Wicked Game

Chapter 2

The Storm

I lay there, tormented for what seemed like hours. It looked like late afternoon when I heard her steps in the hallway.

There was a knock on the door. “Edward, are you awake?”

“Yes.”

“Can I come in? Do you need to use the bathroom again?” She sounded concerned.

“Ah, yeah, that would be nice. Do I have to beg?” I tried to calm himself. I was actually excited to see her. What the hell was wrong with me?

She opened the door, holding another chain in her hand, a much longer one. She sat next to me on the bed.

I lifted my body to sitting, waiting patiently while she tied the new chain around my neck. I watched her face, trying to discern what her intentions were, but she kept her eyes focused on my neck and the chains she fastened and unfastened.

When she was done, she softly caressed my collarbone with her delicate fingertips, sighing.

She looked sad to me. I was mesmerized. When her eyes met mine, I let out a short gasp. “What is this for?”

Again, her demeanor changed on me, but not as strong this time. “Because you’ve been such a good boy, Edward, you’re getting rewarded. This chain is long enough to reach into the bathroom, so you can go as you need to.”

I wasn’t sure if I should trust her. Was this some kind of trick? I crept off the bed, keeping an eye on her, and backed up toward the doorway.

“Go on, I won’t move, I promise.” Smiling, Lust waved her hand.

I did my business and strode back into the room.

She still sat on the bed.

“Why are you holding me hostage like this?” I wasn't sure where to place himself, so I remained in the doorway.

“Edward, if you want me to answer your questions, you have to sit here, next to me.” She patted her hand next to her on the bed. “And remember, you have to beg.”

I cringed, knowing the thought of sitting next to her aroused me. What is she doing to me? I started to wonder if there was more to the alchemy inside this chain than just keeping me from escaping. Maybe there was some attraction spell attached to it, but I had no idea how something like that could be fashioned. I stepped over to the bed and sat on the opposite edge. I felt myself starting to shake as I gazed shyly into her eyes.

“Come on, Ed, I don’t bite. Well maybe a little.” Chuckling, she patted next to where she sat.

My heart raced while I positioned himself next to her. I leaned my weight on one arm and brought my legs up to the other side. I watched as she moved her legs up on the bed and her body came in contact with mine. She mimicked my position, sitting opposite me, with the outside of her thigh against mine and her arm on the other side of my legs, effectively putting her face close to me once again

After her position was set, she lifted her face and gazed into my eyes. “What’s the matter, Edward, you look tense.” She licked her lips and focused on my mouth. “Didn’t you have some questions for me?”

The way she looked at me set me on fire. I felt my arousal swell. “Uh, y-yes, why, why am I here?” I fought to keep my voice calm. I felt my flesh palm start to sweat.

“That didn’t sound like begging to me.” She leaned in close.

“Damn.” I turned my head away to look at the wall, trying to get some relief from the fluttering in my stomach, the ache in my groin. “Talk to me, Lust, please. Please tell me why I’m here.” I returned my gaze to her while I spoke the last word. My lips touched hers when my head turned. For a moment, I pushed outward, trying to deepen the connection, but she pulled away.

“Naughty boy, Ed. You just tried to kiss me.” A faint smile curled her lips. “If you want to do that, you have to beg.” She scooted to the edge of the bed and stood up.

“No, no I didn’t.” I knew full well I did try to kiss her and I felt like an idiot. I watched, embarrassed and dumbfounded, while she headed for the door. “Wait. Tell me why you’re doing this!”

“I already told you, because I want to.” She stopped in the doorway. “Edward, do you need anything?”

I gulped hard, not wanting to go through the whole charade of begging for food again, but I was starving. “Can you please get me something to eat, please, Lust.” My voice whined.

After Lust left, I heard what sounded like pots and pans banging together and smelled the aroma of something delicious wafting in on the air currents. The room was getting dark. The sun must be setting outside, I thought. Since I had a longer chain on my neck and was a little more mobile, I found I was able to reach the curtains hanging on the window. I opened them and looked outside, seeing I was on the top floor of a two-story house, pondering why I hadn’t done this sooner. I tried to discern where I was, but all I could see were fields all the way out to the horizon. I noticed the sunset. Brilliant hues of blue and orange lit up the clouds in the sky. If I wasn’t in such a mess, I’d have enjoyed it. But I was out in the middle of nowhere. Would anyone find me? I decided I’d have to figure out some way to get out of this by myself. Maybe if I played her game, she’d give me more freedom until she made a mistake.

As I stood gazing out the second-story window, I suddenly noticed Lust standing right next to me. I jumped. “Shit, you scared me.” I took a few steps backward.

“Yes, I have that effect on people.” She sighed. “What a beautiful night. Let’s open the window.” She proceeded to unlock the latch and turn the crank, opening the window and letting cool, fresh air into the room.

I was stunned. She was so pleasant when she wanted to be. Why had she come on to me like she had? Was she nuts? Wait, why would she have to be nuts to like me? I knew I had to stop thinking this way. She was just a homunculus, a being with no soul.

She picked up a tray from the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, setting the tray beside her.

I sat on the other side of the tray, not needing to be told this time. I looked over the food on the tray. There were two white plates with sausage and rice piled on them. It looked delicious. My hands lay in the box on my lap while I looked up at her, waiting for her to feed me.

“Well?” She looked back at me.

“Well what?” The sunset came in through the window and lit up her dark tresses, making her appear like she had a halo surrounding her head.

I stared at her, caught up in the moment, thinking she was quite beautiful.

"Beg." She had her hand on a sausage filled fork, waiting for me to do what she wanted.

“Oh. Please, please, Lust, will you feed me.” I did my best, but it didn’t sound too convincing.

“That was terrible, but your lucky I’m tiring of this game.” She lifted the fork up to my mouth. We ate in silence as she fed me and then herself. A few times I know she caught me staring at her.

Soon the plates were empty. Lust's gaze roamed my face, as if trying to decide what to do to me next.

I had been consumed with eating my food and did my best not to spill, remembering what happened last time. When we were done, the room had grown dark and I could barely make out Lust examining me.

She moved the tray from between us and lifted her hind end into the air, shifting her weight to her arms, locking on to my eyes the whole time.

I breathed in deep and crept backwards, feeling fear and excitement at the same time. “What do you want?” My mind headed quickly down a path I’d rather not go.

“I want you, Edward.” Her voice was low and seductive. Her eyes remained focused on mine while she slinked even closer.

“But, why? why are you doing this?" My voice shook, giving away my apprehension and my desire.

Her mouth came dangerously close to mine, stopping just short of touching it. “Because I want to,” she whispered.

I could feel her warmth penetrate me. I knew she was teasing me, but knowing that fact couldn’t stop me from wanting her. I struggled to control himself, but a soft moan escaped my lips.

“You want me to kiss you, don’t you.” She maintained her proximity.

“N–no, no I—"

“I will you know. All you have to do is beg. I’ll do anything you want if you beg.”

“Ah, Um . . . ” My head spun. My erection ached for contact. How I could get out of this? My mind refused to work. I couldn’t drag my eyes away from hers. I remained, stuck, afraid and thrilled to think if I fell back onto the bed, she’d be on top of me.

“Go ahead Edward, I bet you’d be really good at begging for a kiss right now. Or, maybe you want more than a kiss?” Reaching her hand up to my chest, she ran gentle circles, stopping at my nipples, pinching lightly and feeling them harden under her fingertips.

My eyes closed and I bit my lip, holding back another moan. Just when I about to loose control, to lay back and pull her on top of me, a phone rang downstairs.

“Damn-it!” She whirled around and jumped off the bed and stomped out of the room, leaving the door open.

I slowly let myself lay back on the bed and took deep breaths to calm my nerves. My body was still tingling from the encounter and I fought to clear my head. I started to reprimand myself for giving in to her advances when I realized there was a phone here. If I could get to it, maybe I could call for help. As I pondered how I’d get to the phone, I heard Lust yelling out in anger. The words weren't distinguishable, but the tone was definite.

I got up off the bed and walked into the dark hallway as far as my chain would take me. I listened, trying to figure out what the conversation was about. But I couldn’t understand what she was saying. Her tone changed from anger to distress and finally, I heard the phone bang down on the receiver. There was a short silence followed by the soft gasps of crying.

I was shocked. Why was she crying? What had the other person said or done to her to get such a reaction? I felt torn. I didn’t want to believe a homunculus could have such emotions. To think maybe they felt pain and happiness the same as a human meant that maybe they were not so unlike humans. I found himself feeling sorry for her. What a lonely existence she must have.

I hung my head and leaned my back up against the wall, still listening. I heard the sound of a chair grind against the floor followed by a clicking noise and quite suddenly, some music blared. I recognized it as Ishbalan music. The exotic notes were distinctive. I knew the person who Lust’s transmutation was performed for was an Ishbalan woman. Did this mean she had memories of a life in Ishbala? Did she somehow share the memories of the woman who died? All of my former assumptions about homunculus were suddenly in question.

I heard a door slam through the beat of the music and realized Lust must have gone outside. I ran back to my room and looked out my window. The sky was filled with clouds, but the moon shone eerily through an opening, illuminating the yard below. The air was still and smelled of grass. I heard thunder out in the distance. A storm must be coming, I thought.

Then I saw her.

She had her arms up in the air and was spinning around in the yard, going to the beat of the music. Her hair flowed out around her, catching the moonlight. She moved her body in rhythm, languid and serpentine. Her eyes were closed while she danced, gracefully moving her arms in and out, up and down as she interpreted the music’s notes and shifting beats.

I found himself enraptured by her movements, losing myself in the flow of her body and the beauty of the moonlight glowing on her silky skin. She seemed to be dancing only for me. It was mystical and enchanting.

When the song ended, she stopped, hung her head down, and ambled back into the house. I heard the clap of the door as it hit its frame somewhere downstairs.

I went back to the bed and lay on my back. I looked up at the ceiling noting the tiny cracks as I contemplated what I’d witnessed tonight. What if she did have a soul? What if they all did? What if they were reincarnations of the original people they were intended to be, just changed somehow from the experience of being reborn fully grown? I shuddered when I thought of the creature that lay before me the night I transmuted my own mother. What happened to that creature? I’d abandoned her after I’d attached my brother’s soul to a suit of armor and lost my arm and leg at the gate. Was she out there somewhere? Did she remember me? Did she know what I did to her? The last thought brought tears to my eyes. I turned on my side and pushed my face into the pillow under my head, wiping them away. I didn’t want to think about that, it was too painful and I had enough to deal with right now. Feeling tired, I closed my eyes.

xxx

I ran, but my legs felt like they were in deep mud and I hardly moved. A creature with glowing eyes chased after me, gaining on me. It was so close, I could feel its breath on the back of my neck. A gun firing sounded in my ears. I was frantic, not knowing where I was. My eyes darted in fear. Nothing looked familiar and the scenery kept changing. Terrified, I tried to shout to my brother. Surely my brother would help me? But my voice stuck in my throat. My mouth wouldn’t form words. Thrashing about, I felt cold hands grip my shoulders and turn me around, shaking me. I peered into the creatures face. It was like my mothers, except deformed and grotesque.

“Edward . . . Edward!” the creature screamed.

I started to cry, realizing it was my mother. I'd left her there and she’d started to rot with no one to help her.

“Edward!” Her voice rang in my ears.

Opening my eyes, I saw the creature holding me up in my bed. I screamed. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I was frenzied. I heard a loud bang and my vision cleared. A beautiful face appeared before me. Dark eyes framed by darker hair.

Lust shook me by the shoulders. "Edward." Her expression was pained and worried. A bright light lit the room for a second. “Edward, wake up, please!” Lust shook me again while thunder boomed outside the open window.

I stopped crying, suddenly very aware of where I was and who was sitting in front of me. I heard the rain pouring outside the window. Without thinking, I reached my arms up, breaking the hold she had on my shoulders. I heard her gasp and saw her stunned reaction. Impulsively, I threw my arms over her head and down around her slender body, my hands still locked inside the box. I seized her, holding her tight to me and buried my face in her warm, soft neck. Lightening lit the room again. When the thunder followed, I shook. My nerves were still on edge. “I need you.” My voice was heavy with emotion.

Lust's slender arms secured themselves around me, holding me firm.

I fought to stifle my sobs, but they overwhelmed me and I wept in her arms.

"Oh, my God, Edward." She held me tighter. "Shh, it'll be all right. It was only a nightmare."

My sobs quieted and I remained against her, still clinging to her waist. I could feel the wetness from my tears on her skin.

“Lust?” My voice was soft.

“What?”

“Do you think you have a soul?” Her dance in the yard mixed with the fresh visions of my dream.

“I don’t know, Ed. I supposed I do. I mean, there must be something inside me, some force that flows through my being. Maybe it’s not exactly the same as yours, but it must be similar at least.”

“Do you remember Ishbala? Do you remember Scar and his brother from when you were his girlfriend?” Sniffling, I lifted my head to see her face.

She leaned back a bit, loosening her hold on me. She didn't seem comfortable discussing this subject with me.

As she formed her answer, my eyes searched her face.

“I do have some memories, but they are mine and I don’t need you using them in some way to defeat me.” She pulled her arms out from around me and set them against her sides.

“I’d never do that.” I lowered my face.

“Try to get some sleep. Looks like the storm is letting up.” Bowing down, she lifted my arms up and off her.

I saw confusion in her eyes. What was going on inside her head? Did she want to release me? She did comfort me, didn't she?

Lust climbed off the bed and walked to the doorway. She stopped and turned to look at me. It seemed she at least felt sympathy for me. “Please lay down and get some sleep, I’ll be right out here if you need me again.” Her voice was tender and soothing. She stepped out and shut the door.