Message-ID: <17273eli$9811170436@qz.little-neck.ny.us> X-Archived-At: <URL:http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/17273.txt> From: J R D <jrdss@micronet.net> Subject: Change of Power (lots of fiction, romance) [10/14] Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Path: qz!not-for-mail Organization: The Committee To Thwart Spam Approved: <usenet-approval@qz.little-neck.ny.us> X-Moderator-Contact: Eli the Bearded <story-admin@qz.little-neck.ny.us> X-Story-Submission: <story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us> X-Original-Message-Id: <v04003a0ab276bed45d9e@[206.96.52.91]> Change of Power pt 10 Now, onto the boring stuff ------------------------- DISCLAIMERS ------------------------- This story contains scenes of an erotic and/or controversial nature, and is not intended for the perusal of minors. Further if perusal of such material is considered illegal in your area or immoral by your religion or personal beliefs, you should likewise bypass this story. This story remains the property of the author. Permission is granted to download, photocopy, copy and repost so long as any such action contains these disclaimers, and no attempt is made to profit from this story. All characters in this story are the creation of the author, and any resemblance to real persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental. This story may contain aspects of fantastic science or magic. The parameters of what this science/magic can accomplish are completely at the discretion of me, the author, and, as such, I make no apologies for any rules of "real" physics, chemistry, biology, or magic that may be broken within the story. ------------------------- Now onto the fun stuff ------------------------- CHANGE OF POWER pt 10 A mystified Bronwyn walked into Laurie's house, to be greeted by a loving hug. "Congrats, dearie. You and Jack finally did the deed." Bronwyn asked, "He told you?" "No, but I'd have to be pretty dense not to notice that silly smile on his face after he spent the whole night out. Was it any good?" "It was wonderful, Laurie. I've never had a more sensitive male lover. He was even better than most women. And, Laurie, when we came, I realized I wanted his baby." "You're pregnant? I didn't sense it." Laurie linked to Bronwyn with her healer's senses. "I don't sense it. You're not pregnant." "But... how?" "I don't know. The only thing I can think of is that he used some magical protection." "But I didn't sense anything." "Hun, you were in the middle of what you call some of the best sex you ever had,and we know he can be rather subtle in his magics. I think short of him conjuring elephants into the bedroom, you could've missed almost anything." Bronwyn smiled. "Thanks, hun. I needed that." "Look, why don't you tell him you and Nita are the same person and ask him?" "I... I'm not ready for that." Laurie tried to argue the point, but Bronwyn said, "No, hun, just let me handle this. You promised." "Alright." At that point, Jack came in. Bronwyn made a quick excuse and left, unwilling to face him and risk betraying something. Laurie gave her a disapproving glare as she left. Jack grabbed a box of cereal, a bowl, and the milk and sat down. As he poured the cereal, Laurie asked, "Can I ask for another clue? I think I'm getting close, but it keeps slipping away." Jack got a concerned look on his face. "I suppose I should've seen this, but really I thought you'd have this figured out by now. So I've only got one more clue. I can't do anything more without spelling it out for you, and I won't do that." "Okay." "Last clue. One of the reasons why Jacqui was so powerful was because her father was one of us, one of a group called the Order of Hermes. One of my level. The fact of the matter is, he had some very powerful enemies. If you had not disappeared out of his life, he'd've disappeared out of yours. But he realized there was always the chance one of his enemies might've found out about you, and kidnapped Jack to use against him. So before he left, he cast a spell to protect the then fetus. A spell that would make tampering with his mind nearly impossible." Laurie was mystified. "But how does this apply to Jacqui?" "That, dear lady, is for you to figure out." "Okay, I've got another request for you." "Shoot." "Tell Bronwyn you know that she and Nita are one and the same." "I can't do that. Not yet. I'm not ready for it." When Laurie was about to protest, he said, "Look, I appreciate the concern, you've been more of a mother to me than mine ever was. But I'm holding you to your promise not to interfere in any way." Laurie sighed. "Okay." As Jack ate his cereal, Laurie went upstairs to her room. "Stuck between two promises. I hate this." ************ Jacqui and Marcus were walking together in the garden. She was in her ninth month and due anytime. At one point, she turned to Marcus and kissed him. Right in the middle of her kiss, she felt her first contraction. She had experienced false contractions before, so she used her Healer's senses to check. She looked to Marcus and said, "It's time." ************ Laurie was sitting in the kitchen discussing the Brotherhood with Bronwyn. Since Jack had saved Dana the attacks had dropped off to almost nothing, but both women knew it was only the calm before the storm. Bronwyn was talking about some information that she had gotten from the Sisters in Asia, when she suddenly stopped in mid-sentence. Laurie looked up, and saw that Bronwyn was frozen in place. She was about to say something when Jack appeared beside her. By way of explanation, he said, "Time bubble. Don't talk. Takes a lot of energy to maintain. Your daughter just went into labor. She petitioned for and got permission for you to be there, with three conditions. These conditions are non-negotiable and immutable. You accept and go, or refuse and stay. Any attempt to bargain or modify these conditions will be taken as an automatic refusal. "Condition one, you don't get to discuss this with anybody before you leave. We leave right from here, and nobody but me knows where you are. "Condition two, with the exception of your daughter, her well being, and her birth, you discuss what you see with no one. Period. "Condition three, you let me blind your senses, both physical and magical. You won't know where you're going or where you've been till you get there. "Do you accept the conditions as stated?" It took her less than a second to decide. She knew the conditions would be a strain on Bronwyn, but there was no way she couldn't be with her daughter during this time. Not if she had any options. "Yes." Jack took her in his arms, then waved his hand over her eyes. Suddenly Laurie was blind. And in more than just a physical way. All her senses, including magical, and healer, were blocked off. Even her connection with the other Sisters was suppressed (how powerful was this man?). Then, almost as suddenly as it started, the blindness lifted. She was in a nicely furnished room with her daughter on a bed, Marcus on one side, and the Verbena Mistress on the other. Her senses told her that Jacqui was in the middle of birth pains. She ran to Jacqui's side, and embraced her. "Mother, I was so afraid you wouldn't make it." "Never." The two hugged, but Jacqui broke it as she went through another labor pain. Laurie said, "Don't worry, dear. Mother's here. Let's bring your baby into the world." ************ Bronwyn was speaking to, and looking right at Laurie, when she suddenly disappeared. She looked around and quested with her senses, but they were telling her that Laurie was at an impossibly huge distance away. Suddenly she was besieged by Sisters who were close to Laurie saying that Laurie had just disappeared and asking Bronwyn if she knew what was going on. Their multiple voices became so insistent, that Bronwyn had to mentally yell, "Quiet!" After everyone had settled down, she said, both physically and mentally, "I don't know where Laurie is." She then heard Jack say, "She's safe." Bronwyn asked, "But where is she?" "I can't tell you. But take my word for it. She AND her daughter are safe." "But-" "You're not listening, Bronwyn. She AND her daughter are safe." Bronwyn finally got it. "Are you saying-" "I'm not SAYING anything other than she AND her daughter are safe." Bronwyn realized that although he wasn't saying as much, the way he was explaining it implied that Laurie and Jacqui were together. As he left the room, Bronwyn sent the message, "I have it on good authority that she's safe." She spent the next few minutes explaining things to the others and sending her best wishes to Laurie and Jacqui. ************ The birth went exceptionally easily, and when Jacqui held the baby in her arms, and was nursing her, Laurie said, "Now you must cast the Birth Rites." "I can't, mother." "What do you mean? Can't you utilize the Goddess's power that well anymore?" "That's part of it. I no longer wield the Goddess's power. I wield a power all my own." "Well, if you can't, then allow me." Laurie reached for the baby, but Jacqui said, "No!" Laurie felt a wall go up around her, preventing her from using any power. "Jacqui, what are you doing?" "I can't let you use the Birth Rites on my child, mother." "But-" "But nothing. Mother, you must promise me not to even try to cast the Birth Rites. There is so much here I want to show you. If you promise not to try to cast the Birth Rites on my child, then we can spend a week together as mother and daughter. But without that promise I can't trust you around my baby. I have the power to prevent you from using your power, but I cannot watch you all the time. If you don't promise me, you will have to leave right from here and go home." "But, Jacqui, why? The Birth Rites just dedicate her to a life to the light. Prevent her from being taken by the Dark One." "It also... No, never mind. Just promise me, mom." "But-" "Mother, please. There's more here at stake than you know." Laurie wrestled with the idea. Not cast the Birth Rites? Such a thing had not been done in the entire history of the Sisterhood. But this was clearly very important to her daughter. It took her a few minutes of wrestling with the idea, before she begrudgingly said, "Alright, Jacqui, I promise. I will not cast the Birth Rites on your daughter." Jacqui took Laurie's hand. "Thank you, mother. You did the right thing." If it was the right thing, why did her stomach suddenly churn so badly? ************ ------------ Jeremy Lancaster sat in the office that was his as the head of the Brotherhood. The doctor was there, trying to counsel him. "Are you sure this is a wise course of action? A direct confrontation with the High Priestess of the Sisterhood could result in very bad consequences." "Perhaps. But I think it somehow appropriate that we defeat them by forcing their surrender, by forcing them to admit we are their betters, their masters." "But it could result in your destruction." "That's the beauty of the plan." Jeremy picked up a disk which held a copy of the digital plague that his brother had invented. Balancing it on opposing corners, and spinning it in his hands, he said, "If they do anything to me, that will only mean their downfall." Jeremy laughed, and the doctor dismissed himself. Outside the doctor thought to himself, "This isn't working out like I planned. But it still may work out for me." ------------ ************ Bronwyn tentatively waited outside Laurie's house in her car. When Jack and she (as Nita) had been on a date about a half hour ago, Jack had excused himself, saying he had to go pick his mom up from an out of town trip she had been on. Since Bronwyn knew the only trip Laurie was on was where she had disappeared a week ago, she knew this meant Laurie's return was imminent. She felt the twisting of time and space that was the signature of Jack's teleportation inside. She got out and rushed into the house. Laurie and Jack were in the kitchen, and Bronwyn took Laurie into her arms and hugged her. After exchanging some pleasantries, Bronwyn said, "Jack didn't say so exactly, but he implied strongly that you were with Jacqui. Was it true?" "Yes, she, Marcus, and her baby, Cheryl, are all doing well." "Great. You have to tell me all about it." Laurie kissed Bronwyn on the cheek. "Later, love. Right now, I'm just too wiped out. I don't know why." Jack said, "It's called transition lag, the metaphysical equivalent to jet lag. Passing through dimensions takes its toll on the body. Until and unless you get used to it, you either need some sleep or an adrenaline boosting situation, like your daughter giving birth, to counter it. You'll be fine after a few hours sleep." Laurie nodded, kissed Bronwyn, and headed upstairs. She collapsed on the bed, and thought she'd be asleep in no time. But, as scenes of the last week marched through her head, she found it harder and harder to rest. The scenes of her discussions with Jacqui about the Birth Rites were what disturbed her the most. At first, she had spent much of her time just trying to convince Jacqui to allow her to cast the Birth Rites, but Jacqui was adamant. Under no circumstances was she going to allow the Birth Rites to be cast on Cheryl. She wouldn't explain why, but neither would she compromise. But it was what came next that disturbed her the most. Once she had accepted that there was no way to convince Jacqui through discussion, she found herself plotting to cast the Birth Rites on her granddaughter. Every time she was left alone with Cheryl, she had to fight off the... compulsion to cast the Birth Rites. At one point, she had even found herself making the hand motions for the Birth Rites. Only by reminding herself over and over again of her promise was she able to control herself. Then it started to congeal. She remembered Jack's clues. He had pointed out that eighty percent of the Sisterhood had had the exact same reaction, that is to say no reaction, to their Transformation. The only thing that could be doing that was some sort of mental suggestion. It wouldn't be outright control, for that would destroy their ability to do magic. But a suggestion, properly placed, could do it. This also tied into the last clue she had gotten. Jacqui, as a fetus, had been protected by her father from mental tampering, making any suggestion weaker, and doomed to fall apart. At first, she thought that it was only the reason why Jacqui had objected so strenuously to her Transformation, but she remembered Julie's problems with her son, and Jack's first clue. Jack, as well as others who had transformed back, were all much more powerful than their mothers. A mental compulsion placed on someone much more powerful rarely held long. So she had found out that the Sisterhood had been affected by some kind of widespread mental compulsion. And she had to admit what it was. The only thing that every member of the Sisterhood had in common was the Birth Rites. Every Sister had had them cast upon her by her mother and in turn cast them upon their children. But part of her rebelled at the idea. The Birth Rites had been handed down as a blessing from the Goddess. Or had they? Laurie remembered the only clue that Jack had given her that didn't seem to fit. He had pointed out the joy of raising girls and asked her why would the Goddess deny her that joy. The only way that made sense with the other clues, is if... the Birth Rites had NOT come from the Goddess. But then where had they come from? She had to find out. The first thing she had to do was break the Birth Rites down, find out what they were. No one had ever done this before, and, in fact, the idea seemed somewhat sacrilegious. But now, with Jacqui's absolute refusal to use them, she was sure that she had to do this. She went over to her bookcase and grabbed a notebook. Nowhere were the Birth Rites written down anywhere. They were always memorized and passed on until the child could do them from memory. As she started to write the Birth Rites down, something seemed to interfere, cloud her mind. But she had to persevere. She had to find out. ************ Bronwyn was sitting in the kitchen, across the table from Jack, who was doing his homework for the next semester of classes they were taking together. For the last two hours since Laurie's return, she had been debating whether or not to try to tell Jack of her dual nature. She had just thought she had worked up the nerve, when suddenly she felt Laurie's scream of frustration and rage. She jumped up from the table and ran upstairs, where she found Laurie throwing her magical paraphernalia across the room. Her crystals, books, anything that had anything to do with the Sisterhood was in total disarray, including Laurie's mental state. her rage was so great that her mind had lost any semblance of coherency. Laurie grabbed an entire shelf full of books and threw them to the floor, screaming, "Lies! All lies!" Bronwyn raced to her friend and lover, and grabbed her by the arms. Shaking her, Bronwyn asked, "Laurie, what's wrong?" Laurie could barely get herself together enough to say, "It's just... It's," before shrieking in rage. Bronwyn was about to try something more desperate, when she heard Jack say, "It sounds to me like Laurie has just discovered the reason why Jack was so upset when he was first Transformed." Both girls looked to the door and saw Jack standing there leaning against the door frame with the same cocky pose he had when first appearing to them. He said, "Kind of sucks being manipulated, doesn't it?" Laurie settled down, but her rage didn't actually go away, just went down to a controlled simmer. Jack walked into the room, and said to her, "The question is, what are you going to do now? You could throw what you know into the open air, and cause a lot of pain. You could inflict on others what you feel now. Or you can pick and choose the time of your revelation, and reverse the damage done. In other words, you can hurt, or you can heal." The last seemed to really get through to Laurie, and she calmed down immeasurably. Jack turned and walked from the room, saying, "The choice is up to you." After he was gone, Bronwyn asked, "Laurie, what's wrong? What did you discover?" Laurie collected herself, saying, "Bronwyn, I can't say. Jack was right. I've got to choose the right time to reveal this. And until I get a chance to think about this, I have no idea how long that'll be." Bronwyn tried to argue, but Laurie silenced her with a kiss. "Please, love, go home." "You'll call me if you need me?" "Of course." Laurie pressed her forehead to Bronwyn's and transmitted feelings of absolute love to the High Priestess. Bronwyn finally gave in, kissed Laurie and left, forgetting all about telling Jack about herself. ---------- All comments, suggestions, etc. may be sent to me at jrdss@micronet.net -- +----------------' Story submission `-+-' Moderator contact `--------------+ | <story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us> | <story-admin@qz.little-neck.ny.us> | | Archive site +----------------------+--------------------+ Newsgroup FAQ | <http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/>----<http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/faq.html>