They had awakened in a tangled heap ..smelling of stale passion..needing a shower. Random, please forgive me m'lady, I felt your summoning of Brent.. my heart broke for you..and I had been aching for so long. Random placed her index finger against his lips then removed it to kiss him. This time.. their lovemaking was purposeful, and had no thought of others..this time they eased into each other..for each other. And this lovemaking lasted into the late afternoon. Again the lovers had awakened, this time they got up from the bed silently, and headed to a hot spring nearby, between the properties of the back yard neighbors, and her own. They were wrapped in sheet towels and dropped them to the rocks along the edge of the spring..easing into the waters. Randi, you did love him very much..didn't you? Yes, I did. I still do, I can't help it. Last night, when you came to Me.. I only saw him but I want you to know that today..all I saw was you. He smiled, I know.. I saw her too..but today.. I only wanted you. Random moved into the waters nearer him.. and now?? What do you feel now? I have to be honest Randi, I can't forget that I loved her for so long.. and I probably will always love her. I understand Scuttle. Guess we can't depend on these hearts of ours to do what's best for us can we? No, you'll always love a dead man..and I'll always love a witch. Random frowned.. yes, but today.. I love you, and today you love me too..and you can't deny it. No, m'lady I wouldn't dare deny it. Scuttle? If she suddenly turned back into the woman you once knew..and she gave you a chance.. would you go to her? Would you marry her? He turned his head slightly.. a tear ran down his left cheek. In a second I would m'lady.. in a flash of a second. You should have known her then Randi..she was a rainbow of hope..and her aura effected everything in such fertile positive ways. I swear she'd walk by a field of lavender, and the scent would be more heavenly. Roses would multiply in bloom..and the Sun..would be more golden on the day..and these are not the rantings of just a fool in love Randi girl..everyone noticed her magic. Yes, my parents spoke often of how beloved and kind she was. I designed myself to be like her. You have done well..she..well, the Kessie I knew then, would have been so proud..and she would love you. Scuttle? Is Kessie possessed? I mean, she seems so different from the Kessie I've come to know in stories told. Jealousy surely can't be so strong a demon to create the creature I saw last night. Granted, she was beautiful in an evil way..if evil knows beauty, but she surely didn't become that way strictly through jealousy. No, she had other forces working against her. You see, not only had I gone to her in her vulnerable state..such as I had gone to you in yours, but I had drawn from dark forces to make her desire me. I had drawn magic from the light side of the moon to make her see me as she would see Brent. Ah Randi , she screwed Me.. there was no love involved in It.. she turned into a ball of lust and fire...with no love at all..she had ravaged Me..and I reveled in It..and when it was over.. I lay spent beside a stranger. Someone I had never been in love with. This witch laying beside Me..this wanton, lustful whore..was not your sister. She was not Kessie..and it was all my fault. Now, on occasion when the moon is fully cleaved in twain, that beast in her comes to Me.. and rends me so very tattered and torn. He pointed up to the moon that was divided over the outworld and her new home..and the portion over outworld was light..but the portion which hung over the dividing line..was blue. What will you do when it's completely halved? Does she hurt you? Yes, she hurts me Randi..she breaks my heart, but I become a wanton, lustful beast and allow her to consume me. She does it hatefully, as if she knows that I am responsible for the dimming of her light. She does it because a demon of the moon was released at my will, and it lures her.. robbing her of her own autonomy. I, through my own selfishness..have created the witch that was once and angel.....and I still love her so...but I do not know how to right the wrong I've done. Randi, when we made love..when I knew you and I were making love for each other..to each other.. that was the first time I have ever felt love..and it's a shame..it's not the love I desire. Randi.. I do love you now, but it's not the love you want..nor is it the love you deserve. No, it's not the love either of us deserve, and yes, it's a shame we can't help our foolish hearts. I will help you figure out how to halt the evil you released, but do not blame yourself so much..she should have loved you. She should have realized how wonderful you are. To be continued.. By: Robin Minick