Melinda found it difficult to keep her eyes on Laura Bendon. She had not given Laura a second thought beyond being the source of her sister's woes, and never considered herself to be frightened of the woman. Seeing Laura sitting behind her desk scrutinizing Melinda like a Queen looking down upon a lowly peasant, however, made Melinda tremble despite the intimidating presence of Seeger right behind her.

"Naked and masturbating, hmm?" Laura said in a silky voice that made Melinda cringe.

"I have told you all the sordid details," Seeger said in a stiff voice. "We do not need to rehash them."

"Oh, but why not, Seymour? Especially when you're asking for such a harsh punishment. I don't believe we've suspended a student even once the whole year."

"Nevertheless, I wish to exercise that option now. You need only to approve it."

Laura sighed and stood. "What is this really about?"

Melinda bit her lower lip. Seeger's hand lay on her shoulder, and now the fingers curled slightly. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You're a terrible liar, Seymour. I know perfectly well of your recent association with the little group who call themselves the Harbingers."

Melinda's eyes widened in alarm, but Seeger's voice remained steady. "They can call themselves whatever they want. They still must obey the school rules the same as everyone else. I challenge you to find any time in which I refused to mete out punishment for their transgressions. Mr. Gardner's record alone bears this out."

Laura paused, then uttered a slow sigh. "Very well, I'll keep humoring you. I still question that it warrants this extreme a punishment."

"You cannot be serious."

"I am always serious."

"We cannot have students wandering the halls naked, let alone ... touching themselves in an inappropriate manner!"

One corner of Laura's mouth rose. "And if I refuse your request? What then?"

Melinda tried to read Laura's face and wished she had Cassie's empathic power. She was trying to determine for herself if everything Richie had told her was true, that Heather was really going to hand her over to the school principal. Certainly she did not need empathy to see the lust which glittered in Laura's eyes whenever they fell upon her. She suspected Seeger could see it as well, for his fingers tensed every time.

"Really, do you see how ridiculous it is to pursue any of your duties today?" Laura said.

"End of the day, Laura," Seeger said in a flat voice. "I have until the end of the day."

Some of Laura's smirk faded, and she glanced at Melinda again, this time in suspicion.

"And if you do refuse the punishment which is all but mandated for this type of infraction, I will have no choice but to take this to the board. And before you claim they will do nothing because I am on my way out, I will remind you of board regulations regarding--"

"Enough!" Laura snapped. "You're giving me a headache."

"I tell you nothing you do not already know," Seeger said in a lower voice. "As much as I regret it, this student must be suspended."

Laura slowly sat and crossed one leg over the other. "She doesn't seem too broken up about it."

Melinda said nothing, not wanting to risk messing this up.

Laura sighed. "Very well. I'll play your little game. For now. Suspension approved."

Melinda did not react, but not because of Laura's scrutiny. She simply did not know what to feel.

"Thank you, Laura," said Seeger with some relief in his voice. "I will see to the paperwork myself."

"Perhaps we should send Heather home with her."

Seeger's fingers tightened again. "What purpose would that serve?"

Laura leaned forward, steepling her fingers and giving Melinda a look of undisguised desire. "Perhaps she could comfort her little sister on the way home."

"I fully intend to contact the mother and have her take the younger Miss Sovert home. Whatever comforting is needed can be provided by her."

Melinda flinched. She had not even considered that her mother would have to pick her up. She had hoped for as little contact with her mother as possible before the moment. She had worked up her resolve to keep the lingering vestiges of hate away, but riding in the car would only bring back memories of heading home from school after defeating Nyssa.

(You screwed up big time, Mom)

She did not remember who had said it, but Heather and Melinda had shared the same sentiment. It had been the first time they had agreed on something in a long time, and she felt it had set the stage for their rapprochement later.

"I still say Heather would be better equipped to--"

"Unless, of course, you have some other reason for wishing to send the older Sovert girl along," Seeger's voice rang out.

Dead silence descended. Melinda could hear her own thumping heart.

"One would think, Laura, in light of other matters, that you had some ulterior motive for doing something which otherwise makes no sense."

Laura frowned. "And who are you to tell me what does and does not make sense?"

"As if you had some specific plan in mind for sending the older Miss Sovert home with the younger, away from the school and away from the protection of her friends."

Laura's eyes narrowed, shifting between Seeger and Melinda. Melinda's eyes widened, but a squeeze of her shoulder from Seeger silenced any further reaction.

"Perhaps to get the younger sister alone and influence her into returning with the older sister to--"

"That's enough!" Laura cried.

Seeger fell silent, and Laura scrutinized Melinda.

Melinda feigned ignorance, giving both Seeger and Laura what she hoped was a confused look. Laura shifted her attention to Seeger and raised an admonishing finger. "Not another word along those lines."

"Perish the thought," Seeger replied in a stiff voice.

"I'll leave this to you, then," said Laura, though she kept a wary eye on them as Seeger led Melinda out of the office.

Melinda uttered a tremulous sigh once Laura's office was out of sight. Everything Richie had told her was true. Heather was intending to deliver her as Laura's newest sex slave.

"I am terribly sorry you had to be there for this," said Seeger as they reentered his office. "I am simply grateful she did not ask for witnesses to your alleged crime."

"They told you," Melinda said in a shaky voice. "A-about what Heather is going to try to do to me."

Seeger sat behind his desk and laced his fingers together. "This is a terrible day for all of us. We are seeing the very worst in human greed and lust."

If Melinda had any more strength left, she would have retorted that he had not seen anything of the sort until he witnessed what Aunt Jo had done to her. Instead, all her energy, both mental and supernatural, was pooled into one place to be ready for when she got the phone signal from Cassie. She had nothing left to spare.

"So what happens now, Mr. Seeger?" Melinda asked.

"Now I process you as if you are to be suspended, after I call your mother."

Melinda sighed. "Do you have to do that?"

Seeger looked uncomfortable. "It pains me to send you home at all, Miss Sovert, but Miss Kendall has enlightened me as to what must transpire today, and you being home apparently plays a great part of that."

Melinda was not feeling particularly great at that moment.

As soon as the bell rang at the end of the last class, Diane grabbed her books and bolted for the door. Usually she took her time so Heather could catch up to her and share a moment before they left on different buses.

She finished the book exchange at her locker and was about to bolt down the hall when she realized that direction would make her cross paths with Heather.

Diane sighed and headed the other way instead, weaving through the crowd of students on her way to the west entrance. She glanced at the door which said "School Nurse" upon it, and she shivered despite the heat from the press of students around her. For a moment she could not take her frozen gaze from it.

She swallowed hard and forced her eyes away. She had not thought about Nyssa in a rather long time. Why the memory would suddenly take hold of her now she was not sure.

Diane dashed out of the building and ran down the block as fast as the patches of ice and snowpack would allow. She yanked open the door of the minivan and dove inside, panting from the exertion.

"L-let's go," Diane said as she pulled the seat belt into place.

"I doubt you had to run, dear," Debby said as she pulled away from the curb at what seemed like a snail's pace to Diane. "The last thing I want is for you to fall and hurt yourself on top of everything else you're about to put yourself through."

"I really have no choice, Mrs. Radson," said Diane. "About the other, that is. I'm the only one who can do this."

"I don't mean that, Diane," Debby said in a soft voice.

Diane remained quiet and feigned confusion when Debby glanced at her.

"I have a feeling I know what you're going to do regarding the ... the item that Laura gave Heather."

Diane shivered and wrapped her arms around herself as she turned her gaze towards the window, unable to meet Debby's eyes.

"I know why you believe you need to do it."

"I can't take the chance, Mrs. Radson," Diane said in a quavering voice. "You said yourself you weren't sure whether my power could compensate for the distance."

"Yes, I know, but did you think to check if one of the lines of force actually runs under Laura's house?"

Diane whipped her head around and gasped, her heart falling into her stomach. "Oh my God, I didn't! Oh no, I planned all this and--!"

"Diane, calm down!" Debby said. "I looked for you. Yes, a line runs close, though not perfectly under it, but should be close enough for you to tap."

Diane swallowed and nodded, though for a moment she was rather angry with Debby for baiting her. "I'm sorry, I'm just ... I-I never did anything like this in my life. I've never been able to help the other Harbingers as much as I'm going to help Heather."

"Diane, I've told you before, you don't have to pull off some spectacular rescue to be considered useful."

"I know, and I really am doing this for the right reasons. I love Heather, and I don't want to see her like this. I just hope it's not too late. She acts like Ms. Bendon has t-taken her completely, like there's nothing left."

Diane stopped, for she was sure she would burst into tears if she continued.

"I don't think so," Debby said in a more upbeat voice. "Not after what Cassie told me. She found a place in the very core of Heather's mind that had yet to be touched. It was still holding out, and Laura was doing everything she could to get at it but not quite succeeding."

Diane swallowed and let out a noisy sigh. "I really hope that's true. I mean, not that I doubt Cassie, I just hope nothing has changed since then."

"That was two days ago, so I doubt that it has been breached."

Diane hugged her arms tighter around her. "I-I guess I'm going to find out, won't I? I'll have to find what's left of the old Heather if I'm going to save her." She looked at Debby, her eyes wide. "I don't think we can even let her inside the house! Her mother will be home since she had to come pick up Melinda."

Debby looked thoughtful. "Considering who is pulling Penny's strings, she may be forced to go back to work at the Inn for the rest of the day."

"But we can't count on that. I-I remember what almost happened to me last time." Diane paused. "I just realized something else. If I put on those panties, someone will have to take us to Laura's place."

Debby sighed and nodded. "Yes, I was afraid you were going to say that."

"The only other choice would be Heather's mother."

"It's fine, Diane, I'll do it. I just ... I just won't be able to park too close to the place."

"I figured as much," Diane said in a soft voice. "I know what almost happened with you and Jason's mother. We don't want to have to rescue you as well."

Debby nodded and took a deep breath before she spoke next, but her voice was still strained. "I guess I feel it should be like it had been with Victor, with me rescuing all of you, but it's just not going to work out that way."

Diane placed a hand on Debby's shoulder. "Please, Mrs. Radson, you've done so much for me. I don't think I would even have a shot of doing this if it hadn't been for you."

Debby took the opportunity of a stop at a light to fish out a tissue and wipe her eyes. "Thank you, Diane, that means a great deal to me. You really are a wonderful girl. Don't let anyone make you believe differently."

Diane actually managed a small smile. Maybe she could do this after all.

Jason biked to the Inn as fast as his legs could work the pedals. The more he considered some of the odd occurrences and coincidences over the past few days, the more he was certain the Harbingers were about to try something. He could at least console himself that he had removed Diane as a potential weapon. He made no mistake about it; if they were going after someone, it was him.

Jason did not believe anything Cassie had said. She had been obviously trying to stall for time. He had considered using Diane that afternoon to take Cassie, but he admitted to a certain curiosity as to what they were planning.

As soon as he reached the Inn, he headed to Stacy's office to inform her of his suspicions. Stacy leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers as she listened.

"So do you think I'm right?" Jason asked. "Or do you think I'm jumping at shadows?"

Stacy considered. "Admittedly, Jason, much of it is indeed circumstantial, but, as always, I trust your judgment."

"If they're going to move against me, I'd rather be here. That way I can draw on all the power I need. While I could use Diane, I'm suspicious of even her. She seems completely loyal to me, but--"

"But by what mechanism could they possibly use her against you?"

Jason paused. He again thought of the potion and the possibility that its supposed failure was just a ruse. While it was unlikely, it was entirely in the realm of possibility.

"I can't think of any right now," Jason heard himself say.

He was puzzled for a moment. Why should he not mention any possibility, no matter how small? Yet he could not bring himself to mention it, as if he had already decided it was an inconsequential detail which would just muddy the waters.

"In that case, you should be safe from her," said Stacy. "I suppose you could call her to you."

Jason shook his head. "No, that won't be necessary. It might call attention to the fact that I suspect something is up. I'd rather not tip my hand."

Stacy nodded. "Understandable. Very well, you may stay here as long as you like." She smiled. "Would you like to partake of the attentions of your slaves while you are here?"

"I'm going to pass this time. If something is going to happen, I need to be ready. My slaves would be a distraction."

"I suppose that is a wise choice." Stacy tilted her head. "And you are aware of Cassie's Projection ability?"

"That's part of the reason I do not want to be distracted. If she can Project herself directly into the Inn, I imagine she could conjure herself standing right next to me."

Stacy smiled. "Glad to see you're on top of everything. I will leave this in your hands."

Diane thrust an arm towards the windshield. "There! That must be Heather's bus now!"

Debby had parked her minivan across and down the street from the Sovert house, facing south. A school bus had come around the curve of Green Avenue and was pulling up to the curb, the gears uttering a metallic belch as the bus shuddered to a stop.

Diane took a deep breath and reached for the door handle.

"Good luck, and be careful!" Debby called out as Diane leapt from the van.

Diane raced across the street and jumped atop the curb as Heather emerged from the bus. Diane jogged after Heather as she headed up the walk. "Heather, wait!"

Heather spun around, eyes wide. "Diane, what are you doing here?"

Diane stepped between her lover and the walk. "I-I can't let you do this, Heather."

Heather tilted her head and gave Diane a confused look.

"I know what you intend to do to Melinda," Diane said in a low, quavering voice. "I know about the panties. About what Ms. Bendon wants you to do. I can't let you do that."

Heather stared, and Diane held out hope that a simple confrontation was all that was needed. Instead, Heather sighed, shook her head, and pushed past Diane. "I'm not sure where you got that crazy idea," she said in an amused voice.

Diane dashed in front of Heather's path again. "S-so what's the matter, Heather? Don't want to spend any time with me anymore?"

Again Heather paused, and again Diane hoped as she saw something familiar flicker in Heather's eyes. "It's not that, Diane. I really do want to spend time with you, but ... I have to check on Melinda. She's so worried she's going to be taken away by Aunt Jo."

Heather slipped past Diane, and Diane intercepted her on the front steps. "Well, she's not, because you're going to do that for her. You're going to take her for Ms. Bendon."

It pained Diane to use such a sharp, accusatory tone with Heather, but she had no choice. She had to reach that part of Heather that Debby had insisted still existed.

Heather backed up a half-step, and her eyes glistened. "I would never ... I-I mean ... Diane, this is ... this is not the time. I really have to check on Melinda."

Heather pushed Diane aside and unlocked the door. Diane hesitated, unsure of what to do. She had not expected this to come to a physical confrontation, something she was not up to no matter now much she wanted to stop Heather.

She waited for Heather to unlock the door and open it, then shoved her way inside behind her.

"Diane, what--?!" Heather cried, whirling around.

Diane closed the door and turned to face Heather, her heart pounding. "Heather, please, for both our sakes, stop pretending! I know what you're going to do. Just own up to it!"

Heather swallowed, and she let out a ragged sigh as she turned away. "Diane ... you don't understand."

"What don't I understand? That you're so deep in Ms. Bendon's thrall that you'd consider enslaving your own little sister?"

"Shh!" Heather hissed. "She'll hear you!"

"She already knows. You don't seriously think we wouldn't warn her when we found out?"

Heather frowned. "Fine. She knows. Not like that will stop me."

Diane recoiled. "Just listen to yourself! You're talking about enslaving your own sister!"

"To someone who would treat her better than Aunt Jo ever would," Heather said in a softer voice.

Diane stared at Heather, unable to think of a suitable retort until she decided to call it for what it was. "That's bullshit, Heather."

Heather's eyes widened in surprise.

"One form of slavery is not better than any other."

"And I don't fucking want to be anyone's slave!" shouted a shrill voice from above.

Diane turned her head. At the top of the stairs stood Melinda, naked save for a pair of panties.

Heather turned away from Diane and walked towards the bottom of the stairs, smiling. Melinda's eyes widened, and she backed up a step. "No need to be upset, baby sis," Heather said.

Melinda shuddered. "Don't call me that," she said in a quavering voice.

Heather advanced a stair. "You love being called that. My little sexy baby sis."

Melinda whimpered and staggered. "P-Please, don't do this."

Heather took another step. "You get really horny when you hear me call you that."

Diane raced forward and stood before Heather as Melinda uttered a tiny moan. "Heather, what are you going to do once you put those panties on her?"

Heather sighed. "Diane, if you already know what I'm going to do--"

"Just tell me! I want to hear it from you."

Heather paused and glanced at her little sister. "I'll take her to Mistress, of course. Only she can remove them."

"And then what happens?"

"Then ... then Melinda will serve Mistress as well."

"And where will you go after that?"

Heather paused. "Go?"

"Yes. Are you going to come back here?"

"Well ... no, of course not. There's no reason to ..." Heather trailed off.

"And what about me?" Diane said, her eyes glistening. "You want to give me up? You want to never see me again?"

"I don't ... I-I'll see you at school."

"At school," Diane said in a flat voice.

Heather nodded once, but doubt clouded her eyes.

"You can't do this," Diane said in a choked voice. "If you do, you'll destroy our relationship. Is that what you really want?"

Heather stared, her eyes shimmering.

"Heather, I love you," Diane said.

Heather swallowed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"You remember me telling you that last week? Does that still mean anything to you? I love you, Heather, and I hope you can still love me in return."

Heather staggered back and fell to the floor at the foot of the stairs. She dropped her face into her hands and sobbed. "Oh, God, I don't know what to do!" she wailed through her fingers.

Diane's eyes misted as she knelt at Heather's side. She draped an arm around Heather's shoulders and heard a sniffle at the top of the stairs.

"I don't want to lose you," Heather croaked. "I don't w-want to lose Mistress. She wants Melinda. I-I have to bring her. But I don't want to lose you!"

Diane wiped away a tear and forced herself to take a calming breath. "Heather, give me the panties Ms. Bendon gave you."

"I c-can't ... I have to use them ... I ..."

"Please, Heather. If ... if you really don't want to lose me, give me the panties."

Heather lifted her head, wiping her tear-stained face. "I-I don't understand."

"You will. Just give them to me."

Heather stared at her lover and swallowed, reaching a trembling hand into her pocket. Diane's heart skipped a beat as Heather revealed the panties. Diane shuddered at the sight of the squat dildo inside the crotch. Her hands were surprisingly steady as she took them, tugging them from Heather's lingering grip. Diane heard a relieved sigh from Melinda.

Diane stood and stepped back from Heather. "Thank you."

Heather sniffled and pulled herself up by the banister, her legs trembling. "What are you going to do with them?"

Diane did not answer, not in words. Instead, she unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, pushing them down her legs. Her heart roared in her ears as she stepped out of them and raised her hands to grasp the waistband of her panties.

"Ohmigod, Diane, what the fuck are you doing?!" Melinda cried.

Heather looked on in confusion, as if not comprehending Diane's actions, until Diane pushed her panties down her legs. "Oh, no, Diane, what ...?" Heather breathed, taking a step forward, but otherwise doing nothing to stop her lover.

Diane stepped out of her panties, standing naked from the waist down save for her sneakers. She gave Heather a small smile. "I'm solving two problems at once," she said as she stepped into the special panties. "Now we can be together from now on."

"Diane, NO!" Melinda screeched as she raced down the stairs. "Stop her, you fucking bubblehead!"

A moment later, it no longer mattered. Diane was proud of herself for not hesitating. She yanked the panties to her crotch, shivering as the dildo nestled itself snugly inside her.

She uttered a small gasp as a strange tingling sensation rippled over her skin wherever the panties touched her. She tried to tug them back down to no avail. She could not even get her fingers under the edges anymore, as if they had become a second skin.

Diane's hips squirmed as her pussy became very warm and wet. She uttered a quavering sigh as arousal far greater than Jason had ever given her steamed inside her trapped pussy. She bit her lower lip to suppress a moan as her folds buzzed and tingled with need.

"I can't believe you did that," Heather said, her eyes wide.

"And you didn't try to stop her!" Melinda wailed, slapping her sister on the arm.

"Ow! Quit it, Melinda!" Heather cried.

"Melinda, stop it," Diane called out in a husky voice. "P-please, I wanted to do this, I ... uhng!"

Diane staggered as something moved inside the crotch of the panties. The dildo elongated, sliding deeper past her folds. She panted as her legs parted, and her eyes grew half-lidded as she realized it was not just a dildo but a real cock fucking her slow and easy, belonging to one of Brad's jock friends. Her hips rocked in time to its thrusts.

"Uhng ... uhnnn!" Diane moaned as her hips rocked faster. She could almost hear the squish of moisture in her folds.

She was vaguely aware of Heather stepping forward. "Diane, I ... this ... this will work."

Diane tried to say something, but all that would come out was a deep moan as the phantom cock fucked her harder still, her hips bucking.

"That's it, Diane, just ride it," Heather said in a soft voice, her lips curling into a smile. "Just let it happen."

"I don't believe this," Melinda muttered as she stomped back up the stairs.

Diane wished she could have explained everything to Melinda, but that would have increased the chance that Heather would discover Diane's plans. She closed her eyes as Heather touched her shoulder. She lost herself to the experience, letting the unseen lover take her, hoping her pussy would erupt in orgasm. She threw her arms around Heather and panted as she was left unsatisfied, straining at the edge just as the cock became the inert nub.

Diane opened her eyes and drew back, giving Heather a pleading look. "Mrs. Radson's van is just outside," Diane said in a shaky voice.

Heather smiled. "Then I'll take you to Mistress now. I'm sure she'll forgive me for not bringing Melinda, but ... but now we can be together."

Diane forced a smile and nodded. She let herself be led out the front door, anxious to get to the van before the panties fucked her again. She stopped at the bottom of the front steps as Heather closed the front door behind them. When Heather did not join her right away, she looked towards the door. Heather appeared frozen, her keys hovering an inch from the lock.

"Um, Heather?" Diane called out.

"Huh? What?" Heather said in a distant voice. She turned around and blinked. "Oh, um, right, let's go."

Richie stared out the bus window while Diane ran from Debby's van and stepped in front of Heather. He still had his face pressed to the glass when the doors closed and the bus pulled away from the curb. He had the urge to run to help Diane somehow as soon as he left the bus, but he had his own confrontation awaiting him.

For the first time he could remember, he faced a potential sexual tryst with an anxious knot in his stomach, though it did nothing to suppress his libido. His cock already stirred.

The bus stopped before his house, and Richie bounded down the steps but paused at the end of the walk. He remained there until the doors closed and the bus drove away.

"This is stupid," he muttered. Frowning, he bolted down the walk and to the door.

He expected the usual sight when he entered the house after coming home from school: Cathy sitting on the sofa in her lacy black lingerie slowly masturbating, waiting for Richie to service her. He heard her soft moans from the entry hall, but this time a second voice had joined it, deeper in cadence and breathy with panting.

He tread into the living room and stopped at the threshold. Both Cathy and his mother sat on the sofa, both slowly stroking their pussies. He swallowed and tugged his belt, his cock already rock hard and pulsing with his thumping heart.

Cathy turned her head towards him and smiled. "Hi, Richie," she said in a husky voice. "God, we're so glad you're home."

"You remember your promise, don't you, Richie?" Sandra moaned. "To give your mother a nice fuck?"

"Uh, yeah," was all Richie could think of to say. He had not expected his mother to be waiting and ready. He glanced at the phone. "Um ... there haven't been any phone calls or anything, right?"

Sandra spread her legs further apart and slid two fingers inside her, thrusting slowly. "Mmm ... no, Richie, no phone calls."

"I mean ... the phone hasn't, like, rung at all?"

"No, not at all. Who would be calling in the middle of the day like that anyway?"

"Uh, yeah, stupid question. Um ... let me just dump my stuff in my room, okay?"

Sandra stood, her fingers still deep inside her cunt. Her breasts jiggled inside her black bra. "We could do it in my bedroom. Plenty of room in my bed for all three of us."

Richie drew in an excited breath. Despite his anxiety, he could not forget the fact that he was going to do two girls at once. For a moment it overshadowed his task, and he wondered how much he had precipitated these events by his own foolish desires.

He finally forced himself to look at his mother's churning Aura. It seemed to have taken on a life of its own, roiling and writhing like it never had before. Did the Darkness know what he was about to do? He felt it hovering in the background, but it appeared to be content to observe only.

He believed his mother's bedroom was where the influence of the Darkness would be the strongest and thus the worst place to confront it. Yet if he insisted on doing it anywhere else, he might raise suspicions.

"Okay, yeah, that's fine," Richie said. "Um ... see you there in a minute."

Richie raced up the stairs without waiting for a response and closed the door behind him. Only then did he realize he was panting, and not just from the exertion. He paused as he heard his mother and cousin pad past the door and the faint sound of cloth sliding against skin.

He took a deep breath, but it did little for either his pounding heart or raging libido. He dumped his school bag by the side of the bed and stripped off his clothes. He moved with an urgency driven not by need for sex, but to relieve the pressure in his crotch. He sighed as his cock bobbed free, tinged purple from the strength of his erection.

Naked, Richie grasped his cock and reminded himself why he was doing this. He waited another half-minute, listening for the phone, but heard nothing. He could not rescue his mother until that phone rang.

Dammit, Cassie, hurry up! Richie demanded in his head as he left the room.

As soon as he entered the hallway, he heard more soft moaning. He slowly stepped into the corridor, paused, then stepped into the doorway of his mother's bedroom. Both his mother and Cathy were sprawled on the bed, legs spread in invitation, slowly stroking their wet and glistening pussies.

"Which one will you have first, Richie?" Sandra cooed.

"Yes, Richie, which of us do you want first?" Cathy purred.

"Please, Richie, fuck me first," Sandra pleaded. "You haven't in sooo long."

"No, me first, Richie!" Cathy piped. "I've been waiting for you all day!"

Richie glanced behind him and paused, hoping for the phone signal, but heard nothing. What would be better, to rescue his mother while fucking her or while fucking Cathy?

"Mom first," Richie said as he advanced.

Cathy whimpered, and Sandra cooed, "Oh, you're such a good son to your mother, Richie. Please, come fuck me nice and hard ..."

Henry heard his cell phone warble for the second time since he had been sitting in his car, parked at the curb just out of sight of his house. He fished it out of his pocket, looked at the caller ID, and again ignored it.

That was the third time Ted Havers had tried to call him. The first time had been just as he had left the hospital amidst complaints that he was leaving them short-staffed and threats that he could lose his position.

The latter had been an empty threat. He would never lose his position because the hospital director was not the one who made those decisions for anyone on the Haven Project.

His phone indicated that Ted had left a message.

He considered listening to it, but thought better of it. He wanted to claim he heard nothing from Ted before he did the deed. It would make it easier for Ted to retroactively approve his actions.

Now the question was: how adamant would Ted be about stopping him? Ted had plenty of resources at his disposal. Within minutes he could have agents swooping down on Henry and take him into custody.

Or Ted might do nothing.

Henry gambled on the latter. Maybe Ted had managed a modicum of compassion. He would disguise it as convincing himself that Henry would "do the right thing" and turn back from this course of action.

Just as likely was Ted ordering the Project to make detailed observations of the Entity as the confrontation unfolded. That would be so like him, practical to a fault.

Henry glanced at his watch. He hoped it would be soon. He tried not to think about his son. He had to believe that Cassie was as loyal a friend as his initial impressions had told him.

Henry wondered if Robert Kendall had any idea what his own daughter was doing. Or would he do what Henry hoped Ted would do and turn a blind eye to it?

Henry sighed and glanced at his watch again. Nothing to do but wait.

Melinda had been pacing in her bedroom for much of the afternoon when she heard the front door open and close. Footsteps crossed downstairs at a brisk pace as Melinda yanked down her panties and kicked them aside before jumping into bed. She hesitated a moment before letting her enslaved persona take control of her body.

Her pussy was already wet and aching. It was almost a relief to spread her legs and masturbate, moaning softly as her mind filled with desires for mature curves and sexual domination.

Her eyelids slid half-closed as the footsteps advanced up the stairs. She begged the phone not to ring yet if this were her Aunt Jo. She was never more grateful to see her own mother when Penny stood in the doorway, gazing at her daughter with eyes betraying both desire and sadness.

Melinda said nothing, as that was what her mother would expect. She could not let on that she had shed her hatred, or at least that was what she was telling herself in hopes she would believe it.

Penny sighed. "Melinda, I ... I'm not sure ... that I can stop Jo from taking you."

Melinda was shocked enough by the brutal honesty that even her enslaved self paused in her slow masturbation. Melinda stared at her mother, having no idea how to react.

Penny lowered her gaze for a moment. "That doesn't mean I'm not going to try. I just ... I don't have any guidance right now, I--"

She stopped short, her head turning away. Melinda heard the front door close, and her heart thumped. Penny stepped out of the doorway and faced the top of the stairs.

Melinda went over her mother's words in her head. Guidance? Was she talking about the Darkness? Did she still not know how the Darkness had tricked her? Perhaps she thought it was going to imbue her with the power to ward off Aunt Jo.

She shivered as Aunt Jo stepped into view, her thighs quivering in anticipation of the strap-on being shoved hard and deep into her twat. She spread her legs wider and moaned at the feel of the white stockings against her legs.

"Here for the show, Penny?" Jo asked in a sly voice. "So nice to have you."

"I don't want you taking Melinda," Penny said, though her voice was weak.

"I don't think you'll have a choice," Jo said as she nudged past her sister. She smiled down at Melinda and sat at the edge of the bed. "Getting all nice and slutty for me, Melinda?"

"Uhng ... yes, I'm such a wet little slut," Melinda moaned. "Uhng ... please, my slutty pussy needs to be fucked."

Jo cupped one of Melinda's breasts and played with it until Melinda squirmed in delight. "Oh, I will, but not before you please me."

Jo stood and started to undress. Melinda's eyes were riveted, her pussy growing hotter and more needy.

Behind Jo came a low, husky sigh. Jo turned, and Melinda glanced past her and saw Penny leaning against the door frame, her hand under her panties.

"Can't resist it, can you?" Jo said with a smirk.

"This is not ... uhng ... no ..." Penny whimpered, shaking her head. Her fingers moved faster, her legs trembling.

"This time, dear sister, you can't participate," Jo said. "You're going to have to sit on the sideline and just watch."

"I don't want to watch this," Penny said, but her conviction was weak.

"You do, and you will." Jo pointed to a chair in the far corner of the room near the window. "You'll sit there, naked and wet, masturbating to every moment of it."

"I d-don't take orders f-from ..."

Penny suddenly trailed off. Her eyes widened. Jo paused, giving her sister a wary look.

Melinda stared. Her mother's Aura had suddenly gone wild, thrashing and spinning. Penny whimpered and ran out of the room.

"She'll be back," Jo said with a sly smile as she continued stripping off her clothes.

Melinda was again mesmerized by Jo's body, but her protected self could not help but be worried about her mother.

Penny staggered into her bedroom and clutched a corner of the dresser, knocking a hairbrush to the floor. Her pussy throbbed with her pounding heart, wet and oozing, aching for her fingers. She shook her head violently to deny her desires, only to envision her daughter's tongue in her twat.

She moaned and shuddered, rattling the dresser. "Please," she begged in a hush voice into the uneasy silence, her breath a soft pant of escalating unwanted desire. "Please tell me ... please tell me it isn't true ..."

If it is any consolation to you, my pet, the Darkness' voice oozed like honey, I had not wanted it revealed in this manner.

Penny squeezed her eyes shut, her next breath coming out as a sob. "Y-you're ... you're going to let J-Jo take Melinda ..."

For now.

"F-for now? Then ... when do I get her back?"

Never.

Penny's heart sank.

Jo is an annoyance. I will take great pleasure in dealing with her in the future, just as I will enjoy putting Laura in her place.

Penny gasped, her eyes wide. "H-Heather ... no, you can't mean ...?"

Jo was right when she told you I do only those deals that I want to do. You presented me with nothing more than what I already wanted.

"I was protecting my daughters!" Penny cried. She shuddered as her pussy grew hotter still, and she clenched her hands to prevent them from stripping herself.

Which is exactly what I wanted you to think, my pet.

Penny's world caved in. She saw herself several years ago, in her final confrontation with Jo, when she decided that doing a deal with the Darkness was her only option. She remembered every word of the conversation as if carved into stone. Tears trickled down her face, but did nothing to stop the raging lust at the visions of her daughters in perpetual sexual bondage.

I worked through you to get to them, the Darkness said. Having them farmed out to people not under my influence was not exactly part of the plan, but that is of little consequence. I have what I wanted, which was to bypass their natural defenses so they may be enslaved more easily.

Penny fell to her knees. More tears spilled down her cheeks, and she slowly shook her head.

No need for tears, my pet. Your daughters have a bright future ahead of them. They will allow me to break through the defenses of others and spread my influence far faster than I ever had before.

Penny uttered a shaky but husky sigh. A pall fell over her mind, obscuring her thoughts like a dense fog. She wiped her cheeks, and no more tears would come, no matter how hard she tried to summon them.

That's better. You know this is what you really want for them.

Penny swallowed, staring straight ahead as she slowly stood. She began stripping off her clothes.

Enjoy your daughters' fate as my obedient sluts.

Penny shivered as her soaked panties fell down her legs. She closed her eyes in one last effort to summon up the despair, the rage, the indignation. None of it would come. Only waves of sensual delight washing over her skin like warm water, her pussy buzzing with pleasure at the thought of her daughters wet and helpless as they serviced anyone who would have them.

Now go and take pleasure in watching your daughter fall.

Penny slowly turned towards the door. At the threshold, she paused and turned her head, looking at the empty box upon the dresser that once held her pendant. She shuddered, uttered a soft moan, and headed out of the room.

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