed brightly and she remembered one night long ago when she couldn't sleep because her father was departing for war at daybreak.

'If I am ever away from you look to the moon,' Acacius had told her pulling the blankets up to her chin. 'I will be looking at the same moon and thinking of you too little chick.'

Was he alright? No news had come since the fleet had set sail weeks ago. His departures never became easier, Diana always felt his absence in the empty chairs and silent halls of the villa. She supposed someone at the party might have news but she doubted their information would be freely given.

Diana became dozy in the moon's light listening to the choir of crickets. She wondered how much longer the emperors would keep Lucilla when a scream split through the dark.

Diana sat bolt up and looked around wildly for the source.

Another scream rippled across the dark and Diana ran in its direction with no plan in mind. All she knew was someone was hurt and no help was coming, the party goers wouldn't have heard anything over their own malarkey.

Another scream told her she was close and this time she could hear hear babbled pleas.

Someone was holding a hunched figure by the hair and something in their other hand. The dark hid their faces but the moonlight caught the golden laurel through the orange hair.

"Stop this!" Diana screamed hoping someone would hear and come to her aid.

"I'm going slice this traitor's lying throat!" Caracalla's high pitched scream made the slave wail and he lent down to strike.

"You wont hurt him," Diana pushed the words out before cowardice stopped her.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?!" Caracalla roared pointing the knife at her and yanked the poor boy's head back harder.

"A friend to the Emperor," Diana stammered. "One who knows his magnanimity and divine wisdom. An emperor who would rather save a life than take it."

Diana was brazenly lying but her flattery had stilled the blade. She glanced down at the captive boy and saw his eyes pleading her for rescue. She couldn't stop now.

"He's been poisoning me!" Caracalla hissed, his eyes wild like a cornered field mouse. "Making me weak for my enemies! They want to overthrow me for my brother!"

"Look at him my lord" Diana lowered her voice to a soothing tone. "He's terrified. He doesn't have the temerity to do something so vile. You mistake him."

Caracalla flicked his twitching eyes to the trembling catamite then back to Diana. He didn't know her, she had no right to command him but she had appeared from the ether like a guiding goddess to preach wisdom. Should he ignore her?

"Please Your Greatness," Diana slowly bent her knees to the ground. "Show me the benevolent and wise ruler I know you to be."

She lowered her forehead to the cold stone and spread her arms wide in full prostration squeezing her eyes shut. With rattling breath she waited in the silence. Waited for the slave's death rattle, for Caracalla's scream, for the knife to stab her in a frenzy.

Powerless, she surrendered herself to the fates.

Suddenly there was a clatter near her ear and something smashed into her side knocking her over.

The slave had run into her as he fled and the knife lay nearby rocking back on forth on its rounded cross guard in a threatening motion.

Diana moved to stand but Caracalla fell onto her and wrapped her in a death grip. His shrill wails sounded like a snared rabbit shrieking for help and made her eardrums ache.

Suddenly Diana was more afraid than when he held the knife. She felt his chewed nails scratching her back as he twisted her dress with his fingers and the stench of his breath.

Her skin dampened as Caracalla wept and slobbered into her neck and she had to fortify her resolve not to recoil.

She hadn't spent any time around children and had never been a hysterical youngster so she didn't know how to react to these wild emotions.

But she did recall cut knees and grief bringing tears to her eyes and remembered how Lucilla would soothe her.

She slipped her weak arms around the sobbing man and rested her cheek on his hair. The moonlight had dulled his golden laurel to a dim bronze and the sharp leaves scratched her cheek but she ignored the discomfort.

"I want them to love me!"

"Of course you do," Diana soothed and she stroked his short cropped hair. "We all want to be loved."

"Everyone wants me to fail! The people, the senate even my own brother! I hear them conspiring in corners and see them passing messages. They want to cut me down!"

"There are no conspiracies sire," Diana assured him kindly. "Your mind is tired. An entire empire weighs on your mind and it is sometimes more than you can take."

Caracalla's moaning came to a stop and he pulled his face from Diana's soaked dress.

"Truly?" his puffy eyes begged as he looked up her. "I'm tired?"

"Yes sire," Diana nodded and left her hand rest on ill man's shoulder. "A ruler needs rest."

"Are you a goddess?"

"No sire, I am your loyal servant."

Diana began to worry again, if Caracalla fell into fantasy he might reach for the knife.

Caracalla reached his filthy fingers up and pulled the skin under her eyes.

"How can a face so young have eyes so old?" He whispered trying to find the answer in her exposed eyeballs.

"You must rest sire," Diana repeated as her eyes stung and began watering.

"Yes, yes," Caracalla whispered to himself and let her face go. "A ruler needs rest."

Then he stood up so suddenly Diana fell back in alarm but Caracalla's grabbed her dress.

"Come to bed with me," he pleaded sulkily.

"I should return to the party sire," Diana declined as politely as she could. "My mother is waiting for me."

The weeping boy's face twisted into an expression of cruel dominance and Diana felt her stomach freeze with fear. Even a rabid animal wasn't so quick to temper as this Emperor was.

"Come to bed with me!" Caracalla yelled spraying her face in spit and clenched her dress so tightly Diana could feel his rings making imprints in her belly.

The saliva on her face was drying cold and sent a chill through her skin. His teeth reeked of sweet foods and red wine and his eyelids red from weeping now seemed ablaze with fury.

Diana was sure if the knife was still in his hand he would have held it to her throat. Then again maybe Caracalla didn't need a knife, she had heard the stories of him throwing men out of windows and damning former friends to the gladiator arena. Laughing hysterically as they were devoured mercilessly by animals.

"As you wish sire," Diana fought to keep her voice steady.

She knew she didn't possess the strength to fight him and if she fled Caracalla would have her dragged back by her hair. Anything that happened in Rome only did by the consent of royalty.

Caracalla's face morphed to one of pleasure and flashed his wine stained teeth in a maniacal smile.

"Come, come," he cooed and took Diana by her hand like a child leading his new playmate to the nursery.

Diana's sandals shuffled slowly hoping the longer she delayed their arrival the better chance someone would pass and intervene. But the gardens were empty and Caracalla steered them away from the party where Lucilla was held hostage.

If anyone could have coerced the emperor into releasing her it would have been her mother, the consummate diplomat. Maybe Senator Gracchas had noticed her prolonged absence and would seek her out.

But he didn't. Caracalla pulled Diana down halls she didn't recognise from before. They came to a room protected by two guards but they paid her no notice, just opened the doors without request.

"Fetch me some wine," he ordered the slave standing ready in the corner and finally released Diana's hand.

With his back turned Diana wiped her sweaty palm against her dress and took in the room with wide eyes. Her family well but she had never seen a bedroom so lavishly decorated.

Drapes woven with golden threads, chairs hand carved with intricate patterns and a bed big enough for a family. Diana pulled her eyes away from the silk sheets and refocused on her captor who was petting a tiny monkey on the dresser.

Caracalla removed his laurel crown and entertained the monkey with the rings he twisted off his fingers. The primate's little fingers played with the priceless jewellery like a toy and Diana swallowed nervously thinking perhaps Caracalla saw her the same way. Dundus sank his sharp canine into a gemstone and Diana's whole body clenched.

She wasn't afraid of brutality or rape but of consequences. Her feline eyes had taken in more than the decor when she'd looked around the room, she had been counting how many nearby objects could be used as weapons.

It was death to harm a royal but Diana knew she couldn't be yielding to assault from anyone. It was against every basic instinct she had. Survival had always been her skill.

"Lie on the bed," Caracalla told her when he finally lost interest in his pet.

Diana did not protest and sat herself on the luxurious bed with the mound of pillows behind her back. If need be she could pull one out and smother her assailant.

Without bothering to remove his regalia Caracalla flopped by her side and rested his acne ridden face on her breasts like an infant drunk on milk. His arm encircled her waist and Diana fought to supress her revulsion.

His weight was stifling and his touch sent tremors of disgust through her but Caracalla didn't notice. He made a contented humming noise as he snuggled into her and didn't acknowledge the slave returning with the wine.

Diana tried to catch her notice with her pleading eyes but the slave deliberately ignored her. The glasses and wine pitcher were placed on the bedside table with such care and deliberateness Diana knew she would not dare do anything she wasn't ordered. Terror was a tight collar.

When the slave turned Diana glanced furtively down at the slumbering boy then slowly reached for an ornate wine glass. She tested its resistance with a small squeeze then carefully tucked it beneath her pillow and lent back until she heard a muffled crunch.

Caracalla didn't flinch and her racing heart slowed a beat. The broken glass wouldn't be enough to pierce his artery but with his hysterical tendencies Caracalla would likely scream loud enough at a bleeding cut to raise alarm. Then would be her chance to slip past the guards back to her mother's protection.

'Mother,' Diana lamented silently and suddenly felt a sharp tension in her temples.

'No!' she panicked as the invisible vice clamped around her head and spots of light danced in front of her eyes.

'Calm down, calm down!' she commanded herself but every time Caracalla shifted in his sleep her muscles tensed and a wave of pain rippled through her head.

Diana forced her eyes closed to block out the room but the strange lights still flashed bright behind her eyelids. The pain was now coming in regular waves and she exhaled her suppressed yells through her nose.

It was too late for a tonic now even if she could obtain one. Her jaw clenched as the invisible vice wound tighter around her skull.

'Pain passes, pain passes,' she recited to herself and tried to block out the foul stench of Caracalla's drool puddling on her chest.

Her body was trapped in that room but her thoughts tried to overcome the pain. She remembered the seaside villa Acacias had taken them to on his last return, learning letters with Lucilla's hand wrapped around her own as the quill wobbled, the chickens she'd kept as a child and her sister's laugh.

When the migraines came the minutes stretched endlessly so Diana didn't know how long she lay there captive. Her mind was far away in the past when she felt a hand covering her mouth.

Her eyes snapped open and found the room had dimmed to a faint glow, the lamps having burnt low. It took her blurred vision a moment to focus on Emperor Geta leaning over her with a finger to his lips and brown eyes commanding her obedience.

Diana's breathing heightened as she panicked and the fingers over her mouth squeezed tighter. Geta loomed over her with menace and she knew she had to obey. She feared Caracalla's mercurial madness but she didn't know what Geta was capable of and that scared her more.

When her breathing steadied her leant back and released her now aching mouth. Not taking her eyes off Geta she tipped her head to the slumbering body pinning her down and Geta nodded.

Diana felt the stones set in his rings graze her middle as he wedged a hand between her and his brother's shoulder. Then slowly he shifted Caracalla onto his back and Diana's chest inflated.

The pain in her head was still blinding but she could muster the strength to get away. She couldn't take another second in Caracalla's stench.

She wobbled to her feet and staggered towards the door, her vision rolling like a ship on the tide but her course steady. Beyond that door was fresh air, drinking water and safety. Diana would endure the agony to reach them.

Silently Geta came aside and slipped his arm around her waist for guidance. Diana's thumping head rolled onto his shoulder and in a moment of uncharacteristic graciousness he allowed it.

Her nostrils noticed his smell wasn't repulsive like his brother's but the stench of perfume and wine that encircled him made her tender stomach roll.

'They make me sick,' Diana thought. 'They're rotten.'

After what felt like a journey the doors opened and the bright light on the hall made Diana wince but she heard her mother's voice and reached out for her. Once she was in Lucilla's arms her strength finally gave out and she felt her mother stagger under her weight.

"Escort them out," Geta ordered his retinue who swooped around the women like magpies fighting for a shiny object.

Lucilla refused to relinquish her hold on Diana so numerous hands held the women steady as they moved like a swarm down the corridor.

Geta watched them depart with a certain curiosity.

He had been relieved to find the girl unmolested but his brother's contented condition surprised him. Caracalla's fits of paranoia were worsening and more than once he'd found a dead lover in his brother's bedchamber.

One day he would be showering his whores with love and treats and the next he'd slay them convinced they were conspiring against him.

His histrionics had recently extended to the senate where he'd lash out at any who dared contradict him. Last week he had ordered common men to death for urinating on his statue while intoxicated.

The medicus had been trying various concoctions to slow the degradation of Caracalla's mind but none so far had shown any effect.

"What do you know about her?" Geta asked keeping his gaze on Diana's retreating figure.

"Nearly nothing sire," Senator Pullo admitted from behind his emperor. "Only that General Acacius and Lady Lucilla adopted her at a young age. Her father had been a friend of theirs."

"Find out Pullo," Geta still didn't deign to look at the senator. "You shall be rewarded.