Katherine woke with a start with the heavy book lying on her chest. The next rap on her door was louder and she jumped up and went to the door and unlocked it. She opened it a crack. It was Vincent. He smiled at her through the narrow space of the door, "Just as I remember you from Georgia!"
She pulled the door open wider and grinned up at him. "Only this time I'm not going to threaten you with arrest."
He chuckled good-naturedly and then sobered. "It's time to get ready. No breakfast until after. I believe they allow water, but nothing else."
"All right," Katherine replied. "Have you heard anything from the Dominus?"
"Nothing this morning," Vincent replied. "He was prowling the halls until very late in the evening. When Father and I switched standing watch, I ran into him."
"He should have been in his room," Katherine said. "I guess he had a lot on his mind."
"Yes," Vincent murmured. "Get ready, Katherine. I will see you again when the summons comes."
She nodded and closed the door. She took a quick shower and applied very little makeup but added a bit of mascara and some lip stain. She took the gown off the padded hanger and slipped it over her head. The bodice laced up in the front and she cinched it in enough to nip at her waist, but she made sure she could move around in the gown. She put on the slippers and laced them up and tied them at the back in a neat bow. She slipped her family ring on, pinched her cheeks for color, sat on the end of the bed, and waited.
There was no clock in the room and no windows so Katherine could not make out how much time had passed. Then there was a sharp rap on her door. She jumped at the sound, and she hurried to the door and unlocked it. She opened it wide, and the Chamberlain greeted her. "Good morning Katherine. It is time."
She gave him the key and stepped out into the hall. Nerves made her mouth dry up and her heart began to speed up. This was it! She would be facing everyone in the Oculus! Enemies and allies would be there to apply pressure on her to select them. She knew she would seek Vanderau, she only hoped that he could overcome them and reach her!
The Chamberlain walked silently beside her. As they reached the end of the hallway they walked past the elevators to stand at the top of a wide staircase that descended to tall brass paneled doors. Two guards stood with lances crossed and lining the staircase were all the Huntsmen. Vincent and Martine began the descent with Katherine and the Chamberlain one step behind.
The Indago formed a line of two men abreast with Martine and Vincent bringing up the rear. The lancers kept their spears crossed and the Chamberlain turned to Katherine. "The Indago will proceed you through the hall. Then you will walk to the end of the hall and stop at the doors. Martine and Vincent will be right behind you."
"And you?" Katherine asked.
"I will be here waiting." The Chamberlain said. "When the doors open, walk straight ahead, and stop in the center of the Oculus. Martine and Vincent will stop briefly to either side then move to take up their guard behind the Dominus and Sauvageon. You will not see anyone at first but let your eyes adjust. There may be questions, or they may begin testing you. If Sauvageon did his job, and I know he did; you will know what to do and how to respond."
"Thank you, Lord Chamberlain," Katherine whispered.
The Chamberlain nodded. The lancers reached for the door rings and uncrossed their lances, the spear blades striking lightly together making the steel sing, one octave above middle C, Katherine heard the music in the blades. The Indago marched through, pausing at the doors of the Oculus as they opened to admit them. The doors closed and Katherine stepped up and passed the lancers to begin her walk down the hallway to the doors at the other end. She did not look back, she knew that Martine and Vincent were behind her. She stopped at the end of the hall and waited.
The doors whispered open, and two lancers stood holding each door open. Faint sunlight filtered through the open eye of the dome. The high dome was painted a deep sky-blue color. Some whispers coursed around the room. She squared her shoulders, lifted her head, and walked straight to the center of the Oculus. She looked down and the dream she had been having for a year or more became reality! She knew almost immediately, there would be no questions but a direct assault on her psyche!
Katherine let her vision acclimate to the gloom of the domed room. The seven families were arranged at tables with two additional members seated at each table for a total of twenty-one – the same number of Indago were present in the room arranged around the back wall of the room. Then one by one the middle-seated Sept member rose and announced his or her name to her.
Vanderau rose and stepped around to stand on the outer ring of the mosaic floor. "I am Nicklaus Alexander Vanderau, Dominus of the Septum Noblium Familarum."
The woman to Vanderau's right rose and came to stand in the outer ring, "I am Claudette Priam, second lieutenant of the Septum Noblium Familarum."
To the left a man who used a cane to aid him came and stood in the outer ring, "I am Frederic Gaillez, Septum Noblium Familarum."
"Jean-Luc Rares, Septum Noblium Familarum"
"I am Gallego Makarov, Septum Noblium Familarum." Katherine heard the challenge in his voice and could feel the power flowing off his body. He was stronger than the others and he did not keep tight control as the others were doing.
Next to enter the outer ring was a man in his mid-forties. "I am Rupert Swartz-Bahn, Septum Noblium Familarum."
The last to join the outer ring was a tall distinguished British man. He bowed, "Gentle lady, I am Jonathan Hennigan-Orden, Septum Noblium Familarum."
Katherine surveyed them all where she stood. Then Vincent and Martine left her side and took up position behind Vanderau and Sauvageon. Then it began!
They all stood around her, not moving then there was a soft murmuring incantation that each one of the family members began to repeat over and over. From every position around her, power tethers began to form and spiral outward. Each one was different and unique in design and color. They were faint at first then began to pulse with power as they continued to repeat the incantation. Then Rares, Makarov, and Gaillez's tethers grew brighter and began to snake out toward Katherine. The power tethers slithered around her wrists and the fourth from Hennigan-Orden.
Each one had was different composition and feeling. Makarov and Rares were the strongest. Each strengthened their barrage from either side. Katherine absorbed the light and felt a sudden and intense giddy power that began at the top of her head and ran like ice water down to her feet. Then Swartz-Bahn and Priam's tether coiled around each wrist, and she was held in place by six of the Sept.
"Come on boy!" Makarov taunted Vanderau, "Let's see what you have!"
Vanderau whispered the incantation and his bright power tether began to take form as it headed toward Katherine. Bound as she was by the three power tethers around each wrist and forearm, she began to exert her powers. They gasped as they felt her siphon off some of their energies and began to move her outstretched arms inward toward her body. She could see how each tether was different. She had been standing at the center of the great sun, but she squared her shoulders and positioned her feet apart and her right foot slightly in front but planted firmly in the circle of the tiled sun design. Very slowly she began bringing her hands together. She caught and took hold of Vanderau's tether in both her hands. She hung onto it like a life rope, and it split and began to wind around to join the tethers that encircled her wrists and forearms. More pressure was exerted to break her grip on Vanderau's tether.
Katherine felt tremendous power and just like in her dream she absorbed the light and felt powerful beyond belief! She looked down at her wrists and began twisting and weaving the tethers together around Vanderau's own sparkling power tether.
Seeing what she was trying to do, Rares and Makarov began to see they needed additional help and looked to their family members behind them. Katherine now held one thick tether in her hands with Vanderau's tether at the core. The six could not disengage without losing their connection with Katherine and were forced to watch as she began to fuse the tethers into one glittering rope of light.
It was unexpected for most in the room, but Sauvageon began to smile. She was truly the most powerful natural potential he had ever seen or read about! Makarov glared and turned to his family members, "Lend me your strength!" The two men at Makarov's table spun their tethers to Makarov and he laughed, "I will have you yet!"
"To me!" shouted Rares to his family members.
The other family members began to yield their power to their Sept member, but none grew significantly stronger. Katherine began to sweat as their combined tethers began to grow stronger as the members of the Sept grew more confident.
Makarov began a different incantation and then he looked to Priam and Swartz-Bahn, "To me!"
This jolted through Katherine, and she cried out as the assault began in earnest. She could feel the cruelty in Makarov as he continued to slam against her, trying to break her down. With Priam and Swarts-Bahn combined with his family, Makarov was gaining. He was in her head, "Still think you will make me bow? I will never bend a knee to the likes of you or Vanderau!"
Rares managed to hold his own, but he called to the remaining families to join him, and then he looked to Sauvageon who still had not been called to aid Vanderau. Sauvageon was waiting. Then Vanderau made his move and he pressed further against the combined tethers of the other families, he could feel them yield to his strength. Then something happened. Rares shouted out, "Sauvageon, you bastard! To me!"
Vanderau turned and looked at the old gladio. "No!"
Sauvageon slowly rose and he released the Drake. Like a volcanic spiraling flow of lava, he sent his tether not to Rares or Vanderau, but straight to Katherine! The dark coils circled her feet and as they rose, the image of the man from her dreams appeared. "The Drake is yours, Katherine! It is my gift to you! Take it!"
The power of the Drake spiraled up and the immense power filled her. Then the sunlight pierced through the eye of the Oculus and Katherine began to fuse the power tethers together. She glanced up and the dark molten tether of the Drake spun around her like a fiery tornado! "Thank you, Pierre," Katherine whispered. With a single massive jerk, she snapped the power tethers from them, including Vanderau and they began to wrap into a rope of glittering opals with bright white cores she lifted her arm over her head, and the liquid white fire formed into a blade. The intensity of the cores coming together drove her to her knees, but she held the blade of light aloft.
Sauvageon sank into his chair and watched as the form of a giant with colossal white wings appeared behind Katherine. It bent down, Katherine rose to her feet, and the form stepped into her human body. Now the blade was condensed into a bright shining column of power. Katherine then lowered the blade and pointed it at Vanderau. A blue-white power tether shot out and Vanderau cried out as the power core came to him and slammed into his solar plexus, filling him with the same sunlight as was flowing from Katherine.
"I am the power and the glory of the light!" Katherine said, her eyes fastened on Vanderau, "We shall be as one, I am your blade!"
With that, the light around her grew in intensity and strength. It became a bright silver sword that she grasped in her right hand. It seemed to sing with low harmonics. Katherine let it flow through her and around her. It was so powerful and incredible that she felt invincible! She turned slowly to each of the stunned families. To Makarov she pointed the end of her blade at him, her blue eyes still burning with the cold frosty light of the entity within her, "You will kneel to the might of your Dominus!"
Immediately everyone including Makarov went down to one knee. Vanderau could barely breathe! He felt the power of his blade throughout his body and mind. He moved out to join Katherine in the center of the Oculus.
Katherine turned to her Dominus and turned the hilt to him. "Your will Dominus!"
He took the sword and sheathed it in the scabbard at her hip. "It is done!"
Katherine looked to the still and grey form of Sauvageon, he was gone but the Drake lived in her now. His final gift to her and the Vanderau family. Martine touched his fingers to the old Gladio's neck, he looked up and shook his head. "He is gone, Dominus."
"He's not gone," Katherine said, touching her heart and laying a hand on Vanderau's chest, "He lives on in here."
Vanderau looked to each of the members in the Oculus, "I will not seek retribution on those who tried to injure me and cause harm to my gladio! But I will not hesitate if I hear of treachery and collusion of family members against me for as long as I remain Dominus! If you have any doubts about your ability to follow my rule, let me know now and it will be dealt with, and you will be expelled, and new members will be selected! Go now and think on it – the Chamberlain will hear your petitions."
The room was filled with murmurs as they all began to file out. Katherine felt wonderful! The power that flowed through her was like being shot from a cannon into the stars! She felt powerful. Stronger than anyone in the room, including Vanderau. But she was his blade now, and she would be his until the end of time.
"Katherine, it is over, mon coeur!"
The light in Katherine flared suddenly and she found she was reluctant to let go of the surging power that flowed through her veins! She could fly away if she wanted to! Then an odd presence came to her, the Drake! "Katherine! Katherine, let it go – we will be here when you need us!"
"We?" She spoke aloud and Vanderau tried to reach her again.
"Katherine! Katherine, please!" Vanderau pleaded.
Martine signaled for his men to exit quickly through the doors. Something was not as it should be. Vincent came closer, now that Katherine was gladio, his duties were now transferred back to Vanderau. It was Martine who caught his arm. "No, son! The Dominus must temper his blade! You can do nothing. Help me with Sauvageon."
The two of them lifted the limp body of the old gladio and they carried him out. Once inside the hallway leading out of the Oculus, the Chamberlain was waiting with a gurney and two security guards. "We will take him." The Chamberlain said, "You must remain here outside the Oculus until the Dominus has tempered his blade."
It's been quite a long time! Now that I have more chapters to share, we will begin moving into more 'adult' scenes between Nicklaus and Katherine. Hope you'll stick around! Thank you - please return for more.
In the Oculus, Vanderau watched as Katherine warred with her newfound powers. Whatever entity was with her was now trying to come to terms with a new mistress. The Drake had been with Sauvageon for decades and the new power that had been called to Katherine in the shape of a Gryphon were at odds with one another.
Vanderau tried to touch her, but both the Drake and the Gryphon pushed him back. The force of the combined chimera was enough to send him back several feet. Katherine could see through the veil of light but was trying to make sense of what was happening to her.
"I can't tame either of you!" she declared as she began visualizing the two creatures. "You must combine – I must combine you together so we can work as one!"
Both creatures protested but she began to meld the two of them together. Slowly the two opposites began to blur into one. The outflowing power was taxing Katherine's already waning energy.
It was now time for Vanderau to temper his blade! He got as close as he could, and he began to weave a power tether that began to wrap around her right wrist.
Vincent and Martine watched from the safety of the hallway. It was Martine who spotted the family ring on Katherine's right index finger. He called out to Vanderau,
"It is a Gryphon!"
Vanderau then saw the ring. The power had taken the form of his heraldic crest! This was a creature, part eagle and part lion! As the Drake yielded to the strength of the Gryphon, Katherine turned her attention to what Vanderau was trying to do. Only the Gryphon was being stubborn!
The transformation to Katherine was astonishing! Vanderau watched as Katherine's hair began to turn white and glitter with flashes of opalescence. The Gryphon made a physical appearance, stepping outside of Katherine to roar. It arched its wings, raised its massive eagle head up toward the opening of the Oculus, and blasted fire into the air!
"Katherine, to me!" Vanderau shouted.
The Gryphon roared once more and spilled back into Katherine. She embraced the powerful image and fell into Vanderau's arms. Together they sank to the floor of the Oculus.
She drew her head back and looked up into Vanderau's black intense gaze. "Your will, Dominus Vanderau!"
Vanderau began to laugh and then the tears came, and he gathered her up against him, stroking her now snow-white hair. Even her eyebrows and eyelashes were white. Her skin was flushed and when she opened her eyes the deep blue had become a bright sparkling sapphire blue with a ring of ice blue around the edges – that began to dissipate as she began to become aware of herself and her surroundings.
"Can you stand?" Vanderau asked.
"I think so," Katherine answered. "What happened to everyone?"
"They're gone," Nicklaus whispered.
He got to his feet and held his hands out to help Katherine stand. She felt a little jelly-legged, but after a moment felt steady.
Vincent and Martine ventured into the Oculus. Both approached with caution but when Katherine turned to face them, Vincent was both shocked at her transformation and enthralled by what he saw! He smiled in open appreciation, "By God, Katherine! You're exquisite!"
Nicklaus felt pangs of jealousy rise in his chest, but Katherine was his! She was his blade! Martine saw the look and came and drew Vincent back, "We will escort you to your car, Dominus. It is waiting in the garage. Your luggage and everything is waiting for you both."
"Are we going home?" Katherine asked.
"No, mon coeur," Nicklaus said taking her hand in his. "We have a ball to attend tonight."
She looked down at her gown. "I already look like I'm going to a Renaissance Festival!" she said, "I should change into street clothes."
"Everything is waiting for us. The penthouse I have is not far from here." Vanderau said, "We can change and rest until the evening."
She nodded. Martine and Vincent walked ahead of them to the set of elevators in the hallway. The door panel slid back, and Katherine and Nicklaus stepped into the elevator. Once they were alone, Vanderau turned to Katherine, "Now you're all mine!"
He took her into his arms and looked down into her face raised to receive his kiss. When he raised his head, both were breathless! The elevator door opened, and the car was waiting, doors open and ready for them. Nicklaus pointed to the sword and scabbard at her waist, "I don't think you will need that for a while!"
Katherine laughed lightly and unbuckled the belt with the scabbard holding her blade. It was part of her now and she watched as Vanderau placed it in the back seat, so it was still within her reach.
The drive to the building where the townhouse was relatively short. It was still early in the day. Katherine got a view of the building where the Oculus was secreted away and marveled at the way the architecture camouflaged the ancient subterranean building. It was all glass blocks and shiny sleek angles. The townhouse was near the lakefront and as they drove up to the gated wall entrance, it slid back as Vanderau aimed a slender remote at the electric eye. It was a corporate-looking building of brick and concrete. The gate wall closed behind them the garage bay rose and the car slid into the bay and parked alongside several other vehicles.
Vanderau cut the engine and looked over at Katherine. "The staff has brunch ready for us, but after that, no one will be upstairs until later tonight. I've sent for Collette."
"Thank you," Katherine said, "I think she was more nervous than I was. She'll be happy to know everything went well."
"The entire Sun Maiden staff was happy for you, Katherine," Nicklaus told her.
He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car. It was then he began to feel intense raw pain in his back, it was almost like a sunburn. He flexed his shoulders, and it was sharp and raw like a scratch or cut. He came around and held out his hands to Katherine as she stepped out of the car. He hissed as the pain began to radiate over his back.
"What's wrong, Nicklaus?" She asked.
"It's my back," Vanderau replied. "Something happened to my back." He eased his jacket off and felt wetness. He turned and Katherine gasped!
"Oh my God, you're bleeding!"
He opened the back door and handed Katherine her sword and scabbard to carry. The staff would come and get everything later. "Let's get upstairs," he said softly. "We'll see what has happened."
There was an elevator nearby he pressed a series of numbers and the elevator opened. They stepped in and he pressed the top floor button. When it opened it was a massive open floor plan apartment. The living area and dining area were together and at the other end was a double panel set of doors that opened into the master bedroom and on either side was a dressing room and a large bathroom.
Vanderau began unbuttoning his dress shirt and he went into the bathroom that had large mirrors and bright lighting. Gingerly he eased out of the shirt. He turned his back to the mirror and looked over his shoulder. Already it was healing over, but the scarring would be there forever! Like a tribal tattoo, the cuts were healing in a series of raised welts. Some were thick and others had delicate tracings across his back. It was a gryphon! Pinions arched in a challenge, eagle's head turned, beak open in a scream of defiance. The lion's hindquarters were well-muscled, and the front claws were thick and corded. The talons looked lethal even etched as they were in his flesh. He had been marked! He studied the gryphon under the bright lights and wondered at the power of his gladio! Katherine had manifested the power and strength of the gryphon – his family crest symbol. The meaning behind it was obvious. The gryphon was a mystical creature of incredible strength, unfailing protective instincts, and a zero-tolerance policy against evil. It was the superhero of mythological creatures!
He came out of the bathroom with a bemused look on his face. Katherine was standing in between the doorway separating the bedroom from the other part of the apartment. "I've been marked, mon coeur. I think we'll have to consult the Chamberlain to find out exactly what this means."
"Let me see," Katherine whispered.
He turned and she slowly came up behind. Her cool fingers traced along a welt, and he felt something akin to snow falling over him. It was both erotic and soothing to have her touching him. He stood very still as she continued to run her fingertips lightly over the welts that created the gryphon. Finally, she moved around to stand in front of him. "I guess it's official."
Vanderau smiled. It was slow and hesitant at first then grew into a happy grin that was like a child on Christmas morning. He reached up and took her face between his hands and bent and kissed her gently. "I was not the only one marked, mon coeur," he murmured against her mouth. "You've been transformed as well, marked forever like me."
She smiled up at him. "I saw my reflection in the windows. I look like the snow queen from some Grimm fairytale."
"You are even more beautiful than when I first laid eyes on you!" Nicklaus declared. He heard a chime softly ringing in the living room. "I believe our meal has arrived. You must be hungry."
"I am," she whispered, "But not for food!"
Nicklaus drew back and looked down into the eyes of his blade and the sultry fire that sparkled in her eyes took his breath away. He was already aroused and could feel the heavy ache in his body begin to thrum with his heartbeat. "Go change, Katherine, I'll see to the staff". He went to the closet and pulled a shirt off the hanger and shrugged it on. She watched him for a moment then went into the dressing room. Clothes were waiting for her just like the Sun Maiden. She carefully undressed, laying the gown on a bench that sat at the end of a small storage module that held shoes and slippers.
She avoided looking at herself, and then when nude she raised her eyes to the mirror. Her long blonde hair was now platinum white which included her eyebrows, and eyelashes. She preferred to keep her pubis shaved but assumed it would also be white. All the more reason to keep that area of her body free of hair! She put on a silk robe and tied it at the waist. She found a pair of slippers and put them on her feet. When she came out, the table was set for two and Nicklaus was waiting for her with a frosty glass of juice. "Mimosa?" He offered.
She came and took the glass and sipped it. "That's wonderful! I think I am also hungry for food too!"
He chuckled warmly and drew a chair out for her. She sat and he took a seat across from her. Brunch was delicious and as they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Katherine sat back and sipped her drink, the bubbles from the champagne tickling her nose.
Nicklaus felt her eyes on him, and he glanced over at her. She had so many questions that he could not tell where one question began, and another started! The connection they had allowed him to hear her strongest thoughts. "Quiet your mind, mon coeur, we don't have to figure it all out today."
She laughed. "I'm sorry," she said as she looked around the apartment. "It's still unbelievable what has happened to me, to you. I have so many questions, so many feelings that I don't know what to do next!"
"I know what you need, Katherine," Nicklaus said. "I know what I need."
Without another word, she rose, and he followed. They stopped only long enough to shed all their clothing and went into the bathroom. Nicklaus reached in and turned the shower on, all jets and the overhead shower began to steam up the glass doors. In the warm mist, they stepped in the hot streaming water, and both stood together, bodies pressed together, mouths finding each other. There the pounding jets of hot water washed away the stress and anxiety Katherine had held onto for so long. Everything slid away as the water sluiced over her body.
Nicklaus had held himself in check for so long that when he finally released his passion he was afraid he would hurt her in his need to claim the depths of her body. He did not have to worry for Katherine took the initiative and pushed him to sit on the bench in the shower and straddled him and guided him deep inside where she tightened the pelvis muscles around the length of him and he groaned in deep pleasure.
She lost herself in the feeling of him deep in the folds of her body. She began to move against him, rocking slowly and deliberately. It was the same three-beat measure she had learned riding. Now she was riding him! He felt himself losing all control, and Katherine was in control, she slowed and pressed him deeper, holding him. They explored one another then Nicklaus needed release! "To me! Come to me, Katherine!" he growled, and she began to move again. With every stroke he matched hers, thrusting deep, then it came. The magnificent release! He called out her name and held on. She was fierce and the climax thundered through her body as she continued to move in quick strokes. He was amazed at how his body responded to hers! She vibrated all around him and he knew he was not done, but the water was growing tepid.
Nicklaus shut the water off and they gazed through the steam at one another. She began to giggle and then laughed delightedly. She felt incredible! He started to laugh with her. "Do you feel a little more relaxed?"
"I do," she said as she continued to recover her breath. She made ready to move but he tightened his arms around her. Happily, she stayed where she was for a few more minutes. "We should dry off before we shrivel up!"
"Yes, but I don't think we'll get much further than the bed." He nuzzled her neck and he felt goosebumps spring up.
Katherine slowly eased him from her body, and it was an exquisite sensation but also created a hollowness in her that made her ache for him again. He rose and reached out to grab a large bath sheet from the stack waiting for them. He wrapped one around Katherine and took another and wrapped it around his waist. She found her slippers and stuck her feet in them and shuffled out to the bedroom. Nicklaus made certain the elevators were locked securely and that they would not be disturbed. He looked at his phone and saw several messages. He put the phone down and came back to the bedroom. Katherine had towel-dried her long silver-blonde hair and it was slightly curling like a wild pony's mane.
He slid the bedroom panel doors closed behind him and joined her on the bed. He kissed her shoulder nearest to him. "We should get under the coverlet, it feels a bit chilly."
Together they threw back the coverlet, sheet and towels dropped to the floor. He pulled her close and in moments his body was aching for hers. They reached their climax together and Katherine continued to quiver and spasm around him, causing his body to reach release several more times before they were both spent. They fell asleep entangled together.
Now I venture into a more erotic storyline. Nicklaus and Katherine must find a way to blend their newfound energies. I will give them their time together and then there is work to do. I hope you enjoy your time together with them as well! ;-D
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