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This is a work of fiction.  If you are under whatever arbitrary age
your elected officials have decided to choose for viewing adult
material, understand that you will be breaking the law if you read
this.  If you get caught,  I don't want to get blamed because your
parents can't keep track of you.

Please don't try this stuff at home (or anywhere else, for that
matter).  Some of it could be very dangerous.  If you have a hard time
telling fantasy from reality, please don't read any of my writings and
go seek medical help.

If you are a religious fanatic of any flavor and you hate my stuff,
please note that you shouldn't be here to begin with - no one forced
you here.  If you are offended by sexual liturature (such as it is)
then go visit somewhere else.

This story may not be posted on any pay site.  It may not be archived
with out permission from the author and if it's reposted, this
information must remain with it.  Copyright c 2004 Dark Pen.

~Dark Pen
www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/DarkPen/www

Avatar 
Chapter 28

      	"I'll just go and..." began Ari.
      
      	"Nonsense," grinned Ken.  He knew that she got off being
displayed.  "Gary, I'd like to introduce Arianwen."
      
      	"Very nice to meet you," said Gary, who was obviously enjoying
the view the lithe teen was presenting.  Her nipples were hard buds
and her long, flame colored hair spilled over her body.  Her pussy was
slightly swollen and Ken could smell the sex on her.  He didn't know
if Gary could or not.
      
      	He was about to call her his slave and realized that he didn't
know exactly what to say.  This was quickly followed by the
realization that if he introduced her as anything other than one of
his slaves, she'd be upset.  Ari considered herself his slave, even
though it appeared that Jane was doing most of her training.
      
      	"Ari is my other slave," said Ken by way of introduction. 
"Ari, come here dear."
      
      	Her breathing deepened as she walked forward.  Ken's tone of
voice when he called her his slave caused her pussy to spasm with
lust.  Being casually displayed to two people she didn't even know
also caused her arousal to shoot up.
      
      	Ken put his hand behind her neck and gently massaged it.  "Ari,
Gary and his slave Annette are helping us set up the new dungeon."
      
      	"Um... Oh.  Nice to meet you, Gary," Ari replied.  Her voice
was somewhat shaky.
      
      	"Ari," said Ken to Gary, "is a wonderful slave.  She's a bit
new to it though.  Since I didn't ask, how do you prefer to be
addressed?  Master?  Sir?"
      
      	"Well," said Gary still not taking his eyes off the girl, "When
there's more than one dominant in the room, I usually prefer Master
Gary."  He was beginning to wonder how old this girl was.  If she was
legal, he'd eat a whip.  She looked about fifteen, but didn't act that
young.
      
      	"Ari, why don't you go see if Annette needs any help?"  In
point of fact, Annette had already set up the St. Andrew's cross and
the horse.  She had just started to put together a nice whip rack that
Gary was throwing in for free when Ari arrived.
      
      	Ken could feel a rise in Annette's lust as she watched the teen
approach.  She was exactly the kind of woman Annette liked to be
paired with for play.  Slim and pale, such women contrasted her own
lush, dark beauty perfectly.  Some of her best orgasms had been when
she was tied on her back, eating the pussy of a girl who looked liked
Ari, while a whip was liberally applied to both of them.
      
      	Ken smiled as he followed the woman's thoughts.  Ari, already
sensitized from her earlier encounter with Karen, was definitely
interested in the exotic Italian.  Even more interestingly, when
Annette raised her hand in greeting and Ari caught sight of the dark
hair under her arms, she was transfixed by the sight.  It stirred a
different, rather primal lust in her.  Something to keep in mind,
thought Ken.
      
      	He and Gary largely ignored the two women for the next half
hour or so while Gary waxed eloquently about all the things he could
do with a place like this.  Ken loved some of his ideas, and said that
he'd have a contract drawn up for Gary to help put together the
dungeon.  He also told Gary that he was interested in metal work and
was surprised to learn that Gary also made swords and knives.  That
interested Ken a great deal since he really like edged weapons.
      
      	Ignoring the women might have been a mistake.  Ken of course,
felt it when it started, but he was used to the way the minx worked. 
Gary was astonished to turn and find Ari riding his sub's face while
licking and sucking Annette's drooling pussy.  Annette never acted
like that - not without his permission, which she had not received. 
Ken noted that he was only briefly annoyed, but that embarrassment and
disappointment ended up his primary emotions.  Before he could say
something to Annette though, Ken put a hand on his arm.
      
      	"Gary," he said, "I know this is going to be hard to believe. 
It's really Ari's fault, not Annette's.  Don't blame your slave for
something she couldn't stop."
      
      	"Of course she could stop it," replied the man.  "She knows
better than to play with someone without my permission.  I'm really
sorry, Ken.  I thought..."
      
      	"Gary.  Please listen.  It really isn't her fault and I can
prove it to you."
      
      	"Huh?"
      
      	"You can, of course, punish your slave, but you shouldn't do it
thinking she failed you.  Plus, I should have known better than to let
Ari near her.  Ari's not completely trained and doesn't understand yet
that, in a Master/slave relationship, she needs to ask the Master's
permission before seducing his slave."
      
      	"Annette's very well trained.  She should have been able to
resist Arianwen," replied Gary.
      
      	"Could you?" asked Ken.
      
      	"What do you mean?"
      
      	"I'll make a bet with you.  I'll pay you double the cost of
what you've delivered here today if you can resist Arianwen for more
than three minutes.  If you fail, then I'd like you to just
acknowledge - if only to me - that your slave couldn't stop herself. 
Also if you still want to punish Annette - and even if you don't want
to, then I'd like offer this play room to you Friday night.  Of
course, it would be fun if I and my slaves could join you two.  We
could make it a mini play party."
      
      	"You're on," smiled Gary.  No matter how good Jane had been, he
was sure that he'd be able to resist this girl who was obviously only
a teenager.  Ken hadn't said how old she was, just that she was in
college, but no way she could be over eighteen.  Of course, he had an
advantage he hadn't mentioned to Ken; he'd had sex with Annette just
before they got here, so his need wouldn't be all that urgent.
      
      	"Arianwen," said Ken sharply, "Please come over here."
      
      	She recognized the tone in his voice and quickly disentangled
herself from Annette, who lay there panting.  She hadn't cum, but the
girl had gotten her so very close.  Ken could feel the remorse coming
from the woman as she regained senses.  She was very upset that she'd
failed her master.
      
      	"Annette, you too," said Gary.  Disappointment was plain in his
voice.
      
      	Both women came over and knelt.  
      
      	"Master Ken tells me that Annette couldn't help herself.  That
you seduced her," said Gary looking at Arianwen.
      
      	Ari quickly realized that she'd made a mistake.  She turned to
Annette and said, "I'm so sorry Annette.  I... you're just so
beautiful I couldn't help myself."
      
      	"No, it's my fault, really.  I know you said you were new to
this and I took advantage of you."
      
      	Ken and Gary just sighed.  "Ari," said Ken, "you have two
minutes to get Master Gary to put his cock into your mouth."
      
      	Arianwen just looked at Ken in surprise.  Clearly there was
more going on here than she thought.
      
      	"It's OK.  Feel free to let yourself go a bit."
      
      	"Yes Master," replied the girl.  She was still quite aroused
from her play with Annette and Master Gary was very attractive.  Ken
followed her thoughts as she looked at him.
      
      	And initially, that's all she did.  For about thirty seconds,
she just looked at him, then she got to her feet and stood in front of
him.  Ken could feel Gary trying to hold back, but when she ran one
finger over his bicep, his breath began to quicken.  He could smell
her scent, strong and musky, and it wasn't long before his cock was
hard as steel.  She stood on tip toes and lightly touched her lips to
his.  Then she ran a finger over his lips.  He almost groaned,
assaulted by the smell from both Ari and his slave emanating from
Ari's finger tips.
      
      	When Ari went back to her knees and ran a finger over the bulge
in his shorts, he found all he could think of was getting his cock
into the girl.  All thoughts of her age, the bet, everything, were
gone.  He wanted, needed to be inside her.  So when she opened his
pants and freed his shaft, he made no move to stop her at all.  He
couldn't remember when he'd wanted a woman more.   He groaned and
almost came as her lips closed over the head.
      
      	"One minute, forty-five seconds," said Ken.
      
      	Gary just looked at him blankly for a second, then let out a
breath.  "Holy shit," he said.
      
      	"I can taste your lover on your cock," said Ari, running her
tongue under the rigid helmet.  "May I finish?"
      
      	"You don't mind?" Gary asked Ken.
      
      	Ken smiled and said, "Nope."
      
      	Ari eagerly took Gary back in her mouth.  If he'd thought the
blow-job yesterday had been amazing, this one blew his mind.  He was
pumping a huge load into her mouth a very short time later, his knees
almost buckling from the intensity.  Ari looked at him and opened her
mouth, showing that she hadn't swallowed his load yet.  Then she
nodded toward Annette, who was sitting there with sweat dripping down
her body and a small puddle of cunt juice between her legs.  What
she'd just witnessed had made her so hot she almost couldn't think
straight.
      
      	Gary understood and nodded.  Ari scooted over and kissed the
other woman, passing her Master's cum into her mouth.  Annette groaned
and had a small orgasm, then a bigger one when Ari fidgeted with the
ring in her clit hood.  Gary had sat down after putting his cock away
followed by Ken also resting on the floor.  They watched while Ari
drove Annette to a third orgasm, then stopped to let her recover.  Ari
was pulsing with the need to have her own orgasm, but knew that Ken
wanted her to wait.  Gary found himself almost painfully hard again.
      
      	"You win," he said after Ari backed off so Annette wouldn't
pass out.  "That was unbelievable."  He paused, looking at his slave
who was bonelessly panting on the floor.  "I should really make her
control her orgasms - but I love to watch her cum too much."
      
      	Ken agreed that she was very beautiful, then directed Ari to go
downstairs to bring up more tea.  She smiled at them and left.
      
      	"Do you have any explanation for that?" asked Gary as he helped
Annette to her feet.
      
      	"Yes," replied Ken.
      
      	Gary waited, then, realizing that Ken wasn't going to elaborate
said, "What time on Friday?"
      
      	"Well, you could come by for dinner at seven or so, and we
could go from there.  Sound good?"
      
      	"Oh yeah."
      
      	Gary showed Ken the toy rack that he'd thrown in for free, for
which Ken thanked him.  It was almost a work of art; the rich, dark
wood beautifully carved and finished.
      
      	Gary helped his still shaky slave get dressed and they drank
more tea.  Annette asked to use the bathroom and Ken pointed out where
it was, while looking at Ari and shaking his head.  Ari gave an
exaggerated pout and went back down stairs to begin putting together
tonight's meal.
      
      	"What was that about?" asked Gary.
      
      	"Ari is into water sports - big time.  She would loved to have
helped out your slave."
      
      	"Hmm," said Gary, "that's not something that Annette has ever
tried.  I wonder how she'd take to it?  Of course, with Arianwen
involved, she'd probably love it.  You're not going to tell me how she
did that, are you?"
      
      	"Not yet," Ken grinned.  "I don't think you'd believe me."
      
      	Annette returned and Gay looked at Ken.  "That's twice now I've
enjoyed the attentions of your slaves.  I was going to ask if you'd be
interested in playing with Annette for a while, but we've run out of
time.  Perhaps Friday?"
      
      	Ken looked at Annette and saw she liked that idea a whole lot. 
"I'll look forward to it," he replied.
      
      	They all walked downstairs to the van.  Gary and Annette piled
in and drove off.  Ken could tell that they were both anticipating
Friday night.
      
      	He walked into the kitchen where Ari was putting together
dinner.
      
      	"How do you feel about children?" he asked.
      
      	"Why were you planning on getting someone pregnant?" she asked.
      
      	"No.  However, Eric and Sally have a daughter who's an infant. 
When we take them to the Circle tonight, I'll need you to hold the
baby, if that's OK."
      
      	"Sure.  I don't mind kids," smiled Ari.  Ken was surprised that
she felt a little sad.
      
      	"What's wrong love?" he asked.
      
      	She sighed and said, "Nothing really.  It's just that I miss my
sister.  I get to talk to her, but it's not the same as seeing her
everyday."
      
      	Ken sat on a stool and began chopping lettuce.
      
      	"My mother," Ari continued, "has totally gone off the deep end.
 I don't know what her problem is, but she's making Tina into a
prisoner.  Practically the only time she's allowed out of the house is
to go to school.  And church, of course.  Mom's going twice a week now
and Tina's had more than enough of this bullshit.  Mom's also talking
about putting Tina in a religious school for girls who think they
wanna become nuns.  Tina's getting really scared."
      
      	"You can bring her here, you know," said Ken.
      
      	"My mom would have you thrown in jail for kidnapping."
      
      	"I'm sure Lenny'd find me a way out of that," replied Ken. 
"Does she beat your sister or anything like that?"
      
      	"She used to take the strap to us when we were little, but that
was years ago.  She doesn't do that any more so it's not like we can
claim abuse."
      
      	They talked until Jane came home.  She was almost glowing with
energy.  "Sandy was very excitable today," was her explanation.
      
      	Everything was ready by the time Eric and Sally showed up.  Ken
read that Eric was bemused because Sally had returned to her old self
literally overnight.  When they got home last night, she'd put the
baby down, stripped and handed him a belt.
      
      	"Master, I'm sorry that I've been such complete, neglectful
bitch.  Please punish me."
      
      	Eric's Dom tendencies rushed to the fore and they'd had a very
wild night - when the baby wasn't awake that is.  It felt like things
had never changed between them at all.  Of course today, he'd been
canned at work.  He almost punched out Bob when the guy had offered
his condolences.  He'd had every intention of begging off this dinner,
but Sally was so animated and happy, and these last three months had
been so bad, that he couldn't even make himself tell her what had
happened.  He had no idea what they were going to do.  No jobs that
provided a living wage had been produced by the administration, the
economy was tanked and thanks to off-shoring, even his engineering
degree in electronics didn't help.
      
      	Despite all this, dinner was a pleasant affair - for Eric and
Sally anyway.  Ken could see the shadow trying to get out of the
barrier he'd placed around it.  He got the impression that it wouldn't
hold for more than another day, so whatever they did would have to be
done tonight.
      
      	They were all pleasantly full when he suggested they take a
walk outside.  It was a beautiful evening and perhaps, he suggested,
they could have coffee and dessert outside after the walk.  They
agreed and Ken led them to the Circle.  The sun had set and the stars
were just starting to appear.
      
      	Ken saw that Eric felt at peace and somewhat energized by the
Garden.  Sally however, was growing noticeably more agitate.  Ken
wasn't surprised since he could see that shadow in her mind slamming
against the now rapidly weakening barrier.
      
      	As soon as they were all in the Circle, the silver light of the
ward came up.   Ari, who had asked to hold Christine, was inside it as
well.  Eric and Sally looked around and Sally would have bolted if it
wasn't for Eric.  Ari realized that Sally wanted the child and handed
her back.  Ken knew they didn't have too much more time before the
shadow escaped and he was growing worried.  He'd thought his barrier
would last for longer, but apparently not.
      
      	"Wow," said Eric nervously, "nice lighting you've got here. 
How's it done?"
      
      	"You're about to find that out," said Ken.  He was trying to
hide his own nervousness.  What was he supposed to do if that thing
escaped?  Would it be able to get through the wards of the Circle? 
Would it attack Nemetodunum?
      
      	"There are some things that you guys should know," temporized
Ken.  What could he say to them that they'd believe?
      
      	"I'll take it from here Kenneth," came Lea's voice.
      
      	Eric and Sally almost jumped out of their skin.  Where the hell
had she come from?  Eric was immediately affected by Lea's presence,
which even Ken and Jane were feeling strongly.  Sally, on the other
hand, was now terrified, folding herself into Eric's arms and
clutching the baby to her breast.  The scene would have looked
ridiculous if viewed out of context.  Eric was huge and towered over
Lea, who appeared very delicate in contrast.
      
      	"Please be assured that no harm will come to you," said Lea. 
Ken wasn't so sure.  The shadow was now deforming and twisting the
barrier he'd placed and it wouldn't be long before it gave way.  "My
name is Lea.  I would like to help you both."
      
      	"Help us?  I don't understand," replied Eric.  The peace that
had descended on him in this space was rapidly evaporating.  Sally was
frightened to death and he had no idea why.  Interestingly enough, the
baby was cooing and gurgling in Lea's direction.
      
      	The scene changed around them and Sally actually started
shaking.  Oddly enough, if it hadn't been for her reactions, Eric
would have felt completely at home here.  Wherever here was.  The
grass circle that had been in the garden was still there - but now
rather than the surrounding garden there were huge trees.  The mansion
was gone as well.  Christine continued to coo and laugh, which was
having a calming effect on Sally.
      
      	"Sit, please," said Lea.  She sat in the grass, spreading her
flowing skirt around her legs.  Ken and Jane sat and Eric and Sally
soon followed.
      
      	"You have a beautiful child," said Lea.  "When she grows up,
she will be tall and strong like her father, and loving and tolerant
like her mother," said Lea.
      
      	"Thank you," said Sally.  She wasn't feeling so good now.  The
barrier was getting thinner and thinner - soon the shadow would be
loose again.
      
       	"Tell me," asked Lea, "How have you felt this last day?"
      
      	Some of Lea's calmness must have penetrated because the other
woman's voice was almost steady when she answered.  "Fine.  Good.  But
I don't understand any of this.  Where are we?  Who are you?"
      
      	"And," added Eric, "what is going on?  What did you mean by
help us?"
      
      	"This will be difficult for you to accept, but we haven't very
much time," Lea replied.  "Let me tell you what is going on..."
      
      	She explained about the shadow that had been placed in Sally's
mind.  Why it was there, who had done it and what their future would
be if it weren't removed.  Sally didn't want to believe, but Eric knew
that Lea spoke the truth.  He didn't know how he knew, but he knew.
      
      	"Honey," he said gently, "think about what things have been
like since Christine was born."
      
      	"C'mon Eric," replied his wife.  "This is nuts!  How could all
this be true?"
      
      	"Look around you," said Lea.  "Do you doubt your senses?"
      
      	"This could be a trick," said Sally.
      
      	"But what would I gain?"  asked Lea.  "If I have the power to
'trick' you like this, then why would I bother?

      	"Sally, I will not remove the shadow from you without your
permission.  If you wish, I will do nothing and you will leave
Nemetodunum to live out your life.  But let me show you what that life
will be like."
      
      	Visions appeared in her and her husband's minds.  Ken was able
to follow them and they were chilling.  Held together only by the
church, their love would die, their only solace would be their
religion.  Sally and Eric would stay together, held by their marriage
vow, rather than the love it was originally based on.  Their faith
would strengthen, but their lives would be loveless and controlled by
dogged belief in the church.  Christine, would either be estranged
from them early in life and leave as soon as she could, or stay out of
loyalty to them, her own live bereft of love and joy.
      
      	The vision lifted.  Both Sally and Eric had tears running down
their faces.
      
      	"I know it is hard to believe," said Lea, "but if I have the
power to make you see what I have shown you, then I have the power to
take the shadow no matter what your wishes.  I won't do that.  Time is
growing short and you must choose:
      	"Leave here and continue on the path that you've been shown.
      	"Let me remove the shadow and try to return to your old life. 
It is possible that you will escape retribution.  Or..."
      
      	Here She paused and looked at Ken.  He could tell She wasn't
happy.  She'd rather people came to Her, or were brought in by Her
followers rather than be faced with what seemed like no choice.
      
      	"Or," she continued, "you can dedicate to Me.  Through my
Avatar.  You can become one of the Circle.  But you must choose."
      
      	"What is this circle that you're talking about?" asked Sally. 
Ken looked at Lea who nodded back at him.  OK, the ball was in his
court.  He tried to explain, in simple terms what the Circle was, that
he, Jane and Arianwen were followers of Lea and dedicated to her way. 
It was tough to shoe-horn the pertinent information into a short time,
but a half hour later, they were out of time.
      
      	"I'm sorry," said Lea, "you must choose now.  The shadow is
almost free and you must be away from here before it is released."
      
      	"You can protect me if I agree to serve you?" asked Sally.
      
      	"Yes.  But remember, that is not your only choice.  It was only
the unexpected actions of my Avatar that placed you in this position
at all.  I am sorry for that, but I cannot change it."

      	Ken followed Sally's thoughts as she remembered the last five
months and how bad they'd been.  It was true that the only solace
she'd had was in the church, but everything else had been horrible. 
She didn't want to live like that again.  She couldn't risk herself
and her family that way and she could feel this woman had power. 
Sally didn't understand it, but she did knew it was real.  So was the
shadow that, even now, she could begin to feel again.
      
      	"Yes.  Do it.  I'll serve you - what ever it takes, but I don't
want to go back to that."
      
     	"Hand Christine to Arianwen," said Lea, "and we will begin.
      
      	"Wait," said Eric as they stood, "what are you going to do?"
      
      	Jane took his arm in her hand.  It barely fit half way around
the tall man's bicep.
      
      	"Eric, I promise, nothing bad will happen to Sally.  We'll keep
her safe."
      
      	The appearance of a low altar made of pure white stone streaked
with copper and green didn't make him feel better.  In fact, it made
him think of sacrifices.  Eric turned toward Arianwen to get the baby.
      
      	"Eric," said Lea, "leave the baby with Arianwen.  We need you
here."
      
      	They got Sally arranged on the altar.  To her surprise it was
warm and comfortable, although how stone could be comfortable was
beyond her.  At this point, the entire situation was beyond her.
      
      	"Take her hand Eric.  Think of your love for her and your
child.  Smile and be at peace."  Then she turned to Ken and said, "Now
you must remove the barrier and destroy the shadow."
      
      	"Me?" asked Ken.  "I thought that was why you were here.  I
don't..."
      
      	"I will guide you," cut in Lea's soft, but firm, voice.  "You
will do as I direct.  In the future, you will not meddle in a
situation like this without thinking it through."
      
      	Ken just nodded and looked at Sally.  The shadow was almost
free.  Time slowed as he heard whispers in his mind.  Directions,
words and thoughts that were not his own flooded it.  Then he entered
the space in his mind where everything was perfectly clear, where he
was focused on everything and nothing.  He'd been here many times
before, but only when physical action was required.  Now, it was the
power of his mind he must use.
      
      	The shadow didn't give up easily.  Tendrils had oozed back into
Sally's mind and were taking hold again.  Her expression changed to
one of pain and she grasped one of her husbands huge paws in both her
hands.   Ken expended a lot of time, from his point of view, hunting
down all the tendrils.  It was like they had little barbs that hooked
into her mind and he had to coat the things with his own power to
avoid damaging the woman.  Lea guided him until finally, he lifted the
shadow from Sally.
      
      	It hovered over the woman, encased in white light.  The
darkness struggled, straining toward Sally, slamming against the new
barrier.  Each strike caused Ken a bit of nausea while sapping his
strength.  It wasn't like it had intelligence, only purpose and it
would not be denied.
      
      	Lea's whispers guided Ken's next actions.  "Fill it with our
power, with our way.  Fill it with the strength of our Circle," She
said.
      
     	Rather than containing it, now Ken began pushing inward toward
it.  Everything was slippery, and almost like holding a soap bubble or
a water balloon made from very thin rubber.  He tried to crush the
shadow, but that didn't work.  Lea whispered something else and he
changed his tactics.  Small filaments of light began penetrating the
blackness.  Once there was a crack, more and more light entered the
dark.  But he didn't have enough power to completely overwhelm it.  A
touch on his arm and more flooded into him.  He felt Jane's mental
strength, the rigid focus she applied as a sub joined his own efforts.
 In the back of his mind a thought surfaced:  anyone who thought a
submissive was a weak person was an idiot.
      
      	Her energy joined with his and together, they lanced the
darkness with their light, finally completely dissipating it.
      
      	He dropped to his knees, sweat pouring off his body, too weak
to stand.  To everyone else, Ken knew, it happened very quickly; Sally
had winced once when the shadow was pulled from her and that was that.
      
      	To Ken, the battle, and he knew that's what it had been, had
gone on for hours.  He was parched and shaking from the effort.  Jane
was in somewhat better shape, but she too had sat heavily on the
ground, the grace that seemed so much a part of her, gone.
      
      	He watched as Lea bent over Sally and smiled at her.  Sally
smiled back and Ken felt a surge of power as, just like that, Sally
became a part of the Circle, a new Priestess of Lea.  Eric gazed at
them in wonder.  He said something Ken couldn't hear and Lea smiled
and gently shook her head.  Eric looked disappointed, then nodded.
      
      	Then they were back in the Garden, the Circle ward gone.  Sally
and Eric were standing and Ari was approaching them holding out the
baby.  No one really understood yet the toll that removing the shadow
had taken on Ken.   To them, it had happened very quickly.
      
    	Arianwen, however, noticed in short order that Ken was exhausted.
    
    	"Ken are you OK?" she asked.
    
    	"Yeah.  Just a bit tired and pretty thirsty.  Could you grab me
something to drink?"
    
      	"Yes sir," she said and hurried off.
      
      	Jane sat down and put her hand on Ken.  He felt that he could
draw on some of the energy she had left, that was, in fact what she
intended, but he didn't want to do that.
      
      	"Please Master," she said, "I know that you're exhausted."
      
      	"Na, I'll be alright," he said.
      
      	"Ken," said Eric and Sally as they knelt by his side, "Are you
OK?"
      
      	"Yup," he replied.  "Just a bit tired."
      
      	He looked at them and could feel that Eric was absorbing the
peace of the Garden.  Sally was as well, now that the shadow was gone.
 The baby was asleep.
      
      	"So," said Sally, "I understand from Lea that you are my High
Priest."
      
      	"I ... guess so," replied Ken.  He was too tired to probe the
woman at all, but could sense the beginnings of sexual desire in her,
which after her ordeal, he found somewhat odd.
      
      	Arianwen came almost running back with a covered pitcher of
water ad some glasses.  She's also grabbed some food that had been
left over from dinner.  Ken drank two glasses of water, then tore into
some left over roast.  Eventually, Eric helped him into the study
while Jane and Ari left to get dessert for everyone.
      
      	"I'm sorry Sally," said Ken as he rested in the leather lounge
with his eyes closed.
      
      	"Don't be," she replied firmly.  "Lea showed me what our lives
would have been like if you hadn't intervened.  I was always very
religious, I thought, and I have no idea why something like that would
have been done to me.  I mean, so I love my husband and child.  So
what?"
      
      	"Sally," said Eric, "We didn't exactly live our lives in a
religious manner, you know."
      
      	"What, because we were tolerant?  Because we love each other so
much?"
      
      	"What do you mean?" asked Ken as Ari and Jane arrived with ice
cream, some cake and coffee.
      
      	As they ate, Sally and Eric gave the other three a little more
insight into their lives.
      
      	"Sally," he began, "does a lot of charity work."
      
      	"So?" said Ken, "I thought that's what the church is all
about."
      
      	"Some of it," replied Eric wryly, "wasn't exactly approved by
the church.  Donating time to pro-choice advocates, cooking at
'Rainbow' events and writing nasty letters to senators who tried to
enact various laws in the name of 'Morality' are among some of her
more notable actions."  He paused for a moment, then said, "I wonder
why your doctor chose to do this to you?"
      
      	Sally snorted, "I can guess."  All eyes turned to her and she
blushed.  "Eric and I like to... um have a ...well a.."  she stopped,
too embarrassed to continue.
      
      	"What she means to say," said Eric, his humor showing in his
voice, "is that she's my sex slave.  So naturally, we supported the
kink community too.  But how would your doctor know about that?"
      
      	"Well, we played pretty hard two nights before I had a checkup
- before we knew I was pregnant," Sally said.  She was still
embarrassed, but continued.  "I had a lot of ... um... marks when I
went to see her.  It took me a half hour to convince her I wasn't
being abused.  She almost reported Eric to the police."  She looked up
at them and said, "I'm sorry if that's a little shocking to you..."
      
      	She was cut off by Ken's chuckling.  Ari was hiding a smile
behind one hand and Jane wasn't even trying to hide her smile.
      
      	"Am I missing something here?" asked Sally.  Eric also looked
very bemused.
      
      	"Well," said Ken getting himself under control, "there's a lot
you don't know about us."
      
      	He was about to launch into an explanation when the baby
started fussing.
      
      	"She's hungry," said Sally, "Let me go get the nursing
blanket."
      
      	"The what?" asked Ken.
      
      	"It's a blanket that she covers herself with when she nurses,"
replied Eric, "We've had people take offense."
      
      	"Well, no one here's going to be offended," said Jane.  "That's
the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
      
      	"Look," said Ken, "It's late and I'm exhausted.  Why don't you
stay here tonight and in the morning we'll talk.  There's a lot we
need to tell you."
      
      	"Oh, we can't," said Sally, "Eric has to get to the dealership
in the morning and..."
      
      	"Honey," said Eric, "Um..."
      
      	"Eric," cut in Ken.  "Tomorrow will be time enough for that,
OK?"
      
      	"What?" asked Sally in confusion.
      
      Eric was baffled too.  He didn't know how Ken knew, but it was
obvious that he knew Eric no longer had a job.
      
      	"Ari, why don't you and Jane go upstairs and help Sally settle
in a room, OK?  Eric will be right up."
      
      	"Yes Master," replied Jane with a grin.
      
      	"Master?" Sally and Eric both looked at Ken.  
      
      	"Explanations tomorrow," he said firmly.
      
      	They started to walk out and Ken said, "Eric, I still feel a
little out of it.  Could you help me to my room?"
      
      	"Uh, sure," he said.  "I'll be right... actually, will one of
you be able to help me find where you're putting Sally and I?"  Even
though he'd had the tour, he wasn't sure he'd be able to find Sally on
his own.   Ken knew that Sally would eventually develop the feel of
Nemetodunum that they all had.  His feel of the mansion was apparently
far more extensive than what Ari and Jane could sense, but they always
knew where to find anyone in the mansion proper.  Sally would soon
have that ability as well but Eric wasn't one of Lea's own yet and so
would have to do things the hard way.  Ken wondered why Eric wasn't
brought into the Circle tonight.
      
       	The women left and Eric made to help Ken out of his chair.  
       
       	"I'm fine," he said.  "I just wanted to talk to you for a
minute.  Please, sit down."
       
       	Eric sat and waited.
      
End Chapter 28

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