Fever Quenched

Page

A Totally Bound Publication

Fever Quenched

ISBN # 978-1-78184-982-8

©Copyright A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly 2014

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright February 2014

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 3.

Tiki Vampires

FEVER QUENCHED

A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly

Book three in the Tiki Vampires series

Can the pantheon of gods control human emotions? Or can love really conquer all?

In the Tiki Vampires trilogy, everything we know about myth and magic explodes with the eruption of Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Though legend has it that the old gods departed the islands, they didn’t. Many have been condemned to lives as creatures of the night. Vampires, werewolves and other fabled creatures abound on the islands’ silky coastlines. For the fallen god Kane, life as the vampire Malakai was lonely and pointless before he met Jepoi, a young man who somehow pierces Malakai’s invisible armor.

Kaneloa, the Hawaiian god who condemned Malakai to his undead existence, punishes Malakai and Jepoi, trying to keep the two men apart. As the series unfolds, Malakai and Jepoi face seen and unseen foes. Old legends about the islands come back to life. Ancient crossroads like the City of Refuge spring back to existence as Jepoi and Malakai are forced to live apart, even though each wants the other. Will the gods or the humans win?

Dedication

To author Robert Fulgrum who wrote The Writer’s Creed:

‘I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge-

That myth is more potent than history.

I believe that dreams are more powerful than facts-

That hope always triumphs over experience-

That laughter is the only cure for grief.

And I believe that love is stronger than death.’

~Robert Fulgrum

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

iPad and iPod: Apple, Inc.

Viagra: Pfizer, Inc.

Xanax: Pfizer, Inc.

T-Mobile: T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Macho Man: Village People.

Porsche Boxster: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Porsche 911: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

9 to 5 (song): Warner/Chappel Music, Inc.

9 to 5 (movie): Patricia Resnick (story), Colin Higgins & Patricia Resnick (screenplay).

Bewitched (sitcom): Viacom Entertainment Group.

Mommy and Me: Mommy and Me, Inc.

Keurig: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.

Mini Me (character): Verne Troyer; The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Second Stage Gerber Foods:

Levi’s: Levi Strauss & Company.

Baskin Robbins: Baskin Robbins in MEA.

Camaro: General Motors.

Six Million Dollar Man (TV show): Universal TV. Written by Terrence McDonnel & screenplay by Howard Rodman.

Alien: Produced by Twentieth Century Fox. Screenplay by Dan O’Bannon.

Ten Green Bottles: (14th century) Author unknown.

Harley Davidson: Harley Davidson.

Gilligan’s Island: Creator, Sherwood Schwartz. Production companies, Gladysya Productions, United artists Television, The CBS Television Network.

Dollar Rent A Car: DTG Operations, Inc.

Jacuzzi: Apollo Management.

Hawaii Five-O: Created by Leonard Freeman; Leonard Freeman Productions

Frankenstein: Public Domain.

Chapter One

I’d received no good news of late. I sat across from Queen Ka’ahumanu now and she shook her head. I put up my hand. Don’t… I added Please out of respect.

Do you abhor your destiny to that point, Kane?

Her words were soft, meant to soothe. Nothing could soothe me. All this time I’d fought Kanaloa, refused to take my place with him in the kingdom above, and now… I was bound even more tightly to my fate.

Finally, I nodded. I detest it. And with the loss of the sword, I can’t even end it.

The god of everything that is fine and good in this world committing suicide? She put a hand to her buxom chest. That is… You could bring down the heavens!

I don’t care.

She took my hand. Yes. You do. She gave me a knowing look. It’s what makes you Kane. It’s why Kanaloa sacrificed his own place in this world to save you.

I squeezed her hand, smiled. I will find a way to…accept it. It will take some time. More pressing is the subject of the sword.

She nodded solemnly. Yes, this is most worrisome. And you say Kanaloa does not have it?

I asked him. He wouldn’t dare lie to me now that he is my servant.

And the others saw nothing?

"No, but there is the question of the zokuzokugami, who told Jepoi his name was Ousamane. I thought it to be Kanaloa following Jepoi to my sanctuary. Now, I’m not so sure. Do you know of this entity?"

Queen Ka’ahumanu rubbed her chin. A fear-inducing ghost. This one was a slave in life, I believe, taken from the Ivory Coast.

So he does exist?

Um…

What would he want with the Sword of Woe? How would he even know of its existence?

Only one way, the lady replied.

I knew the answer. Ousamane had to have had some contact with Kanaloa or…his former lapdog, Delmontre.

Perhaps he was engaged to find the sword? Kanaloa has always hungered to know its whereabouts.

But Kanaloa would have the sword by now. I got to my feet. Perhaps our unfriendly ghost has a grudge against the gods?

Watch yourself, Kane. The queen bowed to me and was gone. As I walked the hallowed halls, which were located in the home of the gods, I pondered the possibilities.

Various servants bowed their heads in respect as I passed by. I hadn’t missed these homage rituals. I entered the rooms of Kanaloa. Silky white curtains waved on a breeze. Slaves placed their faces on the floor, awaiting his every command.

Kanaloa glanced up at me as I approached. He lay on a feathery bed. A young man with the face of an angel fed Kanaloa pieces of mango with one hand, wiping the juices from his chin with the other. When the young man saw me, he dropped to his knees.

I waved him up. Leave us, I said.

The Slave disappeared. I eyed the other slaves, six of them, standing like statues. Is that necessary? I asked. They come when summoned.

As you wish, My Lord. Kanaloa lowered his head.

Stop it, I told him then turned to the slaves and called out, Up. Go and do something useful.

They scurried out backward, bowing as they went.

I sat beside Kanaloa on the bed. Why did you give me your power?

You know why, he said.

I have too much power for one god. I never wanted any of it.

I know. He touched my cheek. I hope now you will lose your obsession with humans, Kane. They bring nothing but trouble. I am yours. We are connected. Live here with me and love me. I will do everything for you.

I swallowed. I do love you in my own way. I must. It is true we are connected. But…

But, Kanaloa snapped, you love that miserable vampire Jepoi more.

Jepoi is no longer a vampire, I told him. When you increased my power, I reversed what you did, and cured myself.

It would have been my pleasure to take your curse away. You had only to wish it.

I stared at him in disbelief. You said you couldn’t cure me. You said the witch made me a vampire and only she could undo the curse.

Kanaloa shrugged. I lied. But I cannot lie to you now. You could crush me with one look.

I grew tired of this conversation. My thoughts turned to the sword. I need to find the sword or we’re both in peril. You must tell me about this ghost you flirted with.

He raised an eyebrow. I wouldn’t call it flirting.

Did you ever send him on a mission to find the sword?

He shook his head.

Then… How do you know him?

Kanaloa sighed. He had a special talent in life.

Yes?

He could see the gods.

And?

He was taken as a slave. He saw Ku and me on the slave ship one night. He knew who and what we were.

Why was Ku there? I narrowed my eyes.

There was a pirate ship. They were trying to steal the cargo.

Human cargo.

Yes. So Ku was needed. There was a major skirmish.

And you profited how?

You wound me! He feigned hurt.

Bullshit. How did you profit?

I wanted the dead ones to use as slaves. Our friend didn’t approve.

There is liberty in death and you denied them. This is vengeance.

Perhaps, but how did Ousamane know you had the sword?

I was betrayed.

Delmontre?

It’s who I suspect.

But you’re not sure. Kanaloa sighed. I don’t believe Del would betray you. More Starsz, or Felix.

Well, rather than speculate, I guess it’s time I found out.

Leaving me so soon?

I’ll be back. Those words stung, but then truth hurts.

Say hello to Jepoi for me, he called out.

I ignored him. I hadn’t seen Jepoi for weeks. And yes, that was deliberate. I needed some distance to sort out what had happened to me. I knew that Jepoi thought it was because I blamed him for what had happened, but I didn’t. It wasn’t his fault. It was an accident… But then gods didn’t really believe in accidents. I knew that everything happened for a reason. I just wasn’t very happy about how I was implicated in that reason.

Not so long ago, Kanaloa and I ruled the heavens as equals. Then I fell in love with Delmontre, a human. Kanaloa wasn’t happy. For some reason, he fancied me as his personal property handing out sex on demand. He encouraged Delmontre to double cross me, and we were at war.

But if Delmontre, the beautiful human elevated to the status of a demi-god, bolstered his ego by thinking my split with Kanaloa was all about him, he was sadly mistaken. I grew weary of being who I was. I wanted to live in the human world. Given the way that humanity was behaving, I certainly wasn’t having much influence above. I was a relic. We all were. No one believed we had any power anymore, except maybe some old folks. So, I felt impotent, useless, as if I was mocking humanity. Kanaloa had a tantrum and got some witch to curse me. I walked the Earth, thirsting for blood. That’s when I met Jepoi. I saved him from the plague—more havoc wreaked by Kanaloa. Soon we fell in love, and I wanted to stay with Jepoi more than anything, but forces were against us.

I ended up fighting the monsters that Kanaloa had set upon the people and I decided to seek out the only weapon that could kill a god, the Sword of Woe. I didn’t know why I thought I needed it. Perhaps in the back of my mind I had decided to destroy Kanaloa once and for all, and live somewhere safe with my Jepoi.

But I could not destroy Kanaloa any more than he could eliminate me. We were not impotent. We were tied to every breathing, living thing. Once I had the sword, Kanaloa struck at me the only way he knew how—he took my Jepoi. He assaulted him with the same curse he had visited on me, and worse, he set Jepoi on a path to ruin me. He thought, of course, that I’d be forced to kill my heart then crawl back to him. Neither occurred. I decided to give my trust to Jepoi, in spite of Kanaloa’s brainwashing. I put the sword in his hand and gave him the choice. The love we made swayed him to leave the sword alone and Jepoi bore down on me with his body, using my cock to impale him, rather than impale me with the sword.

But when I lay back in the heat of passion, my cock encased in Jepoi’s ass, the sword cut into my flesh. I was dying. And there was nothing anyone could do to save me… Except another god.

Kanaloa fed me his blood, but in doing so, he willingly surrendered some of his power, making me stronger. One could see that was a sacrifice. As he fed me, he declared his love for me but… I realized later, even if he didn’t, that if I’d died, Kanaloa would have succumbed eventually himself. Our fate was intertwined. Fucking great!

It felt good, nevertheless, riding on my Harley on the highway, wind in my hair. I tried to forget the weight that was on my shoulders, the loss of the sword, the balance in a fragile and delicate universe, how much my heart, not to mention my cock, ached for Jepoi.

When I pulled the motorbike up in front of my sanctuary, now permanently located on the beach, you can’t imagine how surprised I was to see Ku. I got off my ride and walked up to him. Is there a war on I don’t know about?

He grinned. Large and imposing, he cast a dark shadow along the beach. Greetings, Kane. He bowed his head. I am your servant.

It must have taken a lot for Ku to say that. He had always been considered my equal to a large extent. I appreciate that, I said. I need to speak to you.

"About the zokuzokugami."

Yes. We began to walk along the beach. The birds cried out to us as we continued and the sun went to hide behind a dark cloud. Do you know where I can find the creature?

He has joined the darkness, a place where evil dwells and demons not even the great Kane can command.

I met his gaze. He was affronted. I am surprised you were party to Kanaloa’s grave-robbing.

I was there only on the sign that there could be a resulting battle. Kanaloa’s reasons were his own.

I folded my arms, leaned against a rock. Ku sat on the sand.

He wants vengeance.

Um, against us all, I suspect. And with the sword, that retribution is in his hand, Kane. You must retrieve it.

He has a human collaborator.

Yes. Your Jepoi.

My eyes widened. No. Jepoi would never betray me.

Not willingly, but you must remember, Kane, Jepoi was under Kanaloa’s power.

He wanted the sword to kill me, he would not give it away.

Ku nodded. Perhaps he was tricked by Ousamane or…

Can they read minds?

I don’t know. They can infiltrate the body…and… Look, he was seeking the sword and he knew right where to find it. Perhaps Jepoi said something innocently about the sword.

It had to be someone else. Starsz. He can communicate in thought with anyone.

I never trusted that dream merchant but… What would have been his motive?

Profit.

Ku shrugged. Perhaps. He would put the state of the world in jeopardy for coin?

I couldn’t bear to consider Felix. Felix had been with me for so long, my constant companion.

Ku touched my hand as he got to his feet. Betrayal hurts. If Felix did this…then he did it for love.

Love? My eyes flew open.

Kane. For so long, it was you and Felix. He survived your heartache for Delmontre, absorbed your pain. Now there is Jepoi. He is whole now, Kane, you healed him. He wants to be your number one.

He’s like a…brother to me…a son. I could never make him my lover.

He may not see it like that, my friend.

We began the long walk back. In the distance, I saw four men standing in front of the house. I knew that one of them was Jepoi. I stopped.

Ku looked at me. How long will you torture yourself? You love each other. Find a way, he urged.