Lezard's Triumph

The chill against her naked skin was what awakened her, causing Lenneth to snuggle closer against the body that lay next to her's. Lucian? Lenneth thought sleepily, her eyes fluttering open slowly. The sight of a naked chest greeted her, pale and smooth, free of battle scars, a tangled bed sheet sliding down low enough on the body to reveal a sight that had her blushing. The alarm she felt at seeing brown not blonde hair was enough to startle her into full consciousness, her breath catching in her throat. Lezard. She confirmed, raising her head to peer at the sleeping nercomancer's face.

He lay on his side, facing her, one arm laying possessively across her body, gripping her loosely just under her breasts. His head rested on a pillow of her hair, his purple eyes shut tightly in sleep. His chest moved slowly up and down, in the rythm of deep sleep, for which she was grateful. She didn't feel up to facing him so soon after the events that transpired the night before.

Goodness, the night before! Lenneth didn't think her face could redden any further, skin aflame as she thought back on what had almost happened. At some point he had picked her up, carrying her back to the large bed. He quickly had Lenneth on her back, Lezard's hands pealing back her dress as though she was a present he couldn't wait to unwrap. He lifted her hips, sliding the dress the rest of the way down, and she blushed, clad only in white panties. For just a second he stopped and stared, appreciating the view of her nearly naked, her peaches and cream complexion offset by the frame of silver blue hair spread around her. If he found her beautiful dressed, she was ravishing sans clothing!

She had grown uncomfortable with his perusal, longing for her dress to be returned to her. Not being able to stand the look in his eyes a moment longer, she brought her arms up to cover her chest, and he stopped her. "No don't...they won't be enough..." Her breasts were large and round, much bigger than a handful while her sweet nipples were pink and slightly hardened. "That's cause your cold.." Lezard had said, flicking a fingertip against one. "But soon it'll be because of me..."

He put his face against her chest, kissing the nipple of her right breast. Out his tongue came, giving it a tentative lick. He felt Lenneth shake, a hand going to her mouth to stifle her appreciative cry. Lezard smiled against her breast, loving the sounds she tried to hide from him. She was surprisingly docile beneath him, making only half hearted attempts to free herself from his embrace. He wouldn't fool himself into thinking it was because she had any feelings for him, rather she had decided it was pointless to struggle against a being much more powerful than herself. He tried not to let it bother him, to not let it ruin the moment that she was giving in not due to desire, but fear.

He licked harder, slightly angry now. He wanted her to like it, want it too, and by the sounds she was making, she at least enjoyed his mouth on her. She writhed and squirmed under his ministrations, hands clutching the cushions of the bed helplessly. He grabbed at her hands, wanting them on him, wanting them to touch and hold his flesh, adore him the way he cherished her. Her arms came forward, limp and unsure, and he let out an impatient growl against her nipple. The sound stirred her into movement, or perhaps it was the memory of his earlier words, begging her to touch him. Whatever the case, he felt her fingers entwine in his hair, slight pressure goading him further against her chest.

Lezard let his hands fall away from her arms, trusting in her to keep touching him without further direction. Lenneth sedately stroked the back of his head, shy and timid in her handling of him. He of course was much more bold, knowing what he wanted and how to get it. With one last hard suck against the taut nipple between his teeth, he wrenched a mewling sound from the Goddess, feeling her nails scratch at the back of his neck.

He raised up on elbows, to gaze down at her. Her chest rose and fell with each shaky breath she took, her skin flushed red from a combination of arousal and embarrassment. Lenneth turned her head to the side, but not before he caught sight of her tears. Lezard reached up to catch one on his finger, bringing it to his lips to taste it's salty sweetness.

It was the tears that had done it, she realized. Her silent wet plea having more of an effect on him than outright crying or begging ever would. Down he had stared at her, taking in all of her, moving beyond the fact that she was there, naked and pliant before him. Noticing how she tried to repress tremors that left her badly shaking in trembles underneath him.

"I'm sorry." He had simply said, moving off of her body. Lenneth lay still for a minute, a wash of emotions playing through her mind as she saw him turn away from her.

"Wh...what?" She stuttered out, confusion beating out relief for the moment.

Lezard sighed then, running his hands through his hair, leaving his bangs to fall in disarray across his eyes. He went to sit at the edge of the bed, his naked back to her. Lenneth slowly sat up, bringing her knees to her chest, arms hugging them close to her. "You should get some sleep." He said, not looking at her.

"What about you?" She asked, eying him warily, surprised at this sudden change in demeanor.

"I have things to do, matters to take care of." He stood then, reaching out with his hand to magically call his shirt to his grasp. He pulled it on, not looking at her, fiddling with the buttons. Lenneth wanted to ask why, but didn't dare. His mood had changed too fast, swinging into a subdued calm of practicality. "This world still needs much reshaping..."

"And you're the one to do it..." She stated with a frown.

"Yes." Lezard agreed, his expression hidden from her. He left her then, teleporting out of the fancy white room with a mere gesture. She fell back against the pillows, suddenly bone tired, too listless to even look for her discarded dress. At some point during the night, he must have returned, removing his clothing and slipping into bed next to her. Now she wondered if he had cast a spell on her, rendering her too sleepy to explore her gilded cage. She was awake now, wide eyed and coherent, staring at her sleeping captor's face.

She only took a moment to consider before she moved, slowly pulling her hair out from underneath his face. It was nerve wracking business to watch him, each snort, every movement, even the slightest causing her to freeze, fearful that he was awakening. At last her hair was free of him, and she turned, reaching out with her hands to lightly touch the skin of his arm. With a murmur, he nuzzled his face against the side of her's, grip tightening around her waist. Lenneth managed to keep quiet, daring not to breathe as she stared up at the ceiling, feeling his breath hot and heavy against her cheek. With one last incoherent sentence, Lezard settled down, falling back into a quiet slumber.

With a sigh of relief, she moved, inhaling as she inched her way out from under his arm. Free at last, she slid a pillow in her place, allowing his hand to grasp it in her stead. With one last look at him, she turned to leave the huge bed, feeling as though the distance to the edge was a million miles away. Though in actuality it was mere inches. With each dip and groan of the mattress, the Goddess felt her heartbeat thump in her chest, wondering how he could sleep though the vibrations she was causing. At last her bare feet touched upon the floor, and she rose, what was left of the bed sheet sliding off of her thin frame. She didn't try to dislodge the sheet out from underneath the necromancer, preferring to walk nude across the floor as she searched for her discarded dress. Her toes hit the soft material, and she bent picking up the sturdy cotton dress from it's crumpled spot on the ground.

Putting it on quickly, she tossed her hair over her shoulder, it loose and wild behind her. She cast a quick glance around the room, but there was no sign of her ruined armor. Lenneth supposed it had been left behind in the crystal room, as lost to her as were her weapons. Padding forward on silent feet, she made her way to the room's sole door, opening it as quietly as she could manage. A look over her shoulder showed Lezard still unmoving in the big bed. Whatever he had been up to after he had excused himself from her, had left him quite drained and tired.

Without any hesitation, Lenneth left the room, striding purposefully down the hallway. It wasn't long before she came to another door, and this one she wrenched open, blinking at the sun that glared it's harsh light into her eyes. The terrain was brown and barren, a desert wasteland empty of most life except for a few withered trees and cacti. Packed dirt made up platforms to leap from, the height making even her dizzy to gaze down at the floor below. With a shake of her head, she backed away, closing the door behind her. She leaned against it for a minute, annoyance marring her features.

Looking down the hall, other doors appeared, as though her attention cause them to come into existence. It made Lenneth wonder if they led anywhere, or contained something useful. There was only one way to find out, and right now going back to the bedroom was NOT an option. It would be too much like admitting defeat. She wasn't ready for that, not yet at least.

Opening the next door, she was granted with a forest scene. It was hardly peaceful, monsters skittering to and fro, looking vicious and deadly. She remembered seeing this land while traveling with Alicia's party through the twisting labyrinth Lezard called his world. It changed from area to area, as though each branch of the second World Tree was a new terrain, a new climate.

The next door she slammed shut right away, aggrieved to find an underwater scene of frozen sea. Even the monsters were solid blocks of ice! There was no wind to blow at her, to chill her down in her flimsy dress, for the entranceway was blocked off, the frozen wasteland filling up the doorway as an impenetrable wall of thick ice. It didn't stop her from trying the next door, or the next. Countless doors she must have opened and closed, looking in vain for the area that resembled the tower's entrance. Finally one door nearly gave her a fright, the Goddess jumping back in shock as three figures leaped into the hall with her. They were tall, much taller than Lenneth, and wore hooded cloaks over their bodies. Large hands, with fingers that were too, too long emerged from their sleeves, arms crossed over their chest as they floated, surrounding her in a tight circle. Vampires! Lenneth clenched her fists, prepared to fight them, even as she wondered why Lezard filled his world with the undead things.

Hisses and laughter assaulted her ears, as the trio danced around her. Hands reached out to touch her, stroking her hair, cold dead flesh grasping her arms, someone grabbing her around the waist, swinging her from ghoul to ghoul. She was spun around until she was made dizzy, heads leaning in to sniff at her, a tongue wetly slurping at her neck, before she was suddenly dropped to the floor. Lenneth landed on her feet, a hand coming up to punch at the nearest one, a female clad in magenta robes. Her hand was caught, a vice like grip keeping the punch from landing. It left her arm immobile, but otherwise unharmed, and she stifled a cry of fury as she tried to pull her arm away.

The one who had licked her, a male dressed in crimson robes, touched her neck again, fingers caressing. With a hiss from the third, a female wearing an aquamarine dress, he backed away from Lenneth, the other woman letting go of her arm. She pulled it to her chest, fingering the light bruises that appeared on her wrist. The one in the dress shocked them all, when she dropped down to her knees before Lenneth. "The Master's beloved." She said by way of explanation, and the other two vampires reacted, the male going even paler, ashamed, laying himself prostrate before Lenneth. The other female also knelt, sending worshipful glances at Lenneth.

"Fear not." said their apparent leader. "We would not harm you, oh cherished one of the new God."

"That's good to know..." Lenneth said, unsettled by the vampire's actions. She was used to them wanting to kill her, and her them. Never had the undead kneeled to a God of Asgard before! She wasn't sure what to make of this predicament.

"We are your loyal servants." said the leader. "You need only but to ask, and it will be done."

"Really?" Lenneth arched an eyebrow, and put this to the test. "Can you show me the way home?"

The vampires frowned, not understanding the question. "You ARE home mistress." said the male.

"...right...of course..." Lenneth sighed. "How silly of me to ask." She considered a moment, then asked. "How about the exit? Can you lead me to the way out of here?" The vampires shared an uneasy look, and it was with a tone of regret, the leader informed her that they could not. "But ask anything within reason, and that will be granted to you."

"You have nothing else I want." Lenneth then said, turning away from the kneeling vampires. Again they looked at each other, not knowing what to do. They got up to follow her, floating behind her as she tried another door. "What are you doing mistress?"

"Just...exploring..." It wasn't a lie, not outright she supposed. At least they didn't try to stop her, instead following behind her, her skin crawling as the aura of the undead pressed in all around her. It made her want to run back to the door with the desert, and fling it open, rain down that strong sunlight on these unnatural creatures. She had a feeling they were waiting for her to slip up, just waiting for Lenneth to do something that could merit them dragging her back to Lezard.

"How...long have you been here?" She asked by way of conversation.

"...we have lived in this place for as long as we existed." explained the head vampire. That meant Lezard must have created them. She wondered what else he had created, why he was populating his world with so many monsters.

"Since time immemorial all we have known is the new God." added the male one helpfully. That didn't tell Lenneth much. Lezard hadn't been a God for very long. It was days, a week at most since he had taken Odin's power. She wondered how Asgard was holding up without Gungnir there to support it. A growl caused her to glance at the vampires, seeing them grow excited and tense. "He wakes!!" one shouted at her with a happy grin.

"He rises." said another eagerly.

"He comes." said the third.

Lenneth took a step backwards, feeling her rear bump into a solid shape. With a gasp that was too loud for her own liking, she turned, seeing Lezard standing directly behind her. "He is here."

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Alicia frowned as sunlight poured in through the window, shining directly on her face. It felt as though she had just finally fallen asleep, only to be awakened by the sound of a rooster crowing. With a grumble she turned on her side, grabbing at pillow. She placed it over her head, trying to drown out the cries. "Shut up you stupid bird..." She muttered underneath her breath.

It continued to cry, happily ringing in the new day as it's beady eyes alighted on the rising sun. With a frustrated sigh, Alicia sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She had been up most of the night, crying to herself. Her sobs would stop whenever she heard footsteps approach, a person, Rufus most likely, hesitating just outside her door. She never called out to the visitor, and he never worked up the nerve to knock on her door. She was glad of that, wanting to be alone with her grief, not wanting to have to explain her tears yet again. It was just something she had to do, to let out all her sadness, to let it drain out of her, so that she could face the day, deaden to the pain. The way her life had been going lately, she felt it wouldn't be long before some new trauma, some new catastrophe occurred, causing her eyes to tear up once again.

The pessimistic princess got out of bed, reaching for her vest by the window. Her hand froze in place, hovering over the clothing as she stared at the open window of her room. It had been closed last night, she was sure of it. It had been chilly the night before, she remembered double checking it's locks as she shut the heavy frame closed. A bird landed on the window sill, singing it's merry song at her. Alicia ignored it, her fingers caressing against the warm leather of her vest. She pulled back her hand, a feeling like static electricity tingling against her skin.

She cautiously eased the vest aside, and saw a shining ball of orange hidden underneath. She held her hand over it, feeling the intense warmth pulsating against the palm of her hand. "The Dragon Orb..." She whispered, casting a glance outside the window. When last she had seen it, it had been in the possession of Brahms. Surely it had been him who had visited her room the night before. "But why would he entrust this to me?" She wondered out loud. "Especially after what I said to him." She continued to stare into the town square, glancing around as though she could pick him out among the shadowed spots and darkened alleyways. Unsurprisingly there was no sign of him.

"I better tell the others about this..." Alicia said, reaching for a pack to hide the powerful treasure in. It would only bode ill will to let other mortals cast their greedy eyes on the mythical Dragon's Orb. She quickly got dressed, and hurried downstairs, clutching the pack to her chest.

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Lezard hated waking up to an empty bed. It reminded him too much of his life as a mortal, when he had been weak and alone. Of course back then he didn't think of himself as a weakling, arrogant and proud of his magical prowess. But since becoming a God, escaping that mortal cage of flesh, he now knew what true weakness was. Humanity. Although some would claim he was never human, not deep down in his heart. Yes, he had a heart, contrary to popular belief, though he kept it locked up tight and distant from others. And now he felt a pang in it, to see the space next to him bereft of the Goddess, a plain pillow in her place. At one time he would have thought he had imagined her presence next to him, but that was then, and this was now.

Now he was attuned to her like never before, her very essence teasing him, letting him know she existed in his world, and his world alone. Lenneth was searching, this much he could tell. Searching for the way out, but he knew she'd never find it. He smiled to himself, his eyes cold and cruel as he thought to let her build up her hope, let her continue this fruitless quest for freedom. He'd be there to console her when her hopes were dashed.

Untangling from the sheets of the bed, Lezard rose, stretching. He cracked his neck out of habit, his body free of stiff muscles. He looked for his glasses, placing them on his face, another old habit he wasn't prepared to give up just yet. He had realized as a God his vision was perfect, his spectacles being rendered obsolete. But still he wore them, a nod to his old life, thinking they made him look distinguished and older.

He dressed himself with a mere thought, the navy blue velvet appearing on his slender frame. He had worn similar clothing throughout his journey to become a God, and he supposed he ought to change into something else. But he had never paid much attention to fashion, sticking to what was comfortable and familiar. Perhaps Lenneth would have a better idea of what would look good on him. He smiled, thinking a woman's touch was exactly what was needed around here.

"And now to collect that woman." He said, teleporting to where she was. He tried not to smirk as she gasped at his arrival, instead fixing a concerned expression on his face. "There you are!" He said, stepping closer. She backed up as best she could, the vampires crowding behind her. Lezard glared, not liking their close proximity to Lenneth, his anger making them fall to their knees, reaching out imploringly with their hands.

"Master!" One cried. "Please!"

"Forgive us Master!"

"Be gone with you." He said, waving at them. Reality shimmered around them, and with a plopping sound they were gone, teleported elsewhere. To him the details of where did not matter, as long as it was far away. He smiled at Lenneth, trying to put her at ease. It didn't appear to be working, the girl was staring at him wide eyed and wary. "I hope they didn't upset you."

"Not really..." She shrugged. "They were on their best behavior...I think they wanted to impress me."

"Really now?" He arched an eyebrow. "That is interesting. I guess the more sentient beasts are quick to curry favor with those in power." She said nothing, merely looked at him, leaving it up to Lezard to continue the conversation. "Even the dumbest of beasts know not to hurt you." he told her. "Not that they could ever hope to harm the flesh of a God."

"Really?" She questioned doubtfully, hiding her bruised wrist from him.

"I'd tear them apart if they dared to harm even one hair on your head." continued Lezard.

"How...sweet." She said in a voice that said Lenneth thought just the opposite of her comment. "They...certainly didn't know that when my sisters and I first entered your world. They were as eager to kill me as they were the einherjar."

"That was then." He said dismissively. "It was merely a ploy to tire out your friends by forcing them to fight waves of monsters on the way up to me."

"Oh, a ploy. Is that what you're calling it?" Lenneth asked curtly. "Are you admitting you couldn't defeat us without help, without facing warriors who had grown tired on the battlefield before you?"

"Not at all." Lezard said smoothly. "I call it being practical. Why dirty my hands, when there are perfectly capable minions willing to do the work for me. Leaves me the clean up, and time for more..." He reached out to caress her face. "enjoyable pursuits."

Lenneth jerked out of reach, wishing not to be touched. "You find associating yourself with the undead acceptable?"

"Why not?" He asked, dropping his hand away from her. "They're tough fighters, and not so easily disposed of."

"They are abominations!" Lenneth said heatedly. "They feed on human souls!"

"There are no humans here, so that shouldn't be a problem." Lezard said. "I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it anymore."

"Just what is your game, wizard." She hissed, making it sound like a curse. "A God needs humans...needs to be depended on, needs to be worshipped. You cannot be content with these...these monsters!"

"You'll find me much different from the Gods you know, Lenneth." Lezard slid his glasses back up with his finger.

"Perhaps..." She agreed. "In some regards...but in others?" She let out a scornful little laugh. "You remind me of Queen Hel, hiding in her world of monsters." It didn't faze him to be compared to the ruler of Nifleheim. Not in the slightest.

"And you my dear? Right now you remind me of a scared little girl trying to hide behind bold words." He smirked at her, seeing her open and close her mouth in shocked silence. "It bothers you doesn't it?" He moved closer to her, circling around her, making her turn in place to follow him. "Trapped here alone with a man you claim to despise." A hand reached out to lightly caress her lower back. She grabbed at that intrusive hand, throwing it off her body, trying to keep her face emotionless. "It's not a claim." Lenneth whispered.

"Really?" He stood a hair's breath away from her, his voice low as he spoke into her ear. "I can hear your heartbeat, and it beats different when you lie."

"I'm not lying."

"Really?" He smirked at her.

"Really." She said adamantly.

"I think you don't know what you feel." He placed a finger against her pouty lips, shushing her from speaking. "You barely know me, how can you have such a...distorted view of me?"

"Distorted?! You're a murderer and a torturer, bending time and space for your own twisted desires. You're a defiler of souls, that's all I need to know." Lenneth told him.

Lezard laughed then. "All that may be true, but you speak in such simple terms of black and white. You still sound like the sixth level Goddess you used to be, Odin's puppet." She glared at him. "You know you never did thank me for helping you out back then." He pouted playfully at her. "And after all I did to ensure your sister didn't steal your body..."

"That was you..." She asked, truly surprised.

"Oh you wound me!" He exclaimed. "Not even knowing who was behind your miraculous transformation! I suppose you were too busy to find out." She blushed then, hating having something to feel indebted to him for. "I suppose you're wanting thanks then..."

"It would be nice." Lezard agreed. "But only if you mean it."

"...I mean it." She said tersely, then softened slightly. "Thank you..." She gasped as he grabbed her round the waist, pulling her body tight against his. "Now this..." He purred, smiling at her. "...is the kind of thanks I prefer." He kissed her then, mouth open and tongue probing against hers. She squirmed against him, hands pushing at his chest to pull apart with a gasp. He was laughing at her, as she wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand, shooting him a dirty look. "You're welcome."

"I hate you." Lenneth said, shaking with barely suppressed rage. She couldn't even think of a name to call him that would have conveyed how angry she was at the moment.

" Now that my dear..." He said wagging a finger in her face. "Is a lie." He tapped her lightly on the nose, than took hold of her arm. "Come...this dank hallway is no place for a lady to be hanging about..." He let his eyes wander up and down her body, a lascivious smile on his face. "Especially one dressed like that."

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T.B.C.