Growing Pains

Carolina: "Do you like horses, papi?"

Cameron smiled as they settled into their booth. This was the most normal thing Cameron had done in as long as he could remember. It felt good to scale the castle walls. And Cameron was going to have french fries. Eggs Benedict with french fries instead of hashbrowns. He handed the menu to the waitress.

"You know I like horses, they just never liked me much. My sister, Erika, your tia, she rode horses professionally as a girl. She was the best rider in the Hamptons for a bit there. Her coach was my good friend Ava's mother, Lara."

Hellfire was confusing. It was easier if you explained things like you were on a soap opera to people as early as possible. It made for less questions later on in life.

"I'm sure she would love for you to meet her horses. She still has two at our estate in The Arklays. Montague and Capulet."

Carolina: "Gracias! I mean, thank you!"

She was so well behaved. Elena was such a good mother. She watched as Carolina complimented the woman near them, before turning her attention back to him, and his heart grew three sizes.

"Could we go to the aquarium sometime? And see the fish? I saw it in a book about Nueva York, that there is a big one here. I'd like to see that."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it, tasting syrup before smirking.

"Whatever you wish my sweet girl. But just know that you have an even bigger aquarium at home. One with a bonafied mermaid. I think it's time you and my Heidi got better acquainted."

Carolina smiled before returning to her meal, lost in joy as Cameron made eyes at Elena. This was a great time, but there had to be some transparency. He reached for her hand.

"How are you doing so far?"

[sipping water nervously]

"Look, I don't want to overwhelm you, but I have to talk Hellfire. Look I know I promised to look out for you both, but I need your help and support to do it. The more people like us, the better off we are going to be."

He flinched for a moment looking at his daughter before realizing this was not the type of conversation for a child to hear.

[to Elena]: "There are many regents away right now, but those who are left behind are people that can help grease the wheels into accepting this decision I've made. I'm not saying it's right. I'm not trying to make this some kind of business transaction, but I need you to be on the same page. You may not be a part of Hellfire actively anymore, which is a damn shame, but I am. And I still have to play the game. If I want to protect our daughter. So help me play the game while you're here. Be visible. Don't be afraid to make yourself at home, Sparrow. I mean it. You can always nest here..."
 
Shopsin's Diner

Elena had wanted Carolina to get to know her father, and this is how one did that. By sitting and talking, and letting the girl ask questions, whatever they might be. Things she would always remember about her father. Like whether he liked horses as much as she did.

Cameron: "You know I like horses, they just never liked me much. My sister, Erika, your tia, she rode horses professionally as a girl. She was the best rider in the Hamptons for a bit there. Her coach was my good friend Ava's mother, Lara."

Carolina's eyes lowered to her plate, and she was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment.

Carolina: "Do you think...do you think I could meet her too?"

She looked up at Cameron, eyes full of hope.

Cameron: "I'm sure she would love for you to meet her horses. She still has two at our estate in The Arklays. Montague and Capulet."

Navigating Erika could be a problem. Elena could see how important it was to Carolina to be liked by this family she had never met, but Erika was erratic at best. She would have to be watched closely. Cameron, however, didn't seem fazed at all by the idea of his sister spending time with her niece. Carolina then asked about the Aquarium, pictures of which she had seen in a book they had gotten from the library in Colima.

Cameron: "Whatever you wish my sweet girl. But just know that you have an even bigger aquarium at home. One with a bonafide mermaid. I think it's time you and my Heidi got better acquainted."

Home?

Elena scoffed.

And 'your' Heidi?

Carolina put a forkful of pancake in her mouth and chewed happily. She swallowed then looked thoughtfully at Cameron.

Carolina: "I like Heidi. She's pretty. And she likes fish too."

Her eyes turned skeptical.

Carolina: "Is there really an aquarium at your house?"

They continued eating, and then Cameron's hand reached for her's, the gesture quite surprising her. She didn't pull her hand away, though.

Cameron: "How are you doing so far? Look, I don't want to overwhelm you, but I have to talk Hellfire. Look I know I promised to look out for you both, but I need your help and support to do it. The more people like us, the better off we are going to be."

"It's not my goal in life to be popular, Cameron."

She pulled her hand back.

[to Elena]: "There are many regents away right now, but those who are left behind are people that can help grease the wheels into accepting this decision I've made. I'm not saying it's right. I'm not trying to make this some kind of business transaction, but I need you to be on the same page. You may not be a part of Hellfire actively anymore, which is a damn shame, but I am. And I still have to play the game. If I want to protect our daughter. So help me play the game while you're here. Be visible. Don't be afraid to make yourself at home, Sparrow. I mean it. You can always nest here..."

A smile played on her lips as she looked into his eyes.

Nest?

It was cheesy, even for him.

The smile faded, and she took a sip of her coffee, musing into the cup for a moment.

I don't intend to hide, Amado. And I won't hide Carolina, either. But I also won't allow her to be hurt. Not by anyone.

She set down the mug.

I may not be part of Hellfire anymore, but I'm still the wrong person to cross. And if it keeps my child safe, I will remind each and every one of them of that.

Her hand had clenched into a fist, earning her curious looks from Carolina, and she released it. Elena smiled at her reassuringly.

"Done with your pancakes?"

Carolina: "I'm stuffed mami."

"You did a good job on them."

Elena leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Her eyes slid back to Cameron.

But don't forget, we're only here for the summer. And then we return home to Colima.
 
Elena: "I may not be part of Hellfire anymore, but I'm still the wrong person to cross. And if it keeps my child safe, I will remind each and every one of them of that."

The White King smirked as he leaned back in his chair. He was amused that Elena thought that somebody could simply no longer be "a part" of Hellfire. And the way she threatened, it let him know that she still had some fight in her left. Elena may have felt above Hellfire, but she too had once loved it's games. It was how they bonded - by sharing their ability to game the system in their favor.

Elena: "But don't forget we're only here for the summer. And then we return to Colima."

"Stop trying to hurt my feelings, Elena. I get it. I haven't been there."

Cameron grabbed her hand once more, so swept up in the moment. This was the mother of his first born child. She had never asked anything of him. She had never expected anything of him. She had hid her from him, but with good reason. Because Elena had made Carolina an inherently good person, and those were always harder to break.

"You don't know what's going to happen between now and then. So don't kill us before we have a chance."

He squeezed her hand. Carolina was done with her pancakes and now it was time for Cameron to be the ever entertaining father. Cameron sat back upright.

"Well, we could always take a walk in the park. I love Central Park. There's always so much going on. We can race toy boats!"

He looked back at Elena longingly.

[to Elena:] "Look, I don't have anything figured out. I don't know what you want...or what I want really. But I know, that this is easier with you by my side. We don't have to figure this all out right now. We have time, Sparrow. I can't promise you the world, but I can promise you right now. Please tell me, this isn'tall in my head. I'm trying to cover all my bases and I'm freaking out."
 
Hellfire -- The Red King’s Suite

That son of a bitch...

She thought again, as she turned the shower on. She brushed her teeth while the water was getting hot, diagnostics on the twins running through the back of her mind, the reunion of Cameron, Elena and Carolina on the forefront. She stepped into the shower, and as the hot water ran over her body, she tried to figure out what it was that bothered her so much. It wasn’t as simple as jealousy. She had accepted Cameron’s request for an open marriage since before they said their vows, and she’d gotten used to seeing him with other women.

Mostly, it didn’t bother her anymore, though sometimes it still did, like with Heidi. Elena, too. Cameron could fuck every woman in New York, all at the same time, but with those two... there was something more. But still, she kept that slight tinge of jealousy in check, because up until last weekend, she’d trusted Cameron completely. Now, she could clearly recognize the threat, but given her growing attachment to Alek, she didn’t think it was fair to be angry with Cameron for his obsession with their Knight. And she didn’t even blame him for carrying a torch for Elena. Haleigh had Zach all these years, after all.

She had also had plenty of time to prepare herself for the possibility that Cameron would impregnate someone else. She made her peace with that, too. She didn’t expect him to bring the child here,though. That was a bit much, but she could accept that too. There was something else, something she didn’t want to think about. She hung her head under the water and let it soak her hair.

Alek joined her in the shower, and as his arms went around her, the comfort his chin on her shoulder brought her back from the edge. There was strength in his arms, and safety. He asked her how she was, really. She smiled, leaning back against his body, her hands sliding down his forearms to rest on top of his.

“Hormonal.”

She said, and then she bit her bottom lip as she turned her head to look at him.

“Horny.”
 
Last edited:
Shopsin's Diner

They spoke in the intimate way they had, the way others could not, while their daughter finished her pancakes.

Cameron's words in her mind were chaotic. He was asking for her help, for them to be on the same page when it came to Hellfire - but he didn't know what that page was, he didn't know what he wanted. He was still allowing Hellfire to rule him instead of the other way round, as it should be. But she made sure he knew two things: that she would take down anyone who crossed her, and that this was only a temporary situation and she and Carolina would be going home at the end of the summer.

Cameron: "Stop trying to hurt my feelings, Elena. I get it. I haven't been there."

She stared pointedly into his eyes.

I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, Cam. I'm telling you the truth. I don't want you to forget it. If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have allowed her to come.

He reached out and grabbed her hand, and she once again let him.

Cameron: "You don't know what's going to happen between now and then. So don't kill us before we have a chance."

He squeezed her hand.

Only you could do that, Amado.

She put her other hand on top of his, ran her finger lightly over the back of his hand.

He could never see how Hellfire was a cage that kept him from being his true self, from having all the things in life he truly wanted. Even Haleigh was the Hellfire-prescribed wife, a twisted version of the white picket fence girl next door. Elena alone seemed to see that as soon as he stopped conforming to their ideas of what he should be, he would ascend to what he was truly meant for. He would be a god.

Carolina had finished eating, and Cameron switched his focus back to her, as he should.

Cameron: "Well, we could always take a walk in the park. I love Central Park. There's always so much going on. We can race toy boats!"

He looked at Elena then, and she could tell that he wanted her. That was good. She looked down at Carolina.

"I bet there's fish in the boat pond..."

Cameron: [to Elena] "Look, I don't have anything figured out. I don't know what you want...or what I want really. But I know, that this is easier with you by my side. We don't have to figure this all out right now. We have time, Sparrow. I can't promise you the world, but I can promise you right now. Please tell me, this isn't all in my head. I'm trying to cover all my bases and I'm freaking out."

Breathe, Amado.

Her eyes connected back with his.

You need to figure out what you want.

She slid her hands back over the table as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs at the knee. She put one hand on the back of Carolina's chair.

And then take it.

She projected into his mind the image of her, climbing over the table and into his lap, her mouth taking his greedily. Just a flash. A second's worth of thought. A taste.

"Do you remember that time we got chili dogs and sat by the pond watching the boats?"

They had compelled everyone else to leave then mentally controlled all the boats and sat and watched them flit over the water. Then they had gone to the top of the castle and he had fucked her against the stone wall.

The corners of her mouth turned up into a mischievous smile. She reached down and finished the last of Carolina's juice, licking the sugar from her lips suggestively. Then she set the cup down and uncrossed her legs as she looked down at Carolina.

"Okay, little fishy, time to go."

Elena helped Carolina pull out her chair, and they both stood. Elena retrieved her sunglasses from the table, and took Carolina's hand. She leaned down and whispered to her loud enough for Cameron to hear.

"Let's see how badly we can beat papi in a boat race."
 
The Red King’s Suite

Alek pulled open the walk-in shower door and stepped inside, the water already hot and steaming. He slipped his arms around her, put his chin on her shoulder. He could afford to be slow now, didn't have to rush. And she allowed him to take these small intimacies, where in times past she would have laughed at him, and told him to get down to business. He liked being able to care for her now. To take care of her.

He asked how she was, and wanted to know the real answer. A lot of shit had just been dumped on her, and he could see her worry over the babies. He had tried to assuage her concerns, reassuring her that the babies were healthy. She leaned back, pressing her body against him, her hands on top of his.

Haleigh: “Hormonal.”

He chuckled.

"Not sure I can do anything to help with that."

She turned towards him, and she was giving him that look. The one that reduced him to mush.

Haleigh: “Horny.”

His mouth spread into a grin, and he shifted her in his arms.

"Now that one I can definitely do something about."

He removed one hand from her back, and set his fingertips on a path slowly down her neck to her shoulder, then lightly over her breast, her stomach. He used more pressure as they slipped between her legs. He kissed her mouth, and his tongue tasted her at the same moment his fingers felt the heat inside of her.

He broke the kiss to whisper in her ear, "I want you, Haleigh, more than I've ever wanted any other woman."

His hand moved to her thigh, sliding under it to raise it. And then he was sliding inside her, his need too great for more foreplay. Hell, he had been hard before he even walked into the bathroom.

His breathing picked up as he moved inside of her, in long slow arcs, his mouth finding hers again. She felt so good he wasn't sure he could stand it much longer. The hand on her back slid down to cup her ass, pushing her more firmly against him. He wanted to make her forget everything. Everything but him.
 
Ava had been off the last few days, and everything seemed to explode out of her all at once. Unfortunately it was directed at the last person she ever wanted to lose her temper with. Hugging John with guilt heavy in her heart, she told him she didn't want to ruin their trip. They had both been looking forward to it for so long, and God did she need to just relax with the man she loved. Ava pulled back, tears making her eyes glassy but her stubbornness refusing to let them fall.

John: "You're not ruining anything, Ava. We're here because we both needed a break. Whatever you need we can do."

"I need you."

John: "You have me. No matter what."

Ava finally smiled, though faintly as John lifted her chin before kissing her. He felt so safe. He had always felt safe to her. John pulled back, Ava protesting with a furrow of her brows.

John: "And you're allowed to feel emotions about what Archer did. It's only normal. It doesn't make you weak."

To that Ava sighed heavily, looking away.

John: "Do you want to talk about it?"

Shaking her head no, she didn't want to think about it, let alone talk about it. The moment Erika King had to save her from Archer Fairchild? Ava would rather have eaten a pound of raw meat than make that a topic of discussion. But she also knew that out of everyone in the world, John would never judge her on one moment of weakness. In fact, she knew he would never consider her weak to begin with, so finally she looked back at him with reluctance.

"I will...just not here. Not in Paris, okay?"

Ava's hand went to his cheek comfortingly, knowing he was worried for her.

"This place is ours, I don't want to taint it."

Pulling herself close into his arms, Ava's mouth found his once again. She stayed there for a long while, tasting him slowly, never wanting the kiss to end. But finally, she pulled back enough to speak, a playful smirk finally tugging on the corner of her lips.

"Hungry?"
 
The Paris Hotel

John tried to get Ava to open up to him about what had happened, about how she was feeling. He genuinely thought if she would just let it out, she would feel better. But she was so stubborn. Always had been, always would be. She couldn't admit, even to him, that she was hurting because to her that was weakness.

He asked her again if she wanted to talk about it.

Ava: "I will...just not here. Not in Paris, okay?"

Her hand went to his cheek, feeling like a cool breeze on his face, calming him.

Ava: "This place is ours, I don't want to taint it."

"I love you, Ava. Nothing you could say could ever change that."

Ava kissed him, and they let it linger. Finally she pulled away.

Ava: "Hungry?"

His voice was low and gravelly as he replied.

"Starving."

He pulled his running shirt up over his head and tossed it away, before pulling her back against him aggressively and finding her mouth more heatedly this time. His hands were busily removing her clothing, and then finally he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He climbed in on top of her as laid her down, still kissing her mouth as he pushed her legs apart and entered her completely with a moan. His hips moved fast and hard, not being gentle as he took her, one hand in her hair, the other roaming her body.

"I'll never want anyone else but you."
 
John: "I love you, Ava. Nothing you could say could ever change that."

"I love you..."

Her words fading as her lips pressed against his, savoring every moment of their long and sexy kiss. But when she pulled back and playfully asked if he was hungry, that was all it took for John to lose the worried look in his eyes and have it be replaced with a dark desire.

John: "Starving."

He growled while pulling his shirt over his head. He grabbed Ava aggressively, pulling her body tight against his making her yelp out a surprise laugh.

"I was thinking more along the lines of crepes.."

She teasingly said, though she became breathless as he ripped off her slip nightgown, her arms going around his neck as he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Her lips found his neck, Ava aching for him to be even closer - to be inside her. She felt the bed under her and pushed her way back as John climbed on top, his lips finding hers in a heated glory. He pushed her legs apart, Ava eagerly widening them for him, until she felt him enter her in one deep thrust. Moaning out in unison with John, Ava's moans turned to cries of pleasure as he thrust into her again and again, harder and harder and without restraint. Her legs hooked around his hips and nails cut down the tender flesh of his back. Her teeth found his shoulder, trying to stifle the cries of pleasure with no luck.

John: "I'll never want anyone else but you."

His words like a drug, intoxicating her and making her dizzy. Ava's head dropped back into the bed, her cries becoming louder as she felt the build of pleasure deep within her growing and growing.

"Don't stop! Harder!"

She begged, her hips meeting with his again and again until finally Ava began to shudder under John's body, her entire body overcome with pleasure. Panting out heavily, Ava grabbed the sides of John's neck, her hips never stopping as she kissed him hard.

"Fill me, baby...I need all of you."

She commanded with a husk tone of her own, wanting not only him, but every part of him inside her. She needed it, more than just for pleasure, but for sanity. For greed. For possession that he would only ever be the Black Queens.
 
Last edited:
The Paris Hotel

John never stopped wanting Ava. She was perfect, and now she was his and he was her's. Well, he had always been her's. From that first night when they had met, she held his heart in her hand. She asked him if he was hungry, and he couldn't control the desire he felt for her. She let out a laugh as he pulled her to him.

Ava: "I was thinking more along the lines of crepes.."

But it wasn't food he was hungry for.

He took her to bed, his need flowing out of him like energy from the sun, losing control of himself in her orbit. There would never be another woman in his life, in his bed, as long as he lived. Because he lived for Ava Cassadine.

He felt her body shudder, and he rode her through her spasms until he came with her. He felt her everywhere, inside of him, on his skin, in his blood. He kissed her mouth, her eyes, her cheeks her forehead, then collapsed beside her. His hand slid across her waist, pulling their bodies together, and his fingertips stroked her soft skin. He watched her for a long moment, silently, before speaking.

"Did you mention something about crepes?"

He smiled broadly.

"I probably need a shower first though."
 
God he was getting ahead of himself but he just couldn't help it. He could keep his cool when she was still an ocean away, but being face to face with her just did something to him. He had an instinctive need to be near her body, inside of her. It was primal and passionate, and the knowledge that she was the mother of his child only drove him even more crazy. Spending time with them made him so happy. Like nothing else mattered. Cameron took his duties as king very seriously. He couldn't run forever. But he could enjoy heaven now, knowing that hell was behind his front door when he got home.

Elena: "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, Cam. I'm telling you the truth. I don't want you to forget it. If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have allowed her to come."

"You don't know what's going to happen between now and then. So don't kill us before we have a chance."

Elena: "Only you could do that, Amado."

The way she said his nickname. The way her tongue clicked up and down her mouth with provactive nature. And her lips. All in his head of course. Cameron and Elena were in deep telepathic connection to each other in this moment, able to carry on entire lives in their mind while still reacting to the world outside, as if nothing was going on inside of them. He suddenly felt compelled to tell her everything he was feeling to which she tried to calm him.

Elena: "Breathe, Amado. You need to figure out what you want."

RIght now he wanted her, badly.


Elena: "And then take it."

Cameron swallowed hard suddenly as a wave of euphoria washed over him. For a flash she was on top of him, in his lap, kissing him like it was the last time they'd ever see each other.

Elena: "Do you remember that time we got chilli dogs and sat by the pond watching the boats?"

The White King began to lightly perspire from his forehead, giving him a soft glisten, as he suddenly felt very hot. She was trying to seduce him as much as much as he was trying to seduce her. Turn about was fair play. He conjured to her images of her face against the stone wall of the castle, her voice calling out in esctacy. A few seconds of silence later...

Elena: "Okay, little fishy, time to go."

Cameron snapped back into reality, horrified about what a pervert he had just been in front of his daughter. But then again, perhaps it was good for a kid to think their parents had a good sex life. Embarrassing but ultimately good.

Elena: "Let's see how badly we can beat papi in a boat race."

And boy did they ever. After seven highly disputed victories, Carolina was declared the Boat Queen of New York, and as such, on the way home it meant she that she was going to be walking home with a giant cone of ice cream. Cameron's happiness began to fade as he walked back towards the mansion, entering the courtyard with Elena and Carolina in tow. This had been such a good morning. Certainly his wife and the others would surface - every court was watching them closely, which secretly made him happy. They should be watching him closely. If only so he could show them how it's done. His new daughter aside, he was on a new path in Hellfire and he was going to make the most of it for himself and his children. They headed out towards the conservatory, deciding to let Carolina play in the garden and burn off a bit of the energy she had gotten from all the sugar. Cameron and Elena sat next to each other on a bench watching her from a safe distance.

The White King exhaled.

"So...is there anyone still at Hellfire you might actual look forward to be seeing again? Or is it really just no love lost?"
 
She walked out of the boutique knowing she had just paid those boys' rents for the next six months as she had the many royal blue bags packed into the car by her driver. She had to admit, Hellfire's car service was top notch. While charging her AMEX was a top hobby of hers, she still felt a little guilty about going home. Elena and Carolina had to have arrived by now, and if Erika was being honest? She wasn't thrilled about it. Haleigh was an annoying bitch a lot of the time, but she at least had a pedigree. Her family may have been known in Mexico, but not in the states. Nobody had heard of The Estradas, and those who did were light acquaintances of the club at best. In short, she was lower than Euro Trash, and Erika did not care what kind of person that made her to think of such things. Facts were fact. A heirarchy existed. Cameron and Haleigh made sense, Elena and Cameron made none. They just couldn't stop fucking each other long enough to realize it. Erika rolled her eyes, popping another blue pill. If she was going to have to make nice with the bitch who trapped her brother, she was going to be heavily sedated. This was one way it was going to be easy to start bonding with Haleigh.

"Driver - circle the block a few times, unleast until I finish this last glass of champagne. I'm just not ready yet."

Driver: "Yes Princess Erika."

Erika leaned back in her seat as she pressed a button closing the glass of the partition between her and the driver as she put on some background music. Before she walked in the door, she needed to figure out what the fuck to do. She could be a bitch to Elena and piss off her brother, or be nice to Elena and piss off her sister-in-law. The sister in law was pregnant. The spanish harlot HAD Cameron's baby. Watching these two point/counterpoint each other into oblivion was fascinating and it made Erika feel better about her own mental state. She was crazy. She could deal with this crazy. First she needed to talk to Haleigh, make a peace offering and gauge how she feels about the Elena situation. Then decide how to approach Elena accordingly. Just in time, the driver made his last lap around the block stopping in front of The Hellfire Mansion as Erika waved for him to stop.

He opened the door for her as she stepped out into the afternoon sun.

"Have these taken to my clothier to have steam cleaned."

She handed him a fat roll of $100 bills.

"Make sure they take good care of me. See you soon, Winston."

Her white high heels clacked against the wood floor of the foyer as she rounded a few corriders, taking the scenic route to The Red Wing where she was going to pop in on Haleigh. Her eyes darted towards the glass floor to ceiling windows that gave a great view of the conservatory where she located Cameron and Elena sitting there fawning over each other as their daughter played in the grass. Erika furrowed her brow. He was too eager to flaunt this, and it was pissing her off. But this was also her first time seeing her neice live in the flesh, and Erika had to admit - Carolina was stunningly gorgeous with her family's signature eyes. She was a King no doubt. But NOT an Estrada-KIng. Erika began to move with great pace as she was waved in by The Red Guard, alerting them that she would only phase through them if not allowed access.

She did however round the hall and find herself a wall that would allow her to phase into The Red King's room without being seen by any security. All of this armada put Erika on edge. She hated when Hellfire felt like a war state. And also she was hoping to make phase into Haleigh and Alek fucking. Just to see them squirm a bit. Instead as she phased into Alek's bedroom and sat down on the couch, it became clear there was a show going on in the bathroom. Erika cocked an amused eyebrow, and decided she would stay to enjoy the show. Times were hard. And The Princess wanted to see the looks on their faces when they walked out of the bathroom to see her.

"I'm having a pretty solid day."
 
The Hellfire Mansion - Conservatory

Elena almost hated to admit, but she had had a good time that morning. The important thing, though, she reminded herself, was that Carolina was having a great time. And she was. The little girl was over the moon to be with her father, and that he seemed to like her. And now, sitting here next to Cameron on a bench at the Hellfire Mansion, with their daughter playing in the grass nearby, it felt like she had never left, like he'd never pushed her aside for Haleigh. Her legs her crossed at the knee and she leaned back agains the back of the bench, her elbow resting on the top of it, the sun glinting off her bracelet.

Cameron: "So...is there anyone still at Hellfire you might actual look forward to be seeing again? Or is it really just no love lost?"

Elena let out a scoff and let her head swivel to look at him.

"Yeah I'm really looking forward to seeing what Diana and Helena have been up to."

Elena was by no means okay with the fact that they were dead. It was ridiculous, really. As much as she believed Cameron deserved to be the White King, to rule over this place the way Malice once did, Diana was her teacher, her mentor. And Helena had been her friend, which was half the reason she had done work for her court.

She sighed and sat up straighter.

"These people were never my friends, Cameron. They were yours."

She looked back out at Carolina, who was running towards them holding something against her chest.

Carolina: "Look mami!"

She held up a small fluffy white kitten for her mother to see. Where had that come from? She arched an eyebrow at Cameron.

Did you have something to do with this?

"Be gentle with it, mija."

Carolina ran back to where she had been playing, and Elena watched her gently set the kitten down in the grass and start carefully petting her. Elena sighed.

"When I was eighteen, the only person I looked forward to seeing here, was you."

And it was the truth. All her free time had been spent with him back then. She didn't have other friends among the legacies. She turned to look at him, a smile spreading across her face and putting on a fake air of interest.

"Hey, how's Zach, by the way?"
 
Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

AJ padded barefoot back into the bedroom with breakfast, Eclipse hot on his heels. He sat on his side of the bed as he verbally woke his Ashley, while the wolf sat right next to the bed.

Ash: Did you bring the juice?

“Yes, My Queen.”

He replied with a smile, handing her the carton first. He passed her a plate next, and then scooted into a comfortable position on the bed next to her. He grinned proudly when she said it was good. They were used to getting room service at Hellfire, but here at the cabin they had to fend for themselves. AJ only owned a couple of pans here, and they were both cast iron, but almost anything could be cooked that way, he’d found. And years of being a hermit up here in the mountains had given him plenty of practice.

“Thank you, My Ashley.”

They were both equally disheveled from sleeping, with wild hair and sleepy faces. Ash was naked, which AJ appreciated greatly while scarfing down his food without an ounce of effort to be civilized. Eclipse sat next to the bed and stared at him a while, until he looked over at her and shook his head.

“I gave you some already. Go on.”

The wolf gave a nasal grunt of disappointment and turned away, only to go to Ashley’s side of the bed and sit to stare at her. AJ guzzled some OJ and then turned excitedly to his Ashley.

“So. Today it is your turn to choose. We can go west and track that mountain lion you spotted at dusk yesterday. Or, over the eastern ridge is a ravine where the pack and I can funnel the moose herd. There’s a cliff where you can perch and it ought to be a good bow position.”
 
Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

Ashley was starting to be more awake now, and the breakfast AJ had made really was good. And of course, it was all foods she liked. He thanked her when she told him, and used her name and called her his, which still made her smile. When they had just arrived, and she had seen the beautiful cabin he had built himself, she had made him promise that while they were there, they were just Arthur and Ashley, no titles, no rank.

And the three days they'd been here had already been as if sent by the gods. They settled easily in to doing for themselves, having no one else around, spending their days mostly outdoors. She didn't think at all about what was happening back in the city: it wasn't up to them to sort out. This was their time, her and AJ's, and she was going to make the most of it.

But she still didn't like to wake up in the early mornings.

AJ was talking to the wolf, and then she heart the click of her claws on the hardwood as she came around to Ashley's side of the bed and proceeded to stare at her. Ashley miserly moved her plate closer to the center of the bed, speaking to the she-wolf with her mouth full.

"Get your own. Go catch a rabbit."

Eclipse kept looking at her though, and finally Ashley sighed.

"Fine."

Ashley threw her a piece of ham.

"But that's all you get."

Ashley gave her a stern eye, and then AJ was shifting in the bed so she turned to look at him. He was excited. Though not in the usual morning way.

AJ: “So. Today it is your turn to choose. We can go west and track that mountain lion you spotted at dusk yesterday. Or, over the eastern ridge is a ravine where the pack and I can funnel the moose herd. There’s a cliff where you can perch and it ought to be a good bow position.”

Ashley let out a long belch and then set her plate down, brushing her hands together.

"Uh..."

Her face screwed up in thought.

"I want to say we should track that cat."

They wouldn't want to lose sight of it, and she liked the idea of just the two of them tracking the animal. She flipped onto her side, placing her hand on his forearm, and her leg touching his.

"Do we have enough of that deer meat left? A moose would give us meat for days, but if we can put it off to tomorrow, we should get the cat while we can."
 
Hellfire -- The Red King’s Suite

He asked how she was, really. It warmed her that he even bothered to wonder. For a long time their ‘relationship’, if it could be called that even, had just been superficial. They were friends, she respected him as a King, and they had sex — lots of it— but it was all surface level. She had enjoyed it that way, no strings attached, no deep feelings, no stress. It was comfortable, for the two of them. But now, they were diving head first into something altogether deeper.

They had made a child together, they had admitted to having feelings for each other, and they were waking up together. Haleigh was surprised to find she liked this new phase, this togetherness. Talking to him was easy. But she didn’t have an easy answer for the question he asked, so she tried to simplify it. She was hormonal, and still trying to sort out her thoughts.

Alek: I don’t think I can help you with that.

She smirked as she turned to look at him, and pressed herself back against his body. She could feel his need and it was an instant turn on. She bit her lip in arousal, and told him she was horny. He replied that he could definitely help her there, as he turned her to fully face him. His fingers trailed down her body, and she inhaled deeply in anticipation as he got closer to her sex. Her hands traveled up his arms slowly and she leaned toward him encouragingly.

He took her mouth with his, feeling his way inside her, and she moaned into his kiss. Her left hand grasped his bicep tightly while her right hand found the nape of his neck. They kissed for a few moments, but then he broke away to whisper in her ear.

Alek: I want you, Haleigh, more than I've ever wanted any other woman.

She pulled her head back some, so her eyes could find his.

“You can have me, more than any other man.”

He wasted no more time, and it was like he knew exactly when she couldn’t stand another second of foreplay. As he lifted her leg, she wrapped it around his hip, and her arms slid around his neck. She pulled him as close as she could get him, pressing her breasts against his chest as she rolled her hips to match his rhythm.

“Whenever.... wherever.... however you want.... you can have me.”

She said, squeezing him inside, and then she kissed him again, for as long as she could.

“Oh God, right there!”

She moaned loudly. He always seemed to find the right spot. She clutched him tighter, both in her arms and from deep within her, as she felt her body getting closer to climax. She didn’t bother being quiet when the spasms began to crash over her. The Red Wing had to be used to hearing her by now. Even if they weren’t, she didn’t care about anything but the way he felt right now.

She gave a wide, satisfied smile as he finished too, and kissed him some more, until the water ran cold. She shut the shower off and slid the door open, reaching for a towel and handing him one too. She blotted her body dry, still watching him lecherously.

“Thank you for that, I needed it.”

She said, stepping out of the shower.

“I’d love nothing more than to stay in bed with you for three more days, but now that Estrada is here, there are certain matters to attend to.”

She opened the bathroom door, rubbing her head with the towel now to dry her hair, and stopped dead in her tracks when she found Erika sitting in the bedroom. She handed her towel to Alek at waist level, because she didn’t care if she was naked, but damned if she was going to let Erika gawk at him again.

“This better be important.”

She commanded, crossing the bedroom nonchalantly.

“You know, Princess, there’s this thing called texting, it’s really awesome, you can send a little text message to people before you drop in unannounced. You should try it, all the cool kids are doing it.”

She said as she went into the closet. Since she’d been staying with Alek she’d had the staff bring over a couple of things for convenience. A few outfits, a toothbrush, her perfume, that sort of stuff. She pulled a dress off the hanger. It was one of her favorites, comfortable and casual. She opened up a drawer but found she was out of clean underwear. Oh well, no big deal. She grabbed her heels and came back out of the closet to sit on the edge of the bed and put them on.

“Whatever you came here for, you’ve got about 30 seconds. I’ve got shit to do.”

She said, and she went over to the dresser, rolled on some deodorant, found her perfume and sprayed her neck and wrists, then grabbed a large envelope full of paper and tucked it under her arm. With the fingers of her free hand she brushed her hair. Yeah, that looked good.

“Ok, time’s up.”

She said, heading for the door.
 
The Red Wing

Haleigh: "You know, Princess, there's this thing called texting. It's really awesome, you can send a little message to people before you drop in unannounced. You should try it, all the cool kids are doing it."

"Man, pregnancy has really impeded your ability to insult people."

Erika watched as Haleigh made her way over to the closet, pulling out the first dress that Erika had seen Haleigh go for that she approved of.

"But it seems to have a positive effect on your fashion sense, so I guess it's not so bad."

Haleigh: "Whatever you came here for, you've got about 30 seconds. I've got shit to do."

Erika couldn't help herself.

"What are you going to try and fertilize a third egg? I mean really, Haleigh. Now you're just showing off."

The White Queen as not amused as she made her way over to the dresser, grabbing a large envelope full of papers which piqued Erika's interest, but not enough to distract her from the task at hand.

Haleigh: "Ok, time's up."

"I know you had a doctor's appointment today..."

The White Queen stopped for a moment from turning the door handle.

"Let me guess. Babies growing much faster than anticipated. Hearing the heartbeats. Modern medicine can't figure out what's going on and has no answers but let's wait and see?"

Erika rose from the sofa and moved over towards Haleigh.

"I can't pretend this whole situation isn't infuriating to me on multiple levels. But I do want you to know - I'm just as upset with my brother, your husband. I just saw him and Selma Hayek in the conservatory looking quite comfy cozy. It's enough to give ME morning sickness."

The White Princess took a moment to admire her manicure before her eyes darted back to The White Queen.

"The kid's cute though, I have to admit. But I digress. Bitchy barbs aside, Haleigh - those babies are not going to follow normal protocol, as you already know. Especially considering one of them is a magick user..."

Erika looked Haleigh up and down for a moment, almost assessing her body.

"But from the way you are carrying..it's quite possible that both children have the potential for magick. You need help that your own abilities and doctors are not going to be able to provide...and while I may be insane..I'm also a medically trained doctor...and witch. I can help you through this. I'll do whatever is required to prove that my offer is not one of devious nature..."

From her purse, Erika pulled out a beautiful rose quartz necklace with a copper wire chain around. The crystal hummed with energy.

"In fact I brought a peace offering..."

She offered Haleigh to take the necklace.

"This necklace has been in my family for generations, as a way to protect our more powerful offspring from attack. It has a way of syncing with the energy signatures of the unborn, allowing their developing minds to communicate through it. If they are in duress, it will manifest the crystal cage, something you know is inpenetrable. It will protect not only you but your children, as well as giving you a way to bond with them without feeling like you are communicating with live parasites in your body, which must be uncomfortable."

[pausing]

"It belongs to you. Trust me when I say that while everyone's relationships are up in arms right now, for me, the only relationship that matters is the one with my niece and nephew."

She said neice because Alek was there. She wasn't a fan of the abomination of a human they were growing together, but it would be related to her nephew, and if she was going to get Haleigh to trust her. She was going to have to get Alek to trust her as well.

"I know me being here was allowed by you, and I want to earn my place. Give thanks. Which you know is not easy for me to do. But just promise me, if you feel anything off with those babies growing inside of you, I want you to come to me. I can help keep them safe. I want to keep them safe."

Erika glanced over towards Alek, admiring his package for a moment before once again turning back to Haleigh.

"Look I don't do nice well for very long. Can we just leave it at I want to help, let me help until I fuck it up or you get pissed and we leave it at that?"
 
Elena: "Yeah I'm really looking forward to seeing what Diana and Helena have been up to."

The White King cocked a bemused eyebrow as he looked in her mind for what she really meant. Many of the members of the courts romanticized their relationships with the former queens. Diana had been his mentor as well, but he had not forgotten at what cost. He wondered if Elena had.

"You'd be the only one."

His eyes darted to Carolina for a moment before turning back to Elena.

Elena: "These people were never my friends, Cameron. They were yours."

Cameron furrowed his brow.

"I can't tell if I'm being insulted or not. These people? friends? Elena, I was raised in Hellfire. [air quotes] "these people" are my family. I care about them. And they care about me. In their way.

Carolina: "Look mami."

Their daughter had found a particularly well timed fluffy white kitten. Cameron rolled his eyes and laughed.

Elena: "Did you have something to do with this?"

"Well you were wondering what Diana was up to. The thing belonged to her. I'm not a cat person."

Cameron preferred the blind adoration one got from dogs.

Elena: "Be gentle with it, mija."

They both watched Carolina sat the kitten back on the grass and started to play with it.

Elena: "When i was eighteen, the only person I looked forward to seeing here, was you."

Cameron blushed for a moment. Perhaps it was true. They spent every waking second together when she was in New York, sometimes even when she was a way. Nobody else existed, and he realized that perhaps right in this moment that had been a mistake. It might be easier to have her here had she had any kind of relationship with the others, and Cameron could sense the general feelings of the mansion. Nobody was excited.

"Well..let's make this trip count. I'd like you to get to know these people. If only so that you know when Carolina is here she's safe. And I want them to get to know you, too."

Elena: "Hey, how's Zach, by the way."

The White King laughed.

"Oh he's doing very well. He started off the weekend by banging my sister and ended it ascended to the ranks of The Black King for Hellfire Europe. And yes, he's still as [mockingly] devestatingly handsome as ever."
 
The Red King’s Suite

“Whenever.... wherever.... however you want.... you can have me.”

Haleigh's words seared on his brain. She was what he most wanted in this world, and now he had her. Not Cameron, him.

They were forceful with each other, but this wasn't just fucking. There was something more in it, in the way their bodies moved as one, the way they came together. Alek felt like an explosion went off inside his body, and even though they had finished Haleigh continued kissing him. He couldn't get enough of that, her kissing him. It had taken a long time for her to allow that, and he wanted as much of it as he could get.

Finally she turned the water off, and started to dry off, handing him a towel. He knew she was still watching him, so he made it count, drawing attention to the high points of his body which, let's face it, were all of it.

Haleigh: “Thank you for that, I needed it.”

He followed her out of the shower, hooking an arm around her waist and pulling her back to him. His lips pressed against her damp shoulder.

"I thought we were beyond 'thank you'."

Haleigh: “I’d love nothing more than to stay in bed with you for three more days, but now that Estrada is here, there are certain matters to attend to.”

Elena. He wondered if she planned to kill her or thank her. Alek hadn't really cared about her when she was here before - to him she was basically just a hot piece of ass that was nice to look at around the mansion. He knew she acquired things for Helena on occasion, and was technically Red, but they hadn't been friends, and they hadn't been enemies. She had spent most of her time wrapped around Cameron's dick, and Alek hadn't really given a shit.

But now. It didn't escape Alek how fortuitous it was that she was here. Keeping Cameron's infidelity and all around douchebagginess front and center in Haleigh's mind. He didn't want her to be hurt, but she was well past that already. Keeping her away from Cameron was the best way now to keep her happy, and her babies safe and healthy. He was the man Cameron could never be, and now that Haleigh had realized that, he was not about to lose her.

Haleigh opened the door to the bedroom, and Alek tossed his towel on the sink. Hey, if Haleigh wanted a look, who was he to deprive her? He was about to make a comment to that effect when Haleigh was handing him her towel, in an odd way. And then he saw Erika, sitting on their bed.

"Oh for fuck's sake. Why do we even have a door?"

Then he murmured under his breath to Haleigh, "Maybe I should have handed you a towel when 'Jazz' was here..."

But he took it, and wrapped it around his waist before stepping into the room after Haleigh. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe. Haleigh was all business, and it didn't seem like Erika was going to be long, whether she wanted to be or not. He admired how quickly Haleigh could get ready, especially since she looked like she'd spent hours.

When Alek saw Haleigh pick up the envelope from the dresser, he crossed the room the closet himself, putting his slacks on inside (for Haleigh's sake).

Erika: "I know you had a doctor's appointment today..."

That made him interested in the otherwise tedious back and forth, and he brought his shirt and jacket with him back into the room.

"Now why would you need to know something like that?"

Erika: "Let me guess. Babies growing much faster than anticipated. Hearing the heartbeats. Modern medicine can't figure out what's going on and has no answers but let's wait and see?"

He took a step towards her.

"What did you do, Erika?"

Erika: "I can't pretend this whole situation isn't infuriating to me on multiple levels. But I do want you to know - I'm just as upset with my brother, your husband."

Alek scoffed, fixing the cuffs of his shirt underneath the jacket. He grumbled under his breath.

"Some husband."

Erika: "But from the way you are carrying..it's quite possible that both children have the potential for magick. You need help that your own abilities and doctors are not going to be able to provide...and while I may be insane..I'm also a medically trained doctor...and witch. I can help you through this. I'll do whatever is required to prove that my offer is not one of devious nature..."

Surely she wasn't going for any of this. The woman had just admitted that she was insane.

"Haleigh..."

But in the back of his mind something she said had piqued his interest: the words magick user. His daughter? Really?

Erika was handing Haleigh something, and his body tensed.

Erika: "This necklace has been in my family for generations, as a way to protect our more powerful offspring from attack. It has a way of syncing with the energy signatures of the unborn, allowing their developing minds to communicate through it. If they are in duress, it will manifest the crystal cage, something you know is impenetrable. It will protect not only you but your children, as well as giving you a way to bond with them without feeling like you are communicating with live parasites in your body, which must be uncomfortable."

"It's a trick."

Some kind of mind control to make her go back to Cameron.

Erika: "I know me being here was allowed by you, and I want to earn my place. Give thanks. Which you know is not easy for me to do. But just promise me, if you feel anything off with those babies growing inside of you, I want you to come to me. I can help keep them safe. I want to keep them safe."

Alek studied Erika. He didn't believe a word of any of this. Erika benefitted by being Cameron's only heir. She had no reason to help them.

Erika: "Look I don't do nice well for very long. Can we just leave it at I want to help, let me help until I fuck it up or you get pissed and we leave it at that?"

He went to the dresser for his cuff links, giving Haleigh a hard look as he did so.

"Until you fuck it up really isn't good enough for me, when two children's lives are at stake."
 
The Conservatory

The people that Elena had had relationships with here in the past, other than Cameron, were dead. She wasn't sure it was better this way. She sarcastically told him the people she wanted to catch up with at Hellfire were Diana and Helena.

Cameron: "You'd be the only one."

"Clearly."

She wondered how that puta had got the drop on Malice. But she wasn't ready to pull the answer from Cameron's mind, either.

"Diana was a terrible person, but she taught me how to be strong. She taught us how to be strong. We couldn't have had a better teacher. And with Haleigh being such a huge disappointment..."

Elena would have snorted if it wasn't so unladylike.

"WE were her next generation."

She left the next part unsaid: until you fucked it up.

She told him that his friends, the people he had grown up with here at the mansion, they weren't her friends. She wasn't at Hellfire to have her nails painted and braid hair - she was there to work. To learn. From the best. She hadn't been interested in making friends, she had only wanted to be with him.

Cameron: "I can't tell if I'm being insulted or not. These people? friends? Elena, I was raised in Hellfire. [air quotes] "these people" are my family. I care about them. And they care about me. In their way.

"Sure, they do. Until they think you've gone off the rails like your sister, and see how they all turn."

She mimed running with her fingers.

Carolina brought a kitten to show her, and she smiled warmly, though cautioning her she needed to be careful with it. The little girl went back off to play again.

Elena didn't want to argue with Cameron, and she wasn't trying to insult him. She was just speaking the truth. And the truth was...she had only had eyes for him back then, and when they could get away together she didn't want anyone else around.

Cameron: "Well..let's make this trip count. I'd like you to get to know these people. If only so that you know when Carolina is here she's safe. And I want them to get to know you, too."

Elena took that interlude to ask a poignant question about Zach. Zach was legendary in amor around Hellfire, but Elena had never been interested. He couldn't be that good if he hadn't been able to keep Haleigh.

Cameron: "Oh he's doing very well. He started off the weekend by banging my sister and ended it ascended to the ranks of The Black King for Hellfire Europe. And yes, he's still as [mockingly] devestatingly handsome as ever."

He was handsome, that was true, though not so much as Cameron. Zach being a king now surprised her - he wasn't really built for it. But he made for easy material.

"Shame I didn't arrive sooner. I could have seen what all the fuss is about."

The corner of her mouth turned up into a smile, and she raised her eyebrows at him.

"Maybe you could give me his number. I've been meaning to see Europe again..."

Her smile widened as she teased him.

She extended her arm and massaged the back of his neck with her fingertips.

"I'll get to know your friends, if you think that will make Carolina safer, Amado."

She looked back out at their daughter, still playing in the grass, making up games, as innocent as ever. Elena prayed for the thousandth time that Carolina's abilities stayed dormant forever.

"But you should be ruling over them all."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top