The soft sound of Jazz music that was not fully muted by the walls, welcomed Marco as he arrived back to his home. He was a mess, he did not even want to look at the mirror in the elevator. Non-matching clothes, bad hair, exhaustion in addition he was tired and hungry.
Yelena must be still in, and awake. With a small hesitation he knocks on the door. Saying “Morning Yelena, My keys are with you I am afraid”.
Yelena breaks her reverie at the sound of Marco’s voice. She gets up from the chaise and moves into the living room, calling out. “Yelena coming.” She unlocks the door and steps aside to let him in.
Marco smiles, he did not know that he was capable of such feat at his condition, but the situation of him being greeted by Yelena in his robe at his own apartment was a bit strange, then again, it was a strange night.
“Morning, I see you already found your way to the shower. Did you discover my coffee machine yet?... I could definitely use some coffee before I hit that shower myself, do you want some?”
She shuts the door behind Marco after he enters the apartment, looking at him. “Yes, Yelena like coffee. Not know your machine.” She looks wistful, “Marco have Russian coffee?”
Yet another disappointment, he thinks to himself and answers. “No I drink Italian coffee and I live here alone so just Italian for now... I’ll get your kind if you ever visit me here, under normal circumstances” He walks to the machine in the kitchen and makes some coffee, he then browse the refrigerator for a couple of apples. Not the classical coffee and pastry but will do for today.
He moves to the balcony shortly after with the apples in one hand and two glasses of coffee in the other. places them and tosses Yelena an apple. “They are really good, I hope you like...”.
Yelena nods and smiles, “Italian good. Yelena like. Yelena in Italy three months many years ago. Working.” She follows Marco into his kitchen and looks over his shoulder as he peers into the refrigerator, gasping as she sees the food. “Marco have fragging real food? Not soy drek? Yelena impressed.”
She goes out to the balcony with him after the coffee is done and sits on the chaise. She catches the apple and bites into it. “Yelena not have real apple in long time. Thank you.” She sips at the coffee and gives him an appreciative look. “Can talk Yelena? Sorry I borrowed robe and used hot water.”
Marco replies:
“Don’t be, somethings are better when shared. Demo... aham, Sam pays for it anyhow I try to only spend her money on stuff I could do without. Otherwise I will never be free” He says and then drinks some of his coffee, the high caffeine content the company and the good air, makes the day bearable. The apple is delicious. He adds, “Didn’t you had real food yesterday? I sent you and Arc to my favorite Italian restaurant yesterday. I wanted to join you, but I was afraid to finish all our pocket money before we even reach the club.”
“Why want free of Sam?” Yelena waves her hand at the apartment. “Much money. Good boss to Yelena so far. Is monster boss in disguise?” She takes another bite of the apple, “Yes. Yelena had real food yesterday. But whole day was not real so not really enjoy food. This day is real so enjoy apple and coffee.” She looks carefully at the man near her. “Why Marco leave? Yelena make afraid?” She passes a hand in front of her chest. “Marco see tattoos and not want Yelena any more?”
Marco replies: “The apartment is paid by my well... day job. Sam pays for all the little extra’s that makes it more pleasant. She is not that bad really, she saw an opportunity and seized it. I would have done the same until not long ago. Many people are like that, I just expected more from her“.
He then adds: “Sorry about yesterday, I probably overdid it, wanted you to have a fun day and feel super hot and comfortable at night.” ... “ about last night... “ he sigh ”I wanted you very much, still do... I just did not want you like that... About tats they make you what you are, they are part of your past - but I am more interested in your future. I do not find them repulsive or anything if thats what you mean.”
Yelena laughs, “Yelena feel very special yesterday. But was only for day and Yelena knows it not real. Yelena like that, but not her. Too many years in gangs and prison to be like that.” She finishes the apple and puts the core on the small table between them and takes up her coffee again. She takes a few sips while appraising the man, “Marco right about tats. Tell story of prison for Yelena. Life hard but Yelena want look future. too, not past. But long ago past is why Sam find Yelena and why hire me. Yelena want know more of this Sam who is both man and woman. Like Marco? Man and woman? Magic or other?”
Marco struggles to hide his surprise. “Sam is like that? I only know her female form.” He sighs, “Apparently while she knows a lot about me I know nothing about her. Still I could have been captured by some darker force.” ... “About me? I have some demon blood in me. I can change my appearance not only male or female but also to the form of animals. I also enjoy both sexes but thats a different story. “
“... How did Sam find you because of your past... what did she do?”
“Sam came Yelena as man. Hired me kill mage of Smiley Face monster. Made love to Yelena as man. Yelena not know how Sam found. He just find. Knows much of Yelena and made pact to give something Yelena dearly want as pay. So take job and kill mage.” She shrugs, “Sam also come hospital as man, then later as woman look like demon. Even horns and tail. Much knowledge. Much influence. Tell doctor save Yelena when doctor want let die. Yelena owe Sam.”
Yelena smiles when Marco talks about his sexuality. “Why different story? Is Marco story so is good part. Besides, Yelena like both sexes. Marco have skill. Yelena only know to kill people. Not like change form. Would help Yelena much to do that.”
Marco laughs when he hears Yelena mention Sam as a demon... “I call her Demoness because she is evil. Seduced me into her shadowy world to be part of a plan I cannot understand. Kept her leverage hidden until I wanted out... It is the killing that made me discovered the true nature of our relationship. It was greed that captured me in the first place. I am skilled with a gun, but I never killed anyone. I only used the stick and shots a couple of times.... I know that there is great evil inside of me, I am not sure what I will become if I cross that line. I don’t know if I will be able to stop. I hope that I have a choice in there, this is what keeps me going”.
“I use my shape changing powers merely for pleasure... I really enjoy fishing, flying like a bird, hunting or swimming like a dolphin or a seal - you should come with me some time... it is unlike anything you can experience in human form. Each body feels different.”
“Now if you excuse me, I think I’ll hit the shower myself and switch into something clean.... I look awful right now and probably smell that way as well. I won’t be long and we can have some real breakfast afterwards.”
Marco gets up and goes to the shower, not considering that his shower robe is taken.
Yelena leans forward, “All people have evil inside. Most never use. Yelena very evil person. Much use talent to kill innocent people. Many people.” She shrugs, “Some were bad, yes, and deserved die. But many did not. Yelena fight inner ghosts for many years. Not pleasant. So Yelena tell Marco not slip across line.”
Her eyes light up. “Marco make Yelena change? Would like.”
Yelena sits back and watches Marco leave the balcony for the shower. She waits two minutes then stands and goes into the bedroom where she slips out of the robe, placing it across the bed. She can hear the water running as she quietly opens the door to the bathroom and slips in. Opening the shower door she steps in and takes the bar of soap from Marco. “Yelena wash Marco back.” She glances down before looking up with a smile, “And front. See what comes up to talk about.” She soaps his back then turns him around to do his front. As her hand lathers him she turns her face up to be kissed, if he has the inclination.
Marco is a bit surprised, but Yelena seems to have her mind set. She makes it so natural, and somehow she enters his personal space so he just enjoys her touch, silently. As she turns her head he softly says as he approaches her lips “don’t be scared...” and he casts the mindlink spell, sharing with her his full spectrum of sensual feelings as he deeply and passionately kiss her. A short while later he thinks at her “is it okay with you?”
Yelena is momentarily caught off guard by the mind link. This is new and she gasps as she shares the sensuality of the experience. She loses herself in the kisses, returning as much as she gets and wonders if she heard his question with her mind or her ears. She murmurs in response, “Yes. Yelena like. Yelena want. Marco turn water off and take Yelena bed. Breakfast later.”
Marco turns off the water, and thinks “just don’t let go or we lose the link...” he hugs her and carry her to his bedroom, thinking “You are actually the first one I brought in here.” He gently places her on the bed and lies next to her, stroking her lips and body with a single finger, enjoying her pleasure using the link to map her body. He places her hand on his chest, and let her feel his pulse as he shares his anticipation with her. “Take it slow, everything is more intense like this”, he thinks.
Yelena shares the experience and the emotions with Marco, enjoying the full play of this extra feeling enabled by the spell. It is hard for her to keep things slow, as she is normally a very energetic lover, but she accepts that Marco knows best. At least for her first time. Afterwards, she lies next him, quivering as much as he is. Placing a hand on his chest she says, “Yelena sex never better. Yelena like again some time.” She rolls away a few inches, allowing her hand to leave his chest and break the link. “Some rest then shower more.”
She mentally thumbs her commlink. <Arc. Yelena. Damn. Yelena lose time. Now almost 10:30 AM. Can pick up at noon? Wait.> She looks over at Marco. “Yelena telling Arc to come at noon. What is address?” She goes back to Arc, <Address sending. Let Yelena know if cannot come.> After she sends the message, Yelena moves back to snuggle with Marco.
Marco looks into Yelena’s eyes and whispers “WOW”, still struggling to keep his breath. His eyes becomes heavy and he quickly descend into a deep sleep. His last memory before falling asleep was the warmth of her soft body against his chest.