Gracie Musica/Southern Charm

Page 3

Chapter Ten: Wheel of Fortune --- The Axeman of New Orleans was a serial killer active in New Orleans, Louisiana (and surrounding communities, including Gretna, Louisiana), from May 1918 to October 1919. Press reports during the height of public panic about the killings mentioned similar murders as early as 1911, but recent researchers have called these reports into question. As the killer's name implies, the victims were attacked with an axe. In some of the crimes, the doors to the victim's homes were first bashed open with the same tool. "The Axeman" was not caught or identified at the time, although his crime spree stopped as mysteriously as it started. The murderer's identity remains unknown to this day, although various possible identifications of varying plausibility have been proposed. Not all of the Axeman's victims died, but the savagery and utter randomness of his attacks terrorized much of the populace. Some early victims were Italian American, in particular the son of Pietro Pepitone who had killed Black Hand extortionist Paul Di Christina (Paulo Marchese) several years before, leading the newspapers to assume the killings were somehow Mafia related (similar to New York's Black Hand assassin "Shotgun Man"). However later crimes clearly did not fit this profile, and the apprehension of the general public grew. His victims included a pregnant woman and even a baby killed in the arms of its mother. The Axeman also seemed to draw direct inspiration from Jack the Ripper: he (or someone claiming to be the Axeman) wrote taunting letters to city newspapers hinting at his future crimes and claiming to be a supernatural demon "from Hell." Most notoriously, on March 13, 1919, a letter purporting to be from the Axeman was published in the newspapers saying that he would kill again at 15 minutes past midnight on the night of March 19, but would spare the occupants of any place where a jazz band was playing. That night all of New Orleans's dance halls were filled to capacity, and professional and amateur bands played jazz at parties at hundreds of houses around town. There were no murders that night. Not everyone was intimidated by the Axeman. Some well armed citizens sent the newspaper invitations for the Axeman to visit their houses that night and see who got killed first. One invitation promised to leave a window open for the Axeman, politely asking that he not damage the front door. Crime writer Colin Wilson speculates the Axeman could have been Joseph Mumfre, a man shot to death in Los Angeles in 1920 by the widow of Mike Pepitone, the Axeman's last known victim. Pepitone's widow, who served only three years for the killing, claimed to recognize Mumfre as the man she saw fleeing her home the night she discovered her husband's body. Though there is no direct proof of Mumfre's guilt, Wilson notes that Mumfre was in jail during all of the Axeman's "dormant" periods (including the period from 1912-1918), and free at all times the Axeman struck. --from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia ----- Dee was quiet as the two of them made their way back to the hotel room. Ryo knew that Marie's words were bothering his lover, but he didn't say anything yet, opting to take Dee's hand into his and squeeze it affectionately. Dee sat on the bed when they got back, avoiding Ryo's gaze. Ryo simply chuckled, moving around the bed to crawl up behind his lover. Dee smiled and looked over his shoulder at Ryo as his lighter-haired lover began to trail kisses up his neck. Ryo leaned his cheek against Dee's almost absently, running his hands over his lover's shoulders. "You okay?" "Yeah," Dee replied, brushing a kiss into Ryo's hair. "I just wasn't expecting... well, that." "I know, baby." Ryo kissed Dee's cheek, pressing their cheeks again and rubbing their cheeks together. Dee looked back down at his hand, running his fingers over the blue vein in his wrist. "Baby? Was it hard for you growing up?" Ryo sighed, putting his chin on Dee's shoulder. He knew exactly where this was going. "No more than usual. I have no complaints." "So no one picked on you for being half-Japanese?" Ryo put one hand on Dee's chin, turning it towards him. "Dee... look at me--really look at me. Do I look Japanese?" Dee's eyes tookin his lover's face: chestnut colored hair, pale skin, slightly oval eyes. Dee shook his head. "Outside of the house I was Randy, not Ryo," the other man explained. "A select few knew I was half. For the most part I was considered white, like you." Dee looked a little sad and he touched Ryo's cheek. "But you missed out on half your heritage." "Not really," Ryo replied with a smile. "I really wish you could have met Mom and Dad so you could have seen that I didn't miss anything." Ryo stroked the hand that he was holding with his thumb. "Elena and Rick see you as family, so in a way you're part Scottish." Dee smiled a little at that. "And Mother's part Spanish, so I guess I'm part too." "Exactly," Ryo agreed, taking Dee's hand from his cheek to kiss the back of it. "But whatever your birth parents are, they had a beautiful baby." Dee chuckled as he pressed his forehead against Ryo's, remembering how Mother had hauled out the baby pictures not long after they had become lovers." "And he grew up to be a beautiful, loving man," Ryo finished with a smile. He leaned in to brush his lips against Dee's in a feather-soft kiss. "Do you realize how exotic you are?" "Exotic?" "Yeah," Ryo agreed, running his fingers through Dee's thick hair. "Gorgeous jet black hair..." Ryo pressed the hand he was holding against his cheek, nuzzling the warm palm. "Soft, beautiful olive-toned skin," he continued, kissing Dee's wrist. "And those amazing deep green eyes," Ryo finished, moving around Dee to strattle his lover's lap, his fingers still tangled in Dee's hair. "You are amazingly, astoundingly gorgeous." "Flattery will get you nowhere," Dee teased, wrapping his arms around Ryo's waist to hold him in place, their lips milimeters apart. "'s the truth," Ryo countered, feeling the nerve endings in his lips tingle with anticipation. Neither one of them knew who moved first but soon they were kissing softly, lips gently moving against and caressing each other,their eyes closed to concentrate on one another. Ryo moaned low in his throat when Dee's tongue slipped through his lips, the delicious taste of his lover spreading over his taste buds. Without warning, Ryo shoved Dee backed onto the bed, pinning his arms above his head. the bedsprings under them bounced and squeaked from the sudden movement. Dee gasped in surprise, but moaned when Ryo's tongue found its way into his mouth. Ryo's mouth slid down Dee's face to nibble delicately on one of Dee's earlobes, the blonde enjoying the way his dark-haired lover writhed under his mouth. "If I let go of your hands, will you behave?" Ryo asked huskily, kissing Dee's ear as his grip on Dee's hands shifted to one hand around both wrists, the other sliding down to unbutton Dee's shirt. "No promises," the dark-haired man replied, grinning wickedly up at Ryo. In response, Ryo's hand slid down to unbuckle Dee's belt and pull it free of his lover's pants. The belt was one of Dee's older leather ones, the once-stiff leather supple and giving from years of use and easily slid down to make a loop. Ryo looped Dee's wrist loosely, and the two of them moved up to the wrought iron headboard, the long end circling back around and hooked through the buckle. It was more for show than actual bondage, really, but they both liked the image it presented. "Don't pull too hard on it," Ryo warned, reaching down to undo his belt as well. The belt soared across the room and was soon joined by Ryo's shirt. Dee wanted to touch him--Ryo could tell by the way his fingers clenched the belt. ryo found his own fingers itching to touch his lover, his hands and lips gliding across smooth spances of olive-colored well-defined skinn and muscle. Ryo's lips found one of Dee's nipples and his tongue darted out to taste it. Under him, Dee moaned and arched up into Ryo, into the sensation, silently pleading for more. the older man latched onto the hardening nub, sucking and biting at it as his lover began panting. As Dee squirmed, Ryo slid down to settle between Dee's legs, grinding their hips together as he continued to tease the dark-haired man's nipples. He could feel Dee's length hardening through the material of his pants and he was sure Dee could feel his answering erection. Slowly Ryo's fingers slid down Dee's stomach to unclsp and unzip his lover's pants. Pale lips caressed Dee's abdomen as Ryo pulled off both his pants and his briefs, caused Dee to sigh in relief. However, that torturous mouth completely bypassed his groin, moving down to lick Dee's inner thighs. By the time Ryo's mouth was close enough to lick Dee, the younger detective was trembling madly, his eyes screwed up tight when Ryo's warm, wet mouth touched his scrotum, he could have cried. When Ryo sucked one of Dee's balls into his mouth he did cry--out loud as the bulbus flesh rolled around in his lover's mouth, the skin caressed by his tongue. Ryo's hands brushed over the insides of Dee's thighs, the touch teasing. The slow torture of Ryo'smouth was maddening, and when Ryo finally moved up to suck and lick the dripping head, Dee completly lost it and came hard in Ryo's mouth. Ryo drank him down as best he could, coughing a bit at the unexpected surge of Dee's seed. He slowly let Dee's softening length out of his mouth, his tongue sweepingup any lingering pearly drops before he looked up at Dee. His dark-haired partner still had his hands obediently over his head, fingers white knuckled as he clutched the belt. He was trying to hide his face in the crook of his arm, his cheeks and ears bright red at the embarassement of losing his precious self-control. Ryo reached up and freed Dee's arms, snuggling up next to his lover as he rubbed Dee's wrists and hands soothingly. "I'm sorry," Dee murmured, rolling to wrap one arm around Ryo's waist and bury his face in the shorter man's neck. "Don't be," Ryo soothed, kissing Dee's hands. It's nice to know I can still make you lose control." Dee chuckled, making the skin on Ryo's neck tingle as the arm around him moved around. "Always babe." Then, with as much warning, Dee plunged his hand down Ryo's pants to grasp his erection, cold lube a stark contrast to heated flesh. Ryo arched into the contact, watching with dark, pssion-glazed eyes as Dee's other hand loosened his pants and pulled them off his body, the first hand stroking him, warming the lube. Dee rolled onto all fours and Ryo moved behind him. The older man took a bit of precum from the head of his own shaft and rubbed Dee's opening, just wetting the entrance. Whenever Dee bottomed, he liked a little edge of pain--and by now, after years of sleeping together, Dee's body was also rather used to Ryo's size. He pushed into Dee's body slowly, relishing the blissful moan that issued from his lover. With one hand running over Dee's sweaty back, and the other guiding olive-toned hips, Ryo slowly began sliding in and out of Dee, swaying his hips back and forth. It always took him a few minutes to find Dee's prostate, but when he did... Below him Dee gasped and Ryo grinned. *Gotcha.* He started a punishing pace, slamming into Dee and hitting his prostate with every stroke. Dee, in turn, cried out and pushed bck hard against Ryo, his hand going between his legs to work his hard erect cock. Ryo reached down to fondle Dee's balls and found them tight against his body. Dee was close. Very close. He reached down to pull Dee up flush against his body, feeling himself go deeper into Dee's body and watch as his lover semi-frantically rode him. Ryo could see the sweet agony of being right on the edge but fighting against it on Dee's face. He kissed the shell of Dee's ear. "Let go, Love." "No!" came the faint protest. "You... first!" Ryo forced Dee back over, his face in the pillows. He sped up his thrusts, close himself, as one hand snaked around to help stroke Dee, the other hand firmly on Dee's back. "Cum, Dee," he ordered, leaning over a bit to whisper to his lover. "Show me how much you love it when I fuck your brains out." Dee's cries were muffled by the pillow as he came, semen spilling over both their hands. Ryo grinned to himself as he enjoyed the sensation of Dee's body spasaming around him. Dee really liked two things in bed--a good hard fuck and Ryo talking dirty. The older man groaned as one final thrust pushed him over the edge and he came, spilling deep into Dee and flooeded the man with his essence. He almost collapsed onto Dee but managed to pull them both on their sides, spooning Dee up against him, both of them breathing heavily. Ryo showered the back of Dee's neck with feather-soft kisses as he stroked his hand up and down Dee's hip. "Love you--so much--more than anything--" the blonde managed between kisses and heaving breaths, the two of them slipping into peaceful sleep. --- Ryo awoke to the sensation of someone stroking him. He moved his arm to do the same to Dee, but couldn't find his lover. It was then that he noticed that he was flat on his back. He groaned and arched up into Dee's hand, signaling that he was awake. He felt Dee remove his hand and sleepily moaned at the loss. Dark eyes flew open, however, when he felt Dee sink down onto his cock. Dee's beautiful skin was flushed and sweaty, the setting sun turning it a beautiful burnished bronze color. Ryo couldn't help but run his hands over Dee's flat abs and up to his chest. Dee threw his head back as he rode Ryo, tempting Ryo to sit up and kiss his lover's neck. Ryo's hands went down to grab Dee's hips, urging him on as he met his dark-haired lover thrust for thrust. Ryo's lips devoured Dee's neck as the two slowly made love. Ryo leaned forward, forcing Dee onto his back, the dark head hanging over the edge of the bed. Ryo craddled Dee's head in his hands, watching his lover bounce around slightly. Since he was still groggy from being awoken, Ryo didn't have as strong a hold on his control as usual and came first, panting against Dee's neck. The sudden unexpected pressure of his lover's spurt inside him pushed Dee over the edge and he coated their stomachs with cum. They sleepily wiped each other down and crawled back up to the pillows, Ryo cradling Dee gently in his arms. Just as they were about to fall asleep again, Dee looked up at Ryo. "baby?" "Hmn?" the blonde replied sleepily, running a hand over Dee's shoulders. "Never leave me?" Ryo opened his eyes. His lover was apparently going through an insecure phase and Ryo pressed a kiss to his lover's forehead. "Never." "Promise?" "Promise, Love. Promise." ---- Chapter Eleven: Justice --- Saint Louis Cemetery is the name of three Roman Catholic cemeteries in New Orleans, Louisiana. The burials are in above ground vaults; most were constructed in the 18th century and 19th century. The above-ground tombs, required here because the ground water levels make burial impractical in New Orleans, are strongly reminiscent of the tombs of Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. The three cemeteries are relatively intact following Hurricane Katrina. Saint Louis #1 St. Louis Cemetery #1 is the oldest and most famous. It was opened in 1789, replacing the city's older St. Peter Cemetery (no longer in existence) as the main burial ground with a redesign of the city after a fire in 1788. It is 8 blocks from the Mississippi River, 1 block back from the French Quarter, bordering the housing project that was built over what was formerly Storyville. It has been in continuous use since its foundation. Due to crime risks, it is inadvisable for individual tourists to visit the cemetery on their own, but it can be safely visited with groups. Free walking tours are given by the National Park Service, and paid tours are given by various commercial enterprises. Marie Laveau is buried in Saint Lous Cemetery #1, in the Glapion family crypt. Saint Louis #2 St. Louis #2 is located some 3 blocks back from St. Louis #1, bordering Claiborne Avenue. It was consecrated in 1823. A number of notable jazz and rhythm & blues musicians are buried here, including Danny Barker and Ernie K. Doe. Also entombed here is Dominique You, a notorious pirate who assisted in the defence of the city against the British in the Battle of New Orleans. There are also many notable citizens of 19th and 20th century New Orleans laid to rest here. For example the tomb of Blessed Mother Henriette DeLille, who is a candidate for sainthood by the Catholic church, among others. St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana Founded 1824 Listed in National Register of Historic Places, 1975. Saint Louis #3 St. Louis #3 is located some 2 miles back from the French Quarter, some 30 blocks from the Mississippi, fronting Esplanade Avenue near Bayou St. John. It opened in 1854. The crypts on average are more elaborate than at the other St. Louis cemeteries, including a number of fine 19th century marble tombs. Those entombed here include ragtime composer Paul Sarebresole and photographer E. J. Bellocq. St. Louis #3 also includes a Greek Orthodox section. -- from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia --- Ryo frowned as they leafed through the yellowing newsprint. "Most of these murders aren't even front-page news." "You know how that is, baby," Dee replied, doing the same. "Big city, big panic. The police are probably down playing it to the press." "But the press is usually all over stuff like this. Remember that guy who saved hands off his pets?" "Yeah, but he had the same MO. Marie said this guy kills differently every time--except from the calling card--" "--Which is probably being withehld from the press," Ryo finished, nodding in agreement. He paused to look at a list of names on his yellow legal pad: the list of possible murder victims. "Well, death certificates are public record. Want to go down to City Hall?" "Actually," Dee said, turning to look at the obituary page. "Let's start with the graveyards. Marie said the tombs were disturbed, which isn't in the paper at all." "I understand that detail being held back, but it's almost like the press is apathetic," Ryo sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's amost like they're bewitched," Dee murmured in reply, taking the pen and list from Ryo to start making notations. --- "Dee, there are no such thing as ghosts. There are no such thing as zombies. And there is no such thing as magic!" Ryo insisted, doodling idly on his legal pad. The two of them had spent the day wandering around to the cemetaries the obituaries had said the dead would be buried. Over half of the names on their list had been disturded to the affect of being torn down or dug up. Many of the groundkeepers had mentioned voodoo and restless spirits. "Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there," Dee protested. They were currently in the backseat of a cab that smelled faintly of stale alcohol and vomit and trying to keep their feet off the carpet. "Just because you can't see it usually *means* it isn't there," Ryo shot back. "What about atoms?" "Atoms *can* be seen." "And ghosts?" "Are the fancy of an idle brain." "And so is magic?" This was not a foreign concept to either of them. Ryo had never had a strong faith in God and the fragile ideal had shattered at the death of his parents. Dee, on the other hand, had a stronger belief in a more non-traditional God--one who presented changes to change to change yourself through both good and bad experiences. Neither one of them was trying to change the other. Sometimes it was argument for argument's sake, but more often it was just a reestablishement of the ground rules. Both sides were trashed, both sides were defended and at the end of the day both sides were still respected. "So why are you investing yourself in this case?" "Because someone else has invested himself in the idea that murder is okay, for whatever reason. And since the law says that belief is wrong, it's my duty to stop them." "The law says that two men shouldn't be married, or that three people can't be married." "The law also says 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. As long as no one gets hurt--unless they want to be--it shouldn't matter. It's a law that bears looking into. Maybe changing." The cabby slowed to a stop on St. Anne's street, and the two climbed out of the back of the cab after paying their fare. Joe gripped his steering wheel as he glared at the two detectives as they entered their hotel. He and Marie needed to have a little heart-to-heart... ---

Chapter Twelve: The Hanged Man Notes: Translations are at the end of this chapter. ---------- Grave robbing is the act of uncovering a tomb to steal the artifacts inside or disinterring a corpse to steal the body or its effects. Someone who engages in this act is a grave robber. Michelangelo, the Renaissance painter and sculptor, was known for stealing bodies from morgues in order to study human anatomy to perfect his artwork. Grave robbing is the bane of art historians and archaeologists; countless precious grave sites and tombs have been robbed before scholars were able to examine them. The Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun is as famous as he is not because he is one of the most significant of the pharaohs historically, but rather because he is the only pharaoh whose tomb was discovered intact, grave robbers having already pillaged the tombs of other pharaohs. Similarly, Chinese jade burial suits were believed to be myths for many years until two were finally discovered in 1968; it is now believed that most jade burial suits were long ago removed by grave robbers. --from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia ---------- She could hear him--death hadn't diminished that sense at least. His footsteps were coming up the front walk, the bottoms of his shoes clicking calmly on the pavement. He was always worse when he was calm. He was like a force of nature then, destructive, merciless, and terrifying. The front door shattered, rotted wood flying in hundreds of little pieces. Splinters stuck in the corpses closest to the door, fine wood dust covering the others that were on the other side of the room. "MARIE! TA CHIENNE!"* He was approaching her door. She was trying hard to cover up her altar, to put away all of her things before he came in and caught her again. There was a pounding on the door. "You bitch, don't you use magic on me! ON ME!" If she had the bodily fluids she would cry, paniced and scared. Now she wasn't afraid of any bodily harm he could do to her, so she was calm and meticulous, gathering up her trinkets and other odds and ends. With a sickening crunch, Joe's foot penetrated the decaying wood door, the man getting stuck in his door up to his knee. She could hear him grunt as he pulled it back through the door. She finally managed to shove all of her things underneath her bed as the door was blasted to smithereens, a very angry Joe storming in. He lifted her from her kneeling position to her feet by her hair and slapped her across her cheek hard. "Whore!" Joe accused before in her face. Marie didn't even flinch. "Ooh... getting some balls, eh?" The smile that crossed Joe's features made Marie shiver from the sheer madness and evil oozing out of the crooked quirk of lips. "You gave some COPS a LEAD?!" "You never said I couldn't give them leads, just not tell them the whole truth," Marie replied, which earned her another slap. Normally by now her face would be swollen, but the blood vessels were empty. "For that, you're going to be the one to kill them," Joe commanded, the grin widening. "The Yankee scum." ---------- There were few things creepier than a cemetary at night, Marie thought. Her master being at the top of the list, of course. But with all the unrest and necromancy use by Joe, the dead were uneasy. If she had eaten anything in the past day she would have thrown it up, the spirits doing what feeble little they could to stop the two voodoo practicioners from disturbing what should be an eternal rest. Joe, however, was loving the chaos. He was near to skipping along between the vaults, a bag for body parts thrown over his shoulder. He looked like a young, insane Pere Noel**, one who brought death instead of joy. "Aah, here we go." The necromancer came to a stop in front of an unusually old vault--normally, Joe went for younger, fresher bodies for his zombie crewe. The tomb was made of white marble, the name "Beaumont" chiseled into the dirt-streaked stone as ivy and other climbing plants made their slow ascent over the roof. Joe easily broke a hole in the wall near where a plant had weakened the stone wall before climbing into the vault. Marie sighed, shivering a bit as she looked around. This was undoubtedly the part she hated worst in this whole exercise. Everyone had to die eventually--after death, they should just rest. C'est fini. The remains of a person should never be used as the plaything of another. Respect for the dead was a precious thing. In her many years she had heard of many different cultures and their funerary rites, which ranged from the ancient art of her ancestors, mummification, to the preservation of the dead until a proper funeral could be afforded to even the ingestion of the dead person's flesh (how disgusting was that... she'd rather die than break open her mama and grandma's tombs and eat them). However, that was respect to the dead. This... this was just desecration. "Ah, Mademoiselle, pour moi? Merci, cherie, merci..."*** She could hear Joe humming in the tomb, having way too much fun. He was probably robbing the body of its jewelry, too. Many of his charms were melted down remains of jewelry the dead were buried with. Voices were approaching. She panicked, throwing her jacket over the hole and rounding to the front. She could make out the voices and her eyes widened in surprise. She quickly sank to her knees, making as if she was praying. "Marie!" "Dee, quiet." Marie moved a hand in a random motion, knowing that her new acquaintances wouldn't realize that it was bullshit. She stood and smiled at them, hoping they wouldn't notice that she was sweating profusely. "What're y'all out here?" she asked, slipping into the foreign over-the-top Southern slang. "Following up on that lead you gave us," the blonde detective said with a smile. "Are you blessing this grave?" "Yep. Jus' finished up." "Well, we were going to turn in, care to join us for dinner?" Dee asked, and Ryo nodded, smiling. "Aw, you boys are jus' too damn good ta me..." ---------- Inside the tomb, Joe was giggling like a madman, singing as he ran his fingers over the yellowed bones. "Alowetta, gentil alowetta alowetta..." Slim fingers wrapped around a bone, bending it harshly and shattering the bone. "Je suis plumerer..."**** ---------- Translations: *"You bitch!" **Father Christmas, or Santa ***"Oh, Miss, for me? Thank you, dear, thank you." ****"Little birdy pretty little birdy, little birdy, I will pluck you." It's a song used to teach children about body parts. And I'm not sure if it's spelled right or not, so if it's wrong, I'm sorry! Chapter Thirteen: Death --- A ghost is an alleged non-corporeal manifestation of a dead person (or, rarely, an animal). It is often thought to be the spirit or soul of a person who has remained on Earth after death. According to some beliefs, a ghost may be the personality of a person after his or her death, and not tied directly to the soul or spirit. Every culture in the world carries stories about ghosts, but they vary across time and place, with disagreements both as to what ghosts are and whether they are just figments of imagination or a part of reality. The city of New Orleans is sometimes called 'America's most haunted city' with numerous ghost reports, especially in the French Quarter which remained largely undamaged by Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans' ghosts include pirates from the 18th century, through 20th century specters. --from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia ----- My name is Jessica--well, it used to be. My mistress' master has renamed me since then--'Jennifer'. Nothing against my new name, but I'm *not* Jennifer. I'm Jessica. My mistress still calls me Jessica--out of earshot of Joe, that is. We may be zombies, but we still have emotions. The heart didn't die with our bodies. Maybe I should back up and start at the beginning. I used to be an accountant for a business in New Orleans, although I'm originally from Chicago. My mother was Mexican and I inherited her long black hair and slightly dark skin and my white father's bright blue eyes and crooked smile. I grew up bilingual and moved to Houston for work after college. The main company in Texas transfered me to New Orleans, which has a burgeoning Latino community as well as natural Spanish Creole roots. I had only been in the city for a few weeks--I hadn't made any friends as of yet. I'm naturally quiet and shy--something I also inherited from my father--so I was lonely, but content. Until that night. The worst night of my life. As it turned out, it was the last, too. The first day of my descent into Hell. It was... strange, the attack. I was ambushed from behind, my mouth covered with duct tape so I couldn't scream. Joe grabbed me from behind, holding my arm out while Marie--oh my mistress!--cut my arm. The blade *hurt* as it bit into my skin, and the blood was cool as it trickled down my elbow, tinking into the metal pail she held. Marie apologized the entire time I bled, my strength flowed from my body along with my blood. I could hear mosquitoes buzzing around my ear, could see them landing on my arm to feast on the fresh blood. Joe cursed both of us when I collapsed back into his arms. He threw my limp body at Marie, who caught me and stroked my hair as I slid into darkness. ----- I woke up to the sound of people talking. I was sitting propped up against a wall, and I could hear the mosquitoes buzzing around my ears, but I couldn't feel them biting me. The not feeling was the scariest part. It probably was about that time that I knew I was dead. I was shocked at the way the police reacted to my body--a few cracking jokes among each other. Afterwards, long afterwards, I came to realize that they had become used to seeing the dead, insulated to hiding the pain and anguish most feel at a crime scene. I can't really blame them. I've become the same. I followed by body instead of going to my parents' side. I hate to see them upset, and I already sorta knew how they'd react: Mom would break down and sob over the phone or fling her arms around the officer if they sent someone to the apartment. Dad would curse and storm around, blaming himself. Instead, I went and watched my autopsy. Have you ever sat and watched something happen, knowing you couldn't do a damn thing to stop them? An autopsy is kinda like that. All I could do was sit and watch as the forensic scientist cut my body open, my flesh parting easily under the scalpel as it had under Joe's knife. The only difference was that this time, there was no blood, no writhing or screaming on my part, no bone-rattling pain. I watched with a morbid fascination as the pretty female doctor lifted my organs from my body and measured them, feeling a slight twinge of guilt. I had always been registered as an organ donor, but my body was long dead, the organs rendered useless. Eventually, I was sewn back up--although the coolest part was watching her cut open my skull and weigh my brain--and shipped to a funeral home. Attending your own funeral is a strange affair. I was dressed rather prettily, in one of my favorite outfits. The make-up looked heavy on my skin, and I never realized how *old* I really looked. It might have been that it was because my face was sunken, the skin already losing water. My funeral was surprisingly full. My family and friends came in from Illinois, and a few of my coworkers came as well. It was actually quite touching. --- My parents planned to bury me in Chicago. Joe got to me first. He and Marie broke into the funeral home and stole my casket. The helplessness I felt was overwhelming, worse than it was when I was being cut up--they could *see me*. Marie was talking to me. After that, everything got a little fuzzy. Marie later told me that it was because the necromancy ceremony took a lot of spirital energy from me. Apparently, everyone has a certain amount of spiritual energy in their blood, but only those with a higher concentration of it can unlock that potential magic. Joe used the magic in my blood to turn my body into a puppet and my blood to be used in something equally unholy. There is one little loophole Joe happened to overlook--since Marie was the one who preformed the ceremony, Marie is my mistress. I don't *have* to take orders from Joe.

Chapter Fourteen: Temperance ----------- Dee groaned as he felt something stirring next to him. He opened one jade green eye to find his lover snuggling deeper into his embrace, the blonde fast asleep. Dee lifted his head up far enough to peer at the bedside clock, which proudly announced the time to be 4:23 am. Ryo stirred just a little at the slight motion Dee made, his eyes still closed, dreaming. Dee carefully moved so he was spooned up behind Ryo, holding him close to his body. He pressed a few gentle kisses along the back of Ryo's neck. In his sleep, the older man moaned. Dee grinned, his white teeth flashing briefly in the dim light before he gently bit the juncture of Ryo's shoulder, tonguing the exposed skin. Ryo squirmed in Dee's arms, panting. And still he slept on. It was a little game between them--both detectives, as it turned out, could be very heavy sleepers. They enjoyed trying to awaken the other, seeing how far they could take the level of arousal until the other woke up. One hand slipped under Ryo's tee--which was actually Dee's shirt--and tobacco-stained fingers gently teased one dusky pink nipple to hardness. Since his hand was on Ryo's chest, he could feel the blonde's heartbeat under his fingers, quickening as pleasure thrummed through his veins. Ryo awoke with Dee's hands on his stomach, Dee's mouth on his neck and his lover's erection prodding his rear. He groaned low in his throat, pushing back against Dee's hips to let the dark-haired man know he was finally awake before turning his head for a gentle kiss. Both of them were half-asleep so they unhurriedly touched and caressed one another, enjoying the slow build-up of pleasure instead of the usual headlong rush towards orgasm. Ryo loved the drag of Dee's callused hands over his skin, the taste and feel of Dee's tongue slipping and sliding into his mouth. He obediently let Dee strip his sleep clothing off his body and watched with rapt attention as his lover climbed out of bed to remove his own clothing and snag the bottle of lube. "You're in a good mood so early this morning," Ryo teased as Dee climbed back into bed, spooning up behind the blonde again "You wearing my clothing drives me wild," Dee growled back into Ryo's ear, licking it wetly. Ryo looked over his shoulder and gave Dee a sleepy grin. "Why do you think I wear it then?" Dee smiled back, leaning in for a kiss. The edge of sleep had worn down a bit, and the kiss was a bit more passionate than the others, tongues twining around one another. Dee popped the top of the bottle and squeezed a liberal amount into his hand. He wrapped his hand around his erection, slicking himself. With the leftover lube he prepped Ryo, rubbing the shorter man's cleft and teasing him with slight dips of his fingers into the willing body writhing against him. When Dee entered his body, Ryo actually wimpered, the complete fullness of Dee's cock inside his body pushing his arousal to a higher plane. Dee pulled the blonde back against his body, leaning over to rest his cheek against Ryo's. The two of them began a slow rhythm, Ryo wrapped protectively in Dee's strong embrace. The bedsprings creaked as the two moved across the top of the mattress, Dee's hands sliding over Ryo's chest and stomach. A pink tongue slipped out to lap at white skin, licking up the gathering drops of sweat off Ryo's skin. The gentle edge of tiredness made the pleasure stand out more and Ryo came rather swiftly, panting Dee's name and declaring his love over and over in a sexy gravely voice. Dee followed after two hard thrusts into the pliant body, able to only concentrate on Ryo's name and the dark eyes of his lover. The two of them fell back asleep in each other's arms, all sticky from cum and sweat and not caring, just enjoying the feel of a lover's warmth. ---------- Sunrise found Dee and Ryo making love again, slow and gentle. Afterwards, they spent most of the morning wrapped in each other's arms and just indulging in the pillow talk that only old, good lovers can appreciate and enjoy as well as the silliness that accompanies the ease of being with someone who loves you for who you are. Around eleven they got hungry enough to order room service, both firmly set on staying in bed all day if necessary. They watched a bit of television as they ate and talked, firmly avoiding the news and dozing off from time to time. The day progressed and Dee decided to broach a subject he had been contemplating for a while. "Hey, baby? Wanna go out tonight?" "Sure," Ryo smiled back, propping up on his elbows. "Any ideas, or do you just want to wander around Bourbon Street again?" "Actually, I was thinking we could go to a club?" Dee answered hesitantly, running a hand up and down Ryo's bare back. "Sounds fun," Ryo replied. "What time do you wanna go out?" Dee was slightly surprised by the ease Ryo agreed with his idea--getting him to go out at home was like pulling teeth--but he jumped on the chance. Green eyes rolled over to look at the bedside clock. "Well... if we leave in about two hours we can probably beat the dinner crowds." They rolled out of bed and started getting ready to go out, Ryo hunting through his suitcase for something to wear and Dee ambling to the bathroom to start washing up. He started by brushing his teeth, dressed in just a pair of dark blue boxers. Ryo paused in his search to admire the view his lover was giving him: Dee was hunched over, leaning over the sink. One hand was resting on the porcelain basin, and Dee's hips were swaying with some rhythm playing only in his head. For some reason, the blonde found this sight both adorable and sexy, and he slipped into the bathroom behind Dee, watching the shifting muscles underneath his lover's tan skin as Dee moved. He waited until Dee had spit into the sink and rinsed his mouth out with a handful of tapwater before grabbing Dee around the waist and grinding himself against the round ass hidden by the boxers. Dee's head snapped up, surprised at Ryo's sudden movement, but grinned at his lover's flushed refelction in the mirror and moved back against his lover. "You're in a mood tonight," he teased, standing straighter so he could turn his face for a kiss. "Aah. The question is, though, are you?" Ryo asked, his hands sliding around Dee's front to brush teasing strokes against the skin of Dee's lower belly. "When it comes to you baby, I'm always in the mood," Dee replied, leaning back against Ryo as the blonde kissed down his neck and shoulders. Ryo's hand slipped under the elastic waistband to lightly touch Dee's erection, smiling against the olive-toned skin as Dee groaned at his touch. He trailed a line of kisses back up his taller lover's neck to kiss Dee's ear. "You have no idea how sexy you look, Lover," he whispered hotly into Dee's ear, pausing to lick at the lobe. "I want you right here, right now just like this," Ryo said, enjoying the ensuing shiver of delight that raced down Dee's spine. Dee turned his head to kiss Ryo, his tongue darting into the blonde's mouth as his hand groped around in their toiletry bag for one of their many spare bottles of lube. Ryo reached over and snatched it from his lover, breaking their kiss to pull off Dee's boxers. The scent of Dee's arousal was driving him insane. "How do you want it?" he asked directly, bending Dee over the sink. "I don't care!" came the answering growl. "Just hurry." Ryo slicked his fingers and slid two deep into Dee, bending over to kiss up Dee's spine as he prepped his lover. Dee, in reply, growled impatiently and jerked his hips, urging Ryo on. He added another and reached around to grasp at Dee's erection, partly for stimulation and partly to make sure that his cock was far away from the cold porcelain. Dee arched his back when Ryo's fingers scraped hard against his prostate, the slight trace of pain coloring his pleasure. He had to bite back a whimper when the three fingers left him. He looked over his shoulder to see Ryo stroking himself, the clear lubricant glistening in the wake of his hand. Onyx eyes met emerald, and Dee wiggled his ass at Ryo teasingly, temptingly. Ryo, in turn, groaned, positioned himself behind Dee and slid fully into the dark-haired man. Dee's head fell down between his arms, breathing heavily as he enjoyed the feel of Ryo inside his body while Ryo ran his hands up and down Dee's curved back, waiting for his lover to adjust, the blood roaring in his ears. Ryo's cock twitched inside Dee, thumping against his inner walls and Dee groaned, "Oh, shit... God damn, Ryo..." The blonde nudged a little deeper into him and Dee gasped, pushing back into the movement. The thrusts became rougher, and Ryo leaned over to whisper, "You like it rough sometimes, don't you?" "Yes... Oh, Ryo, you feel so God damn good!" Dee cried, his hands moving from the sink to the mirror, putting more force into his backthrusts. "Mmm, Dee, you do too," Ryo panted. "So tight..." Ryo's thrusts were losing a steady rhythm, and Dee could tell that Ryo was closer to the edge than him. With a practiced ease, he clenched his muscles around Ryo's length, watching the older man's reflection in the mirror. His face was flushed with passion, his eyes closed tight and his hair bouncing, a few sweaty strands clinging to his skin. His mouth fell open as he panted, "I'm not-- gonn--" "It's okay, Baby," Dee replied, grinning. "Just let go." Ryo set his jaw and shook his head, a few droplets of sweat flying off his brow. He leaned over to bite into Dee's neck gently, the soft moan he got in response pushing him too far to come back. His thrusts took on a frantic edge, torn between wanting to cum and making Dee feel wonderful too. Dee could see the conflict within his lover, feel it in the way Ryo writhed against his body. He clenched around Ryo one more time, hard, and whispered his love over and over. Ryo came hard, biting down on Dee's skin. He groaned as Ryo's seed rushed into him, but winced a bit at the pain, glad for it--it pushed him away from the edge just a little bit, which would be wonderful for his plan. Ryo, however, had a different idea in mind. He reached around Dee's body, rubbing his weeping dick. "Cum for me, baby..." he managed, breathless. Dee removed his lover's hand, taking it into his own. "No, baby, not yet." Ryo frowned, but his mind was too pleasure-fogged to put up a decent argument. It was only when he had softened and slipped from Dee's body and Dee's arms were holding him close that he started to protest. It was a silent one, though--all Ryo did was slide his hand down Dee's body, aiming for his erection. Dee stopped Ryo's hands before they passed his stomach. Ryo's frown deepened, and he tried to get on his knees, but Dee stopped him again. He kissed the blonde's nose. "No, not yet. I enjoyed myself, but now I want to enjoy you." "Are you sure?" Ryo asked, a little flustered that Dee hadn't orgasmed. "Positive," Dee replied, his hands sliding up and down Ryo's sweat-slicked back. "You were just more aroused than me when we started. And besides, you shouldn't be ashamed that you can't resist the hotness that is Dee Laytner." Onyx eyes rolled to the ceiling. "Of course, how forgetful of me." Dee laughed, the bright sound bringing a smile to Ryo's face. He slid his hand up Dee's chest to trace a circle around Dee's nipple, teasing the pink bud. "There was something about you enjoying me?" "God, whatever's gotten into you, please take some home," Dee begged, crushing his lips against Ryo's. The kiss was hot and drugging, making Ryo's head spin. He only realized what Dee was planning when he was lifted into the shower. "What does sex have to do with the shower?" Ryo asked, logical thought clouded. "Well," Dee drawled, kissing over to suck on Ryo's earlobe. "We both need a shower. You're lighter than me. And I know I can hit your sweet spot better when you're up against the wall." "Oh?" Ryo teased, smiling. "Yeah," Dee replied, kissing his lover's smiling lips. "You moan and scream a lot louder when I take you this way." Ryo's eyes were dark with passion and smoldering when he met Dee's. "I guess you'll just have to prove it to me then, won't you?" Dee grinned in response, reaching behind them to turn on the water faucet. Ice cold water stuck his back and he yelped, jumping forward into Ryo's arms. Ryo, in turn, snickered. "Hey now, no cold water..." Dee braved the water to turn the temperature knob towards the H. The water automatically started warming, but he threw some of the tempid wetness onto his lover, who glared at him. Dee laughed again, reaching over to angle the showerhead so it fell on them before pressing Ryo against the back wall, plundering his mouth with this tongue. They had engaged in some shower play before while on vacation, so Ryo knew exactly where to put his feet to keep a good balance while Dee held him up. *Soap holders my ass,* he thought as his feet fit perfectly in the artistic grooves fashioned into the tub. Dee's wet body sliding over his, pressing him harder into the wall as they ground their hips together drove out all other rational thought. Dee smiled as he watched Ryo writhe against the cold tile wall, the steam rising to swirl around his well-built body. The blonde was a sucker for domination/submission, and loved both aspects of the game, tilting a little towards submission. However, pain wasn't a huge turn-on for Ryo. Using the hot water and gentle persistent force, Dee slipped two fingers into Ryo, stretching him. The water would help, but lube would have been so much better... Deep green eyes watched Ryo's face as he pumped his fingers in and out of the tight ring of muscle, enjoying the flush that was steadily moving down his cheeks to color the pale skin of his chest. He smiled when Ryo began pushing back down on his fingers. "Patience..." he teased, slipping another finger into him and stretching him wider. "Dee... I just had you bent over the sink. You think I'm not ready?" "You had lube," Dee pointed out, wiggling his fingers in the tight sleeve of Ryo's ass. Ryo gasped at the sensation of Dee's fingers moving deep inside him, but still managed to keep a hold of some thought. "You usually... Need more than... me..." "Mmm... True," Dee conceeded, removing his fingers from the tight warmth. Ryo moaned in protest at the lack of stimulation and wrapped his arms around Dee's back when he felt the taller man lower his hips a little. Dee, in turn, ran his hands through damp dark blonde strands and slowly pressed into his lover, pressing brief kisses all over his face. Ryo moaned, his fingers digging into the muscles of Dee's back as the younger man entered him. "Yesssss..." Dee was panting against the tightness, the need to cum stronger now after holding off for so long. "You like that, Baby?" he asked, breathing heavily against Ryo's ear. "God, yes... Move, Dee..." "Reach up to the shampoo rack," Dee whispered. Confused, Ryo did has he was told, long calloused fingers wrapping around the sturdy metal bar. Dee grinned at the sight: Ryo aroused and impaled on his cock, spread before him like a feast. Dee gripped Ryo's hips and started slamming into him, nearly lifting the blonde of his feet. Ryo cried out in a mix of surprise and pleasure, gripping the railing. He used the leverage to help push himself back harder on Dee's cock, his hair bouncing up and down with their thrusts. Dee found himself swiftly approaching climax--*too damn soon*--and he reached down to pump Ryo frantically, hoping to push his lover over before he came himself. Ryo was amazed at how fast Dee was bringing him closer and closer to another climax so soon after the first. Every thrust into his body and every stroke of Dee's hand on his erection sent waves of pleasure washing over his entire body. Their thrusts grew erratic as they approached the peak. Dee came first, the thick spurt of semen touching Ryo's prostate with a deceptively white-hot cool. That simple touch pushed Ryo into orgasm half a second behind Dee with a scream, more of his own cum splashing between their stomachs. The two came back to themselves panting hard. Ryo's arms had fallen from their hold on the rack to hold Dee tight as they both shuddered, Dee's hands still supporting Ryo by the hips. They caught their breath as they washed up, wiping away the semen and sweat with soapy washcloths before finally getting out. They dried off unhurriedly, sharing lazy kisses before tumbling back between the sheets, still slightly damp. Dee put his chin on the top of Ryo's head. "How come you always feel so God damn perfect?" Ryo turned his face up for a kiss. "Because I love you that much," he replied, a satisfied smile on his face. In response, Dee arched an eyebrow, his face a study of internal thought. "Nope. How much you love me has nothing to do with your amazing body." "Oh?" Ryo teased back, closing his eyes as he felt Dee's lips brush his nose. "I was made for you. Only you." "Just me?" Dee's grin softened when Ryo's onyx eyes opened, complete seriousness shining back in his eyes. "Yeah, just you. There's no one else I want." "There's no one else I want either," Dee replied, nosing the honey blonde strands as he ran his hands up and down Ryo's sides and hips. "But it's a damn shame to waste all of this on little old me." "Is that the go-ahead to go sleep with others?" Ryo teased, nuzzling Dee's neck back. The taller detective's laugh made Ryo's nose tickle a bit. "Hell no. You know how possessive I am." A soft kiss was planted against the part of Ryo's damp hair. "You're just too good for me." "Sometimes I feel the same way," Ryo confessed, pulling back to look up at Dee. "But most of the time I think we're just perfect for each other." Dee leaned down and rubbed Ryo's nose with his. "Jesus, that was sappy," he said, effectively breaking the mood and making Ryo laugh. It was just Dee--a defense mechanism deeply ingrained into him after years and years by himself. The fact that he fell back on an old trick told Ryo just how much his words had affected his lover. "Have you been watching chick flicks again?" Ryo rolled his eyes. One time, Dee had caught him watching 'Sense and Sensibility' on HBO, and he'd never heard the end of it. "Nah... KISS. 'I Was Meant For Loving You'... 'Let's Put the X in Sex'..." He grinned up wickedly at Dee. "'UH... All Night'," he teased, grinding his hips against Dee's. Dee laughed aloud. "Y'know, I never, ever pegged you for a KISS fan when we first met." "Oh, I have my secrets still," Ryo teased, stopping in his point when Dee pressed their lips together. "I need to keep you guessing so you don't get bored with me." "Oh, Baby, I could never get bored with you," Dee replied. The two of them cuddled for a while more, falling into silence as they kissed and caressed one another. "Hey, Dee... I thought of another hair band." "Oh?" "Poison. 'Talk Dirty to Me'." Dee scoffed. "Too easy. Although, if you want me to, I will." "Really? Such as...?" Dee grinned and rolled over onto Ryo, pinning his older lover back onto the mattress. "I could always tell you how fucking sexy you looked just now, getting off my cock inside you like a sexy little slut." Ryo gasped at the velvet sound of Dee's voice in his ear, the offensive words arousing. His fingers dug into the muscles of Dee's back. "I'm your sexy little slut..." he moaned without thinking, a faint flush of arousal crossing his cheeks. "Mmm, yeah, you are. All mine to be as kinky as you want," Dee agreed, sucking the top of Ryo's earlobe into his mouth, tonguing the cartilage mold. "I really like watching you riding me, bouncing up and down on my hard dick, fucking yourself with my body..." "Yes," Ryo groaned, getting swept up in the developing fantasy, his voice breathy. Dee ground their hips together. "Watching your cock go up and down as you moan like a porn star, knowing that you just fucking love it..." "Yeah, I do love it..." Ryo confessed, arching up to rub himself against his lover. "Your hardness filling me, driving me wild, and you're so fucking hot... Whenever you're in me or I'm buried deep in you..." Dee grinned against Ryo's neck, nibbling on the pale flesh. "And as much as I love thinking about this... If we don't get dressed, we're never going to get anywhere before the lines get monsterous," he informed the blonde, rolling off of him and out of their bed, smackingn Ryo's ass playfully as he started getting dressed. Ryo stared back at Dee, his mind in a haze. "HEY! You bastard!" Dee laughed aloud, pulling on a pair of boxers and his undershirt. Ryo threw a pillow at Dee, pouting at the dirty trick. Dee chuckled and slid under the sheets with Ryo again. ---------- "You want something to drink?" Dee asked Ryo, having to talk loud over the music. "Sure," came the reply, accompanied with a nod. They sat at the bar, drinking while they watched the other couples dancing in the club. Both men and women were bumping and grinding on the darkened dance floor, most in various states of undress. A slower song blared over the speakers, and Ryo leaned in to Dee. "I love this song. Wanna dance?" "Sure," Dee replied, finishing his drink before walking out to the dance floor with Ryo. The two pulled each other close, Ryo's arms going up to loop around Dee's neck and remembering that not too long ago he wouldn't have been brave enough to do something like this in public. Dee, thinking the same thing, was humming along with the music in Ryo's ear. "You're brave tonight, Love," Dee commented after a few moments, smiling down at Ryo. Ryo chuckled. "I was thinking along the same lines. It's not so much that I'm brave per se, but I'm..." The blonde trailed off, thinking of a way to phrase it, and Dee smiled, pressing a kiss against his forehead. "You seem very sure of yourself." "Well... Part of being in a family unit is the self-awareness of shaming the family name," Ryo explained. "Not that I've ever been ashamed of you, or us, that is." Dee smiled down. "I know. You've been worried about how your mother's familiy would react." "Yeah..." "And now?" Ryo was quiet for a moment. "Being here, away from everyone else, we can just be ourselves, and I like it. I don't know what's getting into me down here, but I want to take it back home." Dee smiled back down at Ryo. "Are you sure you're ready? I don't want you to do anything you're not ready for." "This is long overdue," Ryo replied, smiling back. They leaned in for what was supposed to be a tender kiss, but the song shifted yet again. The faster beat somehow got into their blood, turning the kiss into something fiery and hard to contain. By the time they broke for air, they were frantically clinging to one another as if they were drowning. Ryo grabbed Dee by the hand and bodily pulled him into the bathroom. It was small--only two stalls--with enough room for a chair and the sink. As soon as they made it into the door, Ryo slammed Dee up against it, locking the deadbolt on the door. The room was empty, thankfully, and they were both frantic. Remembering the conversation earlier that night, he forced Dee into the chair, watching as the dark-haired man pulling his pants down and immediately taking his hard cock into his mouth. Onyx eyes rolled back in Ryo's head as he thrust into the inviting warm wetness, panting. Dee grinned, sucking on the tip before pulling it out of his mouth and fumbling with his own fly. Ryo climbed out of his pants and boxers, reaching down to pull a small tube of lube and a pair of condoms he had slipped into his pants pocket just in case. "Aah, you're always prepared," Dee chuckled as Ryo rolled the cream-colored latex over his erection. "Best not to get too messy," Ryo replied, slicking the condom and climbing into Dee's lap. Dee's talented fingers put the condom on as Ryo impaled himself on Dee. "Jesus, Ryo..." "I remembered how much you liked this one," Ryo replied, using Dee's shoulders to lever himself up and down. The warm heat of Dee filling him, coupled with the dirty words his lover had used earlier to describe the scenario and the thrill of the possibility of getting caught pushed Ryo over quickly, his wimpers just loud enough to be heard over the music filling the bathroom. Dee followed quickly, and Ryo could feel his hot cum against the latex. They untangled from one another to redress and remove the condoms, tossing them into the trash bin and redressing before joining the rest of the club, smiling widely at the impatient faces waiting to use the restroom when they unlocked the door.