 

Epilogue
 
Two Years Later
 
_ _
 
_            _Andrew Kelly was walking down the sidewalk at the local
college.  He would be going here next year, but he wasn't visiting for
a tour.  It was much too late for any of the offices to be open.  In
the last two years, he'd been up here a few times, to go to sporting
events, and generally ogle the older girls.  But he wasn't here looking
for a date, either.  It was a Friday night, and it was one of the rare
few Fridays that he wasn't spending with Charli.  She understood.
 
It had been two years since Isaac had given the ring, with all its
attendant magic and troubles, to Andrew.  After the initial month of
turmoil, Andrew's life settled down.  Not into something that you could
call normal, but it was working for him.  Terri had returned to school
the Monday after Demar's death, and no one questioned the timing.  Soon
after the media coverage had died away, Andrew and his family moved
into Charli's house, because there was far more room.  Besides, Diane
turned out to need far closer monitoring than anyone had expected, and
this way Andrew could keep tabs on her.  

Andrew also regularly kept tabs on his sister, who had settled into her
new life as a prostitute with something approaching enthusiasm.  He had
even visited her a time or two, to make sure she was doing all right. 
He was no longer able to keep tabs on his father, as Jayce had been
killed in a prison riot only six months after his incarceration had
begun.
 
            Although they hadn't made it official yet, Andrew and
Charli were, for all intents and purposes, married.  She still allowed
him his dalliances with others, which he couldn't seem to keep himself
from, but as per their arrangement, Friday nights were hers.
 
            Except this one.
 
            Tonight was *the* night: it was time to give up the ring. 
Andrew was concerned as to what this might mean for his life.  He was
well aware that his family would stick by him: he wasn't controlling
any of them, after all.  But what about Joannie?  Would her programming
remain in force, with his power gone?  He remembered fully what had
happened to Bradley Demar when his source of magic had been removed. 
Andrew knew he would have to learn to live without it.  It would be
hard, but he had no choice.  He dared not try to keep the ring, for
Isaac's warning rang repeatedly in his mind.
 
            The ring had brought him to the college.  He had not
realized how powerless Isaac must have felt that night, two years ago. 
Andrew had as little control over his own actions now as he did back
then.  He was wandering around the campus, obviously looking for
somebody, but he, of course, had no idea who he was looking for.
 
            Until he saw her, that is.  She was short, at only 4' 11"
tall, but she had fiery red hair, and green eyes that spoke of immense
intellect.  She was dressed warmly, as the night was cool.  Even behind
her heavy denim jacket, he could tell she had a knockout figure.  Her
legs were encased in dark blue jeans, and she wore hiking boots.  He
thought it a strange combination, but it wasn't really his concern.
 
            It took only seconds before she turned to face him, and
started walking in his direction.  When she reached him, information
sprouted into his mind.
 
            "Rebecca Carstairs?  Sheldon Hall, room 207?"
 
            "Yes," she said quietly.
 
            "Come with me."
 
 
 
            The ride out to the pit was perhaps spookier for knowing
what was going on, and still not being able to do anything but go along
with it.  Ms. Carstairs sat beside him silently, who-knows-what
thoughts running through her head.
 
            *Probably the same kind of crap that ran through my own.*
 
            "Get out," he said when they had arrived at the pit, and he
turned the engine off.  She did so, and he exited after her, closing
his car door, and then moving over to the same tree stump that Isaac
had sat upon.
 
            At this point, Andrew knew that he had some latitude about
what to say.  He decided to take a slightly different approach to it
than Isaac had.
 
            "Do you prefer Rebecca, or Becky?"
 
            "Actually, everyone calls me Reba."
 
            "Oh.  Okay, Reba.  My name is Andrew.  I'm sure you're
wondering why I've dragged you out here into the middle of nowhere on a
rather cold night."
 
            "The thought had crossed my mind," she responded somewhat
archly.
 
            "Well... okay, how do I put this?  You've been brought out
here because you are to become the next bearer of a special ring.  This
is the ring here," he said, indicating the one on his hand.
 
            "Uh-huh.  What's so special about it?"  Her disinterest was
clear.
 
            "This ring has... an effect on people."  As much as Andrew
tried to make that statement more clear, the ring would not allow him
to.
 
            "Such as?"
 
            "I'm not allowed to tell you that.  Look, I had to go
through all the shit you're about to go through two years ago.  Every
two years, the ring has to be passed on to the next bearer."
 
            "Why me?"
 
            Andrew shrugged.  "I dunno.  The ring picks its bearers. 
It chose you, for whatever reason.  Personally, I'd just as soon keep
the thing, but I'm told that has really bad consequences."
 
            "Well, whatever.  Give me the damned thing, so we can get
out of here."
 
            "I'm afraid it's not that simple."
 
            "Uh-huh.  This is the part where you tell me how much it
costs, right?"
 
            He smirked at her.  "You're just like me.  I figured it was
some kind of con game, too.  It's not, but there's a ritual that must
be followed.  The ritual is extremely embarrassing, but there's no
other way around it."
 
            Reba sighed.  "All right.  What do I have to do?"
 
            "You have to undress, and then go walk into the pit over
there.  You have to walk in all the way up to your neck, and then stand
until you know it's time to come out."
 
            "That's gross," she said, as her hands began undoing her
clothing.
 
            "I know.  It feels... icky is the best word I can use.  But
it doesn't take long and... by the way, you have a very nice body."
 
            Reba looked down at her nearly-naked self and gasped.  She
couldn't stop her hands from finishing her disrobement.  Finally, there
was a tinge of panic on her face.  "How are you doing this to me?"
 
            "I'm not.  The ring's magic is.  The ring exerts control
over its bearers at times like this."  He had to raise his voice to be
heard, as she was now walking toward the pit.  He took just a moment to
admire her ass as her feet touched the murk.
 
            "Eww!" she squealed.  *What a girl reaction,* he thought. 
She kept walking, however.  Andrew watched in fascination as she
disappeared into the muck up to her neck.  He was amazed at how short a
time it actually took: it had seemed to him to last forever.
 
            Finally, Reba turned around and started walking back out. 
The slime adhered to her body as it had his own, although somewhat more
curvedly, he was sure.  She walked over to the car, and stood, her arms
away from her body, not wanting to touch any of the ooze covering her.
 
            "Now what do I do?" she asked in dismay.
 
            "It'll dry off in a minute or two," Andrew answered. 
"While we're waiting, I should warn you that, though the ring does
grant some unique talents to its wearer, there is some trouble that
comes with it.  Others want the ring.  They may try to get it from
you.  If you lose the ring before the two years is up, it will most
definitely drive you insane.  Don't ever take the ring off, for any
reason.  Be wary of anyone who befriends you in the next few weeks. 
Don't take anything for granted: you're about to start on a very
interesting trip."
 
            "Yeah, okay.  This goop is dry now.  How am I supposed to
get it off?"
 
            Andrew hopped off the stump and walked toward her.  "Just
shake yourself like a wet dog.  It comes right off."
 
            "I'm not going to do that!" she said.  "I'll look silly!"
 
            *Is now really the time to worry about appearances?*
 
            "Well, there *is* one other way to get it off..."  Andrew
was standing beside her at this point, and turned her gently to him. 
Their mouths locked in passionate embrace almost instantly.  Her hands
were tugging at his shirt, trying to get it loose from his slacks. 
Andrew's hands were rubbing up and down her back, flaking off the
now-powdery substance from the pit.
 
            Finally, Reba got his shirt loose, and yanked it up and off
him.  Immediately, she dropped to her knees to work on his zipper.  It
took her only seconds to have his pants completely undone, and her
hands then yanked the material off his hips.  His briefs followed soon
after, and his already-erect cock sprang free of its restraint.
 
            Reba made a low humming sound with her mouth before her
tongue snaked out and licked the tip of his prick.  That was all the
preamble she gave before her mouth opened to take in his length.  Her
lips and tongue worked in concert to arouse Andrew, and he was enjoying
every moment of it.  She finally got more than half of his length in
her mouth, while her hand continued to slide along the remainder of it.
 
            It wasn't long before Andrew felt the tension building in
his balls.  Reba knew it, too, for her sucking increased in tempo.  He
held off as long as he could, but finally Andrew had to release his
cum, which flooded Reba's mouth, but not so much so that she didn't
swallow all of it.
 
            Reba kept working on his shaft, sucking all of his cum out,
and making sure that he would remain hard afterward.  When she was sure
he was still ready for more, she let his dick slip from her lips, and
she stood up.
 
            No words were spoken, or needed, as the ring was in full
control of both of them now.  Andrew picked up Reba by the waist and
deposited her on the hood of his car.  She didn't complain at all at
the rough handling, only spread her legs so that he could easily get at
her cunt.
 
            Andrew wasted no time, but moved to her quickly.  He
pressed the head of his prick against her swollen pussy lips, which
parted to allow him passage.  He swiftly found her hole, and began
sliding into her.  Reba moaned with the feel of his large shaft
entering her.  He continued to press in, relentless in his movement,
until he had filled her completely, and his balls were resting against
her.  He reached down and groped her tits, kneading the flesh and
brushing away the powdery residue of the pit.  As Reba began to writhe
on the hood, Andrew started to pound into her.  Reba's screams of
pleasure immediately filled the clearing.  The two bucked and writhed
together, grunting and screaming, groaning and growling.
 
            As Andrew approached his peak, he lifted Reba off the hood,
and held her upright in his arms.  He remembered doing this with his
sister once, and it had been fun then.  It was fun now.  Reba's legs
came around his waist and locked in place, and he used her, slamming
her down onto himself repeatedly.  With each thrust she screamed, until
he covered her mouth with his, their tongues tangling and their moans
vibrating between them.
 
            Finally Andrew climaxed, and his seed spurted deep into
her.  She cried out, her back arched, pressing her tits more firmly
against him as her head rolled back.  They spasmed against each other
like that for several moments, before they finally calmed down enough
to release each other.
 
 
 
            After several minutes apart, so that they could each clean
up and get dressed in privacy, they met back over by the tree stump. 
Both were a little embarrassed by their enthusiasm for each other, but
neither of them really regretted the encounter.  Andrew removed the
ring from his finger, which was a very unusual feeling, for he hadn't
taken it off since he'd gotten it.  He handed her the ring.
 
            "Remember what I told you.  Don't ever take it off.  Don't
ever let anyone take it from you, except as you pass it on, as I now
give it to you.  Wear it on your right ring finger, and no other."
 
            Reba took the ring, and looked at it dubiously, for it was
obviously several sizes too large for her.  She shrugged, and slipped
it onto her ring finger anyway.  As soon as it passed the tip of her
finger, it began to shrink.  By the time she had fitted it into proper
position, the ring had become the right size for her hand, and had
transformed into a more feminine-looking adornment.
 
            Andrew was about to tell her to get back in the car, but
something else was tugging at his consciousness.  The amulet!  He'd
been wearing it so long that he'd forgotten about it, since he couldn't
see it.  He instinctively knew that he had to pass this along as well.
 
            He reached beneath his own jacket, and lifted the amulet
off over his head.  As soon as contact with his skin was lost, the
amulet again became visible.  He handed it over to Reba.  "The amulet
is a protection from the magic of others.  Trust me, it works pretty
damned well.  Don't go looking for trouble, but if you get into some,
the medallion should help you get out of it."
 
            "I guess I'm not supposed to take this off, either?"  Her
tone was more subdued now, less hostile.
 
            "I never did, once I got hold of it.  This didn't come with
the ring.  I got it from my... er, magic instructor."
 
            "Will I be getting a magic instructor?"
 
            "I don't know.  Isaac didn't mention anything about one to
me, but Rachel showed up anyway.  You'll merely have to keep your eyes
open."
 
            "Oh.  Okay."  She slipped the amulet around her neck, and
it immediately disappeared.  She could still feel its presence,
though.  "Anything else?"
 
            "Not that I can think of.  Oh, there is one thing.  Don't
try to contact me.  I've told you everything I'm allowed to about the
ring, the amulet, and the magic in general.  Use the ring, practice
with it.  You'll never become good at it without practice."
 
            "How am I supposed to practice, when I don't know what it
does?"
 
            "Trust me, you'll find out soon enough.  Now, let's head
back to campus.  Your roommate is probably wondering where you are."
 
 
 
            The ride to campus was swift and silent.  Reba was
obviously engrossed in her new thoughts about what she could do with
the ring.  Andrew was worried about what turn his life had just taken. 
He dropped Reba at her dorm, and then he headed to the mall.  He needed
to get some new sneakers, and he wasn't yet ready to go home and face
all the people there.  Amber, Charli, Cheryl, and Diane were all
lovely, and supportive, and loving, and occasionally Rachel would spend
the night so that she could learn more about magic, but he wasn't sure
what his life was about anymore.  He had grown used to the magic, had
come to depend too heavily on it.  He would have to adjust to being
normal again.
 
            Andrew entered the mall, and was strangely assaulted by his
senses.  For some reason, everything seemed very sharp and intensely
clear.  He could smell the perfume of a woman nearly halfway across the
store he was in.  He could hear a whispered conversation that was
thirty feet away as if he were standing right by the speaker.  He
wandered into the mall, trying to get his faculties to behave
themselves.
 
            As he was wandering, he spotted a very lovely young woman,
perhaps twenty, who was about to enter a Victoria's Secret store.
 
            The thought only flashed through his mind momentarily.
 
            The woman suddenly turned, and, on seeing him, smiled.  She
walked casually over to him, put her arm in his and said, "I need
someone to let me know how I look in these outfits.  Care to give me a
hand?"
 
            As he walked into the store with her, he thought, *I guess
if you follow the rules, the ring gives you a reward by making its
powers permanent.*
 
*            What a reward.*
 
 
 
