The Diaries of Cordelia Chan

The trip to the hospital was completely uneventful. I was surprised to see Wuz Hou, there though when we arrived. "Just sorting out the paper work" he explained. I didn't ask any further. There was a delay whilst they took an MRI, then a further delay whilst the registrar decided on treatment. There was a lot of muscle damage, that according to them would keep me off my feet for at least 3 days then on crutches for another 10 or so. They would need to put some stitches in to repair damage to some of the blood vessels, but that they could do under a local anesthetic All in all it took about 2 hours, and I was discharged with 24 hours supply of prescription pain killers.

We left the hospital. and drove back to my condo, stopping on the way at a seven-eleven to restock with groceries. I was surprised to find the lights on again, and Marcie and a girl I didn't recognize in the living room. I diverted Marcie from physically helping me, by sending her into the kitchen to get me a coffee, and glasses. As I slumped onto the sofa, the girl introduced herself as Natasha Anderson, when I looked blankly she said "Robert's sister".

"Oh, Sorry I wasn't expecting you"

"Didn't Robert tell you I was coming over?"

"No. I hadn't realised he'd even phoned you."

"He phoned whilst you were having your leg wound stitched.."

"What else did he say?"

"That you could possibly get me a job at the Purple Dragon"

"Anything else"

"What do you want me to say, that 3000 bucks a night to be fucked by ugly middle aged wankers is fine by me?"

"What makes you think yod get 3000 bucks a night?"

"I've heard things?"

"Shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"So what would I get?"

"Basic is 20 dollars an hour. Shift starts at 7:30 ends at 3:30. If you get and invite to sit at a table you get  fifty dollars for half an hour plus 10% of any drinks brought. The sit down fee entitles the client to grope you and external massage. If they book a room, you get 250 less 50 medical insurance. There's an extra 25 dollars for a double room. Room limit is half an hour. Compulsary shower, swab, and half hour break after each booking. Compulsary medical exam to start - thats for both you and your boyfriend. You don't do anal or bondage, you don't book private, and you don't sleep around outside work. You work 18 nights working 6 nights on, 1 night off, starting 6 days after the start of your period. Then you get the rest of the month off. If you change sexual partner both of you resubmit for examination. On a good night you can make between one thousand and fifteen hundred bucks."

"What happens if I break the rules?"

"Very much depends, but there's an automatic exclusion from the A list."

"The A list?"

"Special invites only, six months minimum experience. Only the most popular girls get on it."

"So assuming I made the A list what could I make?"

"You haven't got past your trial period yet so don't try running until you can walk."

"You're assuming I'm still interested in the job."

"True, but you didn't blanch when I told you what the real rates were.
You can stop hovering now Marcie. I told you I'm not going to get you a job as a waitress. If you want to do it after you've graduated then fine but not until then you hear me"

"You're not my mother you know, its up to me what I do not you."

I made a grab for her, managed to catch her dress and pulled her down on top of me. Suddenly I was no longer on the sofa but being held in mid air, gripped as if by a large hand. Marcie struggled to her feet only it wasn't Marcie. "You Amberites are all the same. You think you can rule everyone. This body is mine and I'll do with it as I please. You're not going to interfere no longer. I shall take them both and suck them dry and I shall make you watch every second of it, watch how they squirm, and there is nothing you can do about it."

"No but I can!"

Suddenly I was no longer held. I landed as best I could on my good leg, then rolled coming back on to my feet. Pain shot through my left leg and I grabbed the table for support. A figure had materialized in the room, one that I'd encountered before. "Sulin, how.."

"Now is not the time. Take them both upstairs now. Do what ever is necessary to keep them in your room. If I do not come for you before dawn, kill them both. then go to the Courts. Seek out Mandar. Tell him there is a rogue Succubus on the loose. He will know what must be done."

"How"

"You will know. Now do as I say."

The two figures face one another, whilst Natasha sat fixated on the sofa, and Robert stood in the kitchen. I tried to put weight on my leg but it was just to painful. I droped to the floor and rolled twice cannoning into Robert. He crashed down on top of me which seemed to break the trace. "Robert ! Listen to me. We need to get your sister and go upstairs. You're going to have to support me as I can't walk. Don't look at either of the figures. Better still tie use this as a blindfold." I puled my T-shirt off.

"Cordelia, what the.."

"No time. We're all in real danger. Now move."

He went to turn round to get up. But I pulled him back towards me. "No look only at me."

Once he'd regained his feet I had him pull me upright . His eyes were glazed over. I pulled my t-shirt over his head, then put my arm around his shoulder, and his arm about my waist. "Your sister. We need to get to your sister". He nodded. "You walk I'll guide."

We began to move, too slowly. I pulled him as hard as I could and nearly lost my balance. "Move you bastard move, or you don't get to fuck me again."

"Move or no fuck Cordelia again" he intoned.

Now I had most of his attention he was moving at last. The two figures stood immobile in the living room but I could feel the power levels building. Sulin appeared to be losing. "Get her out Cordelia. I can't hold this much longer."

With my free arm I slapped Natasha hard acroos the face. "Natasha. We need to go upstairs now. We can play your special game upstairs."

She stood up, and began to loosen her skirt. "Not here. Upstairs." "Upstairs" she repeated. I grabbed hold and pulled in the direction of the stairs. The climb seemed inexorable. As I reached the landing I could feel the power explode below us. I shoved Natasha into my room, then rolled propelling Robert after her. I came to my feet and slammed the door. I now wished I has a lock for the door. Natasha had regained her feet. She turned and moved slowly towards me. "Must go help Marcie." I rolled sideways and kicked her in the middle, doubling her over. I kicked her again sending her backwards onto the bed. Unfortunately this had given Robert the time he needd to get to his feet and get to the door. "Robert fuck Marcie" "Oh not you as well" I tumbled head over heals backwards , coming up on my good foot , and slamming my shoulder into his back. This forced him against the door shutting it in the process. "No Robert. Listen to me Robert. Robert fuck Cordelia. Fuck Cordelia on the bed". I turned him round and propelled him in the right direction. There was another surge of power.

"Images of Marcie swam across my mind. Young, lithe, nubile, just ripe for the taking. how sweet she'd be. God how I needed her."

Somewhere another voice said remember, and I did, I remembered a night in an inn, the sweetness of Sulin. My head cleared as the spell came crashing down. I was back in my room. Robert had disentangled himself from his sister, and both were trying to stand. I launched myself across the room, landed across both flying tackle style, knocking them both back onto the bed, but sending a massive wave of pain though my leg. I fought the wave of nausea and screamed.

Strange as it may seem, this actually bought me some time. As the pain receeded, the figures underneath me struggled to free themselves. From Natasha there was a "Hey what's going on. What's that song, oh its so...." whilst from Robert I got a "Help me. I don't want her I want you.. No. I'm not listening, I'm.not..." I needed more time. I rolled onto my left side freeing my right arm, drew it back, and hit him in the jaw. "Sorry lover but I need to deal with your sister first." She was now trying to push me off and was in the superior position. I jabbed her in the right breast, it being the only accessible target. Momentarily she came to. "Ow that fucking hurt, What did you do." "Shut up and listen. Listen only to the sound of my voice. We're going to play the game you taught you brother."

"No we're"

"I said shut up and listen. If you want to live through tonight we're going to play the game. I'm going to talk, and you're going to repeat everything I say back to me as I say it.. Do you comprehend?"

"Sorry I"

"You don't need to understand just do."

"I don't need to understand just do"

"Good. Now I want you to crawl up the bed and put your wrists where the silk ties are.." She was repeating what I was saying now and did as I'd told her. As I tied her left wrist she said. "You played it with him last night didn't you?" "Now is not the time. Stop thinking and just do as I say. Your life depends on it" I tied her right wrist, then moved down the bed. "Give me your right ankle." "But I'm still dressed" "You still don't get it. Stop fucking thinking and just do. I don't care if you're dressed or not." She gave me her ankle. "You must repeat everything I say." She did , and I talked aimlessly as I tied it. As I moved across to the other side her brother groaned. "Is that Robert? What have you done to Robert? I can hear singing". I grabbed her leg and pulled her into the splits position. She fought me but without leverage she could do very little.. Then she spoke with a different voice, a gentle seductive one, and it was my ankle being tied and my legs were being storked and how wonderful it was all I needed to do was left go and I would enjoy so much pleasure; but the pleasure had come later, first there had been fear, and I'd cried and begged, and he'd not released me.

The room swam back into view. A voice, a voice not unlike Fiona's said, the pattern, use the pattern, you can use it to break spells.. Okay , I could build the pattern and draw it virtually into me, but that would require them both to be pretty much clinging to me, one behind, one in front. The problem was until I broke the spell neither would stay there and would try and break free. I could keep Robert there but letting him fuck me. No that was a real bad idea, as soon as I thought I felt the ripple and my control wavered. I fought to bring it back under control. Okay if fucking me was out, then I'd have to make him think he was, which meant... No that still wouldn't work we'd still be in the wrong positions. If I could tie him to the bed then I could pin him down and his sister could lie on top, only how did I get her there? Okay his sister was tied down, so all I needed to do was to get him under her, then squeeze between them, yeah like that was really going to be possible. If my leg wasn't fragged possibly. Okay if I was under his sister and her pussy was hanging out, may be he'd think it was me, and I could grab him and pull him down on top of both of us, but if I pulled the pattern down he'd be outside. Okay what if I didn't pull it all the way down, it'd be much weaker, but it might be enough.

Robert was now trying to sit up but was still rather groggy. I didn't have much time, and certainly no time for subtlety. I took out my knife, slit the waist band of Natasha's skirt and pulled. Seams parted and it came free. Two more cuts and she was free of her knickers. Now I just had to slide under her and get Robert's attention. I lay on my back and wriggled, calling to Robert as I did so. It was then I noticed the small cord and the telltale red staining. No, this couldn't be happening. Sulin's voice reverberated in my head, "do WHATEVER is necessary." but that would, the voice cut in again "WHATEVER".

Robert had started to turn his attention towards me. I called him again - "Robert fuck Cordelia", he mumbled somthing back, then began to move once more. I reached up, and removed the tampon. Fresh blood dripped off the end and onto my face. I tossed it onto the floor and began wriggling again. Robert was now on all fours and moving towards me. I needed some time. "Not with your pants and shorts on, have some respect." He stopped momentarily, considered then came on. I still wasn't far enough under Natasha, who now obscured my view of what he was doing. I tried to wriggle faster, then Natasha was thrown forward.She screamed. I reached up and clamped my hand across her mouth. "I'm really sorry, but it's either this or death, although the latter may be preferable to you at the moment. I need time to buiild the pattern and I can't do it if you're screaming. This is really hard to ask but please, if you want to see the morning, make no noise." I removed my hand. Tears were streaming down her face, she gasped and began to sob. I couldn't watch, how could I inflict this upon another human being; "Because you want to see beyond tommorrow" said the Fiona voice. I began to build the pattern. I risked opening my eyes. There ws a trickle of blood running down her chin, and she was biting her lower lip hard to avoid crying out. I tried to work faster. There wsa a triumphant cry from Robert, an audible gasp from Natasha, and he slumped down onto her back. I'd not get a second chance. I wrapped my arms around her grabbed what of his shirt I could and hung on, sliding the last piece of the pattern into place as I did so. It began to collapse towards me curling as if to envelope me as it did so. Now I had to stop it,and hold it. I waited for the right moment and slammed on the brakes.

Somewhere, in the distance what I had hold of ceased struggling. Then came the realization of what was happening and it started to try to pull free again. A disembodied voice said "Move and none of us will see the dawn, suffer and we may yet live". Fire burned through my body, and vast sheets of energy crackled across my brain, twisting geysers of pain into my soul as they did so. The Fiona voice said fail and you die.

I came to sometime later, a massive weight pressing down on me. There was a stillness in the air and silence. Something banged gently into the door. From a long way away somebody said "Cordelia", then there was a dull thud. Slowly, oh so slowly, my brain worked. That voice, I remembered it. It belonged to ...., ah yes Sulin, but why was she here, and the way she said that name. The name was familiar, my name. Yes the way she said my name, it meant something.... it meant she was in desperate trouble. I must try to go to her. But I couldn't move, my body refused to. No wait, my arm I can move my arm, so why's everything black and heavy? Can't see? No! Need to open eyes. No! Too bright, too blurry. Shapes on top of me. A memory. Lying under Natasha, her brother raping her. No can't be true. Try again, carefully this time. Hair, female hair across my face, a face, female next to mine, above another face, male, Robert. Another memory, Marcie, Sulin, some form of confrontation. Why? What? Sulin, in trouble, need to move. Pull, wriggle, pull, wriggle, pull, empty space, pull, wriggle, lightness, pull, wriggle, pull, wriggle, weightless, falling, impact, wait, assess, pain, legs still trapped, pull, more pain, snippets of clarity, falling off bed, bedroom floor, door closed, roll over, gather up limbs, push up off floor, crawl towards door.

With each foot covered I recoverd some semblance of consciousness, and realization of how much every cell in my body screamed in pain at every movement; and not only my body, but my head. As I pulled myself upright using the door for support my head swam, a wave of dizzyness crashed down on me and I hung on for grim death. As it receeded I pulled myself onto my good leg again. Swaying violently I opened the door. There was a figure lying on the floor. It looked pale, white, almost translucent. I dropped to all fours, it was easier than standing, I crawled forward. "Sulin. Wake up Sulin" I put my hand on her and shook her. "Errrr"

"What happened Sulin, where's Marcie?"

"Asleep. Need my body. Must have my body. Die without it. Fetch it. Hurry". She lapsed back into unconsciousness..

Yeah. Right. Like I was in any position to go anywhere. I'd barely made it across the bedroom floor. How was I supposed to get to... Exactly where was her body, and if it wasn't here how come she was, or appeared to be.

The door buzzer rang. What now? I crawled towards the stairs. I'd just about turned round so I could slide down them without breaking my neck, when the door opened and two figures came in. Both were female. How'd they opened the door? They looked about. One noticed me at the top of the stairs.

"Where are they?"

"Where's who? And who are you anyway? How'd you get in here?"

"The Illiarni?"

I started to slide down. I needed my sword and they were between me and it. The one who'd spoken watched me, whist the other had moved into the living room. "There's one here!". It moved further into the room.

I reached the bottom of the stairs. The one in the living room said. "Its done. She's been reintergrated." or words to that effect as she wasn't actually speaking in any language I recognised.

The other looked down at me. "You're hurt.". I looked up at her. The world swam, time rewound. I was in the living room talking to Natasha ... Marcie... Sulin ... kitchen ... Robert ... stairs ... rape ... pattern ... recovery ... Sulin ..

She spoke out loud. "Hope. Top of the stairs. She's out of body. I need to fix this young Amberite". She turned her attention back to me. "So Chan Li Feng or do you prefer Cordelia Chan-Barriman, you appear to have been in the right place at the right time. We feared we'd arrive to corpses and a rogue Illiarni on the rampage."

"I don't understand, who are you?"

"We don't have time to explain, not if you want to save our sister. How much faster does time move in her reality?"

"What do you know of shadow?"

"More than you think child, but you're wasting time. Whilst I could find the information in your memory I currently choose not to. I need to determine how much time she has left."

"Twice Amber, so thats about 25% faster than here."

"Not good but not as bad as it could be, that means we have about 5 hours local time. Can you get to her reality, find her body, and get back in that time?"

"I'm not going anywhere until I know what is going on."

"So you would sacrifice Sulin, to satisfy your curiosity?"

"I..er No!"

"Good! Can you do it?"

"Well, I could create a trump of the Velvet rest, which would get me there, then I'd need another of here to get back. Were I fully rested I could do one, then I'd need to rest so that wouldn't work. I could go to Amber and use the pattern, but that takes an hour to walk plus the time to get there from the courtyard, that'd be touch and go, especially trying to do it twice. If there was somebody on the pattern then, What I really needed was a trump of here, and somebody in the middle of the Pattern. Who was most likely, well Fiona, but.."

"You don't trust her, and I can see with good reason. It would be wise to keep your knowledge of us away from her. Is there nobody else?"

I considered. Julian - apart from the fact he wanted to fuck me he'd be out and about in Arden, Benedict - may be, Flora - No, Llewella - most likely in Rebma, Vialle - Not sure if she can walk the pattern, Gerrard - definaely not, Random - well, he owed me big time.

I pulled the trumps from my pocket. Opening the deck I pulled out his card, and realised my head wasn't hurting as much, in fact one the whole I felt a whole lot better. I looked up at, a name sprang into my head, Faith. "You're healing me aren't you."

"Yes, as you subconsciously pointed out earlier, you were in no fit state to go anywhere."

"But how?"

"Always the questions? Aren't you supposed to be doing something?"

"Yes, alright". I concentrated on Random's card. It was several minute before he answered.

"Cordelia, I was going to call you later. How's it going? I've got a list of things a mile long"

I cut him off. "Sorry Random, don't have time. I'm calling in that IOU."

"What IOU?"

"The one you owe me. I need access to the pattern in a hurry no questions asked, and I don't trust anybody else."

"But I don't owe you"

"Really, what about Dakota then, or the Shadow Storm, or Ashan, or the Kashfa Ball, be a real tragedy if I couldn't make that, what was the one after that?"

"Alright I get it. What do you want?"

"I need to use the pattern twice in about 15 minutes Amber time, and I don't have time to walk it."

"So you want me to, then bring you through."

"That's about the size of it."

"I'll see what I can do then, may take a few hours for me to get free."

"No! I need you to do it now and call me back when you get there."

"That's a big ask. I've got meetings starting in about 10 minutes, then Court, then"

"Yes, I know all that. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't urgent, sort of death or life urgent."

"Sorry. Say that again?"

"Look, just get to the center of the pattern, please. I don't have time for this."

"Alright, but you're going to explain everything later. I'll call you when I'm there."

I put the card away and turned to Faith.

"Yes. I know. Now unless it's your custom to wander about naked I suggest you go and change. Hope is dealing with your friends. They will remember nothing but a pleasent night's sleep."

Now she mentioned it I realised that I was only wearing the combat trousers I'd put on yesterday morning, and one leg of those was missing. I also remembered something else. Then the thought was gone.

"That is an interesting complication. I have supressed it as you have enough to deal with right now."

Somewhere a voice said, "She is hiding something." "Yes" I replied "But now is not the time to find out what."

By the time Random called me back, completely unexpectedly 20 minutes later, I'd managed to shower and change into a fresh set of clothes. They were going to cause something of a stir in Hygria, well at least amongst the residents of the Velvet Rest. I grabbed my jacket and sword, Random widened the contact into a doorway, reached though and offered me his hand. I took it and stepped through, appearing on the pattern next to him and Fiona.

"You're not the only one who can curry favour."

"I'll call you in about 15 minutes. It shouldn't take me that long to find what I need." I turned, took a step and vanished.