The way was narrow, dark, and gritty as Butler eased his way through the thin passage.
“Where are we going?”
“To find out how many souls you have.” Nynymbi stopped when the way opened into a small hollow. He reached his three-fingered hands into a pool of water close to Butler’s bare feet. When he withdrew them they were covered with slime.
The nynymbi said, “You will pass the rock ogre first. He has skin of stone and hands covered with sticky pitch. He will try and grab you. If he succeeds, he will carry you off and eat you. When we come to him, pull your hair forward over your face so that the rock ogre cannot see your eyes, nose, or mouth. That way he cannot recognize you as human. Meanwhile, I will smear trout slime on your skin, so that when he touches you, his fingers won’t stick. When he smells them, he will think you are a fish.”
Butler struggled not to make a face as the nynymbi slathered smelly fish slime on his skin. Then, according to instructions, he pulled his hair over his face as best he could.
And a good thing. They had no more than rounded a bend in the fissure, than what looked like three boulders piled atop each other rose on stony feet. Slender arms reached out with sticky-looking three-fingered hands. The ogre made a sound like stone grating on stone as its fingers traced over Butler’s skin. Then it smelled them, sighed, and settled back into what looked no more offensive than a pile of rocks.
The nynymbi slipped sideways down a small tunnel and stepped out on the shores of an underground lake.
Butler stared around, hearing the drip of water echoing in the underground cavern. The lake’s surface looked smooth, black, and heavy where it rimmed the stony shore.
The nynymbi stopped and looked up at Butler through hollow circles of eyes. “This is as far as I can take you.”
“Where do I go from here?”
“I will take you to her,” another voice told him from below.
Startled, Butler leaped away, realizing he’d almost stepped on a mossy-backed turtle that had looked like just another cobble on the stone-strewn shore.
“Who are you?” Butler asked warily.
“One of her servants. I can take you to her.” The turtle paused. “If you have the courage.”
Butler shot the nynymbi a worried glance, then reluctantly followed as the turtle clambered up and over the rocks, its shell scraping, claws scratching across the stone.
In the end, Butler couldn’t help himself. “Can you tell me where we’re going?”
“To find out about the dead clinging to your dream soul. That’s what you came here for, isn’t it? To determine why you cannot rid yourself of the dead?”
The turtle continued to scuttle awkwardly over the rocks, its shell knocking hollowly. The still black water lay unmoving to the right.
The lake ended where the cavern roof dropped down to a small grotto. The turtle scrambled its way into the mossy opening, beyond which lay a low chamber whose shape reminded Butler of a long bottle laid on its side.
She stood in water up to her waist; her large dark eyes fixed on his as he slowed and stared in disbelief. What looked like a huge wolf lay curled on the moss to her left. The beast fixed its deadly yellow eyes on Butler, then yawned, rose, and strode past him and out of the chamber with languid strides.
The turtle slipped off the moss and vanished into the dark water, its passing not causing so much as a ripple.
Butler turned his attention back to the woman. His heart skipped at the sight of her. Had he ever seen such rich, thick black hair? It hung about her like a raven-dark mantle, gleaming in the darkness as though it were a robe. Her wondrous dark eyes were possessed of an inner light; the face in which they resided a perfect and exotic blend of high cheekbones, lush lips, and a straight and regal nose. With slender fingers she clutched a rattle in her right hand, a bow and arrows in her left.
As she stepped toward him the water didn’t so much as stir, as though she flowed magically forward. The seductive sway of her hips hearkened of unadulterated sexuality.
Butler might have been frozen, his heart hammering, as she gave a graceful flip of her head, and the glossy wave of her hair curled back behind her. Her naked body seemed to pulse with each beat of Butler’s heart. He couldn’t help but stare at her full breasts topped by hard brown nipples, at her narrow waist, and the dark shadow of her navel. Between her muscular thighs, her midnight pubic hair beckoned, looking thick, warm, and soft.
He tried not to stare. Knew it was rude. He just couldn’t help it. Nor did she appear the least alarmed by his gaze, but seemed to undulate toward him in a most sensuous manner. Her smile widened, the endless depth in her eyes welcoming, warming.
She stopped before him, eyes locked on his, lips parted. The odor of mint perfumed her breath.
Senses swimming, Butler squirmed from the ache in his hardened penis and the tension in his testicles. His breath came in short gasps, his skin electric, heart hammering. Every nerve in his body seemed to be singing. To gaze into her wide eyes was to fall into their bottomless depths.
She melted against him, arms wrapping around his back. Ecstasy shimmered through every inch of him that touched her. Which was nothing compared to the liquid thrill that ran into his pelvis and up his spine as she slid onto his throbbing erection.
She pulled him down onto the moss, her hips rocking in time to his deep strokes. Excitement mirrored delight as her eyes flashed and her mouth opened. Her arms tightened, pressing him against the cushion of her breasts.
