#Fanfiction: Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

titlemewickedwonderland · 2 years

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Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates (Chapter 1: Toxic Kiss)

Summary: Kassie had been running from many things throughout her life. Running from her father. From Love. From Happiness. Falling headfirst to whatever she could just to make herself feel more alive. She became someone she never wanted to be. What happens when one dreary night she meets someone who along the way begins to show her that perhaps she was meant for something greater than what she made for herself and just maybe, Dreams can come true?

Pairing: Morpheus x Original Character

Warnings: Cursing, alcohol consumption, hints of sexual context

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." -Suzy Kassem

Wonderland's Workshop

The beat of the bass thumped its rhythm through her bloodstream alighting her body with its deep throb of each beat; guiding her body through every crescendo and every low hum that vibrated through her very bones; intoxicating her and filling her head with mindlessness as her body twisted, dipped, and gyrated to the club music. She was used to the music in Club Sin being so overwhelming; drowning out every worry with its seductive beats and intoxicating insistence. This was what she lived for. What she craved every fucking night.

The pole was warm beneath her palms as she gripped the steel and pressed her spine to its unyielding structure as her hips rolled in a smooth figure 8 as she slid herself down the pole until her knees hit the stage. The feel of paper bills crumbling beneath her weight as her hands lowered from the metal shaft above her head to make a long slow caress down her neck and her chest that barely was contained in the sparkly crimson bra she wore and continued their path down her flat stomach to hook her thumbs provocatively in the belt loops of her shorts that were barely left much to the imagination. She could feel the eyes of the crowd in front of her even if she did not see them behind her closed lids. They were hungry and unabashed as they gawked at her; drooling like men who were staring at a feast of their favorite exotic meats.

Her clammy palms; damp from the heat of the flashing club lights lazily ran down her smooth thighs before she planted them onto the cold glossy surface of the stage. Her head lowered and her eyes opened; the usual warm hazel color was a dark brown, pupil dilated as the effect of the music made her so far gone in the act. Those eyes locked with a man standing across the room. He caught her attention even though he was at the back of the room; away from most of the prying eyes of both men and woman alike that wanted to crowd as close as possible to not miss a second of her performance or those of the other two girls dancing on their own mini stage in their own sort of world. But unlike the men who crowded around her stage, this man was different in the way her eyes sought him out immediately. He was tall, something that did not go unnoticed by her as she caught sight of him even amidst the crowd. His hair was some sort of light color; blonde no doubt from how light it was even with all the colorful rays of LED lights flashing so quickly it could give a person a seizure. His smile was one of the most charming things about him from appearance. Not his clean-cut suit that he wore in either white or cream of sorts anytime she’d see him come into the club at night. It was that damned smile with those perfect white teeth that flashed in the dark. But the most enthralling part about him was the fact he always wore the same dark glasses that covered his eyes. She’d never once caught a glimpse of them to have any sort of an idea of what color they were. Perhaps they were designer made just for that effect. It never ceased to bring a sense of danger down her spine; as if she was playing with a predator anytime their gazes met, and she always knew when he was meeting her gaze even behind those dark shades and her across the room. The zing that crawled down her spine and the way the side of his mouth would curl up as if taunting her.

It was a game they played each and every night. He knew the nights she’d work the stage. He’d know the nights she’d work the bar. He knew her schedule to the point that others in her shoes would have called the club security to watch out for him; or worse, the cops. But Kassie never did. She never needed to because she never felt as if she were in danger; perhaps that was her first mistake when it came to this man but she did so love the thrill that it gave her. Like tonight, like clockwork; as if the invisible hands of a puppeteer master plucked her strings; sending the feeling of elation through her body. She wasn’t dancing for the crowd anymore; hell, she didn’t even notice them anymore. The faces of regulars and newcomers alike just seemed to melt away into the background as she locked eyes with the blonde man at the back of the club. Her clothes felt a little too tight and her skin a little too clammy. If she were to glance down at herself she’d notice how her olive skin glowed with a sheen of sweat; a bead slowly rolling down between the valley of her breasts as the lights grew that much hotter the longer she danced. But she didn’t care. She never cared when it was just he and her. As if they were in their own little world simply by eye contact alone. It was dangerous. It was sinful. And it made a shudder race through her.

When she closed her eyes at last for the smallest of relief and her hands pushed through her waist-length chocolate waves to get it from her face long enough to continue the rhythm of the song playing loudly in her ears. When her hazel eyes finally reopened she had to fight the downturn of her lips when she didn’t see her mysterious regular at the back of the crowd. But the feeling of disappointment melted away as soon as white flashed in her vision and her chin tilted downward to find him standing with a glass of unknown toxins in one hand and the other leisurely leaning against the stage looking up at her with that damned smile. This was a first, he normally did not come to the front of the stage, not that she was complaining; he was even more devilishly handsome up close. Feeling a bit bolder than usual now that he was so close Kassie strutted the first few steps from the pole she had been gyrating against, her ankle-heel boots muffled by the beat of the music as she walked as if she were on a runway straight to the front of the stage. This part was dangerous because the dancers were always cautioned not to get too close to the edge; not only for slip and fall purposes but because customers often felt entitled to touch since most were paying regulars. The neon white line a few inches from the edge was her safe zone and she was about to cross it. She did not care about the other patrons as they seemed to grow wilder at the prospect of her being so close to them. But she did not move her body for them, she did not dance for them. She danced solely for the man with the brilliant smile and those damned sunglasses. He looked up at her with a flirtatious smile that bordered cockiness as she slowly sank to crouch on her heels before her body pitched forward to land on her palms; fingers gripping the edge of the stage as her back bowed into an arch as she crouched on hands and knees in front of the man in the white suit. Her promiscuous smile met his flirtatious once as she leaned closer well over the edge of the safety zone; god he smelled divine.

One hand raised the glass of his concoction to his lips as he took a swallow and Kassie couldn’t help following the bob of his adam’s apple as he swallowed. She peered back up at him through her lashes as he set the glass down on the edge of the stage and reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a few hundred dollar bills neatly folded. In the next moment, he reached out with purposeful movements; slow and steady as if he was teasing her, and slipped the crisp bills into the front of her bra; his fingers sending her skin aflame as they ‘innocently’ slipped away from her, grazing the valley of her breaths as he did so. Catching her breath Kassie reached out to grab the glass from the stage before knocking the rest of the contents back down her throat. A little bit of it dripped out of the corner of her mouth and she lightly wiped away the wetness with her finger before sucking the digit while never breaking eye contact. She didn’t even care about the burn of the liquid as it raced down her throat to settle in her belly. She placed the glass back down; the only indication she’d taken it was the print of her lipstick on the rim and sent the man a wink before she was rising to her feet and strutted away back to her pole.

The song only lasted a few more minutes before the queue was given to end the dancer's routine and she was thankful as she caught the signal from the DJ to swap out because frankly her feet where killing her. That’s what she gets for buying new heels to dance a double shift on. She was happy when she finally climbed off the stage and went behind the heavy curtains; soon joined by her two co-workers Alyssa and Chelsey.

“What was all that on the stage?” Chelsey taunted with a teasing smirk planted on her rose-painted lips as she began pulling the tips from various places on her body as the trio walked to the girl’s dressing rooms.

“What was what?” Kassie lifted a dark brown feigning innocence as she began throwing her mass of thick long locks up into a messy bun just to get some air conditioning on her body to cool down.

“How about that eye fucking you were doing with that customer up front? You also broke one of the rules, Kassie. Rob’s not gonna like that when he finds out.” Alyssa commented giving her a worried side eye before she began to retouch her lipstick in the mirror

Kassie stared at her reflection staring back at her in front of the bright lights. A serious expression pinched her features as she pulled out the wad of cash from her bra. She didn’t have an answer to their worries. She knew she’d crossed the line; both figuratively and metaphorically. Like most clubs that had dancers, there were certain rules the dancers had to follow; not only in their work environment but things they had to do to keep up their personal lives in check to better suit their work lives. But the other part that makes a nightclub so successful isn’t just the entertainment but who runs the business Robert Gilbert was one of those people who was a strict man; perhaps sleazy in his own way but not to the point that he’s fucking his staff. Thank god for that.

The thing was, Club Sin was considered one of those higher-end clubs in New York. Not a pop a bottle of campaign kind of place but it didn’t let just anyone inside the doors. Their dancers were more of what people may call go-go dancers although some often mistake them for strippers. Two very different professions. Kassie was one of their go-go dancers who was relatively new to the club. She’d only been there for about 6 months by this point, having moved out here from London but she was considered one of the higher-paid dancers because of her popularity with the customers. Not just because she had a rocking body that clearly stated she took care of herself but also because of her exotic looks and thus the men who came here often paid in advance in high quantity for a VIP session with her.

“I’ll take care of Rob when it comes to it. I’m sure the fucker was watching from his balcony office.” Kassie grumbled as she placed her bills in her cash bag.

“Aye, ladies. Here are the payouts for the dancing!” a short man with muscles for days walked in with three separate cloth bags each with their name on it stuffed full of paper bills.

“Hey, Kev. Thanks so much, babes!” Chelsey clapped her hands and grabbed her bag from the bouncer’s grip.

Kevin handed out the other two before looking at Kassie, holding onto her bag a moment longer than needed as he gave her a worried look and said in a low voice. “Rob wants to speak to you in his office.”

She nodded taking the bag from him and gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Tell ‘em I’ll be up there in 10. I promise,” she informed giving a quick nod.

The bounced nodded in return and left without a word. Alyssa and Chelsey exchanged looks while Kassie wasn’t looking as she quickly rearranged her cash so they weren’t in a jumbled mass and placed them in her cash bag neatly. She didn’t care how much she’d made in tips off the crowd. She never did; she’d count whenever she got home. Grabbing her stuff from the table she shoved everything into her locker; a precaution of safety for her articles that weren’t meant to be shared by the girls. Not that she didn’t trust Alyssa or Chelsey; they were the closest things she had to friends at this job but it was a habit; Kassie had been fucked over too many times by so-called friends in the past and wasn’t going to risk another event like that. So after locking up after her she slipped on a robe for modesty before heading out of the dressing room.

Rob’s office was on the second level of the two-story club. At the VIP level. Upon entering a short elevator the lift will open to a very small landing with a wall of glass windows in a row of three that overlooked the dance floor. From that landing, you had an option to go either right or left. The right would lead you down a short hallway where there would be three doors in total. On one side of the wall was a door that said ‘janitor’ which was where all the cleaning supplies were held, the door a few feet down the hall said security. This is where all the monitors would be located for the security to be watching a live recording of what was going on down below and even in VIP. The very last door in the right side hallway was ‘manager’ in a golden plague. This was where Rob was residing and this is where Kassie would need to go. The left hall was where all the VIP rooms were held; there were 8 in total but not all 8 were usually booked at the same time. And of course, there were two sets of bathrooms down that way for guests or dancers alike if nature called. But Kassie needed to go right and thus she did with a hint of trepidation.

She never really had issues with Rob before. Maybe a few warnings here and there if she was late but he never wrote her up or threatened to fire her because frankly, let's be honest here, Kassie was one of his biggest money makers when it came to a dancer. She made more money than the damn bartender and that was saying something. So she felt comfortable enough in that knowledge that she wasn’t fired for overstepping a boundary as she rapt her knuckles against the heavy wooden door. When she was called to enter she opened the door and slipped inside; standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed and meeting the man eyes that sat behind the desk. Rob was a man in his late 30s with gelled-back auburn hair and freckles dotting his face. People thought he came of Irish descent or something of that sort even if he sounded as if he was born in New York City simply because he looked the stereotype.

“Kassie, have a seat love,” he told her waving a hand to one of the chairs in front of his desk

“I’m good thanks. My break is almost over anyway.” Kassie forced a small smile of politeness. “I assume this has something to do with what happened on the stage?” she cut straight to the chase.

She didn’t dislike Rob but he could be infuriating sometimes and frankly, she didn’t want to deal with his antics tonight with how tired she was. She’d blame her little ‘slip up’ on doing a double shift if anything.

“Good, so your aware you. That’ll save me some time.” Rob’s smile was tight-lipped. “If you know what you did, why don’t you tell me what you think your punishment should be for it?”

Oh, he wanted to play that game did he? Kassie’s smile grew a bit to the point that she sounded like a right-down bitch as she cocked a hip. “Well, since I’m your biggest money maker I would assume you aren’t going to fire me, cut my shifts, or take away my pay. So the only other option out there is a warning,” she replied raising a brow.

Rob’s face twisted a bit “Careful sweetheart, that smart mouth of your’s will get you in trouble.” he warned

“I would be careful Mr. Gilbert before a report for sexual harassment is filed.” Kassie quipped back with a sickly sweet smile.

He scowled at that and reached on his desk to grab a slip of paper before tossing it across at her; it landed on the floor by her feet. “Chelsey filed for a leave of absence for a week for personal reasons. She’ll be off of work until next Sunday. You’ll be covering her shifts on top of your own and whatever money you earn on Chelsey’s time will go to go upon her return from her leave of absence.”

The brunette’s jaw dropped. “Are you fucking with me, Rob?! Seriously!? I put in a request 3 months ago for personal reasons and you declined it the next day!” she protested flabbergasted

“You also have a VIP dance in room 6; go change into a sexy outfit and don’t be late. He paid extra in advance.” Rob continued as if she hadn’t just interrupted him.

Kassie just stood there staring at the man feeling her skin heat up in her rage. Her hands dug into the palms of her hands and she had to suck in a breath to compose herself. Her words came out on a slow controlled exhale.

“Sure thing, sir.” she spun on her heel and stormed out of the office. She stood at the end of the hallway for a moment to compose herself.

Her hands clutched at thin air as if she was imagining strangling Rob’s neck and squeezing the life out of him. God, he made her so furious sometimes! Stalking back down the hall for the elevators she made quick work to get to the dressing rooms to get a change of outfit. Generally, a booked VIP had some key rules in place such as no fucking the dancers; the rule of no doubting and even groping was allowed since the VIP sessions usually were including a personal dance and lapdance if requested and the dancer was up for it. And that also generally meant whoever got a VIP session was from big bucks or high status. Kassie had danced for a senator or two before. After changing into a black lace body suit that left barely anything to the imagination and pulled her hair up into a large clip to keep it from her face she left the dressing room to head upstairs. She turned down the left hallway seeing the red light over the door signaling that it was in use. She breathed a moment before putting on her seduction act before she was pushing through the door and closing it behind her with a click which announced her presence to the man within.

When her hazel eyes landed on the man standing in the middle of the room gazing at the decoration she nearly lost her breath. When he heard the door open and close behind him he turned and that familiar grin split his face. Oh yeah, his hair was definitely a sandy blonde and his suit was more of a off white in color with a dark green T-shirt beneath which she could see was stretched across his chest beneath the blazer. Kassie smiled leaning herself against the door while she openly eyed him up and down.

“So, what will it be tonight? Same thing as usual?” her raised a brow as she tilted her head to the side

The man smiled and shrugged with his hands out. “Let’s see where the night takes us darlin’ and we will see.”

She loved his accent. A soft southern drawl that made him seem charismatic. Grinning over at him as she pushed herself past herself off the door and walked with a swing in her hips towards the minibar.

“You’re usual?” she asked over her shoulder as she began preparing a tumblr.

The man folded himself into the plush cushion of the red leather chair crossed one leg over the other as he watched her. “You know me so well.” he drawled lazily as he eyed her from behind his dark shades.

Kassie hummed and turned moments later; walking over to hand him his beverage of choice. In the same moment as she bend down to hand it to him she reached out to reach on the other side of him for the remote to the speakers and grinned cocking her head when their faces were only inches away; still unable to see around the edges of the sunglasses as if they were made of shadows. As she clicked on a slow beat song that was off one of their most seductive playlisted she began to pull away to head to the mini stage in the center of the room. But before she could; the man’s hands gripped her hips and pulled her onto his lap. She gasped openly and grabbed onto his shoulders for support as she peered down at him; having some height leverage at this angle

“Whoa there tiger. Getting to the lapdance already are we? What happened to the usual dance first?” she teased but inside she was actually kind of nervous since this particularly customer always enjoyed a leisure dance on the pole before signaling the up close and personal lap dance.

“I did pay extra for this.” he replied in that slow lazy manner as his hands slid down to the tops of her thighs; idly brushing along her bare flesh with his thumbs.

Kassie swallowed back the nerves and smiled as she shrugged. “Alright, fine by me.” she agreed before she began to move her body in a slow sensual roll. All the while keeping her eye contact with him.

When his hands slid up her thighs towards her ribcage to spread the span of his hands along her back and pull her closer she gasped softly as her chest pressed closer to his face. “Careful now, there’s cameras.” she whispered barely moving her lips as she ran her manicured fingertips along his jawline.

The man cocked his head with a teasing smile before one of his hands left her back to grasp the large clip in her hair and undid it; allowing the long waves of dark chocolate to cascade over her shoulders and drape over them; successful blocking the view of the cameras when Kassie tilted her head just right.

“This is a bit risky. Even for you Cori.” Kassie whispered as she continued to move her body ontop of his in a slow dance so as to not make the security guards suspicious of anything going on in the VIP room.

“Well darlin I had to get yah all to myself somehow.” he flashed her a wicked grin as his free hand traced up her neck

“Aren’t we adventurous tonight?” she quipped back biting back the laugh that wanted to escape her.

“I came for a reason though darlin, I need your help. If you’ll be so kind.” Corinthian replied watching her idly as she pulled back and flipped her hair from her face.

“Yeah? What’s that then?” she murmured crawled off his lap and began to circle around his chair; one hand trailing along his chest until she bent over the back of the sofa with her face right next to his.

“A place to stay for a few days.”

“Hmm, tempting.” she whispered against his ear as one of her hands reached up to grasp his jaw and turn his head until they where barely a breath between them left. “Meet me outside in two hours.” she whispered before letting him go completely and stalking over towards the mini stage.

Corinthian gazed at her and raised his forgotten drink to his lips; not caring that most of the ice had already melted into his liquor as he swallowed half of it in one go. “You’re awfully complian tonight darlin’ what brought this on?” he added with a raised brow.

Kassie, still dancing and with that fake as smile plastered on her face twirled around the pole before sinking to the ground before looking up at him. “Because Cori. You pay my bills.” she replied back with a flirtatious wink

She spoke true, though. The Corinthian had begen to be one of her favorite and most regular customers to the point they had began some sort of friendship over the course of the 6 months since she’d been working at Club Sin. He paid so much that one night with him could pay half her month’s rent at her shitty New York apartment. It was a routine for him to walk in every night at the very same time, throw some hundreds on the stage of she was working and then book her specifically every damn time. Refusing anyone else if she wasn’t available. She’d like to think they were friends but she knew in her gut this man was dangerous but if there was anything Kassie lived for it was living on the edge. It was the only life she ever knew and Corinthian was the pinnacle of thrill of the high.

When her shift was finally over and she had changed back into her street clothes that consisted of a pair of leggings, and an oversized sweater she’d grabbed her things and clocked the fuck out. Glad to be back in her comfortable sneakers instead of heels that killed her feet. The air was filled with the coldness of rain as it poured down in ungodly amounts making water slosh into her shoes as she took the back exit into the alleyway behind Club Sin. As she walked around the corner to meet up with Corinthian she ran straight into a tall figure dressed in all black with the collar of his long coat pulled up to his neck. Gasping she nearly toppled backwards but two cold hands grasped her arms to hold her steady. She went to apologize until her hazel eyes met with the most beautiful of blue eyes she’d damn near seen in her life. They were like two pools of oceans staring down her beneath wet raven hair that plastered to his forehead due to the rain. His skin was cold and ghostly pale making her wonder if he was a vampire and his lips were so fucking pink and kissable she couldn’t stop staring at them as they moved lightly to form words.

“My apologies. Are you alright?” his voice was rich and deep like a haunted lullaby that made Kassie’s mind foggy for a whole different kind of reasonings.

“Uh…yeah. I’m okay, no harm done.” she replied with a forced smile as she felt her cheeks flush.

He studied her in silence a moment; his stare so deep and searching that she swore he was trying to reach her soul through her very skul with how intense his stare was. Clearing her throat she pulled her arms from his grasp realizing that they were still connected and wrapped them around herself instead.

“Sorry, I have to go. I’m meeting someone! Sorry again for bumping into you.” she hurried to say as she brushed past him.

When she spotted Corinthian’s dark clad jacket and blonde hair standing by the crowds of people waiting to get into the club still he noticed the look on her face and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders drawing her close to the warmth of his body as he asked in a low voice.

“You alright darlin? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Corinthian was looking over her head down the path she’d come

She hummed nodding but the smile on her face was strained as she glanced back too only to find the mysterious man she’d ran into a minute ago was gone; nowhere to be seen anywhere. “Yeah, I’m okay.” she mumbled frowning.

“Come on, let’s get out of this rain then.” Corinthian stated pushing her forward towards a taxi quickly.

Kassie was glad for his insistence; not only because she didn’t want to be recognized leaving the club with a customer but also because she was feeling spooked. As she climbed in before Corinthian into the warmth of the taxi she could feel the thrum of energy racing through her body from the contact with the stranger. She looked down at her palms before squeezing them closed again as the lanky form of her friend slipped in behind her. Tucking her hands beneath her thighs she leaned over to the taxi cab driver.

“2nd Charles Street please.”

Thank you for reading chapter 1 of 'Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates'. Feel free to comment, like, and reblog! I love the interaction! Tags are open if you wish to be added for new chapter updates!

Chapter 2 >>

Tags: @lizajane2 @kpopgirlbtssvt

#Fanfiction: Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates #The Sandman #Netflix The Sandman #The Sandman Netflix #The Sandman fanfiction #The Sandman Fanfic #Morpheus #morpheus of the endless #lord morpheus #dream #dream of the endless #morpheus x oc #morpheus x original character #dream x oc #dream x original character #fanfiction #the corinthian #tags open

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seven-oomen · 3 years

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The way I tend to be | The DILF Club

Happy Holidays to everyone! Have some delicious smut or our favorite DILFS, there's even some plot in this! Hope you like it because I have a universe thought out for this and if it does well, I'll share more!

It wasn’t doing as well on Ao3 as I was hoping for and I’m curious to see if it’ll do better here. If you enjoy it, please reblog, like, and/or comment on it. This is also a test to see if people still reblog fanfiction from me and if Once Upon a Time would do well on Tumblr. Which is my longest and most elaborate fanfic to date.

Fandom: Teen Wolf (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Chris Argent/Peter Hale/Sheriff Stilinski, Chris Argent/Peter Hale, Chris Argent/Sheriff Stilinski, Peter Hale/Sheriff Stilinski Characters: Chris Argent, Peter Hale, Sheriff Stilinski Additional Tags: Sheriff Stilinski's Name is Noah, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Porn with Feelings, Porn With Plot, Cabin Fic, trans chris argent, Bisexual Peter Hale, Alpha Peter Hale, Trans Male Character, Bisexual Sheriff Stilinski, Bisexual Chris Argent, Double Vaginal Penetration, Double Penetration, Breeding, Creampie, Unprotected Sex Series: Part 1 of The way I tend to be

Fate could be a very cruel mistress when she wanted to be. And often she came together with a little vicious thing called irony.

The last year had been crazy. He discovered werewolves, banshees, wendigos, and werecoyotes were real, and so was whatever Kira was supposed to be. Chris Argent, Allison’s father and Isaac’s foster father, turned out to be a hunter, and the little bane of his existence during his career as a deputy, a certain Peter Hale, turned out to be a werewolf. As was Peter’s nephew Derek and his niece Cora. He still couldn’t completely wrap his head around that one.

They’d fought together, protected the town together, and now protected their children together.

That didn’t always go well, of course. One of them was a hunter, the other a werewolf, and somehow he always found himself right in between the other two trying to break up their fights.

A lot, and a lot of therapy for all three of them, had fixed that for the most part.

Still, there were times when he really wished he could duct tape Peter to the ceiling, mostly because the man was still a delinquent with a golden tongue, but mostly just because he was annoying. At least the werewolf was now firmly on their side and had proven that by nearly dying for both the other adults and all of the kids on multiple occasions. He’d really turned a new leaf. Still annoying as fuck, don’t get him wrong. But at least not reprehensible.

It was Peter’s new loyalty and Chris’s new code that had led him to go along with them on this particular mission. A mission to find a lone werewolf kid causing trouble around Mount Shasta. Since it was only two hours from Beacon Hills, he’d agreed to go over with the other two.

Their cover?

They were the chaperons on a school field trip to go skiing on the mountain for a week. Which had been the luckiest of coincidences in the history of coincidences but he’d take it. And since Stiles, Mikey, Malia, Jackson, Isaac, and Allison were all going, well, the rest of that was history.

“Peter, I swear to god if I find your socks anywhere near my bed again I will throw you through this window myself!” Chris snapped, holding up a pair of light blue socks with pink flamingos on them.

Ah. So that’s where his socks had gone off too. He was wondering where’d he left them.

“Those aren’t mine!” Peter bit back, looking so insulted at the mere idea of having to wear said socks that he couldn’t help but be offended at his offense. “I would never wear those monstrosities!”

“Right, I just keep finding random people’s socks in my bed for the last three days…” Chris growled, “You expect me to believe that?”

He bit his lip, wondering if he should admit to being the culprit. Since he was the only other person who had a bed in this room he figured Chris would draw that conclusion as well. But apparently, the hunter really hadn’t considered it.

The werewolf cocked his head to the left and sneered. “I’m not the only one who has a bed here beside you.”

Those fierce blue eyes turned to him and he couldn’t help but smile awkwardly at the both of them. “Yeah, those are mine.”

Peter smirked triumphantly at Chris, his eyebrows raised in a clear; I told you so.

To his credit, Chris pursed his lips and wordlessly handed him the bunched up socks of the last few days. His silver-blue eyes lingering with something that wasn’t quite a glare, but the man wasn’t exactly happy with him either.

“Thank you.” He quickly put his runaway socks into his duffel bag and straightened out the covers on his bed to keep himself busy.

“You owe me an apology, Christopher…” Peter’s voice sang through the room and a glance found the hunter glaring back at the wolf.

“I’m sorry for blaming you immediately.” Chris sighed, straightening out his own bed before checking the equipment in his backpack.

“Thank you,” Peter turned back to him and stared at him rather expectantly. “Noah?”

He had to admit he felt a little bit guilty for what had happened. He sighed softly as he shoved his water bottle, his sleeping bag, and some provisions into his backpack, looking up at the wolf sheepishly. “I’m sorry Peter, I’ll uh-” His eyes flicked to an expectant looking Chris, “I’ll keep a better eye on my socks and speak up when you’re blamed again.”

The wolf smiled mischievously at his apology, his eyes flicking from Chris to himself for a brief moment. “Thank you, now we really need to talk about your fashion choices, because those socks-”

Chris’s laughter followed him out of the room as he grabbed his packed bag and his orange ski jacket and headed out the door.

The trek up the mountain was not an easy one and they only had until nightfall to explore the area. He pulled the black beanie further over his ears and his gloves on a little tighter and looked over his shoulder.

Chris walked ahead of him, his blue ski jacket standing out against the white snow, a red beanie pulled over his ears to keep him warm.

Peter brought up the rear, his red ski jacket and brown beanie complementing one another in a rather surprising way. But if anyone could pull it off, he supposed it was the wolf.

They pushed through the snow and the wind, hoisting backpacks up higher and threading on while trying to find one lonely werewolf kid who needed their help. The wind started picking up as the hours progressed and once the snow started coming down and whipped around them, he realized that they weren’t going to be able to get back any time soon.

With their sight blocked off by the sudden incoming storm and nowhere to huddle they had no other choice but to walk on. He could no longer see where he was walking, only saw the bright blue of Chris’s ski jacket in front of him and before he knew it, he was face down in the snow and heard someone yelling his name.

“Noah!”

Someone picked him up and he felt two gloved hands cup his face. It took him a moment to register that it was Peter who picked him up and was currently cradling his face. He wasn’t sure how the concerned look on Peter’s face made him feel.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad feeling, but it was one he hadn’t been expecting. It was warm and tingly. Peter’s blue eyes made him think of the ocean and moonlit beaches with a soft breeze and the soft calls of whales in the background-

“Noah… Are you still on this planet?”

Peter’s words pulled him out of his thoughts. “What?”

The wolf frowned at him and gently patted him over his body to check him for injuries. He swatted at the wolf’s hands to put a stop to it and pursed his lips. “I’m fine, but we need to get out of the cold.”

Peter raised an eyebrow but nodded in agreement, turning back to Chris who had come towards them. “We need to get out of this wind, find shelter!”

“I know!” Chris yelled back, trying to carry his voice over the roar of the wind. “I think I saw a cabin up ahead!”

Chris looped his arm over his left while Peter looped his through his right and together they started tracking up the slope. The silhouette of the cabin quickly came closer with every step and they quickly headed over. They had to let go of each other to walk up the porch and Chris tested the door. It was locked, of course.

“Shit.” Chris muttered, “Look around for a key, usually-”

He started looking under several pots next to the door and found a key under the second one. Though a loud bang told him that they would no longer need a key.

“Or we could kick in the door…” Chris sighed while Peter held the door open for them to let them in.

Chris went in first, drawing his gun from inside his jacket as he checked the cabin room for room. He followed after the hunter, trying to suppress his hands from shaking and his body from shivering as the cold started to set in around him. Some snow had gotten into his jacket when he’d face-planted into the ground and it was creating a wet spot on his clothes as his body heat caused it to melt. The water also cooled down his body, especially in these temperatures.

Peter brought up the rear once more, eyes glowing a bright red as he scanned their surroundings and scented the air. The wolf behind him relaxed after a few moments, closing the door behind him by propping a chair from the little kitchen under the handle so it stayed locked.

“Cabin’s empty.” Peter and Chris said in unison. They walked up to him, frowning as they noticed his shivering, though he was doing his best to suppress it. He felt Peter’s incredibly warm hand against his forehead and couldn’t help but lean into it. He wasn’t sure how hot Peter ran in general, but it was definitely a few degrees higher than Chris or himself. Right now, that was a very welcome feature of the werewolf.

“He’s colder than he should be,” Peter muttered, gently guiding him towards the large fireplace in the middle of the room. “Come on, let’s get you heated up.”

“Did his jacket rip?” Chris asked, looking around for paper, wood, and other items they could burn.

Peter patted him down, despite his best efforts to keep the wolf’s hands off him. Werewolf strength could be quite unfair and if he wasn’t so damn cold he would have complained about the little shit sitting him down and throwing his own red ski jacket over him.

“Doesn’t seem to be but the collar is all wet and against his skin, looks like snow got in.”

“Aren’t you gonna get cold?” He raised an eyebrow at the black sweater Peter was wearing but also pulled the jacket closer and breathed in the wolf’s scent.

“I run a hundred and two degrees on a normal day.” Peter smiled, his face illuminated by the first sparks of the fire that Chris got running. It gave him a warm… almost soft look.

“It’s a werewolf thing,” Chris added, “Their body heat is higher than ours, it protects them from hypothermia, aids in their immunity against disease as well. One of those unfair advantages.”

He chuckled in response, his shivering already dying down now that the heat from the fire picked up and he had an extra layer. “That so?”

Peter hummed in agreement. “As is our superior sense of fashion.”

“Even Derek?” He asked, earning a laugh from Chris.

Peter pursed his lips and squinted his eyes. “Derek’s the exception to that rule.”

A laugh escaped him as Peter sat down next to him, though the laugh died on his lips as he noticed the concerned look Peter was giving the fire. It sobered him up considerably, knowing what Peter had been through, how close he was now sitting to something that had hurt him so much.

“Are you okay?”

The softness of his voice must have drawn Chris’s attention as well as the hunter had turned to look at them, his brow furrowing as he watched Peter’s face carefully. “Peter?”

Chris sat down on his other side, keeping a close eye on Peter while pretending to stare at the fire. Still, he noticed how Chris’s hands twitched in his lap and his eyes kept flicking to the wolf.

For a moment it seemed like Peter was lost in thought, staring into the growing fire with widening eyes. He noticed the wolf’s breathing picking up and his shaking hands. He carefully reached out and laid his own hand on top of Peter’s, startling the other man.

“What?” Peter relaxed at his touch and leaned into him unconsciously. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine. It’s just-”

His eyes flicked back to the fire.

He didn’t have to say it out loud.

“Yeah,” He pulled Peter’s jacket closer and pulled his legs up to minimize the loss of warmth. “We can turn it down if you need that.”

Chris frowned at those words, eyes flicking from him to Peter, before slowly nodding in agreement. “It wouldn’t be ideal, but if it’s hurting you-”

“No.” Peter quickly interrupted him. “No, I’m fine. And you both need the fire. I just- I might need a distraction.”

“Distraction?” Chris raised an eyebrow at the word, earning a smirk from Peter in the process.

“Yes, the dictionary defines it as a thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else. Or do you need a clearer definition, Christopher?”

“You don’t have to be a dick about it, Peter…” Chris looked down at his hands and shrugged. “We all have our own demons we want to forget.”

Peter went a little quiet at that, staring down at his feet while he scooted closer to him. “You’re right, it’s just-” His eyes flicked back to the fire.

“I get it…” Chris’s smile was soft as the hunter reached behind him to lay a hand on Peter’s shoulder.

It was nice, to be wedged between the two younger men and feel their warmth seep through him. He let himself lean back against Chris’s arm and laid his head on Peter’s shoulder. It just felt like the right thing to do in that moment. “It’s okay.” He whispered.

Chris frowned as he noticed the color difference of his gray sweater and trailed a hand over it, stopping at the collar as he felt the dampness. His warm hand trailed down over his collarbone and down his chest until he hit a dry spot. “You’re half soaked, we need to get that sweater off you and get you in something dry.”

He looked down at his body and froze. He didn’t show his bare chest to anyone. Ever. Even while sharing a room with the other two, he’d always gone to the bathroom to change. There were certain things he didn’t want anyone else to know, his past being one of them.

If anyone understands, it would be these two.

A little voice in his head told him. Yeah, it was right and he knew that. But what if they’d look at him differently?

Chris handed him a dark green sweater from his bag, having dragged said bag over with his foot, and gently started lifting his shirt. The hunter stopped after an inch and raised an eyebrow.

He was asking for permission.

He slowly shook his head. “I’ll do it.” And gently peeled the half wet garment from him and over his head. Constantly aware of what his aging body looked like. At fifty-three his best days had passed. He wasn’t as muscled as Peter or as lean and strong as Chris. His chest had a softness to it from all the fast food he’d been eating and he was showing his age with little marks, freckles, and the scars from years of abuse. The most obvious one being the scar on his left shoulder.

He paused for a second, jumping a little when Chris’s hand hovered over the scar. Though the hunter pulled away quickly and looked like he might apologize. Though the words seemed to get stuck in his throat.

“What happened?” It was Peter who broke the silence.

He wasn’t sure what he could say, felt tears prickling in his eyes and for a moment he heard his father’s booming vague voice ringing through his ears. “My father happened, he uhm, I didn’t let him hurt my mother,” He sighed, “and he pushed me through our coffee table.”

“Jesus…” Peter whispered, gently squeezing his right shoulder in comfort.

“I’m sorry…” Chris muttered, rubbing his own scarred hands in discomfort.

“We all have our own demons… Right?” He shrugged and put Chris’s green sweater on, quickly figuring out that the fit would work but was on the tight side as the edges of his sleeves stopped a little too high on the wrist. It was also a little on the short side at the middle.

He sighed. “At least it’s dry.”

Peter bit his lip and looked like he was having great difficulty with keeping his laughter contained. “It doesn’t look that bad…”

Chris wasn’t as kind and snorted before trying to cover it up with a cough.

He glared at the younger man but smiled after a minute or two. “Thank you, Chris.”

Chris let his eyes roam down and grinned. “You’re welcome.”

He laid his head back on Peter’s shoulder and pulled Chris closer for his warmth.

“So neither of you is going to distract me then?”

He didn’t know why he found that statement so funny but he couldn’t help but laugh at the annoyance in Peter’s voice. He felt Chris smile against his shoulder as the hunter laid his head down on it for a second.

“How do you propose we do that, Peter?” The hunter lifted his head and leaned in just a bit, just inches away from Peter’s face.

The wolf answered Chris with a smirk. Gently putting a finger under Chris’s chin to pull him closer. “I have an idea, it’ll also keep you both warm.”

“Will it now?” Chris’s smooth deep voice send a shiver down his spine and made his cock twitch. He swallowed rather heavily in response.

God, he wanted Chris to command him in that voice, to tell him to take off his clothes and put his ass up in the air and-

“I think someone likes the sound of that voice…” Peter purred into his ear, the wolf laid a finger under his chin and lifted his head to face Chris.

“Do it again.”

He stared into Chris’s silver-blue eyes, warmth traveling down his body and stirring in his loins as the hunter smiled deviously.

“Hmm, what do you think sheriff ?” Chris purred the last word, he couldn’t help the little sound of desperation that escaped him. A sound that he echoed as Peter leaned in and gently nipped at his ear.

“I think he hates it.” Peter grinned against his cheek and slowly started nipping his way down his jaw and to his neck. “I think he might want us to stop.”

The wolf paused and he growled in response, reaching behind him to cup the back of Peter’s head and pull him back down. “Don’t you dare, Peter.”

Peter laughed in response and gently pulled him into his lap before continuing his lovely assault on his neck. He moaned happily and wiggled a little to get more comfortable and rub his ass against the growing bulge beneath him. Peter’s laugh dissolved into a moan.

Chris smirked at them, slowly trailing his hands up Noah’s thighs though he stopped just short of his groin, a silent question in his eyes. He nodded enthusiastically, too occupied to answer due to Peter biting the sensitive skin at the nape of his neck without breaking it. “Fuck me…”

Peter paused in his marking efforts, growling into his ear as he forced him to focus on Chris by grabbing a hold of his jaw. He felt Peter’s nails gently scratching his skin. “Oh, I think Christopher might have a better idea.”

Chris’s hand traveled up and cupped his cock through his pants, gently rubbing and stimulating the hardening member. He in turn squirmed in Peter’s lap and felt the Alpha’s clothed cock press against the cleft of his ass.

“Does he now?” He moaned softly.

Chris scooted closer and placed a leg on each side of his lap, sharing a passionate kiss with Peter before he turned his focus back on Noah. Chris pulled him up a little by the collar of his borrowed sweater and for a moment he thought the younger man would kiss him as well. Chris leaned in but stopped just short and smiled. “I’m gonna ride you both at the same time.”

As hot as that sounded, his brain short-circuited for a moment. He paused and blinked, cocking his head to the left as he tried to figure out how exactly that was going to work. “How is that gonna fit, we don’t have lube.”

Chris chuckled in response and gently lifted Noah’s hands to cup his ass. “You’re just gonna have to get me wet enough.”

Wet enough? He was missing something here. Not that he was complaining, Chris’s ass was phenomenal.

Peter took pity on him. “I think he doesn’t know. Maybe you should show him.”

The absolutely feral grin Chris gave him made his breath stutter.

“Let’s have some fun then.”

He felt Peter smile against his neck, the Alpha going back to his assault to suck a few more hickeys into the sensitive skin. That was gonna be a bitch to hide from Stiles, Mikey, and Liam but considering that every touch sent electricity through his body, he wasn’t going to complain much.

Chris opened his own pants but didn’t slip them down. Instead, he zipped down Noah’s and continued his teasing touch.

A soft squeaky moan escaped him as Chris’s hand rubbed him through the fabric and slowly massaged him to a throbbing erection. Peter in the meantime had started rubbing himself against his ass while continuing his assault on his neck and even his shoulders. He was gonna be bruised and sore by tomorrow, that was for sure.

“He’s pretty when he’s marked up,” Chris commented as he slipped his hand inside Noah’s underwear and wrapped a hand around his hard cock. The other man stroked it slowly, keeping his touch light and gentle as he worked from the sensitive head to the base, and then slipped him out of his restraining clothes as he worked himself back up.

“Pretty down there too…” The hunter remarked, smiling as he studied Noah’s cock for a moment, fingers tracing over the thick veins down to his balls.

Peter let out a delighted moan behind him, one that he echoed as the wolf made him grind down on while Peter thrust up. It was a goddamn shame they didn’t have any lube because he really wanted that thick cock to wreck his ass right then and there. But Chris clearly had a different plan.

The hunter guided one of his left hand from its place on Chris’s ass up to his own mouth, offering him his own fingers with a firm. “Suck on them, get them wet.”

Processing that command took him a second but he caught on quickly and started sucking on his index and middle finger. Bobbing his head up and down and swirling his tongue around the digits until they were coated in his own saliva.

Chris gently pulled Noah’s fingers free after a few moments and guided his hand down Chris’s pants. His mouth opening in a little ‘O’ when his fingers didn’t brush over a hard cock but instead found soft curls and a wet cunt. Oh, that made a whole lot of sense. His cock twitched excitedly and he couldn’t help but grin and lick his lips as he slowly started rubbing the soft folds and sensitive clit. Using his wet fingers as lube to ease his way.

Chris’s breath hitched as he circled the sensitive little nub and applied varying amounts of pressure. He enthusiastically met him for a passionate kiss, causing Peter to groan, followed by a desperate moan once the wolf caught on what they were doing.

He heard a zipper behind him opening and felt the brush of Peter’s hand against his ass. Knowing Peter, he was practically drooling while jerking himself off as he watched them make out.

“Fuck that’s hot,” Peter whispered.

Chris grinned against his lips and leaned back, watching both of them with a hungry leer. The hunter leaned back and pulled away much to his dismay. His wet hand dropped to his side and he held it up to get a quick taste of Chris. He felt Peter practically vibrate behind him as he let out a hungry moan.

Chris came back quickly with one of the sleeping bags, zipped it open and laid it out on the floor before he took off his pants and commanded him in that silky voice, “Lay down on your back.”

The command made him shiver and he scrambled quickly to do the hunter’s bidding. Laying down on the sleeping bag. He was rewarded for his quick action by a gentle blow on his cock and the hunter’s questioning gaze.

“Please…” He begged softly, squirming at Chris’s burning look. God, he wanted Chris to ride em like he stole em and talk dirty to him until his toes curled and he came screaming their names. Judging by the hungry smile the hunter sent him in return, his fantasy might just be fulfilled tonight.

“Please what, sheriff ?” The hunter’s voice vibrated through him and he noticed Peter shuddering as well. The wolf’s breath ragged and his cock leaking precum.

“Oh for the love of God, Chris if you don’t start sucking me off-” He moaned as Chris licked a path from his balls to the tip of his cock before deep throating him in one smooth move, effectively cutting him off.

The hunter hollowed his cheeks and slowly worked his way up, making his toes curl as warmth exploded through him, and his heart hammered in his chest.

He felt Peter settle, one knee on each side of his head, and looked up to see the wolf was offering him his own hard member. He smirked and lapped at the leaking head, moaning at the slightly bitter but not unpleasant taste.

“Turn your ass around Chris I want to taste you,” Peter growled.

Chris demonstrated just how flexible he could be by putting a leg on either side of him and raising his hips in the air without hitting him in the process, his lips never leaving their attention to his cock.

Peter’s appreciative moan had him shivering in response. He continued his worship of the wolf’s member with short licks to the head and worked his way down to the heavy balls, taking each in his mouth and rolled it around on his tongue before working his way back up.

He heard Chris moan, long and filthy above him, and watched as Peter’s enthusiastic licking, sucking, and tongue fucking of Chris’s cunt was met with equal enthusiasm as Chris fucked the wolf’s face. He felt the hunter’s legs contract and shudder after a few minutes, gasps escaping Chris as he came hard on Peter’s tongue. He even felt some fluid hit him on the chin as the hunter squirted his juices over them, much to his surprise and Peter’s delight.

“I hoped you could still do that.” The Alpha growled, playfully biting Chris’s ass without breaking the skin and slapping his other cheek.

Chris pulled away from them and took a few strides and deep breaths to come down from his high. Then grinned and swayed his hips as he walked back to them and smoothly straddled him.

“Oh, I can do far more than that.” The hunter chuckled. “What do you say?”

He groaned softly and quickly nodded his consent. “Please…”

Peter growled in response, red eyes glowing as he walked around them to sink behind Chris. “Why don’t you ride us, sweetheart?”

Chris smirked in return. Gently grabbing a hold of his cock and guiding him into the hunter’s tight wet heat. He nearly came on the spot but managed to hold back just enough by focusing on a spot on the ceiling and letting out a slow breath to ground himself while Chris slowly got used to his length and girth. He wasn’t the biggest or thickest guy, and thankfully neither was Peter or this was never gonna fit, but neither of them were exactly small either and Chris would need to adjust to each of them.

After a moment or two, the hunter slowly raised himself and moved his hips in slow, long strokes until he slid in and out easily and Chris could pick up some pace. His toes started curling and the warmth in his belly started pooling slowly, gradually building with each thrust and stroke until Chris pulled up enough to keep only the tip of his cock in.

He hadn’t even noticed Peter coming closer until the wolf aligned the head of his cock against his own as he slowly pushed the first few inches into Chris’s cunt beside him.

“Fuck…” He moaned, eyes rolling back into his head as Chris slowly sank on both of their cocks. They rubbed together in the tight wet heat of Chris’s cunt and he could feel every pulse, throb, and twitch coming from the wolf’s cock.

Chris paused once he had them both down halfway, his chest heaving with every breath and a large grin on his face. The hunter leaned over him, sinking himself further on Noah’s cock but forcing Peter’s further out. Chris then grabbed his wrists and pinned them above his head, checking over his shoulder to see if Peter was on board, who grinned in return.

The moment Chris started moving, riding him like a prized stallion, Peter pushed his hips up every time Chris pushed down. Rubbing both their cocks together, lubed by Chris’s juices as the entire lengths met and rolled together with each thrust.

A string of moans and desperate little sounds left his throat as he surrendered to the warmth and feelings of pleasure that surged through him with every move. He felt it intensifying with each stroke, each move. Amplified by the wet sounds of Chris’s cunt and his little moans of pleasure, Peter’s growls and harder thrusts and by the twitching and throbbing of the wolf’s cock besides his own.

He managed to hold out for several minutes before his toes curled, his body convulsed and heat exploded in his loins. His cock twitched and pulsed as he came hard and in long spurts, while Chris continued to ride him and Peter continued to thrust in beside his twitching cock.

It didn’t take long for the wolf to let out a long moan and join him. Their cocks twitching and throbbing together as they came deep inside Chris and filled him with their cum. He felt Peter slump forward, held up by Chris as the wolf shuddered his last wave of ecstasy.

Chris continued to ride them, though the movement of his hips was greatly reduced due to Peter’s weight on his back. Milking them for every last drop they had. Only when they were spent and Peter was practically napping from exhaustion did he let them slip from him.

The hunter gently maneuvered Peter from his back to lay him down on Noah’s right, furthest away from the fire and rummaged through his own backpack for wet wipes to clean them up.

“Now that was a distraction.” Noah grinned, pleased when Chris winked at him.

It took a minute for Peter to come back to them with a dopey grin. Watching with interest as Chris did his best to clean them and himself from all traces of their fucking. Pouting a little as the hunter pushed out as much of their cum as he could and wiped it away.

“That’s a damn shame…” Peter muttered. “We tried so hard to breed you.”

Chris merely chuckled. “Wasn’t gonna work anyway, I’ve been on testosterone for sixteen years and have an IUD. The odds of you knocking me up are astronomical.”

He couldn’t help but frown at Chris’s words, for tempting fate was never a particularly good idea. But on the other hand, the hunter did have a point on how unlikely it would be. They weren’t the youngest, Chris was on hormones, and if he also had an IUD. What on Earth were the odds then? They couldn’t be high to begin with, even if in the best circumstances.

So he scoffed and pulled his pants back up. Peter did the same and Chris located his and put them on as well. Another sleeping bag was pulled from somewhere. His jacket was put up near the fire, on the back of a chair to dry further. And Chris laid down next to them on the sleeping bag to hunker down for the next few hours until the storm died down.

At least they were warm, comfortable, and utterly sated for now.

He dozed off knowing that their dynamic had shifted. Yes, he still wanted to duct tape Peter to the ceiling. And Chris could still be a jerk when he wanted to be. But at the very least, this was the start to a very fun beneficial rump for all three of them. Whatever else fate wanted to throw at them, they could only wait and see.

So what do we think? Do we want more of this universe? Do we want more DILF smut? More Chris/Peter/Noah?

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titlemewickedwonderland · 2 years

Text

Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates (Chapter 2: More Than This)

Pairing: Morpheus x Original Character

Warnings: Cursing, mention of violence, mention of blood

"The way I see it if you want the rainbow you got to put up with the storm" -Dolly Parton

Wonderland's Workshop

<< Chapter 1

The light that streamed through the window cast itself across the messy bedroom; its golden yellow hues shone onto articles of clothes that had been tossed in a hazardous manner the night previous. Leggings crumbled by the bathroom door that hung ajar. A long-sleeved sweater draped over the vanity chair. One sneaker was half hidden under the metal framing of a twin-sized bed while its partner was nowhere to be seen and a plain black bra hanging off the bedroom doorknob. Somewhere beneath the pile of grey fluffy comforters, a figure stirs awake as the light chose that moment to brighten the young woman’s face. Irritated because the blackout curtains were not shut as they normally would have been, Kassie was forced to awaken from her slumber. The sunshine hurt her already throbbing cranium as she raised a hand to shield the morning rays from her bloodshot eyes. God her entire body was hurting as hell too, not just her head. She blinked a few times and sat up on her elbows to stare around the room as if she had not seen it before; catching sight of every article of clothing that made the room a mess before noticing the men’s clean leather shoes by her bedroom door neatly sat and a cream colored blazer hanging on the hook on her closet door. She blinked trying to remember what happened after she got home. Corinthian was there since he’d taken her home. There were drinks involved, her ranting over Rob’s small dick move, and then she was crying over something and complaining her feet hurt. After that everything became a blur.

She twisted around to find Corinthian lying under the covers with her; one arm was thrown over his head, his rather surprisingly muscular bicep on full display as well as his cleanly sculpted chest down to his waist. He had no shirt on but he still wore those fucking shades covering his eyes from view. He looked like he was peacefully sleeping. Kassie looked down at herself next to find that she was wearing Corinthian’s missing green sweater and nothing but a pair of cheeky nylon panties underneath. God, she didn’t even want to know what her makeup and hair must have looked like right now; she was scared to lean over to look at her reflection in the vanity mirror that faced her bed. The woman ran her fingers through her tangled hair and rested her elbow on an upturned knee as she half turned to look over at Corinthian who hadn’t moved an inch. His chest rose and fell in even slow movements as he slept. At a closer look at the handsome man in her bed, she noticed the dark marks on his neck that peaked around from under where his arm blocked her view and Kassie gasped horrified as she leaned over and moved his arm away to look at the bruises on his tanned skin.

“Holy fuck!” she whispered.

She’d fucking marked the man with hickeys and…oh god were those teeth marks? Just to be sure she carefully peeled back the comforter to check and see if he was still wearing at least his boxers and she breathed a sigh of relief when she found not only was he still wearing boxers but his suit pants as well.

“Has anyone told yah your heart’s got teeth?” the lazy southern drawl made her jump and drop the comforter back on his lap; her head turning swiftly to look at him

He didn’t even sound as if he just woke up either! Was he awake this entire fucking time?! Kassie felt heat rise to her cheeks and she covered her face with her hands and groaned. “Oh my god! How much shit did I drink last night?”

The man let out a chuckle as his arm reached out to grab her by the back of her hair and playfully yank her backward until she had no choice but to allow gravity to pull her with his strength and flop on top of him unceremoniously; draping over him like a terrible flung blanket.

“If it makes you feel better we didn’t fuck.” he commented, his voice a rumble against the side of her face as she got comfortable on top of him and rested her cheek against his pectoral

“I feel like shit. I look like shit. And I smell like shit.” the dancer grumbled hiding her face in his chest. “I need a cup of coffee, some painkillers, and a shower before my brain even wants to consider what we did last night.”

Strong fingers lazily traced her jawline before lifting her face so he looked down at it; the feeling of those eyes of his scanning her face was unnerving up close considering in the 6 months they’d known each other she had never once seen him without his glasses on, not that she’d have the nerve to ask him about it, not yet at least. His lips turned down slightly in a show of thoughtfulness as his thumb began to wipe away smudged mascara and eyeliner from under her eyes.

“You don’t look that bad.” he finally relented allowing his hand to drop to her back once more, the pressure of his palm oddly comforting.

It was the oddest sensation lying next to this man. For everything he was worth that Kassie knew of him and all the feelings he brought out within her; the simple moment of lying in her shitty one-bedroom apartment seemed so mundane and so domestic. That was never a good sign. Kassie never did the whole domestically normal life when it came to men. If a man managed by the grace of god to enter her apartment it normally was for a quick fuck and then they would leave; that was if they’d ever make it to her apartment instead of the car, or run-down motel, shit even the alleyway. She didn’t bring men home 9/10 so why did she so willingly offer her small one-bedroom apartment to a man that by all rights could be a serial killer? Because Kassie didn’t give two shits. Maybe she was lonely, maybe she simply didn’t care about what happened to her life. It’s not the worst thing she’d ever done to fuck up her well-being. So if mister tall blonde and devilish wanted to murder her who was she to stand in the way?

“You’re overthinking again,” Corinthian commented breaking the silence

‘What? No, I’m not.” Kassie protested, her face scrunching up in disbelief as she lifted her head slightly to look at the man whose face was lit with a lazy smile.

“You’re playing footsy with me,” he replied and Kassie’s head snapped up to look down the length of the bed to where their bare feet stuck out from beneath the blankets. Sure enough, one of her smaller feet was idly brushing back and forth against his.

“I was not playing footsy!” she flounder as she pulled her feet away quickly and sat up. “What time is it anyway?” she added quickly trying to change the subject.

“I’d say around noon I think? I don’t know, I stopped checking the time after 9.” Corinthian drawled as he got comfortable in the bed again now that she was not lying on top of him.

“Wait, how long have you been awake?”

“I never slept.”

“What?!” Kassie bulked and scrambled to face him. “You didn’t sleep? Are you an insomniac or something?” she questioned tilting her head.

His head tilted to the ceiling and he breathed out a long patient sigh. “Something like that, you can say I’m not overly fond of what comes during slumber,” he added

She squinted a moment at him trying to figure him out; maybe he wore the sunglasses because his eyes were always bloodshot? With a mental shrug, the young woman leaned over the male to grab her phone from her nightstand that was being charged as she added with a playful tone of voice “You know I’ve read somewhere people who are insomniacs tend to be or later become serial killers or psychopaths.”

Corinthian didn’t reply to that although she could make out the slow grin creeping up onto his face at that. She wasn’t fond of that smile. It gave her a feeling that perhaps she hit the nail right on the head this time so instead, she distracted herself with what was on her phone. She didn’t mind as Corinthian casually gripped her hips and situated her over his lap as he watched from behind his dark shades as she absently checked her phone. The position was not at all new to either of them all things considered so it was rather comfortable.

“What’s that mean?” Kassie jolted when she felt his hands beneath the shirt she wore; having lifted it high enough that he could just make out the tattoo that jutted along her hipbone.

She seemed to freeze above him as she stared at the phone screen in front of her but her eyes were not moving so she wasn’t looking at what was on there. Her voice was soft as she spoke trying to sound disinterested “It’s just a feather tattoo.”

“You know, tattoos aren’t just some pretty body decorations. They generally have some sort of meaning behind them.” Corinthian drawled and Kassie lowered her phone just enough to glare at him.

“I’m going to go shower.” she tossed her phone down on the bed before swinging herself off of him and heading into the connected bathroom; the door slamming just a bit too hard as she closed it.

In the safety of the bathroom, she rested her back against the cold wood and took a breath. She didn’t realize her hands were shaking until she raised them to comb her hair back. “Get a fucking grip Kassie!” she muttered to herself as she stalked over to the bathroom sink

She looked utterly horrible. Her skin felt like a gallon of oil had been smeared on her face due to sleeping in her makeup. Her mascara and eyeliner were smeared and smudged making her look like a crazed raccoon and don’t get her started on the rat's nest that was her hair. She looked as tired as she felt.

“Is that a…?” her jaw dropped as she pulled her hair away from her neck. “Cori!” she shrieked pressing her fingers against the dark bruise on her neck “You shithead, you left me a fucking hickey!”

She could hear Corinthian’s rich chuckle from behind the door somewhere in the depths of her small bedroom and she had half a mind to stalk out there and punch him straight in his handsome face and knock out a few of those perfect teeth from his mouth. But she didn’t. Frankly, she didn’t want to damage that pretty face. It’d be a shame to humanity. So instead, she shucked off his sweater and her underwear. Turning on the water without even allowing it to get warm enough before climbing under the spray. The water was like ice droplets racing down her skin causing goosebumps to rise all over her body. She didn’t care, glad to wash away the drama and sweat from last night away. She found herself sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest allowing the water to roll down her body. Sometimes she just needed the moment; sitting there allowing the water to wash away all her sins and purify her for the day’s events to come even when she knew deep down that her sins would never wash away. When her fingers began to prune Kassie figured she needed to hurry up before the hot water ran out. So she rose, grabbed her favorite shampoo that made her hair smell like vanilla and warm sunshine, and began lathering the thick locks before matching it with the conditioner. Then she repeated the process all over again before moving on to her body. The coconut and shea butter felt moisturizing on her skin as she lathered up following up with the sugar scrub to polish her olive skin leaving it glowing. Once that was done she shut off her water and wrung her hair out. It was always such a process but one she had to do to keep up with appearances.

When she stepped out onto her bath mat she realized that she hadn’t brought out a towel in with her and she cursed under her breath. Cracking open the door to the bathroom she peered outside to see her bedroom was empty. Thank god, and there was the towel she needed hanging off of her closet door. So she darted out and snatched it quickly off the hook; seconds before the bedroom door swung open and Corinthian stood there with a cup of coffee in hand. She hugged the towel to her chest and gave a faint smile.

“Sorry I took so long, did you need the shower? There should be some hot water left.” she offered

“Actually, I have some business I have to attend to. As do you it seems. You’re phone’s been going off like crazy since you were in the shower.” he commented as he held his arm out holding the mug of coffee.

“Oh, thanks.” she blinked and grabbed the cup from him. Glad for the warmth that raced through her body as she took a sip of the coffee. Wait, how’d he know she liked her coffee like this? She opened her mouth to say something as she looked up from her mug but froze when Corinthian’s voice spoke by the front door followed by the sound of it closing behind him as he left

“Don’t wait up tonight roomie. I’ll see you at work tonight.”

She huffed setting her coffee down on her nightstand and went to grab her phone off the bed. She had so many missed messages from Alyssa making her take a moment to scroll up to read them all. The poor girl was freaking out over…? Oh hell no! Quickly hitting the call button Kassie sat on the bed with a thumbnail between her teeth as she waited anxiously for her friend to pick up. It did after a few rings.

“Aly? What happened is he still there?” she rushed out to say. She could hear the crying over the other end of the line and it sent Kassie into a protective frenzy. “Alyssa is he still there at the club?”

“Y-yes.” Alyssa’s choked reply came as she sniffled no doubt trying to wipe her tears away and clean up her makeup.

“Listen, I’m coming over right now okay? Go find Alex or Kevin and stick to them. Don’t let that fucker get near you. I’m on my way baby okay?” she said stalking over to her dresser to grab herself some clothes to throw on at random.

“Kassie please, don’t do anything stupid-” Alyssa rushed out to hastily say but Kassie was already plotting just what she’d do to the bastard.

“No one fucking hurts my friends Alyssa. Least of all a sweet girl like you. Now go find one of the boys and I’ll be over in 20.” Kassie hung up and began yanking on some jeans and a T-shirt before shoving her feet into her favorite metal-tipped combat boots.

The ride over to Club Sin was one filled with anxiety and barely contained rage. When the taxi pulled up she tipped and left the cab. She could see a few stragglers standing outside smoking and chatting; these were the day drinkers who’d stop by on occasion. Daytime was usually common folk time and any VIP people or of higher class came in at night for special entertainment. When she saw Andrew one of their door bouncers standing at the front door smoking with some of the daytime regulars she walked over and tipped her head inside.

“He still here?”

Andrew eyed her and nodded unamused. “Been drinking with his buddies. Refusing to leave, spitting shit about being a paying customer.” he snorted

“Paying customer huh? Oh trust me, he’s going to be paying for a lot more than he’s drinking.” Kassie stalked past the rope and inside the club.

Now, the club during day hours was like any other bar in town. Perhaps a little bit more on the classier side in decorations but at the end of the day, there was some good liquor here to drink hence why it’s popular during daylight and night hours. There were no dancers to entertain during day time. It functioned like any other bar just without the TV playing a shitty sports game. She scanned the room a few times before she noticed a group of 5 men at the bar taking up most of the space there. Allison, an older blonde woman in her 40s was working as a bartender today for which Kassie was glad; she and Allison got along great since she’d have her back.

Stalking over to the men Kassie stood behind one man with dirty blonde hair that looked like it was either crusting with gel that he hadn’t washed in a few days or he simply didn’t shower at all. She tapped him on the shoulder and when he spun around she gave him a sickly sweet smile.

“Hello, Jared,” she said tilting her head

“Oh for fuck’s sake. The bitch called her lap dog on me. “ the man, Jared stated with a disbelieving laugh.

Ignoring that comment Kassie placed her hands on her hips and leaned closer. “Yeah, she did because that’s what friends will do. Now, do you remember the last time something like this happened? Do you remember what I told you?” that same sickly sweet smile plastered on her face despite the way her eyes blazed with internal rage.

“You know what? I don’t think I do. I was too busy being distracted by your amazing tits. How much do they cost to get done?” his brown eyes fell to her chest

Kassie’s hands shot out and grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket and yanked him off his bar stool only to throw him across the room onto another table. His larger body crashed down rather heavily having not expected the launch from such a tiny girl.

“I said I’d cut your dick off and glue it to your forehead so you look like a limp dicked unicorn asshole!” she snarled launching herself at him. A knee came up to kick him in the gut causing him to double over to his knees.

“Do you think it’s fun beating women huh? Do you think it’s fucking fun?!” the toe of her steel boots caught him in the nose as she swung a kick directed at his face causing him to spit up blood.

Jared scrambled to his feet as best he could and bull-dozed her across the room until her back hit against one of the structural pillars; his beefy hands grasping at her neck pinning her in place and choking the breath out of her. Her lips curled up into a snarl which promptly got backhanded causing her vision to spin and her head to snap to the side. Her blurry vision caught sight of a bottle of beer sitting on an empty table and she thrust her hand out to grab the neck of the bottle and swing it down to smash it brutally against Jared's head causing a splatter of blood to fly across her skin. The man crumbled to the ground wheezing for breath as he wiped at his forehead; fingers coming back with a thick stain of red.

“I’m going to kill you, you sick fucking freak! I warned you to keep your paws off her!” she panted watching as his friends scrambled to grab their friend off the ground.

Her hazel eyes were damned near pitch black as she launched herself forward with the shattered bottle still grasped in her fist intending to thrust the jagged glass into the man’s jugular but strong arms wrapped around her waist hauling her up off her feet. She screamed in rage struggling as Kevin pulled her away from the men who were scrambling to get the fuck out of there before Ms. Murder decided she wanted to hulk out of the bouncer’s grip.

“Kassie relax! Hey!” Kevin shouted over her screaming as she shoved her into an empty booth; blocking her exit as she tried to get out of the booth. “He’s learned his lesson kitten, relax!” The man clamped a hand onto her shoulder to hold her down and have her meet his stare.

She took a moment to breathe; trying to calm the murderous rage within her. She saw Alyssa’s figure creep around the corner and she almost went into a fucking rampage all over again. She saw the bruises dark and painful across her cheek and eye; her lip was split and her makeup was running down her cheeks. She looked so frail standing there holding her jacket around her frame. God only knew what that sick bastard had done to her beneath the conservative clothing she wore.

“Aly. You okay baby?” Kassie breathed scrambling out of the other end of the half-circle booth and rushing to her friend.

Alyssa nodded and fell into her friend’s arms. A sob left her throat as she clutched to Kassie’s waist hugging the life out of her. The woman hugged her back and looked across the room at the damage done. Tables were overturned and shattered glass was on the floor. And then there was Rob standing in the middle of it all looking around like he was looking at a murder scene. Fuck. She was totally and utterly fucked.

She was fucking fired. Rob fucking fired her! Was it bad to feel the relief that flooded her as she stood in his office watching him rage at her? It wasn’t like she enjoyed dancing like a whore on stage for some cash to get her by. But at the same time; it was something that she could count on being a constant thing to get her past the next month's rent. If anything, she was more concerned about what it meant for Alyssa. Her friend with her abusive boyfriend. Hopefully, the man learned his lesson today. If not, Kassie wouldn’t mind taking prison time if it came to it. At least she got out of working a double shift for Chelsey and not keeping her pay. But that just meant she needed to find a new job and fast. As she stood on the sidewalk outside of Club Sin with her duffle bag filled with her few items from the dressing room she found she was lost as to where to go next. She idly wiped away the dried blood on her cheek as she looked down one side street and then the next as if choosing where to turn.

She figured she’d just head to grab a coffee or something; get away from the bustle of the people on this street and give her time to think. Maybe by some miracle, she’ll find herself a job. She couldn’t call Corinthian to let him know what was going on because she realized he’d never given her his number. Oh well, she supposed he’d figure it out eventually when she didn’t know up for work tonight. Duffle in hand, she walked down the street until she came to a cute little coffee shop. She ordered herself a vanilla iced coffee and a bagel before heading back out into the world. There was a park somewhere nearby wasn’t there? She should sit there and relax a moment before putting herself back on that grind to finding a new job and probably a new place to stay although all things considered she couldn’t afford anything better and anything worse than what she had now would be no better than living in an abandoned warehouse. So she walked. She walked down the street enjoying the scent of earth and moist soil from the night’s previous rain they’d gotten. She saw kids playing out in the open field and some in the public park playing on slides and swings. There was a bench where a figure clad in black sat leaning with his elbows on his knees; plucking away at pieces of a load of bread while flicking it absentmindedly at a group of pigeons that cooed in appreciation as they gobbled up the crumbs.

“I didn’t know people enjoyed feeding these vultures unless they’re old folks,” Kassie commented as she came up behind the man sitting there.

His head turned and she was stunned at the beauty of the man’s face. Oddly familiar in the way his pale skin stretched across sharp cheekbones and pink lips pursing as if they were not too keen on having company. His eyes though looked up from below with thick black lashes and dark brows in a way that made Kassie think he was trying to ward her off with his stare alone.

“They are pigeons. Not vultures.” his voice was soft as he corrected her; his head turning away from her

“It was a joke,” Kassie stated under her breath as she sat down on the other end of the bench leaving enough space for one more person between them. “Hey, don’t I know you from the club?” she asked turning her gaze to his which he did not meet.

“No.”

Okay, that was a very short answer. Kassie took a sip of the iced coffee; idly stirring the liquid sugar in her plastic cub as she thought of something else to say. She was not much of a casual conversationalist either but for some reason, she felt as if she needed to fill the silence with her words somehow. So she pressed on. Setting her things down in the space between them she leaned over to try and meet his gaze and offer a genuinely friendly smile as she spoke.

“I’m pretty sure I have. I don’t forget faces often-” she began

A white object from her peripheral came flying at high speeds in their direction and before she had a chance to duck or dodge the kickball a pale hand shot out in front of her gaze; long fingers curling around the ball effortlessly. Stopping it from hitting Kassie straight in the face. Her eyes wide in shock stared at the hand; absently studying those long fingers thinking they were actually nice. They reminded her of a guitarist or pianist’s hands. The mystery man slowly lowered the ball from her space and held it out as a handsome hand with chocolate skin came rushing over with a sheepish smile.

“Shit, I’m sorry about that! Nice catch by the way!” he laughed embarrassed. “You okay miss?” he turned his brown gaze to meet Kassie’s and her smile was a little bit strained as she nodded.

“Y-yeah. All good,” she replied.

“Y-you sure, you have a cut and a bruise on your cheek; did the ball-” the sports player began, and Kassie’s waved a hand around her face

“I’m good, it wasn’t from the ball.” she laughed a bit sheepishly feeling the heat of the stranger’s gaze beside her on the side of her face.

“Alright…” the young man replied as he gave a final wave of hesitation before he was rushing back to his friends with his kickball.

Kassie dared a glance over to the pale dark-haired stranger sitting beside her to see he was staring at the bruise that bloomed dark and darker still as the hours passed on her olive skin. She tried to act casual about it as she rested her chin in her palm; fingers in an attempt to cover most of the damage done to her face as she turned her head away.

“You should take care of that.” the man’s voice spoke softly beside her. Did he actually have concern for her despite sounding monotone as he spoke? That was a sweet thought.

“It’s fine. It’ll heal. Trust me I’ve dealt with worse than a few cuts and bruises.” she tried to laugh it off as she grabbed her bagel from the bench space between them and took a bite out of it.

The pigeons had flown away in fright when the ball had been kicked in their direction so now that the man did not have the bird’s company to feed his attention was on her. Studying her as she chewed on her bagel. A drip of whatever sauce the bagel she was eating had on stained the corner of her lips and he watched intently as one manicured fingertip wiped it away and sucked at the digit. Something about this girl was alluring in ways that she did not seem to know she was eluding to as she sat enjoying her meal. But he did notice. He noticed the way her knee bounced slightly as one leg was crossed over the other. A habit of nerves. He noticed the way her gaze seemed to scan her surroundings in ways that made him think she was either looking for someone or watching for a threat. And he certainly noticed as she sat her bagel down onto its wrapper between them the pink ink of a tattoo on her inner forearm catching the light of the sun above them filtering through the tree branches; it was beautifully done of a branch of a sakura blossom tree.

It was an unusual tattoo. Not one that he’d seen before on a human. It looked old, not in the sense of timing that it was placed on her skin but more of the era that the design may have once held a purpose. She seemed to notice his unblinking stare because she turned to face him and raised a brow with a faint smile.

“Something on my face?” she asked as she wiped at her mouth.

“Who gave you that injury?” he questioned surprising both himself and her with the curiosity that slipped through him.

Kassie licked her bottom lip thoughtfully as she leaned her body on the back of the bench and turned her attention to her boots that were crossed at the ankles. “Just some man,” she replied shrugging. “He wasn’t happy that a woman stood up to him.” when she caught the man’s furrowed look she gave a little laugh, her fingers playing with the straw of her iced coffee.

“My friend’s boyfriend is an abusive piece of shit. It’s not the first time I’d warned him from touching her but I guess he’s such a sexist that he didn’t think I was serious about my threats.” she snorted thinking back to Jared’s face as she beat the shit out of him.

“And he did that to you?” a pale hand rose; a single finger tracing featherlight along her bruised cheek

Kassie’s smile faltered slightly and she swallowed the nerves down. “Yes,” she said softly. “But you should have seen how bad he looked at the end of it. I got lucky.” she turned her head to look at the man.

“Thank you, by the way. For saving me from getting my nose broken by that ball. You have amazing reflexes.” it did not slip past him that she was quick to change the subject.

“I do not like seeing people get hurt.” came the same soft reply as the man turned his head away.

Kassie nodded slowly. “You’re a rare species then. There aren’t a lot of men like you living here in New York.” she jested

“There are no men like me in this world.” the odd reply made Kassie turn her attention to him. Only now noticed he wore a long black coat, black shirt beneath, and black trousers.

“You’re an odd one. How are you not hot in that?” she reached out to playfully tug at the collar of his shirt when he pulled his head away sharply in surprise. Like a startled deer or something. It made Kassie’s smile falter and her hand pulled away just as quickly. “Sorry,” she mumbled

The man did not reply and instead rose to his feet. Fixing his coat as he did and held out the loaf of bread to her in silence. When she took it he turned his body away to head across the grass. “Thank you for the company.”

Kassie looked a bit surprised as she watched him walk away without another word and instead headed across the green lawn to where she could see a beautiful woman standing with her arms crossed waiting patiently for his arrival. Even from this distance, Kassie could tell the woman was beautiful with chocolate skin that glowed and short ringlets of black hair wearing a black pair of jeans and a matching tank top. Heh, must be his girlfriend. Kassie mused thoughtfully as she watched the woman link arms with the handsome stranger and stroll away. Having no purpose left to sit there anymore, Kassie rose and packed up her things before heading back to hail herself a cab to get home. She could scroll for jobs hiring in the area on her phone while she binged on some snacks at home since she no longer had a job to go to tonight. She didn’t remember the last time she’d ever had a night to herself that didn’t involve her going to clubs and partying with her friends or going home with strangers. It was funny how she brought a stranger home now instead of going to one’s house.

When she finally shoved her door closed behind her upon arriving home she was surprised to see Corinthian sitting on her sofa sipping on some alcohol with the TV on to a random channel. At the sound of the door closing his head tilted to meet her gaze across the room. She moved through the room to drop her stuff inside the bedroom door. She planned on just hiding away in her room but the man’s voice spoke up with a lazy drawl.

“That was quite a show back there Darlin; Didn’t know you had such anger in yah.”

She bit her lip and peeked around the doorframe to look at him as he craned his head to look at her with a smile. She shrugged and crossed her arms as she moved her body to lean against the doorframe. The waning light ghosted through the room casting it in a warm yellow making her realize how late she actually had been out.

“You were there? I didn’t see you,” she commented staring at whatever talk show was on the TV

“I was up in the office with Mr. Robby.” there was a little teasing nature behind his words. “Saw the whole thing from his windows. Very impressive I must say.”

“Did he tell you I’m fired? So uh, if you need a place to stay I don’t think you’ll be able to stay here much longer; I’m going to need to move soon unless I can find a job that makes me as much or more than the club did.”

“No, you don’t.” Corinthian beckoned her over to him and she paused a moment studying him. He didn’t seem like a threat but she didn’t like the energy he was giving off. As if she could see the black smoke of shadows like poison oozing out from his very person.

But she eventually caved and walked across the short distance to stand in between his splayed legs. As casually as this morning he leaned forward to place the glass of liquor on the coffee table behind her before his large hands gripping her waist to pull her to straddle his lap. She looked down at him with furrowed brows as he lifted a hand to brush along her bruised and cut cheek.

“It’s a shame to mar such beautiful skin.” he sighed almost regrettably.

Kassie shrugged as she sat back against his thighs and played with the buttons of his white dress shirt. “It’s nothing. I’ve dealt with worse,” she replied.

Why was it that anytime she was around this man she felt so weak? As if he could see all her damn faults. All the sins from her past? She hated the feeling as if he could see straight through her; hated the fact that she felt seen by someone for once even if it meant being seen in an ugly light.

“Don’t you worry your pretty head about him no more Darlin. He won’t hurt anyone else again. I promise you that.” there was something sick behind his smile as he looked up at her and she felt her gut twist a bit. The taste of fear on her tongue was not something she liked in her mouth. She nodded slowly trying not to allow his intimidation to show its effect on her.

“What did you mean a moment ago? About not having to move? Are you planning on being my sugar daddy or something?” she tried to joke; her face twisting into a small smile.

“Just know you’re bank account won’t ever be empty again.” that was all Corinthian replied as he tapped under her chin lightly.

She didn’t know if she liked the sound of that. It sounded ominous coming from him. “I’m still going to get me a job Cori. I can’t just sit idle and do nothing.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to.” he flashed his pearly whites.”Now, hop up and go order yourself some takeout. I’ll be home late.”

She climbed from his lap and watched as he rose to his feet; fixing his suit as he did and headed for the door. Huffing she got comfortable on the sofa as she watched him. “For someone who needs a place to stay Cori you aren’t around so much mister!” she called after him but he didn’t reply; his only answer was the click of the door as he shut it behind him upon his exit.

Thank you for reading chapter 2 of 'Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates'. Feel free to comment, like, and reblog! I love the interaction! Tags are open if you wish to be added for new chapter updates!

Chapter 3 >>

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titlemewickedwonderland · 2 years

Text

Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates (Chapter 5: Don't Fear the Reaper)

Pairing: Morpheus x Original Character

Warnings: Cursing, suspense, hints of horror

“I still get nightmares. In fact, I get them so often I should be used to them by now. I’m not. No one ever really gets used to nightmares.” -Mark Z. Danielewski

Wonderland's Workshop

<< Chapter 4

She screamed. She screamed until her vocal cords strained; until they fractured and cracked. She screamed until she couldn’t think and screamed until all she could hear was her wail as if the cry of a banshee of folklore was pouring from her throat instead of her own voice. She screamed until the darkness began to inch within her vision and her head felt lightheaded from lack of oxygen. She did not know where one moment of breath began and when another ended as her head echoed with the ghostly wails that she did not register were of her own making. She could feel the phantom kiss of the cold blade as it tore through her tender flesh like a hot knife cutting through butter; only it was not butter but the delicate skin of her throat that now ached with a rawness that had little to do with the razer edge of the Corinthian’s blade. Her hands were clammy as one gripped the front of her chest where beneath her heart felt like a hot heavy lead inside of her and the other rose to grip the flesh of her throat as if expecting to feel two seems torn open beneath her fingertips. She couldn’t muster the emotion of relief when there were no such findings. Her skin felt cold to the touch and clammy as if in a cold sweat and her limbs trembled from where she sat on the ground.

It was dark and she could see the pale vapor that escaped her mouth every time her breath escaped her lungs in shaky exhales. She couldn’t see much but she could tell she was in some spooky woods. The sounds of nocturnal animals haunting as their cries echoed within the darkness. There was a large moon; much larger than any normal full moon could be that hung high in the sky that had not a single twinkling of starlight amidst the darkness the only source of light was the oddly large moon that despite its massive size did not cast that much of a glow to her surroundings. The prickle of dry leaves crunched uncomfortably beneath her palms as she placed her hands on the ground to help herself rise; her skin oddly sensitive as if on high alert for danger as she stood to her feet. She did a slow circle as she tried to see where she was, perhaps to see if she could make out a familiar landmark or something to tell her where she was. But there was nothing but dead trees; ghostly in appearance with their decaying leaves barely holding into their branches while most lay forgotten and dead beneath them and beneath her feet.

She could feel the goosebumps rise on her skin but she couldn’t decipher whether it was from the coldness of the woods during the Autumn season or from the feeling of danger lurking around her, and danger there was. She could hear it faintly within the woods. She could not pinpoint where it came from for the movement was subtle and it seemed to be coming in every direction as if she were surrounded. Whatever lurked out there in the darkness was large; that much was clear, and not knowing scared Kassie more than knowledge of what it could be. She didn’t see it. No eyes staring at her in the darkness, no rustling of brush that she could see, no vocal sounds to give an idea of what the creature was. But she felt it; like a shadow moving in the darkness. But then it was silent. Too silent. Not a single nocturnal animal’s cries filled the air. Not the crickets, not the tiny feet of an animal digging through leaves for food, not a hooting of an owl or cry of a bird. It was as if nature itself turned the off button on its audio; except it didn’t turn off the wavering breaths that left her lungs in shaking exhales, those soft sounds sounding like drums in her ears until she realized that her breathing couldn’t have been that loud.

She felt it more than she saw it. Keeping her eyes straight ahead; she could feel its puffs of fire-branded breath at the top of her head, casting its horrid-smelling oxygen to make the strands of her hair quiver around her face. The shadow that was cast by that thing was large and long. Shaped like something she’d never be able to even conjure up in her own imagination; not consciously at least. It towered over her own on the ground in front of her as she stared with trepidation at their joined molds of darkness on the ground. She did what any person in her position would do.

Kassie ran.

The ground was uneven beneath her shoes as she bolted; the dead and decaying leaves stuck to the bottom of her feet as she ran making her slip and slide as she skidded down hills in an attempt to flee whatevet the hell was chasing her. Too afraid to actually turn and look in case it was right behind her. She could hear it though even if she couldn’t see it. Knowing she knew it was right behind it. It seemed to revel in making as much noise as possible to frighten her more; the scent of her fear intoxicating as the thing followed her like a bloodtrail through the haunted forest. Somewhere along the way Kassie realized the pale moon had turned blood red; casting it’s red glow across the terrain as she raced. Her heart a fast painful beat against her ribcage as she inhaled lungfuls of air that felt like toxin racing through her body at each inhale. It hurt and she realized her movements were slowing down as if her body no longer wanted to function. She felt the hot tears pillow on her waterline as she pushed herself further and further. This had to be a form of hell. She was dead after all right? A demon was chasing her; perhaps to feast on her flesh. She could feel it’s hunger palpable against her skin the closer that thing got to her and she swore in any moment now she’s feel teeth or claws ripping into her flesh from behind.

Then like a saving grace she saw an opening through the endless trees. A vast space of nothingness beyond the edge of a cliff. Could someone die twice when in hell? One way to find out. If she was going to be torn apart by some beast from hell she’d take the bastard with her one way or another. Finding a new form of strength within herself Kassie dug her heels into the moist earth and pushed forward. She never was good at track growing up in school but she sure as hell made up for it now. Limbs propelling herself as fast as they could go and then some until her muscles burned with the ache of strain. As she neared the edge she dared to turn her head just seconds to look at whatever the thing was behind her just as her toes shoved off the edge of the cliff’s face to allow herself for the briefest of seconds of airborne sensation at which she closed her eyes expecting the inevitable feeling of being dragged by gravity to whateve lay below her. But instead, she felt something unexpected.

Hands, cold but firm as they grasped her arms pulled her against a lean chest in a strong embrace; the wind rushed through her hair making the dark strands lash around her face like tiny whips and she gripped onto dark fabric; the feel of lean muscles beneath her trembling palms seemed to alert her brain at what was happening. But she’d refused to open her eyes; scared at what she would see if she did so even when she felt the security of arms wrap around her back to keep her close. The sound of the wind howling in her ears suddenly stopped and she felt grounded again as her feet hit something solid beneath them. It was utterly silent besides the beating of her heart pumping blood that rushed into her ears. She let out a breathy exhale that sounded as if it echoed around her; embarrassingly shaky as it did so. She felt the strength beneath her fingertips as she gripped the fabric of the man’s coat. She knew it was a man without having to even open her eyes; something so familiar about the feel of his muscles beneath her palms and the scent of him as it enveloped her senses. She felt him shift above her; effortlessly powerful and tall above her as she kept her face pressed to his shoulder. The tickle of breath against her neck as his head lowered was followed by a deep voice speaking near her ear with a jolt that sent her careening back to herself.

“Wake up Kassie.”

She lurched forward with a breathless scream feeling her entire body come alive with flames that licked at her very veins. It hurt. Her lungs hurt, her muscles, her bones, and everything in between as if someone had run her over with a damn truck once and then backed up to roll over her again for good measure. She blindly grappled at the arms that encased her not quite sure if she was trying to pull them closer or away from her as her entire body screamed in agony as if the worst demons of hell were ripping at her flesh and soul. Hands gripped her shoulders firmly despite her struggles; holding the girl in place until she'd stopped her struggles. Her entire body shook terribly as Kassie finally allowed her lids to peel back and look around her through a blurry vision. It was dark and it was cold. Something she wasn't expecting. She was supposed to be dead right?

When her vision was clear enough to see she realized that she was still in that filthy alleyway where she'd been moments before with Corinthian. Her damned roommate ended up being a serial killer. The very same who'd dug his blade into her flesh like the last several months they'd shared meant nothing and ripped through her as if he'd ripped straight through her heart. How long ago had it been since that episode? How long had she been in this alleyway amongst the trash and wetness of the weather like another piece of garbage? Not very long it seemed because no one had reported a dead body. Fuck, she should have known better. She knew she should have known better than to trust a pretty smile let alone let her guard down. She'd paid for it in the end - unfortunately, with her life.

It took her a split second to realize that she was not alone. Despite her throbbing body filled with pain and flame in a nasty alleyway in the middle of the night that she was not alone even in her last moments it seemed. Hands stroked through her long ratty hair and another idly ran soothing strokes up and down her spine so that she could feel the warmth of touch even from beneath her jacket that clung like a wet rag to her back. There was a soft humming coming from her companion that eased in slow beats the damage her body was taking as Kassie finally allowed herself to peel her face from a black-clad shoulder to gaze into the face of someone she was not expecting.

"Dee?" Kassie's brows furrowed as she looked into the familiar face of the dark-skinned woman who gave her a warm smile.

"Hello, Kassie." her voice was a fond croon as the woman reached up to smooth the other woman's hair back from her face and brush away the crease of confusion from her brow with gentle fingertips.

Kassie shook her head with a frown. "I don't understand, what are you doing here?" she asked before looking at her hands that shook with the fading adrenaline "What the hell happened? I thought-"

Dee gave a soft hum of understanding and rested a hand on Kassie's shoulder before turning her head to the side with a look that made the other dread to turn her head and look too. But she did and Kassie gasped in horror, scrambling back a bit when she look at a replica of her body slumped against the rough brick wall. It would have been unnerving to see a doppelganger alone but to see it drenched in blood that soaked through its front; a large slash of crimson across its throat and eyes once a pretty hazel vacant and dull; the shine of life long gone.

"Oh god...oh my GOD!" Kassie fell to her hands and knees; dry heaving onto the ground despite nothing coming from her empty stomach.

"I know. It's a bit shocking at first." Dee stated softly as she reached over to rub Kassie's back

"That's not a fucking shock! That's fucked up!" Kassie struggled to her feet and stumbled backward a few steps until her back hit the cold pole of a light post and slump to the ground with her head heavy in her hands.

Dee stood up and made her way over to the distressed girl and crouched in front of her. Her dark eyes trying to seek out the others. Her voice was still a gentle lilt as she tried to explain what was going on.

"Kassie, listen to me, darling. I know it is hard to wrap your head around the fact that you're-"

"I'm dead Dee! I'm fucking dead! There is no going back for me. N-No excuse or explanation can soften that blow!" Kassie's head lifted sharply to stare at the other breathing shakily before her gaze was studying the other's face. "Dee...Death. Short for Death. I should have fucking known. The fucking death bringer herself coming to take me away. What if I didn't want to go?! W-what if I still had something left to live for?"

Dee - Death's face firmed a little bit as she shook her head. Allowing the woman to rant. There is not a lot that Death had not seen or heard since Creation so she stayed crouched allowing the woman to rant and spit whatever hateful words she wanted at her until her fight was spent; Death did not hold any of it against Kassie. Because frankly, Death understood far better than most Endless what life was about and just how harsh the realization could be to a soul that lost it.

"The thing you must understand, Kassie, is that I don't choose who dies, love. I am merely there to guide them when they do pass." she said softly with a sad smile gracing her face. "If someone is to be their last face on this earth I would be honored to be the one to guide them home."

Kassie stared at her with a long look before her head began to shake side to side. "I'm not ready to die Dee...Sure, I hate my life but...I don't want to die. I feel like there is still something left of this world...all my life I've known nothing but the hatred this world brings...I can't die without feeling some happiness - true happiness, at least once." she felt a hot tear slowly roll down her cheek

"I don't want to die without a purpose for my life. Or at least fulfilling something that's good..." Kassie wiped at the tear but more followed when the realization set in that she was dead; the saddest part was no one would miss her. She didn't have anyone to miss her.

Death studied the girl a long moment before she smiled slightly. "I can't return your soul back to your world Kassie, but I can offer you a second chance in the afterlife." she offered slowly as she reached out to wipe some more of the wetness from the woman's cheeks.

"How?" Kassie asked feeling and looking like the lost soul she truly was.

Death only smiled and rose to her feet before holding her palm out for her. Confused, Kassie reached out and placed her palm in the other's; allowing the Endless to help her to her feet and began guiding her away from the scene of the crime just as someone stumbled across the scene of the crime, their horrifying scream echoing in the night as the pair of women idled away down the street in the cover of night.

Turned out Kassie did have a purpose after all. Not one that she had thought possible. See, Death may be the one that guides the dead to the gates of the afterlife but it is the Fates who work behind the scenes to pull the strings of people's lives; and those who work for them are the ones who have the unfortunate task of carrying it out. Reapers were often mistaken as hooded figures of black carrying large scythes to cut the ties of the soul from the mortal body and carry them across the river of death to whichever path they were meant to go down. That is not exactly the case. See, Death may work with the Fates but Reapers work for Death and as many lives reside within this plain and the next there are not a lot of Reapers present to help her.

Kassie was one of those. A soul who had not been ready to cross and thus granted a rare opportunity to be of use even after they no longer lived in the Waking World. Death took Kassie under her wing and showed her what was to be expected and although Kassie was not thrilled at first with the task of taking the souls from the Waking world to Death she got comfortable in the routine; even found comfort in knowing that sometimes the job wasn't always bad. Even if she often felt no better than the Corinthian who killed for the fun of it. She was in a sense, giving the killing blow so that they could finally be at peace.

It went on like this for many months; or as months as Kassie could tell. Time had no relevance once you are dead. She became rather close with Death; often working side by side with her. She felt as if she had found a sibling of sorts from the Endless; feeling a sense of peace after a while until that peace got turned upsidedown one day as Kassie lounged in Death's realm with her as they sorted out files of the human souls that had been dumped into Death's hands by those who worked for the Fates. Kassie had been sitting sideways on one of the cushioned chairs looking over a file with thoughtful eyes the color of pale silver like that of the moon's glow; a trait rare but not altogether uncommon amongst the Reapers. Every Reaper had a sort of change to them the longer they lived. There was a sort of thrum of energy oddly familiar but something that was long forgotten that stroked down Kassie's spine as a chime sounded somewhere within the room and a voice spoke lowly through the air around them

"Sister, I request entry, if I may."

The voice sounded familiar. Oddly enough but Kassie could not place where she had heard it before. It reminded her of long nights under starlight, the sense of comfort, and something akin to nostalgia. Kassie tilted her head towards her friend as Death's gaze raised from her files and smiled fondly; her attention focused across the room towards the door as she spoke.

"You may come in, little brother," she replied as she set the file down and rose to her feet in favor of meeting the figure that slowly strode through the bright light of the archway into Death's realm.

Kassie felt like all the air in her lungs was punched out of her body as she saw the figure that stepped through the glowing archway. He was beautiful. Pale with skin like alabaster and shocks of a wild hair the color of fresh ink. His side profile was utterly devastating with a sharp jawline and straight nose but it was his gaze the color of pure starlight that captured her attention. His tall form clad in a long black that fluttered around his ankles was lithe and imposing in a way as he walked with purposeful steps towards where Death stood waiting patiently for the man to approach her. There was something familiar about the man; flashes of dark coat beneath trembling fingertips and the feel of strength beneath her palms as she sought comfort in a stranger's arms after running for so long echoed in her mind. The sound of his voice was clear but soft; carrying over to her ears even at the distance brought a sense of curiosity about her as she carefully slid her feet back to the ground and leaned her elbows on her knees in favor of watching the interaction with keen eyes; utterly fascinated and enthralled by the pale stranger.

"I seek your help sister."

"With what Dream? You never ask for my help on anything, little brother." there was a bit of laughter in her voice as Death leaned herself against her desk to watch him

"I'm searching for someone but... She hasn't dreamt in a very long time...I was hoping my leads did not come to your realm but I must know what became of her."

"I know who you're looking for Dream." Death's smile was kind as she looked over her brother's shoulder toward Kassie. "I can assure you she's well.

As if realizing that he and his sister were not alone Morpheus turned his attention to the figure sitting in silence watching them. He seemed to freeze a moment as if his Endless eyes could not fathom what he was seeing. Something about his face sparked a memory of autumn leaves, cold-tipped noses, and...heartbreak. But there was also something else that felt so nostalgic when Kassie looked at him; she couldn't explain it nor the way her heart seemed to start beating faster as those utterly beautiful blue eyes met her silver ones. He looked at her as if he was looking at something he had long lost...a cherished something he never imagined he'd find again. That was the look that caused Kassie's throat to dry as she cautiously rose to her feet and forced a polite smile on her face. Her stiff unsure posture and tight-lipped smile made the raven-haired man's expression change from wonder to devastating realization as he slowly turned his head towards Death who had approached his side; a hand resting on the curve of his shoulder as she looked at him with sympathetic eyes and a voice soft as she answered his unspoken question.

"She doesn't remember much about her life in the Waking World. Not yet."

Kassie looked between the two and coughed into a fist before lamely pointing down to the files. "Sorry, I probably should get these sorted. Dee, I'm going to go work on them while you err...conduct your business with your brother." the woman scooped up the papers and folders before giving Morpheus a wide birth as she hastened out of the room with arms loaded with unchecked work.

But she didn't run away. She'd stopped just outside the door within the halls she was so familiar with and pressed her spine to the cool wall; head cocked to the side as she listened to the conversation within. The man seemed devastated as he spoke; his words were spoken softly in that soothing timbre but the current of pain was evident as he addressed Death, her own voice joining his within the privacy of her office as they spoke to each other.

"She doesn't remember me."

"No, she does not. Not yet. I've been trying to work with her on that. It takes time to remember; some souls subconsciously block out the memories of the Waking World after passing. I suppose her training as a Reaper helped with that too. She'd not keen to remember her old life." Death's voice replied in a way that spoke of many centuries of patience

"I feel as if It is my fault...I wondered why she no longer dreamt. I never would have foreseen that-" Morpheus's words trailed off and Death gazed at her younger brother with sympathy in her dark eyes.

Morpheus did not understand humanity like Death did. But when he grew attached to a dreamer of the Waking World it hurts him greatly in the end when things such as this happened. Death could not understand it but she analyzed his reaction to finding out Kassie was dead and no memory of him akin to his reaction when he'd lost his one true love many many centuries ago even when she knew that there was no romance between her brother and the reaper. It still hurt, that much was evident and the Endless wished that she could somehow ease her brother's pain; she could not because she could not meddle between her brother and the new reaper, it was something they had to rebuild and reconnect with themselves.

"How? How did it happen?" There was a sense of fear underlining the Dream Lord's voice as he turned slightly as if examining the room but in fact was trying to ease his racing thoughts.

His sister paused before allowing her body to relax against her desk with a soft sigh. "She was killed. By your nightmare. When I came to collect her she told me in so many words she was not ready to leave the Waking World...So I took matters into my own hands; she will eventually find peace along her journey and when she does I will guide her home where she belongs. Until then though, Kassie is working for me as a Reaper."

"Corinthian? My creation did this to her?" there was a tremble in Morpheus's voice as he returned his gaze to his sister.

She cocked her head a bit. "Yes, it seems he had been living with your little friend for several months before she ran into you at the park. I did some digging while she was being trained and found from my resources that he'd killed her in that alleyway because she was there at the wrong place at the wrong time."

There was silence in the room afterward and Kassie couldn't help but feel the breath punch from her chest as she listened to the words. She couldn't remember all of which Death spoke of but her head was hurting; like someone was trying to split it in two from within. Memories wanted to come out and flood her brain but something inside of her blocked them back just barely. Was it true? Was she killed by someone she thought was a friend at one point? What kind of fucked up situation was that?! What kind of person had she been to allow such vile actions to occur? More importantly; who was she if not her reaper persona?

The clutter of files slipping through her fingers and crashing to the floor made her curse under her breath and swiftly kneel to pick them up. There was no way neither of the Endless hadn't heard that and knew she had been listening. That much was evident when she reached for a paper but was halted by a black shoe stepping on it to halt her actions. She feared what she would find when she eventually raised her head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop." she finally uttered swallowing the lump in her throat.

A pale hand reached out towards her and held out between them as if he was offering her a hand up. His voice was soft as he spoke in the space between them but even with the gentle tone, there was immense power behind it that caused her bones to quake. "I should be offering you an apology. I should have told you who I was sooner...and I should have taken you with me. If I had you would not have-"

"Yeah well, you did. O-or I did. I don't know. But wishing over something doesn't make it happen. Whatever happened...it happened and there is no way to change that." she finally said her voice a little snappier than she would have liked for it to come out but she felt so flustered over everything she heard.

"Kassie-"

She shoved to her feet still clutching the items to her chest and looked away from the kneeling man who slowly began to rise; towering over her in close proximity. Her knuckles grew white at how intensely she held the files but she refused to look at him in case she caved to him.

"No, just...I don't know you. Maybe I did once upon a time but I don't now. I-I'm not the Kassie you knew in the Waking World; whatever I might have meant to you no longer exists between us because that same girl is long gone. I'm sorry, my lord."

She turned then, stalking down the halls leaving the dark-cloaked figure watching after her. She didn't even look back because if she did she would have crumbled; her strength and her determination for whatever it was she held would have crumbled into dust if she looked even a second into those misty blue eyes that watched her. Death leaned against the door frame after the silence grew too thick in Kassie's absence but the woman was not concerned; just gave her brother an encouraging smile.

"If you truly want her back Dream, don't give up on her; souls like hers don't heal themselves, not even with time. She's still in there. You just have to find the right method of pulling her out." she squeezed his shoulder before she disappeared back into her office.

Thank you for reading chapter 5 of 'Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates'. Feel free to comment, like, and reblog! I love the interaction! Tags are open if you wish to be added for new chapter updates!

Next chapter >> Coming Soon!

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titlemewickedwonderland · 2 years

Text

Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates (Chapter 3: Whispers of Ghosts)

Pairing: Morpheus x Original Character

Warnings: Maybe some fluff? Serious talk

“Ghosts don't haunt us. That's not how it works. They're present among us because we won't let go of them." - Sue Grafton, M is for Malice

Wonderland's Workshop

<<Chapter 2

He was back. Sitting there moping like a broody teenager. Or perhaps, he just hated his life with the way he watched the kids play in front of him. He did not hold a loaf of bread in his hands anymore and maybe that is why he felt so mopey. His hands were clasped together in front of him as he leaned his elbows on his knees. His face was a blank slate of ivory skin and his lips pursed like he was sucking a lemon. Did he always look like that? When the sun was shining; giving a break from the rain this week just for today most people would be out and about the town. Window shopping and visiting yummy bakeries or coffee shops for goodies, people taking a walk with their dogs, or a jog down the sidewalk while the gentle breeze cooled their skin. The weather was lovely in its changing seasons as the first few oranges and yellow leaves were littering the sidewalks as people strolled past. But here he was sitting there with a cloud of gray over his head; damn near visible to anyone who cared to look. Or had the ability to. And thus Kassie found herself standing just across the street from the open public park taking notice of the one person she probably shouldn’t have paid much attention to.

But her feet hurt from wandering the streets all day in search of a job; not that she needed one, it was more to pass the time and feel like a normal human being for once instead of sitting her ass on the sofa watching TV all day. She wanted one, but she didn’t need one. Corinthian’s promise of never needing to worry about money was true with how the bills always seemed to be paid in advance and food in the fridge at all times making her wonder where he is getting the money or the time to stock things. Hell, even her bank account continued to be filled from an unknown source every month, giving her the ability to spoil herself if she wanted to; go buy some new clothes, buy herself a decent car, go get her nails or hair done. Whatever the hell she wanted; there was enough now saved that she could even leave New York if she wanted to. Something inside of her wanted to. New York had no more purpose to her than the job she’d left behind. But she did not want to leave Corinthian; they had a good thing going. A bit complex but good. So she’d occupied her time with walking the streets and chatting people up instead, just like today when she’d run into a coffee shop for her usual iced coffee and then found herself inside of a bookstore she’d never even realized was there; spending a good half hour standing there talking with one of the workers as she browsed their options on literature. It surprised her how genuine some people could be after months of knowing those who wanted nothing but to see her tits.

But then, as she headed away from the shops; she saw him sitting there all alone and she couldn’t help but pause and admire, or stare like some weirdo from across the street debating on whether or not she should approach. Their last encounter was an odd one and left much to be desired but at the same time; Kassie thought back to those brooding stares and wondered if perhaps he was in need of company despite it all. Something in his eyes made her feel as if there was a hint of loneliness behind them even when his approach was rather cold at first; she’d like to think he’d warmed up to her. So she sucked it up; clutching the new book she’d just bought from the bookshop in town in one hand and her coffee in the other before she started putting one foot in front of the other; propelling herself across the street before she second-guessed herself and turned back, altogether. The woman did not make her way to him immediately, though. Unsure of how to approach it without being awkward about it. Instead, her hazel eyes scanned the surroundings trying to find something that she could use as an excuse to go over to him. A snack cart was stationed in the shade beneath a large tree; colorful with varieties of options to choose from and she was inwardly fist pumping the air; perhaps she could play a smooth move by offering him some snackery to ease his broody self. What was the saying again? The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right?

She’d made quick work of buying a packet of peanut M&M’s and a tub of blue and pink cotton candy from the vendor; hoping that this was enough to at least spark a conversation with the dark and brooding man. She struggled to juggle her items as she carried her book, the snacks, and her drink while she veered towards the bench where the man sat unmoving staring down at his shoes with a pinched expression on his face as if his thoughts were troubling him. He looked so pitiful she almost wanted to cry with him. His face reflected the confusion and frustration that she’d been feeling for the past few months while being cooped up without a support system to back her up. Her shoes scraped against the grass as she went from concrete to lawn and moments later her butt planted itself onto the familiar wooden bench making it creak at her weight. Corinthian always kept telling her to make more friends, albeit spoken in a cocky manner fit to get that know it all smirk smacked right off his face, and go live a little instead of moping in the apartment so much since she’d lost her job; she’d hope he’d be proud to hear she was at least trying.

“I feel like there is a pattern here.” her voice was soft but not unpleasant as she settled her things onto the bench between them; daring to look over at him to see he was giving her a side eye as an acknowledgment of her present.

When he didn’t say anything to her she decided to press on “No birds today I see.” still no answer so she grabbed the tub of cotton candy and popped the lid.

She carefully tore a tuft of pink from the fluff in the plastic container before placing it on her tongue; sighing as the sugary cotton melted instantly on her tongue. “God, I can’t remember the last time I had cotton candy, so good!” she groaned lightly as she dug another pinch from the container and held it out towards the man with a small smile and playful expression

“Want some?” his blue eyes fell to the offered cotton ball in between her fingers and he looked at it as if it offended him making Kassie put effort into not laughing at the look that crossed the man’s face as his lips finally parted to reply with a despondent

“No, thank you.”

“Oh, so he does speak!” Kassie went with it and placed the candy into her mouth again. “I was starting to think I might have imagined our earlier conversation; I tend to do that a lot. Daydreaming and all. Hardly much to do nowadays now that I don’t have a job.” she mused looking across at the people enjoying the day

“You talk too much.” anyone else would be offended at the blunt insult but Kassie merely chortled and grabbed her iced coffee to take a sip; subconscious now as she realized the man was watching her the entire time.

“And you don’t talk half as much. Would it kill you to be friendly for once?” Kassie raised a brow as she wrapped her lips around her straw and sipped idly at the half-melted concoction in her cup.

“I do not know you.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t learn to.” she quipped back before setting her things to the side and leaning closer to the man, holding her palm out. “Let’s start with a simple introduction. That could help, right? I’m Kassie. Nice to meet you.”

The pale eyes fell to her outstretched hand but he did not reply nor did he take the offered hand. Stubborn as always, Kassie merely wiggled her fingers at him as if silently daring him to refuse or daring him to accept. Whichever one it was, her satisfaction could not be hidden even if she tried when -with much reluctance, the stranger unclasped his hands and reached over to place his hand in hers. Giving it a firm squeeze in greeting and causing Kassie to smile.

“This is the part where you introduce yourself by name.” the woman stated giving him a pointed but playful look.

He looked like a scolded child who didn’t want to admit he was wrong. “I…I am Morpheus.”

“Morpheus huh? That’s…” she tilted her head, her hair that was placed into a messy side braid falling over her shoulder and stray locks fluttering in the light breeze casting tiny shadows along her olive skin as she gazed over at him with a curious look.

“That’s a very strong name Morpheus, very unique.” she finally allowed his hand to slip from hers. “I like it. It reminds me of something from Greek mythology.”

At the compliment of his name the man, Morpheus, studied her with a bit of new light sparking in the depths of his blue eyes. “You do not seem the kind to enjoy folklore.”

Kassie’s face twisted in surprise. “Folklore? Seriously?! Mythology isn’t folklore. Not for the people that used to live before this generation. Mythology isn’t just fantasy. The gods and goddesses written in history were deities to the people of the old eras. I’d like to think that there is more to Mythology than the myths people claim aren’t true.”

“You believe there are gods?” Morpheus rested his elbows on his knees once more.

He watched as the woman reached out between them to where a hardcover brown book with golden leathering and design rested on the bench. She grabbed it with careful fingers and rested the book on her lap. Her fingertips tracing the patterns on the cover absently

“I don’t know. I mean, I never considered myself a religious person. But I do believe everyone has their own belief systems in something. If humanity didn’t believe in something; what is the reason for living y’know” she shrugged.

There was silence between them as each fell into their own thoughts. Morpheus surprised the woman when he broke it between them to ask her a question. His gaze never once left the grass beneath his feet as if he could see every single blade under his shoes and he was counting them.

“And what do you believe in, Kassie?”

The way her name rolled off his tongue spoke in that tone, in that voice. Kassie felt something twinge in the inner parts of her being. No, it was not a sexual thing. But it stirred something inside of her that made her feel as if…well as if he was speaking to a different version of herself that she herself hadn’t recognized in a very long time.

Her lips curled up slightly in an almost mournful twitch of her mouth as she avoided his gaze and instead looked down at her book. “I don’t…I don’t know anymore. Most days, it’s all I can do is believe in just myself to get me going. The thought of…putting my faith or hope in something that is out of my control…” she shook her head and laughed a bit as she turned her gaze to him with a bit more of a smile that was forced

“I cannot find anything to believe in other than myself because no one has ever shown me that my trust and faith will not be abused or tossed away.” she finally replied with a breath.

The way he looked at her was a mixture of sadness and understanding. But there was something else in those depths of blue that made Kassie think that there was a pain very kin to her own that was born from betrayal. As if he knew just what she meant and he felt pity for her just as he had felt remorse and pity for himself. The air was too heavy between them so she quickly turned her gaze away, breaking whatever connection they were sharing to instead change the subject by raising the book she had been playing with moments before.

“Are you a reader? There is this bookshop in the town where I found this book at. It’s an old literature piece of a story that I hadn’t read in…god I don’t know how long ago. But, it’s The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe. He was an American writer who was also a poet, an editor, and a literary critic of all professions. He was born in….1807 - wait no, he was born 1809 in Boston and had this love and passion for all things mystery and the macabre. His writings consisted of things such as poems and short stories; especially those of mystery and macabre genres. This one has a poem in it that’s called The Raven which he’d written that tells of a talking raven’s mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man’s slow descent into madness and grief after losing his lover Lenor to death.” Kassie held up the book to allow Morpheus to see.

The man watched her with what people may have considered rapt attention. Even though his body was turned away from her his head was not; his eyes definitely were not as he watched the way her expressions would change in the forms of her nose scrunching up when she was thinking and the way the laugh lines long in disuse crinkled at the corner of her eyes that twinkled; looking far greener in the light as it shone down on her. Her hands were wildly exaggerated as she spoke about this particular volume that she held in one hand. She was beautiful in the kind of sense that she herself did not see her own value. It was clear the way she stopped speaking when she finally caught his scrutiny, seemingly turning sheepish as she realized she was rambling.

“Sorry.” she looked away and gripped her book’s edges as she stared ahead.

“I do not know many like you who are passionate about literature and history. It is rare to find someone who does in these times.” Morpheus mused as if a way to apologize for his staring when he realized he’d made her uncomfortable.

“It’s okay. I’m just not used to um…talking about what I like with many strangers.” she laughed lightly brushing away her baby strays from her eyes. “What about you? What’s your favorite author?”

“There have been many that I have known in time. Each has had their lessons in their work as well as their faults.” Morpheus replied in a way as if he was shrugging despite his shoulders not moving an inch.

“That’s cryptic.” Kassie snorted playfully as she grabbed her packet of M&M’s, tearing open the end to grab a brightly colored ball from within its packaging and popping it into her mouth. “Are you enjoying your stay here in New York?”

At Morpheus’s look of perplexity, she gave a knowing smile as she tilted her head at him. “You’re accent. It’s British right? You don’t find people like yourself in these parts of New York so I assumed you were from abroad or something.” she shrugged. “Am I right?” she held out a peanut M&M

Morpheus did not reply at first nor did he take the offered candy. Instead, his expression seemed sullen again as his eyes drifted somewhere over Kassie’s shoulder before he stubbornly looked away without a word. When Kassie went to speak a new voice spoke up from down the path making the dark-haired young woman turn her attention to a figure walking up to them.

“Are my eyes deceiving me? Are you truly taking company with someone besides your pigeons, Dream?” the woman’s voice was soft and filled with warmth; a lilt of joking mingled with her words that matched the pretty smile on her face.

The newcomer was around Kassie’s height. Beautiful with chocolate skin that glowed like dew under the warm sun and equally warm and delighted brown eyes that moved between Morpheus and Kassie. Her hair bounced with every step in tight little black ringlets framing her face and unlike most people around the park, she wore black jeans with a black tank top and black boots. The only color in her outfit was a low-hanging gold chain with a pendant hanging against her chest. When she finally stepped in front of them she’d placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head looking solely at Morpheus now and Kassie found her gaze drifting to the man himself at the same time wondering who this newcomer was. She looked familiar, like the woman she’d seen him with a week prior at this very same park. Was it a girlfriend or just a good friend? Morpheus didn’t seem like the sort to have friends. Gloomy emo boy that he seemed to be.

“I’m sorry, I should introduce myself, shouldn’t I? I’m Kassie.” the woman rose to her feet and held her hand out to the pretty newcomer.

“Ah, you’re the one who met my brother out here earlier, weren’t you? It’s nice to finally meet the girl who’s gotten my brother’s attention; that’s a hard thing to do. You can call me Dee.”

It was not lost on Kassie that the woman’s presence made Morpheus sulk inwardly as he watched them from the corner of his eye. She’d also noticed Dee mentioned the siblingship between them and wondered if one of them was adopted or perhaps very good friends like siblings. Kassie smiled shaking her hand as she nodded towards Morpheus as she spoke.

“He looked like he could use a friend.” she agreed with a small smile

“I do not need friends,” Morpheus muttered from beside the females and Kassie gave him a look.

“Don’t need friends huh? You didn’t seem to mind my conversationalist skills earlier,” she stated with a raised brow

Dee watched with keen eyes much older than her appearance would hint at. Seeing the way Morpheus’s gaze glances toward the mortal at the sound of her teasing voice and those who did not know Dream as she did would have missed the glint of interest in his gaze even if his face did not change expression. To the world around them, he looked like a very unhappy individual in the company of a ray of sunshine. Said ray of sunshine leaned over to nudge one elbow against the male’s arm and said something teasing to him before her eyes turned to Dee’s.

“Right Dee?” she said causing the other to blink at her wondering what she’d just missed.

“Dream, I have some business to attend to elsewhere. I know we were supposed to um..hang out today but I cannot miss this important meeting. Will you be alright on your own?” Dee asked

That was a lie, Morpheus knew right off the bat his sister was playing at something. But he did not protest even when his gaze glared up in displeasure at her brilliant smile. “What kind of business takes you away from your time to spend with family, my dear sister?” he questioned as if challenging her.

Dee raised a brow and crossed her arms over her chest watching as Kassie ate her chocolate candy while she watched the siblings as if watching some sort of drama series on the TV. There was a light of amusement in her eyes as they raced from one sibling to the next.

“Kassie, I’d hate for my brother to be lonely and have made it all this way to see me for nothing. Would you mind keeping him company? Maybe take him sightseeing around town?” Dee ignored her brother causing the male to huff under his breath; the only show of annoyance that he gave to the brush off

The girl pointed a finger at herself in surprise. “Me? I-I don’t think that Morpheus would want any more of my company right now.” she laughed a bit

“Nonesense! I’d bet you if both of us leave right now he will still be sitting here moping.” Dee replied amusement.

Morpheus seemed to have enough of the jokes at his expense because he rose to his feet. His full height towered over the pair of females a moment before giving them a stare that could send chills down one’s spine and then walking off down the sidewalk. Kassie felt a little bad, she didn’t know the dynamic of the odd siblings so for all she knew this was normal. But she knew she didn’t like jokes at her expense and Morpheus didn’t seem to either.

“Take care of him Kassie. He’s an idiot but he’s still my brother.” Dee’s hand rested kindly on the girl’s shoulder

A little laugh escaped the girl as she nodded giving Dee’s hand a understanding squeeze. It was odd to think that despite mere minutes of knowing this woman and her brother Kassie felt as if there was an understanding between them that only came from years of knowing someone.

“Yeah, course I will.” Kassie agreed as she turned her attention to find that Morpheus was standing with his hands in his pockets patiently waiting; watching from the sidelines and the idea that he was waiting for her despite his displeasure warmed Kassie’s heart.

Kassie was not one who made friends easily. Friendships were fickle things and half the time it was one using the gifts or attention of another to gain something from them. It was not always the case. Friendships could be something beautiful and last a lifetime if met by the right person. But Kassie was not one who was gifted with that blessing; so finding people who understood her was a rare feat for her in her life. Sure she’d made ‘friends’ before. People who she’d call a friend to their faces but secretly watch for the inevitable downfall of the telltale signs of deceit they would no doubt slip up. She was used to being taken advantage of and thrown away like garbage afterward. So it was clear that Kassie Sinclair did not find the thought of making friends a priority in her life; toxicity was all she knew. Just look at the man she had living with her. Corinthian was someone she’d known for almost a year but they’d met at a club that was one piece of clothing away from being called a strip club. Right off the bat, she knew Corinthian was danger on two legs. His sex appeal and charm were like a dead giveaway to the smell of money, manipulation, and threat. He was everything that Kassie didn’t need in her life but like a drug addict who knew it was bad for her, she still went in search of more because the high was all she knew.

Morpheus was someone completely different. There was something off-putting about the man, or at least in ways he wanted to seem. His lack of conversationalist skills and the way he did not allow his emotions to show on his face making it hard to read him was something Kassie was not used to. She was good at reading people; she even took pride in seeing the lies before they had the chance to fall from the tip of the tongue. But as Kassie walked beside the man through the streets at dusk; the sun slowly setting in the horizon just enough for the street lights to kick on and the warm glow of shop lights illuminating patches of concrete as you walked by Kassie could not help but feel almost as peace. There was no need to talk and there was no need to fill the air with needless words. The girl could say - if albeit a bit reluctantly - that she had enjoyed the stranger’s company a lot more than she’d have spending time with Corinthian at home.

They did not speak often to each other after Dee had left them to their own devices. No matter how much Kassie had tried to start a conversation Morpheus did not give enough to keep one going. His answers were always short and to the point, if he gave any at all. So she’d stopped trying to talk about meaningless things and instead chose to focus on the surroundings as she walked. She’d point out the little shops along the way and tell of their history. If an architectural piece came into view she’d cling to it and tell Morpheus all she knew. He’d listen. Even when he didn’t seem to be paying attention; she knew he was listening and taking in her words. Hushed and low-pitched as if too afraid to break the atmosphere as the sun sunk low. When most had already retired from a long day of relaxation to their respected homes for a good meal and some television; Kassie found herself walking leisurely beside the man in the black coat without so much as a whisper between them.

But she did not mind. For one, she’d allowed her guard to fall. To allow her mind to stop taking in details as if a threat would emerge amongst the faces they’d pass. Her mind instead replayed the moments that she’d walked in Morpheus’s presence as she’d guided him through New York. Not all the places in town were filled with bustling shops and street vendors; not the parts that she’d taken him to. But she still noticed the way people would veer around or away from him; how they would shrink if they’d crossed his path. She’d noticed how despite his efforts of attempting at being nice to people even in passing it always backfired on him and he was left with that little sliver of whatever gone from his eyes once more until he sulked alongside her in silence. She didn’t like the sulking. Not like it was a pet peeve it was just…well she just didn’t like it on him was all. So, as they’d walked damn near alone with a few handfuls of stragglers on the streets the raven-haired female couldn’t help but find herself leading the man towards a late open cafe shop. Their veranda was homely with comfortable chairs despite it being made of metal and a wooden porch with fair lights twining the poles casting a yellow glow on patrons below who happened to wish to sit outside and enjoy the view.

“Have you ever heard of this myth of who’s your person based off of color?” Kassie asked as they sat facing each other at a far table on the back of the veranda. Her fingers played with the heavy ceramic mug of coffee she’d ordered.

The first stars of night twinkled above them bleeding into darkness and the temperature had dropped a bit making it a little bit chillier now that the sun no longer warmed the day. She had not planned to be out this late and she did not have a jacket; so she was keen to wrap her hands around the heavy mug to feel the warmth bleeding into her palms.

“I do understand.” Morpheus tilted his head.

“Not many people do.” Kassie laughed quietly before looking past the fairy lights to the stars above them. “It’s relatively new. Color can represent a lot of things. Not just describing the tint of something or a person but also emotions. Common things such as black for rage or wrath, red for passion or lust, and pink for love. Yellow for happiness, dark blue for melancholy, and so forth. Like mood rings, you know? But there’s this thing that researchers just came out with that proves colors also reflect types of people in one’s life. The question of who’s your person based off of color.” Kassie explained.

“That is one of the most absurd things I have ever heard passing your lips together.” Morpheus blinked at her. She only smiled at the bluntness of his words.

“Tell me, Morpheus, when you look at me. What’s the first color that pops into your head?” she tilted her head to study him as his brows knitted together at the question.

It took him a moment before his lips finally parted allowing his answer to slip free on an exhale. “I do not know.”

A small sad smile grace her features as she shrugged. “That’s okay. When one lives in the colors of shadows and darkness people like us do not find colors very often.” she agreed as she raised the cup to her lips.

They fell back into silence for a few moments; the sound of crickets chirping in the night being the only sound besides their breathing. When she felt the heaviness on the side of her face she turned to find him watching her.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” she raised a hand to wipe away whatever it could be but Morpheus merely tipped his head at her and reached out to wipe at the corner of her mouth to wipe away the foam from her coffee.

“I can admit that perhaps humanity is not fully lost in itself if people like you exist in it.” the way he spoke made the hairs on her arms rise up and her lips twitched as if trying not to allow her smile to fall

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she questioned.

He did not answer and instead rose to his feet. One hand held out to help her rise. Kassie frowned lightly as she gulped down half of her beverage before allowing her hand to slip into his. His palm was cool to the touch in comparison to the heat of her own as she’d greedily soaked it up from the mug of coffee.

“Where are we going?”

“It is at a late hour. It’s time you went home to rest.” She missed the coolness of his touch as he’d let her hand go after she’d risen and grabbed her things.

“Leaving me so soon are you Morpheus? Or should I call you Dream? That’s what your sister called you; is that a nickname of sorts?” Kassie inquired as she followed his tall back from the cafe shop and onto the streets.

“It is my name as Morpheus is. I go by many names and claim them all.” the man replied and Kassie snorted as she hugged her book to her chest.

“That doesn’t sound like someone with an ego issue at all.” she commented under her breath before her gaze rose from the concrete she’d been watched as they strolled along and instead fixated her hazel eyes on the man’s pale features.

“You’re such an odd one Morpheus, I can’t seem to figure you out. But I like that about you…been a while since I was able to find someone who didn’t lie to my face.”

The comment threw the man off as his pale eyes turned to meet her warm ones; a furrow forming between the dark slants of his brows. “You speak as if humanity has wronged you.”

Kassie snorted and threw her arms around as she skipped ahead to walk backward so that she was facing a few steps in front. “Look around you Morpheus. Humanity is nothing but a lie. Even those with good hearts and pure intentions. People get fucked over no matter what side they are on; even when we don’t deserve it and sometimes bad things happen to good people. Or punishment not dealt to those who do deserve it. Humanity as a whole is corrupted and full of flaws. But even so, we live in it and make the best of what we have even when we don’t have a lot. That’s what hope is. That’s the only thing that people who have it dream about. Because that’s all we have left; a hope for a better tomorrow, a better future, a better life.” her words came in earnest even when her lips turned into a sad smile.

“It’s just what life is. It’s a game of fates and of lies. So yeah, I’ve been wronged; perhaps in ways that are not suitable to speak of. But I’ve made it this far and I plan on continuing until life beats me down to the point where my legs no longer have the strength to try and lift me back up again.”

He’d stopped walking to stare at her and after a few paces so she did too. She shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. For someone who seemed to have what she needed Kassie did not seem like a person who was happy with her life. As if she was searching for something more; even when she herself wasn’t aware of it. So the question came both as a surprise and as a request when Morpheus spoke breaking the silence.

“What do you dream of?”

Her eyes did not meet his and instead looked towards the building at which they’d stopped in front. Her apartment complex was where she could see the lamp on in one of her windows.

“This is my stop,” Kassie said and flashed him a smile before she was trotting up the steps but his call; although low-pitched carried so deeply it made her heart twinge in a soul-crushing ache of longing.

“What do you dream of, Kassie?”

She half turned to look down at him from her height on the stairs and forced a soft smile to her features despite the burn of tears that wished to threaten to spill down her cheeks. “Rest.” she finally breathed.

“I just wanted rest…to stop being forced to run from those that want to haunt me” she replied before she turned and scurried up the stone steps toward her apartment door. The click of the door shutting behind her echoed her words as she closed Morpheus out of view; leaving him standing on the sidewalk watching her closed door with a haunted look of his own.

Most of the room was dark despite one lamp in the corner of the living room. Corinthian was nowhere to be seen but as she set her book down on the living room coffee table and her shoes by the couch she saw his figure slinking through the edges of the light from the shadows. Her tired haunted eyes looked at him as he folded himself onto the sofa; lean arms opening wide in invitation. She breathed out a heavy breath and climbed onto his lap; straddling his hips and taking his face into her hands.

“Make me forget for just tonight. That’s all I ask.” her voice was soft in the stillness of the living room.

And just like an addict during a withdrawal; Kassie sunk herself into him and allowed his poison to consume her body and run through her veins. All the while just outside of the living room window a dark figure of a raven perched upon a tree branch watched with beady black eyes of haunting disapproval and sadness.

Thank you for reading chapter 3 of 'Of Silver Threads and Golden Fates'. Feel free to comment, like, and reblog! I love the interaction! Tags are open if you wish to be added for new chapter updates!

Chapter 4 >>

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