Darling Darkness ((Mature Content))

[Alice Darling]

Alice quietly shut the door to the Outback, and leaned against it. The cool night air swept over her, drying the last of the sweat from her face. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she thought about her performance in the Panther's Claw. Her steps guided her towards the Boudoir, languid, slow. She took her time to enjoy the evening, giving the various bruises she had received in the rings time to heal.

After all, they were mere annoyances. She had come to the rings, and she had found them wanting. Perhaps, it was as the Egyptian had said: those who fought in the tournament had little experience. The only decent fight she had was her first.

Her rumination brought her to Jenillisa’s front door, and she used the key to slip inside. Alice turned, and found herself pressed against the door by a flurry of coppery curls and soft flesh. A grin brought to her lips, as she held the other woman close. “Hello, Sa. My love.”

Her words were lost in the press of mouths, hungry kisses as teeth nipped and tongues explored, entwined. A moment only, before Sa was drifting away, hands roaming down Alice’s arms, locking fingers with hers. Sa tugged lightly, pulling Alice along behind her, leading her. She was guided towards the great room. It was empty of all furniture, a place where Sa could practice her techniques on Alice with little fear of reprisal or discovery.

Sa released her hand, stepping away from her. She stood away from Alice, hands at her sides. Her low, husky voice drifted across to her, causing chills down Alice’s spine. “So. You wanted them to hit you harder?” The smile that crossed her lips would have chilled a man’s blood, caused him to turn away in fear. To Alice, it was an invitation, a promise. Warmth spread through her body, at her core. Lust filled her, begging to be sated. She nodded, reaching up to release the braid that held her blonde locks in check. Alone with Sa, the crimson lace collar was no longer hidden, the delicately webbed demon flesh caressing her tender throat.

Sa settled back into a fighting stance, flesh gleaming under the low lighting. Alice swept her fingers through her hair, hands falling at her sides. One hand lifted, a finger crooked in a “come hither” gesture at the woman across her. Sa obliged, darting forward with almost supernatural speed.

The resounding crack as the heel of Sa’s foot impacted with Alice’s knee echoed through the empty room. It was followed by a sharp gasp, and the sounds of a body falling heavily to the floor. Pained tears swept tracks down her porcelain cheeks, even as Alice’s lips curled in a loving smile, and harsh laughter ripped from her throat. Sa stood over her, a smile of her own on plush lips.

“Oh, my love. My Alice.”

A sharp crack as Sa’s fist struck downward – once, twice. The laughter turned into a choked gargle as her ribs first bowed, then exploded inward. Blood seeped from the corner of her lips as she struggled to fill her punctured lungs with oxygen.

Sa knelt beside her, gently stroking her arm, her hair. Kissed her bloodied lips as they turned blue, and a final pained whimper escaped. Alice’s eyes slowly gazed over, her heart fluttering once before stilling in her ruined chest. A final kiss to her brow, before Sa gently lifted Alice’s body from the floor, cradling her close as she carried her through another doorway. There, a lavender-scented bath had been prepared before Alice had arrived. Ever so gently, Sa stripped away the bloodied tank-top ruined jeans, tossing them into a corner for later disposal.

Alice was gently lowered into the water, and Sa began her patient ritual of cleaning away crimson and viscera to reveal the beautiful porcelain flesh beneath. She watched, as first, the shattered kneecap righted itself, the swollen flesh receding, bones and cartilage knitting. Sa let out a tremulous sigh as the damage to Alice’s rib cage began to heal as well.

Sa carefully dried the lifeless limbs, lifting her easily again, and carrying her into the bedroom. A velvet coverlet and silken sheets in a deep blue were pulled down, awaiting pale, cold flesh. Sa arranged Alice on her back, and stripped her own simple leotard away. She curled up next to her, laying her head against Alice’s chest, which was as perfect now as when she first entered the Boudoir. She waited.

Beneath her, a fluttering. Then: Thump, and silence. Thump...Thump...Thump.

Alice let out a long gasp, body growing rigid, before arms tangled around the copper-haired beauty.

Sa whispered, “You’ve come back to me...”

Then, the loving – slick, wet bodies embracing, mouths ravishing, tasting. Death was powerful, but Alice’s resurrection was the aphrodisiac that brought them together.

Somewhere, Aukai rolled from the sleeping arms of the sated, vanilla cream eyes hooded. A long, languid stretch, stroking flesh the color of deep red wine. “Oh...Alice....”

Later, Alice slept, arms curled tightly around Sa as she watched over her. Sa spoke quietly, “Should we give it to her now?”

Another voice answered, the tone the same, though different. “Yes, give it to her. She will like it.”

“Give it to her...”

“Show her how we care...”

Sa nodded, slowly disentangling herself. Violet eyes drifted open, watching her move to an armoire. Sa opened it, retrieved a box and carried back to bed. Alice sat up, sheets falling from her as she stared at first the box, then Sa.

“Open it,” the harsh, scraping sound of Sa’s voice grated. Alice did as directed, her face lighting up with pleasure.

Inside the box, a medallion rested, nestled in velvet. Sa slipped it from the box, lifted the chain over Alice’s head, and settled it against her skin. She pressed her hand against it, then against her own chest, where an identical medallion rested.