Caitlin, having believed she would never escape either the dormitory or the basement that confined her, can’t believe her good fortune at these new arrangements and is deeply grateful to Lyon for having organised it with the master. After years of death and darkness looming over her, she rejoices in the solitude of the forest. As long as she obeys the rules, she has more freedom than she has experienced since the death of her mother.
Instead of feeling violated by the ongoing constraints in her life, she counts her blessings that there is hope where there used to be none. She understands that it has taken Lyon many months to sway her master to make these arrangements, to give her a life outside the cell and reconnect her with nature and she is deeply grateful to him. Other than Lyon, she still longs to look into the eyes of another human soul and Lyon assures her that he is working toward making that a possibility.
One day Caitlin is embracing the feel of the sunshine on her deprived skin, humming as she plants a small garden near the cottage, when she hears a rustling in the bushes. She stills.
‘Hello,’ a voice calls, ‘is anyone there? I heard you singing so I’m hoping you can hear me.’
Caitlin runs back to her cottage, fearing for her safety. Though she secretly longs for human interaction, she knows it is forbidden. Hearing heavy footsteps running toward her, she speeds up, almost making it to the cottage to close the door behind her but she trips on her long skirts and topples over, knocking her head against a rock.
As she opens her eyes, she feels the softness of her bed beneath her and turns to see a tall man standing in the tiny cottage, drinking from his flask and staring directly back into her eyes.
Her heart stops beating for a long moment as their eyes connect with one another. She can sense this man’s good nature along with a restlessness and lack of control. She also knows that her nipples have instantly hardened at the sight of his tousled dark hair, mischievous green eyes and cheeky grin.
‘My name is John. I brought you in here when you hit your head.’
Not wanting to break any rules lest she be punished, she remains resolutely silent.
He had been appraising this beauty singing in the forest for well on an hour. Her long dark hair is braided in parts and looks as wild as the forest in others. Her lithe limbs and curvaceous body ooze sensuality and he was immediately drawn to her, almost dangerously so. As he carried her inside he had opportunity to feel her soft warmth against his own growing erection. After he carefully laid her on the bed, he stepped away, able to absorb her beauty as she rested. He noticed the outline of the rings connected to her nipples and was initially taken aback. Who is this woman? He has been with many women and has only encountered this once on his travels, though he didn’t get close enough to touch.
They maintain their steady gaze in silence, his arousal strengthening as he notices her nipples swelling beneath her blouse.
This man captivates Caitlin, it’s as though he has the power to put her under a spell, not the other way around. She has never experienced such feelings and her breath quickens as he takes a step closer, as if he is being magnetically drawn to her. She watches intently as he kneels beside the bed, his eyes reflecting her own soul as if they have met before. She senses she is privy to a secret and unexpected homecoming, as the beat of their hearts regulate their breath to each other’s tempo. Their longing for each other is undeniable as the atmosphere intensifies between them, their limbic systems in overdrive trying to accommodate the raw sexual energy they are experiencing but not understanding how or why this is happening. Just simply knowing their union is meant to be.
Slowly, he reaches out to her and silently she allows him to touch. She knows not whether to expect pleasure or pain from this man before her, never having felt the softness of a touch without the preceding punishment. Her feelings for him are both rapturous and confused as she finds herself increasingly unable to control the responses of her own body.
He senses her apprehension and smooths her creased brow with his thumb; without a word he soothes her concerns. Totally absorbed in the beauty of her face, he continues his exploration of her features, his thumb sensually sliding along the profile of her face, eventually circling her lips.
She inhales deeply, parting her voluptuous mouth allowing him to tease and play with her tongue. The feelings that are literally taking her breath away transfer to her groin and a cry of anticipation escapes her lips.
His hands move down to explore the curvaceous terrain of her body. He takes his time, adapting the rhythm of his touch to her breathing. He’s aching to peel back the clothes covering her, but he forces himself to go slowly. Inch by inch he slides her dress up her thighs, the intensity of his gaze letting her know how hungrily he anticipates what wonders may lie beneath.
Her breath stills when his hand slides between her moistened loins. She releases a soft moan at the sensitivity of his touch.
Ignited by her sounds, he positions himself alongside her and unravels her body of all clothing. He has never felt such fierce desire for someone, and marvels at the sight before him. He kisses her lips, softly at first, before deepening the kiss as his passion rises.
She clings to him but he gently lays her back. The last thing he wants to do in this strangely sacred moment is rush his exploration, lest he neglect some of the intricacies her body has to offer his touch. He positions her arms above her head so her neck, breasts and arms are available for his lips to explore. He slows his pace even more so, inhaling every scent he can extract from her body, never wanting or needing someone more under his skin. He plays and tantalises but never penetrates.
Caitlin has never felt more alive or desired. She is so moved by these feelings, tears escape the corners of her eyes just as wetness builds between her legs.
Flashes of her beloved mother in the field flood her mind as she wonders if these feelings that she is experiencing for the first time could be what her mother felt; she remembers how beautiful and sensual she looked as she danced and the people worshipped her body. It is with these thoughts that Caitlin finds the courage to explore his body, just as he did hers. She too kisses and plays, fascinated by the responses she can elicit from his body at her touch. Never before has she been allowed to look at or explore a penis, only ever felt it blindly behind her. She is in awe of the size and hesitatingly kisses its tip. A little fluid erupts from its head and she tastes its saltiness as he smiles beneath her, encouraging her to continue.
The muscled strength and nakedness of this beautiful man intrigues her, his warmth and masculinity offering her a magical connection she never knew two people could share. Soon they are fully acquainted with one another’s bodies, and having taken the time to discover an understanding of each other’s most sensual and responsive areas, their intimacy reaches new heights.
For the next few hours their lovemaking is passionate and bold, raw and tender. She loves what he can do to her breasts with the rings, arousing all sorts of alluring sensations both externally and within her. Every time he pulls or nips her tips, she feels as though her groin will explode with desire and at times it does, leaving her wondering in shock how he achieves these uncontrollable eruptions within her.
He strokes her hair and her body until her erotic convulsions subside to quivers, until they can reconnect again. He wants her to feel everything her body is capable of under his touch and her own. So strong is his attraction to this exotic, curvaceous creature his erection never subsides, and he makes the most of every moment they share.
Caitlin loses her virginity to this charismatic man who encourages her to surrender her body to experience the wonders of human intimacy and ecstasy. Their lovemaking has enabled their minds and souls to connect, as though their bodies were intricately designed for each other. Rather than carefully having to manage her movements to accommodate her punishments, she craves his phallus and the feeling of completeness it creates within her.
He is more than willing to satisfy her desires, as many times as she wis
hes.
John tenderly kisses Caitlin’s sleeping lips after he has dressed, knowing his men are awaiting his arrival further down the river. He had already been gone too long. Though he knows their meeting was mere chance and that it is impossible for them to progress beyond this brief interlude given his gypsy lifestyle, he knows he will never forget this emerald-eyed beauty with wild dark hair and exotically ringed breasts. He bids her a loving farewell.
When Caitlin wakes she wonders whether her feelings were all part of an erotic dream. She lowers her hands between her legs and feels his seed within her. She smiles a private, indulgent smile that she has been given this opportunity to experience such sheer human joy. Finally, she feels as though her destiny has changed course for the better, for she knows that this man, whoever he was, only adored her — fear was not part of his being. Caitlin never sees him again.
Over the next few weeks, she sees less and less of her master and she wonders why. Her breasts are swollen and tender and she notices a firmness in her belly. Lyon has been looking after her and she asks him.
‘I’m not sure what is wrong with my body, it’s changing.’ He moves toward her and places his palm on her belly.
‘How did this happen?’
Caitlin isn’t entirely sure what he means, so remains silent.
‘Caitlin, your master didn’t do this, please answer me.’ Concerned by the fear in his voice she turns around, unable to meet his eyes. She is unsure whether to tell him the truth but also unsure about what is wrong with her.
‘Tell me, was there a man here?’ he asks gently.
‘Yes.’
‘Did he penetrate you?’
‘Yes.’
‘You are with child.’
Caitlin almost collapses in wonder. How did this happen? It is a miracle, a sign from the gods, that she should procreate. She can’t deny the smile on her face or the tears of joy in her eyes.
‘What are we to do now?’
Feeling euphoric though sensing his despair, she bravely but tentatively steps forward and embraces him with the warmth of her body. Slowly he looks at her face and their eyes meet. She feels his warmth and compassion, knowing that her mother’s blood healed this man. They are connected. He will protect her by taking whatever role he needs to play … it is his destiny.
‘We must leave this village and travel far from here before your master returns from his trip and finds you like this.’
Wasting no time, Lyon organises what they need for their imminent departure. He removes Caitlin’s nipple rings for the last time, symbolically releasing her from her captivity, and closes the door behind them on their past. Together, they move far away. Caitlin delivers healthy twin girls, and Lyon raises them as his own daughters. Both are blessed with the sign of the heart on their skin, signalling their healing blood. He spends the rest of his life protecting and providing for his cherished wife and her daughters knowing they alone provide the lineage to their sacred bloodline. Caitlin is tentative at first about trialling the healing power of her blood, but her confidence grows as her daughters age. Their life continues comfortably, as man and wife, knowing that their bond to each other goes far beyond such ceremony, and reaches into the very core of their souls.
As I float away from Caitlin’s life I see fragments of the twins’ lives and their children, their children’s children and so on like cards flipping quickly through a pack. It provides me with a sense of their healing blood being diluted, its magic fading over time, and ends with my own grandmother smiling warmly and knowingly. She encourages me to continue on my journey with her outstretched hands and if my eyes could shed tears they would be reflecting the love in my heart for her, as she died many years ago. In desperate hope, I reach out to touch her and her image floats away into the ether.
As this occurs, I feel my ethereal presence being pushed into a vortex. Everything around me is tinged in dark red before the vision clears and I see Jeremy and Leo watching me during the experiment as I swirl toward them in the whirlpool of life. As I pass through this turbulence, and the images of the men, my heart pumps loudly around me. I feel like I am the life force of the healing blood itself and everything stills other than my beating heart and the energy sending blood coursing through my veins, until I am forcefully pulled through its energy to the other side and return to my earthly state.
Gasping for air with my eyes wide open, I find myself staring into the eyes of my ancestral companions — one my lover and the other my guardian. We three, whose destinies have finally collided after centuries of missed opportunities, have ignited the enigma of my blood. I now have the knowledge that Leo more than likely has had for quite some time: that we played an incredibly important part in each other’s past lives, that in essence, all of this is meant to be.
I wonder whether they are part of each other’s lives because of me, or whether they too have their own unique connection to each other. I consider the fleeting arrival and departure of John in Caitlin’s life and their physical allure connecting them as if their limbic systems were communicating in a way which gave them no choice but to awaken each other sexually — the exact same way I feel toward Jeremy. Never being able to deny him anything he asked. He awakened me sexually just as John did Caitlin, and I thank god that we were granted another opportunity to be together after our lives separated us from each other the first time. I have so many questions flooding my brain as I consider the events of my recent life since reconnecting with Jeremy. I wonder about Leo’s experience of soul flight, his reading of my thesis and the results from Jeremy’s experiments.
Although I understand that there is something unique in my blood under certain scenarios, I know I don’t have a heart-shaped birthmark on my body and, to the best of my knowledge, neither do my mother or sister. So although I know the ancestry of the blood relates to me, I don’t have the sign, nor do I understand how it came about in the first instance. As always, I seem to have more questions than answers but nevertheless, I am learning that despite my frustrations everything gets revealed as and when it needs to be, and not beforehand.
I can’t believe I was concerned about experiencing soul flight when it has already revealed so much. I relish the sounds of the Amazon, being at one with nature and barely hovering above my physical form. I am aware of being moved, but have no control of my limbs so merely accept what happens. I feel no pain, no discomfort. I just have the awesome ability to fly wherever the wind in the sky takes me. I wonder what more I can possibly learn from this insightful and magical journey.
Lake Bled
The national police have sent a map through to Martin’s phone detailing what they believe is an entrance into Xsade’s facility beneath Lake Bled. He meets up with Luke, and the members of the task squad, at the entrance of a massive storm water drain on the outskirts of town through which they hope they can make their way into the illegal complex. Martin is pleased they have come prepared; fully armed and with equipment that may be required should they need to make their way in by force. The elite group debrief and agree on a plan of action for when they gain access to the facility. They switch on their flashlights and cautiously enter the cavernous tunnel.
Xsade’s security system has recorded a breach in their facility, and the Head of Security is glad he’s on duty, filling in for one of the team. This provides him with a hands-on opportunity to run through their new procedures. The alarm is sounding in their offices and security cameras that continually scan the perimeter are now confirming infrared images of humans penetrating secured access points. The security chief immediately presses the lockdown button for the security gates. Unfortunately, nothing occurs and he wonders whether there has been a malfunction.
Now that the figures are in clearer view on CCTV, he sees they are heavily armed. Fearing they are entering the facility to steal patented formulas, he begins procedures to protect the facility by instigating a series of explosions. This new equipment was recently installed under the explicit instructions of Ma
dame Jurilique to protect Xsade’s intellectual property. It has been designed to alert all employees to evacuate the premises and fully protect and secure their confidential assets. He can’t believe his luck in being on duty when it needs to be utilised. He presses the detonate button. And pauses. Nothing happens. He presses it again, twice for good measure. This time the system activates both the alarm and the explosions to deter the intruders. That should stop them in their tracks. He has a chuckle as he considers the old girl Jurilique wasn’t so daft in spending shareholder funds on this new system after all. He settles back into his chair to watch the action on his multitude of screens. He shouldn’t need to be evacuated if all goes to plan.
Martin and the team have made steady progress into the depths of the tunnel. But suddenly, about two hundred metres in, they feel the ground beneath their feet quake before they hear the rumble of the accompanying explosion.
‘What the hell was that?’ Martin yells.
Unsure whether to move further into the tunnel or run, they pause a few moments to assess the situation. Another loud boom thunders in their eardrums as they cover their ears with their hands.
Martin’s concern for Salina and Josef reaches fever pitch, knowing that in all probability they are inside the facility. His unwavering commitment to Leo propels him forward faster and deeper into the tunnel with Luke following just behind him. They reach a locked steel gate and yell to the police that they need their equipment.
Just as they catch up and ignite their blowtorch to cut through the bars, they hear muffled screams coming from beyond the gates. After a few minutes they can see people pouring out of the darkness in the tunnel, some wearing silver suits, some in lab coats and others in plain clothes. They are covering their faces, protecting themselves as they run forward toward the security grid blocking their passage.