MHOS Part 34: An escape to Lust Lake

I dive into the water and the stinging of the glass cuts immediately soothes. The water is cool and refreshing and fucking quiet. I swim directly back to my cave and I float in the soft glow of the blue green algae as I stare down at and admire my weapons cache like I am a warrior goddess.

I pick up some nylon rope and spin through the water as I hum a little ditty.. the nylon wraps effortlessly around my waist.. the yellow of the rope in stark contrast of the eggplant purple of my dress.. No plastic in the water.. time to bring that back into dry land. I tie a pretty knot in it and wander around the cave trying not to think about what's going on above the shore.

Deep inside I feel like Husk is correct.. Alastor is going to make this take as long as it can possibly take.. and he's going to enjoy every awkward, silent & tense moment he can create along the way. I'm not searching this lake.. This is my home.. I would sense if the target were here.. a foreigner in my territory beyond the mud holes.. and I recognized everyone in the hostel.. I have a day for myself..

Which is good because I'm frozen in place, I can't move, I can't think, I can just exist in this moment. I close my eyes and order myself to move and instead the siren song escapes my throat, I'm humming it louder and louder until I was surrounded by amphibious people kissing and touching at each other.

I stared at the weapons below tempted to grab them and start swinging, then as I pushed that thought out of my mind, I felt hands touching and pulling at me & I let it happen. I closed my eyes and let them pull me into their erotic dance.. My eyes remain closed as I touch every person around me. I let them do to me what they will, as I forget about deals made with overlords, and secret conversations between friends & lovers.. forget how I died because I missed something.. forget about how all I wanted was to stop being so overwhelmed all the time.. stop being treated like an object.. like some prize to be won.. No wonder Sirens never settle.. two weeks here and I already want to run away.

I open my eyes, not feeling much of anything, to find myself naked and close to the exit, I take the opportunity to escape into the mud holes behind the caves to sit alone and heal from the various sex injuries. After settling in my stomach starts grumbling. I sigh deeply and get out of the mud. I spin clean and grab a random skirt left behind and fashion it into a strapless dress to head to the Bodega to get myself something to eat.

I get to the Bodega and ask for a sushi platter and something for thirst. The waitress tilts her head in confusion. "Thirst?" She asks. I look back at her and say "I spend most of my time on land" she nods and comes back with a sushi tray & seaweed salad on the side.

As she approaches she asks "Did you need a mud patch for that bite on your shoulder?" I look back at her and say "I'm sorry?" She holds the mirror tray at an angle to show me a perfectly shaped bruise on my shoulder with a few small puncture marks where teeth were. I didn't even feel it happen, and it was above my armpit so it never got the chance to even try healing. I thank her and she disappears to prepare a mud patch for me. Talk about a full service bistro..

I start on the seaweed salad first and it is fantastic. Raw chopped fish, seaweed & absolutely divine. As I start on the sushi tray the waitress comes back with a bucket of mud and strands of seaweed, she begins applying the mud to my shoulder, gently pressing it into the puncture marks and smoothing a thin layer over the bruise, then she slaps a cake of mud on top of it and begins wrapping the seaweed around my shoulder chest and neck.

When she is done she steps back and looks at her work. I say "Thank you, I had no idea the bistro did first aid" She replied with "Oh we don't. I just wanted an excuse to put my hands on you." I chuckle and ask "Oh yeah?" And she smiles saying "I've been waiting for you to notice me since you asked me where to heal the first time."

I grab her by the back of her neck, pull her face to mine, slowly go to kiss her on the cheek and say "Thank you" in her ear. She slides her hand to my face and before she can kiss me back, I swim away. Sex didn't do anything for me earlier.. It won't fix anything now. I can't think about sex right now.. I'd rather think about blood. The seaweed wraps weren't enough, I wanted a fresh meal. Having no enemies in my home lake meant fighting was off the table, so I would hunt some fresh fish instead. Speed, agility, fun? What's not to love about it?

I head back to the flats and dart through the reeds following all the little water creatures.. and finally.. I can smile again.. I circled a slow moving water creature and bubbles formed, in a ring around it.. it was adorable.. and it was getting late.. time for dinner.. I see a school of fish by the reeds I was at earlier.

Suddenly.. my predatory instincts kick in.. my swimming becomes more precise, my awareness is heightened, I can see every angle the fish could go and I determine the most likely direction and create a contingency for it as I approach.. the fish darts left, I maneuver right, following it mirroring it, driving it into the shallows.. the spin I practiced earlier on the slow moving creature earlier worked perfectly to disorient the fish long enough for me to get my talons in it. A fresh kill.. the fear is delicious..

I head back to the cave where the orgy is still ongoing, I look at the faces to say I did my due diligence but what I am really looking for is that nylon rope I tied around my waist & my dress.

No dress.

No rope.

No target.

Another fruitless day. But.. better.. and that hunt made me crave another..

I am still angry but not so overwhelmed.. I need to go on a hunt.. a real hunt.. I need to hear the terror, taste the fear, see the carnage, feel a beating heart in my hand.. I look at my watch.. It's 8pm already? Fuck..

I swim up to the surface to find Alastor, on the shore, seemingly pleased, stone silent. At this point I don't care. "I searched the stupid lake, he wasn't there" I try to walk past him to get to the car, but he matches my stride saying "I've never seen you wear wet seaweed and mud before. Quite the fashion decision" I look down at the mud seeping down my chest and arm and can only imagine how bad my back looks as most of the mud was placed back there. I start walking to Husks and Alastor follows. I turn around and say "Please." As I hold my hand up "You said my nights were mine." A soft attempt at force.

Alastor looks at Husks cottage, then back at me. "Very well, Ella my love, until tomorrow." Alastor bows "He has been pacing the floor waiting for you." and Alastor retreats into the shadows.

I knock once and walk in. Husks concern shifts, it doesn't fade, but he's relieved. "You came back." He says. I smile "I need a shower." and he looks down and sees the seaweed and mud. He smiles, "You certainly do." He throws the dress in the wash and says "If you're going to come over all muddy and bloody all the time you should think about leaving some spare clothes here."

I stick my head out of the shower curtain "Why Husker.. are you asking me to move in with you?" He smirks and says "No! I'm just thinking.. practically.. you stay here a lot" he says denying he likes the thought, but that smile, the way he rests his forehead to mine.. tells me everything I need to know. So I reply "and maybe a toothbrush, so I can stop using yours" And he takes a step back, his eyes meet mine.. "Yeah, and maybe a toothbrush, it's only practical." His eyes are a little surprised at the bold admission "I'm going to go get you a shirt to wear." he turns to leave and before he does he says "and for the record, I don't mind you stealing my toothbrush." and he closes the door as I finish my shower.. smiling.