The Way We Were [( Arkaniel & Moirae )]
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: desert ashes on 02-03-2011, 17:00:55</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>02-03-2011, 17:00:55</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/iconofroses/Aria.png)</div>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Add a pinch of rose nip, a dash of fox glove and ..."&nbsp; Softly Aria's voice trailed off as she flicked back a blond wave from her eyes and squinted at the faded text in the large, old leather bound spell book that sat open on the raised stand beside her.&nbsp; The spacious, sunlit kitchen currently smelled like a wild garden in full bloom, thanks to the colored puffs of steam that continually rose from the cast upon pot on the stove top; wide windows let the light pour in, illuminated over her figure.&nbsp; It made her blond, curl tousled hair glitter, added a warm glow to her soft skin.&nbsp; In the background B.B. King played, the music drifting through the modest, two story house, and had Aria's familiar, an overweight, blueish gray cat named Lina, swinging her tail back and forth in rhythm.&nbsp; By all appearances it was a typical morning in their household -- the only piece missing from the picture was her husband, who had been 'sneakily' sent off to the grocery store so she could finish what was going to be a hopefully lovely surprise.&nbsp; Not that he hadn't seen through her little grocery list, he did every time.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;It was, after all, their five year anniversary and, well, she had never been able to tell even a small white lie without blushing, fidgeting or some other tell easily giving her away; it wasn't that she minded, lies were too tangled and callous to be bothered with, but there were times when she wanted to surprise her husband and it could be bothersome.&nbsp; Though, not as irksome as when she had attempted to 'fix' the problem.&nbsp; In an effort to hold onto last year's anniversary surprise, Aria had cast a minor spell on herself that should have allowed her to tell just one lie.&nbsp; Of course, like most of her magic, it hadn't at all gone as planned.&nbsp; Aria had spent the entire day unable to say <em>but</em> lies, and if it hadn't been for her husband's efforts, would have remained closed off in their room in tears.&nbsp; No, it hadn't gone well a tall, but thankfully -- and perhaps gratefully -- her husband had been amused and more concerned than anything else over the entire matter.&nbsp; It was a reaction Aria had grown used to in the past five years -- five and a half when she counted the whirlwind courtship leading up to their wedding. <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Often it truly felt as if it was just yesterday she glanced up and saw him -- actually, literally bumped into him.&nbsp; Her arms had been heavy, fulll of art supplies in bags and boxes she had been carrying to her car; they were meant for the local elementary school where she volunteered for an after school art program.&nbsp; Somehow nothing had broken after their collision, everything strewn out around them, but that hadn't mattered to Aria -- all she could see was him, the way his eyes made her warm, and when his fingers brushed light over hers, he made her skin tingle.&nbsp; She'd barely turned eighteen then, about to start her second semester in college in pursuit of an art education degree, and she knew in that moment she had met her soul mate, the one love of her life.&nbsp; A chance meeting turned into a date that lasted three days, at the end of which Aria hadn't stopped smiling.&nbsp; It'd been Valentine's when he proposed and a few months later in May, two weeks after her finals had ended, they'd married before a small group of family and close friends.&nbsp; They made it work during the rest of her college, living together off campus in a small apartment, and somehow perfectly balanced marriage with work and college.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Now they were nestled in the quiet suburb, a fifteen minutes drive from the elementary school she now officially taught art for, fostering a home ... and family.&nbsp; Aria's rose tinted lips curved as she added essence of star into her witch's brew and slid her free hand down over the smooth, toned plane of her stomach.&nbsp; Aria's whole face lit up as her fingers stroked along her skin, slipped under the thin material of her flowy summer top.&nbsp; She had been suspicious when she'd been a week late, yesterday those thoughts confirmed when she'd popped in to see their local doctor.&nbsp; How she had managed not to spill the beans so far she wasn't sure, but tonight was going to be perfect.&nbsp; Aria hadn't decided yet to tell him over the romantic dinner she would be making or later in bed, their arms around each other, the air -- <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;<em>Creak.</em><br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Aria's hand stilled as the sound broke into her thoughts.&nbsp; Was Marcus back already?&nbsp; Surely she would have heard him.&nbsp; It was probably just a new house sound, nothing at all to be skittish over.&nbsp; Exhaling a slow, steady breath, her pale gray eyes fluttered back toward the brew -- and stopped cold on the window.&nbsp; Just lightly she could see hr reflection, the soft white glow of her aura streaked with gold, and that of the snarling demon that lurked in her kitchen doorway.&nbsp; He was at least seven feet tall, resembling mostly of man ... except for the black scales that covered his shoulders and arms, the long gleam of black claws and red, piercing eyes that gleamed hungrily at her.&nbsp; She didn't stop to wonder just how he had gotten into their home, nor what he wanted, except that she had to protect herself -- more, she had to protect her and Marcus' unborn child.&nbsp; It didn't surprise her that her thoughts flashed to him, the pressing need for his aid quickening the sudden frantic beat of her heart.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;With a scream Aria whirled as the demon lunged forward.&nbsp; Despite being more than twice her size, Aria fought with every ounce of strength she had, but the feared results were played out.&nbsp; In the end, part of her kitchen lay in disarray in the wake of the struggle; the brew knocked over, dishes broken and scattered over the counters and floor, her spell book and stand tipped over, the pages soaked from the spilled brew, and a small splattering of blood -- her blood -- dotted the counter from when he'd given her a vicious back hand.&nbsp; The last thing Aria saw before she faded to unconsciousness was the gleam of the crescent moon pendant Marcus had given her on their wedding night, the bright gold flashing from the floor where it'd fallen, snapped free from her neck in the struggle, and her beloved husband was the image Aria embraced as the darkness descended.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;<em>Marcus...</em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>02-03-2011, 19:08:56</strong>
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				Dirtied cobblestones formed the floor of the narrow street, as it did for all streets in the large city. The white-plastered brick walls were everywhere, too, forming buildings, one larger than the other, with red tiled, terracotta rooftops. The white walls formed a stark contrast with the filthy streets, even if there were sewers underneath, an unique concept in the world. The pavements and the stepping stones to cross the street were all that prevented bare feet from being covered in the sewage that covered the cobblestones, slowly leaking down into the gutter. More filth, the filthy washing water and the contents of chamber pots were thrown out of the windows. The many, many windows of the huge apartment blocks that filled the city.<br><br>And scurrying through these streets was one young orphan amongst many, a street urchin like all of them. Although, at eleven, the young one was already slowly reaching adulthood, according to the traditions of his people and the streets. The boy was a loner, as he was different than all the other street rats. He had to be extra careful, for no one else was watching his back. And lone boys were easy targets for the slavers and the brothel owners. A good looking young boy would fetch quite a price. The rich and the noble always had some coin for the most perverse pleasures. And in this city, there were no laws against such a thing.<br><br>The young boy was different in many ways. His looks betrayed his heritage. He held the features of aristocracy, the proud, noble arch of his brow, his straight nose, mirroring that of the many statues spread across the city, with just the barest hint of Hellenistic blood. The defined, smooth jaw and the sculpted looks of his face were all the telling signs one needed to see that young Marcus was the offspring of a Roman noble. He held the handsomeness that was so well preserved in some of the higher families, those who were proud of their looks, and often married for such reasons, instead of politics.<br><br>This turned Marcus into a very handsome, almost beautiful boy. Beautiful because true manhood still had to mature within him. Unlike others, his teeth were white, strong and healthy. Unlike the bastard orphans and urchins, with parents from all over the Empire, his hair was pitch black and short, though slightly messy and dirty from the years of living outside. His skin was tanned perfectly, giving him a slightly olive skin tone, though still light enough not be mistaken for a peasant. The arc of his eyebrows was delicate, yet suggested a distinguished look later in life. His dark eyes, nearly black, glinted with a keen intellect and a sly cunning. Especially that last part was a necessary tool to survive as a lone orphan on the streets of the magnificent Imperial capital.<br><br>When Marcus caught sight of two slavers scourging the streets for those unclaimed and those who wouldn’t be missed, he fled. While the life here had hardened him, his life as the son of a noble a distant memory, many years ago, he was no match for two well-fed adults, both of whom were armed with clubs and whips. His own body was lean, slender, not emaciated, but clearly not fed all that well. His skin clung tightly to wiry muscles, which were hard and strong for someone his age. A life of running for danger, running for the patrolling officers that hunted pickpockets and young thieves, running for slavers and sodomites and paedophiles, as well as fighting the other kids that wanted the same scraps of food as him, that wanted to pick up the same fallen coins he had his sight on, had built his young body for speed and strength, squeezing as much of it out of him as his young body could bear. when puberty kicked in properly, and some more food found its way to his stomach, his body would grow into a replica of the proud statues of the many athletes adorning the city.<br><br>But to ever reach puberty and after that, manhood, he needed to get away from the slavers. So he ran, and ran, dodging through the crowd like an expert, seeing his chance and snatching a coin purse, yet dropping it again as he had to take a hard turn when three more slavers turned up opposite of him. He ducked into an alley, cursing his luck at dropping the coin purse and now possibly having five slavers on his tail. He would not end up in the brothels and houses of pleasures for the perverts like so many other young boys! He would not!<br><br>He took a chance and started climbing a stair to the flat roof of a building. This was a one way road, as he would be stuck on the roof. But he knew the slavers knew this, too. He knew they knew he knew it, too. Confusing, yes, but they would hopefully not look here, knowing no street rat would run into such a death trap. Marcus dared so and did. He was lucky. Twice over. As while he was hiding on the rooftop, pressed flat, invisible from the street below, he noticed something directly in front of his face.<br><br>He felt something within him surging, besides elation. Before he could think twice, his hand snatched up the small treasure he had found. A silver coin, a Denarius. This was good. Very good. Not only had he escaped the slavers, but he had found the means to buy enough food for a week. A lot of food and then some, at that. It was odd, though, for as he turned over the coin, he noticed that both sides seemed to blackened a bit. He didn’t know anything except soot that could blacken a coin. But it wasn’t soot, as his wiping fingers didn’t remove any of the blackness. He shrugged his shoulders, as a silver coin was a silver coin.<br><br>But then, something else that made Marcus different became more obvious. Sometimes, when his need was high, when danger lurked near, or the cold of winter threatened to overwhelm him, and he was wishing, praying for relief, he felt something inside of him glow… followed by something that helped him. When it was cold, a nearby pile of garbage would burst into flame and keep him warm. When he was run down, stuck in a dark alley, suddenly, his pursuers would run past him, not seeing him. It seemed impossible, yet it happened. He always thought the Gods were with him, for there was no other possibility. It only came when he prayed, chanting the Latin phrases his mother had taught him before she died, so it must be the interference of the Gods.<br><br>It wasn’t.<br><br>As soon as he held the coin tightly, his hand wrapped in a fist around his precious treasure, something inside of him woke up. Knowledge flooded him, an awareness came over him. A sense of great, ancient power filled him. A massive, impressive being stretched out into every fibre of his being, wings uncurling as it roared to life in the young human, using the Magic in this body to strengthen itself even more.<br><br>-Hello Marcus- Its voice sounded just like it felt, like pure, raw, liquid, fiery power. It roared through his entire body, feeling as if it was burning him to a crisp, yet at the same time, it made him feel so glorious, even as more knowledge flooded his brain. He suddenly knew what was happening to him. He suddenly knew what the coin meant. He suddenly knew that there was a price to pay.<br><br>-My name is Raphael. Do you accept me. Do you accept all the power, all the strength I will give you? Do you accept us to be one from now for eternity?-<br><br>The being, a Fallen Angel, flooded more knowledge into his brain, showing all it had to offer, enticing the boy, enticing the man growing within. It did not hide much, surprisingly, when one took into account the nature of the being. Marcus would condemn his soul. But he would not pay the price, for he would live forever. He would be strong, know no more fear, no more gnawing hunger and no more fighting for scraps of rat’s meat. He would be free of this poor existence. The choice was easy to make.<br><br>-Yes-<br><br>Hellfire flooded his system, filling his body, burning him figuratively to a crisp, before rebuilding him, cell by cell, till he was new, till he was stronger than ever before. His near black eyes flashed like the red and gold of fire, as he stood up, his composure straightening, shrugging off the signs of malnourishment, of exhaustion and of near-constant fear.<br><br>It would all be no more.<br><br>He was Marcus. He was a Denarian now. A host to the presence and the power of a Fallen Angel. One of thirty. The Great Betrayers and the most feared creatures in the world. They were also the outcasts. Denarians were infamous for their negligence of the Old World rules. Nothing was sacred to them. Nothing was safe. But Marcus didn’t care. He craved the power to be his own man. He craved the strength to no longer be afraid. And most of all.. he craved the bond of family.<br><br>He was the son of a Roman noble and his Hellenic slave, a wise female bought to educate and nurse the true children of his father and his wife. The wife had only barely abided the presence of the slave and the bastard child. Then, his mother fell ill and passed away. The wife broke the husband and kicked the young boy out on the streets, never once looking back. His father had accepted this and ignored the existence of his bastard son, too. Not even a scrap of food was given to him. Now, he belonged to someone again. Perhaps no mother, perhaps not a real father, but a combination of an uncle and a brother, rolled into one, now looking out for him. <br><br>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br><br>Eighteen hundred and fifty three years later, Marcus Holloway looked still like a young man, somewhere in his early twenties. He had learned how to use glamours and common make-up, as well as different types of facial hair to make him appear older or younger at times. It was a necessity when being an eternally youthful immortal. The young man was no longer the vengeful harbringer of death he had been in the past. Oh, he had taken his revenge, followed by doing all the things A Denarian did well, like corrupting souls, committing sins, tempting others to forsake the Lord and generally cause chaos and mayhem. <br><br>Nothing strengthened a Fallen Angel more than the blissful serenity and peace the Lord thrived on.<br><br>For centuries, he had been one of the many supernatural scourges of the Earth. He had taken sabbaticals, pretending to have been slain, pretending the coin containing Raphael had found a new host. All this pretending was a necessity to survive, too. The others would all unite against him if they knew he was the oldest out of all of their hosts, even Nicodemus. As a Wizard, that meant that his magic had kept growing and growing, in addition to a continually increasing experience and skill.<br><br>Right now, however, after a particularly violent clash with Nicodemus and his minions, Marcus had chosen this new identity and started over. To be frank, he had been tired of causing all that death and decay for a while now. It had lost the appeal it had had all those centuries ago. Even Raphael seemed to agree. By now, they had well and truly proven that they hated God… what other point was there to continuing? They were their own man, ironic as that sounded, and they had all the power they could ever want. Now, they wanted something else. <br><br>The desires that had originally made Marcus accept the Coin and all that came with it, had slowly influenced Raphael over the years, too. They wanted some sort of peace and quiet. They wanted a family. It was what Marcus had never had. It was why Raphael had been banished by God. The once Angel of the Lord had dared to fall in love with a mortal woman. Apparently, that was inacceptable, so he was cast into the Void, the dark oblivion even beyond the outer rim of Hell, where slowly but surely, all Fallen Angels were taken over by the insanity that came with the torturous nothingness of the Void.<br><br>And now, they both wanted a family.<br><br>And they found one, meeting a charming young woman, a young witch at that. Aria was truly the best that had ever happened to them. Marcus was genuinely in love with her and he easily fell into the role of the young, inexperienced Wizard by her side. They lived together, got married quickly, and now, she worked her art at the local elementary school, while Marcus himself freelanced as a writer, producing plenty of short stories and fantasy novels, drawing knowledge from his own supernatural heritage. Oh, he carefully avoided ever writing a bestseller, as he wanted to stay under the radar, but he did well enough to generously provide for the both of them, in addition to her own paycheck that was nothing to sniff at.<br><br>He returned home, carrying the grocery bag, happy he could now get to celebrating their fifth year anniversary with his lovely wife. A wife that was incredibly beautiful, yet utterly adorable, as her spells had a tendency to comically backfire. Add to that the fact she couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. Was it any wonder he loved her? Genuinely, truly loved her, despite that being next to impossible, with that Fallen Angel lurking in the back of his mind. But even Raphael liked Aria and since a couple of days, the Fallen seemed very excited about something, even if he refused to tell Marcus why. It was frustrating.<br><br>Still, as soon as he walked over the threshold, he felt there was something wrong. Stretching out his senses, he could feel the disturbed wards. Immediately, worry took a hold of him, his eyes flaring up with reddish flame as he automatically immersed himself in the Hellfire he hadn’t used in over five years. He had not put up any powerful wards, as he didn’t want to draw attention to themselves. Now, he cursed himself. Rushing forward, he headed for the kitchen, where he could smell her spices and whatever else she tossed in her potions… as well as blood and the stink of demonic ichor.<br><br>Falling to his knees in the disarrayed kitchen, he saw the splatters of blood, the torn necklace with the crescent moon shaped pendant glinting on the floor. He cradled her spellbook, even as his Third Sight lashed out. Immediately, he stopped using it, while Raphael stored that flash of magical insight away, analyzing it.<br><br>-She was taken by a demon from the third ring of the NeverNever. They are commonly used by summoners for the gritty work… like kidnapping.-<br><br>-I don’t care, Rafe. I want her back.-<br><br>-Use the blood.-<br><br>Shaking his head, he allowed the spellbook the slip from his fingers, as he rose, dragging his fingers through the drying drops of blood on the counter. Worry was replaced with determination and wrath. A blinding, fiery wrath for anyone that would hurt his wife… He set for the basement immediately, where he had furnished himself a small magical lab, storing various potion ingredients far away from sunlight, as well as a silver circle forged into the floor, used for all kinds of rituals, though he did few of them and only when his lovely Aria insisted on seeing his own magic. She seemed fascinated by his brand of powers, a Wizard outranking a witch like her by far, even if he pretended to be rather untrained and inexperienced.<br><br>Immediately, he placed the pendant in the center of the circle. With his blood coated finger, he drew a series of small symbols. A wave of his hand and an exertion of will, and the symbols lit up, burning red with unnatural flames, as the magic, enhanced by the now glowing circle, starting seeking out the owner of the pendant, the carrier of the blood… finding her.<br><br>This spell wasn’t as accurate as a GPS by far. No, it would act like a compass, pointing constantly out to Marcus in which direction Aria was. And he had to hurry. It would only last for twenty four hours at most. Immediately, Marcus rose to his feet, a wave of his hand dragging away one of the cupboards from the wall, revealing a tall safe. Another wave and the steel door was ripped away, revealing a small, veritable armory, containing daggers and knives, a sword, various Blasting Rods and a Staff. Grasping the staff and the enchanted sword, Marcus turned to leave. He had a demon to hunt and a wife to find. And woe that fool that dared to steal the wife of a Denarian!<br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>03-03-2011, 15:01:47</strong>
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				<em>&nbsp; &nbsp;"See?&nbsp; It doesn't work.&nbsp; It's not the wand, it's me," Aria insisted softly, her slim nose scrunching as she glanced at Marcus.&nbsp; Tousled hair slipped over her bare shoulder, the swell of her breasts exposed when her shifted on the bed, the sheet tugged down her body by the movement.&nbsp; The bedroom in their small one bedroom apartment two blocks from the college smelled like sex and burnt toast, a steady rain beating against the window.&nbsp; Spending a rainy Sunday morning (and afternoon) in bed seemed like a perfect idea, even when her attempt at 'whipping' up some breakfast in bed for them hadn't gone as planned.&nbsp; She could only playfully roll her eyes when he came up behind her, took her left hand in his and slid his fingers around hers that held her wand.&nbsp; A moment later her lips were curving into a slow smile as he dusted her shoulder with a trail of kisses.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Try again."<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Marcus... "<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Just try."<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Mule."&nbsp; Exhaling a slow breath, Aria focused her eyes on the last piece of bread.&nbsp; Pointing out her wand, she felt the warmth of her husband's touch, and for a moment, just a moment, lost her concentration at feeling the moist fan of his breath across the back of her neck.&nbsp; The one word spell slipped off her lips and to her amazement, and surprise, the piece of bread toasted perfectly to a golden brown right before their eyes.&nbsp; Her lips eased into a grin as she turned her head and looked at him, nipped at his lower lip.&nbsp; The wand was already lowering, his hand sliding up to caress her side.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"You did that," she softly accused, though her eyes were filled with love.&nbsp; She watched his eyes as his mouth descended and he whispered just two words before dragging her back down into the tangle of sheets and the promise of further delight.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Prove it... "</em><br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Aria's eyes slowly fluttered open as her body rocked against the small, hard space.&nbsp; When they did open they saw nothing but darkness and her lungs seized as bound arms and feet struggled against the restraints.&nbsp; The struggle was weak at best, though.&nbsp; She felt disorientated and a little sluggish, and each bump that sent her jostling in her captivity sent a dull ache through her body.&nbsp; Where was she?&nbsp; Moistening her lips, she swallowed the lump in her throat and fought to think back.&nbsp; The last thing she remembered was the kitchen... she was mixing the starlight brew for her and Marcus' anniversary ... <em>the demon!</em>&nbsp; Thoughts froze as an icy chill trickled down her spine.&nbsp; The demon had taken her.&nbsp; Despite how hard she had fought him, he'd taken her from the kitchen and now she was here in some dark box being jostled and taken to God only knew.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Suddenly her bound fists were banging against the box!&nbsp; "Help!&nbsp; Can anyone hear me?!&nbsp; Help!"&nbsp; she screamed as loud as she could, going on for several minutes as her knees and hands assaulted the box that best she could.&nbsp; None of it helped.&nbsp; No one came rushing to her aid, the jostling didn't stop, and the only thing she had managed to do was bruise her knuckles, the warm liquid she lightly felt was surely blood from scraping them too hard.&nbsp; Tears sprung to her eyes as she swallowed back a quiet sob.&nbsp; What was she doing to do?&nbsp; Aria wasn't even sure why she had been taken.&nbsp; She'd done nothing, especially not to any supernatural being that would have sent a demon after her.&nbsp; Oh God... what if one of her spells had really backfired?!&nbsp; Frantically, as dread pricked at her, she thought back over all the spells she had cast recently.&nbsp; None at all would have had any involvement with a demon, nor did Marcus' magic, and surely if she had somehow angered the demon or another, she would have known.&nbsp; Wouldn't she have?&nbsp; Tears threatened again as she sucked in a breath, yearned for the warmth and security of her husband's arms.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;<em>Oh God, I really need to stop trying to surprise Marcus.&nbsp; It only ever leads to trouble.</em>&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;It felt as if they traveled forever, Aria eventually drifting in and out of a disturbed, dreamless sleep, trying to ignore the budding grumbles of her stomach and how parched her throat felt.&nbsp; Her eyes snapped wide open the moment the jostling stopped and she could heard a muffled sound of car doors slamming.&nbsp; They had arrived somewhere.&nbsp; Where?&nbsp; Even when she suddenly heard them near her, more doors open, and felt the box -- no, a crate now, she realized -- being lifted and carried, she couldn't see anything.&nbsp; Sudden voices were muffled and her breath caught as she was carried, jostled a little more, though this time the jostling earned a grumble from one of the voices.&nbsp; Several minutes later, after going through what she could only assume were several passages and stairways, she and box landed with a gentle thud.&nbsp; Her heart began to race as she heard the creak of the crate being opened, nails popping out of wood and slowly trickles of light began to seep into her 'holding box.'&nbsp; Then the side of the crate gave way, dropping down to reveal a shrouded figure, the outline of a dungeon and holding cells quickly flooding her vision, then that of shelves with various jars and bottles, a cauldron and glass globe in the center of the room... and then back to the figure that stepped closer and out of the shadows.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;"Hello, my dear.&nbsp; Welcome ... "
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>04-03-2011, 13:25:32</strong>
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				&nbsp; &nbsp;“Hello, my dear. Welcome…”<br><br>Quintin Azdeq was a Sorcerer of some renown. Not a Wizard by birth, the man had found a book of spells during his college years. And he had immersed himself in the spells and rituals found within the parchment pages. Through decades of hard studying, he found magic. And it was wonderful, rejuvenating him, extending his life and giving him the power he had always craved. But now, his time was running out. As he was no Wizard by birth, he only lived slightly longer than ordinary humans. Wizards on the other hand, could live for many centuries. Rumours had it that The Merlin, the leader of the White Council, was over eight centuries old already. Quintin fell short of that, with his own meagre one hundred and twenty years of age.<br><br>But he had dedicated himself to finding more life or even immortality. He had summoned demons and other beings from the NeverNever ,asking them for their price. None of them had been something he had been willing to pay. Until Azeroq, a Demon of the higher levels, came to him with the knowledge he sought and a deal he could actually see himself accepting. Quintin would receive immortality and more power as well as get to keep his own soul. And Azeroq? The Demon would receive power, too, as well as the fresh, pure soul of an innocent, yet powerful witch.<br><br>The Quest to find such a witch had been long, but at last, Quintin and the small band of lower demons and Ghouls -mere footsoldiers- he had summoned, had localized one who showed incredible potential. A witch, weaker than any male or female Wizard, but with a great power locked away. How was it locked away? He didn’t know. Was it something natural, something keeping the power cocooned till it had matured enough, so that the Witch could blossom into a Sorceres, or even a Wizard? Or had someone fiddled with her power core, trying to hide it?<br><br>Whatever it was, he had her now. As she tumbled out of the now broken box, he watched her body roll into the circle he had prepared for her. It was a real piece of work, with finely enchanted copper in a perfect circle, locking her in and preventing her from using any magic to signal anyone at all. The NeverNever was also closed off to her, so there would be no escaping through Portals, in the off chance she knew how to create them. And that was in addition to the wards covering the building. The Wards, based on blood of sacrificed virgins and enhanced with Black Magic, were nearly unbreakable, unless his opponents brought a small army of Wizards.<br><br>And as the beautiful woman was laying there, he let his own black magic was over the circle, scanning her, probing her and reading her.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;“Interesting”, he murmured, “You are with child. That makes this all the better. But did you know that… what is this?” His magic swirled over her body, deeper and deeper, focussing on the child. Suddenly, the Sorcerer paled slightly, before his face schooled itself into a satisfied mask.<br><br>“My, my. You have even more potential than I imagined. I will take your magic and that of your child, as well as… yes… the Hellfire flowing through its very veins. You have been a very naughty girl. I thought you were married to that clumsy little Wizard of yours, who is pretty unremarkable to say the least, if not for his unskilled magic. Is he keeping secrets from you? Or did you know? Or worse… did you cheat on him?” He smirked, seeing how this came as a surprise to her, before he set out to prepare the ritual. Before he could make the deal with the upper demon, he would need to bring forth her own hidden potential…<br><br>- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - <br><br>The rain was pelting him as he strode through the Portal, leaving the NeverNever and exiting into the real world again. He could travel faster through the NeverNever, but the tracking magic only worked here, on Earth. Re-orientating himself, he drew his sword, silver and glowing with fiery red runes, slashing the air with it, opening another portal, through which he took a short trip, ending up dozens of miles further, approaching slowly but surely the location his wife was held at.<br><br>He journeyed without resting, without pausing. He was relentless in his pursuit, his eyes clouding over with red and black Hellfire, fuelling his rage and powers, while a second set of almost demonic eyes, glowing, floating and ethereal, shone and narrowed in fierce green, just in front of his forehead. Raphael was present, watching and helping him. The Fallen Angel wanted to retrieve Aria as much as Marcus did. She was ‘theirs’ and anyone daring to steal her would die most gruesomely…<br><br>It took another few jumps through the NeverNever to reach the location where Aria was supposedly held. It was a massive, seemingly abandoned warehouse, reeking of powerful black magic, with near-impenetrable and unfriendly wards. Lethal ones at that. He could hardly break them down without letting the whole world know there was a Denarian Wizard on the loose. So, he settled for subtlety and sneakiness. Placing his sword and staff in the NeverNever, under thick Wards, he pulled out only his Blasting Rod, a sort of wand more focussed for combat magic than the ordinary wand.<br><br>Focussing his will, he allowed the Hellfire to slip away, as he silently cast a spell. A torrent of flames shot forth from the tip of his blasting rod, pouring against the wards. He was not really affecting them, except for setting off the alarms with his purposefully clumsy attempts at getting in. He wanted to be caught and to be brought inside…<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>12-03-2011, 07:50:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pale gray eyes went wide as Aria gathered herself in the circle, her breath caught in her throat and her heart skipping beats here and there as she stared up at the wizard.&nbsp; Her first attempts at scrambling away from him were met with an invisible wall that kept her firmly within the circle and she felt her pulse jump even more at that.&nbsp; What did he want?!&nbsp; Why was she here?&nbsp; More flew through her mind as she tried to assimilate where she was as quickly and best as possible, and to somehow listen to the man through the deafening roar of panic and fear in her head.&nbsp; Those weren’t questions that went unanswered for long, though much to Aria’s dawning horror.&nbsp; She shuddered at feeling a flicker of his magic, her skin crawling as she tried to shrink away into the floor, much good that it did her.&nbsp; In the end she could only stare with disbelief at the floor, her thoughts racing … <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then came to a dead stop.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“You’re out of your mind!”&nbsp; Aria snapped with a rush of breath into her lungs, her eyes whirling back to his.&nbsp; Already her hand was covering her stomach, fingers trembling until she gently pressed them in, as if that alone would ward her child away from any of his magic or doings.&nbsp; Take her magic?!&nbsp; Her child’s?!&nbsp; Never mind that… he had accused her of cheating on her husband!&nbsp; How… How did he even know about him?&nbsp; Her?&nbsp; So much of this wasn’t making sense!&nbsp; Squeezing her eyes closed, the young witch quickly moistened her lips before releasing a slow, shaky breath.&nbsp; “I don’t know who you think you are, but this is insanity.&nbsp; My husband and I keep no secrets from each other!&nbsp; There is no Hellfire or whatever you said in me, or our child.”&nbsp; She couldn’t even say the words to defend herself about cheating – the thought alone had her stomach clenching and tears threatening to cloud her eyes.&nbsp; Her husband was the first and only man she had ever been with… would ever be with.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This wizard had to be out of his mind… yet she was scared.&nbsp; In the depth of her bones she could feel the fear.&nbsp; Especially as he moved to walk away, merely ignoring her words with but an absent wave of his hand.&nbsp; Again his words ran through her mind, again and again until her eyes were swimming out of focus and she nearly lost her breath.&nbsp; Surely he was wrong.&nbsp; He had to be wrong!&nbsp; There was no Hellfire or what have you in her blood and certainly not in Marcus’.&nbsp; They would have known!&nbsp; And considering she was the only witch to have been born in her family, she certainly would have known.&nbsp; More important that that, he wanted her magic and her child’s.&nbsp; But… why?&nbsp; Neither her or Marcus were that strong magically, though he more than her, and while their child may prove more powerful, they couldn’t know yet.&nbsp; More… why would a wizard want the weak magic of a witch who could rarely cast a spell correctly?&nbsp; Closing her eyes once more, Aria hugged her arms around her stomach.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There had to be a way out of here.&nbsp; Getting out of here was the most important task.&nbsp; Squinting open her eyes, she peeked at where the wizard was and at noting his back was still turned to her, she very slowly began to mentally push at the circle around her.&nbsp; In a heart beat she stopped as a sudden roar echoed through the large warehouse, had a cold shudder rippling through her.&nbsp; It wasn’t her the roar was about, though, as the wizard was turning but not looking at her, but to the archway that lead into the sectioned off area in the warehouse from who knew where.&nbsp; She could see him tensing, a scowl pulling on his features as he withdrew an enchanted staff from seemingly thing air and began to move toward the entrance.&nbsp; Then Aria felt the building tremble, her lungs seizing as she glanced down at the bronze circle, the wizard moving entirely out of the chamber now.&nbsp; Dear spirits, she had read somewhere about breaking binding circles!&nbsp; Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to steady her heart as she thought back through all the tomes and spell books she had read throughout the years. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“See that the interruption is taken care of!&nbsp; I have more important matters to attend to!”&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any hope of breaking through the circle were dashed in mere heartbeats.&nbsp; Azdeq had only left long enough to bark orders, get a feel for the attempting break of the wards.&nbsp; Apparently it was nothing for him to consider worrying about… at least not yet.&nbsp; As Aria’s hand lifted away from the bronze circle, the wizard returned and narrowed dark, aged eyes on her.&nbsp; From the sleeve of his billowing robe he withdrew a long, black glittering dagger that instantly had her skin crawling.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Don’t worry, my dear, I just need a bit of your blood so that we can properly begin,” he said, reaching into the circle and grabbing her arm, yanking it toward him.&nbsp; Aria let out a small scream as he sliced across her left hand, held her palm over a goblet that came flying off the shelf, held steady under the trickle of blood.&nbsp; <br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The alarms had been sent off in brilliant fashion.&nbsp; It had not taken long, perhaps only a few seconds, before Marcus had company.&nbsp; A willow thin, green skinned and scaled demon pulled himself from the NeverNever beside Marcus with a deafening roar.&nbsp; Between the demon’s own strength and magic, and Marcus’ subterfuge, it only took but a handful of moments before the demon had the ‘young’ wizard wrangled, snarling with a barking laughter as he hauled Marcus inside, his blasting rod carried in his other hand.&nbsp; It was tossed aside, the wizard held in front of him, arms behind his back.&nbsp; It was toward the back chamber of the warehouse that they approached, however, instead detouring toward the side where a few holding cells appeared to be set up, wards already in place. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Without a word the demon tossed Marcus inside, let the door bang shut, and then he started back for the chamber to inform the wizard of their little guest… The demon snickered at the thought of the witch’s clumsy wizard coming to play hero.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>14-03-2011, 21:09:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The response came as swiftly as Marcus had expected. His flames were still searing against the protective wards, barely affecting them. Yes, he could pour in the power he had, but that would give the warlock or whatever other fool had kidnapped his wife the time to escape. Besides, it would draw far too much attention. No, he would allow himself to be captured and kill the kidnapper under the cover of his own wards, undetected by any allies he had or by the White Council.<br><br>As if on cue, a thin, green scaled demon appeared, assaulting him. Marcus put up a token resistance, shifting the stream of continuous fire from the warded building to his new opponent. The Demon shrieked before it realized the flames were only tickling its tough, magical skin. With a menacing chuckle, it waded through the torrents of flame, approaching the Wizard. Marcus pretended to be frightened and agitated, slightly upping the power, simulating an adrenaline kick. But still it was not enough. The Demon kept coming and grasped him by the throat with one clawed hand, grasping the Blasting Rod with his other claw. <br><br>A snap echoed in the silence of the now disappeared flaming spell, as the demon broke the thin piece of carved wood.<br><br>Marcus sagged, while inwardly, he was preparing all sorts of torturous death for this vile creature. Raphael soothed him, however. <br><br>-Patience, Little Marcus. Our time will come. Soon, we will be inside. We will take back what is ours and we will send all of those that played a part of this straight to hell.-<br><br>-They better not have hurt her or I won’t be responsible for my actions.-<br><br>-I know. I will give you free reign if she was injured in any way.-<br><br>Soon, the young wizard was taken to a holding cell. It was pitifully weak, only barely able to hold a mid-level Wizard. Of course, Marcus pretended to be far weaker. At least until the demon’s back was turned. Immediately, he started pooling his magical energy, having grown stronger over the millennia of his life. As soon as the demon was in the archway separating the holding cells from the room that seemed to contain both his wife and the sorcerer that took her, Marcus acted.<br><br>His hair seemed to start moving in an unseen wind as he brought his power to the front, avoiding to dip into his Hellfire. A lance of pure, flaming light shot out of his hand, through the barrier of the cell he was in, and straight through the demon. It stood there, facing its master, a look of incomprehension on its face. It followed Azdeq’s –who had been interrupted from drawing a ritualistic circle with the small amount of blood he had drawn from Aria- shocked gaze downwards, seeing the smoking hole, the size of a fist, through his back and chest, gaping.<br><br>It rattled a startled shriek, interrupted halfway as it burst into flames before disintegrating, leaving behind a small pile of blackened ashes. And from the smoke strode an almost blazing Marcus, both his hands glowing with magic, ready to be shaped into new lances or a shield if need be.<br><br>“I don’t care who you are, but no one, no one, touches my wife.”<br><br>He slapped his hands together, sending out a powerful shockwave that wrecked everything in front of him. The ritualistic circle, the altar… and the sorcerer was slammed back, hard, into the concrete wall of the warehouse. Immediately, Marcus turned on the spot, rushing over to the magical circle holding Aria. It had already started flickering as the caster had been knocked out. But with another burst of light, the circle collapsed. He swept down, falling to his knees as he hugged Aria close to him.<br><br>“Are you all right, love? Did he hurt you?” His voice was full of concern and love as he had come for her like a blazing angel, but at the back of his mind, he kept Raphael’s senses trained on the sorcerer. They would have to get out soon. “Can you move? We have to get out of here…”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>26-03-2011, 18:28:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Marcus!&nbsp; Oh my God!&nbsp; How did you find me?!"&nbsp; Pure relief flooded Aria's features, tears quickly pooling in her eyes as she flung her arms around her husband's neck and hug herself close to him.&nbsp; She couldn't believe he was here!&nbsp; Fear and helplessness had steadily risen as she'd watched the sorcerer start the ritual, her mind swarming with everything that had been said so far.&nbsp; What had knocked her senseless was seeing the fury of her husband and the pure magical force that came with it.&nbsp; Never had she seen him wield even half of that power.&nbsp; Where had it come from?!&nbsp; Where had he come from?!&nbsp; She wasn't sure how long it had been since she had been taken -- surely not even the length of a day -- but here he was, her champion and knight. <br><br><em>The hellfire flowing through its veins...</em><br><br>Swallowing hard, Aria's arms tightened around Marcus' form and her face buried into the curve of his shoulder.&nbsp; That hadn't been hellfire she had seen, even she would have recognized it.&nbsp; Strong, deep emotions could often fuel a magic source, even temporarily heightened the state.&nbsp; The inward reasoning had her calming as she nodded, yet her arms refused to leave him.&nbsp; It had all felt so close.&nbsp; How much longer would it have taken for the wizard to do something they wouldn't have been able to reverse?&nbsp; What if the wizard had been successful, even a little bit, in harming the baby?&nbsp; <em>He wanted our magic... but why?</em>&nbsp; Very little of this was making snese and in that moment Aria could only agree with Marcus.<br><br>It was time to leave.&nbsp; Now.<br><br>A heartbeat later she was crying once more; Aria had barely started to rise from the floor, the smallest of pressure placed on her ankle when the pain seared through her.&nbsp; Tears swelled as she gasped and held onto Marcus.&nbsp; The sprain must have happened at some point in the transport; she wasn't surprised with everything else happening she hadn't realized it until now.&nbsp; Bracing herself with her husband's support, Aria's eyes swept up to his and focused, all the questions, confusion, relief, pain and love swirling through the silvery hues.&nbsp; There were so many things she wanted to -- wanted to ask -- but now wasn't the time.&nbsp; Who knew when the wizard would stir from that blast of magic... and that lead straight into just where that had just come from?&nbsp; She'd seen her husband's talents before, they weren't that much above her own... and what had the wizard meant?&nbsp; But now wasn't the time.&nbsp; <br><br>"It seems you are not yet done playing savior," she said, swallowing hard as her ankle quite visibly throbbed now and she let herself lean against him as they made their way out of the warehouse.&nbsp; "My love, how did you get here so quickly?" She couldn't help herself, knowing the questions just weren't going to be entirely wait.&nbsp; "And..."&nbsp; Hesitantly she glanced back and then stopped, tripping and wincing, a gasp and cry caught in her throat.<br><br>The wizard had vanished.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>05-04-2011, 17:33:25</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He just smiled down at his lover and told her, “Hey, I am a Wizard, not some silly Warlock or male witch”, he teased her, knowing full well she was classified as a Witch, which was a degree below Wizard on the power scale, even if he had always pretended to be rather on the low end of the Wizard scale. Even between the different degrees there existed, there could be inconsistencies, as the different magical classes were determined by the natural amount of magic someone had. Still, one could grow more powerful than others through training, gaining experience and skill and sheer hard work by sitting down and studying. Magic, when it came down to it, was as much about knowledge and focus as it was about raw power.<br><br>“I tracked you with a ritual and followed the trail through the Ways. As a Wizard, I can use those more safely than most others. It was a bit of trial and error, but I lucked out as the Ways leading this direction were safe. You might not realize it, but we are all the way in Virginia right now.”<br><br>Marcus tended to avoid lying outright to Aria. How could he not? While he wanted to keep the other part of him, as well as his millennia long past a secret from her, he hated being dishonest. She deserved better. At first, however, he wanted to start with a clean slate. Later on, when he found himself to genuinely love her, he simply couldn’t tell her. If she would only get an inkling of what he was and what he had done in his long life, she would run away, screaming. He didn’t think he could bear the look of horror on her face when her mind would supply the images to all the atrocities he had committed. <br><br>Marcus had never been an angel. And while for his ‘kind’ he had been almost noble and ethical, he still had been one of the vilest beings on the planet Earth. It started with revenge. It became a power play between him and the other twenty nine Denarians. It became worse when Faeries and Vampires entered the mix. He killed, he tortured, often to gain more power or to protect his own life at the cost of everything else. He had calmed down some in the later centuries, focussing mostly on survival, yet never leaving the supernatural battlefield, till the last encounter with Nicodemus, the Denarian that equalled him in power.<br><br>He turned at her gasp, however, his eyes seeing exactly what she saw. The Sorcerer was gone. Turning back towards her, he allowed the Hellfire to flow through his veins, unnoticed by anyone else. It strengthened him beyond what a mortal was capable off and without hesitation, he lifted his beautiful wife, bridal style, before starting to walk.<br><br>“Then we best get out of here. If we return home, I can use our threshold and our ‘place of power’ (the home of a magical being got infused with its/his/her magic over time, strengthening the inhabitant when in the home) to protect us better. Or would you… I hate to suggest this, but would you contemplate us moving far away and getting away from whatever this guy is planning? No matter what you pick, Aria, I will be by your side.”<br><br>He lifted her a bit higher, kissing her with just a hint of the passion he was capable off, before he added in a lower, more seductive voice, “And on top of you… under you… inside of you…”, He trailed off, hoping his words would distract her from the ordeal they had gone through. He kept up a good pace, carrying her away from the warehouse into the woods. He spread out his magic, connecting to the living energy of the trees and the nature around them, twisting them slightly to hide them from possible pursuers. <br><br>At least, till they arrived at a good spot to access a sort of hub of the NeverNever, a point many ‘Ways’ came together and they could travel in any direction. Either home to stay there, home to pick up some things, or directly someplace else. Putting her down gently, he knelt by her side and kissed her again. This time, he infused more passion, to show her how worried he had been, how glad he was to have found her, how much he loved her… and to distract her, as his hand closed around her injured ankle. He focussed his power and murmured an enchantment into the passionate kiss, his tongue trailing the symbols of long forgotten power over her lush, full lips. A sharp pain would sear through her ankle for just a moment, after which she would be fully healed.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>12-04-2011, 13:12:23</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				With relief Aria twined her arms around his neck and hugged herself to him as he carried just the way he had their wedding night, the first time they'd entered into their house.&nbsp; It wasn't until they had stepped completely of the warehouse and into the open air did the relief really sink in, though, and Aria felt a weight lift off her.&nbsp; A small tremble swept through as she nuzzled into Marcus' shoulder and put all of her focus on him, what he was saying.&nbsp; She stayed silent, though, so many thoughts jumbled and whirring through her mind; those thoughts went scattering when he kissed her, whispered words that had a small blush creeping up the curve of her neck.&nbsp; The blush became a warmth that spread through her when he kissed her again, her fingers sliding into his hair and nails lightly scratching along his scalp.&nbsp; Even now her body was so willing and eager to respond to him and the way he could make her feel, make the warmth burn brighter and stir her more carnal senses as no one ever had or could.&nbsp; <br><br>It was distracting enough that when the sharp pain slashed through her she hadn't realized he had been doing any magic until then.&nbsp; She gave a soft cry as her mouth wrenched from his, her eyes briefly going wide as her heart thudded against her chest.&nbsp; Then, in the next breath, the pain was gone and Aria slowly turned and rotated her ankle as if it had never been injured.&nbsp; Slowly exhaling, she drew her eyes back to him and slid her hands down, cupped his cheeks.&nbsp; "I'm going to let the witch comment pass," she murmured, the corner of her lips easing up.&nbsp; For at least a few precious minutes it was easy to forget about what had just happened, the terrifying events that had transpired and the threat that was far too real to ignored.&nbsp; Right now there was something far more important that had to be discussed: Marcus didn't even know yet about the baby.&nbsp; This wasn't how she had wanted to tell him; never in any part of her imaginations had this ever been how she told her husband she was carrying their child.&nbsp; <br><br>"Marcus, there's something else you have to know before anything more is spoken."&nbsp; Pressing her kiss swollen lips together, she deeply exhaled as she drew his hand toward her stomach.&nbsp; It took but a heartbeat for her to let the magic trickle through her, heighten the sense of another life force starting to grow inside of her.&nbsp; "My love... I'm pregnant.&nbsp; We're going to have a baby.&nbsp; I was going to tell you at dinner, I had this wonderful surprise planned.&nbsp; The doctor confirmed it yesterday."&nbsp; Nothing but light and love should have been in her moonlit eyes, but the silver hues were darkened with worry and fear.&nbsp; A very clear, real fear.&nbsp; "Marcus, he wanted my magic and the baby's.&nbsp; He got so excited when he felt the life force and..."&nbsp; She was starting to choke up, her eyes squeezing closed as her arms tightened around him and her face pressed into his shoulder.&nbsp; This wasn't fair!&nbsp; One of the best moments of their lives was being ruined because of these events.&nbsp; The baby wasn't even here yet and already he -- or she -- had to be protected, sheltered.&nbsp; Their moment of bliss was tainted and Aria hated it.<br><br>"Marcus, I don't know if just moving somewhere else is going to solve this.&nbsp; He could just find us again, and I don't think this is going to stop him.&nbsp; And..."&nbsp; <em>Cheating on your husband are we?</em>&nbsp; Her eyes closed against the sudden sting of tears that the thought could even be considered, much less be mentioned a second time.&nbsp; Swallowing hard, her eyes opened and focused on his.&nbsp; "He said he felt hellfire in the baby.&nbsp; I... I don't know why!&nbsp; We're just us.&nbsp; I don't... I don't understand, Marcus, and I'm so scared.&nbsp; I'm so afraid."&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>28-04-2011, 11:21:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He drew back from her, his gaze becoming completely blank. His touch left her as he stood straight, leaving her resting on the grass of the meadow they had reached. No emotion was visible on his face and his body seemed to become rigid as stone. He couldn’t help it. He was shocked, surprised and… he was panicking. She knew… she knew about the Hellfire. She would find out what he was! She would reject him, turn away in fear and disgust. And why not? Was he not one of those known as evil incarnated? Had he not committed the most heinous acts in his life? The blood of tens of thousands if not more stained his hands. He had raped and pillaged, murdered and killed. He had committed every sin possible and destroyed thousands of souls by pushing others to lose themselves to sin as well.<br><br>His own soul, or what remained of it, was as black as tar and would go to the deepest realms of Hell should he ever die. And he would be going there seeing the look of loathing on her pretty face once she figured out what he was.<br><br>-Get your sorry ass together- Raphael chided him.<br><br>-She is a silly mortal, but she loves you. She carries our child! You will not falter, you will not run. Get your act together, honourable host.-<br><br>Marcus shook himself, the panic receding once he heard Raphael’s words. The Fallen was right. Aria loved him. And he loved her. And he would NOT run away. He was a Denarian, one of the most powerful people in the world. He would protect his wife and his child. Oh Hell. His child…<br><br>-If one hair on that baby’s head is hurt, I will take over, Marcus and I will burn this world to ashes.-<br><br>There was a lot of resentment there. Raphael was sensitive about children. Especially since the reason he was banished from Heaven was because he refused to kill a child on God’s orders. Marcus drew determination from the Fallen’s words and emotions and channelled them to his magic, drawing on his power, more and more, making it ready to lash out at anyone that would threaten Aria.<br><br>Looking down at her, he noticed her reaction to his cold blankness. Sighing, knowing he might have hurt her reacting like this, he sank down on his knees, his face relaxing. His eyes spoke of many things, of desire and anger, or fierce protectiveness and love, but also of worry and danger. Yet, his mouth curled into his charming little smile, the one he had often used just to get her all hot and flustered for him. <br><br>“Aria, I’m sorry for my reaction. It is just… I…” He fell silent, looking down. He needed courage for this. No more lies, no more secrets. He would have her fully and she would have him fully. Or so he hoped. “I am overjoyed with the news of us having a baby”, he started again, reaching out and loving taking her hand, squeezing it softly. “But… the Hellfire. I can explain. I… I want you to know that you know me, the real me. My feelings for you have always been sincere. I love you. With all of my being. But… You don’t know everything about me. My past, you know it has been sketchy and vague. That is because I don’t have just twenty five years of life to tell you. More like two thousand years. Because…” He looked down again, closing his eyes as he whispered, “Because I am a Denarian, Aria.”<br><br>A Denarian, a human host, still retaining its presence, but offering a part of his soul to sustain a Fallen angel within him. Some were hosts, communicating and cooperating with their Fallen, like Marcus. He was still him. He just had an additional being in his head. Some merged, like Nicodemus, becoming one twisted being. And some just erased the host immediately, only using the body as a vessel. And to prove his claim, a balled his other hand to a fist, before opening it again. There seemed to be a coin under the skin of his palm. The skin started blacking, before the blackened silver coin seemingly oozed through his skin, materializing in his hand. <br><br>Almost fearfully, he looked up again, his eyes glittering with uncertainty and hope…<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>05-05-2011, 09:51:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria felt every hope she had within her about this child being blessed and good news slipped away the moment Marcus rose from her. It slipped away even further as she watched his expression turn blank and then cold. She felt part of her heart shatter and quickly knew she was partly to blame. They had never talked about children, not once despite their many conversations; she had merely assumed that he would be as thrilled about this news as she was. How was it she could have been wrong? She knew him – as well as she knew herself, she thought. There was nothing they hid from each other, not the important pieces anyway. How many nights had they lain awake in each others arms after hours of love making whispering secrets? Their dreams and wants, the desires of their hearts... or had it just been her whispering all along?&nbsp; Her whispering and him listening?&nbsp; Wasn't silence a form of agreement?&nbsp; <br><br>But then her thoughts shifted as he knelt down back in front of her, took her hand, which had grown cold as she'd sat there on the ground, fear and panic bubbling inside of her.&nbsp; There was no comfort, however, when he spoke of being overjoyed about the baby or of the smile that her body wanted to react to – not when his next words sent her crashing even further.&nbsp; <br><br><em>Denarian... </em> Aria's breath caught and almost instantly her hand chilled further in his. She had just been a young witch when she had first learned of them. God-like in their powers, capable of living for thousands of years in the same host, and at their soul was hellfire. They committed the most heinous of acts upon human nature – still did – and she... She had married one of them. Fallen in love with one of them. Was carrying one of their children. <br><br>It wasn't love she felt shattering around her... <br><br>It was trust. And it blazed in her eyes when she slowly brought them back up and looked at his.&nbsp; <br><br>“How... Why...”&nbsp; There were hundreds of questions that came leaping to the tip of her tongue and yet they became tangled, lost, and Aria was forced to shake her head as she pulled her hand from his, tried to look away before he saw the tears swelling in her eyes.&nbsp; She knew part of her heart was breaking for all the things he hadn't said.&nbsp; For everything he had said.&nbsp; Did she even know him anymore?&nbsp; Who was this man in front of her?&nbsp; He looked like her Marcus... but he wasn't.&nbsp; How could he be?&nbsp; Then, she felt her stomach twist and muscles clench, fought back a sudden rise of bile in her throat.&nbsp; Without looking at him, knowing he'd see the pain in her tears, she forced herself to speak; when she did her tone was hollow as if her entire world had just been ripped away from her and it'd left her alone in the middle of an abyss.&nbsp; "This whole time you've been lying to me.&nbsp; About you.&nbsp; About us.&nbsp; About everything!"&nbsp; Swallowing hard she pushed herself up from the ground and walked a few feet away, her slender shoulders trembling as she ran her hands through her hair.&nbsp; <br><br>"Oh God, I feel like such an idiot!"&nbsp; The anger was starting to rise now as she collected her chaotic thoughts and whirled back to look at him, the tears unhidden as they started to stain her cheeks.&nbsp; "You and your Fallen must have been getting such a laugh out of this!&nbsp; Oh, look at the pathetic little witch.&nbsp; Let's see if we can make her fall for us, huh?&nbsp; Was this all one more game?!&nbsp; One more trick?&nbsp; I ... You..."&nbsp; Words failed her again for a moment and she waved her hand, unintentionally shooting off a wave of magic that bounced into a nearby tree; although her spells usually went wrong, Aria knew she had even less control when emotionally... and right now, she didn't care.&nbsp; Except, that little wave was more magic than she had ever used before -- and it went entirely unnoticed by her at the moment.&nbsp; "Was it all planned?&nbsp; The accidental meeting?&nbsp; How much magic did you use on me to make me fall for you?&nbsp; I ... I don't even know what's real anymore!&nbsp; My whole life with you has been a lie, Marcus!&nbsp; A lie!"&nbsp; <br><br>Unable to stay, to speak or let him see her like this, Aria let out a soft cry, the tears continuing to swell in her eyes, and in the next heart beat she was turning and running deeper into the woods.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>10-05-2011, 08:02:07</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				-That went well.-<br><br>-Raphael, you truly possess the gift of understatement-<br><br>-Don’t whine, Marcus. We both knew she would not react well to finding out the truth. It was a calculated risk for those five years of bliss we had. The choice now is yours. Let her go and never see your offspring again. That’s nice and easy. Or fight for her. The hard thing to do, but the right one.-<br><br>-I am NOT letting her go.-<br><br>-Thought so. Then start running you foolish boy. Have you seen that magic? If she starts using that when running away from you, finding her might get very difficult.-<br><br>Grumbling under his breath, Marcus watched the smoking, charred tree. He was rather glad she had blasted the tree and not him with that. But now, he had more urgent things to worry about. Turning in the direction she fled, he immersed himself in his magic, calling upon it, before shifting it around him like a veil. A veil that tightened and tightened, seeping into his skin, before he smoothly transformed into an eagle. With a sharp cry, he lifted off, flapping his wings for speed, rising above the forest and tracking his running love.<br><br>Following her, he cut through the air swiftly, aiming to touch down a little ahead of her. And as he reached the mossy floor of the forest again, he transformed back to his human shape, landing smoothly and turning to the direction she would be coming from. She burst out of the undergrowth, straight into his arms. He pulled her in a tight embrace, holding her, restraining her, though he knew he would let her go if she really wanted to.<br><br>“Aria. Stop. Please. I am sorry. I lied to you about my past. I omitted it. But I never, ever lied about us or about what I feel for you. These past five years have been the best in my long life. You are the first person that made me happy, the first person that didn’t look at me with fear, but with love. And I love you. You might not believe me, you might not want to believe me. I understand that. But I just want you to know…”, he trailed off, placing one hand on her cheek, lifting her face so he could gaze in her eyes. His spoke of regret, love and sincerity, something he hoped she could see.<br><br>“I swear to you that what we had was real. I never planned on meeting you, I never planned on falling in love with you. I just wanted to say goodbye to my previous life and live normally. And I met you. I fell in love with you. I… I take my vows to your seriously, Aria. Please, believe me. I want to be with you if you will still have me. And I will do anything you ask of me to prove it. Anything.”<br><br>He was serious. He just hoped she could see that. He didn’t want to lose her. But if she didn’t want him anymore, he swore to himself he wouldn’t force her to stay with him.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>14-05-2011, 10:39:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She just had to keep running!&nbsp; As long as she was running she couldn't think -- about Marcus, what he had just said, of every moment she had laid in his arms and stared into his eyes, of every whispered promise, hushed dreams only spoken of in the darkness of their rooms as they lay cradled in each others arms.&nbsp; Every time she had told him she loved him... every time he had told her the same.&nbsp; How could she have been so foolish?!&nbsp; He had been the first and only man she had given her heart, mind and body to, the only she had sworn would ever know her so intimately.&nbsp; She'd made vows before him and God and for what...?&nbsp; <em>To be lied to.&nbsp; To be played!</em>&nbsp; What did the past six years of her life mean now?&nbsp; The tears streamed down over her face as she raced through the woods, running faster than she ever had before; she didn't notice how the branches were parting for her, how the wind was carrying her, hurrying her fight away from her husband.<br><br>And then straight into his arms.<br><br>He appeared out of no where.&nbsp; As she came bursting from the woods a scream caught in her throat as she crashed into him, found herself clutched and held against the hard plane of his chest.&nbsp; The scream released into a soul crushing cry as Aria squirmed against him, her small hands fisting and hitting into his shoulder again, again, and again as if she could possibly make him bear the pain that she was feeling.&nbsp; It lasted for all of an intense minute before her body sagged as Aria let the painful sobs come, her tear stained face pressing into his chest&nbsp; It hurt knowing that as much as he had just about broken her heart that all she wanted -- no, <em>needed</em> -- was his arms around her.&nbsp; Even now they were her source of comfort and strength.&nbsp; It took several minutes, some after her sobs had quieted into small hiccups, before Aria could speak.&nbsp; When she did her tone was strained, hoarse, most of her face still pressed into him.<br><br>"Marcus, it's just... "<br><br>What could she say?&nbsp; She had no words.&nbsp; Part of her yearned for time, to digest and think about all of this and everything that had been happening, but time wasn't possible in this moment.&nbsp; The other struggled to believe what he had said to her despite the look she saw in his eyes when her fair head finally lifted and thick lashes opened to reveal her tear filled eyes to his.&nbsp; It felt so wrong not to put her faith in him, in what he was telling to her, yet the lack of belief was clearly written across her face -- as was the hope.&nbsp; <br><br>"I love you," she whispered hoarsely knowing that truth could not be denied.&nbsp; "That hasn't changed, my heart is always going to be yours, but -- "<br><br>Aria's words were cut off by the sickening growls that suddenly erupted all around them.&nbsp; A heart beat later the air was pitched into a lethal darkness that sent a deep chill shuddering through her back and had her arms instinctively tightening around his waist.&nbsp; In the next moment a scream was barely stifled as her eyes flew up and saw the many pairs of glowing red eyes that appeared through the ebony veil.<br><br>They were not alone.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>17-05-2011, 08:03:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“I am not asking you to just accept and move on, Aria. I know what this must look like to you and I am not forcing you to do anything. I am just asking you to… to not push me away till you took some time to think things through. I don’t want to lose you. Not to any Black wizard, nor to my own foolishness”, Marcus tried to reassure her, holding her into the sweet, tight embrace. Luckily he had good fortitude, or else those hammering fists on his shoulders would have hurt something fierce. While being in&nbsp; essence a good, innocent young woman, Aria was strong in her own right, evidenced by those punches and by the way she had instinctively moulded her magic around her to speed up her flight.<br><br>But as she whispered to love him, that her heart would always be his, lifting his spirits, she was suddenly cut off, glancing fearfully at the night’s sky. Marcus’ senses ran cold, feeling the dark presences all around them. Allowing Raphael to support him, to reinforce him and his senses, he dug into his magic and Hellfire, the swirling mixture of power responding to his call and welling up all through his body, invigorating him and making him strong as he glanced up, too, only to see…<br><br>Dozens upon dozens of Shrieks, creatures of the night, summoned from the NeverNever, to hunt the target set forth by their summoner. The pitch black creatures were all wings, claws, teeth and burning red eyes. And they were dangerous, very, very dangerous. And there were fifty of them, at least. <br><br>“Well, seems like whoever that guy was, he is determined to get your magic for some reason”, Marcus told his wife, holding the embrace protectively with one arm, before lifting the other. “I won’t let him get you, however. Aria… whatever you may see next, just remember that I am truly yours and that I would do anything for you and to protect you. You are safe with me. You have my thrice sworn word, even if that still doesn’t count for much with a Denarian.”<br><br>He closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them again, his irises were pooling with magnificent, yet terrifying black and red Hellfire, like swirling, dark magma. A second set of eyes, ethereal and made of greenish energy seemed to open, floating an inch above his eyes and an inch in front of his forehead. This set of eyes looked almost demonic. It was Raphael, joining the fray fully, lending him his strength. <br><br>Raising his arm further, Marcus held nothing back as liquid fire seemed to pool effortlessly in his hand. Holding it, it grew and grew, before bursting out, surrounding them like a massive, slithering snake, growing and growing in an inferno of flames, cloaking them like a shield of fire… before exploding outwards, hitting over half of the Shrieks, burning them to ashes that rained down, still smoldering. The other Shrieks started soaring down, aiming for them, aiming to take his wife from him. He twisted, turning her, holding her between an ancient oak and his own broad back, holding one of her hands and using the other to summon more magic, in quantities rarely ever seen, except when used by the most powerful magical beings.<br><br>Hellfire and magic swirled together, blending in a fearsome green beam that cut out like a laser, cutting through Shrieks and trees, slicing through everything that was caught in the beam. A few Shrieks managed to evade the attack and almost reached them, before the second set of eyes glowed brighter and the Shrieks slammed into a powerful shield. Two of the broke various bones and smashed their ugly, deformed skulls.<br><br>Finally able to cut loose in front of his wife, Marcus felt free, happy and powerful, protecting her and happy in no longer having to hide. And being in her presence, while fighting with almost everything he was and has… it turned him on.<br><br>He cast more smaller spells, shards of ice and fire lashing out, ripping through the last surviving monsters, before he turned to his lover. “Aria… I don’t want to be pushy, but if you have the juice, we have to run for one mile North. You have to lead, while I cover your delicious backside”, he told her, almost flirting with her despite the situation, while his eyes burned with power and desire, Raphael’s green eyes fading again. And as a roar of a more dangerous beast sounded in the distance, he whispered, “We best hurry… or else no more alone time.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>20-05-2011, 06:44:25</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				She should have been terrified and while a part of her was, she felt more safe right there than she had in a while.&nbsp; As Aria held herself against Marcus' chest, she couldn't help but watch wide eyed as her husband wielded the power of the Denarian.&nbsp; It was fearsome and brutal, the creatures of the night falling as quick victims to her husband's power, the Hellfire that he unleashed.&nbsp; Part of her did shudder from witnessing this, from the further evidence that the man she had married wasn't some minor wizard.&nbsp; Still, when he shifted her behind him, her arm stayed wrapped around his waist and her hand did not release his.&nbsp; From here she couldn't see everything that was happening.&nbsp; It gave her a couple moments to breathe, her cheek pressed into the back of his shoulder.<br><br>Then, she felt a familiar shudder and warmth going through him.&nbsp; Aria's head cocked up as she caught his eyes for just a moment.&nbsp; They were nearly surrounded, he her glorious protector, and he was becoming turned on?&nbsp; One subtle movement of her hand had her fingertips just lightly brushing down where she could feel the evidence of her suspicion.&nbsp; Even further evidence came when he spoke again.&nbsp; He <em>was </em>flirting with her!&nbsp; Was now really the time and place for this?&nbsp; Briefly Aria's eyes rolled heavenward before she registered the rest of what he had said -- and then she heard the roar behind them.&nbsp; Hastily she swallowed and nodded; she could feel the magical energy humming inside of her now as she drew her focus there and in that moment she knew something wasn't right.<br><br>Something wasn't right ... with her.&nbsp; As Aria held herself between the oak and the firm steel of her husband's back, her eyes unable to look away from the battle of magic before her, knowing they didn't have much time, something inside of her felt... off.&nbsp; Not wrong, but foreign and leaving her a little wary.&nbsp; She knew what her magical energy felt, how high she had heard it humming inside of her before, and never had it been this loud.&nbsp; There wasn't time to stay and figure this out, though.&nbsp; Whatever else was coming for them was getting closer.&nbsp; She looked once more up at her husband and then with a squeeze of his hand, released his hold and began to run.&nbsp; This time when the air began to carry her, to increase the speed of her run, it was her conscious thoughts that did it -- and made her even faster when she was put a little more focus into the thought.&nbsp; She didn't look behind her to see if Marcus was there, she could feel him.<br><br>"Why a mile north?&nbsp; Won't they just be able to track us there?"&nbsp; It didn't make sense to her.&nbsp; They had been tracked already, so how would moving a mile north fix that?&nbsp; She was going to have to trust whatever plan Marcus had in his mind, but, admitting it to herself, she knew that was going to be difficult.&nbsp; For now, though, what other choice was there?&nbsp; <br><br>All of her thoughts came to a shuddering halt as a Shriek suddenly flew before her and Aria let out a scream as she came to a stop, her hands flying up in front of her.&nbsp; The magical energy shot out before the thought even registered in her hand and it hit the Shriek with a terrifying explosion.&nbsp; Aria didn't even look -- she just started running again.&nbsp; She had no idea if the Shriek had been killed or only injured, she just knew she had to run... and try not to be afraid of whatever it was happening to her.&nbsp; <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>24-05-2011, 12:25:44</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He felt her fingers brushing over his erection, before she pulled back. He could feel her exasperation through the magic in the air and he grinned, before she turned and followed his request. He turned as well, having cleared away most of the Shrieks and pushed back the others far enough not to have to worry about them temporarily. As for the larger threat approaching, he tried to send out his magic, sensing wide around him, looking for the threat as he started running behind his wife, covering her delicious backside. She cut a fine figure, whipping at large speed through the forest. Again, he could sense her surprisingly powerful magic lashing around her, almost uncontrolled, making her passage easier and increasing her speed. He called on Raphael to help him match her, until she came to a brusque stop when a Shriek attacked her.<br><br>He was ready to intervene, only to be shocked again as he magic seemed to lash out instinctively, utterly obliterating the Shriek. He could hear more Shrieks … well, shrieking, following them, as well as the loud roar of the massive monster tracking them. As they got closer and closer, he could feel the beast coming even closer and the flying Shrieks catching up to them. The beast was powerful and as ancient as him. He thought he could handle it, but he didn’t want to risk Aria.<br><br>Instead, he drew on his Fallen and his magic, and transformed to the Denarian, almost demonic form. Some Denarians turned into outright monsters, while others like him and Nicodemus retained a mostly human shape with additions. For Nico, it was a control over shadows and a noose that made him invulnerable. For Marcus? He grew two, large, angelic wings. They looked like the ones Raphael used to have, before his Fall. And now, instead of a pristine white, they were a charred black, the feathers in some places burned, still glowing, or gone, dripping with open wounds that didn’t hurt him. They were still powerful appendages, however, invulnerable to physical attacks and enabling him to fly, which he did.<br><br>He flew forward rapidly, scooping up Aria, bridal style and carrying her as he flew at a high speed towards their destination. Once there, he slashed the air with magic, opening another portal to the NeverNever. “Hold your breath, my love”, he told her, as this part of the NeverNever was filled with a poisonous, combustible gas. He flew into it without hesitation, holding his own breath, too. Ten seconds, thirty, a minute. He could feel his wife struggling, before he kissed her, hard, giving her the last of his own breath, buying the additional twenty seconds needed to the exit. They came back to the mortal world, not eight miles away from their home, instead of the 267 miles they were before with a one and half minute shortcut.<br><br>Immediately, he landed and turned, facing the entrance to the NeverNever and readying his magic. Before the gap could have closed, the creature had followed them inside, as well as dozens upon dozens of Shrieks. Calling on his pure magic, not Hellfire, he cast a fireball and launched it into the closing portal, igniting the methane and poison on the other side. It seemed to explode, a flare launching out, almost touching him, burning his hand, which immediately started regenerating. The Shrieks all burned to a crisp, but the monster burst through before the portal closed completely.<br><br>And Marcus was left to face a Wyvern, an enormous crossbreed between a dragon and a basilisk, a serpentine, winged creature with tough scales and sharp claws. It was charred and injured because of the massive explosion, but still stood facing him, ready to tear him to shreds. Raphael’s eyes appeared again above his own, glowing green as he drew on magic and hellfire both, before summoning his sword, one of the ancient, powerful magical blades. It started burning with the same green fire as the Denarian eyes did, while his blackened wings spread out, shielding Aria as much as possible.<br><br>A powerful magical shield blocked the breathed fire, before he sprung forward and attacked, blocking claws with his sword, shielding himself with his powerful wings, fighting his way to the head of the creature. And as it made to swallow him, while breathing fire again, Marcus stabbed true, killing the creature, while he was thrown back to the ground in front of Aria, splattered in blood, his clothes burned away mostly, his muscular, perfectly sculpted body covered in sweat and blood, before he crawled to his feet with fluttering wings, out of breath, watching the slain monster shrivel up to nothingness.<br><br>Standing up on wobbly feet, most of his magic spent, he turned to Aria. He was just Marcus now, with wings and utterly charred and torn up, though healing rapidly, glistening with power and sword in hand. Facing her, he just grinned, saying, “Well, that was fun. Perhaps… Perhaps you could guide me home. We have a couple of hours for some packing and perhaps some fun in the bedroom”, he asked her, flirtatiously hopeful…<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>29-05-2011, 19:38:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				When would this nightmare end?&nbsp; As Aria spun around and watched the beast erupt from the burning NeverNever, the portal closed off in his wake, she didn't realize she had become invisible behind the shield of her husband's wings until the beast was nearly dead.&nbsp; She had stood in a fearful enchantment, barely able to breathe and hating herself for doing so, as Marcus faced off from the beast.&nbsp; So many thoughts were going through her mind, almost equal to the energy that hummed inside of her.&nbsp; So much of her wanted to help, to start focusing all this magic she could taste on the very tip of her tongue on the horrible creature, but her fear was multifaceted.&nbsp; What if the magic backfired?&nbsp; What if she hit Marcus?&nbsp; Or what if the creature struck her and harmed the baby...?&nbsp; The latter two were what drummed the loudest and before Aria could finally snap herself out of it, her husband stood triumphant... <br><br>And then held her dumbfounded.&nbsp; <br><br>For a moment Aria could only stare at Marcus in sheer disbelief.&nbsp; They had just out run and fought back what must have been a hundred, if not more, Shrieks, gone through a horrendous NeverNever that Aria was quite sure she <em>never</em> wanted to experience again, and then faced off a terrifying creature that she was sure was going to be the death of her husband, and he wanted to have fun in the bedroom?!&nbsp; Aria's jaw slackened as she stared at him, dragging in a breath and setting her hands on her hips.&nbsp; Not only was he acting as if everything was just fine and dandy, but she'd easily seen just what using the full extent of his powers did to him -- and Aria would be the first to testify that Marcus was not someone who would ever need an increased sex drive.&nbsp; Finally she gave a slow shake of her head, eyes fluttering heavenward as she tug a hand through her hair.<br><br>"You fly, I'll lead... but at some time we have to talk, Marcus.&nbsp; About ... us.&nbsp; This.&nbsp; Everything.&nbsp; I need to feel safe and right now I don't.&nbsp; Creatures are coming after us and they want our... "&nbsp; Aria swallowed hard and shook her head.&nbsp; Now here in the aftermath wasn't the time or place.&nbsp; They needed to pack, figure out some sort of game plan, and he needed rest.&nbsp; Sighing, she stepped back into his arms, though tried to be careful how intimately she touched him.&nbsp; Despite how upset she was with him and over the whole situation, and trying to process everything that had happened, that didn't mean she was immune to him and his charms.&nbsp; He knew exactly what pushed her buttons and just how easily he could do that.&nbsp; On a level he was irresistible to her, he always had been and it hadn't diminished any, only grown, and he knew that all too well.&nbsp; Which was why her heart skipped a beat as she held herself to him, felt the ripple of his muscles, and was very much unable to resist temptation of stroking her hand lightly along his wings.&nbsp; <br><br>If she admitted it only to herself, her husband had never looked sexier and more attractive -- especially with the wings.&nbsp; He may have been aroused by what he had done, but she knew watching him had stirred her.&nbsp; Part of it had been the sheer power he'd displayed in vanquishing their enemies, how he had charged into the warehouse and rescued her from the sorcerer, but then she'd witnessed Raphael coming out, saw the way her husband transformed.&nbsp; In her heart she'd known that <em>she</em> had been the reason for him unleashing upon the creatures, that had been another part of it.&nbsp; The other?&nbsp; The other had her insides purring and it wasn't until they were landing down in front of their idyllic home could Aria speak again, knowing she'd savored that small bit of time in his arms.<br><br>"You need to rest," she said as she began for the door and then stopped, let her barely reigned in magic seep out to detect if anyone else was in their home.&nbsp; Satisfied it was empty, she continued in, her eyes skipping over the archway that lead into the kitchen.&nbsp; "I can pack for us while you go lay down, give yourself to restore some.&nbsp; Don't argue, Marcus, please.&nbsp; Denarian, in trouble, or me mad at you or not, I'm still your wife and with that I'm telling you to go rest.&nbsp; I don't want to hear a peep from you for at least an hour."&nbsp; The look she gave him was perhaps the sternest she ever had, but her eyes were swirling with emotions, darkened to a stormy amber.&nbsp; Then, before she really gave him a chance to respond, she turned for the basement and quickly headed down, the door closed behind her.<br><br>She'd start there, collecting what reagents and tools she thought they may possibly need in this journey ahead of them.&nbsp; There were too many unknown variables, but at least they'd have some preparations.&nbsp; She also need to at least start trying to figure out just what was going on with her magic before she couldn't control it any longer.&nbsp; The worst of part of it was not feeling able to talk to Marcus about this, to seek his help as she would have before this all began.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>15-06-2011, 08:15:05</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Marcus had to admit that Aria, sweet, innocent, clumsy Aria , treating him like this was rather sexy. Really. Just seeing her there, hands on her hips, looking at him sternly, a stormy amber glow swirling in her eyes, her clothes outlining the beautiful body beneath, her beautiful face looking at him with such an intense expression and the slight shiver of arousal he could feel humming around her and through her body… it was exquisite. The battle had drained him and he was indeed ready for bed. His flirtatious comments had been aimed more to distract her from possibly worrying about him. For despite the betrayal and the anger because of it, he could see she still cared for him. And, seeing how she cared, how she sent him off to bed and claimed to still be his wife, it gave him hope.<br><br>Hope was an emotion he had spent a long, long time squashing in others. Creating despair and chaos, mayhem, destruction and grief, that is what made Denarians stronger, that is the only thing that gave the Fallen satisfaction after God betrayed them so. Few people could understand just what exactly made Denarians tick. They always seemed like evil personified. And in a way they were, but they didn’t start out like that, no. <br><br>If they had been truly evil, they would be in hell, at Lucifer’s side, together with the Legions of Hell’s Angels, those of Angel kind that chose to fight with the Devil. No… They had not done that. They had been sent ot the Abyss because of disobedience! They had been friends, all thirty of them. And Nicodemus’ Fallen, Anduriel, had had children with a mortal wife. Then, the Lord commanded his offspring must die, must be killed. And all thirty of them, a full company of veterans that fought Lucifer’s legions back to Hell, refused, not able to kill the half human, half angel offspring, because they cared.<br><br>They had been banished, exiled to the Void, a place of oblivion, so much oblivion it drove you made and over the thousands of years there, they had grown mad with revenge, so when they finally managed to find a way out, latching their essences on to the thirty traitor coins, thirty silver denarians given to Judas, using them as portals between Earth and the Void, they had started doing things that would break down what God tried to build.<br><br>Marcus, however, had found a new purpose, a new kind of peace, with Aria. She was his anchor to sanity, his chance for true happiness, instead of the high they got from bringing despair. And he would do everything in his power to keep her and to keep her safe. For now, that meant obeying her strong suggestion, so he nodded at her before she left to the basement, while he went to their bedroom, wings folding and retracting completely, leaving him just a naked, sweaty and muscular man, one who collapsed on their bed and fell asleep, but not before whispering the words that would activate their most powerful wards, turning their home into a veritable fortress.<br><br>An hour later, he woke up, feeling refreshed, feeling good. Getting up, he senses where his wife was and still as sweaty and dirty as before, he went to the basement where she was busy packing their spellbooks, their foci, and all kinds of ingredients for potions and rituals. It was a slow job, seeing as all those magical reagents were quite sensitive. He approached her, not silencing his movements and came up behind her. Reaching out, he touched her and with a gentle nudge, he forced her to turn around. Leaning in, he kissed her with all the passion and love he could muster. He kept kissing her for several minutes, just needing to feel her, just needing to know she was still here and still all right after the ordeal of her kidnapping and their escape.<br><br>When he finally broke the kiss, he gazed into her eyes, just holding her and letting her see his sincerity when he said, “Aria, I never lied about what I felt for you. Never. I love you. You are the one spot of light and happiness in my life and you’ve stolen my heart.” He gave her another quick kiss, before smiling a bit mischievously, knowing how easily she reacted to seeing him as near naked as he was now. In his most seductive voice, he whispered, “How about we share a much needed shower and afterwards, I will answer every question you have? And don’t worry. No hanky panky…”, he trailed off, leaning in and adding huskily, “Unless you really want to.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>17-06-2011, 15:45:48</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria had to admit it: she was a little surprised.&nbsp; Marcus was not the type to be ordered about and she was not the type to do the ordering.&nbsp; The only time the reversal came was when he was sick and let her take care of him – or rather, she made him.&nbsp; Not that he had ever minded during those times, often because she'd spend the time with him, snuggling while they watched old or favorite movies, reading to him his favorite books, and spoon feeding him soup, and simply seeing that the owner of her heart was cared for and looked after.&nbsp; He'd done the same for her when she had been sick just last winter, having spent all of the school's winter break with a cold that had only worsened when she'd tried a spell to fix it and, of course, the spell had backfired.&nbsp; But today?&nbsp; After everything that had happened?&nbsp; She hadn't expected him to simply go upstairs without a fight, without following her down needing to either an eye on her or make her talk.<br><br>The resulting silence was a curse and a blessing.&nbsp; It took all of two minutes of her being their finished basement before the tears came and she slowly sank down onto the floor, covered her face with her hands and simply cried.&nbsp; Her entire life with Marcus had been a fairy tale, one she had taken at face value and never questioned.&nbsp; Why should she have?&nbsp; There had never been are a reason to; Marcus had always simply been Marcus from the first moment they had met.&nbsp; Kind and affectionate, sincere and a little goofy at times; they had laughed together, gently pushed and explored the boundaries of love, and not for one moment had Aria ever wondered or questioned if magic was any reason why she had simply given him her heart without any hesitation.&nbsp; To her, it had simply always felt that she had merely been waiting for him – that her heart had been waiting – and once found, there hadn't been any reason to let him go or be wary, cautious.&nbsp; From the first moment he had always been there to protect her, no matter if the foe was a mere spider or that night when she had nearly been mugged, just a few months into their courtship.&nbsp; In his arms she had always felt safe and loved, that nothing bad could touch her as long as she was with him, and now... <br><br>Now all she did was wonder.&nbsp; About him.&nbsp; Their child.&nbsp; The sorcerer.&nbsp; The new magic inside of her.&nbsp; Everything.&nbsp; He swore he loved her, that that had never been a lie, that he hadn't done anything to her to make her love him... but she could she trust him?&nbsp; She had been telling the truth when she had said she still loved him, that wasn't something that was going to change, but she knew a marriage – any relationship, really – needed more than love.&nbsp; Why did the sorcerer want their child so badly?&nbsp; And it wasn't because of Marcus – he had clearly been surprised about the baby's bloodlines – which meant it was somehow her.&nbsp; But she wasn't a powerful witch.&nbsp; Most of her spells went wrong or backfired, or simply never worked.&nbsp; Except... except they had been working.&nbsp; They had not only been working, but there was a magic inside of her that she was having trouble controlling, keeping leashed before it went haywire.&nbsp; Back in the woods with the Shrieks?&nbsp; Where had that come from?&nbsp; Marcus had defended them, but part of her knew she could have helped... a lot.&nbsp; Even now, as she began to wipe away her tears, a good twenty minutes having been spent expelling all of them that she had been keeping inside, she could feel he magic shimmering and bubbling, begging to be released.&nbsp; <br><br>It frightened her, more so than what she was dealing with Marcus.&nbsp; The books she skimmed as she began packing an endless bottom satchel told her nothing, and the most magic she exuded were protection wards around the most precious and fragile of items that she was packing, ensuring that they would not break during travel.&nbsp; It would be pointless taking reagents with them if they were only to end up broken and discarded.&nbsp; Who had ever heard of a witch suddenly coming into a great deal of power?&nbsp; The last witch in her family had been her grandmother and she hadn't been any more powerful than Aria was – had been.&nbsp; Neither of her parents had been magically inclined and before her grandmother the witches were even more sparse and far in between.&nbsp; The only explanation that floated in the back of her mind was not one she wanted to consider; it was something that would only shatter more of her world, ruin every memory she had, the pure essence of her childhood.&nbsp; <br><br>So lost in her thoughts she had not heard Marcus when he came down the stairs, not until the last one creaked and her eyes flew open wide until the sense of him poured through her.&nbsp; The small crystal orb was set into the satchel as his hand came down to her shoulder and she turned, not afraid to let him see the redness that remained around her partially swollen eyes that no longer glittered or danced as they had just a day before.&nbsp; There was no resistance when he leaned in to kiss her and even less as she leaned forward, part of her still needing to feel his strength and have his arms around her, and gave him her mouth.&nbsp; As angry and upset with him as she still was, as she knew she couldn't trust him right now, she was still his... and that was something that she could not deny.&nbsp; Not now, not ever.&nbsp; Her arms slowly tightened around his waist and she tried to ignore how her heart skipped a beat as she felt the press of his bare chest, fingers brushing over the muscles that ridged his back, and then when it skipped a second time as he lifted his head and spoke to her.<br><br>Could it really be a Denarian had fallen for a mere nobody?&nbsp; A witch who had never made a dent in the world – magic or otherwise?&nbsp; A simple art teacher who loved laughter and friends, talked her husband into gardening with her, shopping, and taking dance classes?&nbsp; A Denarian who had been perhaps the best husband she ever could have imagined, could have possibly hoped for.&nbsp; Apparently it was true.&nbsp; Looking into his eyes she saw nothing but truth, nothing but genuine sincerity and the pure hope that she would believe him.&nbsp; Very slowly her lips curved into a gentle smile as she tried to fight back the tears that sprung to her eyes before turning her head, letting her face half bury against his chest.&nbsp; <br><br>“This doesn't mean I forgive you yet, Marcus, or that I'm not still angry or upset with you,” she whispered, swallowing hard as her arms tightened around him and she held herself close, refusing to let even a breath of space come between them.&nbsp; Yet, her lips quirked a little as his voice lowered, deepened, and there was no denying the small shudder that went through her.&nbsp; Or the way her toes curled as she registered more and more that he was there half naked before her, sweaty, muscular, and the very epitome of her weaknesses: him.&nbsp; Purely him.&nbsp; How many times in the past had she simply melted at seeing him like this?&nbsp; At the way he held and kissed her?&nbsp; Now, though, it was a little different... even if a great part of her did want to simply give in and let him take her in the shower.&nbsp; Steeling herself against him was not going to be easy.&nbsp; <br><br>Lifting her cheek from his chest, she moistened her lips and brushed them softly along his.&nbsp; “Come on, to the shower we go.&nbsp; I'm done packing here.&nbsp; We can throw in a few clothes and whatever else we need afterward,” she whispered, purposely letting her voice become a little breathy while knowing full well what <em>that</em> often did to him.&nbsp; As much as the trail of her fingers along his sides and back as she stepped away, caress her hand down his arm until her hand caught his and she turned to lead them upstairs to the shower.&nbsp; “And no hanky panky,” she said as they headed up, her lips curving into a small grin.&nbsp; “I mean it.&nbsp; We haven't much time left and we're only showering together in order to save time.”&nbsp; At least, that was what she told herself as they headed up to the master bath and the generous shower and tub Marcus had insisted on installing when they'd purchased the house.&nbsp; <br><br>Of course, it had been regularly used by them both.&nbsp; Aria was quite sure they had showered together more often than separately, except for maybe the mornings she had gotten out of bed late – because of him – and had to rush to make it to the school on time.&nbsp; And the baths they shared?&nbsp; Having a tub that fit him alone was a surprise enough, but one that fit them comfortably and allowed for marital affairs without risk of injury?&nbsp; She smirked a little as she let go of his hand to draw&nbsp; the curtain of the large shower, turned the nozzles to activate both of the shower heads, and then stepped back to undress.&nbsp; Knowing he was watching she wasn't quite quick, letting her jeans slither down her legs as she slowly pulled her top off; her panties were similarly left to wiggle their own way down her body once pushed off her hips, but her bra... Brows lifted as she caught her bottom lip and turned to him, expression full of doe-eyed innocence.<br><br>“Could you unhook me?”&nbsp; Despite her rule of no hanky panky, punishing her husband like this was not out of the question.&nbsp; 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>20-06-2011, 08:04:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				“I know”, He murmured as she buried her face against his chest, telling him how she didn’t forgive him yet, how she was still angry and upset. “I know, Aria”, he whispered. It was understandable. His long, long life had taught him many things. Such as seeing the story from both sides. He wanted her to forgive him the moment he made his apologies. That was logical. But it was also reasonable for her not being able to do so. How could she? How would he react after five years of practically being lied to, especially about something like this. No, he understood and he would give her time. Still, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to make her change her mind quicker.<br><br>Besides, it wouldn’t be that much of a chore, as he noticed the shudder pass through her body at his husky words. He held her, his mind wandering for those few moments…<br><br><em>He pulled the car over in front of a decent sized house in the suburban neighbourhood of Granville. It was a quaint, two story house built in wood, painted white with dark tiles on the roof. The garden was private, none too large, but none too small either. The perfect size for a couple of kids to run around and keep a small herbal and vegetable garden, without having to work too much in it. <br><br>Aria turned to look at him in confusion and told him, “I thought we were going to lunch together. Or were you invited by some friends you haven’t told me about.” She was giving him ‘the look’, a very adorable, almost stern expression she used on him when he was keeping secrets from her. Or doing something that she thought foolish or silly. <br><br>Hey, he couldn’t help it that he didn’t know not to put a red shirt with the white laundry!<br><br>He just smiled in return and answered, “We are going to lunch. After I show you the house we’re going to buy.” He winked at her and then nodded at the house on her side of the car. She looked a little bit confused, before realization dawned on her and she was smiling brilliantly.<br><br>“Yep. We can put in a down payment. I’ve gone over the numbers. We only need a small loan that we can easily afford and still have a bit off savings left. Can you imagine it? The two of us living there, together?”<br><br>Suffice it to say, she had been more than happy and they signed the contracts after a very long, intense ‘celebration’.</em><br><br>He was roused from his trip down memory line by her moving and softly kissing him in that light, teasing way that always had him aching for more. Of course, that ache grew when she used that breathy voice to tell him they would go shower. Especially when it was accompanied by her fingers sliding over his skin, tracing the edges of his muscles, while she added about only having time for a shower and to do it together out of convenience sake. Did she really have to use that voice now, getting him all hard and eager, stretching his pants to the limit, while denying him at the same time. Worse… from the glint in her eyes, he knew she was doing it on purpose!<br><br>They went upstairs to the rather luxurious bathroom. Being what he was, he had gotten used to luxury. He had vast amounts of treasure, art and gold stashed away from his days as a Denarian. And now, as a house-warming gift, he had installed the incredibly beautiful and opulent bathroom. And they put it to more than good use, he thought, as he stood there, watching rather mesmerized and aroused as Aria started stripping down so slowly.<br><br><em>Warm water raining down on them. Soft, scented soap foaming on their skins, tracing clean paths down their bodies through the grime and sweat. Their hot bodies moulded together under the stream of water. Her long, shapely legs wrapped around his waist. His powerful, nimble hands grasping her tight ass, kneading the firm flesh. His muscles tensing, over and over again as he moved her. Their lips locked together as his long, hard member drove into her, over and over again. The moans and gasps she made deliciously echoing and reverberating in his mouth, while their tongues danced in equal passion. Her fingers, her nails clawing at him, digging into the skin of his shoulders as he kept thrusting into her so powerfully, driving her straight to an earth shattering orgasm, which in turn milked his own climax from his body.<br><br>Only to do it all over again.<br><br>It had started so simply. With gardening. He had never done so before, but a month after moving in. Aria had wanted to plant the herbs and spices, the plants and vegetables she used for her potions and spells. At first, he had let her, instead sitting back at the terrace, tanning lightly, reading a book with a glass of wine as he watched her putter and sweat. And she had turned to him, first inviting him to help her, which he playfully declined. Then, she had cajoled him with that breathy voice, sending his blood boiling with arousal and need.<br><br>He had taken off his shirt and crouched besides her. Their bodies pressed together, side by side, their hands touching each other sensually and often, she had helped him carefully plant a very fragile little plant. And when she told him a spell she read about, their hands put together, cupping the small plant, he had let his magic flow to the patterns she described. He could feel it tingling and she could, too. As the small plant became stronger and blossomed in the blink of an eye, their eyes were locked together. She thanked him in that breathy voice and that was the end of it…<br><br>Their clothes were spread throughout the garden. Her underwear was somewhere in the kitchen. He had taken her, fast and hard against the wall halfway up the stairs. They had made it to the shower, washing each other, the soft, caressing hands turning them on all over again…</em><br><br>Now he was looking at her familiar, yet still as sexy naked body, revealed inch by inch to his view. Only her bra hiding those large, perfect breasts, was still in the way. She looked up at him with that innocent, but oh so sexy look in her eyes, biting her lip and asking him to help her unhook the bra. Marcus didn’t really know how to react, just standing there, almost gaping, before he collected himself, his eyes narrowing, his lips curling into a faint, self-satisfied smile. Oh, if she wanted to play games, he could do so, too. Stepping towards her, he let his magic melt away the remains of his own clothes, revealing his naked, dirt-streaked body in all its glory, the massive erection the most prominent as it pointed straight at her. Standing in front of her, his body almost touched hers and he reached around her, his fingers finding the clasp and undoing it. Instead of simply letting the bra drop, he slowly pulled it forward, his fingers trailing over her back, over her sides, caressing her breasts as the cups popped loose. <br><br>The bra finally dropping to the floor, he pressed closer to her, his erection caught between their bodies, his arms embracing her and pulling her purposefully in the kind of kiss he knew would have her entire body tingling and her toes curling with desire. It had always worked before and this time was no different. During the kiss, he moved them so they were under the warm water streams massaging them. His hands let go of her, squeezing a bit of soap out of the bottle and started washing her body. With skilful rubs and strokes, her kneaded her back, her arms and moved to her front, to her stomach and up, unabashedly cupping her breasts and ‘thoroughly’ cleaning them, long enough to have her nipples hardening and a gasp escape in his kiss. That is when he broke the kiss, looking at her heatedly. He kept washing her front side now, while he focused his magic.<br><br>Behind her, a black smoky form started taking shape, before gaining colour and definition into a physical illusion of himself, only with eyes that glowed like pure hellfire. One of his hands cupped her cheek, tilting her head so he could pepper her face with sweet, short kisses, while his other hand daringly cupped her between the legs now, ‘washing’ her folds with sensual, soft rubs, one of his fingers slipping between her labia. At the same time, an identical set of hands cupped her ass and started washing and massaging her buttocks, her thighs and hips slowly and sensually. While one large, hard cock pressed against her tummy, a second, identical cock, pressed against the slit of her ass. While Marcus kissed her, his illusion, controlled mostly by Raphael, leaned in and kissed her neck, just on the spot that always had her shivering with lust. <br><br>And as one, the two men, one and the same, yet apart and different, spoke up in a mixture of Marcus and Raphael’s voice, “Are you sure there won’t be hanky panky?”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>21-06-2011, 14:27:13</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria knew playing this game was dangerous.&nbsp; She'd known before even having asked him to unhook her bra; a dangerous game could come with dangerous results, as shown when Aria found herself being ensnared and surrounded by him.&nbsp; She shouldn't have said no hanky panky, she should have said nothing and merely smiled, taken him up to the shower and merely showered.&nbsp; Instead she'd thrown him a challenge and part of her had known it.&nbsp; Despite her anger and the lack of trust there was still the desire that Marcus awoke in her all too easily.&nbsp; He was her biggest weakness and over the years he had known just what to do, where to pinpoint where she just couldn't resist.&nbsp; It didn't shame her to admit that even the sight of him nude was enough chip away at her wall.&nbsp; Her breath caught, lower lip still caught between her teeth, and she was helpless to tremble as his fingers stroked along the sides of her breasts, the bra slowly withdrawn.&nbsp; Her senses were already stirred and she could not even offer a murmur of protest when his mouth claimed her, as he lifted her and carried her into the steamy shower.&nbsp; <br><br>It had amazed her that she hadn't become pregnant until now.&nbsp; After all, they had gotten engaged just seven weeks after that chance meeting on the sidewalk, which had only been three weeks after the first time she and Marcus had made love.&nbsp; A little part of her had worried back then that they had been moving so far too quickly, but he'd inspired her to feel so safe and protected, wanted and desired in ways she had never found possible, and loved beyond her own beliefs.&nbsp; He'd been her first and only and awakened so much desire and sexuality in her.&nbsp; It would have been impossible for it to be otherwise.&nbsp; And once they had made love for the first time they almost seemed to have never stopped.&nbsp; Every night she fell asleep in his arms, exhausted by him, to wake each morning with him filling her, stirring her senses awake, or she simply having missed him in the hours they had slept.&nbsp; And then there were the days they had together.&nbsp; He always had this look that shimmered with lust and desire for her, spoke of he wanted her ... even when they laid sweaty and exhausted, limbs tangled together.&nbsp; She and Marcus had never discussed birth control, not even after their relationship had progressed into intimacy and before the topic of marriage had come up.&nbsp; Not that the topic hadn't been far away; once Marcus had gotten her mind, heart and body, he hadn't let go.&nbsp; She doubted he ever would, even more so now knowing the truth.&nbsp; <br><br>She could only sigh into the kiss as the water sprayed over her, drenched the long strands of her hair, and then deeper, the sound more of a throaty purr, as his soapy hands began to cleanse her.&nbsp; Denying him simply wasn't an option -- especially not now.&nbsp; They'd survived a life and death situation together and were facing a journey, a challenge, that neither had foreseen or quite knew what to expect.&nbsp; Aria knew she needed him as much as he needed her, and it was coming through clearly now.&nbsp; (Not that she had ever really been able to stay mad at him, but that was besides the point.)&nbsp; Aria's body was flushing with so much warm, moisture budding quickly between her thighs as Marcus caressed all over the front of her body, the ache in her breasts swiftly increasing and nipples hardening to small rocks, and her moans came louder, muffled into his mouth.&nbsp; Her lungs were seizing and nearly burning by the time his head finally lifted and she gasped for breath, her arms wrapping loosely around his neck and fingers burying into his hair.&nbsp; Her thighs trembled as his finger teased her, Aria moaning out loudly as her head tipped back ...<br><br>And hit into a solid, muscled chest just as she felt a second pair of hands, the touch so familiar she knew it as well as her own, slide over her ass and along her backside.&nbsp; Eyes flew wide and shock went pouring through her, fingers briefly curling tight into her husband's hair.&nbsp; At least, the husband that was in front of her for there was a second, completely identical one behind her.&nbsp; However, what also shocked her was that she could feel the magic of the creation... and the strength of it, and knew it wasn't just an image, the thought confirmed as the voice that came wasn't her husband's voice.&nbsp; <em>The fallen angel...</em>&nbsp; There wasn't even time to process all the mental complexities of what this scene was, the reality pushed away in pure favor of the sensations that were thundering through her.&nbsp; There were two images of her husband, two hard, warm, muscle bodies that were of the man who knew her and her body better than any.&nbsp; As proof by the way he was kissing at her neck, even after her husband had lifted his mouth again, his hands still focusing on driving lust, the buddings of ecstasy through her.<br><br>"I think," she began, her husky voice catching as her eyes closed and hips rolled back into Raphael's, shuddered with such delight as even with that it felt like Marcus... <em>because it is Marcus.</em>&nbsp; It was and it wasn't.&nbsp; It was magic, an image, being controlled by Raphael.&nbsp; Raphael... who had been here this entire time.&nbsp; Still, there should have been some awkwardness, but there wasn't.&nbsp; He felt like her husband, looked like her husband, and was touching and kissing her in a way that she couldn't resist -- and he knew it, which only added to the sense of assurance Aria felt.&nbsp; Her hands smoothed over Marcus' back as her own arched, pressed her breasts into his hands as another moan tore from her mouth. "I think you heard me misspeak, husband," she started again, her head lifting until her mouth found his and she kissed him hard and shuddered as she felt herself pressed hard into by both of the bodies.&nbsp; She released his mouth with a gentle nip to his lower lip, slowly began to raise one leg, her knee brushing along Marcus' leg and her foot along Raphael's.&nbsp; "That should have been... I'm all for hanky panky in the shower," finished, the corner of her mouth quirking up in a blushing, flirty grin, her eyes heavy with love and lust.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>21-06-2011, 16:04:39</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				They could feel her reacting, loosening up, her shock fading into a surge of arousal. They heard her voice turning husky and breathy even further, signifying her excitement and eagerness to continue, even before the words left her lips, only for those words to come and confirm it. Just the presence of the two of them, the touch of their hands and the sensations of their naked hardness surrounding her, pressing up against her had been enough to shatter her resolve completely. But they were far from done yet. Before they would leave this shower stall, or at least before they would leave the house, she would have forgiven them for their deception and she would love them again and even trust them again.<br><br>Yes, them. Him. It was the same, yet not. For those not a Denarian like Marcus, it was impossible to understand just how they lived together. They were two consciousnesses sharing the same body. Yet, while this made them appear as two separate beings ‘rooming’ the same soul and body, they were not that separate. Over the initial years after their bonding, their consciousnesses had aligned and connected, so one became the other and two became the one. Yet, despite being one, they could&nbsp; still communicate and think separately. It was like a computer with two operating systems. You could use either of them, but it would still be the same computer and the same data on the hard disk. Only now… Marcus had conjured a second ‘screen’ to have the other operating system running openly.<br><br>And she definitely seemed to enjoy it after the initial surprise. At her words, their hands moved, shifting and moving her body, while positioning their own bodies. Two identical, magnificent erections brushed over her thighs and buttocks as two strong hands cupped her breasts from behind. Skilled fingers, mostly guided by Raphael, the one that had always been watching during the love-making sessions, yet always could feel whatever Marcus felt, too, were caressing and massaging her full, large breasts. He knew how sensitive her breasts were and exploited this to the best of his abilities, fuelled by experience with her, but also with all the experience and skill he picked up before her. Fingertips humming lightly with magic slid and caressed over her hard nipples, flicking and tickling the rock hard nubs, while another set of equally powerful hands grasped her hips and lifted her legs, spreading them wide, before wrapping them around a muscular, tight waist.<br><br>They moved as one, their minds connected, their minds being one and the same, yet temporarily in control over different bodies. Still, they needed no words, not even thoughts to know what the other was doing, what the other was planning. They just acted in perfect tune. Raphael kept cupping and toying with one of her breasts, his other hand slipping lower. At the same time, one of Marcus’ hands slipped from her hip to her ass, firmly cupping and squeezing one of her buttocks. His other hand started slipping higher, her body captured between the two of them. And with her cock at his entrance, he started pushing forward. The motion pressed her first back against Raphael’s –his- sculpted chest, before the thick head of his cock slipped between her folds, pressing forward insistently, penetrating her. Despite five years of daily and nightly sex, she still felt tight around him, yet she welcomed him, her muscles practically sucking him deeper till he had her speared completely on his cock. His other hand finished its path upwards and cupped her now free breast, playing with it, while he leaned in and started kissing the right side of her neck, kissing, suckling and nibbling just the way she liked it. At the same time, Raphael’s hand had slipped lower, his fingers touching and twirling around her clitoris, caught between her and Marcus’ body, caressing and teasing it with rubs and flicks and a circular motion right around the edge of the swollen nub of nerves. And he pressed closer, too, his cock pressing up against her spread arse, her left cheek being kneaded and squeezed by Marcus. And as he leaned in, he whispered huskily in that voice that was half Marcus’, half his, “We love you. I love you. We are I, Aria. I am Marcus and he is me and we both love you and want you. And now, we are both going to fuck you. I’ve been looking forward to playing a bigger role. Do you realize that I’ve been watching all this time, watching you as you writhe and moan and buck and scream, watching your face contort in the expressions of purest bliss, before you shudder and squeak. And while you do so, I was whispering hints and tips in Marcus’ mind, all to make it even better for you, to make you see the stars and to make you feel as wanted and cherished as you deserve. We never, ever had any ill intentions, even if I told him it was foolish to get involved with a mortal woman. He didn’t listen and it was a good thing. These were the five most pleasurable and most loved years of our entire lives. And now, you are going to be fully rewarded… but… only if you forgive us. Truly forgive us”, he murmured, his magic flowing over her with his words, binding her, disabling her ability to reach a climax, no matter how high her pleasure built up. The release close was for to forgive them, heartfelt. As soon as the magic undetectably tied itself around her, he moved forward, too, the head of his cock at the entrance of her ass. And with a few whispered words, he was fully lubricated, before starting to press forward hard, while Marcus held still in her pussy, just filling her completely, their hands still caressing her.<br><br><em>Aria was bent over the kitchen table, panting and shivering in the aftershocks of her orgasm. She was naked, oh so deliciously naked, her smooth skin glistening with the sheen of sweat after their intense sex. Standing behind her, an equally naked Marcus was panting lightly, too. But as he looked at her, the way her naked body was bent over the table, the way he had used her scarf to tie her hands softly together behind her back, the way her pussy was red, throbbing and glistening with their mixture of juices…<br><br>He didn’t go soft…<br><br>Still erect, his cock glistening with the same mixture of juices, he watched at his bound wife. Only married for one year, they had just gotten home from some Christmas shopping. Seeing her all dressed up in a warm coat, an adorable hat and that beautiful scraf had made him aroused, even back in the mall. And it had only kept building as they had driven back home, her telling him excitedly about all the gifts for her family, with that adorable, yet sexy blush on her cheeks. Once they had gotten inside, he had silenced her with a searing kiss, while starting to rip of her clothes and his own. Not a minute later, he had her bent over the table as he was fucking her, hard and passionately, while he reached for the scarf and used it to tie her wrists together.<br><br>She had loved it, shattering easily into a mindblowing orgasm and he quickly followed. But now… he wanted more. <br><br>Before she could fully recover, he placed his well lubricated cock at her other entrance and while she started to come back to herself, she struggled a little bit, uselessly, her lust and ecstasy clouding her mind as he slowly intruded her body… and once his length was buried in her ass… she shattered immediately in another climax, surprising him. Did she like the sensation so much? Or was she just so sensitive and turned on by the situation of being bondaged so lightly while having her second virginity taken by him, too? He never found out, as he continued to fuck her like this till he came a second time…</em><br><br>Both Marcus and Raphael grinned at the memory. They hadn’t done it often, just every few months to surprise her, but she had liked it every time. Now though, as Marcus was slowly starting to thrust in her pussy, Marcus slid his entire length in her ass, stretching both her openings as far as possible and filling her like never before. Once both men were buried completely inside of her, they both started kissing and nibbling her neck on different sides, their hands still playing over her breasts, her clitoris and her ass cheek, while they started fucking her. They purposefully left her mouth free, wanting to hear her every reaction, her every word… especially when she realized what the price for the orgasm would be… and then the orgasm itself. They kept fucking her in a steady pace, the Fallen’s physical control keeping their own pleasure at bay, as this was solely about Aria and blowing her mind out between the two of them… and they kept fucking her in that relentless pace, with insistent caresses, suckling and nibbling mouths, endlessly on and on till she would give in…<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>22-06-2011, 16:18:27</strong>
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				<em>"And now, you are going to be fully rewarded… but… only if you forgive us. Truly forgive us."</em><br><br>It wasn't until several minutes later did the full weight of Raphael/Marcus' words truly register with her and the shock came nearly as deep as the pleasure that they were driving into her.&nbsp; Forgive them?!&nbsp; Completely, absolutely.&nbsp; She had heard the rest, all of it, but above all that stuck out especially as she realized just what it went.&nbsp; She was not someone who usually came quickly, not unless Marcus had been teasingly her endlessly and her body was too much on fire to do otherwise, but they had already set her on the edge.&nbsp; They'd tackled her weaknesses and feeling them on each side of her was beyond the measure of intoxicating.&nbsp; Her muscles had been so slick and wet for Marcus when he'd thrusted into her, legs tightening around his waist to keep him buried deep inside of her.&nbsp; And though she sensed it coming, she had still been a little unprepared for when the head of Raphael's cock was suddenly pushing at her anus.&nbsp; Even as she was writhing against them, her heart caught in her throat and eyes widely focused on the steamy tiles above them, catching the sight of the rain of warm water that sprayed over them, Raphael was filling her and both became buried inside of her.&nbsp; <br><br>That alone was almost enough to send her completely off the edge -- in fact, she had expected it to.&nbsp; Her body shuddered as she cried out, let out a soft, breathy scream that echoed through the bathroom and her nails bit into Marcus's forearm as she expected the release to come, the orgasm to rock through her.&nbsp; But... it didn't.&nbsp; Aria was held there in that state of heightened arousal, her body so primed for release, muscles clenching and gasping around their cocks as they kept thrusting into her.&nbsp; Her body was held perfectly between them, even more so when Raphael slowly leaned back, pulled Aria with him so that her ass was centered even further on him and he filled her easier than before, and Marcus was given deeper access, her legs drawn wide apart.&nbsp; Aria's eyes rolled into the back of her head as her husbands thrusted, pounded into her with a determination that was leaving her astounded.&nbsp; Physically she was entirely overwhelmed, breathless gasping as she tried to find a release, some sort of measure of the tiniest orgasm, only to find... none.&nbsp; That was when their words really sunk in and her body trembled deliciously.<br><br>Forgive them.&nbsp; Now.&nbsp; For everything.&nbsp; Aria's first thought was that she wasn't ready -- and that this wasn't fair.&nbsp; Didn't she deserve her own amount of time to decide this?&nbsp; Though, part of her knew she was going to forgive him, but it should have been on her time... not his.&nbsp; And this!&nbsp; What they were doing to her!&nbsp; Aria's thoughts broke as she cried out, her body clinging back into Raphael's, her hands grasping still onto Marcus' forearms.&nbsp; Her breasts bounced into the grasping hands, nipples remaining deliciously erect as the ecstasy kept pounding through her.&nbsp; She couldn't keep her eyes open now, not with the beat of water on them, and let herself go in that moment.&nbsp; She couldn't forgive them, not yet, but she could enjoy this... and try to hold on.&nbsp; Except, in the back of her mind she couldn't help wonder but wonder just how long she could hold back from keeping those words from tumbling off her lips.&nbsp; The more they drove into her, filling her again and again, their mouths and hands an endless assault of pleasure on her neck, her breasts and permanently aching, throbbing nipples, her clit was swollen to a piercing sensitivity, the more Aria was simply losing it.&nbsp; Her body was nearly past the point of begging for a release.<br><br>She answered her own question as the water began to cool -- nearly an hour since Raphael's words had fallen onto her ear and the air had been claimed by her sounds, ones that had never stopped -- until finally she seemed to break.&nbsp; "Okay!"&nbsp; She softly screamed, panting and writhing as Marcus had picked up his pace minutes before hand, driving into her with an intensity that had sharpened the need to cum even more, his thumb a pleasure filled torture on her clit that had brought tears to her eyes and sobbing screams to her lips.&nbsp; "I forgive you!&nbsp; I forgive you both!"&nbsp; And... nothing happened.&nbsp; Aria's eyes flew wide as she let out a sob, felt rather than heard Raphael's chuckle against her, and knew that even a heart felt plea really wasn't going to work.&nbsp; Not even the current state of her body, the release it was needing to survive at the moment, was enough to make her completely feel it.&nbsp; Part of Aria trembled with such awareness before Marcus' mouth crushed against hers, swallowing her next scream as she felt Raphael's cock being pushed in harder just as Marcus pulled from her.&nbsp; The gleam in his eyes was one that sent shivers down her already trembling body, ones that deepened as Raphael lifted her in his arms, kept his cock inside of her, and carried her from the shower.&nbsp; <br><br>Dripping wet the three of them came into the bedroom and it was only to release her to Marcus was Raphael's cock temporarily removed from her.&nbsp; Yet, as his hand ran over her backside, a trickle of magic escaped and drew the puckered hole back to its tightness, pulled her muscles back in even as she was still throbbing for an orgasm, her mind nearly blank from all other thoughts.&nbsp; As she was lifted onto Marcus lap, her husband laying down on the bed beneath her, her sex was as tight as it had been before, gripping him with a fierceness, and when Raphael came into her again, pushed himself in quick and fiercely, it was as if she were feeling him for the first time again.&nbsp; The renewed sensation had her crying out loudly, nails tearing into Marcus' chest.&nbsp; Again they set into her, riding her and making her ride deep and unrelenting.&nbsp; When her lips did part for words, they weren't ones she expected, nor the ones that would have set her body into bliss if she had meant it.&nbsp; She was begging.&nbsp; Pleading.&nbsp; <br><br>"Marcus!&nbsp; Marcus... Raphael... Please... "&nbsp; Sobbed between her breaths, between the moans and cries that otherwise claimed her voice.&nbsp; "Oh... Oh God!&nbsp; You both... feel ... so good!&nbsp; Please.&nbsp; Mmm... Yes!&nbsp; Yes!&nbsp; Please!"&nbsp; Except, it wasn't clear if she was begging for a release or begging for more of them, to encourage them onward.&nbsp; Neither were left without marks, Aria's nails a constant present on chest and arms, and when they drove her so hard that the orgasm was pounding inside of her, roaring and deafening out all of her senses, she let her screams muffle into one of their necks, biting down and crying out as the denial was continued.&nbsp; Throughout it they altered their and her positions, but never was any part of her ever ignored and not for a moment did they even seemed phased by their efforts despite just how long it had been since even the shower began.&nbsp; She had not found it easy to let her thoughts flow, though, and it was only then that she realized... maybe she didn't have to.&nbsp; <br><br>She trusted him.&nbsp; She loved him.&nbsp; Both of them.&nbsp; They were her world as much as she was theirs.&nbsp; Would she have ever gone on that first date with him if she had known then he was a Denarian?&nbsp; Probably not; she would have hidden away, fearful and too worried about what she'd heard.&nbsp; She'd had over five years to find out who he was, and that he was everything that she loved and adored, the very and only being she trusted all of herself to.&nbsp; She would have said no six years ago and never would have found the soul -- souls -- she had been waiting for, she never would have had the past years of her life filled with such love, intimacy, devotion, and laughter.&nbsp; She couldn't survive without him, either of them.&nbsp; The truth shone in Aria's eyes the moment it flooded her heart, showed as she opened them onto Marcus' face above her, her back once more strewn over Raphael's, her knees bent and raised high over Marcus' thighs, widely parted to allow for him.&nbsp; Fingers grasped his hair and she drew his mouth to her trembling, parted lips.&nbsp; <br><br>"I forgive you," she whispered, breath caught with the next sob that came and she kissed him hard, deep and lovingly.&nbsp; It lasted for a heartbeat before her mouth was torn away and her head snapped back as the orgasm was finally granted.&nbsp; The men inside her slowed, but did not entirely stop their thrusts, as her body visibly shook and trembled, muscles wildly clenching around their cocks, squeezing and contracting as her juices flooded, gushed down over the cock buried in her pussy.&nbsp; The sound she let out was loud and gasping, a scream filled with such ecstasy that had never been felt before.&nbsp; And then...everything went black as Aria gasped for breath, the trembling setting in deeper.&nbsp; In in the next moment her mind slipped away completely and as she laid there, panting and sobbing on Raphael's back, it was as if she were floating up.&nbsp; Disconnecting from her body, her skin so alive it was tingling with a ferocity she had never, ever felt before.&nbsp; She was floating through the air as if she had been born there in the moment of bliss.&nbsp; Aria wasn't sure just how long she stayed that way before her eye lashes fluttered and she felt her senses slowly slip back.<br><br>Hands were gently caressing all over her body, both deep and gently rocking into her, drawing her back from wherever she had gone.&nbsp; From the windows she could tell dusk had started to fall.&nbsp; Breathless, she opened her eyes to Marcus as she felt Raphael nuzzling into the side of her neck, his lips claiming a spot that was already tender and bruised from their previous ministrations.&nbsp; She gasped deeply and then moaned as she wrapped her arms around Marcus' neck, drew breath that she was desperately needing from his lungs.&nbsp; Raphael's hips bucked a little quicker into her and her eyes widened as she felt Marcus' doing the same.&nbsp; <br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>27-06-2011, 19:39:13</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				From the shower, they moved to the bedroom as well. However they shifted, Aria was always in between them, impaled on identical cocks, moving as one, even if their rhythm varied and changed all the time, teasing her, bringing her to the brink over and over again, yet the spell they had whispered preventing her from reaching a climax. His usually so innocent wife, adorably clumsy and even a little bit shy, soon shocked both Fallen and host when she started begging, pleading and telling them how good they felt. They could feel her acceptance of them being both two and one being. They could feel how her mind was awhirl, energized by her lust and the tantalizing denial of pleasure. And then, they could feel the spell unravelling when she gave in, realizing she could forgive them and doing so.<br><br>The unravelling of the spell triggered an orgasm they hadn’t seen before in Aria, even though their nights and often days, too, were usually quite passionate. Now though, it seemed as if her entire body shut down, overloaded by ecstasy, before rebooting as awareness returned. Yes… Neither Raphael nor Marcus was spent. And for the first time, they could really give it their all. No more pretending. No more holding back. They could feel how her hands wrapped themselves around Marcus’ neck. She was gasping and moaning, her body shaking with tiny tremors of pleasure. She was oh so sensitive and quivering around their cocks, yet still welcoming them.<br><br>Again, they started moving.<br><br>Rolling over, Raphael was at the bottom, laying down and being a very muscular and naked mattress for Aria, while Marcus was on top. Raphael held still, his hands leaving her breasts, instead hooking under her arms and lifting them slightly, away from Marcus. The host, meanwhile, was moving, thrusting into her pussy with deep and powerful movements, his entire length, a steel hard rod wrapped in silky, yet hot skin rubbing, touching every single inch of her womanhood, his pelvis pushing against her clitoris each time, while his arms supported him on top of her. And as darkness started falling, rising with dusk, the room grew darker and shadowed. As one, their eyes started glowing with their magic and Marcus’ back started bulging.<br><br>Two magnificent wings burst forth, black as tar, with their burning wounds still visible from millennia ago. They fluttered and cast even more shadow in the room. Shadows that came to life. Her lifted hands were suddenly snatched from twin tendrils that seemed to grow from the wall. The tendrils were thin, yet powerful and wrapped around her wrists like silk scarves. They spiralled down her arms, slowly, teasingly, caressing over her skin, lower and lower to her shoulders and beyond, before the tips circled her breasts, making those firm, large orbs stand up even more. Then, the tips closed over the nipples, like shadowy mouths, sucking the hard nubs in and suckling softly.<br><br>Two more tendrils grew from the floor, slithering over the bed and wrapping around her ankles, pulling taut, so she was capture in an half-rising X-shape between Raphael and Marcus. Those tendrils of shadowy magic, feeling oh so real like long, long and flexible fingers or like a tongue even, spiralled up her legs, over her calves and knees and thighs, reaching her waist. Wrapping around her narrow waist like a belt, the tips lowered and captured her clitoris between them turning into two small tongues and constantly licking it. A fifth tendril grew from besides Raphael’s head and joined the fray, softly wrapping around her neck. Not yet tight enough to choke her, but she could feel it. <br><br>That is when all shadowy tentacles started undulating and humming in the pulse of her erratic heartbeat. Her arms, her legs were stimulated, her pussy was pounded and her ass was filled at the same time, while her breath was cut off in a rhythm that echoed her heart beat, while twin tongues licked her clitoris and twin mouths suckled her nipples, capturing her between twin versions of her husband and their potent magic. They pushed her to the edge and beyond, forcing her to orgasm, over and over again, Raphael joining the fray by starting to thrust up into her ass again as well, driving her mad and to several almost shrieking orgasms, before Marcus allowed the passion to rise. Raphael reared up, arching, giving in to his host’s control, kissing and biting her neck before releasing a torrent of white hot seed in her ass.<br><br>Marcus could feel the pleasure, his own yet remote at the same time, echoing through the illusionary body of his Denarian, while he kept thrusting and thrusting into her strung up, captured body, the tied tentacles keeping her in place, the stimulation keeping her from losing consciousness. As Raphael came, he allowed the illusion to start fading yet Aria did not lower to the mattress, held in place by the tentacles of shadow. And Marcus still kept thrusting into her, steadily and relentless, forcing more and more pleasure upon her and smirking into her wide-eyed face. “I love you, Aria”, he whispered, “And now you have proof that all of me does. Are you enjoying my set up? Are you enjoying being my plaything for just this once?” he was asking her questions, forcing her to talk as he kept fucking her, before he groaned and allowed his own pleasure to build to a crescendo.<br><br>Closing his eyes, his pace quickened, feeling a surge of energy building inside of him, before it cascaded over him like a tidal wave of immense pleasure. He grunted and came, hard, his own seed shooting deep inside of her pussy. That was his own trigger, as he finally allowed his exhaustion after the long day to hit him, mixing with the pleasure of his release as he almost collapsed on top of her. The tentacles disappeared, releasing her body at last, before Marcus curled up next to her, one of his massive wings covering her as a feathery blanket, caressing her naked body with every breath he took, while he kissed her shower.<br><br>“Was the forgiveness worth it”, he asked her teasingly, before nuzzling her bruised neck lovingly and pulling her closer against his body.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>30-09-2011, 14:18:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>The rain was a gentle rhythm that had steadily progressed from morning all through the afternoon.&nbsp; Weak sunlight, nearly on the cusp of a gloomy dusk, filtered through the open windows of Marcus' apartment, gently illuminated their naked forms.&nbsp; The rain, the brief storm that had thundered through the region and caused a temporary black out, had been their background since she'd arrived for a breakfast date.&nbsp; It'd simply started as a soft kiss, one that she had given him with an affectionate, bright smile at seeing him so early.&nbsp; With classes in full swing mornings&nbsp; often seemed impossible, but this Saturday had proved otherwise and of course Aria didn't think twice about who she wanted to spend it with.&nbsp; She simply hadn't imagined that they would be like this, that a simple kiss could have lead to another, then a deeper one, and before she knew it, their clothes had been discarded on the way to his bedroom.&nbsp; Passion had risen with the increasing rain and Aria had first been brought to orgasm with his mouth feasting on her sex.&nbsp; That was further they had gone in the three weeks of their dating-relationship, but it didn't stop there.&nbsp; Hours later, their bodies slick with sweat, barely cooled by the breeze that came in, Aria looked up at him, panting, her hips still arched up toward the hand that had just brought her another orgasm. <br><br>Swallowing the lump in her throat, Aria slowly lifted her hand and let her fingers softly caress over his cheek.&nbsp; His eyes were still heated, and in them she saw the lust, the desire... and the warmth of love.&nbsp; He hadn't told her yet, but he didn't need to.&nbsp; Already he always looked at her with such warmth and emotion, held her in such a way that she felt beyond the measure of protected, and spoke to her as if she were the only person that exsisted in the world to him.&nbsp; And not once, despite how passionate their embraces had grown, had he ever pushed her.&nbsp; Not even know did she feel any sense of pressure from him; she knew if she even gave the slightest nudge that he would ease away.&nbsp; She didn't, though.&nbsp; She didn't want to.&nbsp; This ... This was the time.&nbsp; The corners of her mouth began to rise as her fingers feathered over his mouth; her head lifted a moment later for her lips to follow in their trail.&nbsp; <br><br>"Are you sure?"<br><br>Slowly she nodded at his question, let her fingers trace back over his lips.&nbsp; "Yes," she whispered.&nbsp; "I love you and I'm ready.&nbsp; I... "&nbsp; Despiet everything else Aria felt her cheeks darkening in the start of a blush.&nbsp; "I want to be with you, Marcus, completely.&nbsp; I want you to be the one I give myself to.&nbsp; I trust you... I love you... and I want you..."&nbsp; Aria's words ended as she drew her mouth back to his, kissed him slow and affectionately.&nbsp; She knew in her heart he was the one she had been saving herself for, the one man she wanted to give herself completely to.&nbsp; There wasn't a need for anymore time, not when she knew in her soul that it had always meant to be Marcus.&nbsp; Maybe part of her was being silly, or a little too superstitious, but she was listening to her heart and her heart yearned for him.&nbsp; She had thought of waiting till Valentine's next week, going with the whole cliche, today... and him... it all seemed so right and perfect.<br><br>Everything </em>was<em> perfect as long as he was with her...&nbsp; </em><br><br>Slowly Aria's eyes began to flutter open as her nude form nestled into her husband's.&nbsp; Sleepily she looked up to his relaxed features, an angle and sight she had seen countless times since that Saturday.&nbsp; After she and Marcus had made love for the first time, and then a couple more times after that, they had never slept apart again.&nbsp; Any notion of doing otherwise had been put to rest that following night when Marcus had come for her, a little baflfed and frustrated to find her in bed in her dorm room.&nbsp; There had never been a morning since that she hadn't woken to him.&nbsp; She'd only returned a handful of times to her dorm room -- to get most of her things and pick up her mail -- as staying at Marcus' apartment had simply proven easier.&nbsp; And, well, studying naked in bed had beat out the library every single time.&nbsp; Could she really be surprised at how yesterday ended?&nbsp; In her heart, the very depth of her soul, she knew Marcus wouldn't allow for them to be separated.&nbsp; He'd never have to tell her that letting her go wasn't an option -- she saw it in his eyes, felt it in his arms.&nbsp; She would never be without him... and he never without her.&nbsp; There was a bond between them greater than even she could recognize.&nbsp; <br><br>Stirring a little, Aria's head nuzzled into his shoulder.&nbsp; There was so much to be done, as much as she wanted to staying in bed with him, lingering away the day as they often did on weekends, couldn't be done.&nbsp; So, as much as she yearned to stay in their little cocoon, reveling in the feel of his wings on her skin, she brushed her lips over his shoulder and gently nudged him.&nbsp; "Marcus," she whispered, brushed her lips slowly over his neck.&nbsp; "It's morning, love.&nbsp; We... need to be going."&nbsp; That she didn't want to leave their home, the first place they had made truly theirs, where she had en envisioned their son or daughter coming to, and where they'd begin their family, was clear in her voice.&nbsp; The forces working against them had other plans, though.&nbsp; Slowly she began to ease to a sitting position, her fingers lightly stroking over his feathers, reluctant to leave the embrace of his arms.&nbsp; At the rumble of her stomach her thoughts flrew to breakfast... and then to the kitchen below.&nbsp; No, she would not be cooking in there ever again.<br><br>"We can stop somewhere for breakfast, preferably soon.&nbsp; At least, we better.&nbsp; Our spawn is already being demanding, just like his fathers," she teased and began to slide from the bed.&nbsp; <br><br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>04-10-2011, 08:36:10</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				“Demanding? Me? Are you certain you know me, wife?” he purred in a teasing question, his eyes still closed. He had never felt so relaxed in his life as he did now. Gone were all the secrets. Gone were the restraints he had placed on himself. Aria knew his true self, at last, and he had never felt better than right this moment, waking up by her side like he had done for the past five years. It was curious how time could fly. The century before he had met this lovely woman always seemed like it took a thousand more years to pass by. But now, five years together with her felt like barely a week. A week that seemed like a lifetime in itself, providing him with the things he had always craved, even back when he was a simple human boy, a bastard son of a Roman noble.<br><br>He rolled over slightly, slowly letting go of the embrace he held her in. His wings folded back, too, no longer acting as their blanket, before fading completely in black wisps of smoke, leaving them completely bare, naked together. Just the way he liked it. They both smelled like sex, like copious amounts of highly satisfying sex. He grinned in memory of last night. Who knew shy and innocent little Aria, the clumsy, yet cute witch could be so kinky? She had really surprised him last night, but on a deeper level, he could understand it. Perhaps he had not yet been forgiven, but she had needed something so… thorough to be able to show the acceptance she did.<br><br>There was no doubt their love was strong, oh so very strong. He knew hers was genuine. But so was his. He had never loved anything or anyone in his life except power… until he met her. IT almost sickened Raphael at first, which had been pretty amusing. The Fallen had first considered it like a sort of late –two thousand year late- puberty fuelled rebellion on Marcus part to hook up with a girl that was the exact opposite to everything they stood for, everything they were. Surprisingly, it worked out, however, and Raphael mellowed out, swept away by the joy and happiness filling Marcus ever since getting together with the gorgeous young woman.<br><br>Raphael particularly liked the sex, of course, as lust was one of the things that fed and made a Fallen angel stronger. But over the years, Marcus could feel how the angel, once cast out of heaven for matters to do with love as well, had grown to care for her a great deal, too. Now, though, they had to say goodbye to their blissful lives. Five years had already been more of a quiet, peaceful break than either had hoped for. Still, it almost hurt to know they would have to leave it all behind. While they had flourished in the violent supernatural underworld for many centuries, thriving on the chaos they caused, both beings, host and possessor, did not want to return, not even with Aria by their side. Especially not with Aria by their side.<br><br>Sure, she had accepted him back, for now, but what if they were forced to fight gory battles. What if they met people from Marcus’ past, people that could tell her exactly what a monster he had been at times? What if she saw all the enemies he had made out of other immortal creatures that preyed on the weak? He would simply have to trust in her, trust in her heart, despite knowing how fragile even the strongest of loves could be.<br><br>He allowed his own hunger to surge up, causing his stomach to growl softly in turn, earning himself a giggle from his delightful wife. He pressed the worries away. He would deal with them as he always had, when they arose. With his hunger came a second kind of hunger… she knew from experience he could be insatiable, so it could be no surprise to her when he rolled on top of her, taking her hands and gently pinning them down, before claiming her mouth in a long drawn out, leisurely kiss, his lips knowing just how to please hers the most, while his tongue followed a more than familiar path, coaxing a gasp, then a moan from her, while his naked body moulded to hers.<br><br>When he broke the kiss, he made it a point to rub his impressive erection along her folds, making her feel every inch of his arousal for her, before he whispered, still a teasing edge to his deep voice, “Breakfast sounds good. And we have a full day of travelling ahead of us, but be sure, tonight, we will have a repeat performance of last night, love. I love hearing the sounds you make when caught in the throes of passion…” He trailed off, before getting up gracefully. Standing there, naked, his entire body on display in the first rays of dawn, his cock standing straight up, he smirked at her when he spoke softly, “Well, now that you know… I can use my full power, you know. I am not really as clumsy as I pretended to be with magic.” Just to demonstrate that fact, he clapped his hands, causing a surge of magic to ripple through the house. While she had made some preparations yesterday already, everything they could possibly need on the run, from clothes to magical ingredients, from spellbooks to tools and some supplies, seemingly came alive and started disappearing in two duffelbags that came sliding out of a cabinet.<br><br>Within three minutes, everything was packed.<br><br>Only then did he pick up a set of fresh clothes and started dressing, just like Marcus would have done, in dark blue jeans and a red and white chequered shirt, a modern sort of plaid, before he bent down over her, still laying on the bed, when he whispered, “Coming, love? You can pick. Star Bucks? Or that quaint little breakfast room I know off? In Paris, of course? The sky is the limit with Denarian Travels. Oh… I think I’ll activate the defences I installed on our home, making anyone chasing us think we are still here, safe and secure behind our powerful, yet deadly wards.” <br><br>He leaned in and this time, the kiss tingled not only with his passion for her, but also with another surge of magic, one sweeping through her body as it permeated the building, activating every rune, every ward and even the deadly defences laying in wait in the NeverNever. He had managed to create three dragons there, one from stone, one from ice and one from steel, each as large as a house, together with a variety of other monsters guarding the Ways into their homes.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Way We Were [( Arkaniel &amp; Moirae )]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>desert ashes</strong> on <strong>22-10-2011, 11:23:46</strong>
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				It was strange that despite all their current circumstances Aria had never felt happier than in that moment (except for the day they had made their vows to each other).&nbsp; She laid there on the bed smiling up to her husband and soul mate, somehow pleased with knowing there was a whole another side of him that she had yet to discover.&nbsp; It <em>should </em>have been a side that sent her running as quickly and far away as possible.&nbsp; Last night shouldn't have eased any of the negative feelings toward him, just as she shouldn't be curious about Raphael... and just what exactly her husband meant by tonight.&nbsp; If it was a repeat of what had happened last night, Aria could only shiver, feel herself moisten a little between her legs.&nbsp; If she had ever been asked to try what had happened last night she doubt she ever would have said yes.&nbsp; Two men at once?&nbsp; The notion had never been considered, much less imagined!&nbsp; Not to mention she couldn't even stomach the thought of being with anyone else <em>but</em> Marcus, and yet... she sort of had been.&nbsp; Sort of.&nbsp; <br><br>"I think I know you better than anyone else, except one," she whispered as her mouth rubbed against his, her hand raising to softly caress over his cheek.&nbsp; No, she didn't know his history as a Denarian, but did she need the details?&nbsp; Everyone heard the whispers, the rumors that filled with more truth than fiction.&nbsp; They were feared, corrupted with black hearts and souls, and above all never to be trusted.&nbsp; She was laying in the arms, married to, and in love with a being that had done so many unspeakable things.&nbsp; Oh yes, her heart felt a little heavy if she gave pause to consider how many he had likely murdered, tortured, and who knew what else.&nbsp; But... that wasn't the man she was looking at right now.&nbsp; Five years ago she hadn't met someone in a disguise, of that she was more sure of than ever before.&nbsp; The thought held her a little quiet as he rose from the bed, a soft sigh escaping habitually at the loss of contact with his body; part of her really wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with him.&nbsp; <br><br>Almost lazily her eyes watched him, a bit of amusement flaring through as he mentioned his magical clumsiness.&nbsp; "You didn't appear very clumsy last night, either," commented with a half smile, half smirk as she ran a hand through her tousled hair.&nbsp; The amusement faded, though, as she watched the room explode to life, objects flying and organizing themselves.&nbsp; Outside the room she could hear the same, especially as something collided with the wall before zinging off again.&nbsp; Aria seemed more impressed with the quick job he did of packing than she had about last night.&nbsp; Her pouty mouth pursed for a moment before she quirked her brows at him.&nbsp; "All those times I had to nag you about taking out the trash and this whole time you could have just done that," she teased, giving a rueful shake of her head.&nbsp; "I am so never washing another dish or mopping again!"<br><br>"Mmm.&nbsp; Paris!&nbsp; Definitely Paris.&nbsp; I don't think we've been since our honeymoon, and going back now sounds perfect."&nbsp; Aria was still smiling when Marcus swooped back down, murmuring more about magic before his mouth claimed hers.&nbsp; She was so caught up in him, in simply letting herself feel for him as she had for these past years, that she wasn't aware of the magical shift inside of her until it was too late.&nbsp; As his own magic flooded through and they kissed deep and hungrily, Aria felt as if a lock in her was being turned even more -- it had started the night of her kidnapping, when the wizard had gone to "unleash" her magic.&nbsp; Now she was starting to understand as the blood rushed through her head, her heart began to wildly beat against her chest, and every inch of her skin began to shiver and tremble.&nbsp; Magic was rushing and roaring through her, shimmering underneath her smooth skin, nearly bursting out from her finger tips.&nbsp; Aria whimpered and refused to let go of Marcus, her arms winding around him and tightening, clinging as if he were her anchor to this world.<br><br>For a moment it felt as if he were.&nbsp; <br><br>Aria let out a scream as the magic overwhelmed her.&nbsp; Uncertain of how long it lasted, there was a length of time Aria felt entirely disconnected from the world, all of her senses lost; it was almost if she were floating in a black hole and about to be sucked into nothingness.&nbsp; At least, it felt as if there was nothing.&nbsp; No emotions.&nbsp; No sounds or sights.&nbsp; No Marcus.&nbsp; Panic swelled in Aria as she tried to fight her way back, but her mind and senses were mere particles in the mystic air.&nbsp; Then, in a blinding moment, she was yanked back with a soulful explosion of magic.&nbsp; The soul of a wizard was trying to break through, to claim the user that it had been hidden within and let the powers be used as they were meant to.&nbsp; As they should have been all along.&nbsp; <br><br><em>"Mama!&nbsp; Mama!&nbsp; Look, I made a butterfly!"<br><br>"Oh, Aria, how beaut -- "&nbsp; Aria's mother, Julie, trailed off as she looked to where her four year old daughter was pointing.&nbsp; Her eyes widened as she instinctively reached forward, grasped hold of Aria's shoulders and gently drew her back.&nbsp; It wasn't just a butterfly... and there wasn't just one.&nbsp; Their idyllic back yard was filled with magical butterflies; ones that looked like flaming phoenixes, others scattering pixie dust and leaving trails of whimsical magic, some that were as big as large birds lazily fluttering about, others that changed colors, and one in particular that was resting on her daughter's hand, white light glowing from its wings.&nbsp; The sudden surge of magic that went through her daughter's shoulders suddenly had Julie jumping&nbsp; back, looking down at her hands as if she had just been burned by an inner fire.<br><br>"Mama?"&nbsp; Aria turned, a small frown creasing over her small mouth.&nbsp; "What's wrong?"<br><br>Slowly Julie looked back at her daughter and struggled to keep the confusion, bewilderment, and horror from her features.</em><br><br>Shaking, her eyes closed, her lips remained parted as the energy poured over her, filled and overflowed her. <em>Oh God, it hurt! </em>&nbsp; Aria let out a lingering scream.&nbsp; It was as if her skin was trying to stretch itself, unable to contain what had been resting inside of her, hidden within her very core.&nbsp; More, it was almost as if it were trying to burn its way through to her, to ensure she never ever forgot what was inside of her.&nbsp; The memory that had just flashed before her left her even more baffled... because that was a memory she didn't remember having.&nbsp; Her arms curled around her waist, as if to protect their unborn child, as the magic finally began to recede its advance.&nbsp; Tears stung her eyes as the light suddenly sucked itself into her, left her gasping for breath and holding onto her husband for dear life.&nbsp; Another moment longer and the precious wards Marcus had established would have been threatened. <br><br>"Marcus," Aria whimpered, her face pressing into his neck as she curled herself tight into him.&nbsp; "Please tell me that was you..."
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