Amara

Anna took her by the hand and led her upstairs.

She felt herself tremble as the Tigran’s soft paws bristled against her skin. She suddenly felt ashamed by her lack of bathing, and for the first time the fire inside her body rushed to her cheeks. What didn’t help this was the way Anna turned round at the top of the stairs, flashed her smile, and took Amara by her other hand.

She felt like she was giving up her body to this stranger. Resistance was starting to prick inside her bowels again.

But then she looked at that warm smile and felt calmness wash over her. Mixed with the perfumed scents coming from the room Anna was leading her to, it made for a palpable assault on the senses.

Anna opened the wooden door of her bedroom to reveal a dimly lit chamber not dissimilar to Amara’s room at the inn, at least on first appearance. As they entered, Amara sniffed the perfumed air again and realized that the candles burning throughout the interior were clearly scented – the fresh odor of passionflower, elderberries, vanilla ice cream and fragrant thistles wafted into her nostrils. It was like entering an untouched flower meadow.

A double bed with what looked like fresh sheets dominated the center of the room, and beside it was a heart shaped chaise that held a mirror.

Anna clasped her hands together and kept them at her waist.

"It’s not much," she said. "But its mine, and it took a lot of time to put it all together."

Amara breathed deep the air of the room, and the flames of the candles flickered as she took their oxygen supply into her lungs, feeling the trapped power contained in their melting stalks. It was like the churches she’d frequented throughout Averix. This was a space where she felt scared and strong at the same time.

"It’s -uh- nice," she said simply.

Anna smiled and sat down on the bed, her eyes moving over Amara’s body. She shifted at the door.

"Where can I sit?" she asked.

Anna giggled lightly and smoothed a small fold of the bed next to her. "Right here."

Amara’s hands clenched instinctively. She tried to get through to the Voice, but felt herself unwilling to take her mind out of this situation. It was strange – the power she felt here was mixed with absolute fear, and it left her mind greatly puzzled. She brushed her fringe out her eyes and breathed again, looking down at Anna who was watching her intently.

"Amara," she said. "It’s ok."

Amara clutched her chest as she closed the door behind her and made her way over to the waiting Tigran. Her tail was playing across the bed now, like a little furry snake. Amara admitted to herself that the bed looked like the comfiest object she’d ever laid eyes on. She vaguely had an idea of what was happening here. She knew, and yet she still waded through the whisps of smoke in the air towards the bed. Anna hadn’t forced this on her. Nor had the Voice. Right now, it was her own new will that propelled her forward.

She sat at the opposite end of the bed from Anna, not looking at her, keeping her hands clasped on her knees and cursing herself for shaking. Then she felt Anna move closer, and suddenly looked down to see that the Tigran’s warm paw was resting on her hands again.

"Hey," she whispered as Amara’s eyes turned to look into hers. "It’s ok to be nervous."

Amara gulped despite herself. She fought against the urge to pull away, but found her cheeks were flushed again and her head wouldn’t quite move.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"This is not the kind of healing I’ve heard about in the churches," Amara said.

Anna giggled quietly. "The churches of Amarata? Personally, I’m not a big fan. They’re a little stuffy."

"You mean you don’t worship Amarata?" Amara asked, unconsciously whispering too now.

Anna answered as her hand found Amara’s hair and began stroking it gently.

"Most Tigran believe in Yevua," she said. "And She says that the body is a place more deserving of worship than any God or Goddess. The body has its own memory, and its own ways of healing."

Amara looked into the deep blue of the Tigran’s crystal-clear eyes.

"How?" she asked.

"Let me show you."

Anna inched forward and planted a wet kiss on Amara’s lips. She was soft, smooth, and slightly ticklish, but the sensation was pleasant – like a cleansing rain melting on the dry rocks of a dead, panting piece of earth. Amara’s own lips reacted at first with dumb paralysis, but slowly she relaxed into the Tigran’s embrace, feeling the intoxicating warmth of her hand stroking her hair and brushing her cheeks. Neither pulled away, and Amara found herself moaning as the reaching tongue of the Tigran entered her mouth and twisted round her own. The sounds of their passion awoke sensations in Amara that she’d never even known were there, buried deep down at the bottom of her being, at the place between her legs that was becoming hot, and urging her to move.

Suddenly her eyes went wild as Anna’s other hand touched her there, beneath her dress, her fingers stroking the place where her father had put himself every night – where he had forced himself into her and grunted like an ogre as his sweating body pinned her down on the mattress with the ropes, and his saliva dribbled into her mouth…

"No!" she screamed.

She pushed Anna away with more force than she’d intended to and ran from the bed to the door, covering herself as much as she could, smoothing the folds of her cloak maniacally. Her breathing was stagnated, and she reached towards her throat, feeling like the air in her very lungs was close to leaving her entirely.

The memory was too real. She had felt him. Those were his fingers. Not hers.

She looked back at Anna who was staring at her with apprehension in her eyes.

"I – I’m…" Amara whimpered. She hated herself for her weakness. She hated that she was about to break down in front of this girl.

But then she felt the tender hand of the Tigran touch her back and stroke it, gently. She spoke not in anger or sadness, but with a solemn guilt.

"Amara," she whispered. "I’m so sorry. I got too carried away. I should’ve asked if you were ok with me touching you there. I should’ve – gah! – I’m such an idiot!"

And she pulled away to flop down on the bed and beat her head on the pillows there. It was like watching a child throw a tantrum while being grounded.

"N-no," Amara stammered, straightening her hair and turning back towards her. "It’s not your fault. I’m just – I don’t know. I can’t. I’m sorry."

Anna rose and breathed a long sigh. "You have nothing to apologize for. I’m just a dumb, greedy kitten. When I taste honey, I want the whole beehive."

Amara blinked in confusion as Anna starting giggling again. She had no clue what she meant, but somehow felt caught up in her laughter, too.

"If you want to leave now, I totally understand," Anna said. "Believe me, I didn’t bring you here just for this. I told you: I want to get to know you. It’s not every day a beautiful, independent, and most of all mysterious girl wanders into this backwater town. But if you want to go, I won’t stop you."

Amara looked quizzically at her, stifling a slight smile. ‘Is being mysterious really that special?’

"You kidding? It’s incredibly sexy," Anna replied with a wink.

Amara just chuckled. This world only got weirder and weirder.

"Well, I still want to stay," she said, surprising even herself with the admission. "If you will let me."

"Of course. You can stay in the spare room just next door, if you like. I can give you the key. It’s totally secure, and I won’t bother you if you don’t want me to. Kitten’s honor."

"That’s really ok! I would like to – you know – get to know you, too."

Anna smiled again. "Good," she said. "I’m glad."

She leaned forward slowly, keeping her distance, Amara knew. But she hated that she felt it was necessary. Amara had acted like an idiot – like a patient with some odd disease.

Still, the feeling she’d felt as those lips met hers hit different. It was more than she’d ever expected.

"Amara," Anna whispered softly. "Would it be ok if I hugged you goodnight?"

Without saying a word, Amara nodded, and Anna threw her arms round her with the slow, methodical grace of a practiced dancer. She held her close, not too tight, just enough that Amara could feel her hot breath on her shoulder. As she hugged her back, and bid her companion goodnight, Amara thought with sorrow that the warmth of this Tigran was more than just something new.

It was something she didn’t even deserve.

----------------------------------------

Want to see the alternate ending to this chapter?

Join the Patreon below for access to this exclusive NSFW scene (as well as all others in the story)