Chapter 20 Fine, hit it soft please

Chapter 20 Fine, hit it soft please


I stayed there for a while, the words hung in the air like a death sentence: "Welcome to cycle nine, nephew." Valeria's voice slithered through the open door, cold and triumphant, her silver-streaked hair catching the moonlight like a blade. The armed figures behind her shifted, their weapons glinting, but it was her eyes—those piercing green eyes—that pinned me in place. Family? She looked like a ghost from a nightmare I didn't remember having.

Ivy's hand tightened in mine, her warmth cutting through the numbness that threatened to swallow me whole. My neurological condition had always made touch a distant concept, a ghost of sensation—until her. With Ivy, every brush of skin was electric, alive, pulling me back from the edge. Right now, that spark was the only thing keeping me grounded as the house hummed faintly beneath our feet, like it was waking up hungry.

"Who the fuck are you really?" Ben growled, stepping forward with his pipe raised like a club. His voice was rough, laced with the exhaustion of too many cycles, but there was fire in it. We all had that fire now—forged in loops of madness.

Valeria's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, Benjamin. Always the protector. I've watched you all through the echoes. The Thorne Legacy Project has been monitoring this convergence for decades. Cassian here is the key—the bloodline that powers it all." She tilted her head toward me, her gaze dissecting. "Your ancestors built this, nephew. And I've spent my life perfecting it. The Amplifier wasn't destroyed; it was... upgraded."

Elijah moved beside me, his old frame steady despite the tremor in his hands. "Upgraded? This place has stolen lives. Cycles of torment. If you're family, how could you—"

"Family?" She laughed, a sharp, brittle sound that echoed off the foyer walls. "The Thornes have always sacrificed for progress. Time isn't a line, Elijah. It's a resource. And with the right blood—your blood, Cassian—we can harvest it. Control it."

Lena pressed against the wall, her eyes darting to the gallery behind us. The crack we'd heard earlier still echoed in my mind, the mirrors shimmering like they were breathing. "She's bluffing," Lena whispered, but her voice shook. "We broke it. We felt it shut down."

Aris clutched her device, her fingers white-knuckled. "The signal's spiking. Whatever's coming through those mirrors... it's not from our time. It's pulling energy from the convergence."

Valeria's team fanned out, boots thudding on the gravel outside. One of them—a burly guy with a scar across his cheek—raised his rifle slightly. "Ma'am, perimeter secure. No escapes."

"Good," Valeria said, stepping over the threshold uninvited. The air seemed to thicken as she entered, the house responding to her presence. "Now, let's talk terms. Hand over the control fragments—the ones you smashed—and we'll make this painless. Cycle nine can be... selective. We choose who loops, who forgets."

Ivy pulled away from me just enough to face Valeria, her chin lifted defiantly. "Painless? You've got no idea what we've been through. Cassian's not your tool. None of us are."

Valeria's eyes flicked to Ivy, appraising her like a specimen. "Ah, the wildcard. The one who makes him feel." She smirked, and I felt a chill run down my spine. How did she know about that? "Interesting. Your bond disrupts the neural dampening. We could use that. Extract it."

"Extract?" I snarled, stepping in front of Ivy. My voice came out low, dangerous. The thought of them touching her, using her... it ignited something primal in me. After all the cycles, all the loss, Ivy was my anchor. My everything. "You lay a hand on her, and I'll end this convergence myself. Burn the whole damn house down."

Ben nodded, pipe at the ready. "He's not alone. We've beaten worse than you mercs."

Valeria raised a hand, signaling her team to hold. "Brave words. But you're exhausted. Broken. And the mirrors?" She nodded toward the gallery. "They're already activating. Your 'future self' was just a preview. The real harvest begins now."

As if on cue, another crack split the air from the gallery. The ground trembled, and I heard glass shifting—mirrors realigning. Whispers filtered through, voices that sounded like distorted echoes of our own.

"We need to move," Lena hissed. "Back to the sitting room. Seal the door."

Elijah shook his head. "Too late. We fight here."

Aris's device beeped wildly. "Incoming anomaly! Through the mirrors!"

Valeria's smile turned predatory. "See? Cycle nine welcomes you."

The foyer erupted into chaos. One of her men lunged forward, grabbing for Aris's device. Ben swung his pipe, connecting with a sickening thud against the guy's arm. The man yelped, staggering back, but another fired a warning shot into the ceiling. Plaster rained down.

"Stand down!" Valeria barked. "We need them alive!"

In the scramble, Ivy grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the side hall. "Cassian, the west wing! The note I left you—there's a failsafe there. Your ancestors built a shutdown node."

My mind raced back to her note: "Don’t go to the west wing." But now? "You said not to go!"

"That was before," she whispered urgently, her breath hot against my ear. "I was hiding it. Protecting you. But now... we have no choice."

Lena covered us, kicking at a merc who got too close. "Go! We'll hold them!"

Ben and Elijah formed a makeshift barrier, Elijah using a fallen chair as a shield. "Hurry, Cassian!"

We bolted down the hall, Valeria's shouts echoing behind us. "Stop them! The girl knows too much!"

The west wing loomed ahead, doors sealed with old chains we'd never bothered to break in previous cycles. Ivy shoved against them, but they held. "Help me!"

I threw my shoulder into it, the wood groaning under our combined weight. Pain flared in my bandaged hand, but with Ivy's touch lingering on my skin, it felt sharp, real—alive. The door burst open, revealing a dust-choked corridor lit by faint moonlight through cracked windows.

"In here," Ivy panted, leading me deeper. The air was thick, musty, like forgotten secrets. Portraits lined the walls—Thorne ancestors with eyes that followed us, just like before.

"What is this place?" I asked, my voice echoing. Behind us, gunfire popped—suppressed shots, but enough to make my heart race.

"Your family's dark heart," she said, glancing back. "The accident you mentioned? It happened here. The first convergence test. Killed half the bloodline."

We turned a corner into a large chamber, dominated by a massive mirror—bigger than any in the gallery. It pulsed with that familiar energy, reflections warping slightly. In the center sat a control node, ancient dials and levers covered in cobwebs.

Ivy rushed to it, her hands flying over the controls. "This can overload the convergence. Shut it down for good. But it needs a catalyst. Blood. Thorne blood."

"Me," I realized, stepping forward. My pulse thundered in my ears. "How much?"

"Just a drop. But Cassian..." She hesitated, turning to face me. Her eyes were wide, filled with fear and something deeper—desire, maybe? After all the tension, all the near-misses in the cycles, it hit me how much I needed her. Not just her touch, but her.

Footsteps pounded down the hall. They were coming.

"We don't have time," I said, but instead of reaching for the node, I pulled her close. My hands found her waist, feeling the heat of her body through her torn sweater. That electric spark ignited, racing through me like fire. For years, touch had been nothing—numb, distant. But with Ivy, it was everything. Overwhelming.

"Cassian," she breathed, her hands sliding up my chest. "What are you—"

"If this is the end," I murmured, my lips brushing her ear, "I want to feel it. All of it. With you."

Her breath hitched, and she didn't pull away. Instead, she pressed against me, her body molding to mine. "We've waited too long. Through all those cycles..."

I kissed her then, hard and desperate. Her lips were soft, tasting of salt and rain from earlier. The sensation exploded—every nerve firing, pleasure crashing over me in waves. My condition had stolen this from me, but Ivy gave it back. Her tongue met mine, tentative at first, then hungry. I groaned into her mouth, my hands roaming lower, gripping her hips, pulling her flush against me.

She gasped, breaking the kiss just enough to whisper, "Touch me. Feel me."

My fingers trembled as I slid them under her sweater, tracing the smooth skin of her stomach. Goosebumps rose under my touch, and she arched into it, her breath coming in short pants. "God, Cassian... yes."

The footsteps grew louder, but the world narrowed to us. I pushed her back against the node console, lifting her slightly so she perched on the edge. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. I could feel her heat through our clothes, the friction sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.

"Ivy," I growled, nipping at her neck. Her pulse thrummed under my lips, fast and erratic. My hands pushed her sweater up, exposing her bra—simple, practical, but on her, it was intoxicating. I cupped her breast, thumb brushing over the nipple through the fabric. She moaned, low and throaty, her head falling back.

"More," she demanded, her voice husky. Her hands fumbled with my shirt, yanking it open. Buttons popped, scattering across the floor. Her nails raked down my chest, leaving trails of fire. For the first time, I felt every scratch, every press of her skin against mine. It was agony and ecstasy twisted together.

I unclasped her bra with shaking fingers, exposing her to the cool air. Her nipples hardened, and I leaned down, taking one in my mouth. She cried out, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. "Cassian... oh fuck, yes."

The taste of her skin—salty, sweet—drove me wild. I sucked harder, my other hand sliding down her pants, fumbling with the button. She helped, shimmying out of them just enough. My fingers found her core, wet and ready. She bucked against my hand as I stroked her, circling her clit with my thumb.

"You're so wet," I murmured against her breast, my voice rough. "For me."

"Always for you," she panted, her hips grinding against my touch. "Through every cycle... I wanted this."

I slipped a finger inside her, then two, curling them to hit that spot that made her gasp. Her walls clenched around me, hot and tight. Pleasure built in me too, my cock straining against my pants, aching for release. But this was about her—about feeling everything she'd given back to me.

"Harder," she begged, her voice breaking. "Please..."

I obliged, thrusting my fingers deeper, my thumb relentless on her clit. Her moans filled the room, echoing off the walls. She came undone suddenly, her body shuddering, crying out my name as waves of pleasure crashed over her. I held her through it, kissing her neck, her collarbone, memorizing every tremor.

But we weren't done. She reached down, unzipping my pants with urgent hands. "I need you inside me. Now."

I freed myself, hard and throbbing. Positioning at her entrance, I paused, looking into her eyes. "Ivy... are you sure?"

She nodded, pulling me in. "Yes. Fuck me, Cassian."

I thrust into her, burying myself deep in one smooth motion. The sensation nearly blacked me out—tight, wet heat enveloping me, every inch alive with feeling. I groaned, low and animalistic, my hips snapping forward.

"Oh god," she whimpered, her nails digging into my back. "You feel... so good."

We moved together, frantic and raw. Her legs locked around me, heels digging into my ass, urging me deeper. Each thrust sent sparks through my body, building toward something explosive. Sweat slicked our skin, the air thick with our moans and the slap of flesh.

"Faster," she gasped, her head thrown back. I obliged, pounding into her, the console rattling beneath us.

The footsteps were right outside now—banging on the door we'd barred behind us. "Open up!" a voice shouted. "Or we break it down!"

But I couldn't stop. Ivy's eyes locked on mine, fierce and loving. "Come with me," she whispered.

I felt her tighten around me again, her second orgasm building. It pulled me over the edge. With a final thrust, I came hard, spilling into her, pleasure ripping through me like never before. She followed, crying out, her body convulsing around mine.

We collapsed against each other, panting, spent. For a moment, the world was just us—hearts racing, bodies entwined.

Then the door splintered. Wood cracked as Valeria's team burst in.

Ivy's eyes widened. "The node—your blood!"

I reached for a shard of glass from the floor, slicing my palm deeper. Blood welled, and I smeared it on the control. The mirror flared, energy crackling.

Valeria stormed in, weapon raised. "Stop!"

But the chamber shook, the mirror warping. Figures emerged—echoes from other cycles, but twisted, angry.

"What have you done?" Valeria screamed.

The echoes lunged—not at us, but at her team. Chaos erupted, screams filling the air.

Ivy clung to me. "It's working... but Cassian, look."

In the mirror's depths, a new figure appeared—my future self, but different. Smiling. "Cycle nine? No. This is the end. Or the beginning."

The room spun, time folding. And as the echoes closed in, I realized: We'd overloaded it, but at what cost? The convergence wasn't shutting down—it was expanding.

Valeria fired wildly, but an echo grabbed her, pulling her toward the mirror. "No! This wasn't the plan!"

Ivy whispered, "Cassian... hold on."

The world blurred, and everything went black—except for one whisper in the void: "The Legacy isn't over. It's evolving."

When I woke, we weren't in the house anymore. We were somewhere else. Somewhere wrong. And Ivy... she was gone.