"C'mon Robbie!" Paul whoops as he focuses his soul and takes a flying leap several floors upward. I grin in response and summon my own strength, exploding into motion. The cool wind whistles past our ears as we scale the penthouse building at lightning speed.

"You've already gotten the hang of using your soul?" Paul smiles broadly, "Then let's go faster!"

"Right behind you, boss man!" I affirm with a thumbs up as the air churns around us from the excess power pouring out of our bodies. Paul grabs a nearby ledge and catapults himself upward again, with me following suit.

Who needs elevators when you've got an awakened soul?

My heart thumps with exhilaration. One wrong move and I'll be sent tumbling to my death. But that doesn't matter. I trust in my soul. I've put my faith in the legacy. And it will never let me down.

Even after polishing off half a bottle of whiskey, the only thing I feel is a slight, pleasant warmth in my veins. Paul's nowhere near drunk either other than a mild flush to his complexion. We're faster, stronger and better than ordinary people. The vulgar magic Burke and Maus use seems so petty in comparison. Countless hours of study were needed just to learn the proper spells used boost their physical strength. Whereas Paul and I can do the same thing at a whim.

"The balcony!" Paul points as he angles his next jump toward the exterior of the penthouse unit. I throw both hands out and grab the structure of the building. The reinforced concrete yields like putty and I literally haul myself up the remaining distance.

"Yeah!" Paul flips over the balcony's railing with me powering over it a mere few seconds later. Both of us sprawl all over the floor, laughing uproariously to each other.

"Man, those guys taking vids with their phones must be green with envy." I chuckle while sitting up.

"My family owns this entire building. Meaning I can do whatever I want." Paul smirks with overwhelming smugness, "And I felt like getting some light exercise in."

"The guards downstairs must be freaking out right now." I point out to Paul.

"So what?" Paul shrugs, "We're not intruders in our own home. And I've got an explanation ready if anyone asks."

"This should be good." I snicker, "So what's the explanation, wise leader?"

"I needed to test the skills of my latest knight." Paul helps me up from the ground, "And he passed with flying colors."

"Was there any doubt?" I spread my arms exaggeratedly and pull at the balcony door, "Good, its still unlocked."

Paul and I wander into the penthouse, now plunged into near darkness with all the lights turned off. The glow from the full moon languidly drifts through the windows, letting both of us find our way about without much trouble.

"Looks like Sara and Yvonne got tired of waiting for us." Paul remarks as pads toward his personal bedroom, "Well, see you tomorrow Robbie."

"Not going anywhere." I confirm and wander to the guest room assigned to me while the flood of strength empowering me gradually recedes. When I agreed to Paul's suggestion to scale the building, it felt like my heart exploded from the exaltation. There was a reason why I kept pace with Paul so easily. Following his orders magnified my own soul power, making up for my lack of experience in using it effectively.

The oath I had made, to serve and protect Paul as his knight. Was I experiencing the benefits of following through with it? It made sense in a certain way, my family were bodyguards first and foremost. So obeying and protecting our masters must be something the legacy was already predisposed to do.

From calling Paul my boss to regarding him as "master", I've really settled into the whole knight lifestyle, huh? I'm not complaining though, this is a good life for both my friends and myself. And I'm willing to fight in order to protect it. I gently push open the door to my room and the first thing I see is someone sitting at my desk, staring out of the window.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Robert?" Yvonne whispers as she turns to greet me. The majordomo is still in her maid uniform, both hands clasped neatly on her long skirt.

"You're still here?" I murmur, rooted on the spot. Yvonne rises gracefully to her feet and there's an electric tension in the air. The cloying scent of an unspoken promise. And the swirling abyss of hidden danger.

"I won't bite." Yvonne beckons me, "There's something you need to see."

"Yeah." I swallow hard and let my numbed legs carry me into the room.

Yvonne steps to the side, revealing a long case placed on the table. She flips the lid open and inside it is a hunting rifle. A really fancy rifle, with the stock made out of real wood, embossed in gold with the crest of the Wyvern Conglomerate.

"This is ..." I stare at the weapon in confusion.

"A gift Robert." Yvonne explains, "As a knight, there are certain social expectations you need to fulfill. Your upcoming school trip into the Rift will be a good chance to get some training in."

"Hunting? Really?" I look at Yvonne in disbelief.

"The past time of aristocrats and kings." Yvonne insists, "Paul will teach you the ins and outs of the sport when the time comes."

"Uh, thanks for the gift, I suppose?" I scratch my head, feeling the unseen pressure bear down again, "Is there anything else?"

"Would you like for there to be anything else?" Yvonne smiles archly and takes a demure step toward me.

"I ... I ..." Stumbling backward, my nose is pricked by the scent of Yvonne's expensive perfume. She suddenly moves as swiftly as a cobra, pushing me down to my bed. As my body sinks into the mattress, Yvonne pins me fast with both her hands.

"What do you want Robert?" Yvonne blushes as she stares me down.

"Stop this!" I hiss, a confused mixture of outrage and arousal.

"You're knight and I'm a weak woman." Yvonne simpers, "Don't tell me you can't free yourself right now?"

"Of course I can!" I snap back, "I just don't want to hurt -"

"I know." Yvonne's lips tug upward, "And that makes me happy."

My mind turns into jelly. Yvonne's touch is too much to bear, causing my body to heat up. The fever mounts as my entire soul demands release. Yvonne fills my sight, her expression bearing a knowing smile.

This is it.

The time is now.

I -

Hello Robert.

The charcoal black eyes of Maus lock onto me remorselessly as the talking rat perches on top of my wardrobe, towering over Yvonne and I. Her voice echoes in my head. More of Maus's magic. It has to be.

"Why ... why are you here?" I demand answers from the talking rat.

"Why?" Yvonne pouts, thinking the question was directed at her, "Because I like you, Robert."

Because you are precious to me.

"You're the person I like the most." Yvonne purrs.

And you're more precious to me than you will ever know.

Yvonne's weight shifts on top of me but I barely feel it. All my attention is on Maus, the talking rat's diminutive form exerting the presence of a mountain.

"This is so selfish of you." I moan, "Showing up whenever you feel like it."

"I apologize then." Yvonne giggles softly to herself, her words drifting away on the night breeze.

A little selfishness is the prerogative of this old woman.

Maus's teeth flash in the darkness and I swear she is sneering at me.

Will you take what is being freely offered Robert?

I shut my eyes, trying to block everything out. Yvonne cuddles against me, making soft moans.

Or is it you who is offering himself up?

My soul blossoms as Yvonne puts more of her weight onto me. This is right. This is proper. Like Paul says, getting it on with your master's majordomo is totally cool.

"Take me." Yvonne murmurs into my ear.

I'm going to do it. My body wants this. Body to body. Soul to soul. Yvonne's scent is driving me wild. Submission would never taste so sweet.

And as my hands begin groping at Yvonne's clothes, my eyes see Maus again, disdain overflowing from her eyes, contempt locked into the curl of her lips. Maus is going to watch me fuck. Watch me fuck the same way you would see cats rutting by the side of the road. Pounding away like jackhammers while you guffaw at the sight with your friends -

"No. No!" I push myself up, barely managing to keep Yvonne at bay.

I'm not an animal. I'm in control. In control.

"Its fine Robert." Yvonne says sadly, "I knew this might be too sudden for you."

The majordomo stands and gives me a deep bow before turning to leave.

"I'll wait for you Robert." Yvonne reassures me longingly, "When you're ready, just find me. Alright?"

I nod mutely to myself, heart aching. Its not just from the thought of missing out on what Yvonne had been offering. A void had opened up in my soul, devouring my strength. A palpable sense of displeasure shakes me to my core. Yvonne closes my door with a click and her footsteps recede into the distance.

"Happy now." I hiss at the unwelcome squatter but silence is all I get in return.

Maus had disappeared. Groaning in defeat, I slump onto the bed. Sleep comes quickly.

And so do the nightmares.

Yvonne on the bed, urging me to do what needs to be done. Maus sneering at me from the shadows. And as the nightmare swirls, Yvonne becomes Maus and Maus becomes Yvonne, on and on and on and on and on and on -

Until I can no longer tell either of them apart.