This chapter took forever to get down, also congratulations, we no longer have any prewritten material that is relevant to the story....Updates will definitely get slower. I will probably have some interludes in the intermission, but those too need to be written. I still am wanting ideas on what to do with the next part, but it will probably involve the empire. I also want to explain the imploding PRT and maybe a PHO chapter, those will take some work. I'm going to also be rereading this fiction in its entirety as well as my other notes to try and get my brain back in working condition. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Cold long arms held me as I sat on similarly cold thighs.
While being a human teddy-bear isn't fun per se, it is necessary here. I look at the head resting in the crook of my neck, large triangular teeth pressing into the soft flesh a cold breath passing gently down my neckline. An out spilling of teeth, eyes, and shadows pours down my body as the eyes dart, the teeth kneed, and the shadows slither across me. I stroke my pretty friend's hair as she come down from her panic.
Taylor had never explicitly said what her problems at school were. I knew she was bullied because she told me, I knew that it was mostly girls too. What I didn't know was how bad, I didn't know how much trust she placed in me. Betrayed by your best friend and then mocked and humiliated for almost two years, and then she died surrounded by filth alone and trapped inside a locker. I only learned the full extent of it when Swarm showed me one of her notebooks. That why it is necessary for me to stay put, Taylor needs to know I am still here, she needs me to be present. She needs to know that she has a friend...
I look back at the room from my seat in Taylor's lap, who herself is sat on the couch at home. Danny is talking to a couple of officers at the kitchen table, a stack of photographs and my phone between them. Danny is pissed, I know that he is short-fused, but the absolute rage in his eyes right now makes him look crazy. The fact that he is acting completely calm just makes him scarier. Annette was sitting at the table earlier, but now she is beside me and Taylor. Stroking Taylor's living hair, and contemplating triple homicide with a side of torture charges with the same causal indifference of someone ordering lunch.
Behind me Nimi and Swarm are giving their own statements, both extremely serious. Nimi isn't making jokes or getting distracted she is single focused in describing the scene, and Swarm, who was present for the full event is acting as primary witness. The fact that there are at least two dozen instances of her walking around gathering evidence, Taylor's notebook, the flute, and the collected email lists that were inbox full, shows just how much she is paying attention to this little part of the city.
"...Emma...Madison...Sophia..."
Taylor whines and presses her full toothed grimace deeper into my neck, at the sounding of those names from Danny. Both of the Hebert parents get just that little bit angrier at the noise. Danny is now contemplating wars; Annette is no longer at homicide she is now leaning more towards mindless slaughter. The teeth on my neck, cold like metal, open as Taylor's mouth engulfs my throat. She gently places her lips back over the mouth of fangs and relaxes again leaning back pulling me back with her. I just stroke her hair as she nibbles lightly on my neck flesh. She is surprisingly soft; she isn't breaking my skin. " It's okay Taylor, I'm not going anywhere and they're not here right now," my voice is calm it needs to be, and I want it to be, but my powers are making distracting comments...
[bite force is approximately 5000lbs per square inch, it is adERROR..]
[the teeth wrapped around your ankle can easily shreddERROR...]
[your smell has a natural relaxing effect on ErrERROR...]
Shut up. I stroke her hair, eye spots closing as my hand passes over them the silver lights crinkling in pleasure as they reappear. So adorable...I feel the bare chest through my clothes shift like something sliding open and close, a wet and cool...something moves up my back. Did...did...did Taylor just lick me? A soft caress by another wet and cold appendage passes across my neck. Well, that answers that question. " Shh shh, it's okay I'm defiantly still here Taylor."
The knock on the door makes the house quiet.
[PRT most likely...]
Figures they would come last; I snort and stroke the freezing flesh of Taylor's arm on my stomach. We called them first. A Swarm is the one to open the door and let in... Miss Militia, huh guess they are trying to be smart. " Hello, Miss Militia, you're late the BBPD was contacted an hour ago," Swarm held the door open for the hero, her confusion at being addressed by a multiarmed shadow forgotten as she looks across the concession of people occupying the house.
" Apologies we had something happening across town," the eyes of the hero search the room, they look tired.
[lying...]
Annette gestures to the open armchair and the hero takes the seat. " So, we understand that there was an incident at your school."
Miss Militia is looking at me, she thinks she is here to talk to me? " I think you want to talk to Taylor about the violation that took place at her school," I emphasize her by pointing at the mess of hair, eyes, and teeth still resting on my shoulder. Taylor's hair eyes lock on to the hero at my mentioning.
Miss Militia is uncomfortable, but I wouldn't have been able to tell without my powers telling me that. " I see sorry I was only vaguely briefed on this as Armsmaster was indisposed," the star-spangled hero turns to Taylor, " would you like to explain what happened?"
Another lie, she does know something. Armsmaster must have been barred from going, smart move PRT, smar-
I freeze.
Taylor's jaw tightens on my neck, a soft puncture just causing a tiny drop of warm to bloom on my neck, it causes every instance of the undead in the building to stop. I shake it off mentally, as my head is locked in place. I continue petting her hair.
Taylor's face, and thus her attachment to my neck, is completely obscured by her hair. This is good, because cannibalism and Miss Militia in particular would be a bad combination.
[cannibalism is closely related to trauma, possibly trigger...]
" I don't think that she wants to talk about it right now, do you mind if I explain in the time being," her jaw loosens and a tongue licks at my wound.
" Certainly, but who are you?"
" Lisa Wilbourn, I'd get up to shake your hand, but I'm pretty attached with my seat right now."
The hair curls over me protectively as a snort of amassment comes from next to me. Annette stands, " Well I'm going to make some tea we could all use some right about now. Honey do you wants some tea?"
" I'd prefer coffee," comes the grumble of Danny from the kitchen.
" No, you need tea, your far too much yourself right now," Annette walks into the kitchen, Danny's and a few of the police officers' hushed laughter calling out.
" So, Lisa, what happened?"
" Before I start, I would like to know some things," I feel something on my back shift. It felt like a hole had opened behind me. I try not to shiver. She still thinks I'm missing somehow, like she can't tell that I'm here...Taylor needs something to reassure that I'm there, what could that be?
" That depends on what they are," the hero leans forward in her seat, a serious expression on her face, " there are of course somethings I can't tell you for secrecy's sake."
" Why didn't you or the PRT do anything back in January, when the bullying was first brought up?"
The hero grimaces and nods, " I thought that would be something that was brought up, in simple terms poor judgement on Armsmaster's part." The hero straight frowns, she was pissed earlier, probably at the tinker. " A longer answer is corruption and a conspiracy to brush most of the evidence under the rug, several administrative staff failed to mention anything about certain student behaviors, and considering the evidence, both at the crime scene and Taylor's testimony, was considered circumstantial-"
I wince actually this time as Taylor starts tightening her jaw, a long object passes along my back from the hole in her chest, it feels sharp. Militia stops as I go ahead and start talking to Taylor in whispers. " Taylor that's too tight."
" Har'ee," She licks at the wounds on my neck. They aren't deep or anything, but I am bleeding. The undead in the room are very much affected by the small smell.
I ignore the hero's looks of confusion. " It's okay I'm here," I hush her small whine, it is not enough. Taylor needs to know I am here, simply telling her isn't enough... She needs evidence that I'm here...
Oh, shit... The sharp object pokes at my back, a point dragging over veins as it follows my pulse.
I take a look at the gathered witnesses: A hero, four police officers, and three PRT troopers. Taylor cannot do that, here or right now. No one would understand, and it would make this whole thing disappear.
Me? I would be fine. Taylor is a very unfortunate romantic, but she prefers happy stories over sad ones. Still, she can't do it, which means I need to...
" Lisa are you alright?" The genuine concern on the fatigue wearing woman tells me how much this could suck if I don't do what I'm about to do. This is going to be really gross, and while Taylor said she would let me wait, this is important...Fuck it, I am interested and she needs me to be real, I want to be real. So, as calmly as I could I extract one of Taylor's arms from my waist. She let it go with me easily, even though I can feel how solid and strong her grip on me is. I lift her hand, turning the pale white and boney appendage palm up, the skin is perfect and so very pretty. I bring it to my mouth and kiss it. " Miss Wilbourn, can you hear me? I don't understand, what are you-"
I put Taylor's thumb in my mouth, all the way to the palm. I watch Miss Militia's eyes widen as the world around me starts to slow, I bite down as hard as I can. The world around me stops, the skin breaks easily around my teeth and a cold fluid flows around my lips and across my mouth, the excess dripping out of my mouth in rivets. The taste fills my mouth, it tastes...sweet? Like it is full of sugar and iron, a strange mixture of bitter and honey. It's not bad... The world comes back into motion as the second passes.
Taylor's grip on my neck loosens and the void where her chest snaps shut. I can feel her entire body relax as I chew deeper on her hand, her mouth retracts from my neck and she now just drapes across me.
The rest of the house is less relaxed. The law is reaching for me and Taylor, Danny looks mostly just concerned but he is also standing. On the less human side of things, Nimi is stunned and very hungry while Swarm has stopped all movement. The sounds of shouts and yelling from the non-Heberts fill the small room. "What are you doing!"
I don't know how Miss Army wants me to respond, my mouth is kind of busy. I chew harder, feeling my friend behind me shiver with delight. The flesh is weird, what should be very tough practically melts with my chewing. Taylor must be allowing me to damage her, it keeps getting more...tender. My teeth hit something hard, the moan out of Taylor's mouth silences the room.
Annette walks calmly into the living room with a tray of cups, she looks at me as my tongue starts to lick at the wounded hand in my mouth. I swallow the collected blood in my mouth, Taylor shivers behind me. She mewls as I chew around her bone, nestling into my neck and head. Her hair curls around me as teeth trace lines across my legs through my tight jeans, her eyes watching me as a I dislodge a chunk of muscle from its anchor to the Trapezium. I really should be grossed out, especially now that the detached muscle is wrapping around my tongue.
Annette sets down the drinks, making every human apart from me look at her. " Taylor, sweetie, I don't think that your flirting is appropriate right now," Annette's voice and hands on her hips causes the hair eyes to flick to her, "what will the fine police think if you make noises like that?" Annette turns to me, hands leaving her hips, a huge friendly smile on her face, " thanks for helping her out Lisa, sorry if it felt a little forced-" I feel Taylor wince underneath me, both Nimi and Swarm are effectively looking anywhere but at me. "-I know that you wanted to wait and think it over, but I'm sure you understand the dire nature of events going on."
I pull Taylor's hand from my mouth; the mangled limb showed a bit of skeleton and the thumb is barely attached. The police look disturbed, the troopers are mostly scared, Miss Militia is horrified. " It's okay," I wipe my mouth, my hand comes away covered in black. My chin and lips are covered in sweet and bitter blood, Taylor's taste. " She just needed to know I was still here." The mangled hand in question moves to cross my body and grip the opposite shoulder, a humming purr now very audible from behind me. I feel my legs get trapped as she wraps her own legs around mine, it does make my fear of getting arrested for assault go down. It is not like Taylor is going to let me go anytime soon.
The displays of affection that Taylor is doing mixed with the sounds she is making, makes the law enforcers and Danny uncomfortable. Miss Militia is just empty of emotion right now, a PTSD episode. I try not to pry, but my powers description of how the hero's young exposure to cannibalism is making her have a panic attack. The green light of her power switching endlessly is very noticeable. Looks like the PRT miscalculated on the choice of representatives again. " Look I just want to explain what happened to Taylor today," I lean into the damaged hand as it strokes my cheek, I also grimace as I realize that I'm doing it, "can you just take your statement, Taylor and I are not really in the mood to be open...like this...with so many witnesses." I grab the torn hand and place it into my lap, stoking the muscle fibers as they knit themselves back together.
" I don't mind if they watch," Taylor's voice is soft, but loud enough to be heard, " thanks for the kisses." Danny's head slams into the kitchen table as a groan sounds from him, Nimi is in a soft glowing cloud of reds and pinks, Swarm is having trouble with how many limbs she is supposed to have and her purr is in a twenty-four-part harmony, and Annette? Annette just puts her hands back on her hips, huffs and then sits down with her cup of tea. She is all smiles though.
I groan even as I lean into some of the nuzzling, " fine, I'm uncomfortable with it, can we please just get our statement." I watch as the hero still blank nod her head. I need her to focus she is far too space-y, thankfully I know just what to say. "Good, maybe this time you'll actually do something helpful."
She winces but nods and takes out a pen and pad. I explain what happened today, the sound of gentle whispers and the scratching of pens as I talked with the occasional sip of tea from everyone who got one... Oh and yeah, the sound of Taylor purring like a cat into my shoulder... at least she is only kissing the bite mark on my neck...
The cold arms around my lap are joined my massive warm hands around my stomach. I look down at the shadow straddling my lap as I sit here on the couch completely encased in the purring undead bodies. The couch underneath us is making protesting sounds, but it will be fine...I hope. I actually can't tell...
You see, after being so close to these three for so long, ever since the police and PRT left, my powers have kind of stopped talking to me. So, for the past thirty minutes I have had truly blissful silence for the first time in a year! Another great thing being held by them, is that my cramps, which I was getting to the end of my rope ignoring, were massaged away by Swarm's many arms.
I snuggle into my perfectly cool seat of Taylor's lap, a hum of my own to join the chorus of purrs in harmony around me. " Thank you for doing that for us Lisa," Nimi's voice is a distant thunder, " it was very..."
"Hot," Taylor's voice is a whisper in my ear making me shiver, " I'm glad to know you're still here." I feel the arms around my stomach pull away, " sorry for forcing you to do that, even if it was just for show I don't expect anything out of it, we can go back to waiting..."
Swarm presses against my own lap, her soft head pressing up against my jaw. " We also understand if this makes your decision to leave us," The echoes of her voice sound sad, I think that I can hear crying in the background, " we would understand, we didn't mean to force it, we shouldn't have."
I can tell that there is an intense debate going on between the Taylors. They really think that I'd leave them don't they. I can feel something wet on my neck and watch as one of Nimi's hands leave Swarm's waist and wipe at her face. Still, I keep quiet, I need to actually think about this.
On the one hand, I like Taylor, Nimi, and Swarm. They check off all the little boxes I've made for myself about them. So, it is not like I wouldn't eventually probably date them. After all, when do come across the most sought-after treasure of all, the rare and legendary triple hug? I push back into Taylor's body, nuzzle back at Swarms face, and grab one of Nimi's hands. I smile at the resulting purrs at that.
On the other hand, Taylor forced me to consume her or be consumed. As Taylor put it as far as Hosting goes it doesn't qualify, apparently intent is a thing. However, she still called it a kiss, and she wasn't lying about that being what it was. I, Lisa Wilbourn, will go down in history as the first human to "kiss" a zombie back. I look down, I can't see it due to Swarm sitting on her hands, but I can imagine Taylor's right hand. The exposed muscle fibers now covered in a scar that I think Taylor is keeping around for sentimental value. I... didn't hate it. The bite or maybe just the holding her digit in my mouth, the blood seeping in and flowing across my tongue. The chewing into her wasn't as pleasant and I really don't like the whole muscle French kiss thing, too invasive. I did like the intimacy though.
When my teeth were sitting still in her hand, I could feel a faint pulsing of her blood moving. Knowing Taylor and her biology she gave herself a pulse for my benefit rather than her own. She wanted me to feel like I was attached, and I did. I enjoyed it, for as violent as it was, the act was very relaxing. Taylor's blood has a nice, if strong, taste, and while it certainly smelled like a murder scene, I didn't mind it. If it wasn't for my conversation with Swarm earlier, I'd be more concerned with the blood in my gut, but I don't have to worry about that. Taylor loves me every bit of her does... I imagine undead blood cells bumping into my living counterparts and, like their multicellular forms, cuddling. Odd image, but the fact that I'm not currently running a fever due to an extreme infection seems to suggest that Taylor is being a good body partner right now.
" Lisa will we at least still be friends," now Taylor sounds close to tears. The group around me starts to hesitantly let go of me...
" I'm hungry," I say pulling Swarm back into place on my lap. I let my words hang there as their retreat halts. I figured that would stop them from getting up from me and am proven right as they all squeezed back into place. " I'm still deciding so keep your booty's placed firmly under mine."
I look around the living room as I get my thoughts together. Danny and Annette both went out for food, Danny Chinese and Annette other. The evidence and police left along with the PRT a while ago, but you can still see the evidence of them being here, mostly the empty mugs all over the place. I look down at the carpet just in front of me, Taylor has already cleaned it up, but I can still picture it. The dark stain as cold and black fluid drips down my chin to join the puddle forming on the carpet beneath me. My head feels warm at the thought, and my relaxed abdominal muscles tense with the thought. That was hot...
Okay, okay, so I'm more than a little interested in Taylor at this point. I'm not the most intimate person either, but it was exciting for lack of a better word. The fact that I had to listen to the person behind me react to it without knowing what she was going to do was probably part of it, but the drinking, the consumption...I want a relationship...with Taylor...all of Taylor...But, I need more than just want it. " I want you to make it up to me."
The comfortable embrace from all sides stiffens before quickly relaxing. " We will do anything," they speak in unison, and it sends a shiver down my spine. A really good shiver.
" I want you to tell me everything, you're not allowed to keep secrets from me anymore," I feel Taylor tense behind me, so I turn around, with a little help from everyone, and straddle her like Swarm was me. I feel claws on my back and Swarm's head rest against my spine. The position is weird, as I'm now stretched across Taylor's lap with my knees resting on Nimi's thighs, not the most comfortable really. I'm now nose to nose, staring into those big silver eyes, the faint glows off of them pulsing with the rhythm of my heartbeat. " If you're hungry I want you to tell me, if you need to hunt something I want to either come with or be told what it is you catch, if your being bullied is school, I want details and names. No more holding yourself in, if you can't take it or you need a break, you tell me, and I'll take care of you. Can you do that Taylor?"
My warm breath passes across our faces at our closeness, her own cold breath is heavy as she goes grey with embarrassment. " Y-yes."
" Good girl," I lean forward and press my cheek into hers, " if you can keep your promise, we can date, but Hosting is off the table until I'm ready, okay?"
Taylor practically vibrates under me, " o-o-o-okaaaaay!"
I feel more arms and hands flood across my back, Nimi squishes us together as we both are nestled under her breast, Taylor vibrates as I hold her to my own body. It feels good to be the one to make Taylor fall apart...I guess I'll just have to make it a habit.
" I thought you said you weren't going to take my daughters." Danny's deadpan voice comes from the front door, causing my cuddle buddies and me to freeze. I turn and give a weak smile to Danny standing in the doorway, two bags of Chinese takeout taking up his hands. His body is rigid as he stares at the four of us on the couch. Then Nimi has to open her big mouth.
" At least three of us are clothed, daddy." His eyes narrow before dropping the bags on the ground and making his way over to the stairs.
" I'm getting the shotgun."
" What no, dad wait!"
" Daddy, no!"
" Da stop, please."
I laugh despite the odd mix of warmth, panic, and butterflies, pulling the three girls back to me and snuggling as close as I can. Hell, if Danny is serious there really is no better place to die than with the bodies, I'm covered in...
Oh Lisa, you ain't the first....
