"Holy Shit," Ginette said as she walked closer to the mirror and reached her hand toward. The reflection mimicked her action.

"Holy has nothing to do with me," Ambrogi said. "I scented some unholy ideas in your mind, especially about your African friend. Too bad you lack the same desire for Russian, but deep inside you want a taste."

"I didn't agree to this so you can help me get laid." Ginette went from fear to sass in record time.

"What do you ready want, Ginette?"

"To save the world?"

"No!" Ambrogi snapped back. "That is what they want, the witchdoctor and the conjurer. What do you want? No one has ever asked you that? I can give you so much. Anything your sick heart desire."

Ginette stared into the mirror as a wide grin embraced Ambrogi's face. "Yes," Ambrogi said. "Your mind is opening up to some many possibilities." Her blue tongue licked her lips as she let a snigger crept out. "I love it."

Ginette had tasted the backhand of a few, and the harsh words of abuse slapped across her ears, but never felt kindness and gentleness of a lover's touch or the warmth wetness of a lover's kiss. She wasn't naïve about sex, she had some boyfriends. The decent ones moved too slow and treated her like a delicate porcelain doll. The other ones painted her mouth with their tongues and kneaded her breasts like they were making bread. None of her immature boyfriends ever got past second base, but she did desire so much more from Tristan. She closed her eyes and thoughts of Tristan touching her in unfamiliar ways but shook her head to bring her back to reality.

"No," Ginette said. "Like I said I don't need your help."

"Yes," Ambrogi said. "Because you are doing great on your own in that area." Before Ambrogi could say another word, a knock came to the door. Ambrogi put her finger to her lips letting Ginette to stay quiet.

"Is everything all right?" Liliya asked.

Ginette was about to tell Liliya what was going on, but decided to take Ambrogi's advice and said nothing about the deity. She looked at the door. "Everything is fine," she said and look back at the mirror. Ambrogi was no longer there, just the pretty face of Ginette. She wrapped the towel tight around her body and opened the door.

"You okay?" Liliya asked with the concern of a loving big sister.

"I'm good." Ginette adjusted the towel to show less cleavage.

"I hear you talking to yourself again. Are you sure everything is fine?"

"I like told you before. That is how I work things out." Ginette walked by Liliya

Liliya grabbed Ginette's arm. "Is everything worked out?"

Ginette's looked down as she felt the warm pressure on her arm. "Yeah, it is all good."

###

The realm of shadows was absent of light. The darkness would overwhelm any mortal as their minds couldn't comprehend total nothingness. The sounds of screams and the smell of burning coal fill the air. Unlike Ambrogi, the shadows could exist of on the Material Plane for a limited time without a host. Usually, they would attack during the night while their victims sleep, but some could reach between Planes, those were the times they were invisible to the world, but not to Ginette, who could see them.

A tall slender figure with a slight muscular built was sitting on a throne of blackness. His crown of rusted iron rested on his head. His face was black as coal with only his bright red eyes pierced the darkness. He stared into the void as his advisor entered the room. The advisor was the shadow that attacked the mansion. He didn't say a word as he bowed in silence as he waited for the Shadow King to response.

"Who is the vassal?" The Shadow King asked. His voice ripped through the quiet like a lion's fangs mauling the flesh of its prey.

"She is young, my king," the advisor said.

The Shadow King stood from his chair. "A mere child?" He questioned.

The advisor looked up at his master. "She is young, my king, but not a child. She had seen the passing on 19 years. She might be what you have been looking for."

The king long claw-like fingers stroke his chin. "She is not aware of this as Ambrogi is not aware."

"Correct."

"Show me this vassal."

"Yes, my king." The advisor rose to his feet and his nails ripped through the darkness, creating a window to the Material Plane. They peeked into the mansion as the king got the first look at the vassel. Ginette was lying on her bed. Her short tight tank top showed her curves as it exposed her belly. Her form-fitting panties hugged her ass and showed off her soft creamy legs.

"She is young, like you said," the king commented. "But she is perfect."

"Yes," the advisor answered. "Her name is Ginette."

"She is a lovely creature. " The Shadow King reached out his hand wishing he could touch the soft tender flesh of the vassel. But unlike the other shadows, the King didn't have the freedom to roam from plane to plane. He was stuck in his own kingdom, but his advisor could make it possible for short encounter.

"Later," the advisor informed. "I will make it possible for you to meet.

"Make it soon," the king warned. "I will not be denied."

###

She stared at the ceiling with her hand over her stomach. Her mind wondered about Ambrogi, this crazy thing inside of her. Her thoughts ran through her head. "What do I want?" She asked out loud. "Peace? Love? Or chocolate?" Her eyes closed, it had been a long time since she had some chocolate. "I would love to stink my teeth into big chocolate candy bar filled with nuts." Her tongue licked her lips as the thoughts continued.

"If you want a candy bar," Liliya said as she entered the room. "Then go to the kitchen get one."

Ginette's eyes opened and she propped herself up on her elbows. "Do you fuckers ever knock?"

"Please," Liliya said with a snigger. "It wasn't like you were in your room finding yourself." She made air quotes with her fingers when she used the term, 'Finding yourself.' "Do you want a chocolate bar? Or do you desire another darker temptation?"

"God." Ginette sat up and folded her arms over her stomach. "Does everything you say always have sexual overtones?"

"Yes," Liliya answered. "And it sounds even better with a Russian accent." She sat next to Ginette on the bed. "But I did come in here tease you about the sweetness that is Tristan's lips."

"Oh my God," Ginette proclaimed as she fell on back on the bed, but she didn't notice that Tristan entering her room.

"God is a little too much," he said. "You should stick to calling me, Tristan."

"Dammit." Ginette grabbed a pillow and covered her waist. "I have an understanding the Russians and Africans don't understand the concept of knocking?"

Tristan laughed. "Oh, we understand." He knocked on the open door. "May I come in?" He asked flashing his beautiful smile.

Ginette blushed when he walked closer to her. Her eyes traced every inch of her dark temptation. His black tank top exposed hide his sculpted arms. The tightness of his shirt couldn't hide his well developed pecks or the soft contours of his stomach. His shorts were loose, but not too loose, as she was able to make out a large bulge in his crouch. She wished she could rip off his tank top and free little Tristan from his restraints. His light brown eyes, his soft full lips and the smooth texture of his chocolate complexion woke up a lot of primal feelings in Ginette and all were very bad or very good depending on your point of view. She couldn't deny the sexual attraction she had for him. She wasn't sure if he felt the same cravings, but it was hard to tell. They haven't had much alone time in the mansion.

"Get your clothes on," Tristan said. "And meet me outside. We need to talk."

"Sure."

Tristan walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Liliya moved in closer to Ginette and said. "You don't have to put on your pants," Liliya joked. "You can go down butt ass naked and see how long he can keep it down. I bet it would be high noon by his sundial."

Ginette grabbed the pillow and slapped Liliya across the face. "Your mind just stays in the gutter."

"Deep down, you know that he wants," Liliya said as she pointed to Ginette's face. "This vanilla cupcake covered with sprinkles."

"Liliya," Ginette said in a playful way.

"I bet your center is wet and creamy," the Russian joked.

"Dammit," Ginette said and smacked Liliya repeatedly with the pillow. After a playful fight, she put on a pair of tight blue jean and a t-shirt.

Liliya scanned over Ginette's outfit. "Trying to give him a fighting chance?" She asked. "You should show more skin. Make something in his short jump out real..." Before she could finish the statement, Ginette smacked the Russian in the face with the pillow again.

"Stop being so nasty," Ginette said.

###

Ginette hopped out the door, looking Tristan. She wondered what he wanted to talk about. Maybe, he wanted to talk about my feelings of having another person inside of me, she thought. After all, he is a psychiatrist. Or maybe he wants to talk about me, and just me. Not about Ambrogi or saving the world but how my hair shines in the pale sunlight or how my smile lights up his morning. Maybe, he wants to part my lips with his tongue and I'm not talking about the lips on my ... "Holy shit!" She screamed as a dagger raced toward face. Her hand quickly caught the dagger by the hilt, stopping it a couple of centimeters from her eyes.

"Nice!" Tristan said as he ran up to her. "That was perfect."

"What the fuck, Tristan?" She held the dagger and pointed the blade at him.

"Your reaction," he said. "You were distracted and focused at the same time. And there was no sign of Ambrogi. It was just you using her speed and skill."

"What would have happen if I missed?" She didn't understand Tristan's excitement.

"You would have been dead," he said as a matter of fact.

"Fuck you!" She yelled and threw the dagger into the ground. She turned her back and started to walk away but a warm hand grabbed her arm.

"Wait," he called out.

She pulled her arm away from him. "Asshole!" She snapped at him and started walking away again. He ran in front of her and she avoided his attempt to block her way.

He grabbed both of her shoulders. "I'm sorry. Will you please forgive me and let me explain."

Her lips curls barring her teeth. "Don't think your French accent can get you out of this."

"Please," he said. "Let me explain."

"Make it fast." She folded her arms across her chest.

"Again," he said. His tone was more subtle than before. "I'm sorry and didn't mean to scare you. But it was a test and you passed it."

"By not dying?"

"No," he answered. "For having control of Ambrogi and not Ambrogi having control of you. During the fight, Ambrogi had control. But what you demonstrate, was your control of Ambrogi. It is first nature to you. Let's dance."

"What?" Before she could say another word, Tristan released a onslaught of punches and kicks at Ginette. She dodged and block the attacks with ease. She countered with a strong open hand punch to his chest. The blow felt like a mule kick as Tristan flew back several feet.

"Damn!" He yelled. "That is what I'm talking about." He reached out his hand and his staff flew into his palm. "Try not to get hit." He swung his staff at her with the skill and training of martial artist, but even with his skill, he couldn't land a hit on Ginette. She dodged and ducked as he lunged for her head. She jumped as he attempted to sweep her feet. She grabbed the staff with one hand and she flipped with the staff and he flipped onto his back and she landed on him. She straddled his waist. She threw a punch at his head, but Tristan moved and her fist dug six inches in the ground. She threw another punch, but this one was on target, but she stopped it an inch from his nose.

"Fuck." The word slowly parted her lips. She discreetly grinded her hips as she felt his slight arousal between her legs. "I guessed you are impressed with my skill."

"Very impressed," he said as he stared at her knuckles.

She again discreetly grinded hoping to fill his full arousal, but failed to bring to full excitement but she liked what she felt so far. "You want me to get off?" She didn't try to hide her ear to ear devilish smile.

"Yes, I would," he said returning the same smile to her. "Maybe not the way you are thinking."

She patted him on the chest and stood up. She extended her hand and he took hold of it and she pulled him up. "I'm not going to let you get off that easy again."

"Please, don't." He looked down at the crater she left by his head. "Good thing that didn't land."

She looked as well. "It was a test and you passed it."

He laughed. "Well played, Ginette." He adjusted his shorts and tank top. "Now, let talk about magic."

"Magic," she said. "Awesome."

"Based on my research, Ambrogi is a creature of magic, but she relies on her fight prowess and her strength. Magic is secondly for her, but her magic is real."

"How do you mean 'real?'"

He picked up his staff. "My magic is connected in this." He held up his staff and slammed it against the ground. A bright white orb appeared on the tip of the staff.

"Cool." Her eyes glared at light.

"Wait, there's more." He pointed his staff and fired a beam of intense light and heat at a large oak tree. The beam burned a hole through the tree.

"Holy shit!" She stared through the hole and back at Tristan.

"Now, you try."

"Okay," she said as she reached for the staff, but he pulled the staff out of her reach.

"The staff is mine," Tristan said. "Like I said, your magic is real. You don't need my staff. Besides, it won't work for you."

"How do I do this?"

Tristan put down his staff and walked behind Ginette. He placed his hands on her shoulder and lean in even close and whispered to her. "Magic is a concept of the mind and nothing else." His soft lips rubbed against her ear. "Free your mind of distractions and focus on the end result, not the process."

"How do you mean?" Her voice was shallow as she felt the warmth of Tristan's breath on her neck.

"Hold out your arms," he ordered as his warm hand slid down her bare arm and slowly lift it towards the tree. "The process would involve creating cone of fire from your hand to burn the tree. Try it."

Ginette closed her eyes freeing her mind. They shot back opened. She waited to see if the created beam, a cone or a ball of fire, but nothing. "Dammit!"

Tristan laughed. "The only way you are going to create a fireball, if you lit a match hold it your ass and fart."

"Nobody likes a smart ass, Tristan," she replied.

"Now, think about the tree burning," he explained. "That's the end result."

With her hand still extended, she thought about the tree burning. Within seconds, a cone of fire shot from her hand at struck the tree the tree catching it of fire. "Fuck me!" she yelled as saw the large oak tree burning.

"Good," Tristan said. "Not bad at all. Now, put the fire out."

She reached out her hand again. She thought about the tree stop burning. Again, within seconds, her will was done as the fire disappeared. "Holy shit."

"Now, we can really start your training."

###

After an hour or so of training, Tristan and Ginette took a much-needed break. The two walked around the grounds, which is now marked by a large burnt oak tree. Tristan took hold of Ginette's hand and stopped her in her tracks.

"I know what you are thinking," Tristan commented.

"You are a mind reader, witch doctor and a psychiatrist," Ginette said with a nervous chuckle. "You are a real renaissance man."

He smiled. "I would love to read what on your mind. I know there might be some crazy ideas running around in there." His hand graced the side of her face as he moved a lock of hair behind her ear.

Fuck me, she thought as Tristan moved in closer. His eyes opened wider as he stared into hers. His scent came like an aura around him. It was sweet, cozy and unashamedly sexual.

"Why?" Was his one word question.

"Why?" She repeated. "What the fuck?" Her mind was full of lust and naughty thoughts. Tristan's mind was filled with stupid questions. "How do you mean why? What are you talking about?"

"Liliya and ourselves, silly," he explained. "How and what are we here? How did our roles become a part of this? That question had to come up soon than later."

"Okay, she said. "I'll bite. Why?"

The two walked over to a bench. Tristan wiped the dirt off the seat as they sat down. Their eyes met. "We have been training for all of our lives this?" Tristan said. "It is more like a curse for us than a calling."

"You are still losing me," she said.

He let out a deep breath. "It is hard to explain."

"Are you serious?"Ginette smiled. "I have an ancient deity in my body. I shot fireballs out of my hands. I don't think anything will surprise me anymore."

"That is true. I have been training for this moment for as long as I could remember. I was forced to study all the ancient text of Ambrogi and all the lore of the Shadow King. For over the past ten years, I traveled the world interviewing, studying and assessing hundreds of girls and woman with your conditions, hoping to find the one with your gift." His finger pressed against her lips. Her eyes closed as his finger traced around her mouth. Her lips part a little and his got a small taste. He pulled his finger away. "Sorry, that was forward of me."

Her giggle had the sound of nervous teen waiting for her first kiss. "It's cool. You have been looking for me for ten years. I'm not surprise that you wanted to touch me." Her eyes narrowed giving Tristan a hint. This was unusual for Ginette. She was normally not this bold around men, but she felt that she had nothing to lose. "May I ask you a question, Tristan?"

His bright wide smile made her heart throbbed in her chest. "Sure," he said. "You can ask me anything."

She looked down for a second, she felt her cheeks getting warm and her heart rate increased. She leaned in closer to him and smiled. "Are you interested in Ambrogi? And I'm just a vassal for you to achieve that goal."

"What?" Tristan asked. "Why would you ask me that question?"

"I mean you been studying Ambrogi most of your life," she explained. "So, you are going to tell me that you don't have a slight hard on for her? It is cool to an obsession."

He smile when she referred to Ambrogi as his obsession. "I'm not interested in Ambrogi in that way, but I have to admit. I'm curious."

She moved closer to Tristan and rested her hand on his lower thigh. "She is totally naked. She is covered in beautiful purple skin. She is muscular, but still has a body of a sexy goddess and she has my hair. The same cut, same color, even my style, even down to my single braid."

"In that case," Tristan said. "The only thing I like about her is her hair."

Ginette smiled and blushed some more as she just realized what Tristan had said. "I hope you just didn't say that because you have a hair fetish?"

"You are more than just hair." His caressed her cheek with the outside of his hand.

"You're smooth and bold," she commented, but she wasn't going to be outdone by this sexy man from Africa. She took hold of his hand and move it from her cheek brought it to her lips. She planted slow and soft kisses on his hand.

"Are you flirting with me?" He asked the question like he knew the answer.

"Yeah," she replied. "It is time to shit or get off the pot."

"This is a different side of you. I like it," He leaned in closer.

Holy shit, she thought. This is not like me, but I like it. She leaned in closer to him. They both tilted their heads to the side. Their eyes met and their lips parted, but progress stopped as Liliya ran toward them.

"Guys," Liliya yelled. "We have a problem."

"Yeah." Ginette's eyes narrowed as she frowned at Liliya. "It's called timing."