The Game
Cathena shifted her rifle to her other hand. The weapons they carried weren't lethal. The ammunition was simple light-weight pellets that stung a little when they hit. She was a little uneasy because this was the first time on this particular Playing field. "You, Shannon! Quit rubbing your eyes like you just woke up! This may be the Game, but the consequences are very real! Remember the last time you lost a Game?" Marcella glared at the girl who quickly snapped to attention. The other women looked a bit more alert as well. "Marcella's right. The men should be attacking very soon. They're predictable that way. Though Marcella, you need not be so harsh, 'tis only her second Game." "I know Cathena, I'm just edgy. They're close. I feel them. And I don't like this Playing field." "Just two more rounds and we've won. Just think on that and beware, the Leader gets it worse if she loses." Cathena agreed with Marcella about the Playing field. It was a huge house with many places to hide and to set ambushes. They hadn't even been given proper time to explore the whole of the house. The third, fourth and fifth floors were still uncharted. She turned to say something to Marcella just in time to see a shadow in the window. "Marcella! Roll two!" she said in a harsh whisper. Marcella acknowledged the command with a nod of her head. Silently, she waited until she heard her cue: the soft scraping of the window and the soft air pop sound of the gun firing. Quicker than it seemed she could, Marcella dropped to the ground, evading the shot fired at her, tumbled once and came up firing. Three of her shots hit their target. "Well done, Leader. Now, who do we have here?" Marcella pulled the man through the window; he offered no resistance. "Cathena! It's their Leader!" She said surprised. "This is good, very good." Cathena looked at him as he raised his face to her. Once again, she was struck by the raw sensuality of man before her. And she was surprised and frightened by her desire and attraction to him. "Now that you've got me Fem, what are you going to do with me?" He drawled. It was a challenge as sure as if he had thrown a gauntlet at her feet. "Well, since you're dead Man, I believe we are simply going to leave you where you are." She turned to the rest, "Look sharp ladies! They're here." She started back to her own station of watching the only door in the room. "What? You're not going to try and force information me?" The man asked in a low voice. "No threats of torture?" Cathena turned back to him, studying him. "And what would you tell us, Man? Lies or the truth?" She saw his eyes dart behind her to the open doorway and instinctively knew he was trying to distract her. She turned her back to him and unshouldered the rifle. Her back hid her smile. She saw the shadows of men, outside the doorway. Did they know nothing of light and the shadows they cast? "I would tell you what you want to know." "I don't think so." She said as she settled herself in her spot, adjusting the sight on her rifle. "Fem Cathena, I would speak with you!" His voice a little less calm. "The dead don't talk! Marcella!" she flicked her head to one side and the strong black woman quickly clamped a hand over the man's mouth. Cathena looked at him once and saw his eyes go wide as he saw the shadows in front of the doorway. She smiled as he slumped in his seat. "Come on, Men, we're waiting." she whispered under her breath as she sighted the spot the men should come through. She didn't have to wait long. With four quick shots, it was over. The four men stood there, shame-faced, looking everywhere except at their Leader. She could almost feel sorry for them. She could just imagine the thrashing they were going to get for forgetting about the lights and acting like First-rounders. As they stood their waiting for the confirmation of the win and the instructions for the next round, the male Leader came up to her, touching her on the shoulder to get her attention. "Very good, Fem Cathena, very good." he said. "Thank you Man. All for the Game." She said moving back from him, startled by his touch. "My name is Ehern. You would do well to remember that, Fem. I know who you are... Leader. You're very clever hiding that from me for so long. I must admit I would have fought harder had I known. But now, I do know." His voice was soft and hypnotic. They were interrupted by the Game Master's win confirmation and new instructions. 'The Final Round of the Game. Seek and Capture. Don't kill unless absolutely necessary. Women will disperse first, ten minutes ahead of the men.' Both sided acknowledged the Game Master. The women wished each other luck and scattered throughout the house. Cathena, still shaken by the confrontation with Ehern, blindly headed up stairs. How did he know I was Leader? No one has ever figured it out before. The naked desire in his eyes caused a blush to come to her face. She could almost feel the touch of his hand again. She knew he had watched her even when he didn't know she was Leader. Could he really be attracted to her? "Oh, come off it, Cathena. He just wants to win the Game. He just wanted to shake you up before the Final round. And here you are standing, confused like some First-rounder. Time is getting short!" Topping the stairs as she muttered angrily to herself, she found herself on the fourth floor. This looked like a good a place as any. She pulled open a door, wincing at the squeak it made. As she hurried she thought she heard someone on the stairs. She closed the door as quietly as she could, which wasn't very quiet to her and looked around. She found herself in a girl's room. It was mostly white with pink accents. Quite pretty, actually and had she had the time she would have wanted to explore this room. But she didn't and she had to hide. The closet looked like the only viable place. She went in, carefully and blindly feeling for the back of the closet so she could guide herself into the farthest back corner, Suddenly, there were no more clothes pressing against her face. Cautiously she opened her eyes and then shut them disbelievingly. Then she looked back and saw the little girl clothes hanging there, then looked forward again. A slow smile came over her face, this was too good to be true... In front of her, was a short hidden passageway. Who would have guessed it? A hidden passageway inside a closet. She laughed to herself The passageway turned left after about 10 feet. Turning the corner, she saw a doorway to a room. There were low burning lights spaced evenly about the room. What she saw made her stop and stare. The room was dark and had one whole wall mirrored. There were dresses everywhere, thrown haphazardly about the room and hung up in different places. There were gowns of all types, old-fashioned, new, proper and whorish. It looked like the playroom of some grown up girl who liked to live out her fantasies. Cathena walked about the large room, touching different gowns. She had never seen or felt anything like this. She was so entranced walking about the room and playing a little with the gowns, she didn't watch where she was going. Suddenly the floor gave way, or so she thought. She fell into something incredibly soft. She struggled to sit up. After regaining her balance, she realized that the back half of the room was a bed! It was the same level as the floor but as soft as down. She laid back in comfort and was startled the opening squeak of a door. Lords of Light! How could she have forgotten about the Game? She scrambled out of the bed, looking for her weapon. Where was it?! She must have put it down while she was looking at the room and the dresses. She could hear the person steadily make his way across the room towards the closet. It was like he knew she was there! Where the hell was that weapon? "Fem Cathena, I know you're here. Come out, come out my dear Fem." Her heart leaped to her throat! It was Ehern! How did he find her? All she could think of to do was hide and try to get out of the room once he was in. She looked over her shoulder, still looking for her gun and caught sight of a small scrap of fabric stuck to her left shoulder. A Tracer! That's how he found her! So, all that talk, was nothing but a ruse to get close to her. Cathena had never felt so stupid in all her life. She should have checked herself! She crouched behind a rack of clothing as she heard him in the passageway. "There you are Fem. Stand up slowly with both hands above you. I would not want to bring back a dead prize." "How did you know who I was?" She asked. "I figured out you were Leader when you commanded Fem Marcella and she had nothing to say when I insisted on talking to you. A Leader would never stand for that. It was very clever. Besides, I wasn't completely sure, but your reaction confirmed it for me. Other Leaders would have fought much harder had they known what I know. You are a prize indeed. Now please follow my instructions." She stood slowly with both her hands and her head held high, defiant. She saw him there, with a weapon trained on her. She heard him catch his breath. "Lords of Light! You are beautiful." He said, slightly lowering the weapon, "And deadly, too." raising it again. "Turn around, so I can see you have no weapons. I must be careful, for I will not lose you to stupidity!" "You may have captured my body, for now, but you have not captured my mind! I am still free!" She said hotly, face flushed. "I don't intend to capture just your mind, I intend to conquer you; mind, body and soul. You will be mine!" He growled at her, tossing his weapon aside. Then he called out to the air. "Game Master: I call for the Final Game." 'Proceed.' Came the disinterested reply. "No!!" It came out as a whisper as she realized the implication of his statement. This had changed from the Final Round into the Final Game. She wasn't ready for that to happen. She was always calm and cool behind the sight of a gun, but this, she did not know how to deal with. All she could do was throw the swirling images aside and run as Ehern lunged at her. She was lucky the first time but not the second. His second lunge caught her around the middle, sending them both into the floor-bed. Cathena was not a weak woman but she could not break the hold he had on her. She struggled beneath him, truly frightened. Pinning her arms wide with his own, he bent down and kissed her hard on the mouth. She fought against him harder, in a panic. "I've watched you for so long, wondering when you'd be Leader, so I'd have my chance at you." He whispered, kissing her, "You will be mine." "No." she cried. She suddenly threw him to one side and rolled away. He caught her shirt and they both heard it rip. She move backwards away from him, her shirt hanging in his hand. She vaguely knew she should be mortified because he was watching her and she only had a camisole on. Her heart was pounding, she couldn't think. The swirl of emotions Ehern brought out in her clashed head on with the mindset she had created to play the Game. She was confused and she needed time, time to think. To understand... Ehern felt Cathena had never looked so attractive in all the time he had watched her, She was disarmed and confused and he was in control. He slowly got up, watching her chest heaving. Her breasts strained against the thin smooth fabric that held them back. He longed to touch her, to feel her. He grew harder at the thought. He took off his shirt and tossed it aside, then his boots. Cathena watch Ehern as he moved, eyes wide, pupils dilated. No! She would not give herself up so easily. She moved toward the door, but he cut her off. She tried to get past him but he easily grabbed her and brought her to the ground again. Holding both of her hands above her head with one of his own, as she struggled against him, exciting him even more. He kissed down her neck and bit her at its base. She involuntarily arched her back with a cry. Ehern's mouth had trailed down from her neck to her chest and was now teasing her nipple. He brought his other hand up and was kneading her breast. A low moan escaped from her lips. He didn't know if was a moan of terror or excitement... and he didn't care. "I have won and you are mine!" he whispered harshly and then using his legs, he spread hers. Cathena was in a total panic. She didn't know what to do. She knew what was to come next. She began to cry. Seeing this, Ehern's face soften. "Shh. Don't cry Cathena. Shh. I'm not going to hurt you. It's o---- ow!" Ehern rolled off of Cathena, holding his head. Marcella stood behind him in the ready position. She had hit Ehern when she found them struggling together. She waited for orders. "Cathena, are you ok?" she asked. Cathena took a deep breath. "Fine." she calmer than she expected. She thought quickly. "Marcella, Ehern has called for the Final Game. Do you want him?" Cathena smiled, knowing that Marcella had long watched Ehern with hungry eyes. The woman's eyes widened "Yes, Leader. I do. Very much." Marcella answered, licking her lips. "Then we shall get him for you." Ehren looked startled. "I called the game on you, Cathena." His eyes narrowing. "You called for the Final Game. The Final Game continues until one is taken." She looked at him curiously. This man had excited and frightened her. Now... now, this man was prey. She had almost been taken. She grew angry at the thought. "Did you actually think I wanted you? That I would let myself be taken so easily? " She wiped at her tear-stained face. "I don't want you. I never did... But Marcella does." With that, the two women moved as one from long experience. A short while later Marcella and Cathena had subdued Ehern after Marcella had gotten in a lucky head shot. Ehern looked dazed and slight hurt. "The Final Game is done. One has been taken." Cathena spoke the ritual words aloud. 'There are two women there. Who is truely the victor?' The Game Master spoke. "Fem Marcella has taken Man Ehern. I verify the claim and conceed that she is the victor. I make no claims on Ehern." Cathena's heart raced. What if they didn't accept it? Then Ehern would be free to try again... 'This is highly unusual.' A thousand years later... 'We will accept the victor as claimed.' Cathena didn't realize that she had been holding her breath until she let it out as Marcella yelled a long shout of pure joy. She would never have to play in the Game again and she had won the man she had wanted for so long. Marcella handed Cathena her over-shirt. Cathena grimanced and thanked her. She had forgotten that she was half-naked. She was grateful that everything had worked out. Marcella was happy and free, Ehern would never bother her again and she, she now knew of a new weakness to work on. She was not ready for the Final Game. Not now, not for a long time. And when she was, she'd call it on her own terms. Until then... the Games would continue. July 1994
All stories, scenes, works and poetry owned by Eden Blackthorn
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