Cesare snugged her closer, eyes falling to the bracelet on her wrist. The woven silver and gold shone with the light of a recent polish, dull and unremarkable between the precious metals, his hair faded into nothingness. “You're wearing it.” The whisper slipped out before he could stop it.

Lady Kali looked down at the bracelet. “I polish it before I go to bed.” She stopped as she heard the words, a fragile silence coming down between them. “It’s strange, I’ve received slaves, gold, diamonds, gods how I’ve received diamonds, everything you can imagine. But no one's ever given me part of themselves.” Looking up, her eyes shone with an unnamable emotion, too primal for the tame words of the civilized. “Thank you.”

He couldn’t help wondering if she polished it before or after she was fucked silly by her latest stud. It wasn’t nice, but all the pretty words in the world didn’t amount to one day of faithfulness. Even if he understood why she wantonly hunted pleasure, it changed nothing. She was on the other side of a line he wouldn’t cross.

Seeing them coming, the students deserted the lunch line in mass, leaving the cafeteria staff caught between honored and terrified. Reluctantly taking her hand off his ass, she handed Cesare a tray. Even as she took up a tray for herself, one of her lean blades, all swift movement and vicious eyes, cut between Cesare and her. The way the killer’s eyes caressed over Lady Kali's body spoke of long and intimate nights.

His quiet words were just loud enough for Cesare to hear. “My Lady, there's no reason for you to get your own tray, if you need to eat here at all. Let me gather what you want.”

Off to the side, Nzinga gave Cesare an amused smirk, eyes slicing to the man with disgust. Lady Kali refused to even look at the lithe, handsome man. Stepping forward, she forced him to move aside as she looped her arm through Cesare’s. “I can take care of my own tray, Michael. If you want something, get yourself a tray of your own. Now Cesare, what’s good?”

The man straightened, eyes settling on Cesare with black serrated hate. Clean shaven, dark hair cut short and styled in a business cut, Micheal looked good. He was everything Cesare could never be, intelligent, elegant, talented, and deadly. Micheal didn’t blame Lady Kali for the insult, no, he blamed Cesare.

Pushing his tray down the slide, he gave Kali his opinion. The serving staff lit up at his praise, faces flushing with pride. Awe ruled them at being inches from Lady Kali saturating their beings. His opinion didn't matter, it was the smile Lady Kali graced them with. It was nothing more than a brief spark of greatness, an ember cast off from the bonfire that was Lady Kali. Yet for the staff, it was a moment they'd treasure for the rest of their lives as greatness touched them for the first time.

Lady Kali followed right behind him, the girls kept distant by her casual dominance of his space. She knew what she was doing, delighting in their frustrated anger. Mischievous and malevolent, she was as playfully cruel as a cat who’d caught a rat.

Her amorality was oddly comforting. She didn't fight for causes or justice, uncaring of right and wrong. Birthed before the lies of good and evil, she’d kill or fuck devoid of ideals or logic. Desire drove her, and it was the only compass she allowed.

Lady Kali’s eyes danced as he shared a smile with her, an understanding passing between them, something too deep for words. He too was in it for himself. No gods or goddesses would own his heart and soul. No philosopher possessed his devotion. Nothing unborn claimed his devotion. He’d take every pleasure he could wring from life's fat neck, rip his fun from its flabby hide, because it wouldn’t fail to rape him every chance it got.

Life was a cruel bastard, every day was a no holds barred fight to make something out of the shit dumped on you. Morals bound your hands and hobbled your feet, restricted the singularity of the individual. Right and wrong stopped you from making the most of the happiness you found. Perverse pleasure or sanctified holiness, he'd carve the meat from their bones to fill his plate, gorge himself on pleasure to fill the holes in his soul.

Taking a pot of water and a cup, Cesare watched Lady Kali slip a bag of apple juice onto her tray. They walked slowly to the teachers' table. Elizabeth claimed his other side, meeting the wondering looks of the teachers with grim eyes. Alexandra was coiled death at his back, an abomination of glory, midnights blessing at the ready, waiting only for his word.

Rising as one, the teachers bowed their heads to Lady Kali. Jerold’s eyes flicked over Cesare, Anastasia, and Alexandra, before settling on Lady Kali. “I’m sorry Lady Kali, but this table is for the faculty and their guests. Our conversations are better kept away from children.”

Sitting without acknowledging Jerold, Lady Kali pulled Cesare into the spot next to her. “I understand; this is a haven for you to talk about your classes, a safe place to reach out for help and support. It’s wonderful that you’ve developed that kind of community.” Jerold nodded, relief flooding his eyes. Beside him, Sarah stood quiet and composed. Viktor cocked his head to the side with a grin flitting across his face. One and all, they waited on Lady Kali’s permission to sit.

“I’m glad you understand.” Jerold said, eyes darting to Cesare and the two girls.

Punching a hole in her juice bag with a straw, Kali smiled up at Jerold as the harem prowled around the table, setting up a perimeter of death. “Oh, I understand. I just don’t care.” The teachers stilled in surprise at the uncaring words. Sipping her juice packet, Kali held their attention with casual command.

On his other side, Elizabeth set a hemp tea bag into Cesare’s cup. She hadn't bothered waiting for Lady Kali's permission, but when you commanded mountains, it took a lot to impress you. Pouring hot water over the fragrant bag, she started the tea steeping. The teacher’s eyes followed Elizabeth’s movements, hearing the message without her saying a word.

Setting her juice down, Lady Kali cut into her pizza. “You don't understand where you stand, and that won’t do. Blind maggots find their way to easily into my fire.”

Taking a bite of her square pizza, she looked at the teachers in front of her. “You’re shit teachers. If I had my way, you'd be staked out in the middle of this sewer of a school and burned slow.” Blanching, they took an involuntary step back at the hate threaded through the threat. “My daughter was attacked and mutilated under your watch. Cesare is assaulted continuously, without even a lie of protection, as if his pain is beneath even your breath. It's only through his genius he’s still alive.”

Jerold deliberately cast his eyes down, a clear refusal to meet her glare. Sensing their Goddesses temper, the harem moved in with slow stalking steps. “Now, you’re trying to humiliate my daughter with this cowardice made flesh fight. You think your safe, that you may do as you please, fuck who you want, and break children without consequence.” She stopped, taking them all in with a flaying glare of rage. “You’re alive and not withering under my flame because of the Mistress. Only her power protects you from my wrath. If you were out in the world, I'd have swatted you like the insects you are.”

Sighing, she popped a tatter-tote into her mouth. “But we’re not.” The words brought an instant release of the tension that had drawn the teacher's wire tight with fear. For all their power, they were feeble, guttering stars compared to her sun. “But I don’t need to kill you, I can kill off everything you love outside these walls. Your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and lovers, flay them slow over my fire. Feed them by the inch to my harem, drown them in agony until their minds shatter and they curse you with skinned tongues and lipless mouths.”

The teachers stiffened, fear changing to terror as they looked into eyes devoid of morality, into the face of an abomination that had supped on newborn flesh and eradicated races. A horror eager to drown them in the blood of their families if it protected those she loved. Jerold opened his mouth, terror pushed into the anger of a rabbit in the talons of an owl. Desperately, Sarah clamped her hand on his shoulder with white knuckled force. Anything he said could twist the knife.

Bowing low, Sarah yanked Jerold down with her as Viktor copied them with a fear whitened face. “We apologize for any insult given; it was never our intention.”

Taking a bite of her mashed potatoes, Lady Kali made a pleased noise at the taste. “Know your place. This school,” Her gesture took in the crypt silent cafeteria as the students watched awe struck at the scene unfolding. They couldn’t hear the words, but they felt the naked threat searing the air with malice. “was only possible with mine and the other Immortals' permission. I endorsed this venture, slaughtering armies to insure its survival. I'll see your splayed corpses before I see my daughter in that hospital again. Individually or together, your nothing, fading beams of moonlight as common as sand. I can take your lives and suffer nothing for my effort. The life of my daughter and Cesare are as precious as the air I breathe, cross that line again and I will see your loved ones under my flame. Now, do you understand?” she asked the silent three as she unconsciously turned her bracelet around her wrist.

Sarah’s voice shook under the intensity of keeping it under control. “We hear and obey, Mother of Darkness.”

Smiling at them, Lady Kali gestured for them to sit. “Good, I think we’ve made progress today. Now, keep silent like good children.” A sadistic menace waited, hulking in the shadows of her voice.

Cesare took Lady Kali’s hand, stopping her from taking another bite as he met her questioning eyes. “Alexandra says grace before we eat.” The words stilled the table, hate twisting faces. A growl rose from the harem, Nzinga’s eyes shining flat red.

Viktor’s hands settled on the scared wood of the table, muscles tensing in readiness for surging out of his seat. Face locked in bland acceptance; a slow skim of frost radiated from Jerold’s fingers across the table. Sarah scowled at Cesare, disgust wrinkling elegant caramel skin. Milky tendrils threaded her eyes as her truth burned through the mask of humanity.

Lady Kali silenced them with a sweeping look of menace. “What are you asking, Cesare?” Her words fell into the pregnant silence, everyone at the table and beyond watching.

Everyone knew Alexandra said grace, and that Cesare backed her. But it was one thing at a forgotten table in the back of the cafeteria, and a world away from doing it with Lady Kali, the Dark Mother.

Fingers tightening on Kali's, he locked with her calculating eyes. “A respectful silence while she says grace, nothing more than that.”

Thoughts roiled through her eyes like clouds driven by eldritch winds. “I fought her people back when we still had lands to call our own. I burned thousands of blood demons, tortured and displayed their ravaged bodies as warnings to her kin. I endured as they killed my children and raped my people, trampling my daughters under their blood-soaked boots. I watched the world drown under the dogma of the Pale God as they tore down what was beautiful, replacing it with institutionalized ignorance. And now you wish me to show respect for them?”

The others held their breath as the two faced off. “No, I’m asking you to respect my friend. The girl that saved your daughter’s life.”

Tension tightened around them as Lady Kali gave a slow nod. “For you.” Pausing, she stressed, “And only for you. She would have watched my daughter die if not for you.”

He gave her hand a squeeze, he couldn’t know the cost to her, but he could give thanks for the gift. Turning to the side, he met the wondering eyes of Alexandra. Lost in a flood of emotions, she grappled with the here and now, giving a start when she realized everyone was waiting on her.

My Lord God

I give thanks for the bounty we are about to receive

May you cast your blessings on the animals that died to give us life

May my action’s honor the grace you have given me

Your gift’s amaze and delight me, and I stand in awe of your greatness

In your name, I go forth my Lord

Amen

Cesare’s quiet, “Amen” was the only sound at the table.

By silent agreement, they stayed away from the coming fight as they talked. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hard to do. Alexandra was well trained in how to conduct herself in any company, small talk coming easily to her lips. Anastasia was a born socialite, taken into the halls of power where people killed with words instead of swords. She effortlessly fell into conversation of inconsequential’s.

Elizabeth and Cesare were left at loose ends. Neither of them had learned the skill of small talk. Their lives were private things, details parceled out in precious bits to a trusted few. Unseen, Elizabeth scooted over, hip touching Cesare’s as they drank tea and ate in silence. They were part and yet distant from the others, different from the glittering ones, each a cast off in their own way.

Lady Kali finished her meal with the languid casualness that underlined her command of any place she wanted to claim. The teachers rose to their feet along with her, bowing deeply as she turned from them. Taking his hand, they left without a word, Kali making sure the school got a good look at their joined hands.

Cesare turned to her as the cafeteria door closed behind them. “I didn’t think you’d talk to him that way.”

Surprise lit her eyes, not that he wondered but that he’d asked. “He’s been a friend for a decades, but not a close one. He’s got a nice cock and knows how to use it, but that’s all there is between us. I’m just another pussy for him to fuck. He certainly doesn’t mean what my daughter does to me …” Her voice dropped, going quiet with thought. “Or you.”

Sighing, she looked away from him. “It still bothers you.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement of fact.

“I … understand better now.” She relaxed as she studied his face, finding the truth written in his eyes. “But it’s still not what I want. I don’t want a woman on a time share.”

Laughing, she lopped an arm around his waist. “You’ve come farther than I would've thought from where you started. Who knows how much farther you’ll go,” she said, smiling wickedly up at him. He couldn’t help laughing along with her, it would’ve been easier if she didn’t feel so good pressed against him.

“We need to get ready,” Cesare said, pulling the group back to the fight.

“I’d like to know what the plan is.” Anastasia’s eyes briefly lite as her anger flared. “I think I’ve earned the right given it's my life.”

Lady Kali’s eyes drifted between the two, raw speculation dancing with dark shadows. Distaste radiated off Elizabeth from where she watched. They’d had a moment when Anastasia had faced him, but they were two different to ever be friends.

In the beautifully entitled girl, Elizabeth saw everything she’d never had, all the things she’d wanted and been denied. Power, acceptance, beauty, talent, and an easy future, it waited for Anastasia to claim, like apples from the Tree of Life. And Elizabeth had been there when the akatharton’s harem had come for Cesare, watched as they beat him down, bled him out, and humiliated him for nothing more than a smile from the calculating girl.

None of that mattered to Anastasia. The others were nothing to her, neither Alexandra nor Elizabeth would ever be friends. She detested them at least as much as they did her. Recovering from her ordeal, she’d been forced to rely on others for safety, even the basics like wiping her ass were beyond her. But that wasn't now. Today she was strong and in the fullness of her power more than capable of taking her dreams back. At her core, Anastasia was a dominant creature enslaving others to her will. It was who she was and what she hungered to be on a grand scale.