Catacombs of Wacker

1

It was called Wacker Street, but it was more a catacomb of twists and turns, which ran deep beneath the city of Chicago.   Her heart pounded as she ran. Shadows jumped from hiding places and the bums that lived in those catacombs seemed to smirk as she passed them.  It was as if they all knew the secret she had yet to guess at.    2

She ended up at the waters edge.  Navy pier in the distance, she sat there, head in hand, and tears began to flow.  She stared at the money in her hand and then, as if it was burning her, threw it into the lake.    3

"Why...?  Why wouldn't she tell me what she saw?" 4

It had all started out as a fun way to spend "girls night out."   Catherine had suggested to Lynette,  "Lets get our fortunes read"   They had heard of the old woman living beneath Lower Wacker Street. Although they suspected she was a fraud, they found her anyway.  5

The old withered fortune teller had smiled crookedly and told Catherine’s friend all the trite things one wants to hear when seeing a psychic. 6

" You will meet a tall handsome man who will sweep you off your feet.  You will have three children, ten grandchildren, and live happily ever after."7

Catherine and Lynette had giggled, and then it was Catherine’s turn.  The old woman, who had KNOWN her nickname was "Cat”, was staring in her crystal ball when she suddenly handed Cat her money back.   She looked deep into Catherine's green eyes, her own bloodshot eyes were unreadable as she tucked the bills back into Catherine's hand.  She patted her cheek, and then much to her chagrin, told her to leave.    8

Now Catherine was convinced something horrible was going to happen.  As Cat sat there, her chest still heaving in despair, an even worse realization occurred to her.  If the old woman could somehow foresee her future, could she also see her past?  Was part of the woman's revolt because she knew all that had happened in the last two years?  Did she know the terrible and degrading experiences that had been thrust into Cat's short but miserable life? But worst of all, did that woman know about him... and his burning red eyes?9

She wiped her eyes defiantly.  "Nasty old bat!  She's deliberately trying to make me crazy!   She's not a real psychic, she just gets her kicks out of playing mind games with people!"   10

Tough words, but the truths she couldn't hide from herself belied her defiance.   His eyes kept coming back to haunt her.  More than that, it brought back the feelings he had evoked deep within her soul.  11

"NO!  I refuse to look back.  That time of my life is over!  I am the owner of my own soul, and I know I have good things ahead of me!  Damn that woman!  Damn HER to hell!"  12

As much as she tried to put the past two years in her life behind, it was impossible.  Two years ago further existence had seemed so pointless as her mind numbed itself with questions of whether to continue to live.  Her body had been a plague of unexplained physical pains.  Her only escape was to sleep, even if it had to be induced with countless pills.  It was during this time that she first met him - Damien.  Walking alone late one night along the dark streets of her neighborhood, she encountered him as he leaned against a dimly lit lamppost.  It was almost as if he had been waiting there for her to pass.  13

Conversation came easy with him - he seem instantly interested in everything she said.  Cat recalled how he seemed to be able to absorb her deepest depression and replace it with if not joy, an anticipation to live again. They had talked for an hour that night, and had met there again every night in the week that followed.  At first she thought it strange how little he talked of his own life, instead preferring to direct the conversation toward her.  It was sadly ironic how she had called him a devilish spirit so intent on remaining a mystery to her.14

It was almost inevitable that she would eventually invite him to her place.    She felt a bit shy as she opened the door.  It had been seemingly, an eternity since she had allowed a man in her home.   Her thoughts were muddled; she tried to pull herself together.   She didn't want to make love to him; she merely felt the need to show him a bit more of her world.    She stood back as he entered. 15

He looked around the living room.  It was comfortably neat and yet not oppressively so.   Her shoes were tossed off to one side; yesterday’s mail lay scattered across the desk.  The blouse she wore yesterday was folded slightly and hung over the back of the desk chair.   He picked it up and to her surprise, inhaled her scent, which still clung to it. 16

He turned and held his hand out to her.  " You're coming in aren't you?" 17

"OH..." she laughed " Of course, I was just... I don’t know... just watching you." 18

This was the first time he had touched her since they met, and she was amazed at the warmth he exuded.   " Um... " She stammered, " Can I get you something to drink.  I don't have beer, but I have a bottle of wine my Dad gave me last Christmas.  Its been sitting waiting for him to come visit, or for another reason to....?"   Her voice trailed off.   19

Damian had stepped closer to her.  " I don't NEED anything...to drink that is."  His smile was so sensual.  His eyes half closed and he bent closer still.  "What I need my Dear CAT, is YOU."  20

"He needs me.  He needs me."  Cat repeated those words over and over to herself as if they had some magical power.  For the first time in her life someone had said they actually needed her. She wondered if she would have the power to resist this man.  As she took his hand again and led him to her bedroom, she realized that it was really a matter of whether she could withhold her own desires, her own needs. The answer of course was no.21

Cat wanted Damien like no other man she had ever known.  She wanted to possess him, and he to possess her.  She wanted to pull him into her body, to feel the power of his love flow into her.  But even as her passion stripped her of her breath, she sensed a reserve in Damien as he made love to her.  Passion spent, she lay in the dark against his shoulder.  It was then that she noticed it for the first time.  As she momentarily opened her eyes, she saw his own eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling.  More strangely, a faint red glow seemed to be emanating from them.   22

"Damien? " Her voice was cautious, a bit tenuous.23

He blinked and the strange glow disappeared.  "Yeah Babe? " 24

" Was I...?  Uh....Was I ok?"  Her words seemed to falter and she found herself fighting the urge to cry. 25

Damien didn't say anything.26

"Damien?"  Cat was suddenly very embarrassed to be lying naked next to this man.  She felt more than naked; she felt completely and utterly exposed. 27

Damien suddenly growled low in his throat.  He rolled on top of Cat and aggressively began to kiss her.  His mouth moved to her neck and he muttered " Don't ask stupid questions.  Don't ruin this night with words!"  His knees pressed her legs apart and he thrust himself within her.  28

Tears began to seep from Cat's eyes.  His roughness frightened her, and she began to struggle beneath him.  In the darkness she looked into his eyes.  The red glow was back, and she was helpless to look away.  The longer he held her gaze the more she began to feel her resistance lessen and a strange passion grow within her loins.  29

She had never had many men; for the most part she had always been the submissive one, but suddenly she felt reckless, beautiful, desired.   As her hearts pounding grew louder in her head, so did the erotic abandon of her movements.  She wanted this man.  She wanted him so badly she could hardly breathe.  30

When Cat woke the next morning, she expected to find Damien close beside her in bed.  The passions of the previous night seemed almost dream-like and surreal, yet she knew they had happened.  But when she reached for him, he was not to be found.31

"Damien? She called in a trembling voice thinking he might just be in the next room, but there was no response.  Only a silence that caused her heart to ache from a hidden fear of loneliness.  32

Cat pulled herself from bed and wandered into her living room, still harboring a hope that Damien might be there.  But there was only emptiness to greet her.  Her emotions started to get the best of her as tears welled33

in her eyes.  All of this came to a sudden and blessed stop when she glanced to the front door of her apartment.  There, taped to the inside of the door, was a long red rose with a note attached.  A sign of pleasure and delight escaped her lips as she ran to see what the note said.34

"Dearest Cat,  You are the chosen one.  There can be no other.  I must have you forever and ever.  Until we can love again, I shall remain your faithful and devoted,  Damien" 35

Cat clutched the long-since-dried rose to her breast. "Until we can love again....", his words haunted her.  Even now so many years later, his words had the power to create that need within her.  She sighed, closed her eyes and fought against the ache.    36

He had been like a drug in her veins.   Friends had warned her, family had begged her to come back to her senses.   And yet, he had been able to see into her soul.   He KNEW without her ever telling him, all the insecurities she had.  He played on her fears, her joys, and her deepest desires.  He pulled her into the darkness of his world.  He had but to whisper her name and she fell into his arms, ravenous for his touch, his breath.    37

The pain in her head was excruciating.   The fortune tellers reluctance to read her future, had brought back a terror she had long ago put behind her.   Her greatest fear was that by thinking about him for even a moment, that he would smell her fear and find her once again.   If he found her again, she knew she wouldn't have the strength to resist him again.  If he found her, her soul would be lost forever. 38

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~39

ONE YEAR LATER40

Cat looked down at the babe, which suckled with voracity.  His hunger never seemed to be appeased.  Her nipples ached from the constant demands this tiny life made on her.  41

She stroked his cheek.  His tiny face was perfection.  Translucent skin.... a dark mop of unruly hair.  Long dark eyelashes that were pressed closed against his cheek.    She loved him so.  In spite of it all...she loved this tiny life with all her being. 42

She smiled to think where her life was in such a short period of time.  Such a foolish woman she had been.   43

She sensed him there beside her before she actually felt his breath on her neck.   His gentle kisses on the nape of her neck cause an ache elsewhere that she knew all to well.    44

"You don’t suppose he would share with me do you?  I’m just as hungry as he is."  His hand teased the nipple of the breast not being used.  45

Cat smiled.  "Think he’s just about finished anyway.  Time for a nap I’m thinking "  She smiled and placed the Babe in the crib.   46

She no sooner laid him down than she was turned and her breast engulfed with a different set of lips just as ravenous as her Babes had been.    She gave in to the ache, held his head hard to her encouraging the assault upon her breast.  47

" I want you so much."  The words muffled against her, spoken through gulps of stolen milk.  48

Cat let the feeling wash over her.   Led him to the bed.... pulled his mouth from her breast to her mouth.   " Ineed you...Please?"49

They tangled on the bed, clothing torn from one another.   Body heat rising. The ache growing stronger with every touch, every caress.  50

Across the room, in the crib, Babies eyes opened.  A tiny smile on his face as if he knew what his Mommy and Daddy did.  His tiny fingers scratched gently against the sleep in his eyes. He blinked, and for the tiniest of moments, a red glow emanated.  51

Cat curled against his chest.   Her heart slowed from the passion.  She felt a bit more of herself give over to his demands, and  she didn’t care anymore.  She knew her place now.   All she wanted  was to be with him... wrapped around him....filled with him.    She trembled with her need and he answered.  Once more she was pulled hard against him...his eyes glowed.... and her soul was drawn to him.   52

" Ah sweet Cat.... you are mine...... always.   Do not EVER forget that."  53