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Message-ID: <32814asstr$1002186601@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
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Subject: {ASSM} Curse of the Golden Monkey (MC, FF) by cat_slave
Date: Thu,  4 Oct 2001 05:10:01 -0400
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- This story is copyright cat_slave 2001. Any of my stories may be 
downloaded for personal & private use at home. -- BUT -- Reposting without 
express permission of the copyright owner (namely, me) is illegal. My 
stories are only intended for display at the Erotic Mind Control Story 
Archive (www.mcstories.com), my personal web page (www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/cat_slave/www) 
and ASSM. If you're reading this story somewhere else, you could've seen it 
for free.

- The content of this story is adult fiction. All events, characters, and 
situations are only imaginations in the author's head and anything similar 
to real people or situations is purely coincidental, etc. If mind control, 
sexual acts (immoral or otherwise), and/or variant lifestyles offend you, 
you probably shouldn't be reading this. And if you do, don't hold me 
responsible. You've been warned. :)

- cat_slave

-----------------------------------------------

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN MONKEY (MC, FF)

	"Lying on stained, wretched sheets with a bleeding virgin.
	 We could plan a murder,
	 Or start a religion."*
		- Jim Morrison, *'Angels & Sailors'


Tyler jarred Dylan out of his concentration with a prod of his elbow. "Hey. 
Check out 'Indiana Croft'."

Nadia rolled her eyes in exasperation as yet again the poker game was put on 
hold for their libidos. She folded her arms and waited for their attention 
to turn back towards her, and the game.

Dylan looked up from the pair of aces in his hand, and squinted his wild 
green eyes towards where his friend nodded. A plume of dust was settling 
back upon the dune. Three figures sat inside the jeep that had pulled to a 
stop near the entrance of the camp, but it wasn't hard to see which one 
Tyler was talking about.

Forgetting the poker game, he leaned forward and squinted a little more to 
make sure he caught every dick-hardening curve in the small Asian girl.

'Indiana Croft', indeed. Her hair, a healthy and glossy black, was kept in a 
long ponytail that swung down the small of her back. A beaten leather fedora 
kept her face from the scorching desert sun and a pair of Ray Ban Aviators 
shielded her eyes from the distraction of the blinding light that would 
glare off of the desert sand.

She rose out of her seat, and extended a toned amber-skinned leg out of the 
jeep. Both men appreciated the fact she'd chosen to wear a pair of low-slung 
khaki shorts, whose length barely reached the halfway point to her knees. It 
seemed the only thing holding them up was an ornate leather belt fastened 
tightly to keep the shorts from slipping off.

As if she knew the men had been looking at her all along, she pointed at 
them and said something to the others in the jeep. She slapped the hood of 
the jeep a few times and the two men left took off, heading back to 
civilization in a cloud of rising dust.

'Indiana Croft' just stood there for a moment. She turned slowly about in a 
circle, as if taking in the beauty of the moment before she began walking 
towards the modest group of poker players.

Tyler whistled as he watched. She turned and he watched her silhouette 
against the sun. They weren't just a nice set of tits; they were globes, 
mounds of flesh that strained against her black halter-top. He felt himself 
licking his dry lips with his tongue, and twisting about in his chair to 
hide his obvious reaction. He sensed Dylan was experiencing a similar 
reaction, and chuckled to his friend.

"I saw her first."

Dylan laughed. "Yeah. But *I'll* get her."

A hand appeared in front of each of their faces, and rudely snapped its 
fingers. Both men instantly turned to face the irritated redheaded girl who 
grabbed her cards and made as if to continue playing.

"You don't have a chance with her. You two are the worst perverts I've ever 
seen." She grimaced, and then cocked her head to the side. A sincere 
expression crossed her features. "Now. Should I leave you two alone to play 
spank-the-monkey together, or can we finish this poker game?"

Tyler frowned. "Shut up, Nadia.  Just because you're not enough woman to 
handle Dylan or me doesn't mean she isn't."

Nadia responded too quickly. "*If* you were a man, we could probably talk 
about it. But some things are impossible." Her eyes narrowed in 
self-loathing that she played off as anger towards the men. She hated them 
for being right. She hated herself more for being so plain, so ordinary that 
few men ever really showed interest in her.

Dylan chuckled as if he knew Nadia's thoughts despite her attempts to hide 
them. He turned his eyes back to the approaching woman. "Besides," he mused, 
"'Indiana Croft' is anxious to meet us." He made a shooing motion to Nadia, 
"Go. Get, little girl. We'll finish the game later."

Nadia rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the half-assed grin that crept over 
her face. "Later guys." She stifled a laugh. "Good luck," she offered. Her 
tone dripped with sarcasm, a suggestion of what she thought of their 
chances.

Dylan narrowed his eyes at her as she walked away. "What did she mean by 
that?"

"Probably she's jealous you've got a boner for someone else," Tyler 
retorted, nudging his buddy again.

"Nadia's not half-bad. I'd fuck her if ... "

Both men turned back, to watch the new woman approach. As she neared them, 
they saw how diminutive she actually was. Her body was clearly toned, and 
athletic. But, she was small, standing just less than five and a half feet 
tall.

Without removing her sunglasses, she addressed them, the Asian accent barely 
noticeable. "Hello, gentlemen." A smile creased her lips, and she folded her 
arms over her chest. Her knee bent in the slightest manner, and she put her 
weight on that foot, getting comfortable for a long talk.

Before Dylan could even get a word in, Tyler was up and out of his chair. 
"Hello, Ms. Croft." A worn and calloused hand extended in the promise of 
friendship, and he grinned at his own joke.

There was an awkward pause as the smile on the woman's lips went from polite 
to perplexed. "Ms. Croft?" While it was impossible to tell exactly where her 
eyes were looking from behind the shaded lenses, Tyler could easily sense 
she wasn't very amused.

"'Indiana Croft'," he answered, trying to win back that smile that had been 
on her face. He kept his hand out in the air, hoping she'd take it. He 
nodded his head and explained, "Gear like Indiana Jones, and a body that 
beats even Lara Croft's. Damn." He pursed his lips and then continued. "My 
name's Tyler. I'm on the digging team of the project. Good t'meet ya."

Despite his yearning to try to act in a reasonable manner, he found his eyes 
settling on the curving bulges of fabric on her chest. Mental pictures began 
to form in his head of how she'd look in the showers lathering up, with 
lovely soapy suds that made her skin slick and slippery. He found himself 
hoping the bulge in his pants wasn't as obvious as those in her shirt.

The woman nodded, "Ah. I see." The smile crawled back onto her face. 
"'Indiana Croft'," she repeated again. The tone of her voice seemed to fail 
to hold the amusement that Tyler seemed to. Both men snickered at her 
inability to get the joke.

"Hey, everyone's got a nickname," Dylan chimed in. He wasn't about to be 
left out of the conversation. Shooting Tyler a quick dirty look, he 
half-saluted the woman off the brim of his hat. "It's sort of a 
'welcome-to-the-party' type thing, y'know?"

Neither the expression on her face or the tone of her voice changed. "I'd 
hate to spoil the party." The smile faded from her lips, turning to an 
expression of disgust and she straightened her posture to stand as tall as 
she could.

"But - "

Even before both men could exchange glances to silently ask if that single 
'But' had meant, two pointed fingers from her hand hooked tightly into 
Tyler's shoulder.

The sudden scream of pain was enough to wipe the amused expression off of 
Dylan's face, and to get him to bolt upright in his seat. He rushed to 
protect his friend, but the woman had already anticipated his move.

With another lightning-fast thrust, her diminutive hand had turned from a 
dainty and soft thing to caress into a weapon of harsh efficiency. Her 
flattened palm landed in controlled strength against Dylan's exposed throat.

A hoarse gasp burst out of Dylan's mouth as he fell backwards, stumbling and 
finally falling down. He clutched at his throat, trying to breathe normally 
again.

Under her unreleased grip, Tyler moaned.

She watched them for a silent moment, before deciding to speak. "Quiet," She 
told Tyler in a calm voice. Her finger pressed harder into the pressure 
point, then released; a demonstration that she could bring a higher level of 
discomfort to him, if she wished. Tyler's face tightened as the pain 
increased. The lesson was learned.

"Good." This time, the smile on her face was much less polite.

"My name is Yin-Feng." The pride in her voice seemed intent on correcting 
the grievous error.  "*Professor* Yin-Feng. I am in charge of this dig. I 
may decide to be your friend and let you call me Feng, eventually." Slowly, 
she removed the sunglasses and slid them into a pocket in her shorts. Cold 
blue eyes took each man in, as if giving that a second or two to sink in. 
"Do you understand?"

Tyler nodded in emphatic agreement. Anything was better than trying to deal 
with the searing pain that was ripping through his body. Anything.

"But," she warned, "Don't ever associate me with a sex-laden computer image, 
or a manufactured movie character. I worked very hard to get where I am. Not 
by being a sex object to little perverts who can't see past the snake in 
their own pants."

She pressed her thumb near where her fingers were hooked into Tyler's 
shoulder, and then released him, acting as if she had been disgusted to 
touch him at all. Immediately, Tyler fell over on his side. He moved to get 
up, and instantly realized that the entire left side of his body was 
paralyzed. The look of abject terror on his face was enough to satisfy 
Yin-Feng that he would be a bit more careful in the future.

Hunched over and finally on his knees, Dylan was too busy trying to claim a 
whole breath into his lungs to do anything but look at Yin-Feng in a 
combination of burning rage and immobilizing fear.

"Your digging team is the best around. That's why I hired them. That's why 
you're here." Her mouth turned down, frowning. Her cool, emotionless eyes 
stared hard at them. "But," she said in a smooth neutral tone, "I'm *very* 
well aware of what you two do. Very well. And don't give me that 'it was 
never proven' story, either."

She took a step closer to them, as if to threaten to attack them again. "I 
heard about that little stunt you pulled in Madagascar. Maybe the girls 
couldn't identify you, but they knew enough about what happened. And then 
you left, and some of the inventory came up missing?" Her tone was cold, 
harsh. "Let me tell you, boys. If I find one ... *one* ... artifact 
exchanged, misplaced, lost, or 'broken', ... trust me. I have ways of 
finding out the truth. Stay on your honest sides, gentlemen, and we won't 
have a problem." She gave them a faint smile, "Otherwise, you'll see me 
angry. And you really don't want to see me angry."

She intentionally stepped over Tyler's body, as if the man were not really 
there and headed towards the main portion of the camp, calling as she left, 
"I'll see you both at the meeting tonight. Don't be late." She glanced at 
Dylan, and wriggled her fingers in a goodbye wave.

She nodded towards the terror-stricken Tyler. "Oh. And the paralysis 
shouldn't last more than a few minutes. Nothing permanent." Pausing, she 
smiled, her tone sincere. "And nothing personal, I hope. I just have to take 
care of my camp, and my dig. You understand." She blew Dylan a kiss, as if 
to say there were no hard feelings between them any longer before sauntering 
off into another tent.

Nadia had been watching the whole thing from the food tent with a hidden 
grin on her face. It was about time those two perverts had gotten a taste of 
karma. Besides, she couldn't have been more thrilled to have someone as 
bright and imposing as Yin-Feng. This dig needed someone like that. A strong 
female. Someone that she could look up to.

She remembered the men soon enough, and noticed that nobody else was even 
bothering to help them; either they felt like Nadia or they were scared the 
same thing might happen to them. The problem was, part of her job here was 
first aid. She took her time to jog over to the two men who were still not 
yet up on their feet.

A sigh escaped Nadia's lips as she sat down in the sand beside them. "You 
idiots."

She leaned close, glancing at Dylan first. Her grasp was gentle around his 
wrist as she pulled it away to examine the wound. "But, that's what you get 
for messing with the daughter of a Shaolin Monk. Didn't you read your 
introduction letters? Be more respectful, and careful, next time, would 
you?"

Assuring herself that Dylan's wound wasn't anything to worry about, she sat 
down next to Tyler's limp body, and took his limp hand, clasping her own 
hands about it. She gave him a wan smile, telling him, "Don't worry. She 
said it'd be gone in a few minutes. We'll stay with you until it does."

Even as she spoke the words of compassion, her thoughts were somewhere else; 
wishing that somehow, someway, she could have a taste of that elegance, of 
that grace. She wanted the beauty, the boldness, and the strength that 
seemed to drip off Yin-Feng. It was everything that she was not, and more. 
It was everything she'd ever dreamed of...

Neither of the men responded to her, or seemed to notice the growing distant 
look in her eyes. Instead, their eyes, burned in rage and humiliation. They 
stared in the direction of the tent Feng had disappeared within. And each 
man began silently planning his own twisted acts of revenge.

-----------------------------------------------------------


The hazy light of the flickering lanterns brought an almost fireplace 
comfort throughout the tent making it seem a bit cozier than it actually 
was. Archaeologists, scholars, diggers, and all the other men and women 
working on the project sat in the uncomfortable folding chairs, facing the 
speaker.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Professor Yin-Feng said. Her voice was 
strong and serene and it seemed to quiet the hushed murmurings that had 
buzzed about the tent for the last few minutes.

She set her foot on an overturned bucket and leaned forward, resting her 
elbow on the propped knee. Then, she paused, purposefully, taking each 
individual in the tent into consideration, as if to judge his or her merit.

Those who found themselves staring into the cool, calculating eyes did not 
look back at them for more than a few seconds. A few averted their eyes from 
the glance; others lowered their eyes and shuffled nervously.

Nadia realized there was sudden warmth in her cheeks as she smiled back to 
the Professor.  She almost felt like Feng wanted to befriend her through 
that stare, to know her. She quickly looked away as if to hide herself from 
the imposing woman, embarrassed at her own weakness. *You're just another 
person on the job, Nadia. She's here to do a job. Not to make friends.*

Tyler and Dylan sat alone in the back. Their eyes never moved from her 
figure, and they were more than glad to return the cool stare with stares to 
match, as if to challenge her again.

Suddenly finished, she removed her brimmed fedora and tossed it to the side. 
The lanterns gleamed, her glossy black hair reflecting the soft light. Her 
ponytail swung behind her as she moved her head again, eyes watching the 
group in front of her with intensity.

"For those of you who may not have met me yet," she continued, "I am 
Professor Yin-Feng. No need for pleasantries. You may call me Feng, and I 
hope to establish a friendship with each and every one of you. I have been 
sent here by my country to oversee, and conduct this search to make sure it 
runs smoothly, and efficiently. And to make sure it is a success."

*God. How did she get to be so commanding? So -- inspiring? Face it, Nadia; 
you haven't got a chance to be like her. She's got the entire group ready to 
do whatever she wants them to, out of respect. Out of awe. Out of fear. Half 
of them probably want to get her into bed.*

" ... And evidence of those temple ruins have finally been discovered in 
this area." Yin-Feng's strong voice pulled Nadia out of her reverie. Her 
hands went to her cheeks lightly, to mask the burning warmth that was 
probably turning them a glowing red.  "You, my friends, have all been 
handpicked, by me, to ensure the success of this mission."

There were a few soft murmurs, ... and some disgruntled noises at the news.

*Me?* Nadia found it difficult to swallow. *She chose me? Why?! I'm ... I'm 
nothing. Why would someone like her want a loser like me on her team?* Nadia 
found herself strangely awed by this sudden revelation, and at the same time 
discouraged. *I'm not worthy to be here. Not with someone like her. I've 
never been on a dig before. And I only just got out of medical school. So 
what if I had top honors? Nobody seemed to care. Why should she?*

" ... Are among some of the things that I expect to find. As well as the 
Monkey of Xiao." She paused, "Yes," Answering perhaps a question before any 
member of the group could voice it. "Duke Xiao, the first Emperor of the Qin 
dynasty in 338 B.C."

A few of her peers in the front let out a faint gasp of surprise. A 
sliver-haired man leaned forward. "You really don't think that it exists, do 
you?" He asked, the British accent in his voice unmistakable.

For the first time Nadia could remember, she saw Yin-Feng smile genuinely. 
Even in the beauty of that smile, Nadia could feel Feng's strength. But now 
it held another quality; one of allure that Nadia felt strangely compelled 
to want to be around. She hoped she could make friends with her idol.

Again, Nadia found herself looking at the floor, ashamed of her thoughts. 
*Why would such a woman who had so much going for her even want to notice 
someone like me? Somebody probably made a mistake in sending me here.*  She 
was glad for the sudden attention at Yin-Feng. It kept eyes away from her. 
It kept those near to her from feeling compelled to ask her, 'What's 
wrong?'.

"Actually Jonathan," Yin-Feng returned to the man who had questioned her, "I 
do." She stood up and walked over to the man with a slow gait, hips slightly 
swaying as she did so.

Nadia caught more than one man eyeing her. She knew what was in their minds. 
Again, she found herself wishing to have just a fraction of the power that 
Yin-Feng had, to hold such power over other people. *But, you never will. 
Will you, Nadia?* She sighed in self-defeat.

"My latest findings in the Chin-Tan-Sun Mountains have unearthed a 
manuscript of the period, which has been translated by leading authorities 
in the field.  It contains a message by the hand of a nobleman who served in 
the Duke's army, and meant for his wife. It reveals details about his 
efforts to remove the golden monkey from its resting place. It also speaks 
of the ancient curse that fell upon him, and ends with poignant farewells. 
This letter, ladies and gentlemen is what has led me here, to take charge of 
this dig."

The man laughed heartily. "And do you believe in curses and Gods as well?"

Yin-Feng's only emotional response was a kind smile. "The dating of the 
letter matches a period rife with Mongol invasions, before the Great Wall 
was built, and the Temple moved. We do have proof that the Temple once stood 
in the mountains, and we know it also was moved to a safer place for unknown 
reasons." She turned her face towards the group, to address them now as a 
whole.

"The evidence is clear. It backs up proven historical facts. I'm interested 
in facts. Not in children's stories. Not curses. Not gods. Not wealth and 
gold. There is truth to every myth, and myths in nearly every truth. I'm 
very good at separating the two, which is why I am here." She looked wryly 
back to the man. "The only reason treasures were ever 'cursed' was because 
they were rare, and because men were too zealous to have them for their 
own."

The older man nodded, as if satisfied with that, and impressed with the 
answer. Yin-Feng gave him a cold smile, then looked about the room. 
"Breakfast is at 4am. I expect everyone to be ready to work at 5. We'll be 
separated into three different digging sites, so you should contact your 
site manager if you have any difficulties. And my tent is always open if you 
need to talk. Have a good night."

Everyone rose out of their chairs, stretched, and began to filter out of the 
tent towards the sleeping quarters.

Yin-Feng was satisfied. She could tell that she had established her 
authority in no uncertain terms. They had confidence in her, and that would 
bring her far. Curiously, she watched the two men she'd confronted earlier 
leave the tent.

Yin-Feng nodded to herself. It didn't matter if they did, or did not like 
her. She wasn't here to make friends. She was here to do the job she'd been 
told to do.

More importantly, she would secure her name in the history books. She would 
find the Golden Monkey, curse or no curse, and bring it back to China. She 
would be a hero.

---------------------------------------------------------

The sleeping quarters were simple, divided into numerous large tents to 
allow for more personal space for both the men and women. Each individual's 
personal quarters were separated by a large mosquito net also designed to 
keep any stray snakes, spiders, or scorpions. Like most of the other tents, 
planks of wood had been laid down for a stable floor as well as additional 
protection against burrowing pests.

Along the center walkway of each tent, strung carefully across the main 
supporting pole, hung a row of dark green lanterns which would often be left 
on to shine their warm hue of light due to the different shifts. The 
web-woven nylon nets would filter out the brighter aspect of the light so 
while some slept, others would have enough light to read and study by.

It was by this light that Dylan managed to find Tyler's bedroll in the tent 
opposite of his own. Dylan tapped lightly on the outside of the net a few 
times in a rhythm. Tyler had been expecting him and emerged fully dressed. 
They nodded a silent greeting to one another. Tyler made a hand gesture, 
indicating they should both leave.

Dylan followed Tyler out, being careful to be as silent as possible. While 
it was true that some of the others might be up as well, they had no wish to 
cause a disturbance that would inquire as to their whereabouts. They walked 
a few hundred yards in silence. The night was cloudless, the stars shone 
bright and the moon smiled upon them, giving them light to see by.

Dylan pointed to a rock, jutting out from the sand. He lifted himself up, 
and sat down on it, giving his friend a meaningful look. His voice was low, 
filled with intensity. "So?"

Tyler sat next to his friend. He knew what the other was thinking. It was 
why they had made plans to come out into the desert night. The pain and 
humiliation was fresh in both of their minds. "She definitely needs to be 
put in her place."

The other nodded. "I've got a ... friend ... in the village. A retired 
British psychiatrist who's taken up 'digging' as a hobby." There was a dark 
smile upon his lips as he spoke, his tone cold.

"So?" Tyler asked. "How does that help?"

"Let's just say that he wasn't exactly - mmm - the most ethical of shrinks. 
Did a lot of experimenting on his patients." Dylan chuckled lightly. "I know 
of him because a few friends of mine had to clean up a few of his ... 
messes. Not that I'd have anything to do with that."

Tyler gave his buddy a skeptical look. "Right. Sure you didn't." His mouth 
twisted into a smirk, and he eyed his friend, trying to determine the 
expression on the other's features. "So is this guy on the up-and-up or 
what?"

Dylan nodded. "Yeah. He was doing some huge research project for allergies 
or something, and managed to brew himself up some sort of hypno-juice." He 
pressed his thumb between his index and middle finger, miming giving someone 
a shot.

"*Hypno-juice?*" Tyler echoed. The disbelief in his voice gave Dylan the 
notion Tyler wasn't buying any of this.

"Sort of like that ... sodium-whatcha-callit," Dylan explained. "That 
truth-saying shit. Except instead of forcing you to tell the truth it 
basically puts your mind asleep, while keeping the subconscious awake. 
Anyways, the 'good doctor' got into some trouble with a few of his sexier 
patients. His nurses were going to squeal on him - a friend of mine made 
sure they didn't."

Tyler smirked. "Right." The sarcasm in his voice wasn't lost on Dylan. "So, 
what do you plan to do to her? Turn her into a vegetable?"

Dylan shook his head. "No. We can turn her into our own personal slut. 
Hypnosis, or some shit like that. Total mindfuck." He licked his lips, "And 
I can have those tits, and that sweet Asian pussy of hers anytime I want it. 
She'll grovel, beg, and crawl on her knees like a bitch in heat just to be 
in the same room with us."

He gave Tyler friend a huge grin, and lowered his voice. "It works. Trust 
me."

The slap across his face was light, but it certainly got Dylan's attention. 
"You fucking moron." Tyler snorted, derisively. "What will happen if you 
succeed in this crackbrained notion of yours and turn her into a slut?"

Dylan's expression indicated he wanted to belt Tyler for smacking him like 
he did.  Instead he flashed his tobacco-stained teeth at his friend after a 
short pause. "We get all the benefits of a relationship, without any of the 
hassles? And we put her in her goddamned place."

Tyler shook his head, "No, you idiot. What happens is one of her political 
fuckbuddies that sent her here decide to look into what happened to her. 
Those people have a way of finding things out. And you and I would get 
fucked up the ass." He smacked Dylan again. "Shithead."

Dylan flinched at the slap, and pushed Tyler back, as if to start a fight 
with his friend. But, noting the huge difference in muscle and size between 
them, he thought better of it. He sighed - the dream he'd been brewing in 
his head was quickly dying.

"On the other hand..." Tyler muttered. His voice held the appealing edge of 
a brilliant scheme come to light.

Dark brown eyes quickly turned to Tyler. Dylan leaned forward a little in 
anticipation. "What?" He asked, biting the lure of enticement in Tyler's 
voice.

"What we *could* do is let her doom herself." Tyler nodded to himself, 
pleased by his brilliant idea.

Dylan frowned, appearing to be utterly baffled. "What?"

Tyler chuckled wickedly. He answered, "That stupid curse."

Dylan shook his head, still not understanding where the line of logic was 
leading. Wherever it was headed, though, he certainly was interested.

"The Curse of the Monkey of Xiao," Tyler explained, rubbing his hands 
together, looking like some overacting mad-scientist. "I've asked a few 
questions around the brainy types." He leaned back on the rock with 
comfortable ease, and retold what he had learned to Dylan. "It was one of 
the first pure golden statues to have been created. Xiao was some stupid 
Emperor, or some shit like that, whom the statue was given to. One of his 
consorts made it for him. He put some curse on it that whoever moved it from 
its resting place would become the monster of his darkest fears. Probably 
didn't want anyone stealing it."

Dylan frowned, "So? What's that got to do with anything?"

"So," his friend continued to explain, "There really isn't a curse, of 
course. It's all mojo bullshit."

Dylan nodded in frustration. If it wasn't evident in his expression, it was 
certainly clear in his voice. "Yeah? So fucking what?"

Tyler sighed in disappointment at his friend's lack of understanding. "So, 
you moron ... what we do is use your 'friend' to hypnotize her into 
believing in the curse. And we make sure she's the one to bring the statue 
back to camp. Ever hear about self-fulfilling prophecy?"

Suddenly, the light bulb in Dylan's head seemed to switch on. "And she 
becomes some sort of demented bitch, and does some evil Jackie Chan shit on 
the camp, ... ends up ruining her own reputation and career."

Tyler nodded in approval. "Exactly. She does herself in by her own actions. 
Honor is everything to those Asian bitches. Besides, it's far more demeaning 
for her than being a sex slave. As our personal slut, she'd be happy. This 
way, she'll have no friends, she'll have no contentment, and she'll drive 
herself utterly mad." A lopsided grin slid across his lips. "She'll probably 
end up committing suicide."

Dylan began to laugh. "You are a fucking genius, my friend. A fucking 
genius."

Tyler nodded, "I'll 'break' some tools tomorrow, and you and I will 
volunteer to go into town and replace them. We'll talk to your friend then, 
and make the arrangements."

Dylan couldn't wipe the grin of his face. "Damn. This is going to be good."

Tyler nodded, "Of course it is." He gave his fellow conspirator a wink under 
the light of the silver moon above. He chuckled quietly as another sinister 
idea crept into his mind. "We could use Nadia, too."

Dylan perked up even more. "She wouldn't be such a bad slut," he said, in 
agreement with what he assumed were Tyler's own musings.

Rolling his eyes towards the heavens, Tyler didn't even bother to 
acknowledge his friend's look. "If you're that desperate to have yourself a 
personal slut, Dylan, ... we'll get you one. Maybe Nadia." He slipped his 
large calloused hands into his coat pockets, starting to feel the chill of 
the desert night.  "I was thinking of something more useful for her."

"Like what?"

Tyler grinned. He paused, for effect, then leaned closer to his friend, 
whispering conspiratorially. "In all the commotion our man-made monster is 
going to cause with her karate mumbo-jumbo, I imagine we can make off with 
the gold, so to speak."

Dylan blinked. His mouth twisted into a slow frown. "What? Have Nadia steal 
it for us?"

"Something like that, yes. Have her put it away for safekeeping, let's say. 
A small hypnotic suggestion, one that she'll forget once it's carried out. 
We'll be the only ones who know where it is." He rubbed his hands together 
in the cool night.

"We'll play it cool for a few weeks," Tyler continued to explain. "Then come 
back, grab it, and sell it to the highest bidder. Then you can buy all the 
sluts you want. We'll live like fat cats, my friend." Tyler smiled to 
himself, basking in his own brilliance. He made a slow gesture back to camp, 
repeating to himself, "Like fucking fat cats." He slid off the stone onto 
the soft sea of sand.

Dylan whistled low. "Damn." A small laugh escaped his lips, and he nodded, 
following the other back to camp. "I like that idea. I like that idea a 
*lot*."

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Kind of late, isn't it?" The quiet feminine voice broke the silence of the 
still night.

Nadia jumped, startled. She took a deep breath as she turned around, 
embarrassed at being caught so off-guard, and looked straight into 
Yin-Feng's face. She found herself smiling, though she wasn't exactly sure 
why.

"I - couldn't sleep," Nadia confessed, keeping her voice soft. She was only 
a few feet away from the tent and had no desire to disturb those who could 
find rest. She rose from her seat on the large pile of wood that was 
reserved for kindling. "And instead of trying to uselessly lay on the mat, I 
thought I'd come out here. Watch the stars. Think."

Nadia's hand pushed her red tresses back, tucking them behind her ear as she 
looked back up towards the stars. Though tiny, the vivid dots of blue seemed 
to speckle the sky in an array of peaceful brilliance. Nadia found the whole 
moment almost spiritual. In the city she had never seen such things. The 
clouds and smog always loomed above her, constant reminders of the feelings 
of uselessness she often hung over herself. She began to find herself both 
honored at Feng's visit to her, and restless by it, too. Yin-Feng was a 
reminder of every weakness that Nadia had.

Yin-Feng followed her gaze, not noticing the turmoil that was churning in 
Nadia's mind. "The night brings many things," Feng said. "Dreams and 
visions. It makes thoughts clear, and can still, or cause even more 
uneasiness in an uncertain heart." Her hand alighted, and settled with a 
compassionate squeeze on Nadia's shoulder.

Nadia turned to look, and Yin-Feng smiled kindly at her. Again, Nadia felt 
compelled by the warmth Feng's smile, as if she had known Nadia for years, 
and they were best friends. It was as if she wanted to hear everything Nadia 
had to say.

It was as if the smile, the kind look in Feng's soft blue eyes had reached 
into her gut and pulled the words out of her mouth. "Why me?" Nadia found 
herself asking, before even thinking the words.

Yin-Feng paused, tilting her head. The expression on her smooth, flawless 
features seemed to suggest she already had known what was on Nadia's mind. 
Perhaps it was the very reason she was here now. "Do you want the truth?" 
She asked of the other woman.

Nadia took a breath, trying to hide her fear, and nodded. *You've blown it, 
now, you silly girl. You might as well hear it all. She probably took pity 
on you. Then again, that's more than anyone else has ever done.* The tip of 
her tongue poked out between her lips, only to be replaced by her teeth as 
she bit her lip in nervous anticipation.

"Alright," Yin-Feng conceded, "Yes, I could have asked for other medical 
staff. There were others as qualified as you."

The warm, soft hand that moved from her shoulder to her cheek surprised 
Nadia. Feng lightly caressed Nadia's cheek, but she couldn't look away from 
those eyes.  She took a deep breath again and balled her fists together to 
keep from turning away. She would not be weak this time. She would not give 
in. Not in front of Yin-Feng.

"But, you have something to prove to yourself. That is important," Yin-Feng 
suggested. Nadia noticed that Feng was talking *to* her, and not *at* her, 
as if she really wanted Nadia to understand. "You don't have the conceit 
that others do, and you're young. Those are both important as well. You are 
willing to accept new things, and ideas. This job will give you a great 
amount of experience - both in matters of medical practice, and in life 
itself." Feng removed her hand from Nadia's cheek, her eyes watching the 
woman in front of her, taking in her features.

Nadia started to shake her head, then sighed. "You don't know anything about 
me." Her smile to Feng was weak, "But I'm glad to be here."

Yin-Feng smiled back in that charm that always seemed to win Nadia over. 
"I'm glad you're here too, Nadia. You'd better get some rest, though. It's 
going to be a long day tomorrow." She gave Nadia a quick hug. "Rest well. 
And good night."

Nadia nodded, as if glad for the reprieve. She was afraid she was going to 
confess everything to Feng. She waved to Feng then quickly walked past her 
and to her sleeping quarters.

Feng stood alone in the quiet serenity of the pale moonlight, biting her own 
lip as she watched the young girl disappear into the tent.

-------------------------------------------

Within the protection of the nylon net, Nadia sat down on her bedroll. She 
was glad it also provided privacy, the thickness of the weaving only casting 
shadowy outlines in the light. She had no desire for others to laugh, or 
stare at her frail body. As she began to undress, she found that she 
couldn't take her mind off Yin-Feng. Every time she thought she'd seen the 
best trait in the Asian woman, another was exhibited. With each experience 
with her Nadia felt less and less worthy to be in Feng's presence, and yet 
wanted to be with her more and more.

She set her boots aside and pulled off the plain white t-shirt she'd worn. 
She tossed her hair back, and felt the compulsion to cup her small breasts. 
She thought about all the stares that the other women on the dig were 
getting from the men. *You could barely call them tits.* Her mouth twisted 
in a frown at her thoughts and she flopped back onto her bedroll.

She wanted to be angry at Yin-Feng. Feng was the reason no men had ever 
shown interest in her. She was plain, and woman like Yin-Feng - well, all 
they had to do was put on a smile, and men would come flocking to their 
doors. She couldn't count how many times she'd sat alone in the bars at 
night until they closed. She hated being alone like that, her mind always 
drifting to remind her of her parents telling her how useless she was and 
how right they had always been about her.

Her thoughts began to drift, as they often did when she was most 
disappointed in herself. Often she would close her eyes tight and wish and 
pray with all her might for another life, a better life - and it seemed 
almost any life was better than her own. She would envision herself as 
someone else; almost anyone, except for herself was a fantastic dream.

It was at these times she was happiest.

Her thoughts flittered back to the encounter only a few moments ago. No, she 
wasn't angry at Yin-Feng. She was jealous. Nadia had nothing - nothing - 
that Feng did. Her fingers ran down her smoothed stomach, the thoughts of 
the meeting and the physical sensations intertwining.

Almost of their own accord, her hands slid up to cup her breasts again. This 
time she squeezed them as if it were someone else touching her, the way 
she'd always dreamt of being fondled. In her mind all of Yin-Feng's features 
slowly became Nadia's. Her breasts could no longer be compared to apples, 
but rather pillows; soft, warm, luxurious pillows that seemed to beg to be 
constantly touched and caressed.

She smiled to herself as her fantasy began to take over her mind. Lost in 
the fog of her mind, she forgot about where she was. She forgot about who 
she was. Her reality twisted into the erotic yearnings of her subconscious.

She squeezed her breasts again, enjoying the sensations, reveling in her 
'new' body. Here, she was beautiful. Here ... she could have whatever she 
wanted. She slid her palm over her hardening nipple, imagining instead of 
her own small and bright pink areole that hers were now fat nipples, dark 
and exquisitely pert.

Her legs squeezed together as she pinched her nipple. Now she imagined that 
she was Feng, and she was walking down a line of exotic, handsome men. She 
was testing each on their lovemaking skills, able to pick and to choose only 
the best of the best. Each one would eagerly put his lips to her tit, bite 
it, and play with her breasts for their audition. She could pick anyone she 
wanted. The thought made her body shiver.

One hand ran through her hair as an imaginary man roughly grabbed her, too 
eager in his lust, and pulled her into him. She loved the feel of her 'new' 
rich, dark hair instead of old and boring red tresses she used to have. 
Again, she squeezed her thighs together, subconsciously aware of the growing 
arousal there.

The hand slid down her stomach now, as Nadia's need urged her fantasy-self 
on to choose her mate; she chose a handsome Italian man. Her fingertips 
pushed just a little past the edge of her jeans, and she bit her lip. Soft 
hair greeted her fingertips, but she pushed the sensation aside, instead 
allowing herself only to feel smooth, bare skin; she couldn't imagine 
Yin-Feng having anything else.

Her mind wrapped around that thought, and her fingers slowly undid her pants 
as she pictured herself pushing the man down onto the bed, moving in a slow, 
erotic dance for him. She could sense he was already hard for her - he had 
been the moment he saw her, but somehow he'd gotten even harder, bigger. 
Just for her. Because she was so beautiful. So perfect.

The jeans were pushed around her ankles as her fantasy lover was bid to 
unbutton her jeans with his teeth, and she slipped two digits deep into 
herself as her fantasy-self began to straddle the man in a beautiful 
Victorian bed that she'd made him buy for her. She cared not for the 
pleasure of her lover, only herself. She smiled in the growing pleasure, and 
at the thought of pinning him wherever she wanted with some secret karate 
hold.

She flexed her fingers that worked in and out of her slick warmth, firmly 
pressing them against her trembling walls. Her hips swayed with the rhythm 
of her thrusts, her back arched now and then and her legs stiffened as she 
teased herself. Her other hand pinched a nipple even harder between the 
nails of her fingertips that caused her to gasp in her own pleasure.

She found her clit with the hand that had been playing with the breast, and 
began to tease herself more. She pictured herself sitting on top of the man 
after making him beg to let him eat her out. Eagerly, her sex-riddled-mind 
welcomed the idea of the soft tongue pushing inside her, and quickly turned 
over, screaming her orgasm into her pillow.

It was a few more moments before she opened her eyes, a very satisfied smile 
on her lips. The pain of reality wouldn't hit until morning. Exhausted, now, 
from her exertion, she licked her own arousal off of her fingers, and 
drifted into a lovely sleep, and to ancient times where she was an Asian 
Princess who could have anything and everything she wanted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yin-Feng had been sitting at the dusty wooden table. Her chin rested on a 
crooked knee, her foot propped on another chair. Books of myths, legend, and 
historical facts were scattered across the surface of the table, open pages 
turning in the light wind that swept across the desert plain.

A part of her was beginning to doubt she would even find the Temple here. 
She'd managed to convince the important political figureheads that she had a 
solid lead.  She'd been so firm in her belief that it had won her the 
funding to make it a reality. But now the smudge of doubt was beginning to 
fall across her, smearing a trail of darkness over her heart as it 
overshadowed her. She'd promised them a reasonable turnaround time, and she 
imagined their patience, not to mention her budget, were both rapidly 
diminishing.

She'd chosen three likely sites where the Temple could be in the area 
depending on the interpretation of several different letters, journals, and 
hints she'd found in her years of research. Three long weeks had passed and 
by now the novelty of the dig had worn off on most of the camp. The dig had 
now become an eternal drudgery of unrewarding sweat and toil.

Dusk was nearly approaching and she found the heavy weariness that had 
settled over the camp was beginning to overwhelm her at last. Her hope had 
burned the brightest hope amongst all in the camp and now there seemed to be 
little left of the wick. She stared at the old parchment again that was 
firmly in her hand, that same fateful letter which had led her here. She 
twisted her lips in thought. For what had seemed the ten-thousandth time she 
re-read it, as if believing she might suddenly discover something new hidden 
within the ancient and faded brushes of ink.

Off in the distance, the rhythmic movement of a hydraulic lifter began to 
slow and end its toil, while the other two still pumped and whined, hard at 
work. Only a few scattered clangs now resounded around the area as shovels 
hit the rock face they'd been digging into all morning.

It took Yin-Feng a long moment to realize that the constant hum that she'd 
grown accustom to had quieted. Eager blue eyes turned towards the machine 
that was sputtering on its way to sleep. With a trembling hand she felt for 
the small pair of binoculars that hung in a loose fashion around her neck. 
The other sites were still working hard, but the third dig's site had ceased 
and the workers there seemed quite excited. The chill that ran up her spine 
seemed to stop her heart before her own adrenaline caused it to leap into 
her throat.

She closed her eyes, took several meditative breaths, and eased herself into 
relaxation. She knew it was foolish to get her hopes up. They could have 
just reached a rock surface beneath where they had been digging, or perhaps 
found the remains of some dead animal that they assumed was important. She 
didn't dare get her aspirations up that high.

She took a few more breaths to cleanse her mind of all worry. With 
concentrated effort, she stilled the childish desire that her dreams had 
finally come to fruition. She found that peace, and using it as strength, 
stood up and began walking towards the site.

She moved towards the ragged rocks that seemed to pool together in the 
middle of an otherwise barren landscape and noticed a figure in the distance 
moving towards her at a rapid run. Yin-Feng paused in her gait and reached 
into her pocket. With a smile on her lips she removed her sunglasses from 
her pocket, put them on, and adjusted her hat before continuing down the 
slope. A man covered in sand that clung to his sweat-soaked arms and chest 
met her halfway down the hill. He paused just long enough to brush the 
irritating grains off his body. He then grabbed the knees of his dirty jeans 
as he doubled over in an attempt to catch his breath.

After a few breaths, he gasped a single word. "Ruins." His eyes were glazed 
with excitement, and he seemed to find a new energy as he looked at her. He 
was a man eager to share his discovery. He grabbed her hand and yanked her 
with him as he ran excitedly back down from where he had come. Feng found 
herself tugged hard, and she felt her legs propelling her along after the 
man. She was too busy fighting thoughts of fantasy and possibilities in her 
head that she didn't dare get her hopes up for.

As they neared the camp, the run turned into a slow jog, then a careful walk 
as they neared the edge of the pit the men had been working on all day. The 
man pointed to a grouping of rocks where the diggers were toiling, breathing 
hard. "There."

Yin-Feng was glad she had the mind to put her glasses on. Her mouth opened, 
her jaw worked, but she found no words. Her ears buzzed. She felt dizzy. She 
closed her eyes and took another calming breath.

Cut into the very fabric of the rock with careful precision stood the very 
symbol that was etched onto Yin-Feng's parchment. Dimly, she was suddenly 
aware that the same parchment was still in her hand and that she'd brought 
it all the way here with her. "The Temple of the Rising Phoenix. Resting 
place of the Golden Monkey of Xiao, and place of healing for all," she heard 
herself say, almost as if it were someone else speaking. The voice was 
distant, her mind too focused on the fulfillment of her dreams.

And in that dream, Yin-Feng found sudden clarity and strength. She pointed 
towards the symbol, and determination filled her voice. "Get some lights out 
here. Put teams one and two on break. Now. I want the entrance of this 
temple. We're working around the clock as of now, people." Her tone was 
forceful, laced with stewing excitement.

She glanced to two men who were seated nearby, and seemed to be resting from 
hard labor. She immediately recognized both of them. "You two," she said, 
nodding towards Dylan and Tyler. "Head back to camp and get the rest of the 
research team. Bring Nadia up here as well - and some flashlights. We're 
going to be ready. I want to be in there when we find the doors to this 
place."

Dylan sneered at her, his posture indicating a 'Do it yourself, bitch' 
attitude, but Tyler stepped in front. "Sure, Professor. We'll get right on 
it." Dylan gave him a questioning look, but at Tyler's hard nudge, Dylan 
thought it was better to concede than to make a scene.

Yin-Feng's thoughts were too rushed to notice the men snickering to 
themselves as they climbed into one of the jeeps nearby, and headed back 
towards camp.

She constantly strode up and down near the edge of the pit where they were 
busy hauling sand away to a dump a few hundred yards away. She absently 
watched as the workers carefully moved the sand away from the rock face and 
another team built supports with cautious diligence to assure the sand above 
them would not spill over, filling what they had already uncovered.

With vivid imagination she played out every possible scenario that could 
unfold itself, pacing the grounds with nervous anticipation. What if the 
Golden Monkey had been stolen from the site long ago? What would she do 
then? What if the Golden Monkey was there? She had a thousand artifacts she 
wanted to search for, and with such a find, she'd be most certain to get the 
financial backing for anything she wanted.

It took the roar of the incoming jeep before her thoughts refocused, and she 
realized how much time had passed and that the day was close to now ending.

Yin-Feng noticed two jeeps coming into view as they barreled down the dune, 
leaving spiraling tails of dust in their wake. She took a deep breath, again 
trying to clear her thoughts. She had to be able to think, act, and direct 
in soundness of mind - not with the anxiousness of a schoolgirl.

She walked the small distance from the pit to the few tents where the 
supplies were stored to greet them as they parked the jeeps. Nadia hopped 
out of Dylan and Tyler's jeep with a wide grin and she looked quite pleased 
to see Yin-Feng again. The silver-haired British man who lately had been 
taking up much of Yin-Feng's time stepped out of the other jeep with a 
smaller and much younger man.

"Jonathan," she said, nodding to the older man. "It looks like you owe me 
dinner." She tipped her sunglasses down to wink at him. "Greg," she greeted, 
and pushed her glasses back onto the bridge of her nose. She gave the 
younger man a smile as well, and told both of them, "Go see for yourselves." 
She gestured calmly towards the rock where the constant work was being done. 
Other vehicles had arrived already. The staff worked around the outskirts of 
the digging area, putting up large lights whose cords coiled and snaked 
through the sand to the large generator that would power them.

"There was a crate of flashlights, but most of the lenses seem to be cracked 
in the initial shipping," Tyler informed Yin-Feng.

She spat something in Chinese. Everything had been going so well.  A stray 
thought struck her, and for a moment she looked at both of them in 
suspicion. She let that thought slip away and shook her head. "What do we 
have, then?"

"Nothing," Dylan muttered. He shrugged. "Unless you want to carry lanterns 
from the main camp in there," he said, and then chuckled.

"Find me a torch and an oily rag, if you have to," Yin-Feng instructed them. 
Her mouth turned down a fraction of an inch in disapproval. The 
determination in her voice suggested that someone had better come up with a 
solution soon. It was clear she wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

"I know a vendor in town. He deals in bulk," Tyler offered spontaneously. 
"Me and Dylan here will run in, grab the stuff and come back. You can just 
reimburse us after we get back."

Yin-Feng pulled down her sunglasses at last to look at them with a curious, 
and suspicious expression. Her eyes roamed over the jeans and t-shirts the 
rugged men were wearing in the manner of a worried security guard and then 
shook her head. She made a useless gesture with her hand. "Fine. Go. I just 
want them."

Dylan nodded, "You got it, boss lady." Giving her a cheerful grin he 
half-saluted her before hopping into the jeep.

"We'll be back before you need 'em," Tyler promised. He grabbed the roll bar 
and pulled himself into the seat next to his partner.

"You'd better," Yin-Feng warned. She paused, "Thanks," she added, sincerely. 
"You'll have to forgive me, I've been looking forward to this moment for a 
long time."

Tyler winked. "No problem, Professor."

"Yin-Feng," she corrected, with a smile.

"Right." Tyler winked at her and then nudged his buddy. "Let's go."

The tires sent a spray of sand behind them as Dylan pushed the gas pedal 
down to the floor. The jeep quickly disappeared over the horizon in a cloud 
of hazy dust that seemed somehow to be stained with the blood of the sun as 
it began its daily death and finished sinking behind the endless rolling sea 
of dunes.

"They're not so bad," Nadia said to Yin-Feng, seeming to emerge out of 
nowhere all of a sudden. She'd not had anything to contribute to the 
conversation, but now with the two men gone found herself at ease again in 
the quiet company of the woman she felt such a close kinship to.

Feng turned to her and smiled. She nodded her agreement. "I know. They've 
had a history, though, of taking things that didn't belong to them, among 
other things. I had to ensure that they knew I wouldn't allow it. I think 
they'll work out just fine. They are dedicated to their work. And it seems 
to this dig."

Nadia felt the unease of the topic of conversation dwindle. Nervous, she 
found herself fidgeting, and blurting out, "So. Um. What - was it you wanted 
me for?"

Yin-Feng settled into a patch of shaded sand, under the rocks. "One must be 
prepared for all eventualities, Nadia," she said. She patted the space 
beside her.

Almost too eagerly, Nadia took the invitation. She had longed for some 
'quality-time' between her and Yin-Feng ever since their first encounter, 
but rarely even had the chance to say 'Hello' to her these past few weeks. 
"Like what?" Her attention was rapt on her idol.

"For one thing, I don't know how sturdy the inside of the Temple is going to 
be. It's stood here for over a millennium. There's also probably a good 
chance of scorpions and snakes once we get inside the cooler area. I may 
need some immediate first aid. I thought you'd like to come along." Yin-Feng 
put her sunglasses back on in a causal manner and leaned back. From behind 
the safety of her sunglasses she watched Nadia's features against the 
scarlet-orange-purple sky.

Nadia found herself caught off guard. "Me?" She asked in disbelief. "Go in 
there? With you?" She was quite certain that Feng had the wrong person. 
Shaking her head, she began to fidget again. "No. I really don't think it's 
a good idea."

Disappointed, a small frown crossed Feng's lips. "Why?"

"I've never been inside of one of those things before, for one," she 
offered. "And I'd only slow you up. I wouldn't want to ruin your day for 
you." Her eyes drifted away from Yin-Feng to her fingers that were nervously 
drawing nonsensical patterns in the sand.

Feng's hand clasped over Nadia's own, firmly. "You won't," she said in a 
firm voice. Her other hand lifted the girl's chin, and Nadia's eyes slowly 
moved back to Feng's smiling face. "I would not have asked you along if I 
thought otherwise. You are coming. And that is that."

Nadia bit her lip. She didn't dare argue. For the first time that she could 
remember, she was absolutely sure she had found a true friend.

Yin-Feng's smile never left her face. She squeezed Nadia's hand again, "Then 
it's settled," she said, closing the argument. Hidden behind the safety of 
dark glasses her eyes stared into Nadia's own, finding a peaceful 
distraction from worries.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The dusty jeep began to slow as Tyler steered his way into the small 
village. Newer rickety huts made of wood, plaster, and straw contrasted with 
the much older buildings made from the smooth stone. Most of the buildings 
in the center of town served as a bazaar of sorts, each merchant eager to 
sell their goods to anyone that might walk past. Still lost in older days, 
there were very few modern luxuries to be found. The town instead relied on 
its ancient charm instead, with the comfort of simplicity to get it by.

As the jeep slowed to a stop at the end of the sand-covered 'road', the 
children of the bazaar flocked towards the vehicle, their tiny arms raised 
as they offered hand-made wares and food to the two new arrivals. With wide 
smiles of missing teeth each child tried to convince the men to buy their 
wares, the voices of the children intermixing into a single 
indistinguishable sound.

To Dylan, they were no more than objects in his way. They were nothing more 
important than tall grass in a field he might be plowing through and with 
his rough hands and strong arms, he pushed them to the side as he strode 
over to the other side of the jeep.

Tyler took a different approach. He looked at the excited children 
conglomerated around the jeep and spoke in slow, cautious English. "I need a 
flashlight," he said, glancing around to all the children. "A lot of them."

The mob of children didn't seem to understand; instead their frail arms 
still emphatically shook the many beaded necklaces, the animal carvings, the 
figs and breads that they and their parents so diligently made. He held up 
one of the flashlights that he and Dylan had managed to break only a few 
hours earlier. "A flashlight," he repeated. This time, in addition to 
showing them the flashlight, he pulled out a five-dollar bill from his 
wallet.

Apparently, money talked. A tall child in the front slid next to Tyler, even 
as the rest of the children seemed to be 'shooed' away by an unruly Dylan. 
"I get them. You give me money?" Wild dark brown eyes watched the green 
paper as if it were the most beautiful, and mystical thing that the boy had 
ever seen. "I take you."

Tyler nodded. "You take me. I give you money," he answered, making sure to 
slow his speech so that the kid could keep up with him.

"I thought you knew somebody," Dylan muttered. "That's what you said back at 
camp."

Tyler just sighed. "Go get your 'friend', okay? Do whatever you have to do, 
to 'convince' him that he's going to help us out. Can you handle that?"

Dylan eyed Tyler with a bit of hostility at the way he'd been treated. But, 
the thought of getting to work alone, and push that hostility out onto 
someone else in a way that would benefit him seemed a better idea. He 
nodded, "Right. I won't be too long."

Tyler headed off with the child, who was dancing, and saying over and over 
again, "Come! Come!"

"I'll be back in a few hours. I have some other supplies to gather," Tyler 
called to Dylan, before disappearing around a corner.

Dylan gave a smirk to himself. "That bastard," he said, under his breath. He 
shoved his large, calloused hands into his pockets and began walking towards 
a group of buildings carved from stone. "Thinks he knows everything." He 
grinned to himself. "Well, I'll show him. I'll show him *real* good." He 
licked his lips at the dark thoughts that fluttered about in his brain.

It wasn't hard to tell which of the stone huts was the one Dylan was looking 
for. A brand new white HumVee was parked in front of it, and it was the only 
hut that had a solid wooden door with a stained-glass window built into it. 
Dylan took a step back, and kicked hard at the door, shattering the locking 
mechanism and sending the door crashing to the floor off its hinges.

He stepped through the debris, and peered around the room. "Knock-Knock!" 
His eyes narrowed, and he slowly moved forward to the archway that led into 
the next room.

He felt the sudden sting at his neck a moment too late.

The stocky man that had been standing to the side of the entrance moved 
forward and pushed Dylan back through the archway even as Dylan's fingertips 
felt at his neck. Dylan's feet slipped on a shard of what had once been the 
door, and he fell backwards.

The look on Dylan's face turned from one of confident hired muscle to one of 
twisted rage. He hated being shown up, especially by a fat man in glasses. 
He blinked away the forming tears as his eyes started to water. His neck 
throbbed, his head was starting to do the same and he reached for whatever 
it was that had prickled him. Fumbling fingertips pulled out a 
feather-tipped dart, and he could feel the small trickle of blood running 
down his skin from where it had pierced him.

"You, my friend, are an idiot," the man informed him in a brisk voice. He 
kept the gun leveled on Dylan. "I watched you approach from the window. I 
didn't need to be a psychologist to see that you had ill intentions in 
coming here. Smashing the door in only confirmed my suspicions. You could've 
at least knocked. That would have earned you at the very least partial doubt 
on my behalf." The man settled into a comfortable chair at the back of the 
room, a pleased smile creasing his lips.

Dylan tried to get up, but found the room spinning. His legs didn't work 
quite right. He felt exhausted, and his limbs didn't seem to have any 
strength left in them. Again, the anger swept over his features as he made 
to lunge towards his target, but his body didn't seem to know how to respond 
to what he wanted to do. Instead, he fell forwards on his face, the dizzy 
feelings engulfing his mind.

"A special brew of my own," the man calmly told Dylan. "Originally, it was 
designed to stimulate certain chemicals in the human brain in order to 
reaffirm brainpower. The power of placebos, and what effect and to what 
degree the human mind could heal the body. The power, if you will, of 
belief." The doctor smiled, coldly at Dylan as he leaned back in the wooden 
chair and wrapped his hand around the glass of brandy that had been sitting 
there.

Dylan felt sick. He watched the ceiling twist, and turn in front of him. He 
was too tired to move. It seemed all he had energy enough to do was blink. 
He managed a pitiful moan, as if realizing what had actually happened to 
him.

"What came about, however, was a drug that essentially 'numbed' a certain 
portion of the brain. Higher thinking, logical thinking; these areas of the 
brain produced minimal activity under the influence of this drug." The 
doctor laughed and took a sip of his brandy. "The result was a blood-induced 
drug that would, in effect, act as what one of my nurses affectionately 
called it ... 'hypno-juice'."

Dylan moaned again. He could feel himself slipping away. And there was 
nothing he could do about it, now.

The doctor leaned forward in his chair. "So, my friend. What is your name?"

Dylan found it hard to see. His eyes were unfocused, but his mouth seemed to 
work despite the haze of his mind. "Dylan," he spoke, almost inaudibly.

The doctor nodded. "Dylan? What were you planning to do to me?"

Dylan's lips quivered, but his mind was already gone. "Get ... your 
hypno-juice," he answered. "Use it."

This peaked the doctor's curiosity. "On whom?"

Dylan was silent for a long moment, as if his brain was trying to catch up 
with the quick questioning of the doctor. "The ... bitch. Steal the monkey."

The doctor watched the inert body before him with considerable interest. 
He'd expected a thug interested in stealing his own money. Or he thought one 
of his 'friends' might have hired someone to pay him a visit. This, now... 
This was interesting. "Steal what monkey?"

"... Xiao," came the answer from far, far away. "Gold."

The doctor blinked. He set down his brandy with a trembling hand and got up. 
He walked around Dylan and moved to the small library of books on the other 
side of the room. Quickly, his pudgy fingers pulled out the book he was 
looking for. He found the reference in a matter of seconds.

"The Golden Monkey of Xiao?" The doctor asked. "You are going to get it?"

"Yesss."

The doctor smiled. "You are going to get it. And bring it, to me."

Dylan paused again. "... Bring it to you," he echoed in robotic fashion.

"Yes," the doctor confirmed. "You are going to bring the Golden Monkey of 
Xiao to me."

With the tear-streaks from watery and unblinking eyes covering his face 
Dylan echoed his programmer again. "Bring Golden Monkey to you," he said, 
more firm this time.

"And who is this bitch?"

Tired already from the long conversation, mind exhausted from the effort, 
Dylan still answered. "Yin ... Feng. Going to ... make her think curse ... 
is real. Put her in her ... place."

The doctor gave a frown at that, "I'd hate to do that to someone," he 
muttered to himself, as his eyes scanned over exactly what the curse was 
supposed to have been in his book. "But, on the other hand, ... if I turned 
in that Golden Monkey ... I'd have fame. And fortune. And this would no 
longer be just a hobby."

He turned his attention back to Dylan. "You were going to use my 
'hypno-juice' to make her think the curse was real?" He guessed.

Dylan replied, his voice weaker. "Yes."

"Good. When you awake, you will forget everything we have talked about. You 
will think you have successfully attacked me, and scared me into giving you 
what you want. But, when you find the Golden Monkey, you will bring it back 
to me. You will give it to me. Then, Dylan, you will forget all about it."

Nothing more than a mindless drone, Dylan echoed his orders again. " ... 
Forget everything. Bring back to you. Monkey. Forget all about it."

The doctor smiled, "Yes. Very good." He set the book down on the table, and 
moved to take another drink from his glass of warmed brandy. "Now, Dylan, 
since you've been such a wonderful subject, you can -"

He was cut off, by the sound of a trigger cocking back.

The doctor turned his head to find himself staring down the end of a gun 
barrel. Tyler stepped forward, his hand steady and unwavering, "Hello, Doc." 
The cold grin Tyler gave the man was not the least bit friendly.

Caught off-guard, the doctor looked for his gun in desperation. And saw it - 
lying on the table he'd just walked away from. He'd set it down when he had 
gotten the reference book. He wondered if he could make a dash for it.

"Trying to subvert my partner, Doc? Not very nice. Not very nice at all." 
Tyler moved the gun up, to point at the doctor's head. "Don't move."

There was still a shred of confidence left in the stocky man, still high 
from his triumph over Dylan and the revelation of him getting the Golden 
Monkey. For a single second, that confidence surged in him. He chose that 
moment to make a mad dash for his gun to put Tyler to the same fate as 
Dylan.

The sound of gunfire echoed off of the walls of stone, followed by a 
pain-laden and ear piercing scream as the doctor collapsed, clutching at his 
bloodied knee.

Tyler's tone was sardonic. "My father was a champion marksmen. Finished 
fourth in the biathlon tournament at the '88 Olympics." He pulled the 
trigger again. "I learned a lot from my father."

The doctor only screamed in pain, rocking back and forth as he clutched at 
his knee. Tyler moved in a casual manner over to the table, and picked up 
the air gun. "Where is the rest of the ammunition?" He asked.

"Fuck you!" Came the pained retort. The doctor spit in Tyler's direction.

The gun lowered again towards the doctor. "Let me explain something to you, 
Doc. You see... you just tried to turn my best friend against me. You hurt 
him. I really don't like that. See, he used to protect me. Only fair I 
return the favor, now. I really don't want to kill you. But, it's not a very 
large house. And I can search it pretty quickly. Trying to save us both some 
grief." He allowed himself a casual smile. "Honor among thieves, and all 
that, you know."

Again, the hollow point of the gun pointed at the doctor's head. "One more 
time," Tyler said quietly, his voice full of controlled anger. "Where is the 
rest of the shit?"

The doctor thought better of his instinctive reply, and instead said, "Top 
dresser drawer. Now get the fuck out."

Tyler ignored him, and pulled open the drawer. Inside, he found what he was 
looking for - a small black plastic case with a bottle of fluid, and several 
feathered air-darts within.

"Fix Dylan," he said, his voice cool. "Then, we'll leave."

The doctor snarled at Tyler, "You fix him."

Tyler shook his head, "You're about as daft as Dylan, Doc." The hard 
underside of Tyler's work boot landed on the doctor's bullet-shattered knee.

"Okay!" The boot lifted, and the doctor spat through the bloodied lip he'd 
bit down in the intense shot of pain he'd been doled.

"Dylan. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. You fell asleep. You will remember 
nothing. You will obey nothing. You will follow your plans with your 
friends. You are Dylan. You fell asleep."

Dylan's mouth yawned, as if it were indeed tired. "... Obey nothing," he 
said through the yawn. "Just fell asleep."

Tyler smiled. "Thanks." And raised the air gun to the doctor, firing one of 
the darts into the doctor's legs. He winked, watching the doctor's face of 
fear. "Don't worry, Doc. We're just going to make sure you forget. And don't 
tell anybody about us."

---------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a little more than a full cycle of the sun when they had found 
the entrance to the temple.

Yin-Feng stood at the edge of the deep pit, breathless. Her palms were 
sweating. The path she had been walking her entire life was now at last 
revealed to her, and she was nearing the last mile. Her knee sunk into the 
sand as she bent down, making a final check of all the necessary gear in her 
backpack.

Jonathan and Greg stood next to Feng, silent in their reverence for the 
sacred moment. "Well, my friends," Jonathan flashed a smile to Feng and then 
nodded to Greg. "What are we waiting for?"

Yin-Feng chuckled trying not to let on as to how nervous she was, and 
glanced to Nadia. "Ready?"

Nadia nodded, relieved to see that she wasn't the only one who looked 
utterly terrified to be entering into the vast pit of darkness that lay 
before them. "I - guess so," she managed. She focused on Yin-Feng for 
strength, knowing in her heart that Yin-Feng's nerves were stronger than 
hers. The butterflies in her stomach were having a civil war, it seemed, and 
she felt nauseous.

Nadia's hands twisted the end of her loose white t-shirt. It was better than 
biting her nails, and she looked to Yin-Feng for direction. She was a 
nervous wreck. But, she also had complete confidence in her friend. She knew 
that Yin-Feng wouldn't lead her someplace without thinking that Nadia was 
ready. And that helped to ease the tensions that knotted her stomach.

Yin-Feng nodded, gesturing to those gathered. "Alright, then." She took a 
deep breath, speaking with caution in her voice. She didn't want to get 
their hopes up, even though hers were already causing her heart to race. 
"We're going to start out as a single team, but I want plans in case we need 
to split up. I will be the head of the first team, Jonathan will head up the 
second." She slipped her hands into her pockets to hide her own tensions.

"Each team will consist of a few men to provide light, and to provide some 
muscle in case other digging may be needed." She pulled off the sunglasses 
from her face, and looked at them all for a moment. As she did the first day 
she'd met them, she looked in each of their eyes. "This is not a race. These 
ruins have been here for more than a thousand years. They aren't going 
anywhere. Let's show some caution, and respect, people. Don't let your 
excitement of the discovery end up ruining the find of the century."

She glanced at Dylan, Tyler, and a few of the other men who were standing 
by, ready to go in with the group. "Nadia will be with me. If something 
happens, keep in touch with your walkie-talkies. She's bringing down medical 
supplies with her."

She brushed her long pants off as she stood up out of the sand, "Keep in 
mind it's going to be cool, and damp there. Expect the unexpected, bugs, 
spiders, snakes, and scorpions lurking beneath objects, and crawling about. 
Keep your head, and you'll do just find. Remember, we don't have to find and 
catalog everything in there tonight. Beijing is pleased with our progress, 
and has advanced a few more dollars our way - enough for a few more weeks. 
So take it easy."

Grabbing the rope that would guide her down to the bottom of the pit she 
asked, "Any questions?"

There were a few grins in answer, but no questions. Yin-Feng was glad to see 
her own excitement reflected back at her in most of their eyes. With a glad 
heart, she jumped off the edge of the pit and made her way down to the dark 
opening.

The men watched her make her way down and then Jonathan grabbed the rope and 
descended. Greg followed next. And, with a few promptings from the diggers, 
Nadia managed a shaky grin and slower than the rest, started to make her way 
to join everyone else at the bottom.

Dylan and Tyler looked at the other men who'd been picked to tag along. 
Dylan asked, "So, you guys are going with the old fart, right?"

A man with dark hair gave Dylan a sardonic smirk. "Not if we can help it. 
I'd follow that sweet ass of that woman anywhere. And we got dibs."

The man's partner grabbed the rope, ready to descend next. "Sorry, boys. 
You'll have to follow the Brit and his little faggot buddy."

Tyler shook his head, "How about we make it worth your while?" He asked, 
voice holding a sort of intrigue to it that the men couldn't quite pass up.

The one holding onto the rope paused just before jumping off of the edge. 
"Like what?"

Feng's voice came from below, and every man could sense the impatience in 
it. "We are waiting."

Dylan folded his arms. Larger than the other two men, he knew how to use his 
physical prowess to his advantage. He smiled, just a little, showing his 
teeth just as he and Tyler had done so many times before.

"Two hundred a head," Tyler mused. "That, or you might not go at all. My 
buddy here was rather counting on getting to follow 'that sweet ass', you 
see. He gets disappointed real easily."

The dark-haired man frowned, then glanced at his partner. The one on the 
rope nodded. "Deal," he said. He looked at Dylan, then Tyler with vague 
suspicion in his features.

Tyler shrugged, pulling out the money from a small billfold on the inside of 
his jacket. Handing each of them their money, the rest of the men met up 
with the group that was already getting ready to explore the inner temple.

----------------------------------------------------------------


Nadia noticed that as she approached the dark entryway, the air inside was 
stale. Old. She wrinkled her small nose, and heard a soft feminine laugh 
behind her.

Yin-Feng gave her a grin, "It gets worse," she told Nadia. She walked over 
to the younger, thinner redhead and hugged her impulsively. "Don't be 
nervous. Just stay by my side, and everything will be just fine. Okay?"

Nadia nodded. She smiled back to Feng, as the feelings of doubt started to 
wash away from her. "Okay," she agreed, her voice quiet and awed. She found 
herself wishing that she had half the power of persuasion and personality 
that Feng had instead of worrying about what was to come in that dark, 
unseen tunnel ahead.

Soft lips kissed Nadia's forehead. "For good luck." Feng smiled to her, then 
without saying another word, looked straight up the rope.

Nadia felt that sudden warmth in her cheeks again, and sighed in bliss. 
*Maybe, after this is all over, we can go on a vacation together. Just her 
and me. Friends, on a cruise. Pick up some guys. She can show me how to be 
as strong as she is.* Nadia felt a sudden rush of exhilaration at that 
thought, remembering her fantasy and thinking of how exciting it would be if 
only it could some day be real. To be as beautiful as Feng. As loved. As 
adored. She closed her eyes, as if to play it over in her mind all over 
again.

The slight nudge at her shoulder woke her. "Let's go," Yin-Feng said, 
heading into the dark recesses of the Temple.

The first chamber was large and vast. The floor filled with sand, and the 
walls plain and unadorned except for the tattered fragments of rope and 
rotting strips of cloth that had probably once held up immaculate 
tapestries.

Yin-Feng made a small gesture to one of the men, "Set up one of the lights 
here."

The man nodded, pulling a small retractable tripod from the heavy satchel 
and expanded it. The light had it's own power source, a set of small 
batteries at the bottom of the tripod, and it gave off a powerful light that 
chased away the darkness into the corridors beyond.

Feng smiled, as she took a heavy breath of the stale air. "Three different 
passages." She glanced to Jonathan, "I'll take the center route. You try the 
left-hand way. Keep your radios on. Alert me if you find anything."

Jonathan gave her a small nod, "As you wish, Ma'am." He flashed her a grin, 
then headed off into the left-hand corridor. The flashlights bounced against 
the walls, tiny circles of light dancing ahead of them as the small group 
disappeared.

Feng looked to the others with her, "Well." She smiled to Nadia, who in turn 
took a step closer to Yin-Feng, and gave Dylan and Tyler a faint look of 
half-amusement. "Sticking with me? Very well. Keep up, and don't touch 
anything. Understand?"

They both nodded, and she gestured towards Dylan, who was carrying a satchel 
similar to the other mans, heavy, and filled with lights and other gear. 
"Lay one down every hundred feet or so. Unless I tell you otherwise. We 
probably aren't going to get too far tonight."

Yin-Feng closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer for herself, then moved 
forwards taking slow, careful steps. She turned on her flashlight. Nadia did 
likewise as soon as Feng did, taking her cue from her idol.

Dylan nudged Tyler as the two men walked behind the women. The look in 
Tyler's face was all Dylan needed to confirm that they were thinking the 
same thing. Tottering as close as she could to Feng, both men were humored 
by the puppyish fashion that Nadia clung to Yin-Feng with.

The bright circles of light flashed against plain walls, and sand-covered 
floors. Occasionally, a broken shard of pottery, or wood would be seen 
sticking out of the sand.

"It's never how you picture it," Yin-Feng said to herself. But, in the empty 
corridor, her voice echoed and carried.

"It's a dump, if you ask me," Dylan said. He chuckled, lightly, "Seems like 
tomb raiders got here before we did."

Feng scowled at the thought, pausing in her stride, "We've come this far. 
We'll find something." Her eyes narrowed. "Got it?" She had no desire for 
the sinking feeling in her gut to be hastened by brutish thinking.

"Yeah," Dylan said, bending down to the ground, and starting to set up one 
of the lights. "Got it." He shrugged, indifferent to her tone and her 
attitude.

Yin-Feng's eyes stayed narrowed, as she glanced at the walls. Her fingertip 
touched the cold stone lightly as she moved along, her pace slow. The faint 
sound of footsteps in her ear were the only reminders that Nadia was close 
to her, and that Dylan and Tyler were a few steps behind.

"What's wrong?" Nadia asked. It had taken her awhile, but now she had found 
the strength to summon up enough courage to ask. She knew Feng wouldn't 
rebuke her for the stupid question.

Yin-Feng sighed, her features relaxed. "All the stories that are told about 
the Temple are of it being ornately adorned. It was a respected, and sacred 
place for my people to go to, in Ancient times, and learn many hidden arts. 
It was a place of glory, a place of beauty. Our friend back there may very 
well be right. It could have been plundered, long ago."

 From the back, Dylan could be heard gloating. "Damn right, I'm right."

Tyler chuckled, "Dylan. You're never right," he joked, poking fun at his 
friend. "That's why I've got to stick with you."

Ahead of them, Yin-Feng smiled at the levity of the men, and glanced back to 
Nadia as they made their way forward into another large chamber that opened 
from the corridor they had been traversing.

Like the rest of the Temple, this room too seemed dull and dreary. The drab 
colors seemed to continue to dampen the mood of the group.

"Still, plunderers only took what would be valuable. Things like books, 
manuscripts, and scrolls they would not find of much value then. These are 
things that I still would expect to find." She shook her head in dismay. 
"Perhaps the Temple was moved a third time. Or perhaps it was destroyed by 
the Mongols at a later date."

Nadia's heart wrenched at seeing her friend in such a poor mood on what was 
supposed to be the day of Feng' life. Nadia wrapped her hand around 
Yin-Feng's shoulder and gave it an assuring squeeze. She and smiled at Feng. 
"You told me everything would be okay," she stated. "Now I'm telling you." 
The confidence in her eyes shone through, reflecting everything Nadia saw in 
Yin-Feng back to the other woman.

Yin-Feng smiled back, and nodded as the hand slipped from her shoulder. 
"You're right. I'm right. We'll find something." Her own confidence surged 
again as she looked at the reflection in Nadia's eyes.

The expanse that opened up before them was vast. Yin-Feng guided the bright 
light of the flashlight towards the sandstone walls, searching every inch of 
it up and down. The intensity with which she searched seemed to spark 
something in Nadia, and she began searching the other half of the chamber.

The beam from her flashlight found an old statue of a warrior that seemed to 
be half-dragon and half-man that stood a little bit taller than Dylan. Its 
arms were broken off and in the sand, jutting out of it as if it were a man 
buried beneath and grasping for the earth above.

"At least we finally have some proof I'm in the right place," Yin-Feng 
muttered to herself. She began to head over to the statue.

After a moment, it was Nadia's voice that broke the silence. "Um. Yin-Feng?" 
Nadia pointed at a section of the wall. "What's that?"

Yin-Feng whirled around, and shone her light where Nadia's own circular beam 
was pointed. She snapped her fingers, "Get the rest of the lights out. I 
want this room lit up. We've found it."

Both Tyler and Dylan put the remaining three tripod lights up, but it was 
enough to give the room a light that flourished and was strong enough to see 
the faint etchings of paint in those walls.

Yin-Feng took a step closer. Not just decorative, either. There were words.

"Yin -," Nadia began to ask, but she bit her lip as Yin-Feng held up her 
hand in a quick silence gesture.

As old as it was, a lot of the markings had dulled and faded. Yin-Feng was 
attempting to put the puzzle back together in her mind.

"Earth to Yin-Feng," Dylan called, stepping towards her. "Yo. What did you 
find?"

She licked her lips. She was too centered to allow the rude disturbance to 
affect her. "The Golden Monkey."

Nadia's eyes widened as she turned to stare at Yin-Feng, understanding the 
implication of the discovery. A discovery that she'd made. Sort of.

Dylan and Tyler exchanged glances. "Where is it?" Tyler asked, his voice 
low.

Yin-Feng turned a quick eye to the men. "That's what I'm trying to figure 
out. It says the Golden Monkey is with beauty." She frowned, "The question 
is, what did these people call beauty?" She slowly sat down into the sand. 
"And where would it be in a place like this?"

Nadia slid down beside her, turning her flashlight off. The bright lights 
from the tripods gave her no need for it. She gave Yin-Feng a small, quick 
hug. "If anyone can figure it out, you can." She gave Feng another small 
smile. "I have faith in you."

Dylan rolled his eyes, but said nothing.

Tyler gave Dylan a grin, and made a 'fairy' gesture with his hand, masking 
it so the girls couldn't see as he headed over towards the dragon-man 
statue. It had piqued his curiosity, and he might as well get a good look at 
it. He winked at Dylan, rubbing his index and forefinger together, 
suggesting that if it was worth something, there would be some extra money 
to be made here as well.

"Probably what happened was the place got raided for the Golden Monkey," 
Yin-Feng now guessed. "And when they couldn't find it, they destroyed 
everything in it."

Tyler stepped up to the statue, and tried to imitate the fearsome grin of 
teeth it was flashing at him. Dylan snickered at Tyler's antics as he 
secured the last tripod to its position and closed up the satchel.

Both Nadia and Yin-Feng turned to look at Tyler. "Cute," Nadia said, 
wrinkling her nose. "Can't you ever be serious?" She grabbed a handful of 
sand, and tossed it uselessly towards Tyler.

Tyler grinned, and put his arm around the armless statue. "C'mon, Nadia. 
Take my picture. The two most handsome men on the planet." He winked at her. 
"Heck, he's almost as beautiful as you, Nadia."

Nadia blinked, once. She snapped her fingers. "Feng?" She asked, nudging the 
other woman. She remembered something she had come across while putting away 
some of Feng's papers back at the camp. Bits of Chinese legends transcribed 
and translated, with notes handwritten in the margins.

"Feng?" She asked, nudging the other woman. "Is this a statue of Lotus 
Dragon?"

Yin-Feng eyes snapped up in surprise. She grasped Nadia by the shoulders, 
and startled the young woman as a smile of understanding lit up her face. 
"The Chan-Sung legend! The Dragon who walked the Earth and lived under the 
guise of a ravishing Princess! The folk tale originates form this area... 
only local priests would understand the riddle!"

She leapt to her feet and strode forth. With every step, she grew more 
convinced. Nadia was right on her heels, sharing in the excitement.

Tyler blinked. "What? This statue?" He frowned. "Where would it be?" Tyler's 
fingertips pressed the statue's eyes, obviously expecting some stone to 
start rolling and reveal an entrance or some similar reaction. Nothing 
happened.

Yin-Feng shook her head at his efforts, and Nadia stifled a chuckle.

Dylan suggested, "Behind it, maybe?"

Yin-Feng nodded. "Or in it. Nadia." She hugged the woman, "Thank you. Now, 
let's see what we can do."

The walkie-talkie on Feng's belt hissed, "Jonathan here. Feng? We've got a 
small problem here. One of our diggers got his leg trapped by a stone. We 
got him out, but it looks like he's going to need some medical attention. We 
think it's broken."

Nadia sighed, and stomped her foot in frustration. "Dammit!"

Yin-Feng allowed herself a small smile. "Nadia will be right over." She gave 
Nadia another hug, "Don't worry. You'll get to see it. And I'm giving you 
part of the credit. You helped me. Tremendously. Thank you."

Nadia almost seemed to blossom under the praise of her idol, and nodded. 
"Alright." After all, it was her duty to help the injured. She dashed off 
down the blackness, taking her flashlight and a spare walkie-talkie with her 
to find the other team.

Yin-Feng looked back to the statue. "Let's try moving it, first? Gentlemen, 
care to assist me?"

Dylan moved over to the statue as well, and all three dug their boots into 
the sand, pushing with all their might. The statue seemed to quiver. Legs 
and arms straining, the three put all their strength into it. The statue 
began to lift on its edge, the combined effort and lust for glory in each of 
them giving them added fuel for success and strength. In another second, the 
statue had toppled over, crashing to the floor.

It's head snapped in a fierce cracking sound, and rolled into the distance. 
Behind where the statue stood and sitting on a shelf, a golden monkey sat. 
Its arms were in front of it, as if it were begging for food.

Roughly hewn, the gold gleamed in the light. The red gemstone eyes of the 
monkey flashed and flickered at them.

Yin-Feng found herself out of breath as she stared at it. Her ears were 
buzzing, and she could only hear her heart pounding.

The sting at her neck brought her out of the reverie.

Her hands snapped back to grab the feather-tipped dart, and pull it from her 
neck. In a mixed expression of anger and confusion she looked at the two men 
who were grinning madly at her.

"You're going down, bitch," Dylan said, rubbing his throat. "We're going to 
make you pay for what you did to us."

She found her thoughts getting hazy. Whatever it was, she knew she'd been 
poisoned, or drugged by the dart. Her only chance was to take these two out, 
and get to Nadia before whatever it was took effect.

She sunk into the horse stance, one that would give her good, solid balance. 
Her eyes were watering, and she tried to blink away the blurred visions of 
Dylan and Tyler standing in front of her.

Realizing that they weren't going to come to her, she slowly moved towards 
them. Her feet slipped, but her mental prowess was strong. Her breathing 
allowed her more control of her body than most people could attain.

"Hell, I don't think I lasted this long. Maybe we should shoot her again?" 
Dylan asked.

Tyler shook his head, "No. Don't want to overdose her. We'll wait, and see. 
It's affecting her."

She lunged at Tyler, using a quick thrust to try and take him down. But her 
inebriated mind misjudged the distance, and she flew past him. He slapped 
her on the ass as she passed him, and stumbling, fell facedown into a pile 
of sand.

Her mind was whirling. Her arms and legs were getting heavier. She tried to 
push herself back up to her feet with all her strength, but the effort was 
useless.

Tired and heavy arms gave out under her. She was dimly aware through the 
foggy haze of the lights and the fogged images in front of her that she 
wasn't quite dead. She just felt like she was.

Tyler put his finger to his lips, looking at Dylan and shook his head to 
indicate Dylan shouldn't say a word. Tyler had planned this out to the 
letter. Dylan nodded.

"Hello, Yin-Feng." He knelt down beside her. "I know you can hear me. Can't 
you? Tell me you can hear me."

Her lips parted, and in a relaxed exhale, the words came. "I can hear you," 
she spoke in a quiet murmur.

"Good," Tyler continued. "Yin-Feng. You are the daughter of a Shaolin 
Priest. The Shaolin's believe in magic. Yin-Feng, your father believed in 
magic. Your father wouldn't have lied to you, would he, Yin-Feng?"

There was a long moment's pause as the effort to think of the answer seemed 
to crease across Yin-Feng's otherwise serene features. "No. Father didn't 
lie," she agreed.

"Then, Yin-Feng," Tyler pointed out, "Magic must be real. Say it. Magic is 
real."

The dots of Tyler's logic began to connect in the haze of her mind. "Magic 
is real," Yin-Feng agreed, her voice was uncertain as if the last shred of 
her will still resisted.

"Magic is real," Tyler reiterated. "Very real."

Yin-Feng let out a soft sigh. "It is real," she agreed again.

Tyler nodded, "Good. Your father believed in magic. So do you. It is real."

Yin-Feng's tongue slipped out of her mouth, as if tired from all the 
talking. "Magic is real," she slurred. " ... Father said so."

Tyler paused to glance at Dylan, who was grinning from ear to ear. Obviously 
his partner liked where this was headed. Tyler couldn't have asked for a 
better success rate himself. "And if magic is real, Yin-Feng, then the Curse 
is also real. The Curse of the Golden Monkey of Xiao is real."

Yin-Feng's brow furrowed ever so slightly. "Curse ...," she spoke, voice 
barely audible, "Is real. Curse of ... monkey. Is real."

Tyler nodded. "Yes, Yin-Feng. The Curse of the Golden Monkey is real. And 
you moved it from its resting place. The curse is magic. And magic is real. 
And it will overcome you. You will become the monster of your darkest 
fears."

Yin-Feng's features twisted more, as if her inner being knew this was wrong. 
But she no longer had the ability to fight the insistence of the words being 
burned into her head. "I ... will become monster. Darkest fears," she 
echoed. "It is real."

Tyler nodded, and signaled to Dylan to get on with rest of their plan. Dylan 
dragged her towards the statue, resting her just under the crook of where 
the statue lay and used the satchel and his feet to wipe out the drag marks. 
Then Dylan grabbed the Golden Monkey, and tucked it under Yin-Feng's arms.

"Repeat what you have heard ten times." Tyler's voice was insistent in her 
ears as he lifted himself up. "It will burn into your mind more and more 
each time you hear yourself say it. Then, you will fall asleep. Your last 
memory will be of the statue falling on you."

He pointed to Dylan, and began to head back down the corridor to finish 
their plans. It was time to grab Nadia and call for help.

Dylan snickered. "God, you are *so* fucked." He kicked her limp body with 
his boot, and followed Tyler out.

As lights and laughter disappeared down the corridor, Yin-Feng was left 
alone in the blurred lights. The only sound in the chamber was the soft 
whisper of her lips, which her mind forced her to move upon the command it 
had been given. "So ... fucked. God. So ... fucked. God... so fucked ..."
--------------------------------------------------------------

It had only taken about a half an hour for the rigging to be set up to haul 
the unconscious body of Yin-Feng out of the Temple.

Once Dylan and Tyler had alerted Nadia and the other team what had happened, 
Jonathan had set things into motion while Nadia attended Feng's body through 
a flurry of tears that she tried to hide from the others.

Nadia hadn't found any broken bones on Yin-Feng, but didn't take any 
chances. Nadia secured Feng's head with a neck brace and strapped her down 
tightly to the makeshift hammock and sticks that they'd meshed together in 
order to carry her out on.

Once on the surface, they'd taken Feng's prone body to the medical tent. 
There, Nadia had shooed everyone else out, claiming that Yin-Feng needed her 
space, and her rest in order to recuperate.

She just didn't want them to see how afraid, and how worried she was for the 
woman. The only person who'd ever shown her what the true friendship meant 
was lying lifeless on the table in front of her. She had no clue what was 
wrong, no idea how to make anything better.

Guilt gnawed at her. *If it were only you, in Yin-Feng's place,* she scolded 
herself, *She could find a way to make things right. She'd know what to do. 
She expected you did, as well. She wanted to believe in you. Now she needs 
you, Nadia. And you don't know a damn thing.*

She laid her arms over the chest of Yin-Feng that rose and settled with each 
peaceful breath that Feng took, and Nadia began to weep, miserable in her 
own despair. She was tired, she was worried, and she was alone again, and 
afraid.

Her sobs became a choking lullaby as she cried herself to sleep. Dark dreams 
haunted her nightmares, as her all her failures that had littered her life 
rose up from their graves, and haunted her mind and spirit.

She felt the cool chill of their touches in her dream as she ran away from 
them. She could hear them clawing at her back, and then suddenly she was 
falling. Falling, into a fathomless void.

Her neck felt warm, and she sunk into the sensation as she felt the ghosts 
being chased away. Dimly, she was aware the sensation wasn't just in her 
dreams. With blurred vision, she lifted her head to feel Yin-Feng's hand on 
the back of her neck.

"Yin-Feng?" Nadia asked. Her voice was sharp, edged with hope.

"Mmm?" Yin-Feng muttered, sleepily.

"It's me, Nadia. Wake up!" She spoke loudly now, and lightly Yin-Feng's 
bangs from her forehead. "We've been worried about you."

Amber eyelids blinked, and the Asian woman stretched. She moaned, her whole 
body aching. Her mind was throbbing. Her eyes opened, as she focused on 
Nadia, trying to remember.

Even as her eyes opened, the floodgates opened. Her thoughts rushed over 
her, the tidal wave reaching it's crescent and collapsing onto her mind all 
in the matter of a split second. Everything was revealed to her.

"It's done," she spoke at last. Her voice was weak, yet there was the same 
old strength behind it.

Yin-Feng pushed Nadia from her, as she moved to sit up. "Everything has 
become as it should be," she said, her voice quiet and calm.

Nadia didn't know what to do, much less what to think. She shook her head, 
trying to fathom what Yin-Feng was doing, and what the other woman's line of 
thinking was. "You should rest, Feng. What are you talking about?"

Yin-Feng smiled, her eyelids fluttering closed as she turned her head 
towards Nadia. "The Curse of the Golden Monkey of Xiao is real, my dear, 
dear, Nadia," she said softly. "Very, very real. As real as you or me."

Nadia blinked. "Are you serious?" She asked. Had it been anyone else, Nadia 
probably would have scoffed. But she knew, or thought she knew, Yin-Feng too 
well to believe anything other than Feng knew what she was talking about.

Ying-Feng nodded, her eyelids still closed, and a smile on her face 
suggesting she was in full rapture of the moment. "Very serious, my child. 
Very serious, indeed."

The warm hands of Yin-Feng enclosed over Nadia's, as the calm, soothing 
voice of the woman seemed to still Nadia's fears. "It has made me a monster 
of my darkest fears. And yet, not all is, as it would seem."

Her voice was a murmur, comforting, and serene. "I used to despise sex. The 
very essence of it. I watched my peers use it to get where they wanted in 
life, and I hated it for it kept women in my country under the feet of men. 
I turned against it. I rejected it."

Yin-Feng leaned forward, her lips moving an inch away from Nadia's ear. "But 
now, my child, that is all over. My mind is clear at last." Nadia found her 
breath warm, pleasing. Her own eyes closed in relaxation.

"Do you know what my name means, in my native land, Nadia?"

Nadia shook her head. Her earlobe brushed against Yin-Feng's lips, even as 
the other told her. "I am called Silver Phoenix," she said. "And so it is. 
Today, I was left broken by a falling statue, and my mind was left to burn 
away by the curse. The Curse of the Golden Monkey struck me, even as I 
attained glory."

Nadia found herself feeling strange at the sensation of the lips, which 
kissed her neck this time. She was certain she didn't want to be here. Yet, 
the voice of Yin-Feng was so relaxing. Feng's touch was so compelling. And 
Nadia wanted to hear more.

"And I rose, Nadia. I rose up from those ashes by your hand." A smile slid 
over her lips, as she pulled her head back, and her eyes fluttered open to 
look into Nadia's own.

The dark orbs that stared into Nadia's eyes were even more compelling than 
before. Nadia found herself being swallowed by them. She was a deer, and the 
glistening eyes of Yin-Feng, the Silver Phoenix, were the brightest of all 
headlights.

"There was another part, beyond the Curse, Nadia. Something that remained 
hidden. It was the reason why so many sought the Golden Monkey. Now I see."

Yin-Feng had known that the girl would be so ensnared by her eyes. For such 
was destiny. Yet, she continued speaking, knowing that Nadia was still 
listening with her full attention. "For I am a *God*, Nadia. Not just any 
God, Nadia. Rather, I am the first of the new. For all the old Gods killed 
each other, long, long ago in bloody duels and in desperation, vying for the 
attention of the mortals and power amongst themselves. I am the Goddess of 
Sex, the Fuck Goddess. So it was revealed to me, by the Golden Monkey's 
Curse. I have been given that power that was left to be found by the chosen 
one. Nadia, it is my place to bring back the Gods. I am to be the Mother of 
the Gods. And all will worship me, for I am great, and beautiful, and 
terrible."

Nadia made a trembling whimper. She found herself hard-pressed to think 
straight. Staring deep into Yin-Feng's eyes, she began to lose herself. Her 
will was quickly slipping away, and being overshadowed by Yin-Feng's 
dominance.

Nadia shook her head, "B-but how can this be?"

"In the darkness that swallowed me, Nadia, I found truth," she answered, her 
voice quiet, crooning. "I saw the Golden Monkey in a dream, bestowing his 
curse upon me. He would have turned me into a madwoman, thirsty for the 
pleasures of the flesh. But my father taught me well. And the Golden Monkey 
had not counted on that. I learned many disciplines to clean, and purify my 
mind." She leaned closer, into the other woman. "And he saw that I was 
fighting him, and he became enraged, and attacked me."

Nadia's eyes widened as she listened to the story. Lost in the words of the 
story and the eyes of Yin-Feng, she was unaware of anything else around her.

"So it was that upon the spirit realm I fought the Golden Monkey. I fought 
my darkest fear. And though I was almost beaten into the rubble and 
destroyed, I heard my father's voice, speaking to me from far away. It gave 
me strength, even as my father reminded me of what plane we were fighting 
upon. With my last effort, I defeated the Golden Monkey. I lured him into my 
own mind and crushed him with the raw power of my Chi."

Her eyes closed, in remembrance of the event. "And with that defeat, my 
sleeping mind awoke to all it's ancient powers that mortal man has long 
forgotten and can no longer touch. The curse was not lifted, but it was 
forever changed." With a gentle touch, her hand slid down Nadia's bare arm. 
"So it is that I was born again, purged by the fire, burnt to ashes, and 
reborn a Goddess."

"You, Nadia, will be my first Priestess. My High Priestess. You are my 
Chosen, before all others. As it always will be. You will serve me, and 
please me, and all will envy you for your greatness and your holiness to 
me."

Nadia whimpered again. Yin-Feng was so sure of herself, so sure of 
everything. Nadia felt the almost palatable pressure of Yin-Feng's will 
engulfing her own. Feng had harnessed the untapped potential of the human 
mind, and now bent it to work the twisted will of the life that had been 
thrust upon her.

Yin-Feng's fingertips brushed the younger girls hair back. Her deep eyes 
still staring into Nadia's own, as if pushing herself into Nadia's mind 
through it.

A mere sapling to a full storm, Nadia's will was forced to bend, but it did 
not break.

The words were slow. "A Priestess, to you." She became everything she had 
ever admired in the dead Yin-Feng. She was a Phoenix, too. Born again, in 
love, and kindness. Burned away were the inadequate feelings of despair, and 
worthlessness. She had a purpose, now. A skill. She lived to guide others to 
her Goddess. She lived to show them the proper way. She lived to love. And 
she loved to live.

Yin-Feng smiled. Her fingers glided over Nadia's small breasts. Nadia 
shivered, casting her eyes down. Warmth churned in her body, a smile on her 
lips.

She knew what it was like to be Yin-Feng.

The trembling in Nadia's loins at that sudden enlightenment was unlike 
anything she'd experienced before - the wake of a small orgasm? She wasn't 
sure, but what she was certain of was that she wanted to feel it over, and 
over again.

The soft fingertips glided down her shirt, to lift it from her body. The 
hand of Yin-Feng slipped under it, and for the first time in her life, 
another hand. The hand of that fantasy lover she so often pleasured herself 
thinking about glided over her stomach. Just as she imagined it would be, if 
she had been Yin-Feng.

Nadia shivered in pleasure. She leaned close. "Oh, Goddess." She mewled. 
"Teach me your ways. Your wisdom."

The voice was soft in her ear. "Gladly, my High Priestess. But first, we 
need a name for you. Nadia is dead. And so, young child of the Silver 
Phoenix, your name shall become Mei-Yong. For now, born in me, child, you 
are Eternal Beauty."

Mei-Yong, who had once - it seemed a lifetime ago - been Nadia, blushed. 
*Nadia.* The thought was fleeting, as she realized how rough, how awkward 
that name sounded, now. It wasn't her. Not anymore.

She was Mei-Yong. *Yes. Mei-Yong. For Her. Anything, for Her. Mei-Yong is 
perfect and eternal in her Goddess. I will serve her well. Forever.* The 
girl felt herself smile. She felt beautiful. For the first time in her life, 
she felt beautiful. The Goddess had chosen her ... *her* ... out of everyone 
in the entire world. She leaned her body into her Goddess in supplicant 
submission, eager to learn her new role. She was zealous to find her new 
place, and to discover the joy of her worth to her Goddess.

Yin-Feng's other hand joined the first underneath Mei-Yong's shirt. Light 
fingertips traces over her sides. Mei-Yong trembled at the feather-light 
touches as Feng's hands drew the shirt up, over Mei-Yong's head, and cast it 
away.

The young girl wore no bra. Mei-Yong's breasts were small, nipples a bright 
pink and hardened in the anticipation of what was to come. Her pulse was 
racing, her skin warmer, her breath ragged.

And Yin-Feng hadn't even touched her yet.

She felt the gentle touch of her Goddess slide, in an electric caress that 
caused her mind to buzz, her body to tremble again. A soft sigh of pleasure 
passed her lips as Yin-Feng's hand wrapped around her, tickling the tiny 
hairs on the back of her neck. It sent shivers of ecstasy down her spine.

She felt herself being pulled, closer to her Goddess. Full of wanton desire, 
eager to please and fulfill her role, the young Priestess yielded. She bent, 
to Feng's will again.

The moist lips of her Goddess were barely an inch away from her own. She 
could feel the warm breath of Yin-Feng against her face. Soft eyes, filled 
with want stared back into the confident eyes of Yin-Feng.

The voice was soft, and it seemed to melt Mei-Yong into a soft puddle of 
quivering flesh. "You've never been taken, by anyone - mortal man, or woman? 
Have you, my Eternal Beauty?"

Mei-Yong almost dared not to breath, she was so caught in the moment. "No." 
Was all she could muster, lost in the serenity and eroticism of her new 
Goddess.

Her body went limp as Yin-Feng's lips enclosed over hers. One hand pressed 
against the back of her neck, causing her to whimper in pleasure. Those 
whimpers only increased as Mei-Yong felt the delicate touch of her Goddess' 
other hand against her own small, hardened breast.

Her jaw went lax, as Feng's warm velvety tongue intertwined with hers. Slow 
and guiding, Feng turned her body about, and with care lowered Mei-Yong's 
body down onto the bed she'd been resting on. As Mei-Yong's head hit the 
pillow, their lips parted, and Yin-Feng smiled with tenderness towards her 
newfound love.

Before Mei-Yong could speak, Yin-Feng's fingers were at her mouth, hushing 
her. With gentle reverence, fingertips danced down Mei-Yong's smooth belly, 
and played at the buttons of her pants. Soft was her voice, caring, and 
spurning Mei-Yong's desire for her Goddess. "You must be shown the path of 
light, before you can walk it, Mei-Yong. Then, you can show others."

The girl smiled at that, her head sinking into the pillow as she allowed the 
sensations to wash over her, welcoming them like warm water, lapping at her 
skin.

Her body quivered as Feng's fingertips danced intricate patterns over her 
stomach, her breasts.  Soft lips would pause, and kiss a spot of warmed 
flesh, and a hot tongue would follow, licking at her skin.

Mei-Yong's loins burned with arousal, and she could smell a familiar scent 
in the air - her own heat, mixed with that of her Goddess'. That thought 
made her smile; that she was so beautiful, she could arouse a Goddess.

Proud of herself, she arched her back into her Goddess, to show Her how much 
pleasure that her Goddess had given her. Yin-Feng smiled to herself and even 
as her fingertips threatened to slide beneath the waistband of her pants her 
lips wrapped around Mei-Yong's breasts.

Mei-Yong let out a shuddering gasp, and arched her back more into the 
pleasuring mouth. She felt her nipple being pulled and pinched by Feng's 
teeth, her eyelids fluttering open to watch as she lay still, a helpless 
quivering mass of pleasured flesh for her Goddess.

Her hips rose of their own accord, pressing firmly into Yin-Feng's. Again, 
hard, Yin-Feng bit at the pert nipple sending another moan out from 
Mei-Yong's lips. She batted it against her tongue, and suckled on it with 
all the strength her mouth could muster.

Red-faced, her skin starting to sweat, Mei-Yong's mind whirled and buzzed, 
bombarded by the pleasures of the flesh. Pleasures she had only known 
through herself - now intensified tenfold by her role. By her Goddess. She 
squeezed her thighs together again, well aware of her need and heat.

Yet, while Yin-Feng was aware of the young girl's need, it was necessary to 
show her what was expected of her in the future. Not until each nipple was 
sorely bruised, and colored a wonderful shade of purple, did she lift her 
lips from Mei-Yong's tiny breasts, smiling in her decadence.

Yin-Feng's lips pursed, and she blew lightly on the wet, tortured skin.

Mei-Yong mewled like a happy kitten, wet eyes floating shut.

As if she were taking off a royal garb, Yin-Feng's hands ever so slowly slid 
Mei-Yong's pants off her. Caressing the bare skin of newly shaven legs. 
Kissing thighs, and kneecaps, licking thighs.

Time was lost.

Toes curled, and soft pubic hairs wet with the dew of arousal that were 
cooled by the shaded air of the tent, Mei-Yong realized at last, she was 
utterly naked before her Goddess.

Naked, physically. Just as she always would be mentally. Her Goddess was 
always, would always be, in control. Yin-Feng would always guide her Eternal 
Beauty, to perfection.

The sudden touch at her outer lips gave way to a louder mewl, and a soft 
shudder of flesh. In desperate desire Mei-Yong's legs parted, ready to 
experience the next sensation with zeal.

The pressure stirred her, as she felt two strong fingertips spreading her 
lips. She was utterly vulnerable, now. She was utterly lost. She was utterly 
in heaven.

The cool breath of Feng's lips blowing on her moistened lips caused her to 
inhale sharply, and she tossed her head. Soft laughter filled the room as 
her Goddess was pleased at her reactions.

She felt the kiss just above her labia, and trembled again, opening her eyes 
just in time to see her Goddess take a long, deep drink of her.

The velvety tongue slid against the insides of her walls, pushing into her 
pussy. It curled, it twisted, it dove and rose inside her, driving her into 
a mad, glorious sexual frenzy.

Her body could take no more, and she felt the onslaught of the orgasm slam 
into her. It was an earthquake. It rumbled through her bones, her skin. It 
ravaged her from dripping forehead to straining toes as she felt her heated 
sex convulse and spasm inside her.

The tongue withdrew, even as the aftermath begin to slowly rumble through 
her again, these quakes not as great, but casting gentle wakes of satisfying 
pleasure in their own way. Her skin was left raw, and sensitive to the 
slightest of touches in a manner she loved as her Goddess kissed her way up 
to Mei-Yong's lips.

"You have the knowledge, now, my Eternal Beauty. Use it wisely."

The twist of her nipple was the last thread her mind could withstand. Her 
mind could take no more, and it finally snapped. Mei-Yong fell unconscious 
and into a blissful, satisfying sleep.

--------------------------------------------------------------

As they neared the camp, Dylan and Tyler each bore a wide grin on their 
faces. They could feel their energy surging, their heart racing. They 
exchanged glances with wild eyes, full of expectations, of dreams, and 
fantasies come true.

It had been three long weeks since Yin-Feng's 'accident', and if reports 
they'd managed to scavenge up were correct, everything had been shut down 
weeks ago, and the site had been left abandoned. Both men had agreed that 
now was the proper time to retrieve the golden statue from where they had 
directed Nadia to hide it.

Tyler smiled at the memory of drugging Nadia as she lay unconscious over 
Yin-Feng. He'd woken her just enough to shoot her with the needle gun and 
was quite satisfied how easily she had accepted her 'orders'.

And now they feverishly contemplated a future filled sandy beaches, and 
lustful women, begging for their attentions. Life was going to be good.

Tyler slowed the jeep down about a half a mile from the camp to be and cut 
the headlights. The moon almost gave them enough light to see by, but Tyler 
flicked on the flashlight anyways.

"We get in, and we get out," Tyler said stiffly to Dylan. "Don't make a 
sound. If we get attention drawn our way, I'll kick your fucking brains in."

Dylan scrunched up his eyes, not sure if Tyler was joking or not. He nodded, 
"Don't worry," he said, holding up his hands. "I want the money as much as 
you do." He gave his friend a smile, "Besides, it's my contacts that got us 
a buyer for the piece."

Tyler twisted his lips into a wry smile. "It was at that," he agreed. He 
crept across the sand, towards camp, quiet now. Following in his stealthy 
shadow, Dylan brought up the rear. Muscles poised, they were ready for 
anything.

They were ready to take out a few workers, if that's what it took. But Tyler 
had taken precautions to make sure the statue would be in a remote spot far 
away from the camp.

He moved to the small pile of rocks, and with Dylan's help began to push 
aside the large rock under which the Golden Monkey had been buried.

Even in the silver light of the moon, it glistened and gleamed brightly, as 
if boasting of its' wealth to them.

"Holy fucking shit," Dylan swore, shaking his head in disbelief as Tyler 
picked up the statue, dumping it into a plain burlap sack. Tyler nodded in 
agreement with his friend.

"Easiest job we ever did, Dylan." He turned, flashing a grin to his friend, 
which turned sour in the blink of an eye.

"Ty?" Dylan asked, but it was too late.

"Infidels!" Came the loud cry.

The deserted dunes seemed to teem with life as hundreds of men and women 
rushed towards the rock where both of them stood, gaping in bewilderment and 
horror.

They had no way out.

Tyler clutched the bag tightly to his chest, and made a desperate run for 
the jeep. Dylan turned around, dazed and uncertain. He saw Tyler running in 
fear out of the corner of his eye.

His legs picked up, and followed his friend almost on their own.

The surging crowd came upon them, and drove them down into the ground.

Fists and blunt objects pummeled them. Pain exploded in their bodies.

They sank into unconsciousness.

---------------------------------------------------

"They are awake, my Lady," came the quiet voice of a man.

Tyler moaned, and put his hands to his ears to stop the horrid ringing.

He opened his eyes, and found himself to be inside the same dark cavern of 
the temple that he and Dylan had attacked Yin-Feng in.

Dylan rolled over, and screamed as the decapitated head of the Lotus-Dragon 
fearsomely grinned at him.

"They are indeed. Go. Tell Her Worshipfulness that the infidels are prepared 
to meet her." The voice was self-assured, commanding. It allowed for no 
disobedience.

Tyler's mind swam, as he recognized the voice. "Nadia? What the fuck is 
going on?" He muttered. He spat the sand out of his mouth, and turned to 
look at her. His face twisted into an ugly mask of rage.

Dylan turned to look at Tyler, then, to the half-naked woman standing in 
front of them.

Clad in immaculate white robes, Nadia stood before them. The plunging 
neckline exposed her pert breasts, the edge of the 'V' ending just above her 
smoothly shaven sex. The bottom was cut like a loincloth and edged with 
gold. Her tanned, toned legs exposed for all to see, and it was clear she 
was not wearing anything underneath the simple, erotic garment.

"Who is Nadia?" She asked, her voice curious.

Out of all the answers he could have gotten, Tyler was not prepared for that 
one.

"You, you stupid bitch," Dylan offered in retort. He snarled at her, and 
tried to stand up, but his arms were tied tightly to his sides. He looked at 
Tyler, and noticed his friend caught in the very same predicament.

"I am Mei-Yong," came the lilting answer. "High Priestess to the Silver 
Phoenix. You are accused of trying to destroy her power, by calling forth 
the Golden Monkey to defeat her glory."

Dylan licked his lips, "What the *hell* are you talking about, you deluded 
psycho? Fuck. Let us go, you loopy bitch, before I get really mad, and hurt 
somebody."

She shook her head, and laughed. "You do not know your peril. But, you are 
misled. Have no fear. The Goddess comes, now. She will show you the truth."

Two muscled men came into view from the dark corridor, naked save for the 
sandals upon their feet. Their chests and limbs were well oiled. Hands 
behind them, they held up two long rods.

Upon the simple seat that was supported by those rods, was Yin-Feng. Her 
ponytail was unbound, the dark raven hair cascaded down her back like a 
billowing cape.

Both the men saw the look in her eyes. They remembered what she had done to 
them before. Fear clutched at their hearts with an icy hand, and their eyes 
widened at the sight.

She was glorious. Her body was oiled and scented, her amber skin glowed 
against the bright hue of the lights that shone forth. Dark nipples, fat and 
wide were erect - they seemed to greet them with shameless passion. She was 
dressed as 'Nadia' was, save her garb was of black.

The two men at the front, and at the back, lowered her with great reverence 
to the floor of the cavern.

Her leg arched out, and touched the sand.

Dylan squirmed back, his body twisting and squirming like a frightened worm.

Tyler remained where he was, frozen with fear.

Only they dared to look at her. All other eyes were cast down, showing the 
Goddess her proper respect.

A sudden chill came from the corridor, causing her hair to rise up from 
behind her and the wind whipped her hair about. She seemed yet more 
terrible, and yet more beautiful with each step she took towards them.

Yin-Feng only spoke one word, her voice cool. Calm. Confident. "Mei-Yong."

The young girl bent a knee to the word, and moved to her Goddess, standing 
to the side of her beloved. Yin-Feng's hand swept over her bare midriff, up 
to encircle the girl's breasts. A long nail, cold and edged, ran across the 
underside of the small mounds and then moved to encircle each nipple in a 
lazy figure eight pattern. Her eyes never wavered from the two men.

Mei-Yong shivered with delight. The girl moved one foot a few inches 
further, spreading her desire for her Goddess, should her Goddess wish it.

"Why," she coldly asked, "Did you wish to destroy this?" Dark eyes flickered 
to the young trembling girl. Yin-Feng had become the most fluent of artists, 
and now she played Mei-Yong's body with the ease of a master musician.

"Harmony. Love. Perfection," Yin-Feng continued. The toying hand slid down, 
now over Mei-Yong's stomach. Fingertips slipped beneath the loincloth. 
"Remove."

Mei-Yong's heart fluttered, and with a quick, practiced movement. The ornate 
garb fell off of her shoulders, cloth pooling about her feet.

Tyler looked with wonder at Yin-Feng. He glanced around to the others, even 
as he began to join Dylan in attempting to distance himself from the 
insanity of the situation.

Dylan glanced around, "What the fuck is happening, Ty?" He swallowed. His 
arms bulged and pressed hard against his bonds and the hard cords only 
responded by pressing further into his skin, rubbing it raw and sore.

Tyler was too busy watching the scene play out in front of him. Nadia was no 
longer the little mouse he'd so often taken advantage of - now she was - 
beautiful? And erotic, as her hips swayed to the tantalizing fingers that 
played at her cunt.

The stoic men that stood near the entrance of the corridor remained still, 
their heads down, their cocks erect; a salute to the power that they now 
served.

Mei-Yong was in heaven. She concentrated on keeping her legs from trembling 
at the sensations that were flooding her body. The deft fingers of Yin-Feng 
slid inside her cunt, and she clenched her walls around them to show her 
Goddess how well trained she was. How much she had learned about being a 
High Priestess. Agile fingers curled about her inside her, and tickled her 
most sensitive spots - spots until only a few weeks ago she'd never even 
knew existed.

She kept her arms behind her, chest thrust outwards for her Goddess to 
return to, if Yin-Feng so chose. Warm eyes, soft and wet, looked with utter 
adoration and love at the Goddess. She opened her mouth to sing her worship.

Sexual moans of lust echoed within the hallowed chambers and corridors.

Yin-Feng's index finger moved to strum Mei-Yong's clit, as she spoke again. 
The music of the lustful heat that she was playing seemed to add to the 
power of her voice. "Answer, unbelievers. Why did you seek to take this? To 
use it against me?"

Tyler didn't understand, but he at least had enough wits about him to 
finally find his voice. "Look. I don't know what the fuck is going on here," 
he said. Desperation was seeped deep in his voice. "But just let us go. 
We'll leave the damn Monkey. Just let us go."

Mei-Yong's hips wriggled against the finger, and she could take it no 
longer. Her legs buckled, and she slipped onto her knees, unable to stand at 
such an assault.

Yin-Feng touched her head and nodded, and Mei-Yong gasped a smile of 
surprise, and delight. Her hips shimmied up, and her thighs wrapped around 
Yin-Feng's feet. With lust-filled thrusts, she humped the bare foot with 
childlike glee. Her back arched, her tongue pushed past her lips and her 
head disappeared underneath the silk loincloth around Yin-Feng's hips.

The Goddess's thighs shuddered.

"You will leave the Monkey?" She asked, her voice calm, and quiet. Her eyes 
closed, to revel in the sensations her Priestess was giving her.

Dylan saw the light down the tunnel. "We'll leave the Monkey," he agreed. 
"And we'll never tell anyone about this. Just give us our freedom, and we're 
gone."

The Goddess shivered, and she opened her dark eyes to stare at them. "You 
fear me. That is well, children. But, unfortunately, I do know what is going 
on here. I can see your dark thoughts." Her stare hardened, even as 
Mei-Yong's body convulsed against her in the throes of heated orgasm.

Red tresses still shimmered in the light as her head turned this way and 
that behind the white cloth. Yin-Feng's toes sunk deep into the sand.

Her voice took on a new power, as if fueled by the erotic sensations that 
overwhelmed her. The air seemed to buzz with it. "You seek to contact the 
mortal authorities. To destroy all that I have built. You seek to sell the 
Golden Monkey for human greed, and you do not know that you will release its 
curse. You seek to destroy the future." She paused, even as they shivered at 
her voice. It vibrated in their ears.

"You seek freedom? Then freedom you shall have." She gestured to the men.

Four naked, oiled men moved to them and cut their bonds. That was all Dylan 
needed. He swung at the first man to his left with all his might, sending 
the worshiper down to the ground and clutching at his gut.

"Stop."

The voice resonated through Dylan's skull.

Yin-Feng's eyes darkened, swirling into a storm of rage. "You seek your 
freedom. I give it to you, gladly. And for your disobedience, and your 
crimes against me, that freedom shall be lain upon you."

Dylan tried to move, but found he could not.

Tyler could only move his eyes, and glanced fleetingly at Dylan. His pupils 
shrank in terror.

"You see? Nothing more than frightened children. Yet, so kind am I that I 
give you all you ask. Your fate is sealed. As this Temple will be. Buried, 
and lost with time, so shall you be. Free - from the mortal chains that bind 
you. Punished, to forever guard the Golden Monkey from being free. And in 
eternity, you can reflect upon your grievous ways."

Her body rocked, with the onslaught of orgasm, as her High Priestess licked 
with loving diligence. Power ebbed from her, and Dylan and Tyler fell 
unconscious.

--------------------------------------------------

Mei-Yong knelt before the throne of her Goddess in the remote temple. Her 
nipples rubbed against the holy amber legs of Yin-Feng, as the Goddess sat 
and sipped wine. The young priestess lapped at the flowing juices with pure 
devotion, and reverence. Between those laps, she would often pause to look 
upon in wonder and awe at the presence before her.

A stray thought came to her. "Goddess?" She asked, moving to kiss Feng's 
nipple.

"Yes, little one?" Came the voice from far away. The Goddess did not bother 
to open her eyes.

"I - I think I remember who those infidels were. Or maybe I do not. It is - 
odd, Goddess." Mei-Yong seemed puzzled at this, but she knew that surely, 
her Goddess would hold the answers. Her Goddess was - a Goddess, after all.

A light fingertip from Feng touched Mei-Yong on the forehead. "Do not worry, 
little one. Child of the Silver Phoenix. My Eternal Beauty. It was another 
lifetime ago. Monkey is safe. And they will never try to harm us again."

Mei-Yong felt the buzz of pleasure, and easily found herself forgetting the 
two strange men in lieu of other pleasures to behold. She lifted herself up 
to kiss Feng on the lips.

Intimate tongues intertwined, and Mei-Yong shivered in the pale moonlight, 
at peace in the lithe arms of the one true Goddess in the world.

------------------------------------------

The throbbing in Tyler's head wouldn't go away. He struggled, and managed to 
open his eyes. Only one of the small tripod lights still burned, but it gave 
him enough light to see by.

His eyes looked forward, to stare into the face of the very same 
dragon-warrior they'd once knocked down. It was standing again, in the same 
spot. Somehow, it looked familiar. Taller, than before and now seeming more 
fearsome.

*It's clothes.*

Tyler tried to gasp, but no voice came from his throat.

*Dylan's.*

Tyler felt nothing, but the cold chill of air. His eyes moved up the body, 
to look at the stone-warrior's eyes.

*Dead. Stone.*

Reflected in them was another warrior. Sealed in stone. Unmoving.

For all eternity.

---------------------------------------------------------------

*If you liked this story (or even if you didn't) please take a moment of 
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By the way... if you *have* seen this story (or any of my other stories) 
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