Witch Chronicles 11:The War-Middle Game free porn video

It's finally done! The next part of my Witch Chronicles series. It's the largest part to date, almost twice as large as Part 9, the previous record holder. It's also closing in on the end. There'll be two more parts. Part 12 will cover the end of the war. Part 13 will be an aftermath, answering questions that weren't covered in previous installments with information the government doesn't have access to. The previous installments of this story line are republished under the heading "Witch Chronicles". WITCH CHRONICLES 001 - A TG Witch's Tale WITCH CHRONICLES 002 - Elizabeth's Story-Elizabeth WITCH CHRONICLES 003 - Elizabeth's Story-Lynn WITCH CHRONICLES 004 - I Was a Teenage Sorceress Pt 1 WITCH CHRONICLES 005 - I Was a Teenage Sorceress Pt 2 WITCH CHRONICLES 006 - I Was a Teenage Sorceress Pt 3 WITCH CHRONICLES 007 - Dark Beginnings WITCH CHRONICLES 008 - Prelude to War WITCH CHRONICLES 009 - The Year Before WITCH CHRONICLES 010 - The War-Opening Gambit Now, onto the boring stuff ------------------------- DISCLAIMERS ------------------------- This story contains scenes of an erotic and/or controversial nature, and is not intended for the perusal of minors. Further if perusal of such material is considered illegal in your area or immoral by your religion or personal beliefs, you should likewise bypass this story. This story remains the property of the author. Permission is granted to download, photocopy, copy and repost so long as any such action contains these disclaimers, and no attempt is made to profit from this story. All characters in this story are the creation of the author, and any resemblance to real persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental. This story may contain aspects of fantastic science or magic. The parameters of what this science/magic can accomplish are completely at the discretion of me, the author, and, as such, I make no apologies for any rules of "real" physics, chemistry, biology, or magic that may be broken within the story. ------------------------- Now onto the fun stuff ------------------------- Government file 00011: Document classification: Events leading up to the Restoration See also: Diaries of characters of the Restoration: Government file 00001: A TG Witch's Tale Government file 00002: Elizabeth's Story - Elizabeth Government file 00003: Elizabeth's Story - Lynn Events leading up to the Restoration: Government file 00004: I Was A Teenage Sorceress Sec 01 Government file 00005: I Was A Teenage Sorceress Sec 02 Government file 00006: I Was A Teenage Sorceress Sec 03 Government file 00007: Dark Beginnings Government file 00008: Prelude to War Government file 00009: The Year Before The Restoration War: Government file 00010: The War-Opening Gambit Government file 00011: The War-Middle Game Note: The events contained in these files are either personal diaries or the transcription of recordings made of personal awareness of events leading up to the Restoration. As such, at times they tend to ramble and also contain a suitable content of material that is not suitable for perusal of minors. In an effort to keep events as accurate as possible, no attempt to edit these files for content has been made, and any use of these files in any place where children might have access to them (history books, libraries, etc.) should be strictly regulated. GOVERNMENT FILE 00011: Subtitled: The War-Middle Game By JRD [Daphne Newell] T plus 31 days. That's how long it's been since the start of the war. I sit here in a hotel room contemplating the last month. I want to go home. I want to run out and destroy the Dark Alliance. Most of all, I just want this to be over. Anyways, I should get down to writing down what's gone on since the Dark Alliance drove me from my home. My home. Part of me thought always thought that wouldn't be true forever. When I was in high school, I thought I'd move out when I went to college like most all teenagers. Then Lizard Transformed and I had to become Daphne. I didn't move out after I graduated because I was too afraid of being a single woman, particularly one who had been a woman for less than a year. Then I changed back to David. I suppose I could've moved out then, but I didn't. Looking back, I think it was because I wanted to go back to being Daphne but was too afraid to ask. Then I had my confrontation with aunt Sarah about my attitude and resolved my guilt over my parents death. I spent a little while trying to be David, but eventually decided to be Daphne. After that, I managed to come up with one excuse after another as to why I couldn't move out. First, I said it was because of college. Then there was the birth of Trina. Then law school. Then I don't know what else, but, at some point, my residence at Aunt Sarah's house became a permanent thing, even if I thought otherwise. Now I've been driven from my home. When I get back, and I swear I'm going to get back, I may spend the rest of my life at home, maybe not even going out to shop. Man, am I rambling or what? Back to the issue at hand, a history of the last month. After I left home, I spent about a week totally incommunicado. While I was out of touch, the Dark Alliance made their demands on the world. Not unsurprisingly, they wanted the total surrender of all governments and their combined military forces. In order to prove their might, they performed a wide scale transformation on the ambassadors in the U.N. and then teleported them back to their home countries. The transformation? A pair of breasts. Each man now has a sizable pair of hooters, and the few women ambassadors now have four breasts each. I wonder if all the Dark Alliance's techniques are so sexual in nature, but having gone through the sequence of having been a normal man one second, then having a pair of breasts the next, the psychological effects are staggering. For the next few days after that the world was in a state of chaos. A few nations gave in quickly and easily. Mostly third world countries with dictators for leaders and almost no militaries to speak of. I suppose the dictators thought they could get in the good graces of the up and coming New World Order. I wonder what happened to them. Were they given magic items, given real power to control? Or were they turned into puppet leaders, bowing and scraping to their new bosses? Maybe they were just eliminated? I hope the last, but I can't really expect that. Most likely, those that just gave in were given power as a reward. Others who are forced into submission may be kept on as puppet leaders, depending on how much they fought back. It was in the aftermath of those demands that Egypt and the U.S.A. revealed what they knew about the war, and about us, the Witches and the Sorceresses, our Alliance of the Light. Things got kind of bad for a few days after that. The story of who we were and what side we were on got distorted, so, for a few days, anybody with any kind of physical deformity got beaten. Dozens were killed. Hundreds more were hospitalized. And only two of the victims were actual Witches. Thankfully, neither was harmed too bad, but things could've got real bad after that. After I heard about the attacks and the vice-president (who was in California when the Dark Alliance took D.C.) went on T.V. to urge caution and peace, I almost destroyed the set. Instead, I angrily clicked it off, muttering, "Stupid humans deserve to lose their planet to the darkies." From behind, sweet Jasa asked, "Do you mean that?" Jasa held Lawrence. Andrea was feeding Lydia. Her attention was fixed on the baby, but I knew that that wasn't why she wouldn't look at me. My words had hurt her, and she wouldn't look me in the eye. I felt so ashamed. Here I was with my human wife, my human baby, and my Witch wife, who was a Witch only because of a wish she didn't even know she was making, and baby making nasty comments about the rest of the human race. I broke down in tears and apologized, begging forgiveness. We had a big, group hug, but I realized I couldn't be alone in my anger, and most Witches didn't have non-powered human relatives close by to remind them of their own humanity. I could just hope that most Witches would be tempered by our alliance with the White Sisterhood and the Collegiate Brotherhood. After the riots calmed down, the leaders of the world got together on a mass conference call to discuss "World War III" as they were calling it. According to the news, about twenty percent of the world's leaders wanted to try to negotiate, but the rest voted to tell the Dark Alliance to go to hell. As soon as they did there were multiple explosions in every leader's office around the world, whether they voted for war or not. [Transcriber's note: Daphne's own record continues, but in an effort to retain the significance of the events as they happened, other records are spliced in.] ************ [Elizabeth Norman Thompson] Things have been awful tense over the last few days. Thank god for the year we worked together with the human mages before the war started. If we hadn't known about the White Sisterhood or the Collegiate Brotherhood until after the Dark Alliance attacked, the anti-Witch riots would've surely driven a wedge between us. After the resentment died down, Sam brought together all three councils. We met in the yard, so that all the members could attend without worrying about transforming. After the meeting was called to order, Sam stretched tall and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to get involved with the normal human governments and form an alliance." There was a surprising bit of furor over that one. More surprisingly, most of the resistance came from the sorcerers/sorceresses. Lin Su said, "I must object. We have been fighting the forces of darkness for far longer than you. The norms will not be able to provide a sufficient source of help in this war." "Lin Su, why have you been fighting the Dark Alliance?" "That's a stupid question." "Humor me and answer." "Because we want to make the world a better place. The Dark Alliance will dominate, exploit, and abuse the general populace." "You seek to protect them?" "Of course." "Then I hate to inform you, but you have already failed." There was a bit of a row when he said that, but he held up his front claw to ask to be allowed to continue. After things settled, he continued, "I am not attacking or blaming. Both our groups made assumptions about what the darkies would do in this war. And both our groups were wrong. The Dark Alliance bypassed us and went after the norm governments. You wish to keep the norms out of this in order to protect them. A noble sentiment, to be sure, but irrelevant. The norms ARE involved, as much as you might wish otherwise. It is their governments that will fall, it is their lives that will be doomed, if we fail." "But what can they do against these magical foes?" "Maybe nothing, but whatever they do, they deserve to at least be kept informed as to their fate." "I guess you're right." "Good, because I've already got General Wilfred working to contact Vice-president George Bartell to arrange a meeting." James Cameron said, "You had no right!" "I had every right! You appointed me Supreme Commander of our three forces. Who I choose to form an alliance with is my prerogative. As the general said and you all agreed, this war cannot be waged in committee. I did not make this decision haphazardly or without concern for its consequences. If you don't like it, remove me. Otherwise, let me do my job." There was a bit of grumbling, but no one made any motions to remove Sam as our leader. A clearing of someone's voice brought our attention towards the house. General Wilfred was standing at the top of the steps just outside the entrance to the house. After he was sure he had everybody's attention, he said, "Commander Kravitz, I am here to inform you that Vice-president Bartell wishes to speak with you as soon as possible. Immediately, if possible." "Why so soon?" "The world leaders are getting together later this afternoon to discuss the demands of the Dark Alliance. The Vice-president wants to consult with you before that discussion takes place." Sam thought about it and said, "Alright, but we make this an official meeting. Myself and one member from each Council." General Wilfred nodded. "I'll inform Vice-president Bartell of your decision." When he went inside, I wondered if General Wilfred was going to stay as he (she?) was, transformed into a luscious she-male as an object lesson by the Dark Alliance in the first days of the war. After a few minutes, he returned and said, "The Vice-president is amenable to a group meeting, but, as the current leader of the free world, expects to meet with no less than the leaders of each group." Sam considered it. "Considering his position, I don't see how we can refuse, but whether or not each leader goes or sends a subordinate is their own choice. I, as head of the Witches' Council, will go." "Pardon, but you will need to elect another representative for the Witches' Council. Commander, you are the representative for the combined forces here, Witches, sorcerers, and sorceresses. You should send another to represent just the Witches." "If you feel it is best. I'll leave that to the other Witches on the Council to elect their new leader. The Councils should separate and decide, on their own, whether or not to send each leader." The group broke up into our separate components, Witches, White Sisterhood, and Collegiate Brotherhood. Almost as soon as we got together, I said, "I move that we make my Aunt Sarah our new leader." Before anyone could say a thing, Aunt Sarah said, "Hold it. Much as I appreciate the sentiment, we must consider the effect our choice will have on the norms. We need to send someone obviously Witch with an obvious Transformation. Now Sam couldn't be a more blatant example of an extreme Transformation. But if we send someone just as blatant, we will only be seen to be all the more inhuman." "That's why we send you. It's almost impossible to tell you're a Witch, even without spells to hide your Transformation. You're as normal as they come." "Too normal. Short of dropping my panties, there's no way to prove I am a Witch, and even exposing myself may not work since modern medical science could transform a male into a body similar to my own. We need a Witch different enough to be clearly visible as a Witch, but normal enough so that she isn't threatening to the norms." "So who'd you have in mind?" Aunt Sarah just looked straight at me with raised eyebrows. I finally got it. "ME!?" Jaalmar, an African Warlock with a bat's head in place of his own, said, "I agree. Elizabeth, you are the most 'normal' member of our Council." "But... But I'm so much younger than all of you!" "Your youth is irrelevant, Elizabeth. If anything, it only adds to your prestige. You are a Council member because of your accomplishments. You have mastered more realms of magic than any other Witch on the planet. You are the best choice for this, Elizabeth. You are so, because you have earned it. Unless there are any objections from any other Council member?" I hoped against hope, but there were none. I considered it. To be honest, I was more than a bit scared. Even when I had been elected to the Council, I always considered myself just an average Witch, almost playing at the game of being a magic-user. But here I was, the entire Council deferring to me, telling me they wanted me to represent them, telling me they believed in me. What if I failed? What if I couldn't do it? But I looked around and saw the faith on the faces of my fellow Witches and decided I had to try. I needed to have faith in myself. So I nodded and said, "Alright, I'll do it." Aunt Sarah hugged me. "Good for you. You'll do great." We returned to the main meeting. Both Lin Su and James Cameron, the heads of the White Sisterhood and the Collegiate Brotherhood, respectively, were going to go. No big surprise there. Both were the hands on type and wouldn't ask, much less expect, anyone else to take their place at the upcoming meeting. When the General said we needed to leave immediately, I protested a bit. I wanted to take the time to spend some time with Lynn and say good-bye, but he informed us that the mass conference meeting between the world's leaders would be starting soon, and we had to get going. Then Sam said that the easiest way to do this travel would be to ride his back and he'd teleport us all. Since he'd be handling the load of the teleport, we'd have fifteen minutes to get ready while he rested for the trip. I didn't need to be told twice. I bolted for the door and ran straight for my room. Inside I found Lynn standing by the crib, playing with little Jimmy. She saw how frantic I was and asked, "What's going on?" "I've been elected chief representative and leader of the Witches' Council while Sam acts as Commander-in-Chief of our combined forces, and the Veep has asked us to come and consult with him on the war." "You going to be okay? You need me to come along and help?" Part of me wanted her to be there for me, just in case. But I heard the fear in her voice. Ever since she awakened the Sphinx in Egypt, became that rather cold, uncaring person, and recovered with the help of our kids, she was paranoiacally afraid of being without at least one of them around. I knew she should face up to her fear, but I just didn't have the heart to make her do it today. I told her, "No, someone needs to stay home with the baby. With Bambi in the hands of the Dark Alliance and Travis missing, you need to stay here unless given no other choice." She gave me a weak smile and said, "Okay." "On another note, what do you think I should wear? I'm going with my tail exposed as proof of my Witch status." "Well, if you don't need to cover that up, your red jumpsuit would probably be best. It's functional and flattering." "Could you dress me?" I saw her stiffen in fear. "I... I don't think I..." I didn't want to slam her too hard, but we needed her back in the game. My darling wife had spells that no one else knew and would never be able to learn, at least not in any kind of decent time frame. "Please, Lynnette? I really don't even have time for a short dance and you do have the dressing spells mastered." That was the truth. Part of the White Sisterhood's basic training were simple translocation spells that allowed quick clothing exchanges with anything in the closet. But Lynn was scared, scared of once again becoming that cold-hearted thing she was before. I stepped up and took her hands in mine. "I believe in you." She looked down at her feet. She nodded, more resigned to do this than anything else. She raised her head, but her eyes were closed, envisioning her spell. Then, as simple as that, I was dressed in my form fitting, red jumpsuit. I clutched her to me, giving her the most sympathetic, most loving hug I could. I whispered, "Thank you," in her ear and kissed her. "I've got to go. Be strong." Then I kissed her again and ran from the room. On the way back to the outer courtyard, I caught Su in the hall. She was just leaving her room. Her face was flushed, and she was panting. She also muttering nasty, little sounds under her breath. I asked her, "What's wrong?" "It was Kim, that... wench. As a parting gift, she spent a few minutes getting me hot and bothered, then left me hanging!" As we ran to the courtyard, I couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah, laugh it up." I didn't have time to say anything more as we dashed outside. Sam was waiting patiently, but I could tell that both James and the General were a little annoyed at having to wait. Well, to hell with them. They may not have had anybody to say good-bye to, but Su and I did. We ran out and told them we were ready to go. We all got up on Sam's back. It was kind of cozy, but we got by. He took to the air and flew towards the east. As soon as we passed through the shields, Sam started clacking his front claws. His crutch, his focusing tool for casting spells, was drawing intricate designs in the air with his claws. Since his claws weren't as flexible or maneuverable as fingers, it was somewhat difficult, as all crutches are. But a few seconds later, there was the twisting of space of a teleport spell and we were over Houston, where the temporary capitol had been established while D.C. was under siege. On the ground was a massing of soldiers. As soon as they saw us there was a bit of a hullabaloo as the lower ranks prepared to do something (probably shoot us out of the sky). Thankfully, we made it down to the ground without a single shot fired. We all dismounted as the Veep came out to see us. The General was wearing his uniform, modified to fit his new form. The Veep stepped up to him and, in a questioning way, said, "General Keith Wilfred?" The General snapped a crisp salute with a strong, "Sir." "No offense, but you have changed. Changed enough that I need confirmation of who you are." "What do you need?" "General Wilfred and I attended college together. Tell me about those days." "How about the panty raid where you met your wife, Lorraine? You actually stayed a bit too long to talk with her and nearly got caught by the house matron. Lorraine was so smitten by you that she helped you escape by-" "That's quite enough, General. You've proven yourself to my satisfaction. Welcome back." They clasped arms in that full arm handshake that men sometimes use. "Sir, allow me to introduce the combined forces of the Alliance of Light." The Veep stepped right up to James Cameron. "Sam Kravitz?" James shook his head. The Veep turned to me and Su. "Would either of you be Sam Kravitz?" We shook our heads, then we both thumbed up at the real thing. I turned and looked up at him. Sam's face, being an eagle's face, is normally very hard to read, but I was sure he was grinning as he said, "I am Samuel Kravitz, Mister President." When he spoke, almost everyone startled and many weapons were raised. Sam carefully raised his right claw, keeping the tips pointed in towards himself. He extended one branch of his claw to the Veep. "I am honored to meet you." The Veep carefully took the proffered claw and shook it. He cautiously responded, "Likewise." The General said, "I told you he'd be too unusual to describe." The Veep turned to him. "You weren't lying." Sam (who I am sure was still grinning, inwardly, at least) said, "Mister President, allow me to introduce the heads of the three factions that make up our Alliance. The gentleman is James Cameron, head of the Collegiate Brotherhood. The Asian woman on the left is Lin Su, head of the White Sisterhood. Both of them are sorcerers. As the representative of my own group of Witches and Warlocks, the last member of our group is Elizabeth Norman Thompson." "Pleased to meet you. Should we adjourn inside where it's not so crowded?" Sam cleared his throat. "That might be a bit problematical. If necessary, I can transform my body into something else, but I am only able to spend twelve hours out of any forty-eight without serious problems arising. Since I may be called upon to use those transformation spells at any time, it would perhaps be best if we did this where I can remain as I am." "Point taken." He called an aide over. "Get a few tables and get them out here. I want," he looked to us, "four chairs brought out. I also want you to set up an external link and to get the computer where I'll be on the conference link-up and set it up outside." The aide looked us over and said, "Sir, I'm not sure we've got the time to arrange the link up outside on such short notice." I wanted to scream. It was clear that this man was trying to deny letting us in by claiming what the Veep wanted wasn't possible. I held my tongue, though, and the Veep told him, "I guess you better hurry, then." "But, sir-" "Go!" Five minutes later, a few of those long, folding tables used in school auditoriums around the country were set up in a kind of big square. The Veep got one side to himself with his Secret Service agent behind him, and Sam sat opposite to him. Sam, of course, was the only one without a chair. Su and James sat on one side of the table to the Veep's left, and I sat alone to his right. When we were all comfortable (at least as comfortable as one can get on those metal, folding chairs they brought out), the Veep said, "Now what can you tell me about the terrorists calling themselves the Dark Alliance?" For the next forty-five minutes, the four of us explained as much as we could of the war we were waging with the Darkies. The Veep asked a few questions, but mostly just listened, until his aide came over and said, "Mister President, it's time for your meeting." He nodded and asked us, "Please stay close so I can ask questions as the meeting proceeds." He went over and sat at a desk with a computer that had been set up nearby. For the next hour and a half, the Veep consulted with the other world leaders by high speed modem. Finally, he stated, "Gentlemen, we must face facts. Only the Egyptian leader and myself have current, ready access to a source of information on the Dark Alliance, and both of us agree. Although the Dark Alliance will follow through on their promises, they will only meet the letter of their agreement. If we give in, we will subject the people of the world to slavery and torment. Perhaps for generations to come. I say we can't allow this. I suggest an immediate vote. All those in favor of fighting the Dark Alliance vote 'aye.' All those opposed vote 'nay.'" The numbers started to rack up. Approximately eighty percent voted to fight. The Veep said, "It's decided then." As soon as he said that, it happened. There was a huge, mystic surge. Sam moved first, yelling, "Get down!" and leaping over the Veep onto the computer. I saw the Secret Service leveling their guns at Sam, but the Darkies beat them to it. The computer exploded. I stepped right up to the Veep and threw a shield around us. Su and James cast shields to divert as much of the explosion as they could away from the crowds. When the smoke cleared, most everyone was unaffected. The two Secret Service agents closest to the Veep had suffered some burns, but everyone else was unharmed. Except Sam. He had thrown himself on the computer in order to absorb the brunt of the blast. He, thankfully, had shielded, but that was the only reason he was still alive. He lay on his side, a big, black, charred hole burned into his belly. I ran to his side. I wasn't a healer, per se, but, for Witches, healing is a form of physical transformation, and, as a Master of that branch of magic, I was the closest thing we had. I briefly thanked the Creator I had gotten to know Sam so well, a requirement for Witch non-healers casting healing spells. But when I scanned him, I nearly cried. "The shrapnel from the explosion has dark energy in it! We need to get it out before I can even try to heal him!" The Veep told his aide, "We need a doctor. Now!" I yelled, "A vet would be better. One with experience in lions would be best." The Veep was a bit stunned, but told his aide, "Get a doctor in here immediately, then find the vet she asked for." Five minutes later, the doctor was there. Ten minutes later, the vet was brought up by car. The doctor had been prepared for what to expect, but the vet's, "Holy crap," when he saw Sam told me he hadn't. But he quickly went to work. The vet and the doctor removed the shrapnel as Su and James defused the energy. Until they were finished, I'd just be in the way, so I hung back. About five minutes after they started, I heard someone yell, "Incoming fliers!" Dozens of guns were aimed upwards. I looked up and saw a familiar, winged figure. I yelled out, "Hold your fire! She's on our side." I turned to the Veep and said, "That's Karasina Kravitz, Sam's wife." "His... wife?" "Hard to believe he's married?" "I suppose it shouldn't be." As Karasina got closer, I noticed she was carrying someone else. As she got real close, I saw it was my own beloved. Karasina dropped Lynn by me and almost flew right to Sam. I stopped her and said, "Karasina, let Su and the others do their work. You'll only interfere and put Sam at risk." I could tell she wanted to fly right to him, but she did listen and waited with us. When she stopped fighting to fly to him, I turned to the Veep and said, "Sir, may I introduce Karasina Kravitz and my own wife, Lynnette Thompson Norman." The Veep tried to thank her for Sam's actions, but her attentions were fixed on her hubby. After things seemed to have settled down, I turned to Lynn and asked, "Are you okay, love?" "Yes, why do you ask?" "Because you're trembling like a leaf. Honey, I know that ever since you nearly... left us, you have been hesitant about any participation in the war." "I'm sorry. It's just..." "No need to apologize. You've been through a traumatic experience. And already you have done more for the war by awakening the Sphinx than any other single participant. If you can't help more, I understand. But you need to understand and accept that I am here for you, and always will be. Whatever help you need, I will give, willingly and without condition." She threw her arms around me. "I'm scared, Liz. Scared of being that... monster again." "Then I'll help you face it, and you'll never need to be afraid again." We hugged for a bit. Vice-president Bartell came over to us. "Ladies, is there anything else to be done?" "Not really. Just a lot of waiting." "Like in any battlefield surgery. Too much waiting. Damn, I hated this when I was young." "That's right. You served in the Gulf War when you were younger." He nodded. "Too much death then and that was a relatively minor skirmish compared with most of the wars America has been involved in." "Death may be a familiar presence before this war is over." "Like any war." Lynnette said, "Death may be the welcome choice, if the Dark Alliance wins this war." "Are they really that bad?" I said, "I was there when they tried to take Cairo and the pyramids. I had to leave soon after the battle, but I saw some of their handiwork before I left. They didn't just kill; they killed with reckless abandon. Women, children, elderly, infirmed, civilian, combatant; no one escaped their fury." "Yes, I heard some of the reports from Egypt. Is it true they destroyed an entire hospital just as a distraction?" "Wouldn't put it beyond them." He nodded his head towards Karasina. "She seems to really care for him." "Does that surprise you?" "I suppose it shouldn't." "But it does?" I suppose it was the stress of the day, but I got more than a little peeved and took it out on the Veep. "Why? 'Cause he doesn't have two legs, two hands, and a nice, normal face for you to look in the eye? Do you think our magic or our different bodies make us incapable of feelings? Of love? Despite what we can do, or what we look like, our souls are human. Tell me, mister president, how many of your men wouldn't have hesitated to do what Sam did? And he's not even American; he's from Australia. Lin Su is Japanese. Yet both of them risked their lives to protect you and the people here. How many of your men would've done the same for us?" He graciously sat there and let me rant. Then he said, "Probably too few. Your point is well made. My apologies to you." I felt Lynn's hand on my arm and calmed down. "I suppose I should cut you some slack. I mean how many times have you ever had to deal with gryphons or demon tailed ladies?" He said, with a totally straight face, "You're my first demon tail, but gryphons aren't all that uncommon." I had to look at him to make sure he was kidding, but then gave a short laugh. For the next hour we did a lot of waiting as Karasina paced restlessly while they worked on her husband. Finally, Su waved her over and she flew right to him. She cast the spell to heal him, and I asked, "He going to be okay?" Karasina said, "The dark magic burned into him. He'll have to spend time convalescing, but he will recover." "Great." The Veep said, "Doctor, you make sure that man gets anything he needs to recover." An aide came up and handed the Veep a small group of papers. As he scanned through it, I asked, "What's that?" "A preliminary report on the attack." He stopped scanning and looked to us. "This doesn't make sense. In every case that we have data on, the communication device was exploded. With the exception of Egypt, most were killed. They were totally indiscriminate in who got killed. Now, even fewer leaders are willing to just give in." Lynn said, "Getting people to give in was only a minor goal. These people and the demonic masters they serve feed on chaos. Pain, death, and dying only make them stronger." He returned the papers to his aide. "How do we fight people like that?" "With everything we've got. A world run by the Dark Alliance would make you long to be a Jew in the hands of the Inquisition." He contemplated that for a while before his aide whispered something in his ear. "Excuse me, ladies. Business calls." After he was gone, I wrapped my arm around Lynn. She snuggled in, and we just sat for a while. Soon I saw the General step up and say, "Ladies." "Where did you disappear to?" "Had to report in. I may be a general, but I'm still accountable to my superiors. And with my body as it is, my first step always seems to be convincing others of who I am. Are you sure you can't change me back?" "You could check with Su again, but I doubt it. She told you why she couldn't change you, didn't she?" He nodded. "She said I was part of a mass transformation initiated by a magic item. In order to change me back without killing everyone else transformed at the same time, I either needed that item, or needed to get everyone in the spell's effects together at the same time." "Well, if she can't then there's no hope for me. Best person to deal with sorcery, even dark sorcery, is another sorcerer." "Ah, well. On to business. With the recent attack on the world's leaders, is there any way to keep it from happening again?" Lynnette took this one. "Your best protection would be a magic-user by your side acting as bodyguard; however, with the number of mages we have, that may not be plausible. Failing that, a magic item shielding you would be the best option." "I'll inform the Commander-in-chief. You two look pretty tired. Want a bed?" I said, "Just one for me. Lynnette can head home." She said, "No. Liz, I appreciate your desire to protect me, but when the news showed that explosion, I nearly lost it. I'm going to stay by your side until I'm sure you're safe." "What about Jimmy?" "He'll be safe with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Peter, at least for a while." "Alright. I guess it's a room for two." Fifteen minutes later, we were inside a hotel room. Thanks to the time difference, it was early evening, but we felt like it was still the afternoon. After our escort left, Lynn reached up and unzipped my jumpsuit. There was an almost desperate need in her touch and I wasn't about to deny her. She gently nuzzled my neck as she pulled the suit from around my shoulders. I pulled my arms from the sleeves and then leaned forward and kissed her. She gently massaged my bosom as she slid her tongue into my mouth. Her hands slid around me and undid my bra. I reached behind her and unzipped her dress, sliding it off her. We kissed once more, a short peck this time, before we separated. She removed her slip and I pulled the jumpsuit off. We got close again. I took her breasts in hand and gently stroked them. I couldn't help but think of Lynn with larger breasts, but I have decided that I like her better with her regular size. She moaned a bit and took my breasts and rubbed them like I was rubbing hers. We stayed like that until I could stand it no longer. I pushed her back towards the bed. She pulled as much as I pushed until she fell back onto it, pulling me on top of her. I slid up a little so that my breasts were above her mouth, then lowered my torso so she could take my nipple and gently suckle me. I was still lactating, and the feeling of my lover getting not only loving but sustenance from me is a real erotic thrill for me. I let her lick and suck on me for a while until I was thrashing in orgasm, rubbing my crotch on her. After that I reached behind me and started stroking her dick. She was already hard, so it wasn't long before we were both ready. I slid back and slipped her into me. We had done this so many times I think we could do this in our sleep. I sat up on her and took her breasts in hand, rotating and rubbing her. She took my hips in hand and moved me up and down. I shifted my hips a bit so that my clit would rub directly against her dick. As we moved, she slid her hand over and rubbed my clit. I nearly orgasmed, but held off, wanting her to cum next. Thankfully, it didn't take too much longer. She arched her back, jammed her hips up and shot her load. I rolled off of her and onto my back. She got up, spun around, and climbed over me, so she was facing my crotch, and I was staring up at her dick. I stuck my tongue out and licked at it. I felt Lynnette's marvelous mouth on my sex, and, thanks to the previous play, came almost instantly. I like my oral sex that way. Start with an orgasm and finish with one, too. After my cum, I almost lunged at her dick and sucked it into my mouth. 69-ing each other was always a bit of a bending act for us. I'm a foot taller than Lynn and need to bend so I can keep her hard-on in my mouth while she licks me, but it is well worth it. Lynnette has always had the most marvelous tongue. But this time I was not to benefit from that tongue. Just before either of us came, someone knocked on the door. "Miss, the president has asked for a meeting to discuss tactics for the war." I nearly shrieked. Lynn, the bitch (said with full smiles), rolled off of me. I wanted to yank her right back on top of me. She just smiled and said, "Can't keep the president waiting." I muttered something mildly deprecating, but she just kissed at me. We got dressed, then Lynnette threw her arms around me and gave me a surprise hug. She whispered, "Thanks." I returned the hug and whispered, "Anytime you need me, love, I'm yours." We then went out to find the Veep. ************ [General Keith "Katharine" Wilfred] After we got there and I introduced our magic allies, I went to where the Joint Chiefs were meeting and reported in. After we went through the formalities, and I gave my report, things settled down. Eventually, it got to what I expected, harassment over my new body. I went through the inevitable razzing for looking like a girl. When that grew boring, Admiral Louis Dargent asked, "Seriously, Keith, what's it like to have tits?" "It's not that big a deal, truthfully. It was a little weird when I first got them, and I had to learn to compensate for them, but now they're just there. It's the bras you really learn to hate." "You're wearing a bra?" "You have to. They bounce around too much, otherwise." They looked at each other, then back at me. They seemed to want to ask something, but hesitant to actually do so. Finally, I said what I was sure they were thinking. "You want to see them?" General Phillip Leno (Marines) said, "Only if you're willing. Just to see what these Dark Alliance people are capable of." It was a transparent excuse. The ambassadors who had been sent back were evidence of what the Dark Alliance was capable of. But I didn't much care if they took a look, so I undid the buttons on my shirt and exposed my bosom. They all took a good long look, vacillating on what to do next. I was wearing a simple, white, sports bra that held my tits flat against my chest. Just to get on with it, I reached up and pulled it up, exposing my boobs to the group. After a bit of ogling, General Leno asked, "What's it like, really? Having tits?" "I told you, it's not that big a deal." "No, I mean... What's the sex like?" "How should I know?" "You're telling me that you haven't even tried those out? Even with a bit of self abuse?" "Nope." "Come on." When it came to social situations, all these men and I were on a first name basis, but Louis was a good friend, and he said, "Phil, leave it alone." General Leno gave him a look that showed his lack of understanding, but I said, "It's okay, Louis. I don't mind saying why I feel how I do. The fact is, with the exception of the time right after I transformed when I was compelled to sex, I haven't felt much like any kind of sex, even self pleasuring, since my wife died a couple years ago." General Leno said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." "It's okay." As I pulled my bra back on, Louis asked, "Speaking of your transformation, do you know if anybody else in that assault force managed to avoid capture by the Dark Alliance?" I remembered that Louis's son had been in that assault force. "The only other person I know of who managed to avoid capture was a female lieutenant named Marie Callender." He sighed. "Damn, I was hoping... So now my boy is in the hands of the bad guys. Any idea what happened to him?" "The Light Alliance's best guess is in my report, but if they're right, you probably don't want to know." "Probably not. But I've got to know, and I'd rather hear it right from you, rather than from an impersonal report." "According to the reports of the sorcerers, who have been fighting the Dark Alliance for centuries, they would've given him a choice. Either he accepted working for them and was turned into a mindless storm trooper in their service, or he refused and was changed into a sex slave for their troop commanders, their equivalent to N.C.O.'s, if you will." "What if he refused both?" "He wouldn't have been given an option. These people don't follow the Geneva Accords. He'd have been tortured, brainwashed, or both." "Damn. What the hell am I going to tell his mother?" "Tell her that you've now got more cause than ever to win this war, so that you can save your son." An aide came in and said, "Gentlemen, the president has just started his meeting with the world leaders." Leno said, "That's our cue to get to work." He stood and saluted me, and the others followed suit. I saluted back and waited for them to leave before heading out. I walked around the hotel where the president was headquartered until I walked past the hotel's chapel. I heard someone, a female someone, praying inside. Normally, I would've left the person alone. I've never been what you would call a religious type. But something compelled me to go in. I stepped inside the temple and saw a familiar face. "Lieutenant Callender?" She turned and looked at me. It took her a couple seconds to identify who I was, whereupon she snapped to attention with a crisp, military salute. "General Wilfred, sir!" I returned her salute. "As you were." She relaxed a bit, but didn't return to her prayers. She was dressed as I remembered, in the black, latex, "dominatrix" ensemble that her clothes had been transformed to in the same spell that had changed me. My penis twitched a bit at the sight of her. My wife's death may have curtailed my sex drive, but I wasn't dead. After a few seconds of awkward silence, I asked, "How are things going? Is the spell still whispering dark things to you?" "No, praise the lord. It only affects my clothes." "It's still changing everything you wear into a part of your outfit?" She trembled a bit before saying, "I can't even wear a bra or panties! I'm always exposed, always indecent!" She broke down in tears. "I just want to be normal again." I always hated it when women cried. My "manly instinct" was to try to make things right, but since this woman was a junior officer, there were things I wasn't supposed to do. Finally, I threw caution to the wind and handled it like I did when my wife used to cry. I wrapped my arms around her and held her as she sobbed into my shirt. Eventually, she stopped crying. "My apologies, sir, for my 'conduct unbecoming.'" "I think we're both guilty of that. If I might ask, lieutenant, can you do anything with your clothing?" "I can take it off, but the minute I put anything on, it changes into this." "I wish that I could help, but the Witches and Sorceresses have stated that there's no real way to reverse our transformation unless they get a hold of that device that changed us in the first place." She pulled at the top of the bustier, trying to get it to cover more of her body. "It wouldn't be so bad if it would just cover me decently. My nipples and genitals are always exposed. I feel so... dirty." "I think the Dark Alliance may have had that in mind when they did this. If you managed to escape, the fact that you were always indecently exposed would impair your ability to function. You can't let them win, lieutenant. Do your job, despite your feelings." "Yes, sir." It was then that we heard an explosion from outside. We quickly ran outside to find that the Dark Alliance had exploded the communications system. We helped coordinate activities through the treatment of Commander Kravitz and a little beyond, including making hotel arrangements for Council Witch Elizabeth and her wife, Lynnette. And an hour or so after that, the president got everybody together to discuss what was next for the war. ************ [Elizabeth Norman Thompson] We went down to meet the Veep. Lin Su, James Cameron, and a bunch of uniformed guys who were introduced as the Joint Chiefs were all there. There was a bit of protest from the military dudes when I insisted that Lynnette be allowed to stay, but Su and James backed me up. Lynnette stayed in the back of the room and I wished I could join her as everybody started talking military tactics and junk. A lot of it sounded like the adults in those old Charlie Brown cartoons. I couldn't understand a word. I did a lot of nodding that day. After the meeting, the Veep asked to talk to me and Lynn. We waited until everyone else had gone. He sat on the edge of the table and said, mostly to Lynn, "I can't help but notice you seem a little shell-shocked." I told him, "It's a personal thing." "I've been through a lot of combat experience. If there's anything I can do to help, just ask." I looked to Lynn to see what she wanted. Our conversation was silent and done mostly with emotions passed over our link. Finally, she made a decision and said, "I was the one who woke the Sphinx in Egypt. Problem was, the device wasn't designed to be used by a single mage, too much power. It knocked me into a coma, and when I woke up, I had become this emotionless thing who didn't care about anything or anyone else. Elizabeth, with the help of our kids, shocked me back to my senses, but now, I'm scared to be alone. I'm afraid of becoming that thing again." The Veep said, "Good. Hold on to that fear." Somewhat shocked, I asked, "What kind of advice is that?!" "In my years of service in the military, I saw far too many soldiers become heartless killers, able to put a bullet in anybody, no matter who they were shooting. I have found that the point you need to worry about it is when contemplating the inhumanity comes without fear. Don't let the fear dominate you, but realize that the fear reminds you that you are still human." I could tell that Lynn was contemplating his words. Finally, she looked up and told him, "Thanks. I think I understand what you're saying." "Glad to be of service." We went back to our room to get some sleep. I figure tomorrow is going to be a busy day. ************ [Travis Beckman] 95 days. That's how long it's been since my darling Bambi was kidnapped by that metal freak. That's how long Cammy (my name for the CMS) and I have been searching for her. I guess it's a testimony to how focused I am that I didn't even notice the war until almost a week after it had started. Or maybe a statement of my obsession. I'm not sure which, and I'm not sure that I care which. All I know is I've got to get her back. I've started this diary in order to get my thoughts down as Cammy and I search for her. The shields, unfortunately, are too strong to get a precise fix on her, but we do know she's still somewhere in the city, even narrowing it down to the eastern quarter of L.A. Now we're forced to get information on the base the old fashioned way. We find dark bases, capture an agent or two and beat him until he tells us something we need to know. Today we took out a minor outpost. We haven't even found any major ones yet. If we do, then we'll probably need to call in back-up, but so far it hasn't been an issue. But now it might be. From one of the lesser agents at the base, we got some information about a small base. It's not likely to be the place where Bambi is being held, but we may get more information about a bigger base somewhere else. I will find you, Bambi. ************ [Reginald McDonald] [Transcriber's notes: The following is from the Dark Alliance archive of agent reports. Reginald McDonald was one of the world's most powerful sorcerers with a sorcerous might of slightly less than 20,000. His wife, Larinda, ranked far lower at slightly over 2,000. Marriages are rare within the Dark Alliance, mostly being marriages of convenience. Reginald and Larinda married because their dark wishes, both the wish and the means of payment, meshed so well. Reginald, prior to his wish and induction into the Dark Alliance, was a small, bookish, computer nerd. He came from a long line of marines and wished to be a large, super strong, manly man, and he became a six foot, six body builder type. The payment was that he had to receive anal sex once a day or revert to his previous form. Prior to her wish, Larinda was a mousy, plain woman who wished to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Her payment was that her genitalia was changed from a vagina to a penis and she had to orgasm inside someone else once a day. Both Reginald and Larinda are heterosexual and despise their payments, but work well together and both had an unblemished record within the Dark Alliance. Although there is nothing Larinda can do that Reginald can't, her specialty is mental manipulation, where his is physical combat and transformations. Thus she has a greater range of mastered spells and magic items for mind work than he.] Daily report: My first half of the day was normal stuff until I got my first assignment for the day. I was to deal with Nicholas Braskey. He's the man who runs the city's prostitution ring. To be honest, this assignment's a bit beneath me, particularly with the war going on, but Nicky (he hates that nickname) was my first assignment, and I know him better than anyone. It seems that Nicky had been doing a bit of skimming of funds. Some may ask why we care if a minor underling, particularly a norm, is embezzling some money, what with the war and all, but discipline must be maintained, now more than ever. My wife got prepared by taking a small collection of her magic items. We took the van to Nicky's penthouse condo. In the foyer, Larinda immobilized the security guard by clasping a bracelet around his wrist when they shook hands. The bracelet would force him to obey us while we were present and would make him forget us as soon as we were gone. He was just a minor obstacle, so an order to let us up and we were in the elevator and on our way. Upstairs, we exited the elevator. Larinda waited there while I strode to the entrance. A simple flash spell and the door was blown inwards and out of my way. Just before I entered, I scanned the room. Nicky was with a couple whores in the center of the room, and there were two large, burly, black men waiting just inside, one to each side of the door. I stepped inside, and, as expected, the two men attacked me. I simply grabbed the first and threw him into the second. They flew across the room, skidding to a halt at the base of the wall. A simple spell later and they were propped against the wall and each other as the wall melted around them, forming a web holding them in place. Nicky leapt to his feet, scrambling to pull up his pants. Very frightened, he said, "Rej, if I knew you were coming, I'd have cleared my schedule. What can I do for you?" A hand wave and Nicky flew to the far wall in the room, spread eagle, with the wall flowing around his ankles and wrists, pinning him to the wall. The whores ran to the far corner of the room, cowering in fear. They might've run from the room if Larinda had not entered and dropped a field generator to keep anyone from leaving. I walked to Nicky, shaking my head and speaking like a parent chastising his child. "Nicky, Nicky, Nicky, Nicky, Nicky. What AM I going to do with you?" "Come on, Rej. Surely, you can't object to me... testing the merchandise?" "I don't care about that. Hell, keep them producing and I couldn't care less if you fucked them all every day. I'm talking about the stealing. I warned ya, Nicky. You'd think that after the last time, you'd have learned your lesson." "Come on, Rej, haven't I done a great job for you? Don't I deserve a little extra?" "Nicky, your performance isn't the issue. Without a doubt, you've done a great job. You keep the whores in line and producing without any undue property damage, and if you'd have asked, we probably would've given you an extra few percent. But we can't tolerate your stealing, Nicky, even if you deserve the money. If we let you get away with it, then everybody will try to get away with it. So I've got to punish you, Nicky. Next time, ask first. But wait a month or two before asking. This little incident will not help your case." "What are you planning on doing to me?" "Just a little lesson." I waved my hand and disintegrated his clothes, observing my last encounter with Nicky. He used to have a sizable cock, ten inches long and fairly thick. Then he was caught stealing. It was his first offense, so it just got him a simple but memorable object lesson. I shrunk his dick to four inches long and no thicker than your thumb. Before his next lesson, I turned to my wife to let her work. She stepped up to the men trapped in the wall-cage. She brought an earring gun out of her bag and pushed it to the ear of one of the guys. He tried to move, but I had left him and his friend less space than a mummy has inside his wrappings. She pushed the gun up against his ear and, click, he had a new earring. He entered a trance as she did the same to the other. She then spoke the command word, and the two came out off their trance, looked into each others' eyes, and started kissing. Each now found the other to be the most sexually exciting thing possible. Larinda walked to the two ladies and, after a threat of pain to keep them still, repeated the process, turning them into lezzies. I released the two men and almost laughed as they started humping against each other and tearing off their clothes. I turned to Nicky, seeing him trying to recoil from the others. Did I mention Nicky has a real bad case of homophobia? I smiled at him and cast my spell. The first thing that happened was that his dick was restored to its old dimensions. Then the fun changes came about. The hair on top of his head grew out while all the hair below his neck fell out, his face softened and rounded out, his ass grew, his arms and legs slimmed and tapered, and he grew breasts. That's straight out of dark harassing 101. Take a guy and stick him somewhere between woman and man and it tends to freak him out. He was now a she-male with some special extras built into him. Larinda came over and fondled him, getting him hard as I said, "Now, Nicky, you've got this luscious new body that will drive men mad with lust. Oh, I know you only like women, so you'll have to do it with lesbians that don't mind that extra between your legs. There's another problem, too. It is now impossible for you to orgasm unless your dick is buried in the ass of a guy and you have two women sucking your tits, so not only will you need to have sex with lesbians, you'll need to do it while pumping into some fag. Now I gave you these four to start you off, but they're of limited effectiveness. You will need new sexual partners each week in order to get off. Have fun." Larinda and I then left; me dissolving the bonds on Nicky before we left. I knew the stimulation that Larinda had given him would have him humping the others there regardless of his wishes. As soon as we got into the van, Larinda turns to me and says, "You're wearing down. You should've slammed those men into the wall with a single toss." It was a statement, not a question. "Yes, I know. No sense putting it off." I swung around and got into the back of the van. Larinda followed. I dropped my pants and got on my hands and knees on the mattress we have back there. She got on her knees behind me. I assumed she had pulled down her panties and pulled up her dress because I felt that familiar, detestable sensation of her cock at my ass. She plunged in and started pumping. Both of us hate this, which, of course, only prolongs the act, but eventually she came inside me. I felt my strength and physical power swell as my payment was made. I then reached around and pulled her down to her back. I climbed atop her and said, "My turn, wench." "And what if I don't want to?" I grabbed the top of her dress and ripped it and her bra open. "I really don't care what you want." Truth is, we both wanted and needed the cathartic release. This was just a game we played. She likes it rough, and I like giving it to her. I took her perfect triple D cups in hand and grasped and fondled them as she lifted her ass to me. She took my dick and guided it into her ass as I shoved forward. I moved my hands and her tits in circles as I slammed in and out of her until we both came. We lay together, kissing and fondling our bodies, preparing for another quickie when the buzzer went off on our comm system. Larinda almost shrieked as I got up and returned to the driver's seat. She got up and got into her seat, not even bothering to cast her clothing spell as I hit the receive button. We expected to see our regular contact, but were surprised to see the face of Dorina Tempus, the supreme commander. "Miss Tempus, to what do we owe the honor?" "Reginald, Larinda, I have a special assignment for the two of you. We have an annoyance that is becoming a threat. A man by the name of Travis Beckman is hunting for our base. He has managed, in his pursuit, to destroy many minor stations and even a small outpost. Eliminate him." "What is the power of this mage?" "He is no mage. He is a mortal, enhanced by powerful magics and escorted by a mystic, shapeshifting construct of no small power." "Forgive me, milady, but a mortal? How powerful could he be?" "Do not underestimate him. I assume you have heard of the Master?" "Of course." Who hadn't? The man was a legend, even if no one had heard of him prior to a little over a year ago. He had the ability to teleport himself and others through any shield, was able to teleport from an anti-magic cell, had access to a Hexatar staff, and was even rumored to be immortal. "The simulacrum with the man is a construct of the Master's, and the artifact he uses is far more powerful than anything we have. I am sure that it also is from the Master." "So where do I find this Beckman person?" "Unknown. The armor he has generates some kind of field that makes it impossible to trace him. Likewise, the simulacrum cannot be traced. Despite this, you are to find him and destroy both him and his escort." "Understood." "Do not fail me, Reginald." I clapped my fist to my chest in a move reminiscent of the salutes of soldiers of ancient Rome. "Death before dishonor." She rolled her eyes at me. Okay, it's a stupid affectation of mine. Usually, people act impressed, mostly because of my power, but I did forget who I was talking to. Of course, as long as I continue to get the job done, even the great Dorina Tempus will not begrudge me my little eccentricities. She just said, "Find him, Reginald." "Do you want the artifact?" "Only if you can retrieve it after killing him. I suspect it dies with him." "As you command, Commander Tempus." After the link went down, I said, "Time to go to work." Larinda said, "You sound almost happy." "Finally, a challenge. Even if it is only in the finding of this mortal." "Don't underestimate him, Rej. Dorina would not assign this to you personally if he were some pushover." "Exactly what I'm hoping for." There are maybe ten mages on the planet who can hold their own against me, one on one. With Larinda by my side, I have yet to find a worthy opponent, one to truly challenge me. I've personally been hoping for a shot at Jenny Welker, but it hasn't happened yet. "I don't like this one, Rej. It feels bad." "Going seer on me?" It was a subtle jibe. Neither of us put much stock into prophets. Far too often just stating the future creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. But she just stared out the window, missing my taunt, saying, "It just feels bad." I gave her a light tap on the arm. "Hey, either one of us alone is a force to be reckoned with. Together we are the team supreme, undefeated in all missions." She gave me a weak smile. "Of course. Let's do this." I then started the van and headed out to find our target. ************ [Bambi Welker] It's been about a week since I was dragged in front of queen bitch, Dorina Tempus, and used as bait to root out the Master. At least I think it's been a week. There's no clock in here, so I have to judge the time by the number of meals delivered to me. Today I was in bed when the door opened and Lois walked in. As soon as the door closed and I could move again, I rolled over, turning my back to her. She softly asked, "Bambi, can we talk?" I said nothing, and she eventually said, "You're angry. I don't blame you. You were put through hell and I did nothing. But there was nothing I could do." I remained silent, so she continued, "Bambi, please." I felt her sit on the bed beside me. "I know you're mad and looking for a way to hurt me. Well, this silent treatment is about the best way you could think of to do that. Please, whatever you're feeling, let it out. Rant, rave, scream at me. Just don't shut me out." I remained stoic and silent. Eventually, she got up, saying, "Sorry." Before she got to the door my curiosity got the better of me, and I turned back, asking, "Why? Why couldn't you save me?" She turned back and said, "I couldn't, Bambi. As a sorceress, I am bound by my word. With your mom and sister being sorceresses themselves, surely you must know of that rule?" I nodded. "I have taken an oath of fealty to the Dark Alliance. I couldn't disobey Dorina, even to save you. Even if I could've disobeyed, it would've done no good. It would've only resulted in Dorina banishing me from the room and from you. I couldn't do that." "So you just wanted to keep me like some trophy?" "No! I wanted to protect you. If I had