Gauntlet - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

James awoke from a strange restless night. The dream he had was a cross between a wet dream and a nightmare. He lifted the robe from his mantel and rapped it around him. Wiping the sweat off his face, he needed to go to the head to see if he was alright. James turned towards the door to find the room darker that normal. The lights outside should illuminate the room better that this. Looking for the door a small blue light was the only thing visible. It hovered just below James's waist and pulsed with white light that seemed to beckon him. I must still be dreaming. How else could I be in my own room and find no way out? Maybe I need this light to get out? James heeded the call of the light and clapped it in his hands. The warmth of the light filled his being and James could feel himself move through the darkness. James sailed through a tunnel a visions and whispers. All kinds of images flashed by ranging of terrifying to the beautiful. What a bizarre dream, I feel like I am awake but I can't be. At least this is better than the last one. James felt a pull towards the wall of images. An image filled his eyes as it came closer. Shielding his face with his hands, James dived into the image as if he jumped through a mirror.

James fell to meet a hard stone floor. Looking around he found himself in a long hallway with lanterns keeping back the darkness. James stood and realized his robe was gone and somehow he was wearing heavy studded leather coat with matching pants. He also found himself armed. A long wicked looking dagger thrust out of his belt. James pulled the heavy dagger from its sheath and stared at the wave pattern of the blade. What the hell is this for? How did I change clothes?

"Hold intruder! I have a bolt pointed at your heart so do not test me to put it through you," a feminine voice called out from behind him.

James raised his hands keeping them steady. "I don't want to hurt anybody," James said dropping the dagger at his feet. Rapid boot steps echoed from behind, it sounded as if more people were heading down the hall.

"Sheila, tell the queen another one of the hagqueen's assassins has been caught and will be delivered to the throne room immediately."

"Yes, Dame Lisbeth," a girlish voice answered.

"I am not...," James swallowed hard as felt a steel point in his back.

"Say another word and you die. Now, move it!" Lisbeth pushed James forward as she marched him through the cold halls. James could see doors cracking open to peer at him. He wondered what their curiosity meant and if this encounter was still a dream. It felt all too real.

Two giant doors opened to a glowing room and looked strangely different from the decor of the dark halls. The throne room was a hundred feet long with glowing chandlers hanging down giving the room a majestic beauty. James was surprise to see the walls lined only with women. Each one more beautiful than the next, they are all from different races and ethnicity. James's fear washed away with the yearning for their touch. He smiled as they whispered to each other and pointed. Walking to a large dais he noticed all the women were buxom and none looked older than thirty-five. James head turned many times until the platform rose in front of him with a white marble throne looming over him.

"Stop here interloper." The bolt drove into his back making James return to the problem at hand. Golden double doors to his right flew open with two beautiful women striding to the platform. The first was a blonde women in regal robes and walked like a person of station. Her short blond locks and the delicate features of her face made her quite attractive. The second was a shorter Asian women with straight black hair and slender build. He noticed their slim figures ameliorated their chests. Although pleased with what he saw, James knew something was wrong. He had never dreamed of anything like this before.

"Your name interloper," the blonde said sitting down on the throne.

"My name is James...your Majesty."

"James? That is a strange name for a woman. And you do not look like a woman I have ever seen." James couldn't believe what he heard. Did she call me a woman?

"I am not a woman. I am a man," James said laughing.

"A man? What kind of woman is that High Priestess?"

The Asian women stepped forward with a large open book in her hands. "I do not know Queen Jasmine. But I do believe the man is referred in the Book of Ages."

"What does is say Priestess Mia?" The queen said licking her lips.

"A man is part of the Tozan's plan to save our Mother Nis. The man is Tozan's blessed one."

The queen looked down at James. "What kind of woman are you? And what is your role save our Mother Nis?"

"I am a woman," James paused to look around the room, "that is not like any other woman you have around here. I am not sure about saving your mother Highness, and I honestly don't know how I got here."

The queen chuckled as did the other women in the room. "We are all daughters of Mother Nis."

"All of you? Where is Mother Nis?"

"You are standing on her, she is all around you. She is your mother to."

James frowned. "You mean this place is Mother Nis?"

Laugher filled the room and James grew angry as they mocked his confusion. At that moment the women from behind James stepped to his right and bowed to her queen. James was shocked to see her tower over him. The amazon's long brown hair cascaded down her impressive chest and made James's mouth dry. Her gold armor barely covered her and seemed to have no function but to titillate James even more.

Dame Lisbeth raised her crossbow to James chest. "It is obvious that this woman is here to kill you Highness. If this man is part of Tozan's plan, wouldn't she know about it? Better to send this murderess back to the hagqueen as an example."

Beads of sweat came down James's face. This can't be a dream. I have never been this sacred and aroused in my life. As he saw Lisbeth's finger move on the trigger, he prayed it would be a quick death. James looked at the queen as she gazed impartially on his execution. James then gazed at the high priestess begging for his life. James was relived to see her touch her queen's shoulder and whisper in her ear.

The queen nodded. "Dame Lisbeth, I know you are protecting me but the high priestess thinks she can prove the woman is not lying."

Lisbeth lowered her crossbow with a chagrin. "I hope you are right High Priestess."

Priestess Mia descended to the floor and took James's hand in hers. She smiled easing James's anxiety. "Come with me Lady James and I will prove you are part of Tozan's plan."

The door shut behind James with a loud thud. The priestess had led James up through the castle to the Tower of Disciples. The top floor was taken up with what looked like the priestess's personal quarters. It was simply furnished with large bookcases filling the room. James turned one of the chairs around and sat down, resting his arms on its back. He waited for Priestess Mia to appear from the stacks for what seemed like hours before she dropped heavy tomes on the table in front of him.

James put his fingers together. "So, how are you going to prove to the queen and her executioner that I am part of this plan?"

Mia rapidly turned the giant pages of the tome. "I must prove you are the man in the holy books. The Book of Ages foretells of your arrival, but that is all. I have spent all my life reading the holy books and wondering when Tozan would send you to save our Mother." Mia eyes glanced up and examined James, "I thought you would look like the rest of us, not so...different."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"I wouldn't say that," Mia smiled.

"Are you flirting me priestess?"

Mia's face flushed red and went back flipping pages. James watched Mia closely as she bent over looking through books. His eyes grew wider when he saw Mia's cleavage exposed through her robe. As her breasts shook when she turned the pages, James fought the urged to touch her olive hued skin. He could tell she found him attractive, but he did not want to show his desire. For all he knew, it could be taboo for a woman to have lustful feelings for another woman.

Mia's voice broke James's stare. "What are you looking at, Lady James?

"Nothing...tell me, how long have you been High Priestess?"

"Since I was born."

"You must have been bored as hell as a kid cooped up with all these books to read."

Mia laughed. I am only four years old, James. It is Mother Nis that gives us our roles to better serve her. After we are born we have no concept of age."

James's jaw dropped open and scratched his head. "You are telling me that your are born looking like that? Why do all the women here look the same, not that a am complaining."

"Our bodies please Tozan and Tozan gave Mother Nis life. It is her gift to our god."

Baffled, James had to hold back the passion building in his belly. He grabbed a tome and cracked it open. The words were made up of strange line formations, similar to cuneiform. Great, I can't even help find the passages she needs. James was about to close the book when the lines on the page started to change. The lines combined to form English words and the continuing metamorphosis raced down the page. James flipped the pages to see all the writing had changed. Did I do that? I could always understand what the women where saying but now that I am reading, it changed to accommodate me. James mulled over the books for hours until he found a reference to the blessed one.

"Here Mia! I found the passage." James gave the book to Mia. Even though James could read the words, he could not fully understand the religious phrasing used in the tomes.

Mia nodded as she read. "It says the man will have a key, or gain a key, I am not sure. Do you have a key with you?"

James rummaged through his coat and trousers but found nothing. Frustrated, James took off his coat and undershirt to search for hidden pockets "I don't think so. I had a dagger but it did not look like...Mia?"

Mia's eyes locked on to James's barrel chest and strong body. James saw the fire in her eyes as she reached out gliding her fingers over his chest hair. James could not hold back any longer. He grabbed Mia's hand and kissed her fingers repeatedly. Mia gasped as his warm lips fueled the fire inside her. As good as it felt, Mia pulled her hand away and stepped back. James's heart fell.

"Mia, please tell me, can a women show love for another here on Nis?"

Mia turned away and rapped her arms around herself. "Yes, but only Tozan decides who will love each other for the ceremonies. It is how we praise Tozan." After a long pause she faced James, "I have heard of women showing physical love for each other without Tozan's approval, but most of us do not have those feelings. But I fear lustful feelings have possessed even me."

"I don't understand your God's need for lesbian ceremonies, but I know Tozan would understand that I am a different kind of woman. I have different needs and if we do not find a way to prove I am not a spy, I am dead tomorrow. Please Mia, grant a dying man his last wish and let me make love to you tonight," James knew he was being melodramatic but if he did not try bed down Mia he would kick himself. If it can't be proven, I could escape before the hangwoman comes for me.

Mia eyes lit up and grabbed the sides of her head. "I can't believe I forgot, of course!"

Mia ran to the nearest bookshelf and threw a tome into James's hands. James was confused. "I was hoping for a different reaction, reading as foreplay does not work for me."

Mia opened the book in his hands and yelled in delight. "I forgot about the Book of Rites. It states that the man will show love differently than any other woman. All we have to do is have physical love and that will prove you are the man!"

James was so aroused he was ready to take Mia on the table. "Thank you Book of Rites!"

"Oh no," Mia gasped

James froze. "Oh no? What do you mean Oh no?"

"It also says that if the man is not the true blessed one and makes love to women, then Tozan will become angry. Tozan will destroy the unblessed with much vengeance and unparalleled fury."

James felt like someone had poured cold water down his pants. He knew he was not supposed to be here and that Tozan must have a certain man in mind for this plan. It must be the god's way of saying hands off to any other men that might show up on Mother Nis. Tozan is starting to piss me off.

Mia scoffed at the passage. "But you must be the man that Tozan spoke of. Mother Nis has never birthed a woman that looked like you before. Take me now, so we can prove you are the man."

Mia's face was elated and grabbed the sides of James's head. She pulled him down to meet her lips and kissed him hard as her tongue searched for his. James was shocked to see the priestess's eagerness for sex matched his own. With a heavy hart he pulled away from Mia.

"Look priestess, I don't know if this is a good idea."

"This is the only way to save you from the queens executioner. You wanted to make love to me a moment ago?"

"But that was before I knew a god could kill me if I did. I can escape from the castle but not a god." Mia's head fell as James spoke, "You don't understand, I am not from Mother Nis and I am sure I don't have Tozan's blessing."

Mia's eyes lit up as if a revelation had come to her. "I must be the blessing. It was Tozan's will that we met first and through me you will gain the blessing."

"You don't know that."

Mia's almond eyes narrowed as the fire blazed in her loins "We will have to take that chance."

James looked shocked. "You mean me."

Mia started to pull off the sashes on her robes. "We don't have time to discuss this James. It will be dawn soon and this is the only way to save your life."

"Mia please don't do...oh God." James stuttered as Mia's robe hit the floor. James stared at Mia's marvelous body. She was wearing a string bikini kind of undergarment that made James melt. James was captivated by her bouncing breasts as she walked to him. James wanted to say something to make her stop but nothing came out. Mia pushed on his chest lightly forcing him to walk backwards. Knocking over chairs and tripping on books, James stopped when his rear bumped into something. His head turned around and saw a large bed with scrolls littering the bed-sheets. James turned to her and smiled.

Maybe Tozan isn't watching. Mia took off her bikini top revealing all of her breasts to him. Her firm tits hung handsomely on her chest that seemed to defy gravity. James licked his lips as his hands cupped Mia's melons and brought them to his face. He suckled her right nipple as fiercely as a newborn. James tongue then made the long journey up the top of her breast and then to her neck. Mia hummed in approval as licked back down to her left nipple. He buried his face in-between her breasts and sucked her tan flash as his hands caressed her chest.

James thrashed between Mia tits as his tongue made long strokes across her chest. Mia moaned loudly as she became more aroused by James warm tongue bath. Her hands slide down James's waist and undid his belt. Sliding her fingers into his trousers, she pulled them down. His pants fell around his feet as she felt a bulging loin-cloth around his waist.

Mia was fascinated with what she felt, she pushed James away from her chest and onto the bed. With James's legs dangling from the front of the bed, he was spread eagle in front of her. Mia hands sank deeply into the loin-cloth searching for what it contained. James eyes rolls back when he felt her fingers rap around his penis. When she saw James's reaction, Mia tore at the loin-cloth as if she was opening a present. Mia eyes widened seeing James's semi-erect penis in her hands.

Mia's heart pounded in her chest. "What is it?"

"It is my penis. You can say it distinguishes me as man."

"It looks similar to icons in our temples. How do I pay homage to it?"

James gritted his teeth as Mia squeezed his throbbing member. "You are doing a good job, keep touching it with your hands."

Mia hands worked up and down James's cock as if she was molding clay. His penis began to stiffen and expand in her loving hands. James's pulse raced as pleasure rocked his body, but he wanted more. At this rate I am not going to last long.

James gasped for air to be able to speak. "How to use your tongue and take into your mouth. Suck it as if it where a piece of ice. Please, do it now!"

Mia obeyed placing her tongue on his cock head and traveled down his shaft. She took James testes in her mouth before licking up his long pole. Mia gripped James in her right hand as her full lips descended on his cock head. Mia's warm mouth enveloped him and became suck away on his long tool. Mia's head bobbed up and down, lightly sucking as her cheeks caved in. The fellatio sent waves of pleasure through James's body. The pressure was so intense within his loins he thought he would climax any second. He fought to keep the floodgates closed, he had to make Mia cum or all was lost.

James took Mia's head in his hands and pulled her free from his engorged cock. "That enough baby. Take those bottoms off and come over here," James crawled on his back until his head sunk down into the pillows resting on the bed. Mia gave an inquisitive smile and moved her hands slowly down her body to the bikini bottoms. Hooking them with her thumbs she pulled them off revealing her shaved vagina. As she bent down to remove the bikini her tits touched James's legs, his penis jolted upwards at her touch causing Mia to smile. Mia crawled on all fours moving up the bed. Her heavy breasts glided along his body as she looked like a predator about to fall upon her prey. Their tongues met in mid air, each one battling the other for dominance. Mia won the duel pushing his head back into the pillows with her intensity.

James stopped their fierce kissing. "Turn around and put you're back on my chest."

Mia nestled on his chest, throwing her long hair to the side and rested her head to the right of James. James kissed her neck as his left hand cradled her breasts and the right hooked the inside of her leg. Pulling her legs open he maneuvered his cock to the gates of her pussy. Mia was surprised to feel the hot cock head against her labia.

Mia looked up and gasped. "It's too big. It will never fit."

James grinned at Mia's surprise. He realized that the women here must only use their fingers to explore one another. I must be doing something truly revolutionary.

"Trust me priestess, we'll make it fit. I'm going to show you what my penis is for."

James's cock split her labia with one slow stroke as he entered her. Mia panted as she watched his thick dick disappear inside her. Her head nestled against his as she gave in to the pleasure. His lips returned to her neck when another thrust sent his cock far up her channel. Mia moaned loudly as his dick withdrew and suddenly slammed back home. James's couldn't believe the feeling her tight cunt muscles fighting against him. He had never felt anything like before, the pressure on his penis was unbelievable.

Mia was becoming moist as his member pulse in and out. It made it easier to pound her, so James started to pick up the pace. His crotch banged into hers faster and harder than before. Mia's moans changed into screams as she yelled out various religious expressions. James knew he must has hit her spot and thrust in deeper demanding the orgasm to take her. Mia's voice exploded in his ears as she came and drenched James's dick with her juices. James fought against himself and continued humping hoping for her to cum again. At the height of her climax and loud knocking resonated from the chamber door.

"Priestess Mia! Is everything alright!" a low voice boomed.

Mia scrambled up on her arms, sitting on James's cock. James grunted as she fought to compose her voice. "Yes,... do not come in! I am performing a new prayer to Tozan. You must leave immediately!"

"Yes Priestess, at once."

Mia turned her head and smiled at James reveling in her successful deception. She quickly frowned when she noticed James's halted his humping. Gritting her teeth she slowly started to grind on top of James. James's quickly joined Mia in her lustful screams as her assault on his dick grew more intense. Her need to cum had possessed her and James couldn't believe the change in Mia. From humble priestess, to horny wildcat. Her hair flung of side to side as she pounded his pole as their screams filled the room. She ripped the sheets from her bed, throwing scrolls all around the chamber. Mia's entire body shuttered as a volcanic climax took her. Yelling at the top of her lungs, James felt himself about to cum. His hands grabbed handfuls of her breasts and instinctively thrust as deep as he could into Mia. A mind-blowing orgasm overwhelmed him as he filled her. Coming back down, ecstasy took him again and launched his dick deep into her pussy. James's pelvis bucked as he shot his load deep inside her until he was spent.

Mia dismounted James's stiff dick and collapsed next to him. James could not believe how good he felt. Almost exhausted, he kissed up her arm, to her tits, and finally her face. Both breathing too heavy to talk he pecked at her lips until she could speak.

"One thing is for sure," Mia gasped.

"What's that?"

"You are the man."

---

James had not slept this good in years. He enjoyed the sweet dreams that came to him in his sleep. Each one bringing a grin to his tranquil face. Even under these bizarre circumstances, he had finally found peace sleeping next to his buxom lover. Suddenly, a white light filled his eyes as if calling him from his unconscious state. His eyelids wearily opened to reveal a white light cascading across the chamber. James stood up in bed, shielding his eyes with his forearm. Scanning the room James was horrified.

The air itself was torn open and light bled from the wound. A humanoid form emerged from the tear stepping onto the floor. As the dark shape entered the room, James darted from the bed. He ran to the door and clasped the door-handle. James's face went white when the door did not budge. Those bitches signed my death warrant locking me in here.

James could feel a presence looming behind him. James shook as he turned to face his certain death. He was shocked to see a short, middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back. He was wearing a black suit that looked as if it had just been pressed and dry-cleaned. The man adjusted his tie pulling up a chair and sat down. James slowly circled the stranger as the man's hands come forth from his pockets with a cigarette case.

"Are you Tozan?" James spoke.

The man opened the cigarette case and whirled one of his smokes in his fingers. Tapping the end on the silver case, he smiled showing his bright white teeth that made his wrinkled face come alive. "Thankfully for you James, I am not. You my call me Martin."

"Then you are not here to kill me?"

"No, and for God's sakes man put some pants on."

James rushed over to his trousers on the floor and hiked them on. "Who are you?"

Martin flipped his wrist and a brass lighter appeared in his hand. James thought it looked like a magician trick as he doused the end of the fag in flame. "Who I am is not important. Think of me as a watchdog of dimensions. You see James, it is my job to see that dimensions to not collide, but that is exactly what has happened."

"You mean I am in another dimension? I knew this felt real, but I still thought it might be a dream."

Martin took a long drag on his cigarette. James wondered why he could not smell the smoke Martin blew into the air. "Welcome to Nis, the land of big breasted women with no concept of man."

"What kind of dimension has buxom women running around, looking like they're in a fantasy movie?"

Martin blew smoke from his nose and sighed. "What I am about to tell you is hard to grasp, but bear with me." James nodded as he continued, "The human mind is a powerful thing. Within the mind there is no limit to the imagination. What seems like fleeting thoughts to you, may become as real as the reality you live in. Simply put, some people have such vivid imaginations that a dimension is formed by the sheer power of their minds.

"You mean that novelists and moviemakers whom make up fictional places, really exists as another dimensions?"

Martin shook his head. "I said some humans have the ability. The average human uses only ten percent of his or her brain and my job would be a lot harder if they used any more. My collogues and I estimate that only a thousand humans have the ability to create dimensions. Each one serving some kind of unconscious purpose."

James threw up his hands and laughed. "What could be the purpose of this dimension?"

"Haven't you caught on by now? Buxom women, lesbian ceremonies, and the fact there are no men to be found."

It hit James all once. He fell back as if someone had punched him in the gut. "I'm in a sex fantasy?"

Martin winked. "Exactly, this whole world is someone's experiment in carnality." Martin raised his head to get a clearer view of the bed, "I see you have also fallen for Nis's charms."

James rubbed his hand across his chin, thinking of something to say. "You don't understand Martin, it got complicated..."

Martins face turned to scorn. He raised his hand, halting his explanation. "What none of these women know is men have visited Nis before. Tozan created them to watch the men sadistically mutilated in what is called the Witchland. Tozan seems to take great pleasure watching men die in this reality. When Tozan sees you in this fantasy, the god will undoubtedly try to kill you."

James's blood turned to ice as his mind fought to comprehend his plight. I am in heaven and hell at the same time. I can't believe this is happening. Anger began filled him seeing Martin nonchalantly put his cigarette out on the table and ran his hand through his plastered hair. Does he care I am about to die? Or does just want to keep the status quo on his watch.

James clenched his fists. "Damn it, Martin! If you wanted to scare me you did a good job. Now, tell me what to do to get out of here or the next time Tozan fantasizes I am a dead man."

Martin lit another cigarette and filled his lungs with smoke before answering. "Calm down, Tozan cannot snuff you out. You where not created by Tozan so you are safe in that regard. But that does not mean the god of this realm will not put obstacles in your way. You have been given the black dot, now it is up to you to survive."

James paced back and forth. "You are not telling me everything, are you? What about the blessed one? The priestess said a man would save Mother Nis."

Martin shook his head and stood up. "I don't have all the answers James. I only watch and I have never gotten involved until now. I assure you I will do my best to get you back to your reality."

Rage boiled in James as Martin stepped towards the portal. James reached out to grab Martin's arm. "We are not through yet!"

James's hand pass through Martin as if he wasn't there. Dumbfounded, James waved his arm back into Martin's body, feeling nothing but cool air. James then heard Mia awaken from her peaceful sleep and scanned the room looking for him. He felt numb thinking about how he was going to explain the sight of another man. Not to mention the rift in the middle of the room.

Mia mumbled in her half-conscious state. "James, come back to bed. It's cold.

Martin spoke when he was halfway through the rift. "Don't worry, only you can see or hear me. Like I said, I only watch."

James was only slightly relieved. "I'll be right there baby." James turned to Martin and stared into is piercing black eyes, "Please, don't leave me alone here. I need your help."

Martin suspended his right hand around James's shoulder. It reminded James of his father about to lecture him. Except this time, he would welcome his father's longwinded advice. "The best shot you have is for me to find out who Tozan is and what this makeshift god has planned. I can't do that here, so you must trust me."

James had to fight back the compulsion to sob. "You sound like my father just now. I want to see him again Martin."

Martin seemed to struggle with human emotions but did his best to act sincere. "I will return, you have my word. And some parting advice, play out the role you have been given. It may be the only chance you have to endure the tests ahead." James nodded in compliance when Martin's face contorted as if he had remembered something he forgot. He pointed his two fingers holding his smoldering cigarette at James's face, "And for God's sake, keep it in your pants. The more you act like a minks in heat, the more Tozan will be driven into a frenzy."

With Martin's parting words the rift began to close. It looked as if a cut wound was healing at a rapid rate. As the portal collapsed on itself James saw Martin's dark form bathed in light before it disappeared from sight. The light vanished leaving only a pinprick of light shining on James's forehead. As the hole in space finally shut, James only had one thought running through his mind. Easier said than done.

Continued in Chapter 2

---