₦airaland Forum

^^^^Sections from a fantasy novel I'm working on; took parts from the beginning and the middle. I've hit a (writer's) block and can't seem to continue. I know it's a lot but I'll be glad if you guys in-house checked it out, tell me what u think. I'll post some more bits and pieces later; I just thought to share it with NL while it's still cooking. Constructive criticisms, comments are welcome, but no hating, please!

Through her half-covered lids, she watched as Marsh rose fluidly from the canopied bed, his naked frame silhouetted in the dim candlelight as he headed for the nearby table to pour himself some wine. He thought she was still asleep, so she knew she could look upon him freely and without embarrassment. Now, even after all this time, she couldn’t believe how superbly, he and his kind were formed. Perhaps it was his royal blood, but he was even taller and broader than the rest of the males she had seen in Emeraldom. His large, shapely head was crowned with rich dark locks of the most velvety blend of green and brown, and fell to his large, muscled shoulders. His torso was a tapering length of cord and steel, ending in a flat, washboard belly that would be the envy of any human fitness buff. Another thing of envy, she thought with possessive inner delight, was his manhood which stood proud and heavy from its nestle of curls between his lengthy, strapping thighs. Even now, so soon after their last, body-shattering coupling, he was erect, hard enough so she could see that enticing curve to his massive cock that always gave that extra height to his lovemaking she realised she would never get enough of. No, she could no longer be his bride, but she knew that in a way, he belonged to her, that she had a part of him no one could ever possess for her own.
He turned his broad, deep-lined back to her just then, tipping his head back to down the glass of wine he’d poured, and she almost hungrily admired the curve of his manly ass, which seemed so sexy then she would have given anything to go over and kiss, lick, take a bite of the juicy-looking flesh. She already knew how it felt to squeeze and caress it as he lay atop her, buried in her deeply, the contrast in its firmness and softness enough to drive her to the brink each time. To think that soon, someone else would be entitled to be bestowed the almost insatiable, animal-like lust of his sex, made her bite her lip in fury and powerlessness.
Why had the forces not favoured her, she wondered as, still watching him secretly, she saw him slip on a robe and disappear from the room, perhaps to have a bath in his pool. She knew how he loved the water, how it cooled and soothed him when he was troubled or strained. She could only imagine the amount of pressure he could be under right then. She had felt the tension within him even as their passion had raged, and even as he had spilled his seed deep in her core, she had known he had felt no true release. Something had held him back.
If only her baby had lived, she thought achingly as she buried her face in the pillow to muffle a soft sob of inescapable pain. It had almost killed her to carry the child in her womb, and even as the foetus grew, the analysts had known that something was wrong.
She wasn’t the first human. Perhaps with Marsh, yes, but not with others of the royal band, for whom several earth women had been abducted to mate and breed with them. Carefully picked for the required purpose, they were fertilized soon enough, carried their pregnancies to the end, and had birthed healthy offspring that were now held in a special hidden location where they could be properly and carefully cared for till it was the right time for them to be exposed.
But with her, it had been different. It had ended in disaster, and for some time the analysts had been confused, dismayed at the outcome. They had been so sure she was the perfect match. And when they realised their mistake, she was immediately cast off, practically foisted upon Marsh’s cousin Fen as a bed mate for his pleasures. That was humiliating enough, but then he politely rejected to have her, had chosen not to mate with a woman of the earth as his royal brothers had done.
She didn’t know what would have happened to her if Marsh hadn’t decided to keep him for himself, perhaps out of pity, perhaps out of a love she told herself he had to feel a bit for her. Hadn’t she given herself willingly from day one? Hadn’t she accepted her fate and done as she was bid? She had loved him the moment she saw him, strange man-tree that he was, and had given up all dreams of home and humankind just to be a part of his world.
Now, he kept her in a specially appointed chamber here in his castle, and from time to time, he came to her to slake his hunger for the newly acquired taste of earth-woman, lesser and inferior to their kind but just as pleasurable, even more so, to bed. She was all flesh and heat, and humans had a special touch to their mating, more physical and raw, than theirs which was almost spiritual and a joining of their essences more than a joining of their bodies.

You can never go home.
Those words came to her then, and she pushed the food aside, rising and going to the open window as she looked out at the strangeness afar. Where was this place, she marvelled, and how could she be free from it?
Suddenly, the door was unlocked again and Peata returned. Kiandra was glad now that she had thought to clothe herself first, especially when she realised that Peata had not come alone.
Inside the room with them stood the strangest man Kiandra had ever seen. He was tall, almost devilishly handsome with piercing dark eyes and arresting face. His body was well-built and perfectly formed down to his boot-clad feet. He was dressed like some sort of warrior, or maybe it was just the way he stood, like someone who got things done. He had the same kind of otherwordly skin like Peata, but less pale and soft. He ran his eyes over her half-exposed form, as due to being more heavily endowed than Peata, she had more on display in the slashed-front dress she wore, and she tried in vain to pull the gaping bodice closed.
“My name is Fen,” he told her, and she shivered at the odd sound of his tongue. She marvelled that she could understand them, that they spoke the same language although it was obvious they were not part of her world. They couldn’t be.
“It was I who brought you here, Kiandra,” he continued, and her name seemed so strange when he said it; it was almost like a caress, from which she instantly recoiled. She felt some kind of force between them she could not understand, and felt anger to know he was responsible for her being in this place.
“How was it possible? How could you just…abduct me? Was I drugged?” she demanded to know. She saw them both share a silent look, before Peata chose to answer.
“We function, Kiandra, in ways you can not begin to understand now. This is why your people have never known of us, although we know all about you. Destructive, greedy humans, you have exploited this earth from the beginning of time. It has been our duty to keep the whole world from disintegrating, to keep it alive and well as it was intended when it was Created.”
“So, what are you guys?” Kiandra asked derisively, “Protectors of the Universe? Mother Nature’s avenging angels?” This time, the other two shared amused smiles, and she felt annoyed. “Something like that,” Peata murmured.
Kiandra stomped her feet. “I don’t give a f-ck what you are!” she cried hoarsely. “I want no part of you, of your world, or your master plan!” She remembered every word Peata had spoken to her earlier, especially those last words that seemed more and more ominous when she thought of them. “And I will go home. I demand to be returned home.”
This time, Fen thought it fit to reply. “It’s just not possible, I thought my cousin, Peata told you that. Once you cross the realm, you can not go back. For you, there can be no return. To try to would mean your death.”
“Then I would rather die!” she said hysterically, and lunged for the window, not knowing what she intended as she threw a foot over the ledge, perhaps to jump into the crazy nothingness beyond. But the sudden feel of Fen’s arms about her waist, dragging her back into the room, stopped her. She fought against his formidable frame, but he held her strongly and tightly. Then she looked up, up into the dark pools of his eyes and stilled as if mesmerized.
“You belong to our world now, Kiandra. It was meant from the day you were born. It took us some time to find you, but we did. Now you must be part of us. Accept it.”


“No, I won’t,” she half whispered, her hands pressing against his chest so she could have a sense of the pound of his heart against her skin. Part of her was terrified of his power, another part was drawn to him physically in no way that was humanly possible. She felt the manly length of him against her, and realised in some ways at least, he was indeed like man. He had a beating heart, and his body responded to hers like a man would. Just by holding her close like this, she could tell, with her deep-set female intuition, that he wanted her.
As if reading her mind, he let her go abruptly, and she had to reach out and grab a nearby chair so as not to lose her balance. He made for the door, brushing past the watching Peata.
“Prepare her, cousin. Soon, Marsh would request her presence. She must be ready,” he said in passing, and without a backward glance, left the room.
“Yes, Fen,” Peata replied, but he was already gone. She faced the standing, trembling Kiandra, her expression annoyed. “You will do well no to infuriate Fen. Nor Marsh. It wouldn’t help your matter in the slightest. Just like your world, and even more so, the men rule here. They are our lords and masters, to be obeyed and esteemed.”
Kiandra could assimilate only one word. It was the second time it had been mentioned, and she felt pricked by curiosity and even more fear. “Who… is Marsh?”
Peata’s chin rose a fraction, as if in pride. “My brother. The thirtieth leader of Emeraldom, the source of harmony and the essence of our very realm. He is to be your husband.”
“My… what?” Kiandra breathed, as for once she had an inkling of what was to be her use in this hateful place.

Kiandra was happy to walk into the kitchen and see Leon busy at the cooker, an amazing aroma rising from the bubbling pots. When her man cooked, it was always a treat – but it wasn’t often. What was the special occasion? She wondered as she went up behind him and embraced him warmly, planting a kiss at that vulnerable spot at the back of his neck.
 “Hello, lovely,” he said in his deep, coffee-grated voice, and she squeezed in one last hug before releasing him and craning her neck to look into the pot he was stirring.
 “Hello, Handsome,” she returned, inhaling deeply. “That curry smells gorgeous. Sorry my nap took longer than usual.” She gave him an impish smile before going to the ‘fridge.
 Leon chuckled, putting the lid on the pot and then wiping off his hands. “Hey, after last night, you probably needed the rest.”
 She glanced back at him with her own knowing smile. “Let’s just say, you give a damned good workout. Speaking of such, I thought I’ll go out for a walk, get some fresh air,” she told him as she opened the fridge, glanced in and gasped. Retrieving a large bottle of Dom, she held it up to him accusingly. “What’s champagne doing here, Lee? What’s really going on?”
 He came up to her, took the bottle and put it back into the ‘fridge before wrapping his arms around her waist. “Can’t a man surprise his woman with a romantic dinner? I’m cooking your favourite curry and rice, and the champagne seemed a nice added touch…”  As her accusing look got darker, he sighed, adding, “Look, I planned a special night for us, so quit the vexing. Just go on your walk, come back in an hour or so, and everything will be ready. Geez, someone would think I’m about to burn the house down.” He let her go as she reached for a plastic bottle of water before shutting the fridge door.
 “Well, you are up to something, that’s for sure,” she said, before pecking his chiselled cheek. He was so fantastic that it felt hard leaving him for even a minute as she went on her customary evening walk, but it was her only alone time when she could aerate her mind and body, and she took it serious. She usually walked two hours each day, but today she’d overslept, due to the lack of sleep their raunchy night had cost her. She still tingled all over from the memory of it. And she suddenly couldn’t wait to get back, eat his lovely dinner and have another piece of his loving. So one hour’s walk would have to do…
 As if annoyed by her chaste kiss, he grabbed her arm and drew her to him for a deep, wet smooch, his hand reaching up to squeeze her mounds possessively. “God, I love you, Kiandra. I want you like every minute. It’s driving me crazy.”
 She ran her tongue promisingly over his firm upper lip. “I love you too, Leon,” she breathed, ”You’re like a gift to me. I think I’d die if I lost you.”


 He drew back slightly so he could look into her eyes, his gaze compelling. “You’d never lose me, Kiandra. And I’m going to prove to you tonight how seriously I mean that.”
 Her brows drew together as she looked up at him searchingly. Suddenly, his intent was unmistakable. She knew then that he was going to propose to her. Tonight.
 Not sure how to react to that unexpected possibility, she broke out of his hold with a gentle smile. “I’ll be back soon, darling.” And with one last squeeze of his fingers, she left.
 Outside in the cool and breezy air, she exhaled the breath she’d been holding ever since Leon had made his proclamation. He’d seemed so… so intense! They were in-love, yes even crazy about each other, or else why would they have moved in together two months ago, barely three weeks into their relationship? It had been a kind of whirlwind romance, but Kiandra had never got as far as thinking of something remotely as binding as marriage. She was only twenty-five, a successful writer, beautiful and fit, and marriage should have been on her list of priorities, but strangely it wasn’t.
 When she’d met Leon at a convention, it had been like a joining of soul mates. He hadn’t needed to pursue her for long, because she was good at knowing what she wanted and how to get it. Leon, in his early thirties, was wealthy in his own right, and like she did, worked from home. They decided to live together when they realised it would suit their lifestyles, and since the sex was so good it was getting tiring for them leaving the other’s flat every morning to go back to their place. She had a bigger, more homely apartment, so he had to give up his bachelor pad to move in with her. It had worked great so far, and she’d gotten so used to having him around that it was hellish to think of what it would be like without him. But the idea of marriage had never popped into her head. Why was that?
 She pondered that thought as a particularly heavy breeze lifted large tresses of her long dark hair, and she suddenly regretted coming out with just a light white tee and her low-slung jeans. It was usually warm in the evenings, but today was different. She looked around the quiet, tree-lined street and wondered at the wind that lifted the leaves off the ground. For the first time she noticed that no one had passed by her since she’d been walking. She usually came across a jogger or two, or someone walking their dog. A few cars at least would drive past. But not today.
 Kiandra shrugged the thought off, remembering it was a quiet neighbourhood, peaceful and safe, which was why she’d chosen to live in the area. She’d been walking for almost twenty minutes, and was feeling a little thirsty, and took a drink from the bottle of water she’d taken along. It was then she heard a slight sound behind her, and she looked back quickly.
 There was no one there. Shrugging her narrow shoulders against the slight new chill, she wondered if she shouldn’t just head back, since her thoughts were too jumbled to enjoy her walk anyway. She knew Leon wanted enough time to get the ‘romantic’ setting right, but she could always hide up in her office/study and work on her latest book. Making up her mind, she swivelled round unexpectedly, and thudded head-on into a solid form she hadn’t known was right behind her. Whether it was human or beast she hadn’t the chance to find out, as a blackness so strong and overwhelming took hold of her and pulled her down into its dark, bottomless pit.

The storyline sounds riveting. However, I think the one place that needs to be careful about spelling mistakes is the literature forum. I mean, yikes! "Woman of Furtune!!! Another topic somewhere else read something like, "I'm Hungary for Books!!!" And it happens everywhere on NL, not just here in the lit forum. Maybe I should start a topic titled, "The Importance of Spellchecking" while I'm at it.

I'm just concerned, folks, that's all. We at NL have an image to protect, after all. Revered moderators, over to yu. (sorry, I mean "you"

@ poster, "hungar" no more . . . . However, noone is going to do ur dirty work for u, so i suggest you trawl through this lit forum, there are a hundred or so books to download free with links hidden in some topics - so stop your bellyaching and find them!!!