Ch. 97 – He Was Already There

When Lira opened her eyes, she saw nothing up above but the ink-black night sky stretching out over the mountain estate. She felt a cold, hollow nothing in her chest at the sight of it, the distant, brilliant stars looking as if they were screaming a silent warning down at her.

Lira spoke up then, politely—but with a sharp, dangerous edge underneath—noting that it was taking a long while for dessert to be served. Her head turned directly toward Shula.

The Djinn was sitting down, looking as if she were riding a invisible, wild roller coaster while remaining physically still in her chair. Her chest rose and fell in heavy, rapid breaths, and a rapturous, unstoppable smile was plastered across her face. Her eyes were glazed over in raw excitement, momentarily far away from the room. Sensing Lira's piercing gaze, Shula forcibly snapped back, gripping onto her fading composure.

She offered a breathy explanation, claiming there was a slight "mishap" with the dessert prep, and that Rhys, Seraphina, and her magical clone were currently whipping up a brand-new batch in the kitchen.

Lira wasn't about to swallow the lazy lie Shula had baked up for her. She offered a tight, polite smile, feigning innocent worry as she suggested that she could just head into the kitchen to help them out and make the process faster.

Shula smiled back, almost coyly.

Up above, hidden out of sight behind the massive brick chimney on the roof, Rhys and Shula’s clone were pressed flush against the masonry, kissing frantically as their hands explored each other down below. They were completely invisible to the party down in the living room. A dazed, blissful Seraphina was curled tightly around Rhys’s back like a fallen angel, her massive dark wings unfurling to wrap around them both, enclosing the trio in a warm, ethereal aura.

Down below, the actual Shula fixed Lira with a possessive, victorious smirk, telling her that her help wasn't needed to make the dessert happen and that they had everything completely under control. To really sell the lie, Shula’s secondary clone—currently stationed in the kitchen—began noisily moving pots, pans, and mixing bowls around, laughing quietly to herself at the deception.

On the roof, Rhys lifted Shula’s clone up against the rough brick wall of the chimney, driving deep into her with sudden, formidable strength. The clone took all of it with pure glee, her back scraping against the stone.

Inside the living room, the original Shula almost couldn't contain the physical feedback, her eyes locking triumphantly onto Lira, who stood there looking like a deer caught in high beams. Truly, Lira had no full concept of the storm brewing around her.

Lira stood up from the sofa just as the men—completely, hilariously ignorant of the silent Cold War raging between the women—began setting up a intense tie-breaker round for their board game. Darius looked the absolute happiest after pulling out a victory in the previous round, completely unaware of what his wife was really orchestrating right beside him through her magical doubles. Marcus looked laser-focused, fiercely determined to win this final round since it was his last chance at redemption. Ging, meanwhile, looked ready to burst into flames, actual embers and wisps of smoke rising from his curled tiefling ears. He was furious after having the last match snatched out from under him by Darius, entirely oblivious to the fact that he should be caring far more about his wife, Seraphina, who had literally flown away on the roof above him.

Up above, Seraphina clutched onto Rhys even tighter as he continued to buck relentlessly into Shula’s clone. Seraphina buried her face in the side of Rhys's neck, moaning softly into his skin from the sheer proxy excitement as she hit a hard, staggering climax. The magical spark of her orgasm rippled instantly through her primary self and her lingering aura at the exact same time.

Down below, the original Shula had to bite her lower lip to keep from crying out, panting softly just as the heated final round of the game kicked off.

Lira bolted upright, blurting out that she needed to use the restroom.

Shula smiled knowingly, but Marcus was the one who actually replied. Completely absorbed in the game's mechanics, Marcus asked if she could at least play her hand before walking away. Lira had to exert every ounce of willpower to keep from rolling her eyes into the back of her head. She hastily played her cards onto the table and hurried down the hallway.

Up above, Shula’s clone giggled softly against Rhys's ear, whispering that his wife was starting to wander through the house, looking for her lost husband.

Rhys didn't react—his conscious mind couldn't. But the alter-ego in control certainly did. He grabbed Shula's clone by the thighs, lifting her legs high into the air as he accelerated his bucking against the chimney wall. The wet, rhythmic clapping echoed out into the quiet night sky.

Shula’s clone shouted out in uninhibited ecstasy, her toes curling back as her legs spasmed uncontrollably. Her release hit so violently that a sudden spray of glowing, magical sparkles burst into the air around them. Seraphina giggled softly at the display, murmuring, "Oh my... I didn't know you could make her do that."

Downstairs, Lira crept carefully down the quiet hallway. She wasn't focused on finding the bathroom at all, steering her steps directly toward the kitchen doors. As she approached, she heard the distinct, clatter of dishes and cutlery being moved around inside. The sound offered a slight wave of relief, but a tight knot remained in her gut: she didn't hear a single voice speaking.

Right as she reached the doorway, the double doors pushed open, and Shula’s kitchen clone stepped out to intercept her. The clone offered a patronizing, sweet smile, holding a tiny sample piece of dessert balanced delicate on her finger. She asked Lira smoothly if she was lost on her way to the restroom.

Lira froze, feeling caught, and then instantly felt stupid for letting herself feel defensive in her own friends' home. Forcing a curt, polite smile, Lira lied that she must have gotten turned around in the hallway.

Up on the roof, Shula’s clone licked a hot trail up Rhys’s jawline. Knowing she couldn't kiss his lips because of the unspoken rule, Rhys’s body turned sharply into her instead, taking her mouth in a deep, possessive kiss. The clone hit another intense peak, a profound sense of ownership flooding her connected consciousness.

Back in the hallway, the kitchen clone suddenly shivered violently as the climax hit her connected mind. She quickly shook it off, pointing Lira down the corridor toward the guest bathroom. After briskly explaining how to get there, the clone playfully offered the tiny bite of dessert to Lira's lips.

Lira looked distinctly ticked off by the condescending gesture, but she opened her mouth, letting Shula lightly place the sweet treat on her tongue.

"It’s delicious, right?" the clone purred smoothly. "Just wait... the full batch will be out real soon." The clone turned back into the kitchen, shutting the door firmly behind her and leaving Lira standing alone in the hall.

Up above, Rhys kept up a punishing, relentless pace into Shula’s clone as her core tightened around him like a vise. Rhys let out a deep, guttural moan from the back of his throat.

Seraphina trembled in excitement at the sound, her free hand drifting down between her legs while her other hand reached up to take one of Rhys’s hands, pulling it up to her face. She took his fingers into her mouth, sucking on them devotedly while her eyes locked onto his masked face.

Deep down inside the darkest corner of his own mind, the real Rhys sat completely submerged. He wanted nothing more than to look away from the debauchery taking over his body, but the deafening, metallic clanging of his awakening kinetic power was drowning out his internal thoughts.

Feels like I’m dying... haven’t felt that in a long time, Rhys thought solemnly in the dark abyss of his subconscious. I’ve literally survived worse than this. I’m not going to let this consume me too.

He kept repeating that mantra over and over in his head, and outside, the shadow entity put that message to immediate work.

Without Rhys consciously realizing it, his dormant superhuman power began to actively drink for the first time in years. As he drove into Shula’s clone, her ancient, raw Djinn magic flooded into him, filling a deep, starving void in his power grid that he had completely forgotten existed.

He looked down at Seraphina as she licked his fingers devotedly. Between pulls, she looked up at Rhys through her dark lashes, panting softly. "I... I wanted to tell you something earlier, Rhys," she whispered desperately. "I truly love you. And I promise... I will never let another man touch me ever again."

A rare, terrifying smile finally lit up the dark mask on Rhys’s face—but it wasn't Rhys's smile. It was the predatory, ancient smile of Omen.

He didn't say a word in response; his power simply reacted. Seraphina whimpered in pure ecstasy as Rhys’s body began actively siphoning her celestial aura. Her hand moved frantically against herself as the power drain hit her, driving her into a violent, magic-infused climax. Her dark wings flapped wildly against the roof, her aura shining with brilliant light.

Rhys accelerated into Shula’s clone, the sheer force of his movements making the heavy brickwork of the chimney physically tremble. He hit his absolute peak, pinning Shula’s clone hard against the stone wall. The clone screamed out in a hard, shattering climax as Rhys released inside her, her inner muscles clamping tightly around him. Her Djinn magic sparked out into the night air like miniature lightning bolts, which were instantly drawn down into Rhys’s skin, feeding his core.

Rhys let out a low, satisfied groan as he finished, the volume of his release causing her stomach to visibly bulge against her dress.

The scene on the roof looked like an ethereal renaissance painting: Seraphina clinging devotedly to his back from behind with her wings spread wide, and Shula’s clone wrapped around his front in a daze of pure euphoria, surrounded by a swirling halo of sparkling, magical embers. High above the mountain, the night sky itself seemed to be humming with power.

Down below, Lira stepped out of the guest bathroom, hearing nothing from the hallway except the loud, competitive shouts of the board game coming to its dramatic conclusion.

As she walked back toward the living room, she paused to glance into the kitchen. The doors were swinging open, and the room inside was completely dark, quiet, and empty.

A sharp spike of panic and concern flooded Lira's chest. She practically ran down the corridor into the living room, her mind racing with the terrifying realization that Rhys was in danger of being manipulated or taken advantage of by the women tonight.

As she burst into the living room, beating herself up internally for leaving him alone, she came to a complete, screeching halt.

Sitting comfortably on the plush leather couch in the center of the room was Rhys.

He was leaning back, completely relaxed, casually watching the final climactic moves of the board game and laughing along with Marcus and Darius.

Lira stood in the doorway, utterly taken aback, all her mounting panic and dark worries beginning to drop like flies. She took a hesitant step forward, her heart pounding in her chest, wanting nothing more than to just get close to her husband.