Chapter 5
Cass Steered the moped off the road onto an ancient cobblestone path. The thought of being with Talin combined with watching Fawn's little sex show had really gotten her juices flowing. Riding a motorbike down the bumpy trail wasn't helping a bit either.
The path took her through the islands oldest cemetery. Initially it seemed odd that a graveyard rested on prime beach real estate. But Talin politely explained that the beachfront meant nothing to peasants because crops don't grow in sand. Most of the graves were above ground monuments, miniature crypts tilted and battered by decades of hurricanes and flooding. Cass cruised through the rows of graves carefully, hoping her engine didn't wake up the inhabitants, she joked in her head. She could see a bonfire flickering through the foliage ahead. She was almost there.
Talin had built his hut at the edge of the cemetery. Initially Cass found it creepy but Talin knew the spirits felt most comfortable there. Cass saw his evening bonfire burning up ahead
She pulled in slowly, avoiding the minefield of monuments and icons that dotted the compound. Talin was dancing around the bonfire with feline grace, performing a ritual dance older than written history. He'd stripped down to a pair of shorts, and the sweat on his muscular body gleamed in the firelight. He reverently picked up an ancient sword, adding it to the dance. He spun, pointing it at the idols surrounding the bonfire, paying tribute to each spirit. Then he knelt down before the fire, completing the ritual. Finally he turned to Cass.
Like most of Tortura's population, Talin was of mixed race, he had dark skin but it would be impossible to identify him as black or Hispanic. Centuries of intermarriage had made the islander's into their own unique and beautiful race.
"You escaped," He said, smiling with perfect gleaming white teeth.
"They wanted me to stay of course, but there was no way I was going to miss tonight."
She approached him and he put his strong arms around her. They kissed and Cass ran her hands across the taught corded muscles of his back.
He looked into her eyes, "Are you ready to be mounted by a spirit?"
"I'm ready to be mounted, that's for sure."
He had the mischievous eyes of a child. "This is no small thing, allowing a spirit to enter your body is a major step. That spirit may embrace you and become your protector. It is a wonderful experience."
Talin slipped into his hut momentarily and emerged carrying an ancient black book. He handed it to Cass, "You're holding the original book of voodoo spells, passed down through countless generations. You're the first novice, and may I add, the first white chick to touch it,” he laughed.
Cass carefully opened the ancient text. It was hand written in an African symbol language lost to time, "It's beautiful."
"It is bound in flesh and written in human blood," Talin said solemnly.
Cass almost dropped the book in revulsion.
Talin laughed, "I'm kidding, that's just a legend only idiots believe."
"You know, for a sacred voodoo priest you can be kind of an asshole."
Fifty feet away Captain Marco Marcos squatted in the brush, staring at the couple through binoculars. He turned to Sergeant Chavez, his second in command, "Do you see the book he's holding? We must retrieve it intact. It is an ancient book of voodoo spells. They say it's bound in human flesh and written in blood." The captain went back to observing their target.
Talin took Cass' hand, guiding her to a blanket near the fire, gesturing for her to sit.
Cass was nervous. She had seen Talin do amazing things including acts of healing that couldn't be rationally explained. Being around him, she had come to believe that spirits existed, and that they could be benevolent, but the concept of letting one enter her body was still frightening.
Talin tossed incense into the raging bonfire and read from the ancient book. Cass stared into the fire allowing her mind to find shapes and forms within the flames. Suddenly her body shook, tensing as if something were trying to enter.
"Relax, they will not harm you," Talin whispered softly.
A warm sensation coursed through her, like a loving embrace from within. Cass heard a soft, beautiful female voice speaking to her. It sounded as vivid and real as Talin's.
"I am Litha, I am with you tonight… do you accept me?"
"Yes," Cass said out loud, "I accept you."
Talin watched in awe, he'd never seen someone so open to spirit possession. But Cass was no ordinary woman, he had learned, and her powers had grown with each ritual. He knew that she could easily become a high priestess if she so chose.
Litha spoke through Cass again, "We have no bodies, we cannot touch or feel as you do. My beloved Petro wishes to enter the priest's body. Will he accept Petro?"
"I accept his spirit," Talin said solemnly.
Cass realized she'd been speaking Litha's words aloud in a voice different than her own. All the fear melted away as Cass embraced sharing her mind and body. She had actually been filled with a feeling of such ease and love that it was almost intoxicating in and of itself.
Talin's body shook for a moment and then relaxed. He turned to Cass, "I am here my love, come to me."
It didn't matter whether it was Talin or the spirit called Petro speaking. Cass wanted Talin, and she hoped their love could be a vehicle for the spirits joy as well. Cass leaned forward, pressing her lips to Talin's, feeling her own excitement and Litha's wash over her. Ecstasy was the only word to describe it.
Talin ran his hands across her body, as she felt electric sensations that seemed amplified beyond anything she's experienced before. She pulled off her shirt and he kissed her chest softly. The heat from the bonfire was nothing compared to the fire raging within her.
***
Captain Marco Marcos turned to Sergeant Chavez, "Great, not only do we have to sit here getting eaten by mosquitoes, but now I have to watch these two fuck!" Even in hushed tones, his anger came through loud and clear. He glanced over at his men. They were fighting over the other pair of binoculars, eager to watch the show. "Chavez, get those perverts under control." Chavez employed his usual managerial style, slapping the nearest soldier across the face. Satisfied they were refocused, the captain went back to observing the couple. The white woman was obviously a tourist, but she was quite attractive. Maybe after completing the mission he would take a moment to sample her charms himself. It would be a small consolation for being eaten by mosquitoes the size of helicopters.
***
Talin kissed Cass gently, but their passion quickly grew with an intensity she'd never experienced. Every touch was electric. She kissed his neck, working her way down his chest. She felt her own feelings but they were more than just hers. His sweat was salty but she could also taste the essence that coursed through him. She was now two souls, sharing the intense sensations, experiencing love beyond human comprehension.
Cass pushed Talin down onto the blanket and slid his shorts off slowly, unveiling his hard cock. Cass caressed it gently. Her senses were so amplified she could feel it throbbing. She almost thought she could see it throbbing with potency and energy. She kissed her way down his stomach, savoring the corded muscles of his abdomen. Then she kissed his cock softly, letting her tongue lightly dab the head. Talin's body twitched in approval, his breath growing heavier.
Litha's voice echoed in Cass' head, "It is so beautiful, tasting his manhood again, more please," And Cass happily obliged, running her tongue around the head of Talin's cock, before letting it slip down her throat. Talin had a big cock, but Cass had learned to take it all down her throat. She moved her head up and down, each time bringing her an inch closer to swallowing it whole. Finally her lips touched his balls as he squirmed in delight.
Cass and Litha were too deeply engrossed in pleasure to notice the lights swirling above. Globes of energy like tiny ball lightening hovered around them. It seemed that other spirits had been attracted to their ménage.
***
All eighty of the captain's IQ points were trying to comprehend the scene before him. Small globes of light whirled around the couple bathing them in an ethereal glow. He'd always taken his brother's devotion to voodoo with a grain of salt, convinced that the only real power in heaven and earth came from the barrel of a gun. But this spectacle forced him to reconsider his beliefs. Being from superstitious peasant stock to begin with, his men were already starting to panic. He gave them a steely look, and they settled down… for the moment at least.
***
Talin pulled Cass back up and they kissed again, deeper with even more intensity. His hand slid down, stroking her sopping wet pussy.
Litha's spirit voice screamed in delight, "So long since I've felt this, since I had a body," Cass couldn't believe the sensations; it was like her pubic hairs were live wires. Her legs shuddered as first orgasm rolled through her body, then another. She rolled onto her back, pulling Talin on top of her. She had to have him inside her; she had to be fucked before her head exploded. Every hair on Talin's body was standing on end, charged with the same metaphysical energy. Cass looked up, finally seeing the raging firestorm of spiritual energy that surrounded them. It seemed like hours before Talin slid his cock inside of her. Her legs were high in the air, toes curled to the point of breaking as she gripped him to her with her legs. Cass wondered if there was such a thing as too much pleasure. She was ready to find out. It felt like her pussy had never been so hot, so wet or so full. Talin's hips thrust back and forth in perfect time with hers. Cass closed her eyes and for a moment she actually left her body, hovering above, and able to look down at the beauty of their lovemaking. Yet even as she did so, she could still experience every physical sensation clearly. Then, in flash she was back in her body again. Every muscle tensed as she reached something beyond an orgasm. It was the most intense spiritual union that she and Talin had ever shared.
A brilliant cocoon of white light formed around them as Talin howled in ecstasy. Cass felt him releasing inside her, filling her with his hot seed. The cocoon of light exploded above them, bathing them in a blinding white light… and then there was calm, as they were left in a state of post-coital bliss like no other.
As they lay there taking in the experience, they felt the gratitude of their guests course through them as well. Soon Litha spoke inside her head again. “Thank you for allowing us this pleasure. We shall leave you now. Know that we are in your debt.” With that they withdrew and the pair were left alone. But their bliss did not last long.
One of the soldiers leapt to his feet in terror and tried to run into the jungle. He grabbed his ankle, yanking the panicked man to the ground with a loud yell. So much for the element of surprise. Chavez was also impressed by the sight by the bon fire, but he had always revered the old ways. He did not so much fear the spirits as these commoners did. He definitely respected what they could do however.
Through their post orgasmic haze Talin and Cass both heard the sound… someone was spying on them from the jungle.
Quickly pulling on his shorts Talin stood up, "Who's there? Come out now, or I will find you!"
The captain thought for a moment, he was way ahead of schedule, but the element of surprise was gone, "Fire!" He barked.
Bursts of automatic weapons fire tore through Talin's compound. Voodoo icons and ancient pottery exploded, sending shards of wood and plaster into the air in all directions.
Talin grabbed Cass' shoulder, pushing her into the hut. "Get inside!"
Adrenaline instantly surged through Cass. She'd been under fire before and had prayed to never have to experience that panic and chaos again. In a split second though she was right back in Afghanistan, but instead of her senses becoming razor sharp as they once would have, she felt a sickening and paralyzing fear. She stumbled to the ground and guided by instinct and the will to survive, crawled to the hut.
"Come on!" She screamed to Talin.
The next wave of bullets ripped through Talin's body, spinning him like a top. He fell to his knees, blood pouring from his abdomen. He locked eyes with Cass and his lips moved, but the words were lost in the thunder of gunfire. Cass did not need to hear to know what he said. "I love you."
"Cease fire! Enough!" Captain Marcos screamed to be heard over the gunfire.
Sergeant Chavez slapped one of the men and the cease-fire order finally sunk in. The captain gestured to advance. He glanced at his watch; they were a half hour ahead of schedule. There was no point in informing his brother… better to complete the mission and hope for the best.
Cass lay on the floor of the hut, huddling in the shadows. She'd experienced combat, and had even been decorated for valor, but at this moment she felt anything but courageous. All the fear, all the nightmares she had pushed aside had come boiling back to the surface. She saw the only man she'd ever loved, the man who gave her back her life, shot down like a dog. Now the armed men were advancing through the darkness and Cass knew exactly what soldiers like these did to defenseless women. Her hands instinctually fished for anything she might use as a weapon.
Captain Marcos knew the woman was in the hut, but she could wait. His men formed a semi-circle around the fallen priest. Marcos was amazed to realize that he was still alive. Despite three gunshot wounds the priest slowly climbed to his feet. The captain was impressed; if Talin wanted to die on his feet he would accommodate him. It was clear he was finished as his life blood leaked out of him in steady streams.
The captain saw the ritual sword lying amid the sea of broken pottery and smiled. He picked it up, testing its balance for a moment. He glanced at Sergeant Chavez who nodded in approval. Captain Marcos raised the sword and swung with all his might.
Talin's eyes widened as the blade sliced through his neck, cleanly decapitating him.
Cass stared in horror as Talin's headless body tumbled backwards. She hid her head as it appeared it would land directly in the roaring bonfire. She could not bear to watch. Her hand found something in the darkness and clutched it tightly.
The captain held up Talin's head, displaying it to his men. "My brother asked for proof, so we will bring him a trophy!"
The men applauded nervously.
Cass' fingers tightened around the handle of a machete. There was no conscious thought, no plan of attack… only burning rage. Her legs launched her forward like an Olympian.
Sergeant Chavez saw the naked woman wielding a machete race out of the hut howling like a banshee. He rushed to stop her, but it was too late. The screaming woman buried the machete in the captain's chest just as Chavez tackled her. They tumbled to the ground, and it took every ounce of his strength to pin down her arms. Captain Marcos slowly crumpled to the dirt, the priest's head still tightly clutched in his hands. Every soldier raised his rifle, ready to kill Cass.
"No!" the sergeant screamed, realizing he was directly in the line of fire, and that regardless, the Colonel would undoubtedly want her brought to him alive. As he looked at the dead captain the further repercussions of what had happened came to him. "You two, grab her," he shouted to the men.
Two soldiers rushed forward pulling Cass to her feet. Chavez slapped her with all his strength, and then addressed his men.
"Do you idiots realize what has happened? The colonel's brother was killed on our watch! Do you understand what will happen to us? Remember that shack behind the sugar plantation where we brought prisoners to the colonel? Remember hearing the screams that went on for days as he tortured them? Well that is what will happen to us!"
The men stared at him in silence, remembering the tortured screams all too well.
Chavez looked at Cass for a moment, formulating a plan, "She knows the priest's spells," He reached down and picked up the ancient book, "Voodoo priests can bring back the dead, my father saw it happen. This woman studied under Talin and knows his magic. She can surely bring the captain back to life."
The men looked at him nervously until one finally spoke, "He’ll be nothing but a zombie!"
Chavez shrugged, "Maybe or maybe not…but he will be alive, which is all we need right now.
Besides, even if he did return as a zombie, who would notice? The captain was a renowned imbecile, after all.
The men forced Cass down to her knees as Chavez grabbed her by the chin to turn her face up towards him, "You will bring him back."
Cass looked at him defiantly, "Too bad I'm only a bartender! But I'd be happy to make you a Mojito you fucking maniac!"
Chavez slapped her hard across the face. He gestured for the men to release her, as he dropped the book in front of her. " You will find the right spell and you will bring him back."
Cass reconsidered her options. Defiance is the worst tactic to take in this situation. She just couldn’t stop herself before. She was reeling. She had to get her head in the game. She knew that when captured the best plan was to cooperate and bide your time until you could escape. She thumbed through the ancient text. It was in a forgotten language, all symbols and sketches. She closed her eyes for a moment, praying for some guidance.
Then she heard the familiar voice in her head. "I will guide you," said the spirit Litha, "Have faith. Remember we are in your debt." Cass opened her eyes and looked at the page. The text was now in western letters. She didn't know what the words meant, but that wasn't important. Her lips moved, but it was Litha's voice that rang out.
Chavez fidgeted nervously as the white woman spoke in some unknown tongue, her voice growing louder with each sentence. The strange lights he'd seen earlier whirled above them. He glanced at his men. "Everyone stay calm. If anybody raises a weapon I'll kill them myself."
Cass' heart rose as the strange words tumbled from her lips, rising to a screaming crescendo, and then… silence. The mysterious lights faded away with her words. The soldiers just stood there, unsure of what to do. Chavez knelt down by the captain's body and examined it. He was still dead.
He glared at Cass, "You've failed. Now we are all dead. Kill her."
Five weapons were raised and cocked as one.
Then the captain’s body stirred, gasping for air.
"Wait!" Chavez yelled, cradling the captain's head in his arms. "Captain, you’re alive, it's a miracle!" he rejoiced.
The captain’s eyes popped open in a burst, and he stared at Chavez for a moment. Chavez pulled his head even closer to his own chest, relieved beyond measure. Then, in an instant, the captain twisted his head, biting down on Chavez's hand, severing three fingers in the act.
"Shoot him!" The sergeant screamed, clutching his partially eaten hand.
The men looked on in confusion. Even though the captain had become a flesh-eating monster… he still outranked Sergeant Chavez.
From where she was standing ten feet away, Cass muttered the only words her terrified mind could process, "Holy shit!"
They all watched the captain spastically trying to stand up. Then a shriek pierced the stillness of the jungle, followed by another until a cacophony of agonized screams echoed through the night. All eyes turned to the ancient cemetery. A headstone toppled over, then another. A mausoleum burst open. Figures appeared in the moonlight, staggering at first but slowly gaining their balance, moving towards their position.
Cass began crawling away from the group. The soldiers were far too distracted by the apparently walking dead to even notice.
One of the men raised his AK-47 and fired into the oncoming mass. The resurrected bodies lurched from the impact, and then just continued toward them, perhaps even faster. The first wave or rotting bodies was on them then and leapt onto the soldiers, grabbing and biting ferociously. Cass saw three descend on Chavez, tearing him literally limb from limb.
A corporal tried to rally the men, "Shoot them in the head, I saw it on television!" He fired a burst directly into the face of an oncoming zombie. The bullets did exactly nothing to stop the oncoming ghoul. "Fucking movies!" The soldier screamed as the zombie sank its teeth into his neck.
Cass continued crawling until a weak, almost whispered voice stopped her.
"Cass," it said, "It's me".
Cass crawled toward the voice and froze. It was Talin's decapitated head struggling to speak. "I can help you." He whispered, only communicating with great effort.
"By this point she was almost lost the ability to be shocked. Somehow accepting that he was speaking at all, all she could do was ask, “But why aren't you a zombie?"
"The spirit protected my soul. Now pick me up and go to the hut."
"But those things are everywhere!"
"Trust me," He said. Wow, she thought, I don’t even want to think about the PTSD this is gonna bring on.
Cass scooped up Talin's head and staggered into the hut, slamming the flimsy door behind her. Automatic weapons fire and screams filled the air outside. Through the small window she saw a soldier dragged to the ground by a zombie tearing at his throat. Moments later the soldier rose again, this time pouncing on one of his comrades.
"Jesus, anyone who dies comes back as a zombie! At least the movies got that part right. So what do we do now?" Cass asked, fighting to maintain her sanity.
"That wicker basket is full of salt. Make a circle of it on the ground."
She groped around and found the basket. Grabbing handfuls of salt she formed a circle around the two of them. Some of the zombies bashed at the hut's flimsy door while others were reaching through the small window. The zombie's had their first meal surrounded.
"Ok I got it!" Cass yelled, completing an imperfect circle around them.
Talin invoked a voodoo spell in the ancient tongue. Cass's heart was racing. The door shook under the pounding fists, finally collapsing. Three zombies burst into the hut. Talin continued the spell as the zombie's locked hungry eyes on Cass.
"Done," Talin whispered, "Do not leave the circle."
The zombie's paused, staring in Cass' direction, but ignoring her as if she were invisible. Clutching Talin's head to her chest Cass watched the zombie's mill around the tiny room. Finding nothing to sate their hunger they turned and shuffled off.
Outside the screaming gave way to an eerie silence. Without leaving the magic circle Cass stood and peered out the window. She was relieved to see the zombies walking into the jungle. She sank back to the floor. Talin’s mouth looked dry and so Cass searched until she found a bottle of water. What the fuck was going on! This was beyond insane.
"They're leaving," She said, dabbing water onto Talin's lips. The thought crossed her mind that this wasn’t going to do much for his overall situation, but it was about she could duo for him now.
"I think they are looking for an easier meal – or whatever it is they are after, elsewhere."
"What the hell is happening? And oh my poor Talin! Look what they have done to you!” she cried to his upturned face.
Talin closed his eyes for a moment. "When Litha took control of you and cast that spell, it must have been so powerful as to raise all these dead souls, including mine. It is the strength of my spirit, and the support of those spirits I have served that is allowing me to come to you as the man you know, rather than as a zombie like the rest.”
"Yes, but look at you! And how could she allow all this to happen?"
"Well, metaphysically speaking, Litha is known for her deep passions…she is not a spirit to be crossed…so I would say it was no accident. You get on the wrong side of her and she can be one mean spirited bitch, if you’ll pardon the pun."
"How powerful was that spell then? I mean, did it affect just this cemetery, or the island?"
"I do not know," Talin replied, "All I know is that for the moment you are safe."
"But what about the resort? It is not that far with all the noise I’m betting those things will find them. And what about your body? Can’t we reattach you or something?"
"I imagine you are correct about the resort and perhaps something can be done with my body, but time is short. We can either try and save those people or see what can be done about my body."
"Well we have to do something to help him. We can deal with your body later." Cass said, "We have to help them."
"I was afraid you would say that."