Time And Time Again
By Dimples
Disclaimers:
The many characters in this story are all mine, though the main ones may resemble the X:WP characters, which are not mine....unfortunately. The song in the story is all mine as well.
Love/Sex/Language:
Yes to all of the above. This story depicts an explicit loving relationship between adult women. There is a scene that might seem like voyeurism but it's not....exactly...There is also a scene of self-gratification. The language gets a little rough from time to time but so does the sex...so if you're ok with that.... So if you're under-aged or live in a place that this isn't allowed or this isn't your cup of tea, I suggest you move along and look for something else to occupy your free time.
Violence:
There are some scenes that contain pretty graphic violence but I don't consider them to be much. But if you're of the fainter heart, I'd suggest you don't read 'em. They're really not bad though...Not worse than any regular Xena episode..
Thanks:
To my beta-reader Cindy AKA "ForevaXena" for everything. Starting with beta reading my stories and finishing with posting my stories and giving them a chance in the first place.
To all the readers that took the time to write to me and telling me what they thought, you encouraged me to keep on writing.
And to all the great bards around and their amazing stories that I loved reading and gave me the inspiration to start writing my own.
Author's comments and Feedback: This is the first story I've written of this length. I hope you'll like it. Everything in this story is meant purely for fun and I hope you find it funny (in places it was meant to be funny), dramatic (the same) and so on. I would really appreciate knowing what you think of my stories. Tell me if I'm doin' alright or if I royally suck. Some plot ideas would be very much appreciated also. Actually, come to think of it, any comment would be very much appreciated :) mailto:Dimples_2000_fr@yahoo.com
© Dimples 2001
Part Two
Ch. 3
After a few hours of relaxing sleep, something she didn't get in a while, Audry decided she'd try to look for something or someway to help herself get better. She didn't know where to start or what angle to take because she didn't fully understand the problem. She was flipping through the channels when suddenly she encountered an interesting commercial, she raised the volume of the TV set and listened carefully 'Would you like to know what the future holds for you? Are you having dreams you'd like to decipher but don't know who to turn to? Would you like to know who you were in a past life or what you'll be in the next? If you answered "yes" to one of those queries then you've found what you were looking for. Dial this number on the bottom of your screen and talk to Madam Lia, your know it all psychic. Only 2.99$ per minute.'
Grabbing a piece of paper from her night stand and a pen that was lying next to it, she scribbled the phone number quickly before the commercial ended. Shutting the TV off and putting the paper with the phone number down in front of her, she just sat there looking at it, trying to decide what to do. Figuring that she doesn't have anything to lose by calling this..psychic, Audry picked up the phone and dialed the number from the commercial. She waited for it to ring and then again and again, after three rings she hung up, loosing her nerve. Deep down she knew that she should do it and just get it over with even if it won't help her in the end. This may be her last chance to actually find out what's going on with her and she did answer in the affirmative to the questions asked in the commercial so maybe..just maybe she ain't a lunatic and if such a commercial even exists then they must have other clients.
So again, going against some people's idea of common sense, she picked up the phone and dialed the number, this time waiting for the line to be picked up. After four rings a female voice sounded from the other side of the line "Yes, Madam Lia speaking, how may I help you?"
"Hello....umm....I've seen your ad on TV and I'd like to talk to you..."
"Alright then, talk....what is your name?"
"My name's Audry and I have this problem that I think you might be able to help me with..."
Taking a deep breath, Audry started telling the psychic her problem, not skipping any of the details in the process except for the last vision which she described in a very implicit and general way while blushing furiously.
"Hmmm....I see.....well Audry, I think I might know what your problem is but I will have to see you and speak to you in person to know for sure, I might need to check a few more things myself by exploring these reoccurring dreams from a closer aspect. I don't usually do this, only in special cases, when will it be good for you to make an appointment dear?"
"Well...could you make it as soon as possible?"
"But of course dear, how does tomorrow at 8:00am sound?"
"It sounds perfect, thank you Madam Lia....What is the address?" said a more relieved Audry.
"It is of no problem dear, my home which is also used as an office is on LakeView Blvd. 106, 2nd floor, first door on the right."
"Ok, got it."
"All right, have a good day and I'll see you tomorrow."
"You too."
Audry hung up the phone feeling something that she hasn't felt in more than a month, actually since the flashes started, she felt almost relaxed, her tired body and soul were not so tired suddenly and she felt rejuvenated. She felt so close to finally seeing this thing to an end and finding the meaning that stood behind it. Not only was she curious about them and the feelings of closeness to the figures in them, she was just plain tired of them and wanted....no....needed a break from them, finally a chance to get her life back in order.
With all these new feelings she decided to make herself a quick dinner to eat in front of the TV and then to retire to bed so that the new day may come faster.
Hearing the alarm clock screech in her ear, Audry jumped from the mattress like she was bit by a snake. Awake but very grumpy from the rude awakening, she jumped in the shower for a quick one, grabbed her things and rushed out of the house to the address she had written on the small piece of paper which contained the phone number as well.
Fifteen minutes later, Audry reached a two-story building, old looking but strong on its foundations. She stepped out of her car and locked it up. Taking a long deep breath, she composed herself and started walking towards the entrance. At the door, looking awkwardly all around her to see if someone may be around, noting she was pretty much alone on the deserted looking street, she knocked on the door and waited to be answered. A minute or so passed and a voice from inside could be heard through the door. It opened and in front of her stood a woman in her mid fourtees that looked like she came out of a sci-fi movie or better yet a best selling novel by Stephan King. Now she wasn't all that scary...when you looked at her more closely..and you avoided looking at her clothes and her make-up and her hairdo but I'm digressing....Digesting the fact that she truly was here..for herself nonetheless to look for answers, Audry smiled politely, introduced herself and entered the house.
If she thought that Madam Lia looked the part, that was nothing compared to the house she lived in. The interior was all around dark and smoky with curtains made of beads at each and every doorstep that rattled every time you moved through them. The wallpaper was peeling of the walls and had a beige tint to it, there wasn't much furniture in the place, some cushions thrown around the room in strategic places. This was only the living room that served as an office for the Madam. The lone piece of furniture that stood out stark against the wall was a nice long black leather couch. And of course there was the usual small table with a crystal ball on it with a chair in front of it.
"Please have a seat Audry.." said the psychic.
"Thank you....nice place you have here..." said the always-polite-until-you-piss-her-off Audry.
"Would you like anything to drink before we start? I have coffee, tea, sodas...."
"No thank you, I'd rather start right away if you don't mind..." answered the nervous reporter.
"Alright then....." said Madam Lia and took a seat in front of the couch where Audry was sitting.
"Now....have you told me everything about the flashes...or...?"
Interrupting her mid-sentence Audry answered "Yes, I told you everything I can remember from them..."
"Alright.....from what you've told me, I'm going to repeat what I understood, stop me at any time if something I'd said is incorrect or you'd like to add anything..." taking a deep breath the psychic started retelling the problem ; At some point or another Audry stopped her to add a thing or two and the review was over bringing them both to the same point of understanding.
"Audry, as I see it these flashes you've been having are bits and pieces from different life times, different reincarnations...I believe that the figures you are seeing in them are the bodies that contained your soul and the soul of your soulmate. You see, a body is only a vessel which holds a soul that leaves one's body once it has died and enters a different vessel, body. That is why you don't recognize the figures but you do feel a connection to them, you feel the same feelings and emotions that go through them because you've been there before...you were them. And every soul has a soulmate somewhere ; Which are destined to be together. Some are lucky to find them in each and every lifetime they pass through and some are not so lucky but they keep looking for them until they do. You, I believe, have found your soulmate in every life time, from what I gather from the things you've told me. I'll have to explore more into them, of course, so I can be sure of my assessment and to figure out why they are plaguing you now of all times so I could help you rid of them, find a solution."
"Wow.....I...ummm...I don't know what to say......I've never believed in things like this but I don't know what else to believe or to do for that matter.....So, I guess my only choice is to trust you and let you do whatever you think is necessary.." said Audry, still blinking rapidly from the unbelievable story..assessment that she just heard.
"Ok good.....now as I said, I'll have to check them flashes more thoroughly so this is what we're going doing to do....I'm gonna hypnotize you and make you relive those flashes, I'll bring you back to all the different lifetimes but this time you will remember everything you witness in these dreamscapes. In this state of mind you will not be able to participate in the happenings. You will be an observer, you will not be seen or heard. You will know which of the people is you by feelings only, you will feel a strong sense of deja vu emitting from a certain body, you'll feel a familiarity...and that will be you. Your soulmate will be recognized by strong feelings of closeness, you will feel an attraction, your soul will know when you see them, it will feel as if your souls are connected to each other. Do you understand? You will be safe here. You'll come back to yourself once you have learned and witnessed everything you were meant to."
"Ok....Let's go for it..."
Ch. 4
Madam Lia instructed Audry to lay down on the couch as she pulled out a pocket watch that was connected to a long golden chain. Using the most common way of hypnosis, she told Audry to lay still and follow the watch only with her eyes, listening only to her voice. Madam Lia started dangling the watch over Audry's reclining face....back and forth.....back and forth.....back and forth....all the while whispering soft words in a deep voice that reached Audry's ears through the trance state she was in. "Breath deeply......relax your body.....your muscles......feel yourself floating.....there is no barrier that's holding you back but your own mind.....let go of all your thoughts and be one with your past....be one with your soul......" As the psychic noticed the calm state of Audry's body and fluttering eyelids, she put the watch back in its place and took up a chair next to the couch. She knew this might take a while once Audry was merged into the "dream" until she woke up. "Audry, listen to me and go back to one of the dreams you had, only this time you will see it through to its end, once it is over you'll come back to me and you'll remember everything you've seen."
With a quick gasp Audry was sucked into a sort of turbulence and then as if she just gained consciousness, the dizziness fading, she was standing in the middle of what looked like a forest. Between trees and all kinds of growth, she was standing and watching the scene unfolding before her eyes.
A woman was riding her horse, galloping at full speed towards something, Audry was unsure of her destination because she couldn't see that far, suddenly....seemingly out of nowhere a gang of four, riding on horses rounded up on her. The woman brought her horse to a sudden halt as they closed in on her and shut any possible way out. She looked frantic. As they were readying their swords to strike on the helpless woman, a sudden yell pierced the air and out of nowhere appeared another figure on a horse, heading their way. This figure, however, seemed different somehow. Though it was wearing a dark cloak and a hat which covered his face, Audry felt that feeling of closeness the psychic described to her. She had a feeling, though that this cloaked figure was not her.
In a few seconds the cloaked figure was right there in the middle next to the woman, who seemed much more at ease since the new arrival. With a swift movement, his sword embedded itself in the closest man's chest, pushing him off the sword using his leg, he moved to thrust it at the next one in line. At first it was blocked a few times until he found an opening and another was dead. In the corner of his eye he noticed one of the men left getting too close to the woman, with lightning speed, the figure pulled a dagger out from his boot and threw it. He was dead before he hit the ground. The fourth man had already started galloping away from the scene almost before he got to killing the second horseman.
Audry was in awe from what she had just noticed, she always felt in her heart that her soulmate would be brave, heroic and fierce and was glad to find out first-hand just how right she was.
Now that the scene cleared and the tension and excitement of the unpredictable situation brought had ebbed, Audry was positive who was who and found she was very much interested in who her soulmate really is and who she was in another life....this life...
The cloaked figure got down from the horse and helped the woman down as well. The woman was beautiful, she had long curly red hair with sparkling green eyes. Her skin fair and her height was much the same as Audry's in the present. Her hair falling loosely on her back. She was wearing a long white dress with pink embroidery with short puffy sleeves and a high neck collar made of lace.
The cloaked figure took its hat off but Audry could still not see the figure's face. It was covered by a mask that hid the figure's eyes and nose. From what she could see, the figure had a very strong jaw line and a graceful strong neck. Through the dark clothes, she couldn't see much but she did manage to see powerful broad shoulders and slim waist and hips.
"Are you alright my princess?" asked the dark figure.
"Yes, I'm quite alright...just a little shaken.....thank you Jacque."
"My pleasure Milady.....at your service," said Jacque bowing teasingly. "Always," the small grin disappearing all together from the handsome looking face as it bent forward to kiss the lips of the awaiting princess.
The woman broke away from the kiss when it became too much and her breathing became labored. They had other things to do, they didn't have time for this now. "I think he sent them....."
Jacque nodded and averted his gaze to the ground. "I think your right, be careful darling," said Jacque. Jacque was worried and angry, he couldn't be there for his princess all the time and he knew she was in danger.
"I will be but you be careful as well my love, if he finds out about us.....he'll.....he'll hurt you..." said the princess with a shaky voice while clutching Jacque's shoulders tightly.
"He will not and I will be careful....please do not worry Di." said Jacque with conviction.
"Now you must get back to the castle, do not do anything or even speak to the man until you receive word from me.....alright Diadra?"
"Alright......I will miss you my love,"
"I shall miss you too darling." Jacque pulled the princess into one final deep kiss, releasing her only when the need for breath became too much.
With that kiss, Jacque helped the princess onto the saddle, slapped the horse lightly and send them on their way.
Audry who was listening to the whole conversation wanted...no....needed to know more....who was trying to kill the princess and why? she started following the princess until she reached the castle. Going through the gates and entering the courtyard, she looked around. People milling about their business, the arrival of the princess made of no difference to them or the arrival of anyone else for that matter. Deciding these poor looking people had nothing to do with the murder attempt on the princess' life she entered the castle just in time to see the princess encounter a man, who seemed very well dressed and esteemed.
"Diadra..." the man said the name almost in shock, he looked almost as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Yes Henry....is something the matter? You seem almost surprised to see me?" said the smug looking princess.
Henry was fidgeting."Uh...no of course I am not surprised....he he....did you have a nice ride sweetheart?"
"Yes...darling....thank you for asking, I'll be in my room if you need me..."
And with that Diadra turned her back to the man who she not so fondly called darling and climbed up the stairs to her room. Thinking back to the conversation between Diadra and Jacque, Audry realized that this might be the man they were talking about. Deciding that, she followed him into a room that looked like a den. Furnished and arranged very much like any other den in any other castle, she supposed.
A few minutes after they entered the room, a man burst through the doors and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. As if just remembering in the presence of whom he actually was, the man straightened and clicked his heels once right after bowing deeply in front of the man Di called Henry.
"Your highness..." at those words Audry raised her brows until they reached her hairline.
Henry raised his hand sharply to shut the man and spoke " Elzhar....you disappoint me, I've sent you to complete a simple task and you come back empty handed. I will not tolerate your stupidity Elzhar any longer...."
"But..." stammered the sweating man.
"Uh-huh....I don't want to hear it...all I ever wanted was to rule this land, I will be a good ruler," A look that very much resembled insanity passed over Henry's face. His tone turned softer and his look forlorn.
"Of course you will your highness..." agreed Elzhar. He was scared of the man, especially when he was in this kind of mood.
"It is just that old man, he and his ungrateful daughter.....As long as she's alive I will have to marry her and even then I will not be ruler....that old goat insists on making her queen and ruler of the land but....." a smile appeared on his face as his expression changed once again, "....he he.....but the moment she is out of the picture, the heartbroken betrothed becomes king and ruler of all." The look of anger snapped back. "Now you come in and tell me I can't have that; Tell me why?" The man changes expressions with the same frequency a chameleon changes color.
"Well, your highness...ummm....we were interrupted by this person in a cloak, I couldn't see his face but he was fierce in battle, he killed three men in a blink of an eye.....I just barely escaped..."
Audry barked out a laugh at the pathetic man's story, she saw him run like a coward. Now the pieces fit. This Henry is supposed to be married to Di but even if he does, he doesn't get what he wants...the land. So the simple way out of it all....the marriage and getting his hands on what he wanted in the first place...is to kill Di. Audry snorted as she thought 'the bastard'.
"Alright Elzhar, I'll give you one more chance....find him and bring him to me.."
"Yes your highness, thank you, thank you...." Elzhar was thrilled, he was bowing repeatedly until her left the room altogether.
Seeing that the conversation is over and that things are quite dull at the moment Audry decided to get out and explore a little around the castle.
As she was nearing the gardens, she could hear whispered words being exchanged. A few feet away from her stood Jacque, the mask still firmly on, his hands encircling Di's waist.
"You really said that to him?" said Jacque with a showing smirk on the handsome face.
Giggling, Di answered "Yes, It is not my fault he looked as guilty as a cat that has just swallowed the canary. He was fidgeting so much I though he was going to pass out." They were both chuckling as the image appeared in their minds.
"Well, I must say that I love a feisty woman that speaks what's on her mind..." Jacque bent down and kissed Di's soft lips, pulling her closer. Jacque's hands started rubbing up and down Di's back, one cupped her neck and held her closer and the other traveled lower to her hip. "Jacque...." moaned Di breathlessly as her lips were captured once again with a deeper need and hunger. Suddenly Di pushed her hands up to lay on Jacque's chest and pushed him away slightly. Both breathing hard and trying to push air into their starved lungs, looking in each other's eyes.
"Not here....not now, please you have to go before somebody sees you, us."
"I know....I know...." Jacque said ruefully.
Pulling out of the embrace Jacque pressed his fingers to his lips once, kissed them and then pressed them to Di's lips. "Be careful, love."
"I will....you too." said Di to the retreating figure right before it disappeared from sight.
Audry walked after Di back towards the castle and failed to notice a figure standing in the shadows, just waiting for them to leave and then walking of in the same direction Jacque left in, a few minutes before.
Ch. 5
A few hours passed, when the doors to Henry's den burst open, much the same as they did A few hours ago with "bad" news for the prince. Audry picked up her pace and walked into the room after Elzhar.
Smiling, Elzhar boasted "We have him, your highness."
Now smiling also, Henry answered "Good, good.....I'll see that he is treated properly....anything else?"
"Oh yes, your highness....It is even better....you see, he is Diadra's lover......she has been cheating on you with him...." Elzhar said, smugly.
Audry cursed at the little bastard.
Henry looked as if his smile might split his face in two, " This is turning to be better and better.....now I won't even have to kill her, her own father will surely banish her for this crime and again, poor little me will get to kill the perpetrator to make justice, break the princess' heart and spirit, cause her banishment and be ruler of all the land...." His laughter roaring through the room.
Audry was shocked to hear this turning in events. She couldn't believe they actually caught him.....they couldn't have, could they?
"Bring him out to the front of the courtyard and gather a crowd for the execution, I shall bring the princess."
Getting out of the castle and waiting to see what will happen next, fearing the worst, Audry stood looking around until she noticed the princess being almost dragged by her arm outside.
"What is the meaning of this Henry?!" asked Di, outraged.
"Oh, you shall see, princess, you shall see..." Henry told her, smugly. Pretty happy with himself and at how things turned out.
Coming to a halt in front of the gathered crowd, Henry requested for the man to be brought out. A few seconds later Di's and Audry's worst nightmare came true. Jacque was being dragged out by two burly men, holding his arms from each side. As they passed near Di, Audry could hear the whispered words that passed between them "I'm sorry Di, they told me they captured you and that they will kill you if I did not surrender and come along quietly."
"Oh Jacque..." cried Di.
"I'm sorry...." wafted through the air a couple more times.
As the men threw Jacque down on his knees, in front of Henry, Henry started speaking to the crowd which now consisted of almost the whole village in its entirety and the King and Queen.
"Your majesty, I bring before you a man who has committed a crime, towards thy land, towards your highness and towards myself. But I fear, he is not the only one to blame, your majesty. He was caught kissing the princess and not a chaste kiss at all, a kiss that is given by a lover and a lover only. The princess did nothing to fend off his approaches and not only that, she encouraged them." The crowd's loud gasps rang in Audry's ears, sounds that accompanied Henry's reaction, the shaking of his head and the look of hurt and shame on his face. "This man shall be brought to justice and, unfortunately, so will be my beloved princess."
Pulling his sword out of its sheath, Henry came to stand behind Jacque. In one swift movement he removed Jacque's mask and revealed his face. More shocked whispers and loud gasps rang through the silence of the courtyard. Audry could not believe her eyes either. In front of them on the ground, stood proud the figure of a woman. A beautiful woman. Her dark hair flowing in the slight breeze, her dark brown eyes smoldering with fire, with heat and rage.
"A woman no less..." said the also shocked Henry, internally he was angry at the new development, she was cheating on him with a woman?!
Bringing his sword above his head and turning the blade in his hands so it was poised to strike the woman in her chest. Di was fighting the men that held her desperately, she had to get to her Jacque, she had to do something. "You coward!" She screamed, making the crowd look at her in shock. "You'll kill a defenseless woman? You're nothing but a coward!" Di was trying to give Jacque an opening. Jacque understood what Di was doing and took her chance. Noticing that the prince's gaze was averted to Di, she stood up and kicked Henry hard in the stomach, throwing him off balance. Everyone snapped back to the present, quickly loosing the shock at the princess' outburst and turned their gazes back to the scene in front. Jacque used the only opportunity left and started running towards the forest yelling for Di to follow her. Jacque didn't get too far before she was tackled from behind by the two burly men that brought her over. She was grabbed roughly and dragged back to the same spot, her knees dragging on the ground the whole time. Now more determined than before to finish this person's life, Henry picked up where he left off, this time determined not to let anything distract him. A moment longer passed and the blade came down, bringing a shrill scream from Diadra.
The body of Jacque collapsed to the ground as Diadra hurried to her. Pulling her into her arms, holding her while crying quietly. "I'm sorry, love....I never meant to hurt you..." said Jacque, her breath coming in short gasps.
"It'll be alright, just hang in there.....please.....I need you...." Di whispered softly to the dying Jacque that was held tightly in her arms. Jacque smiled slightly and raised her hand to caress Di's cheek softly. "I will always be there for you...always..." The words wafting through the air until they were no more.
The flash from John's office comes back to Audry and she puts the pieces together, the feelings of helplessness are overwhelming.
As Jacque's heart beat slows to a stop Audry cries the same tears as Di. A piercing scream of "NO" is heard, either it was from Di or from Audry, she doesn't know....all she knows is this blinding pain in her chest that she can't seem to erase.
The pain brings Audry back to the present. She opens her eyes suddenly and she doesn't know where she is.
Madam Lia raises her head from its resting place and looks over to the couch. When she sees that Audry is awake and disoriented, she comes to her and sits herself on a chair next to the couch. The second she is situated, Audry lunges towards her and engulfs her in a hug. Her grip on her is so tight she can barely breath. She can feel Audry's body shaking as she wraps her arms around the woman. Madam Lia is trying to calm Audry down with soft words but she senses that this has made a very big impact on the young woman and knows that it won't die down for a while. So she just holds onto the crying woman, soothing her the best way she can, letting her cry out her pain.
The pain engulfs Audry's very being until she remembers...everything.