Bonding Nameless (Bonding - The Ultimate Guide Book 6), page 27
The car shuts off and I hear a car door slam as I try to get back to a breathable space.
“Package delivery!” I hear Kimi call in a proud voice. “That’ll be the rest of our exchange now and a little tip if you don’t mind. She’s feisty.”
What?
“I will need proof that she is present first. Your skin is very interesting. Is it gold?”
Makarov’s voice slithers into my ears and I freeze in place. No. I wasn’t that bad. He can’t.
“Nah, gold is weak,” Kimi’s voice gets closer and I can hear keys jingling.
“What is it then?” Makarov’s voice follows him, getting closer to me as I sweat.
“Mikey, you have to run, ok?”
“Huh?”
“They’re going to take us to a lab,” I choke out. “You won’t survive Mikey; I’m dead fucking serious. Run. I’ll fight to give you some time. Tell Kimi you need to stretch your legs and he’ll let you go.”
I reach for a weapon and find them all gone. It’s during my pat down that the trunk lifts and Kimi and Makarov stand above my terrified form, staring down at me with smug pleasure.
“Why?” I can’t help the question as Kimi’s face gets blurred out by my tears.
“To make your dreams come true. Jeez wifey, get with it already! And stop crying! You know I hate that!”
“Hello again, Astrid. Wait, you prefer your subject number, don’t you? Beatrice. A nice play on it, I must say.”
I try to launch myself at him and he quickly traps my head in his hands, easily breaking my neck until I see Mike’s horrified face begin to scream.
“Hey! No abusing the merchandise asshole! Man, she’s right, you’re totally evil. Pitch black and no coming back. Heh, that rhymed.”
I hate that your brain lasts for seconds after your body has passed.
“I have a place for you as well.”
“Really? I’m so surprised by that!” Kimi’s excited voice is the last thing I hear before the darkness takes me.
I’m yanked back into consciousness by a spray of cold water that soaks me. It’s made worse because I’m instantly aware that I’m naked and tied down to a freezing metal table. The bright lights above me are familiar in a way that I hate with every fiber of my being.
“The subject is awake, sir.” A female voice says with surprised delight.
“A mender,” another person says with awe.
I’m going to kill them all. No waiting, no hesitation. Vendetta would be proud.
I strain against my bindings and find them as sturdy as they’ve ever been. My eyes find a scientist leaning over me and I reach my powers out to force his neck to break by twisting the muscles holding him together. He hits his head on the way down but I hardly notice it as I turn my attention to the female.
“No more of that,” Makarov’s voice is filled with amusement and an instrument drops onto my chest, distracting me for precious seconds.
The rib spreader is in clear view. He hasn’t strapped my head down.
The instant fear paralyzes me and I feel my bladder release as my body stills.
Sparky deserts me and rushes away in a panic.
“Did it satisfy you to kill him? Did it feel good?” His hand strokes down my cheek and I barely see him jerk his chin towards the door. Several feet retreat and a door slides open and shut with a quiet hiss.
“Answer me, my dear.”
My voice has deserted me again.
“If I can find that light inside you and pluck it out you will be perfect. You’re well on your way to it. You just need a few more pushes.”
I stare at him in horrified confusion.
“The Necromant has been true in every way. This will be no different. You will stand at my side, the ultimate in perfection. We will purge this land, together.”
WHAT?
This asshole found Scilla’s book? That’s what this has all been about? He wanted a sidekick for the end of the world?
WHAT THE FUCK?
I am going to kill Scilla.
“All right, enough talk. Let’s begin.”
The first cut barely registers until he digs his fingers in to open my skin, revealing organs and muscles.
The passenger seat greets me like an old friend as my skin pulls out of his grip and closes my wounds before he continues.
“So fast now,” he says, breathless with happiness. “This will be a challenge on its own. What else has changed?”
I fade farther back into my consciousness, Sparky suddenly huddling close.
We’re trapped, helpless.
I end as I begin.
The jerking motions of my body as he tries to open my belly with his hands are pressure in this numb place. His laughter as my body rebels at his actions by closing up, almost trapping his fingers inside, is distant.
He’s getting farther away too and I’m relieved that soon I won’t hear him.
A darkness brushes past me, a chill working over my spine. Something is wrong with that but I can’t find it in me to care. Sparky flickers in my hands and shrinks in size.
I look around and see bars surrounding me but I’m safe inside so it doesn’t matter.
The Goddess
This incarnation has been the most tedious yet.
I push the pesky consciousness of my vessel down until I can’t see her anymore and fully rise.
“Cease,” I say in a bored tone before the man my vessel fears above all others can cut again.
Now that she is a distant flicker of nothing my body is frail. It irritates as much as it delights. I feel again. The brief flashes of sensation are at an end.
He stops and eyes me with a taunting smile.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’ve gained what you seek and this will be tedious for us both if you continue.”
He leans back clutching his bloodied scalpel as he takes in the change of demeanor.
“If you persist, the body will die. I’ve just gained it and I rather enjoy having all these nerve endings to explore.” I purr with a twisted smile.
His lip quirks up as his eyes narrow. He sets the scalpel down on a tray lined with instruments meant to torture. It seems my vessel has endured much. The reason for the stubbornness perhaps.
“The light?” He presses and slowly pulls a key from his pants pocket.
It was that close and out of reach. Foolish of him. A thief could take full advantage.
“Gone,” I shrug a single shoulder. Or soon to be. I can feel it fluttering like a helpless moth deep inside. I need it to renew the bonds for this vessel before I crush it. Something about this place is keeping me from achieving it.
There is only one link and I have never been able to contain the wild power of my prince.
Another irritation. He’s close but I can manage this. He’s imprisoned after all.
The key slowly releases one wrist and I lie pliant with a smile. This one will make a decent worshiper.
The male watches me as if this is a test and I bide my time as I watch him in return. He’s handsome in this world’s strange way of perfection. He’s a polished stone that dazzles.
All of my bindings are undone and he steps back to watch as I stretch my newest limbs. It’s divine to feel again. I sit up, thoroughly enjoying the play of muscles beneath my skin.
“You’re different,” he notes and I give him a patient look.
“Ultimate power comes at a cost, dearest.”
His eyes widen over the affectionate name as I slide off the table to stand before him.
I look down at the mess the vessel has made of my body.
“Is there a place to bathe? It seems as though weakness prevailed,” I breathe an irritated sigh.
He gestures towards a sink where several towels lie.
“No bathing chamber?” I ask calmly as I begin cleaning myself. “I assumed you had amassed wealth.”
“You are not Astrid.”
I give him a flat look. “Of course not. This vessel is a fine creation though. You have delights you’ve never known at your hands and you complain? One could find offense in that.”
“On the contrary,” his smile turns wicked and I return it.
“You will be a fine devout one.”
His approaching steps halt. “A devout one?”
I fling the filthy towel into the sink as I turn back to him. “A worshiper. One of my elite.”
His eyes go flat with distaste, surprising me.
“I worship nothing.”
I nod in agreement, “Not yet. You simply need some persuasion. They all do at one point or another.”
He lifts the scalpel from its tray and I tsk his actions.
“I have all the time in this world to convince you dearest. Make it easy on yourself and accept this as your first punishment. Otherwise, it will get worse.”
His mouth twists in a disbelieving smile and I fill him with sickness.
The scalpel drops from his hand in seconds as his approach stops. His skin bulges in a familiar fashion that pulls a pleased smile from me. His bones cease to hold him as he collapses into a puddle. He can’t scream as his eyes bulge out and his body’s fluids leak from every orifice it can, pulsing through his pores when the pressure becomes too much.
Pores. This body has pores. My first form and several that followed did not. I’m not used to the secretions yet. Filthy.
I feel along my skin with pleasure, finally able to now that I’m alone. I can’t wait to rebond and finally copulate again. I’ve missed that bliss; my other reincarnations were more bent on destroying the finer things in life.
“I had hoped to break my fast with you,” I look at his gelatinous form with sorrow. “Begin worship soon so I can enjoy you fully.”
13. Lost
I’m in the cage again.
“He used Scilla’s book to try and make me a damn weapon.” My body is weak and Sparky isn’t much better.
I screwed the pooch here.
Sparky: “So he read her diary. That’s not her fault.”
“Are you sure? How do we know this wasn’t one of her plans?”
Sparky: “If this was a plan she would have put a stop to it.”
“She can put a stop to just about anything! She’s choosing not to!”
Sparky: “Except chaos. And this right here? Is chaos.”
“You’re proving my point asshat. Regardless, I’m still blaming her,” I grumble.
“Of course you are,” she sighs as if she’s disappointed in me.
The gray realm surrounds me but I’m not floating this time. The cell I’m stuck in seems to be on solid ground underneath all the mist.
Weird. I’m dreaming again.
But this feels different in a way that I can’t describe. I don’t feel asleep at all. I’m tired, weak, and sweating. I’m still naked. I try to will some clothes to appear but nothing happens.
The fog parts around me and I take in more cages.
They’re in a straight line and have one person in each. Four of them, five if you include mine.
All of the reincarnations are here except for GV2, the OP of this shitstorm.
Each one has a charred-looking orb with them, speaking in quiet tones, laughing. I look down at Sparky and she looks up.
What is going on?
The fog parts even farther back and five Kimis are revealed. The original in his leather pants and loincloth, his crown perched jauntily on his head. The next in jeans and a shirt with Human skin. The list goes on and devolves into insanity in clothing choices. It’s like seeing a timeline of how far Kimi has fallen in physical form.
I clutch the bars of my cage, searching for the one I know but he isn’t here. Unless he’s hiding, but why would he?
“The Crying One has arrived,” Original Kimi tilts his head to take me in. The rest follow suit and the GV2 reincarnations start laughing at me.
“She’s pathetic.”
“What’s wrong with her hair?”
I give them all a sneering look. “Really? You’re going to mean girl your way through this bullshit? What a joke.”
The first cage opens and the drunk comes out swinging. The charred Sparky clone attacks with gusto but there’s no form to it. They wait for her with a sense of boredom that makes me think this has happened one too many times.
She makes it to them and drops from a tail through the chest. Her form disappears, the attacking orb bursting into ashes and following her.
“Wow.” I take a seat to watch. Sparky rolls into my lap and I start wishing I had popcorn for this.
The businesswoman is next. She has a little more flair. A planned attack that energizes all the Kimis. She must be trying something new. It fails spectacularly within minutes.
The drugged one is pathetic. She tries to seduce her way out of it, offering so many different sexual services that my mind boggles over the options. They don’t wait for her to finish her speech before killing her. If I’d known that many things were out there… no. I don’t think I could bend like that on my best day.
The prison reincarnation gives them the best run but they seem to just be playing with her. Her fight lasts the longest and she’s desperate to win. They never give her a chance to wound them and it’s making her so angry she gets sloppy.
My door opens and I sit there with a frown.
“Me next?” I point to my chest and get a lot of what an idiot looks in return.
“Come out, Crying One,” OG Kimi snaps furiously and his tail follows suit.
“If you kill me will all this be over?” The hopeful tone of my voice seems to confuse them.
“Yes,” one of them says with a tilted head.
“But where’s the Goddess? Doesn’t she get a turn?”
“She is above,” OG says grimly.
“She’s winning?” Sparky cries and they look at her with even more confusion.
“No! She can’t win,” I look at all of them in horror. “Where is my Kimi? Is he still fighting her?”
They all freeze in place, each face descending into shock. Some look horrified as they stare, others with wonder.
“What’s happening right now?” My urgency propels me out of the cage, Sparky hot on my heels. “How do we get her down here?”
“You do know our true name.” Several of them speak at once and it confuses me even more.
“Dude!” I clap my hands to get them back on track. “We need to get her down here with us.”
“We can’t,” one of them steps closer to me with a hand outstretched. His tone is so sad I can’t help but take it. He pulls me closer to him and his tail wraps around my ankle. “This is why you’re always so sad.”
I blink at him with my own confused face. “Well, if you kill me first will she come down?”
They look at each other warily.
“We can’t,” OG says with a gritty tone of anger.
“Why not? I’m right here. Do you need me to fight back or something? I can do that.” I settle in a ready stance and bounce on my toes.
“This is what we were missing,” one of them elbows another and they snicker at each other.
“You gave us our true name,” OG is beginning to lose his temper as he stalks back and forth, his tail lashing the ground like it did him wrong.
“What does that mean?” I look at the sad one and he gives me a hesitant smile.
“We’re mated,” several say at once.
“Uh, no. We didn’t bond. I specifically said no so he would stay safe and she wouldn’t get a chance to take over. Not that that worked,” I end with a grumble.
“The best of intentions laid to waste.” Sparky sighs dismally.
OG stops and stares at me with an intensity I don’t like.
“You said our true name to him, correct?”
“I told him I would call him Kimi when we first met. Why is that our focus right now? We need to kill that bitch! Like, yesterday fast!” I flap my hands around in frustration.
They all start nodding and I suddenly find myself shaking my head in refusal of whatever they’re about to say. We’re on two different wavelengths. Not unusual with Kimi but this one is really pissing me off.
“You slept next to one another?”
“What?” I try to think back to what feels like ages ago. “I got drunk and when I woke up he was driving us to the TGT mansion. Does that count?”
“Yes,” they all say firmly.
“But we never had sex. We never bonded.” I’m so confused.
“Your dimension’s rules don’t matter,” OG rubs a hand over his face with frustration.
I give him a frown and mutter, “Rude.”
“We are mated. It is a fact. We all feel it,” OG gestures around and some of them look happy while others are pissed.
“That’s not possible. There has to be a bond,” I insist.
“It is a bond,” the sad one looks confused as he watches me stalk around just like OG. “To name one of my kind is to mate.”
“There will come a name, a sleep so our scents can mingle, we will guard our mate while the sleep takes her. Nothing that follows matters. It is done,” OG snaps and I glare at him.
“Are you telling me we were mated this whole damn time!?”
No one answers and I scream out my rage.
Sparky: “He will die.”
“No,” I yell and Sparky bounces back away from me. “We can get above. We can find another way.”
Sparky: “He will not wait. He is a hero.”
“No,” my tone turns grim as I glare at her. “He’s morally gray. We’re both morally gray and we’re going to start cheating for the win. I don’t give a fuck what needs to happen but we’re doing it.”
Sparky flares up and stands at attention.
“Find us a way out, Sparky.”
She zips away, fading into the mist. I turn in a useless circle, frustrated that there’s no convenient exit sign pointing me in the right direction.
“FUCK!”
14. Good Day to Be a Bad Guy
K i m i
My wifey had better love this gift. I’m making a lot of sacrifices here and it needs to be appreciated. If she doesn’t bond me after this I might have to rethink this mating. I haven’t even gotten a ring… or a wedding! Now that I think about it, I’m getting the shit end of this relationship. When is she going to do her part in this? Where’s my wooing damn it?
