Psyche & Eresto Pt. 01 Ch. 03

Psyche & Eresto Part 1: Second Life

Chapter 3 of 4: Untitled

The first few days in Angelhome were a big adjustment. In the mornings, Kim woke up in a panic thinking that she was late for work. She had run around the bedroom, wondering where her clothes were. Typically, Eresto would just stare at her perplexed until she would remember where she was.

In those first days she went back to her apartment through the doorway often. It was partly to get things that she would need from home, like books and clothes. But she also went back due to a nagging feeling that her First Life was falling apart in her absence. She continued to do these "First Life Checks" (as she started calling them) before getting used to the fact that time was not passing in her apartment and in her life while she was with Eresto.

Meeting a few of the other mortal women ("her sisters" as they referred to themselves) helped Kim adjust to Second Life. She saw Cassandra regularly, who seemed to be checking up on her once a day or more. Cassandra seemed to be very respected and the "veteran" among the women there. The others that Kim had met were polite but seemed like they were giving her some space.

Kim had asked Cassandra about this. "Every ten days there's a banquet," she had explained. "The next one is coming up. If you're still here after the first banquet that's when the others will start seeking you out more. Until then, they're giving you some space to get acclimated. Spend the time with your angel."

It was very noticable that there were no mortal men in Second Life. It was apparently a women's club only. Cassandra confirmed Kim's suspicion ("that would be a mess in a lot of ways") but didn't offer any reasons why. Kim wondered if having men there would interfere with the angels courting the mortal women who lived there.

The palace had an exercise gym for the women to use, to pass the time and stay healthy. Kim had tried it out and was impressed. In fact, the angels had a knack for having many conveniences around the palace for the mortal women to use who lived there. In the palace kitchen, which the angels didn't seem to use much, there were always foods from the orchard or taken from Earth.

Kim's time with Eresto was magical. They would usually spend the evenings walking the paths around the palace. She had told him about her family back home in First Life, and her friends including her best friend Beth who tried to give her relationship advice. She spoke about her work as a CPA and some of her coworkers (whom she definitely wasn't missing at all). Eresto would tell her about an artist he was trying to inspire "to create the next Sistine Chapel" as he would sometimes say.

When Eresto was off on his duties during the day, Kim would busy herself in the palace or on the grounds. She began to think of it as a stay-at-home-angel-wife lifestyle. One of her favorite passtimes was running or walking in the orchard around the palace. There were always new paths to explore, and it was nearly impossible to get lost as the palace was a large landmark in the middle of the trees. The vibrant colors of the orchard trees and their multicolored canopies never got old, and she felt that she could wander through them for days and not get sick of them.

Kim slowly began to realize that her feelings for Eresto weren't just lust with a beautiful lover. She was falling in love with him and wanted to give herself to his strong and loving care. But at the same time, she felt that he wasn't being honest with answers to her questions. She had asked him a few times about his previous relationships and why he was single for so long and never gotten an answer. She thought of him alone in that palace for years and years before her arrival, without a woman. Such a beautiful and wonderful "man" alone with no woman looking after him? It was unimaginable with the way he seemed to revel in her affection and attention.

While he seemed very human in some ways, physically and emotionally, Kim came to learn some of the differences between his kind and hers. His angel soul was very different, or perhaps unjaded by a tumultuous life on Earth. She also knew that he was very old, defying his looks, and that probably affected his perspective too. He was also an incredible lover. "I can't believe he's inexperienced in bed. Maybe it just comes naturally to his kind?" She tried to return the favor, wanting more than anything to please him.

It had been several days and Eresto had left for the day Kim was set to take her daily run in the forest. By now she had gone back to her apartment for a number of belongings and brought them, including clothes for exercising. It was early afternoon and she had done the first two "r" in her routine of "read, write, run." She had changed into a jogging outfit, put a scrunchie in her hair and was ready to head outside.

Leaving her suite and walking out to the hallway, Kim stopped when she saw a familiar figure approaching: Abeldine the angel commander. She was wearing the same uniform that Kim had seen her wearing when they first met. Abeldine smiled to her and waved in greeting, and Kim felt a dread. Her presence had been intimidating at their first meeting.

"Hello, Psyche," Abeldine smiled and greeted with a smooth yet authoritative voice.

"Good afternoon, Mistress Abeldine," Kim smiled. "It's another beautiful day."

"I was wondering if you had a few minutes to discuss something?" Abeldine motioned to Kim's room.

"Of course," Kim went back inside and Abeldine followed. Kim bit her lip and felt nerves in her stomach. "What can I do for you?"

"First of all, I must apologize for this intrusion," Abeldine said as she closed the door to the suite. "When someone is new I generally do not intrude for a time. You have not been here very long by our reckoning."

"Oh, it's no problem," Kim hid her uneasiness as best she could, but wondered what sort of demand Abeldine was going to make of her.

"I'll get right to the point and let you get back to your day," the angel continued with a slightly lowered voice. "I am most pleased that you and Eresto have bonded so well. I sincerely hope you stay here in Angelhome."

"I love it here," Kim said, trying to hide her misgivings about this visit. "I wasn't planning to leave any time soon."

"The power of your life force is stronger than we had anticipated." Abeldine seemed impressed.

"Mistress," Kim swallowed hard, "if I may ask, is there something you wanted to ask of me?"

"Your partner is going to be taking on duties that will tax him more, as he has found renewed spirit and vigor since you arrived. I ask you continue to give him the love, support and strength that he needs. There are large matters happening in the Stairway and even here on the First Step. He will need you to get through this time."

"Of course," Kim was a little surprised by the request. "I'm here to be with him and give him what he wants and needs. I love him."

"Very good," Abeldine smiled and spoke with her full voice again, looking down at Kim almost through her nose as she held her head high. "I also wanted to tell you that the ten day banquet is tomorrow night. I look forward to seeing you both there." Before Kim knew how to respond Abeldine was walking back toward the door.

"I'll be there... Thank you for visiting, Mistress Abeldine," was all Kim could think to say as Abeldine opened the door and stepped out. With one more look at Kim, the angel closed the door and was gone.

"I wonder what that was about," Kim thought to herself before beginning to stretch for her run.

Once outside, Kim set out to run going east (by her reckoning) and into a part of the orchard where the tree leaves were a bright and pastel green. They bore some type of fruit that was azure in color. She didn't know what it was but Eresto had told her it was good to eat. Kim liked to run in this portion of the forest because the path was a bit longer and hilly, so she could push herself a bit.

She jogged through the forest at a moderate pace, admiring the scenery, her breathing steady. "Not bad, Kim, you'll get into shape yet." Just as this thought had gone through her mind, she noticed something ahead. Someone clad in white was sitting beside the path in the grass. As she got closer, she could tell it was Cassandra. Cassandra was reading a book, but looked up as Kim approached. Kim slowed to a walk and smiled.

"Hey, Psyche babe," Cassandra called out as Kim neared. "Beautiful day for a run or a stroll."

"Hi Cassandra," Kim greeted her. "Beautiful day for anything, really, including sitting and reading a book. Do you have anything good?"

"My favorite," Cassandra held up her book for Kim to see. "Pride and Prejudice. I'm a sucker for a good romance."

"Very fitting for this place," Kim replied.

Cassandra stood in greeting, leaning slightly against the tree she had been sitting under. Showing her white dress and standing under the canopy of green and orange, she was striking. Like something out of a painting. She reached out her arms to beckon Kim for a hug.

"Wow, what a vision," Kim embraced Cassandra and stepped back to look at her. "You look beautiful in that dress, girl."

"Oh yeah," Cassandra twirled herself around a bit to show Kim. "I feel great when I wear this. Balthus really likes it, and tells me how beautiful I look when I wear it, so I wear it often. His words are almost as beautiful as his body." She closed her book and sat at the base of the tree. "Come and have a sit." Cassandra sat back down at the base of the tree.

Kim could tell that Cassandra had something to say. She had been a great teacher for understanding this place. Kim had a mountain of questions. She sat cross-legged across from Cassandra, facing her.

"So, how are things going with Eresto?" Cassandra asked.

"He's a dream come true," Kim smiled and looked dreamily off into the distance. "We get along great, in every way." She looked at Cassandra. "I'm not sure why I would ever leave."

"Good," Cassandra responded. "I know you have questions, Psyche."

"A million," Kim responded, chuckling.

"So, it's been a few days. Have you noticed anything different since you got here?" Cassandra raised her eyebrows and gave an expectant look.

Kim felt uncomfortable and knew what Cassandra was referring to. "Yeah," she said. "What the fuck is going on with my menstrual cycle?"

"Right. About that..." Cassandra began. She paused and scratched her forehead with a finger, as if considering what exactly to say, then looked Kim in the eye. "I told you that the Great Pause Button affects everything in First Life," she said, "and I did mean everything."

"So... my cycle is paused?" Kim blinked. "What the hell does that mean? Does that mean I can't have children any more?"

"It means that the energy your body puts toward running the bakery in your midsection, goes toward helping your Lover and running this place. It's one of the reasons we're here." Cassandra looked at her critically, perhaps looking for a reaction. "I've been told that if we leave, everything about the body goes back to normal."

Kim's jaw dropped. "Wow," was all she could say.

"We do have freedom to go back to First Life and live normally... The longer you stay, the more you'll understand why we call it Second Life, here. It really is a separate existence in many ways," Cassandra explained. "Anyway, the Great Pause Button means you can boink Eresto all you want and not have to worry about unexpected consequences. So you might as well leave your birth control in First Life if you brought it."

"I guess I'll bring my meds back, then," Kim cast her eyes to the ground for a moment. "But what if the unexpected consequence were a wanted consequence?"

Cassandra's eyes went wide. "Things are going that well, huh?"

"Well you never know," Kim said as she stared at the ground. "It is a life goal of mine, after all."

"That can't happen here. That's not for this place. That's for Earth. If you two lovebirds did it back at your home there, you could get knocked up. And he would be cast out."

"Cast out?" Kim was a little surprised.

"Well, he wouldn't be sent to the bad place or anything," Cassandra replied. "But he would become mortal and not belong here."

"He wouldn't be an angel any more," Kim said in a low voice.

"Bingo," Cassandra said.

"That would explain why he didn't want to come back with me to my place," Kim looked up at Cassandra and bit her lip. "I offered him to try out my bed with me."

"No can do, Sister," Cassandra replied.

"If I have him, it has to be here and I have to help him."

"Yes," Cassandra smiled and nodded.

"Well," Kim thought for a moment, "this all seemed too good to be true. I knew there had to be a catch." She looked at Cassandra with resolve. "It seems a small price to pay, to be honest."

"It is, no doubt," Cassandra said. "You should talk to him about it. The energy and strength they get from us is pretty important to them."

For a moment they were both silent. Cassandra leaned back against the tree, gazing up at the canopy and seemingly contemplating. Kim noticed how striking she looked as she seemed to ponder. Her long, dark hair came down over her chest, where the dress she was wearing showed off her cleavage.

"Do you like it?" Cassandra had noticed Kim looking at her hair. "I changed my hair style last week, a few days before you arrived. I saw that you noticed it the other day. Here, have a closer look."

Cassandra scooted over next to Kim, who leaned in closer. Kim had noticed how beautiful Cassandra always looked. Cassandra had slender arms yet seemed to have a strength about her, or perhaps a confidence. Kim wondered if Cassandra had noticed her admiring her. Now that they were alone, Cassandra sidled up beside Kim and pressed her chest against Kim's shoulder and showed off her hair.

"I use this special shampoo that Balthus made for me," Cassandra said. "Have a feel."

Kim ran her fingers through Cassandra's hair. "Very nice, I'll have to borrow some sometime," Kim leaned closer to sniff. "Smells great, too."

Cassandra turned her head to face Kim. Looking her in the eye, their faces were not more than a few inches apart. Kim could feel Cassandra's breath on her lips, and smell her scent like a sweet perfume. It was very beautiful, but Kim suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"You know, Psyche, there are other things to enjoy here if you'd like to try a taste." Cassandra's brown eyes seemed to hold a glint of something else, and Kim understood what she meant.

Kim felt self-conscious and blinked. "Well, I don't..."

"I'll be gentle," Cassandra interrupted. "I won't bite."

Kim was flattered. Cassandra had offered a few compliments and was definitely a beautiful woman herself. Eresto had admitted that when he and Kim had spoken about her. But Kim had also thought that Cassandra might also try to use her to get to him, and maybe try to steal him. Still, in the moment, face to face, it seemed like a remote possibility.

"Oh, what the hell," said Kim. "I'm game."

Cassandra smiled. "That's the spirit."

Cassandra scooted a bit closer and put her arm around Kim's shoulder. Kim put her hand on Cassandra's hip to keep herself steady. "Just close your eyes and relax, Beautiful. I'll take care of it." Cassandra whispered.

Kim closed her eyes and steeled herself slightly, feeling her heart pounding against her chest. A moment later she felt a caress on her lips. Cassandra's kiss was tender, her lips warm and soft. Kim leaned slightly into her, and their lips whispered softly to eachother. Kim exhaled, breathing out her anxiety, and she sighed contentedly without realizing it.

Kim felt Cassandra's other hand on her arm, reaching across her and pushing her backwards slowly. As Cassandra pushed her onto her back in the grass, Kim opened her mouth tentatively and let her tongue play at Cassandra's lips. Soon she was lying back and moaning into the kiss. Their tongues flitted lightly against eachother, and Cassandra bent down over her. Kim could feel Cassandra's hair brushing against her face, and smell Cassandra's sweet perfume. She felt Cassandra's hand caressing her stomach gently.

Kim reached up with a hand and ran it through Cassandra's hair. The silky fibers were warm to her touch and she rubbed her fingertips against Cassandra's scalp lightly. When Cassandra finally broke the kiss and looked down on her, Kim bit her lip and felt her skin tingling.

"Wow," Kim said, giggling to herself. "That was better than I thought it would be."

She looked at Cassandra's lips for a moment, and Cassandra smirked. "Not bad at all," Cassandra said. She leaned in and kissed Kim again. They stayed there for a few minutes, Kim rubbing the back of Cassandra's neck lightly with her fingertips.

As she returned Cassandra's kiss, Kim could feel her body tingling with desire. She thought suddenly of Eresto. She didn't want to be rude to Cassandra, but she knew he would be back in a while and she wanted to wait for him. Kim flitted her tongue against Cassandra's affectionately as Cassandra rubbed her stomach.

As nice as it was to be there like that, Kim broke the kiss. As she sat up, Kim looked at Cassandra and felt her cheeks go flush. Cassandra smiled at her.

"I should go," Kim said with a shaky voice. "Eresto will be back, soon."

"Me too. Balthus will be back soon as well," Cassandra admitted.

Kim skipped the rest of her run and walked back toward the palace. She folded her arms and stared at the ground, a shiver running through her body as she realized how much she liked Cassandra's kiss and how turned on she was.

In her room waiting for Eresto to come home, Kim tried to sit and read. She was too distracted. She couldn't get the rendezvous out of her mind. There was only one way to deal with it. She put on her beautiful red dress, which Eresto had grown to admire on her, and kept herself busy until he got back.

Thankfully, it wasn't too long before Eresto opened the door to their suite and walked in. From the other side of the room, Kim noticed immediately and walked over to him.

"Hello, Psyche," he said as she approached. She decided to let him know what was on her mind. "How was... your..."

Eresto seemed to notice that Kim was wearing his favorite outfit and that she meant business. She reached her arm around his neck, pressed her groin and chest against him, and pulled his head down to kiss him passionately. Her tongue flicked against his lips.

She broke the kiss and held him close. "I've been thinking about you all afternoon," she whispered. "I need you. I need you deep inside me."

Kim reached down with one hand and undid the sash of her dress. As she shook her hips and shoulders, the dress fell to the ground and she stood before him, naked and wanting.

They wasted no time. In short order his uniform was lying on the floor next to her gown and they were moving toward the bed. They had gotten efficient at going from "I want you" to getting it on. Eyes were locked as she pushed him playfully back onto the bed, where the covers were already pulled back and ready to get messy.

"I know you've been on duty all day, Lover," she said as she pushed him back toward the bed. "You're probably tired. I'll take care of everything this time."

Eresto climbed backwards onto the bed and Kim was on top of him, ready to take what she wanted. She leaned down, putting her head between his legs. She used her tongue and lips to massage his soft manhood until it was stiff. His fingers laced through her hair. She moaned softly against his dick and she revelled in how turned on she was. When he was ready, she released his member from the moist, hot and affectionate grip of her mouth and climbed on top of him. All she could smell was man. Strong, hard, filling man. Like a sweaty and intoxicating cologne.

Once Eresto was inside her, Kim felt the need all the stronger. She closed her eyes and rocked back and forth on top of him. She aimed for her clit against his shaft. "Ohhhh," escaped her lips as she found the spot and hit it the first time. She leaned forward with her arms on either side of his head and rode like a woman possessed. Within a few minutes they had both reached the end. She moaned with pleasure at her release and lied down quickly on top of him. Her orgasm was very strong and she felt like a rag doll as she lied on top of him, shivering. She rubbed her cheek against his, and then buried her face in his neck. She loved the closeness.

"Ohh wow I really needed that," Kim said weakly as she panted. "I've been horny this afternoon and wanting you. Whew that was pretty intense."

Eresto seemed surprised, if happy. "You were incredible and so sexy, Psyche." He stroked her hair slowly. "I'm glad you wanted me, but... is there any particular reason?"

"Yes, whew, I hope you don't mind," Kim said tentatively. She was suddenly glad that her face was pressed against his neck. "I met Cassandra today. She kissed me and we sort of made out. It was pretty hot and I've wanted you ever since."

"Oh," Eresto's tone was hard to identify. There was some surprise in it. He seemed to gather his thoughts. "Have you ever kissed another woman before?"

"No," Kim replied, "and it was better than I thought it would be."

"So it was new for you." Eresto said, comfortingly, rubbing her back. "I knew your woman friends on Earth were platonic, I didn't realize you had never had any intimacy with any at all."

Kim slipped off of him and lied next to him, so they could look at eachother. "Yeah, I've never had any sexual encounter with a woman. Most women haven't, really, unless they are attracted to women. I'm not... well, I think anyway."

"Are you attracted to Cassandra?" Eresto asked.

Kim stared at the pillow and thought for a moment. A lightbulb went on in her head. "Shit," she said. "I think I might be. Oh, that's weird."

Eresto laughed. "She's a beautiful woman, especially when she wants to be. And things are different here from on Earth. There are different expectations of what you should or shouldn't do. How did this happen, anyway?"

"I went for my run a while ago," she answered. "I found her sitting, reading a book. We talked and one thing led to another."

"Was she waiting for you?" Eresto asked.

"No, I think it was just by chance," Kim said. She considered. Cassandra did know that Kim had been running the paths around the palace. "I saw Mistress Abeldine, too."

"You did?" Now Eresto was surprised.

"Yeah, she stopped by our room before my run and asked me to give you love and support." Kim stopped to consider Abeldine's visit. "It was odd. I haven't seen her otherwise since I arrived and she greeted me."

"That seems unusual," Eresto replied. "I think we should have time to be together before she puts herself in the middle. I might ask her about that."

Soon they got up and about and Eresto said that he wanted to walk in the forest with her. Kim decided to wear her favorite tank top and shorts. Once they were both re-clothed, they left their suite and the palace. They crossed paths with a couple of the other women and Kim briefly exchanged greetings with them.

Leaving the palace, Eresto decided that they should go west. The Sun was lowering in the sky and Kim leaned against Eresto's strong arm as they walked. On a winding path through the trees, they eventually arrived at a clearing in the forest. The colorful landscape surrounded a small hill with a marble bench at the top. They ascended the hill and Eresto held Kim's hand as she sat on the bench. Sitting next to her, they faced west to watch the Sun lowering over the trees.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Eresto said after they had watched for a few minutes.

While it looked beautiful, the Sun also looked different from anything she would've seen on Earth. "Very much so," Kim said after a moment, "but it's odd. The Sun at home is blinding, but here not as bright. I can look right at it."

"It's not a real star," Eresto explained. "We built it to make the mortals here feel more at home. I also wanted to have something beautiful here to help mark the days, like on earth."

"You helped build it then?" Kim asked.

"Yes. A very long time ago."

Kim looked out over the trees, with the backdrop of the yellow ball of light against the sky. The sky was turning a hazy purple and orange as the Sun approached the horizon. The light glinted off the tops of the trees, and their colors changed shade. Green became yellow, yellow became orange, and orange became a beautiful shade somewhere between red and purple. It was a striking contrast to how things were on Earth back in First Life, and a reminder of all the things here that she didn't understand.

As she pressed her cheek against Eresto's shoulder affectionately, Kim realized that she still didn't understand how such a beautiful being like Eresto could go so long without a Lover. He was such a loving soul.

"Cassandra has been here a long time, by her reckoning," Kim finally broke the silence. "She tells me she's never seen you with a woman before now. I know it makes you uncomfortable but I need to know. Why were you single for so long?"

Eresto rested his head against hers. "I had another Lover once, a long time ago," he said, apparently ready to open up a bit about his past. "When that relationship ended, I thought I would never bring another Lover here. That was before I saw you."

Kim had known that Eresto had been watching her (stalking, as she teased him about it), but something finally occured to her. "So you're a muse," she noted. "You give inspiration and desire. Are you some type of guardian as well, like Balthus?"

"No, that is a separate duty." Eresto seemed to hesitate slightly. "Balthus is a warrior, but also a protector and a watcher. It's what he was made for. For me, it's not really what I usually do but there come times when we must be pressed into duties that aren't what we were made for."

"Why would that happen?" Kim asked.

"There are many things going on in our domain, in the Stairway. I've kept them from you while you get used to life here, but I won't keep them from you forever. After tomorrow's banquet, if you decide to stay, you will be fully accepted here and I'll tell you more. For now, know that there are things going on that could affect all the cosmos, including Earth."

Eresto closed his eyes, as though he were holding up a great weight. Kim realized suddenly that he must be under a lot of pressure, and that he was shielding her from it. She wanted to know what it was, and feeling like something was being hid from her made her a bit uneasy. At the same time, she wanted to show him love and support.

Kim cuddled up to Eresto's arm, and he placed it around her shoulder. She pressed against his side and wrapped her arms around him affectionately. Whatever it was that he was shielding her from, it was probably be beyond her. Still, she wanted to know. "For all I know, it might be dangerous to stay here," she thought to herself. As they watched the sun falling to the horizon, the colors from the treetops and sky sank into a deeper shade.

"It's not right that a beautiful being like you should be without a woman for so long," Kim finally said. "I love you and I'm not leaving your side. Maybe my being here will give you the strength and support that you need. This world is so large and the matters are so grand as far as I can tell. I don't know how you've done it alone for so long."

"I did miss having a lover," Eresto said, his gaze cast to the ground. "But these duties are what I was made for. And I didn't want the heartache that I wound up with last time. It took a long time to get over that." His voice was low, and she sensed that he was remembering something painful.

"So she broke your heart," Kim interjected. "Well, I understand how awful that can be. You put your trust in someone, who is just using you for the things that they want." She sat up again and lowered her eyes to the ground, trying to put behind her the painful feelings of her previous life. "I'm not going anywhere." She turned to face him as he cast his gaze downward. "Maybe, being here with you, I can give you strength to help you get through difficult times. I'll stay with you forever if I can."

"You do give me strength, Psyche, more than you realize." Eresto said suddenly, looking up as though he had just remembered something. "There's something I haven't told you yet. Something important. I love you and want you here by my side, but there is another reason why mortal women are here with us."

"I know," Kim interrupted him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She felt like he was under enough stress, and she wanted to keep their time together pleasant for him. "Cassandra told me today. About my energy that you need."

"She did?" Eresto seemed surprised.

"Yes, my Love," Kim said. "I give you my energy willingly, and lovingly. Anything I can do to help you."

He turned his head to look at Kim, casting his deep, blue eyes at her. She saw a sadness, a spirit weighed down by heavy burden or pain. She felt she knew where it came from.

"Existence can be so trying," Eresto said finally. "I don't know how you humans live with all these emotions."

As Kim looked into Eresto's eyes, she felt overwhelmed with love. All she wanted was to kiss him, and so she did. She moved her arms around his neck as he returned the kiss. There they stayed together, alone, as the sun fell below the horizon.