Action Pack 9: First Recruit

   Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc.  contained within this story
all belong to paetrasslave and may not be used in other media without
express permission.  Why anyone would want to, she's not sure.
This story is incredibly sexual in nature with many preferences and
depictions on display that will probably offend many people.  Anyone under
18 or possessed of an easily offended mindset should leave now.  For

everyone else, that's probably all the reason you need to stay.
Codes: ff, inc, domination, gratuitous fanservice

   ------

   Synopsis: Jein continues to attempt to acclimate herself to her legacy,
and makes her first major ally.
Author's note: What can I possibly say?  I didn't really think I needed
to go over Jein and Jeer's first meeting and I was kind of eager to get to
some actual plot.  I feel appropriately ashamed.  I hope you all will

forgive me.

   The white lilies seemed heavy in Jein's hand.  Like she needed to get
where she was going and lay them down as fast as she could.  But the somber
mood of the rest of her little party didn't prompt haste.

   "You sure these were mom's favorites?"

   Cathallis shot her a bewildered look.  "Jein, do you really think I'd
lie to you, especially about something like that?"

   "She's just uncomfortable with where we're going, Cathallis," their aunt
interrupted.  "I imagine I would be as well in her place."

   The three of them walked up to an arch in the stone wall, and standing
just outside of it was a small booth with a thin man in a green uniform. 
"Hello," he said as they approached.  "Are you looking for any marker in
particular?"

   "The previous royal couple," aunt Namiel answered him.

   "No need for directions there.  It's the one in the back with the white
walls and statues of Angele and her husband."

   "Say `Queen' Angele, and you'll keep your job longer," Namiel said,
following it up with a dark look.  Jein rolled her eyes.

   "Was that really necessary?" she mumbled once they were away from the
booth and had entered into the park beyond.  The guide had been right, the
tall white walls of the U-shaped memorial, with statues depicting a couple
in medieval battle dress atop them were pretty hard to miss, even a
half-mile off.

   "Your mother was a fine ruler," Namiel replied.  "But there were a few
things she could've learned from Queen Paetra."

   "Things I could learn?"

   "NO!" Namiel exclaimed, then collected herself.  "Our family's done
quite enough fighting for this queendom."

   No further words were exchanged during their trek to the memorial.  A
large crowd of people was already gathered inside, looking up at the lists
engraved on the walls.  In the center of the rear wall, between where the
two statues stood, was an engraving of the words "We Remember The Free
Citizens Taken By The Claws of Jadis."

   The sisters went over to the memorial and laid down the bouquets they'd
brought.  Cathallis folded her hands and shut her eyes in prayer, but Jein
didn't join her for a second.  Instead, she looked up at the statues
depicting her parents, fixating on the face of her mother.

   It did indeed remind her quite a bit of the one that looked back at her
in the mirror every morning.  The same large eyes, thin face, pronounced
cheekbones, full lips...

   She wondered what their relationship was like, back before her parents
had had to send Jein and her sisters away.  Had they spent much time
together?  Had they read her and her sisters bedtime stories?  What kinds?
What had they done together as a family?  Had Angele taught Jein anything
about fighting when she was younger?  Or did she play with dolls and have
pretend tea parties with them?  She could've asked Cathallis, but somehow
Jein got the feeling her twin wouldn't hesitate to sugarcoat things for
her.

   And another thought passed through her mind as she looked up at her
mother's likeness cast in stone, one that had been bothering her lately. 
That during her visit to the home of the gods, she'd seen a castle's worth
of her father's worshippers, but no sign of her mother.  She'd been
distracted at the time, but how could that be possible?  The gods were
allowed to take the souls of their followers into their homes in the
afterlife, but not their spouses?  Even with the rules of divinity Amoril
mentioned, that didn't sound right.

   Had something happened?  Jein had meant to look into her parents'
exploits, but she was pretty sure the more she knew the more she'd feel
compelled to pick up where they left off.  And as eager as she was to start
actual questing, most of the enemies her parents had made seemed to be of
the end boss variety.  Not the kind of people she felt up to tackling just
yet.

   Cathallis looked over at her sister.  "Everything all right?"

   "Yeah, I just got some stuff on my mind."

   "Maybe we shouldn't have come yet," Cathallis said.

   "You don't have to baby me, Cath.  I've been here long enough Takel's
only throwing me all over the place SOME of the time now.  I'm a big girl,
I should be dealing with all this by now."

   "You push yourself so hard," Cathallis sighed and shook her head. 
Slowly she slipped an arm around Jein's shoulders.  "What about enjoying
your youth, or love...Life isn't all about battles, you know."

   "It certainly is not," aunt Namiel said as she came up behind them.  "I
agreed to have Takel teach you self-defense so you'd be able to protect
yourself if you were attacked, not so you can go around looking for fights,
young lady."

   Jein shook her head.  "That's not what I meant at all.  I'm just saying
I should be getting used to Akton by now.  But I just seem to be looking at
more questions."

   "Going to see your parents' grave is a fine first step," Namiel replied,
much more gently.  "I'm going to visit another...erm, you girls meet met at
the gate when you're ready to leave.  And Jein, think about what I told you
this morning."

   "Yes, ma'am," Jein, trying to sound like she meant it.  Aunt Namiel
nodded and walked away from the memorial.  "What's she talking about?"
Cathallis asked quietly, afraid of being heard still.

   "She was going to ask Adren to see about getting me a job behind a desk
somewhere if I really want to serve the queendom so much," Jein groaned.

   Cathallis smiled wryly.  "That doesn't sound like something someone
who's already killing vampires would enjoy.  And don't say it was because
he was stupid."

   "I'm pretty sure that wasn't what dad was hoping for."

   "Never mind dad for a second," said Cathallis.  "What does Jein want to
do with her life?"

   Jein snorted.  "Are you kidding?  This is what every gamer dreams about
happening to them.  I get how aunt Namiel wants to look out for us, but
I'll be damned if I'm going to come home to someplace like this and spend
the rest of my life behind a desk."

   Cathallis muttered something like, "I thought you'd say something like
that."

   "Well come on, Cath!  I get handed all the Sword Daughter stuff and
dropped into a world where anything's possible.  Like I'm gonna fucking say
no to that?  Not go see what's out there?  Who's out there?"

   "At least you're trying to be smart about it."

   Jein slipped her arms around her twin's shoulders, and Cathallis purred
and eagerly returned the hug.  Suddenly Jein arched out her chest, and
Cathallis squirmed as Jein's pert nipples dug into her front.

   "You witch," Cathallis muttered.

   "Your witch," Jein corrected her with a smile.

   Another hug, then Cathallis leaned over and whispered in her sister's
ear.  "Aunt Namiel's going out tonight and taking Jasami with her.  Want to
have some fun after they're gone...?"

   "You have to ask?" Jein replied.  That got a smile from Cathallis, not
that those were hard to come by between the two of them.

   A few people standing nearby had turned to look at the twins, and some
even had cameras out and were training them on Jein and Cathallis.  "We
should probably get going," Jein whispered, and her sister nodded.

   Cathallis laced her fingers together with Jein's, and they started back
to the gate.  "Hey Cath?" Jein asked suddenly.

   "Yes?"

   "Do you ever think...we shouldn't?"

   Cathallis blinked and canted her head in confusion.  "Shouldn't what?"

   "Well, you know...," Jein said, then made sure no one was looking before
reaching over and honking Cathallis's right breast.  Cathallis gasped but
bit her lip.  There was nothing she could do to hide her apple-red cheeks,
though.

   "No," Cathallis said after she sucked in a breath.  "We definitely
should."

   "Well, you're the smart one."

   "Don't say it like that," Cathallis said with a frown.

   "Say it like what?"

   "Like I'm smart and you're not."

   Gently, Jein squeezed her twin's hand.  "Have I told you it's awesome
having you as my sister lately?"

   "Why don't you tell me tonight...?"

   That was the last that was said about that.  They met with aunt Namiel
and then climbed into Jein's car.  Namiel took a deep breath, shut her eyes
and kept them shut as Jein pulled into the street.

   "Well, thanks for coming," Jein said.  "I'm feeling more connected to
Akton now.  If it's okay with you guys, I'm gonna drop you at home and head
to the gym."

   Her aunt's mansion had an exercise room, but Jein had been feeling
cooped up there lately.  She didn't lack for friendly company, but it was
kind of frustrating hiding all the fun stuff from her aunt and everyone
else.

   Truth be told, if she had her way Jein would've been hiring people to
teach her how to fight.  Preferably, to shoot.  Her aunt was giving them
plenty of spending money, but she'd want to know the reason why if Jein
asked for that much.

   "Sounds okay to me," Cathallis replied, then shot Jein a wink in the
rearview mirror.  "Besides, I've got some studies I'd like to have wrapped
up by tonight."

   Jein nodded.  Studies, right.  She'd have to ask if Akton had its own
Kama Sutra one of these days.  If she could distract her partners from
simply performing the contents long enough.

   "Fine with me," aunt Namiel said as well.  "I'm sharing tea with Reana
Vandymele this afternoon."

   "Well, you're gonna need time to get ready then, won't you?" Jein
replied, trying to sound like she knew who that was.

   Namiel nodded, then flipped open the book she'd brought and promptly
became engrossed in that for the rest of the drive home.  Jein parked in
front and jogged inside to change.

   As soon as she was in her room she flipped on the TV.  The news was on,
and she was greeted by the sight of a column of tanks driving along a
grassy plain.  From the black flag edged by a border of yellow leaves,
surrounding the image of a king on horseback, she recognized them as
belonging to the military of Belrasev.  One of the Free Territories'
neighbors to the south, and not a friendly one.  It was ruled by General
Tran, an implacable military expansionist from everything she'd heard.

   "--the border dispute enters its fourth day, as representatives of
Belrasev's military continue to claim ownership of the province of Amati.
Shots were fired on both sides before orders allegedly arrived from Tran
himself ordering a temporary ceasefire.  Four enemy tanks were destroyed
during the firing, and the surviving crewmembers have been arrested.  The
military is withholding information regarding damage to the Free
Territories forces involved in the skirmish."

   New day, new border incursion.  Jein told herself she listened to these
reports all the time to harden her resolve to get out there and do
something for her new home, but it was still kind of depressing sometimes.
How had her mom put up with being responsible for this stuff instead of
just watching?  Did it get easier with time?  The report went on as she
slipped into a new outfit.  First she tucked her breasts into a sports bra
and took a few painstaking seconds to cup her breasts and seat them just
right.  Then underpants, sweats, sneakers and athletic tape for her hands
since one of the bigger reasons she was eager to exercise outside the house
was the gym she found had punching bags.

   Funny thing, though.  As she went down the hall back to the foyer, past
Jasami's room, she could swear she saw a dark, almost furry shape slipping
out the window.  Jasami herself was just lying on her bed, the covers
pulled up to her neck, a distant but dreamy look on her face.

   She leaned in.  "Hey, Jazz?  You awake?"

   "Uh-huh."

   "Was somebody just in here?"

   "Hmmm?  Nope, I slept in this morning." "No kidding, it's past noon."
Jasami ignored the remark.  "Had a really nice dream.  You and me were on
the beach, and I pulled my suit down so you could rub lotion on my back..."

   Jein rolled her eyes.  "That sounds like one of yours, all right."

   "When are we going to the beach?  Did you ask aunt Namiel yet?"

   Gently, Jein cupped her younger sister's cheek.  "I don't think it'll be
for a while.  She's afraid of us leaving Zenith.  Too many crazies out
there, according to her."

   "Who cares?  You'll protect us."

   "Aunt Namiel cares.  She doesn't want us to get hurt, and it does seem
like we've got a lot of enemies.  I'm not gonna hold that against her,"
Jein answered.

   "Awwww!  I thought after we all got back, we were gonna go on adventures
and stuff!" Jasami groaned.

   Quickly Jein pressed a finger to her youngest sister's lips.  "Shhhh! 
I'm working on that." Jasami smiled silently, and Jein slipped her other
hand underneath the covers and over Jasami's chest and belly.  Just as she
thought, Jasami was nude underneath, but that was nothing new.

   That didn't mean it wasn't arousing.

   One fingertip slipped down Jasami's thighs and prodded at the nub of her
clitoris.  Jasami quivered and let out a half-moan, half-whimper, and Jein
grinned.  Still the cutest sound she'd ever heard.  "Besides," Jein
whispered, "You already had an adventure without me, didn't you?  The one
with the talking raccoon."

   "That really happened!"

   Dubiously, Jein looked down at her little sister.  Akton was a world of
limitless possibilities, it seemed, but though possessed of a certain fiery
charm, Jasami was also used to getting attention, and not to put too fine a
point on it, a brat too.  She'd probably gotten up to something that day,
but Jein had her doubts it involved an international conspiracy and the
theft of an artifact of "unfathomable cosmic mysteries."

   Even if the police had brought her home that day...

   "Anyway, I have to go make these fingers nice and strong to molest you
with, okay?"

   Jasami pouted.  "Okay..."

   Jein kissed her sister on the cheek and hurried down to the drive, then
drove off again.  The dark lump curled up in a rear foot compartment that
hadn't been there on the drive home from the memorial went unnoticed.

   The sun was high in the sky by the time Jein got to the gym.  She walked
inside, flashed her membership badge at the girl behind the counter and
went to the corner where the barbells and punching bags.  She found an
empty one, carefully bandaged her hands, and then smacked her fist into the
leather as hard as she could.

   It recoiled from her punch and snapped back for her to hit it again. 
She did, and it went even farther before snapping back that time.  She
jumped back and lashed out with a succession of rising kicks.  The leather
felt abrasive on her bare foot.  What would it be like to kick an orc or a
vampire on the chin?  Jein went through a few more sets, and by the end of
them she was starting to pant, but starting to feel ready for more, too.

   She threw her highest kick into the bag, and her upper body was almost
parallel to the floor.  It seemed like a move that should've been painful
to try and impossible to pull off in real life.  Yet there she stood, her
legs bent far enough that her foot was resting a full five feet off the
ground.  She hadn't even stepped back before she heard an appreciative but
sleazy whistle.

   Standing there grinning at her was a raccoon that was the best part of
four feet tall on his hind legs.  Jein hopped back and her foot slid
halfway down the bag, giving her a nice feeling of burning flesh.  She bit
down on her lip as she staggered away from the bag, hopping the first few
steps.

   "A girl who can bend her legs like that and I could have a lot of fun
together," the raccoon said.

   "I bet you say that to all the kung fu chicks," Jein retorted.

   "Heh.  And wits as sharp as the kicks she throws.  Something about you's
eerily familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on it...," he went on,
scrutinizing her.  Jein felt an urge to cross her arms over her chest.

   "Look, you're cute, but I'm not here to meet guys," Jein said.  "So do
you mind?"

   "Nope," he said, and backpedaled out of range of any physical
retaliation for his flip answer.  "Ah!  I got it!  You remind me of my
friend Jasami!"

   "...what?"

   "Yeah, that's it!  You must be Jein!  The vampire slayer, am I right?"
he said, beaming a smarmy smile at her.

   It was true, she did know someone named Jasami.  And it was also true
that she'd killed a vampire and been less directly responsible for the
deaths of quite a few others intent on attacking Zenith.

   "So if I'm Jein, and you know Jasami, then you must be Jeer," she said
in slow, measured words.

   "Yup!"

   "And if that's so, then maybe she wasn't making up that story about
where she was after she snuck out.  And if she wasn't making that up, that
means you took my little sister someplace where she really did almost get
killed by a giant bear and a bunch of spies."

   Jeer was unfazed by the quiet menace in Jein's voice.  "Sounds kind of
negative when you put it like that."

   "It was supposed to."

   "Kinda figured it was."

   Jein glared at the little raccoon-person looking up at her.  Maybe the
police had brought her sister home the other day with a wild story figuring
nobody would believe it since she was just a kid.  And here was the
reckless little punk who'd let it all happen, casually coming up to her in
the middle of the gym and acting like it was nothing.  The only reason she
didn't bust him on the nose right then and there was she didn't like the
idea of losing her membership for starting a fight in the middle of the
club.

   "Maybe you should stay away from my family," she warned.

   Jeer raised his hands in placation.  "Okay, okay.  I'm not here to force
anything down anybody's throat.  Just thought I'd swing by and introduce
myself, present my services."

   "Thanks, but I think I'll keep looking.  Hit the road."

   Jeer turned.  "Sure, I can tell when I'm not wanted." Jein watched until
the automatic doors closed behind him.

   It wasn't long before Jein packed up and left herself.  Her ability to
focus had been pretty thoroughly killed by the thought of her little sister
being murdered by a mutant bear...



   "Jasami!" Jein bellowed as soon as she got back to the house.  The words
had hardly left her mouth before the youngest of the Devyre sisters
appeared from around the corner of the upper landing.  She practically
galloped down the stairs, then stopped in front of Jein and did a little
twirl to show off the indigo dress she had on.  Jein tried and failed
miserably not to stare what she could see of her little sister's legs until
the skirt settled back down.

   "What do you think?" Jasami asked, beaming up at her sister.

   "I think you're in big trouble for what you and Jeer did."

   "I told you about that already.  It's not my fault you didn't listen."

   Fists balled, Jein sighed and knelt to her sister's eye level.  "You
still went with a stranger...underground, too, if you're not bullshitting
me!  Where you were attacked by a bunch of monsters and enemy spies!  Don't
tell me nothing happened, what if something had?"

   "So??" Jasami fired back.  "Isn't that basically what you did when you
first got back here?  You didn't know any better either!"

   "I was naked on a freezing beach.  You're living in a nice, safe
mansion. With family you hopefully love."

   Jasami's face formed into an angry pout.  "You and Cath ignore me all
the time!  I got bored!  We're both mom's daughters, you know..."

   That did it.  Jein chortled and put her hands on Jasami's shoulders.  "I
guess I am kind of a hypocrite about that, aren't I?  Just promise me next
time if you get bored, you'll let me know so at least if you get dragged on
some weird adventure I can be there.  Okay?"

   Jasami bit her lip.  "You promise you'll listen?"

   "I promise.  But you have to promise to tell me."

   "Okay!"

   Jein smiled and stood back up.  "So now that we're a family again, what
are you all dressed up for?"

   "Aunt Namiel's taking me to a party!"

   The first party she'd heard about since moving in there, and only Jasami
was invited, huh?  Probably wouldn't go over well if aunt Namiel had to
introduce the others at some kind of society function would it?  Oh, this
is my niece who asks to have my bodyguard beat her up.  Wouldn't your son
love to meet her?  And here's her sister, who never talks with the rest of
us and spends all her time reading books by herself.  Jein took a deep
breath and a second to steady herself.  Thinking ill of the relative who
took them in like that was bitchy thinking.  Better not to.

   On the other hand, maybe Cathallis had manufactured something to excuse
them for the night.  That was a possibility, wasn't it?

   Jein patted Jasami on the shoulders.  "Make some exciting stories
tonight, okay?  But no monsters or spies this time, got it?"

   A mock sigh of defeat was followed by a soft giggle.  "Okay, fine."
Their lips met in a quick but warm kiss.  Then Jein stepped back and made
her way upstairs to wash off the sweat of her recent exertions.

   The door was unlocked as Jein slowly worked her top up.  One full breast
spilled free and bounced twice, then Jein let the other tit out and bounce
before tossing her top into the laundry hamper.  Even knowing the secret of
a large-breasted woman going adventuring comfortably, it looked like she
still had a ways to go to perfect her technique.

   Slowly she bent all the way over as she pushed down her pants and
underwear.  She ran an inspecting hand over one ass cheek.  It was starting
to feel taut, almost hard.  Too hard, maybe?  One of her favorite parts of
going down on her sisters was the feeling of sinking her fingers into their
soft cheeks, and having them do it back to her.  Was she ruining her
sisters' enjoyment in her quest for muscles?

   Painstakingly Jein worked her shampoo into her hair and scalp.  She
could've showered at the gym, but it was here at home were nobody else was
around that she felt like she could take her time and get herself
absolutely perfect for her little stay-in date.  Slowly, making sure not to
miss anything she rubbed a bar of scented soap over her breasts, moaning a
little as the heavy glands deformed in her hands.  She rubbed the soap down
her cleavage, unconsciously relaxing and purring to herself as she felt it
slither down the tender flesh.

   So engrossed was she in the task of cleansing herself that she didn't
notice the faint outline clinging to the window ledge, or the faint outline
of a video camera in its hand.

   Slowly she raised one leg and carefully covered it with lather as well,
and probingly ran her fingers over it as she did.  Yes, muscle was
definitely building there, and again she found herself of two minds about
it.  How could she think about an adventuring career and winning the hearts
of beautiful women without toughening up, yet how would banging them change
once she did?

   The soap slipped from her hand, and she sighed and reached down to pick
it up.  A sound like a strangled squeal filled the bathroom.  Jein froze
and slowly turned to scan the room through the shower curtain.  Even
through the haze of shower steam, it was plain to see she was alone. 
Unless Jasami was hiding in the towel closet again, but that hadn't sounded
like her.

   Her hand clenched down on the soap, as if that was a viable weapon.  All
at once her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.  "Jein?" a
voice whispered.  "Are you almost done?"

   "Yeah, Cath.  I'll be out in a minute.  You need to use the tub?"

   A second passed before Cathallis answered.  "No, just don't take too
much longer, all right?"

   Jein lathered her hands up again and stroked her palms over her inner
thighs and the warming folds between them.  "I won't.  I promise," she
moaned.  Oh god, that felt good.  What she was getting ready for would feel
even better, though, she was sure.  She nudged her clitoris with a
fingertip, quivered and gasped.

   She was being stupid.  Sure she was trying to get ready to live a life
of danger, but she was supposed to be able to enjoy herself in between,
right?  She couldn't be jumping at every single noise like a monster was in
the room with her.  Of course not...

   A minute later she finished up, shut off the water and slipped on her
robe.  She blow dried her hair as quickly as she could and then...froze.

   The room should've still been warm from the shower, but a cool breeze
blew across her legs.  As calmly as she could she set down the hair drier
and scanned the sink counter for anything that could conceivably be used as
a weapon.  The only thing was a set of disposable razors she'd bought, but
all the same she picked one up and clutched it tightly.

   Slowly Jein turned around, and just as she'd expected the curtains were
billowing lightly from the wind.  For a second they parted just enough for
Jein to see a long-fingered hand holding up what looked a lot like a video
camera.

   Then she sprang.  Whoever was outside was stupefied for the second she
needed to grab their neck with her free hand.  She felt fur between her
fingers, and immediately her captive started to squirm frantically.  The
camera dropped from his hand into the bushes.

   "All right, you!" Jein growled and hauled her catch up high enough to
try to get a look at their face.  Not to her surprise, she found herself
looking into the face of a raccoon.  "What the hell are you doing??"

   "I give!  I give!" Jeer squawked.  "Just let go `uh my neck, you're
stranglin' me!"

   "Oh right, like I'm gonna let the pervert who snuck into my house and
recorded me in the shower just sneak away," Jein said angrily.  At least he
was focusing his attention on her, though, and hadn't followed Jasami to
that party.  Still, she did haul Jeer up and sit him on the windowsill
without relaxing her grip.  "I'll ask you one more time, what the hell were
you doing out there?  Or am I the idiot for asking?"

   "Is it a crime to admire beautiful girls?" Jeer asked in return.

   "Don't give me that shit.  Spying on a girl in the shower without her
knowing it's a lot more specific than that."

   "All right, I'll be honest, Miss Devyre.  Or can I call you Jein?" he
asked.

   "No."

   Jeer peered out the window, probably to see if his camera had survived
the fall, and turned back to Jein.  He seemed to take no notice of the
razor pointed at him.  Finally he began, "This will sound corny, but what
your little sister says about you intrigues me.  What I see with my own
eyes helps.  And I don't just mean your face and your curves."

   Jein nodded for him to go on.  He did.

   "Jasami tells me you're trying to get ready to start an adventuring
career.  Following in your mom's footsteps, as it were.  I could do a lot
of good for someone like that."

   "You'll have to excuse me if I'm a little suspicious of guys I find
peeping on me after I tell them to leave me alone.  Especially ones who
almost get my little sisters killed," Jein replied darkly.

   He nodded.  "And you're still listening when you could be trying to
smash my skull in.  I'm just saying that the crown itself thought enough of
what I have to offer to ask me to go right inbetween Tran and Kargis's
flunkies."

   "With my little sister."

   "Who came out of that without a scratch on her, thank you very much,"
Jeer took a step toward the window, then turned and looked over his
shoulder at Jein.  "Think it over.  I'll be around."

   "I better not see you or I really will smash your head in next time."

   "We'll see." Then he slipped out the window, down the wall, paused by
the bushes and cursed before running on all fours to the fence and slipping
through the spars before vanishing into the night.  Jein sighed, shut the
windows and made her way to her bedroom door, then knocked softly.  "Cath?
You there?"

   "Yes.  Come in quickly."

   Jein slipped inside and locked the door behind her.  The blinds were
drawn, and standing in the middle of the room was Cathallis, wearing a long
black bathrobe.  She was looking intently at the ground, blushing
furiously.

   "We don't have to do anything if you don't want to, Cath," Jein said
automatically.  Surreptitiously she checked the windows, but there were no
signs of Jeer pushing his luck that she could see.

   "I want to," Cathallis assured her without looking up.  "But I'm going
to ask you to do something that's probably going to sound bad at first."
Jein tensed, also automatically, but forced herself to nod and let her
sister continue.  Cathallis moved her arm and something she'd had up her
sleeve slipped into her hand, which she held out for Jein to take.  It was
a leather riding crop.

   "Cath, are you asking me to--" Jein started, but Cathallis didn't let
her finish.  Instead she untied her robe and threw it to the floor. 
Underneath she had on a pink shelf bra and thong, and black silk stockings.
Her skin was almost totally white, and Jein found herself wanting to reach
out and stroke her fingers all over it.

   Then Cathallis turned to face away from Jein, and pointed at one round
ass cheek.  "I want you to hit me with that.  Right here.  After you turn
on the white noise machine."

   "Since when do we have a...," Jein looked around, and then spotted the
beige dome plugged into the wall by the door that hadn't been there that
morning.  She flipped it on to the sound of static, then walked back to
where Cathallis stood.  "Shit, Cath.  I didn't know you were into this kind
thing." When Cathallis didn't reply, Jein hesitated, then brought her arm
back, and swung the crop in a wide arc that slapped against Cathallis's
ass.

   She let out a yelp and hopped forward.  Then she slowly she looked over
her shoulder at Jein.  Her blush had darkened.  "I liked that."

   There was nothing Jein could say to that.  Of course Jein knew Cathallis
wasn't the demure maiden she seemed, but this?  Finally, she found her
voice."So you're saying you want more?"

   "Yes.  Mistress."

   "Cath, was it like this the whole time and you just never told me,
or...what?"

   "I'll tell you if you smack me again."

   "Don't you try to tell your mistress what to do!" Jein roared.  She
started to bring the crop up again when she stopped, realizing what she'd
just said.  Had she really seen that much BDSM?  The brightest, widest grin
formed on Cathallis's face.  "That just slipped out."

   "That's because it comes so naturally to you."

   "You sound just like Jasami!" Jein groaned, but a second later the air
filled the crack of her crop hit Cathallis on the other ass cheek.  That
time she didn't yelp or jump.  But she did let out a ragged breath that was
almost a wheeze.  She started to lean forward and held out her arms to
brace herself against the wall.

   After a second Cathallis gasped out, "Well, you're the daughter of a
queen.  That probably helps, don't you think Jein?"

   "How dare you be so familiar!" Jein exclaimed.  Again a sharp crack and
again a gasp of pleasure from Cathallis.

   Jein's eyelid twitched.  She stared at the red marks on her sister's
ass, then added another one, not even hearing the noise Cathallis made that
time.  Her instincts cried out in protest.  She was supposed to be the
protector, the oldest sister who looked out for the rest of her family. 
Yet here she was, beating her twin's ass, and the warm trail of arousal
forming down one leg said she was enjoying it.

   Cathallis sank to all fours and looked back at Jein again.  Tears were
pooling in the corners of her eyes but she was smiling in spite of it. 
"Faster, please.  Mistress."

   Without thinking Jein untied her robe and let it slip from her
shoulders. She loomed over her twin like a hourglass-shaped mountain, then
with a feverish intensity she started raining strikes from the crop onto
her sister's exposed back and ass.  Cathallis jerked and moaned and her
breasts swayed with each smack and each new stinging red trophy on her
flesh.  As Jein brought the crop up to strike again, she had to hold her
other arm across her chest to keep the bouncing of her breasts to a
minimum.

   Finally, with Cathallis's back and rump marked by nearly two dozen red
trophies from the riding crop, Jein knelt down over her sister.  She looped
her arms around Cathallis's midriff and let her breast moosh down against
Cathallis's back.  "That felt wrong and right at the same time," Jein
murmured.

   Cathallis's face seemed to glow as she turned slowly to meet her twin's
gaze.  "Exciting, huh?" she whispered, and winked.

   Slowly Jein rubbed her palm down Cathallis's side, and poked at one of
the crop-marks lightly with her fingernail.  Cathallis bit her lip to hold
in a squeal, and Jein made a thoughtful noise.  Her hand reached
Cathallis's hip, then hooked itself into her thong and started to slip the
undergarment down Cathallis's slender thighs.  "Kind of."

   That got a pout from the dark-haired twin.  "Just kind of?"

   "I'm still getting used to the idea of hitting people I don't like,"
Jein countered as she reached into the bra and pulled downward on her
twin's nipples.  "Give me at least a little bit to get used to hitting my
sister, okay?  The one I don't mind sharing a bedroom with.  Let alone
clothes...let alone the same bed..."

   "Mmmmmrrppph!" Cathallis groaned.

   Jein crawled back on her hands and knees and then pressed her face up
against her twin's groin, and lapped her tongue lightly at Cathallis's
petals.  They were already parted and glistening from the beating, and Jein
chuckled as she ran her tongue over their edges.  Cathallis's hips started
to sway, but Jein grabbed them and held them still.

   "Your mistress commands you to be still," she said before slurping up
one pussy wall and then the other.  Cathallis giggled at the command, and
Jein slapped her sore ass.  "And for you to stay quiet and take it like a
good little slave."

   "Yes, mistress," Cathallis moaned, and Jein slapped her on the ass
again. Harder.

   A yelp started to escape Cathallis's lips before she bit down to silence
herself.  Jein sat up and checked the windows again, but still they looked
to be alone.  Maybe Jeer really had taken the hint the last time.

   "Mistress?" Cathallis asked timidly.  Jein slapped her across the ass
again.

   "Who said you could talk?"

   "Sorry...mmmmph!"

   Jein found herself grinning.  "You're really, really bad at this!" she
laughed.  "We're going to have practice a lot!" Jein brought one hand up
and slapped straight down onto Cathallis's poor abused ass, getting a
shriek of pain from the dark-haired twin.  She grinned wider.

   Then, Jein bent over and poked the tip of her tongue against the pucker
of her twin's asshole.  Cathallis quivered and this bit her lip hard enough
to hold in any noise.  At least until a second later, when Cathallis
screamed a dry-throated scream and the juices of her arousal squirted down
her leg.  She slumped onto her stomach and panted.

   And then Jein slapped her across the ass again.  "Who said you could
finish?"

   "Sorry, mistress..." Cathallis gasped.

   She jumped and mewled as Jein's hand came down on her ass in another
slap.



   "I don't think is part of the routine," Cathallis said, but let out a
little relieved moan as Jein pressed two bags of ice up against her sore
ass.

   "I can be a merciless bitch later.  And I'm not sure what in the hell I
was thinking anyway, you're too delicate for me to beat on."

   Cathallis looked over her shoulder at her twin, like she might've been
about to say something, but just rolled over to lay on the ice Jein had
provided and relaxed.  She looked over at Jein, who was scanning the
windows again.

   "Is something wrong?" Cathallis asked.

   "What?  No," Jein answered.  "Why do you ask?"

   "You keep looking at the windows, even though the blinds are closed."

   "I just have a weird feeling," Jein replied.

   "Why?" Cathallis asked.

   "You can't really explain why you have weird feelings." Her brain seemed
to tighten as she fed Cathallis that line of bullshit.  Jein didn't want to
freak Cathallis out at the idea of a pervert being on the premises,
especially not when she was sore all over from their little session.  And
whatever had come over Jein during that "session" had worn off, and the
feeling her familiar protective big sister urges had returned.  And the
possible presence of an intruder she wasn't sure she could spot was
rattling around in her in an attempt to fight its way up and out of her
mouth.

   "You can explain what weird feelings are," Cathallis said, starting to
look nervous.  "Jein, what's wrong?"

   "Okay, okay!  I caught someone peeping on me when I got out of the
shower," Jein croaked.  "He ran away but I'm a little worried he didn't
actually leave.  And I'll be damned before I let some pervert get off to
us."

   "Why didn't you tell me before?"

   "Because something came over me after I found out you wanted me to beat
you, and I couldn't think of anything else..."

   Cathallis's apprehensiveness faded was replaced by a knowing smile.  "So
what you're saying is you liked it after all."

   Jein looked away.  "Maybe..." Something tapped against her leg.  It was
the crop, Cathallis holding it out for her again.

   "Hit me," Cathallis said, and indicated her right side.  "Right here."

   "We should probably think about dinner..."

   "We will.  Right after you hit me."

   Jein hit her extra hard for her audacity.  Cathallis came at once.



   After they had a light dinner sent up, Cathallis and Jein climbed into
the same bed, as they did every night without their aunt's knowledge, and
almost immediately Cathallis fell asleep in her twin's arms.

   When she was sure her sister was asleep, Jein tried to get up to check
the windows again, but Cathallis tightened her arms around Jein's
shoulders. Gently Jein stroked her twin's cheek, and Cathallis smiled,
sighed happily and snuggled tighter, resting her cheek on Jein's chest.

   "Cath, can I get up and go to the bathroom?" Jein whispered.

   "NO.  You shoulda gone before bed," Cathallis murmured.

   "C'mon, Cath.  You don't want me to go right here, do you?"

   "Mrrrmmmm!  You better come right back..."

   Slowly Jein removed herself from Cathallis's arms and checked the
windows one more time, but still no signs at all of a furry trespasser.  Or
at least, none that she was thinking to look for...

   Damn it, she thought and crept over to the closet.  Once she was sure
Cathallis really asleep, Jein put on a tanktop and purple running shorts
and snuck downstairs.

   Just once around the property, she told herself.  Just a little physical
activity to help her get to sleep.  Not to see if anyone was skulking
around.  Then it was right back to bed like a good lover.

   She didn't even make it to the end of the drive before she could see
something was wrong.

   A car had pulled over to the side of the road about three quarters of a
block down, and it was surrounded by people brandishing what looked like
weapons, as they stood just outside the cone of a street light.  A
rough-looking young man in a battered jacket and holding a knife stepped up
to the rear door and yanked it open, then yanked someone inside out.

   A little girl with silvery hair, in a very expensive-looking indigo
dress...

   Oh, FUCK no.

   The thug grabbed Jasami by the front of her dress and waved his knife
back and forth in front of her face.  Mostly to scare her, probably, but
she jutted out her bottom lip defiantly at the unshaven lowlife.  "It takes
more than a stupid knife to impress me," she said without a flinch.

   "Oh yeah?" he retorted.  "Let's see how `impressed' I can make you!"

   He laughed, then all of a sudden choked on a mouthful of his own blood a
split-second after a fist shot out of the darkness and into his cheek.  As
he went down another arm snaked into the light and snatched the knife from
his splayed fingers.

   Jein lunged at the next-nearest thug to her sister and buried the blade
in his bicep.  He ignored the injury and angrily swung his pipe at her
head, but she dodged just in time for it to bash nothing but the tips of
her hair.  She came back up with a blindingly fast and high scissor kick
that snapped his head back, and she thought she felt something crack
against her shoe.

   The rest of the thugs paused as her sudden attack flattened two of their
number.  They shrank back from her and the car, and Jasami dashed over and
clung to Jein's hip.  "I knew you'd save us," she whispered.

   "We're not out of this yet," Jein whispered back.

   "How right you are, Miss Devyre," a rough voice hissed.  One thug in a
long overcoat with a hood stepped out from the crowd, and melodramatically
doffed off and threw the coat high into the air.  Beneath was a
wiry-looking woman with a pink Mohawk.  She wore a tight dark shirt, vest,
shorts and combat boots, with metal bracers on her wrists.  Casually she
spun the tip of a curved knife on one finger, then flipped it through the
air to land on the end of her outstretched tongue.

   And Jein recognized her.

   The woman was a bizarre assassin who went by the name Kiss of Death from
that one action game whose name escaped her in the heat of the moment. 
While not the deadliest opponent she'd encountered in her time playing
Action Pack, this probably still meant someone big had plans for Jein or
her family.

   And right now, that she was probably in big trouble.

   "Jasami, get back in the car and stay there," Jein ordered.  "Tell aunt
Namiel not to freak out."

   "She's gonna freak out anyway."

   "GO."

   Jasami went.  She slammed the door shut behind her while the woman with
the knife flipped the weapon into her hand again with her tongue, and
grinned at Jein.  "What do you want with them?" Jein demanded.

   All of a sudden the woman flipped the knife at Jein's hard, but she
dodged with surprising speed and only lost a lock of white hair.

   "Information, that's the real coin of the realm, isn't it?  And if you
want something worth having, you have to earn it," Kiss of Death smirked.
Already she'd produced a small crossbow from somewhere, and fired the bolt
at Jein's heart.  Again at the last second Jein jumped out the way.  Kiss
of Death discarded the crossbow and held her thumbs a few inches apart, and
in the light of the streetlamp Jein could see the glistening of a thin wire
stretched between them.  A garrote.  An instrument of death meant to snap
her neck like a twig.  How cheesy could you get?  As Jein backed away a
foot suddenly planted itself in her back and she stumbled toward Kiss of
Death.  Then the assassin flipped over Jein's head, then Jein could feel
the wire bit into neck.  The mocking laughter of the thugs filled her ears.
She was sure it was the last thing she'd ever hear.  But all of a sudden
there was another noise.  A series of small explosions followed by
scattered yelps of surprise and panic.  Kiss of Death growled quietly in
annoyance but didn't release the garrote.  At least, not until a second
later when she started to screech and then stifled it, and the wire across
Jein's throat went slack enough for her to duck under it and lash out
behind her with a sharp kick that connected with Kiss of Death's rib cage.
The assassin gasped, but Jein doubted she'd managed to do much harm.  She
turned as quickly as she could, and saw a small wound on Kiss of Death's
shoulder and a throwing knife barely two inches long, the blade dark with
blood, clenched between two of the assassin's fingers.

   A moment like that wouldn't come again, and Jein didn't dare question
it. She hurled herself forward and shoulder-checked Kiss of Death in the
stomach.  The assassin gasped, but in the next second Jein felt a hard blow
land right between her shoulders.  Just before she went sprawling, though,
Jein grabbed Kiss of Death by the leg and pulled the assassin to the ground
with her.

   Kiss of Death easily wriggled free and back-flipped onto her feet. 
"It'll take more than that, Sword Daughter," she said with a mix of
amusement and contempt.  She produced her curved knife from where Jein had
no idea, then darted toward Jein with it, seeming to become a blur as the
blade neared Jein's heart.

   But as Kiss of Death closed in to deal that lethal blow, a strange but
slightly familiar calm came over Jein.  She sidestepped and Kiss of Death's
knife only caught her lightly across the arm.  Jein saw Kiss of Death
slashing at her throat and ducked, then somersaulted back a few times,
landed on her feet and rose to her feet quickly.

   Suddenly she jabbed her elbow into Kiss of Death's midriff then landed a
roundhouse kick on her back before the assassin could recover from the
first attack.  Jein threw a punch that connected with Kiss of Death's
cheek, but the assassin grabbed her by the wrist and flung Jein against the
side of the car, knocking the wind out of her.  From out of nowhere Kiss of
Death produced an identical knife in her other hand and slashed and stabbed
relentlessly at Jein, who dodged and weaved away from attack after attack.
One slash cut through the strap of her tank top and bra and both started
sagging off, but Jein barely noticed.  Instead Jein noticed that about half
the original group of thugs had run away after the explosions.  And not
that the ones who were still there were staring at the damage to her upper
garments...

   Kiss of Death aimed another stab at Jein's ribs, and Jein twisted her
body out of the way before she chopped down hard on her enemy's wrist,
knocking the knife out of her hand.  The assassin stabbed with her other
knife at Jein's right shoulder and Jein twisted to her left to dodge it,
but suddenly the assassin feinted to Jein's left too and delivered a hard
chop between Jein's shoulders.  Jein let out a choked scream and started to
crumble forward, but Kiss of Death wasn't done.  She tossed the knife into
her other hand and jabbed the knife into Jein's back.

   The strength seemed to seep out of Jein as her mind registered the
wound. What the hell had she been thinking letting herself get into a fight
with someone who killed people for a living?  Kiss of Death had probably
just been toying with her before dealing the deathblow.

   Cold fingers of anxiety pulled at her stomach.  She'd messed up after
just one real battle, and now she was going to die.  Her family was history
and she'd never even gotten a chance to talk to Shana after making it
home...

   Time slowed down as Jein fell to earth.  Kiss of Death grinned down at
her, but didn't gloat.  This was someone apart from her only victim...

   "And don't say it was because he was stupid."

   What?

   "And don't say it was because he was stupid."

   That's what Cathallis had said about the vampire that morning...and
she'd been thinking similar defeatist thoughts after that fight too.  And
was that the kind of girl she wanted to be, even if nobody else knew it?

   No.

   A desperate burst of energy filled her and Jein jerked her shoulders
sharply and suddenly, pulling the weapon out of the assassin's hands, and
lashed out with a high backward kick that slammed hard into Kiss of Death's
ribs.  Jein spun around and drove one fist into Kiss of Death's stomach,
then the other.  Her knuckles ached and the knife wound screamed at her but
Jein only made her next punch to the side of Kiss of Death's head even
harder.  Then one last punch straight into the assassin's face.

   It was a vicious assault, one Jein had a right to be proud of.  But it
was against a vicious person.  Kiss of Death retreated a few steps then
produced another knife that she tossed at Jein.  She tried to twist away
but the knife bit into her shoulder and sliced most of the way through her
shirt's other strap.

   Her strength failing fast, Jein lunged at Kiss of Death and grappled
with her.  They struggled back and forth beside the car, but slowly Jein
was pushed back, and back, and back...Kiss of Death grinned in victory and
swept her leg out to knock Jein's legs out from under her.  Jein gasped in
fear, but as she went down she reached out and grabbed Kiss of Death's
vest. As Jein fell and hit the ground she planted her feet on the
assassin's stomach.  She let the momentum of her fall carry them both
downward, and as soon as she hit the ground she thrust with her legs
hitting Kiss of Death square in the back, and vaulted her into the air.  In
the failing light her hair was a fluorescent streak as she came crashing
down on the hood of the car.  With the last of her strength Jein snatched
one of the fallen knives and flipped it at Kiss of Death.  She groggily got
into a crouch, Mohawk half-flattened from the landing, but just before the
knife was about to reach her, her outline turned a dazzling green and she
disappeared into thin air.  That appeared to be the end of the fight.  The
thugs who hadn't run off already took one look at the teenager who'd fought
their leader to a standstill and did so then.  Once she was sure they were
all out of Jein lurched to the side of the car and pulled the door open. 
"Everything's okay now...Jasami?" Her younger sister smiled and waved
pleasantly, but she was alone in the back of the car.  "Where...where the
hell's aunt Namiel??!" "She's still at the party.  There was nobody there
but stupid boring grownups, and I got horny so I pretended I was sick so
she sent me home early," Jasami answered conversationally.  "The driver
fainted when one of those guys jumped on the front." "Well, that explains
why I was on my own out there...sorta wondered why Takel didn't show up,"
Jein sighed.  She was interrupted by Jasami pulling on her shirt, which
caused her frayed straps to finally give out and the fabric to finish
falling away from her breasts.  "Jasami!" "Come on in here and let's fuck,"
Jasami whispered.  "You're already showing your boobs." "No!  What if all
the shaking wakes up the driver?" Jein protested.  "You're right...let's go
upstairs and fuck!" With an exasperated sigh Jein ran her fingers through
her little sister's hair.  Jasami flashed her cutest smile.  Finally Jein
whispered, "What kind of underwear do you have on?" "You and your sister
are a lot closer'n you made it sound," said someone who seemed to appear
out of nowhere next to Jein.  She gasped until she recognized Jeer.  "This
is the good one," Jasami smiled.  "She fights pretty good," Jeer nodded. 
"Hopefully, even she can see how helpful having someone around to watch her
back is now, though." A frown shaped Jein's lips.  "Those explosions and
the knife when she was about to break my neck.  That was you, I bet." "Hey,
maybe I'm not the most law-abiding coonkin in Zenith.  Doesn't mean I don't
like a fair fight," Jeer said, and craned his neck to get the best view of
Jein's naked chest.  "Especially if it's between two hot girls..."
"Especially if they're doing it in a mud hole with bikinis on, I bet," Jein
added.  He nodded, his eyes never leaving her front.  "Especially." Jasami
gasped.  "Jein likes watching that too!  See??  You guys are gonna be such
good friends!" Then Jein knitted her brow and held up a finger in her
sister's direction, and Jasami fell silent.  She turned to Jeer next. 
"Thanks, you saved my ass back there.  Maybe we can work together
sometime." He nodded, then smiled a smarmy smile.  "Maybe we can discuss
payment for that little save just now...now." "Jasami, go inside and call
the police," Jein said.  "We should probably at least let them know
something happened."

   "But Jein...!"

   "I'm not done," Jein interrupted.  "Then go upstairs and pick out some
sexy music for us." She had to raise her arm to shield her eyes from
Jasami's blinding smile until Jasami had run up to the house at top speed
and slammed the door behind her.

   Jeer chuckled and steepled his thin raccoon fingers.  "You two really
are as close, aren't you?"

   "Uh huh.  And if you think I'll ever let you get that close to her
again, you're crazy.  And in for a cracked skull."

   He arched an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Jein's breasts that she still
hadn't covered and grinned a grin full of pointy little teeth.

   "Challenge accepted."



   Kiss of Death hissed in annoyance.  Everything had remained within the
parameters of her instructions, but that didn't mean her head wasn't aching
any less from those punches.

   The assassin braced herself just in time as that raspy voice issued from
the shadows, reminding her of thorned vines being dragged down her back. 
"How did it go, dearie?"

   "She came out to fight, but no casualties, no lasting damage," Kiss of
Death answered guardedly.  She could feel the eyes of her conversation
partner passing over her body, taking in all signs of her battle with the
Sword Daughter.  Even though she'd known to expect this, and knew well the
protections she enjoyed, it chilled her to the bone.  What kinds of powers
had her masters made a deal with?

   "Pity.  I suppose I expected no less from my spawn's spawn, though."

   The floor creaked ever so slightly as Kiss of Death shifted from one
foot to the other and back.  "I've been told to remind you of our
arrangement."

   "And what makes you think I've forgotten, dearie?" the voice cooed
repulsively in response.  "Your masters will get what they want after I've
gotten what I want.  I'm a business partner, not one of their toadying
thralls.  And you can tell them I said so."

   That got a scowl from the assassin.  "Don't underestimate us, human.  We
were laying waste to worlds before your kind were even swinging from
trees."

   An amused cackle was the reply.  "Never heard that before, dearie.  Now
hurry on back to your friends.  There's much work to be done."

   Yes, much work to be done, Kiss of Death thought as she prepared to
teleport away again.  And hopefully no more of it with you...