The Tantric Shaman (10 page)

              Damian carried several pre-paid debit cards, which was his usual method of currency. It was easier than cash, and not traceable like a credit card would be. He bought them tickets and they boarded the bus. They were a rag-tag group, but no one gave them a second look. Buses were used to drifters.

              Bo and Candy sat together while Damian and Indigo took the seats beside them.

              “You did that necromancy spell almost effortlessly. I've never seen anyone do it without a live sacrifice, and even then it usually takes a lot out of them. Just how powerful are you?” Indigo asked.

              “I still had plenty of energy from our playtime. It was enough. But enough about me. I don't mean to overstep my bounds here, but you did just help us kill your mate of many moons. Are you sure you're okay?”

              “I should have killed that sonofabitch long ago,” Indigo said with disgust. “He always treated me like shit, talked to me like I was worthless. He was a bad man, Damian. I won't mourn him.”

              “Candy said as much, but I wanted to hear it from you.”

              “Candy is a good person. I knew I wouldn't be able to watch her be killed, much less help. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I had planned to help her all along.”             

              “You did the right thing, and I'll see that Grundar takes it easy on you. A tantric shaman has some clout in all shifter affairs.”

              “He won't do anything too bad. Not death or banishment, at least. Maybe a beating, but I can take it.”

              “We'll see.”

              The bear clan resided in the town of Gandy Holler, TN. It was a town of mostly shanties and trailers nestled in the smoky mountains. Most people just thought they were a bunch of semi-inbred hillbillies, but they seemed nice enough so most people just left them alone.

              As soon as the four got off the bus they began to get stares. Everyone recognized Candy and Indigo, but weren't sure what to make of Bo and Damian. No one stopped them or spoke, although several had appeared to be about to. They all decided it best not to get involved, however, and soon the four were at the home of Candy's father.

              Damian had felt a sense of magical unrest as soon as he stepped off the bus. He used his own powers to push it away, much like you'd push your hand through a spiderweb. The odd feeling passed, and Damian was satisfied he had gotten rid of it. Whoever had put it there had not thought anyone with mystical abilities would come through town, as bears weren't known for sorcery. Someone of Damian's level, however, had no problems removing the town's enchantment.

              His house was the nicest in town, as would befit the clan chieftain. It was an old antebellum style mansion, painted with and surrounded by green grass. Candy walked up to the door and knocked, and her father answered.

              “Hey, daddy,” Candy said, eyes averted.

              Grundar was not at all what you'd expect. Instead of a big bear, he was skinny, with long gray hair. He wore glasses, which he now used to scrutinize everyone standing on his porch. He looked frail, but when he shifted he was anything but.

              “Candy, Indigo,” he said in greeting. “I don't think I know the other two.”

              “You know Bo,” Candy said, still not looking her father in the eyes.

              “Oh, I reckon I do. And wait, is that―Damian Ivory? Is that you?” Grundar said, genuinely surprised.

              “Hey Grundar, long time no see,” Damian said with a smirk.

              “No kidding. I heard you were dead. This must be pretty important to bring you here. Everyone come in,” Grundar said, stepping aside so they could enter.

              They all entered, finding Candy's mother Hannah waiting on them. She hugged her daughter until they were both in tears. Candy finally stepped away.

              “We need to explain what's happened,” Candy said. Everyone took a seat and the entire tale was recounted. Damian thought Grundar and Hannah had been drugged, or the magical equivalent. They seemed unsure about the chain of events, and didn't seem to even remember banishing their daughter, or whatever had really been done. To Damian, it sounded like the entire town had been bewitched. But what could have done that? Could it have been the wolf clan?

              Damian explained how Horis had been killed, embellishing it a bit but still getting the gist across. Once the story was completed, Grundar contemplated things for a while before speaking.

              “I am a bit unsure as to how all this happened, but I suspect magic has paid a part. I will get to the bottom of things,” Grundar said. “And also, Horis told us the Broken had escaped. I didn't realize he'd released them on purpose.”

              “I'm going to investigate myself,” Damian said.

              Grundar nodded. “In that case, I leave it in your very capable hands. If anyone can find out what's happened, it's the tantric shaman.”

              Damian wondered if perhaps Grundar suspected him. Grundar probably knew how tantric magic worked. Did Grundar suspect any of the sexual activity among the group?
              “First, the bad news. Indigo, even though I am sure you are mostly innocent, you went along with your mate even though it was against the clan,” Grundar said.

              “She had no way of knowing. Horis was acting alone,” Candy said in her defense.

              “Nonetheless, she should have come to me before embarking on something as serious as the death of my daughter. It was her error, and she must be punished,” Grundar said.

              “Your majesty, if I may,” Damian said. Grundar nodded, waiting. “I will take her punishment into my hand. I'm sure you know I have experience with this sort of thing. I'm assuming you wanted something milder than banishment or death, so allow me to administer the punishment she warrants.”

              “I agree,” Grundar said, and the tension in the room seemed ease at once. Grundar didn't really want to punish her, and the others were afraid the punishment would be too severe. “It will have to be a real punishment. I defer the chastisement itself to you, but the clan will need to see proof she's been punished. They will accept it as fair given the respect you have as a shaman.”

              Indigo seemed unsure how to react, as she had been silent through the whole exchange. She felt better with Damian in charge, but still wondered what game he was playing. The bear clan wouldn't accept a fake punishment, and they had ways of knowing.

              “On a happier note, I will allow you to wed your fiancee, and I say we make it happen as soon as possible. I am not sure how your clan will react to this announcement, Bo, but I will invite them all to the ceremony,” Grundar stated.

              Everyone was quiet, stunned by the announcement, but soon Bo and Candy were elated and congratulations were passed around.

              “I'll have the invite to your clan done immediately, and the wedding will be in two weeks,” Grundar said.

              “Two weeks?” Candy bleated. “That's not nearly enough time! We must have--”

              “Candy, don't press our luck,” Bo said. “Two weeks will be fine, Grundar. I'm not sure how my clan will react, but perhaps given this new information it will be favorable.”

              “I will be sure to tell them the entire story, and hopefully we can finally have peace between our clans,” Grundar said.

              “Your majesty, I would like to travel with your party to the wolf clan's home in Arizona. There are some things I need to see for myself,” Damian said.

              “Who said anything about traveling there? I'm overnighting them a letter,” Grundar said.

              Damian laughed. “Sorry, I forgot some traditions have changed over the years.” He scratched his chin. “Can I see the letter before you send it? Or at least the envelope?”

              Grundar shrugged, “Sure. But I'm afraid we need to get the formalities out of the way first. Indigo's punishment needn't be public, but we do need proof. Can you handle that now?”

              Damian looked at Indigo. “I would like to use my own place. I have one not far from here. I can do it tonight and have her back by morning.”

              “So be it,” Grundar said.

CHAPTER EIGHT

              Candy and Bo were staying at Grundar's house until the wedding, so Damian and Indigo headed out alone. There was much confusion as to exactly what was going on, with Candy being even more worried than Indigo. However, they all trusted Damian enough to know he had to have a plan. Damian placed a spell on the envelope Grundar would be using. Once it was delivered to the wolf clan, it would be like a magic bomb, and it should disperse any spells that had been placed on them. Damian didn't like doing it that way, but he wasn't sure if he'd have time to go to the clan himself.

              Now Indigo and Damien walked nude down the sidewalk, still getting looks. The townsfolk were more open now, but still wary. The sight of people walking nude in town wasn't that unusual, although Indigo was still a nice sight. Damian wasn't bad himself, and the two found themselves ignoring a lot of stares.

              “Where are we going?” Indigo asked.

              “I have a cabin only a few miles from here. I try to keep a place near all of the clans,” Damian answered.

              “How many homes do you have?” Indigo asked.

              “Several, none of them very nice,” Damian said with a chuckle.

              “What are you going to do to me?”

              “You'll see. It's the only thing I could think of, I was worried Grundar would be too harsh. It won't be easy on you, but it's better than anything he'd have done.”

             
I bet you have something in mind for her Damian. Oh so noble, aren't you? Trying to save the fair maiden, trying to ease her pain? This is about you and your cock, you slut. Admit it!

             
“Damian?” Indigo said.

              “Yes?” Damian said, not having heard her.

              “I said how are we going to get there?”

              “Oh. You run, and I'll fly. When we reach the right area, you just head due west about 3 miles. I'll be there when you arrive. You'll find it, my scents all over the place.”

              “What if I just decide to escape?”

              “And live your life in exile? What I have planned isn't that bad, trust me. Alright, this is good. Due west from here, and soon you'll catch my scent. See you soon,” Damian said, shifting to a hawk and flying away with a screech.

              Indigo hesitated just a second, then shifted to full wolf form and bounded after him. She found his scent easily, and was soon at the cabin just as dusk started to fall. The door was open, so she shifted to human and entered.

              Her heart raced as she looked around inside. Damian had been serious about her punishment, but whether you could truly call it “punishment” was subjective.

              There were silk ropes tied to the bedposts, and an assortment whips and sex toys were placed on a table nearby. Some of the items did look a little scary, but Indigo found herself more excited than scared.

              “When we had sex, I caught some vibes from you,” Damian said from behind her, causing her to jump. She turned and saw he was still nude, his cock already half hard. “I think I can get away with calling this punishment, and make everyone happy.”
Yes, especially yourself, you horny bastard.

             
Indigo was wide-eyed as she examined the various items, running her hands over them lightly. “I've never done anything like this before. Horis liked―let's just say we had an open relationship. Once a couple came over, and they brought gear like this. We watched them, and I was so excited I could barely catch my breath. But Horis didn't enjoy it, and we never tried any of it ourselves.

              “He only liked slapping me to make him feel more powerful, he never did it in a way to give us both pleasure. He called himself a Dominant, but he was really a little bitch,” Indigo said.

              Damian could actually sense her excitement, her heart thudding faster with each new toy she saw. “When I take power from someone, I also break down inhibitions. Sometimes I get glimpses of things. I saw that you craved this. No one else has to know. The clan will think you were punished. I thought you'd go along with this...”

              Indigo gave Damian a look of pure lust. “Punish me, Damian.”

              Damian nodded, walking over and lifting her up, then putting her on the bed face down. Her nice tanned ass faced up as he got the rope, securing her arms and legs firmly in place. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Normally I would give you a safe word, but given the circumstances, you don't get one. And if you shift to escape, you'll have to be turned over to Grundar for punishment. You have to take whatever I give.”