Reece left the house and started looking around. He went to the largest building in the area, a well-built and opulent home. Someone with great wealth must have lived there before the world fell apart. He found that the front door was locked. So, he tried breaking a window. The glass was impact resistant, a sign that this was once a fortress for a person of means. He did find that a heavy truck had smashed into the side of the garage and had created an opening through the rubble of a wall to slip through. He saw a couple of tarp-covered vehicles in the place’s garage but ignored them in favor of finding a proper place for them to rest.

The garage had an ornate wooden door that opened into the white marble kitchen of the fortress. It didn’t take him long to explore the spacious rooms with white marble flooring being used throughout. For the end of the world, the place was in pristine condition. There were no zombies in sight. Finding the bedroom, the canopy bed appeared freshly made – several years ago. He checked out the room to verify it would work. It looked good. He left the room and then opened and walked out the front door of the fortress to retrieve Cyrene and Ciera.

When he arrived, they were sitting and quietly talking on the front step. The women looked up and smiled as Reece drew closer. Though they stood up quickly and put on a front, Reece could tell they were both still in rough shape.

“I found a place that should work,” said Reece, indicating they follow him.

He led them back to the upscale home in the middle of the small city and opened the door, ushering them inside. Moving gingerly, they walked inside. Reece closed and locked the door behind them. Cyrene’s face was pale as she looked at him, so he helped her walk the few meters to the bed and laid her down upon it. Ciera leaned against the door to rest. Smoothing the blonde locks from the nymph’s sweat and dirt-streaked face, he kissed her forehead. Returning to the entryway, he led Ciera inside as well.

Finding a full canteen in his pocket, one of many, he used it and a rag to clean Cyrene’s face. He poured some of the water into her mouth, drinking some himself. Ciera looked parched, so Reece offered some to her as well. She graciously accepted.

Once the adrenaline wore off, Reece started to feel itching and remembered that he had taken a couple of shots in the arm, though one had only grazed him. In the heat of battle, he had forgotten all about the wounds. Lying on the bed, he dropped his head back on a pillow near Cyrene and closed his eyes to rest. A moment later, he felt Ciera move behind him, wrapping her body around his. Then he felt a fingertip trace his wounds. Despite the pain, it felt electric. Opening his eyes, he saw that it was Cyrene’s fingers doing the tracing.

“We need to heal,” she prompted. “Get undressed.”

“I’m going to give you two some privacy,” said Ciera, smiling lovingly at Reece before she left the room, closing the door behind her.

Reece nodded before looking at Cyrene’s beautiful face, smiling but with creases of pain written across her forehead. She tried to remove the dirty and torn shift she had been wearing but was too weak. Hands trembling, Reece helped her, pulling the cloth away from the most exquisite creature he had ever laid eyes upon. Her skin was a golden brown with a lithe body and tight perky breasts with light pink nipples. Her blonde hair was matched below, all tight curls. Her beauty marks were light-brown and flat, each in the most appealing location. Even the light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and the tops of her shoulders and breasts only added to her beauty. Reece just shook his head in amazement.

“What are you?” he asked, tears flowing freely. “You’re too perfect.”

“I’m a nymph,” said Cyrene, looking askance at Reece. “I thought you knew that.”

When she noticed the tears, she frowned slightly. Touching his face with her hand again, she tilted her head to the side as if seeing him in a new light. He held her hand to his face and closed his eyes, seeing the final images of Naeva, Ciera, Hank, Angel, and the rest play through like a macabre picture book in his head. He hoped they were all okay. Cyrene used what remained of her strength to pull herself into his embrace, her head collapsing onto his chest.

“Kiss me,” she mumbled weakly into his chest.

He knew then that she wasn’t simply coming on to him. She needed the kiss for energy, sustenance, and to help her heal. She must be closely related to the Inanna-dine like him, the lilin like Ciera, or both. Tilting her head up by her chin as gently as he could, Reece bent down and placed his lips upon hers. They were light pink and pursed into a cute little pucker; her bottom lip jutting sensuously.

Once his lips made contact, he was surprised by how firm and supple hers were. She kissed him back with all the passion the wounded nymph could muster. Their tongues soon found each other and did a steamy dance, mixing their saliva, hers having the faint taste of honey. It was exquisite. Reece started feeling better immediately, both physically and emotionally. Her kiss was like a balm to soothe all his pain and injuries. He hoped he was doing the same for her. Cyrene was in much worse shape than him, at least physically.

“I need more,” she whispered, smiling wanly. “How are you feeling after the kiss? Are you up for more intimate contact?”

“I am, but I know I shouldn’t be,” replied Reece, narrowing his eyes as he frowned. “It feels strange…unnatural.”

“It’s okay,” soothed Cyrene. “It’s my kiss. The kiss of a nymph washes away all worries.”

“I’m grateful, truly I am,” said Reece, looking her in the eyes. “But I’m in love with another. Well, two others.”

“Within you lies enough love for all of us,” she said, giving him a knowing smile. “Love is infinite. That’s why it will always prevail, despite the Order having conquered much of the world. They used fear to grasp victory, which is why it cannot last. Fear leads to anger, and anger gives rise to hate. Hate needs an outlet. Eventually, they’ll see enemies within and tear each other apart.”

“But before that, their hate will be returned. It almost always is. The other peoples of this world will fight them with that hate. But also love. Love for their family, their friends, their homes, their countries, and their very world. But for now, don’t worry about all of that. Just go with your feelings and let this happen. We need to get back in the fight, and this is the way we do it.”

“How do you know about all of this?” asked Reece, cocking an eye at the beautiful nymph beside him. “We only just freed you a few hours ago.”

“When you’re held prisoner as long as I have,” she explained, almost sighing the words. “You learn to observe the world around you through all means available. That, in turn, enlightens you over time on how the world really works. Now, strip. We need each other to heal.”

Reece slipped out from under Cyrene and slid off the bed to disrobe. His suit followed his boots, and he stood nude before her. She smiled, and her eyes twinkled when she beheld his toned body. He hadn’t had much time to relax or get soft, which gave him an advantage in many situations. Climbing back onto the bed, he slid back over to her and pushed the covers down. Her lips pressed against Reece’s, his hands exploring her body. Incredibly pleasurable sensations arose wherever their bare skin met. For Reece, it was like warmth, electricity, love, and lust rolled into one.

Moving her head down, Cyrene flicked her tongue over Reece’s left nipple. Reece moaned unconsciously in response. She worked on his left side for a minute before moving to his right and repeating the technique. Fully aroused now, he watched as she moved farther down his torso, smiling back up at him with mischief in her eyes. Reece couldn’t describe what happened next, only that it felt like sensual velvet. It was the most pleasurable of sensations, and time lost all meaning. After only an instant, or perhaps an eternity, he was more than ready for her. His body buzzed with energy. She smiled again while sliding back up his body, impaling herself on him once she reached his waist. While she gyrated atop him, Cyrene maintained eye contact with Reece the entire time. He couldn’t look away. He was under her spell and more than happy about it.

“When we’re both fully healed, and this is all over,” she purred. “We need to do this again, and properly. Now, give me what I need. Come for me, please… lover.”

Reece merely nodded his head in an orgasmic daze. It didn’t take long. The moment he felt sweet release, he could feel the last of his fatigue and pain finally leave him. Looking up at her with refreshed eyes, he saw she was practically glowing. She looked better than new.

“That was amazing,” he gasped. “How are you feeling?”

“Better than I’ve felt in millennia,” she answered, studying him with something new in her eyes. “You’re an interesting man, Reece Danielson. You’d do well to survive the coming battles. I promise to make it worth your while.”

She continued to straddle him while they spoke, and he hadn’t relaxed in the slightest. Reece was drunk on her. Between Cyrene’s aura, charm, exquisite skin, and dazzling blue eyes, he knew deep down that he was in trouble. But at the moment, he didn’t care.

Despite her words and their better judgment, their combined lust overcame them. They did it again. This time they were joined by Ciera, the three of them overcome as they were with each other. The three of them shared distinct heritages that, deep down, were the same. They were all creatures of love and lust. The two women, Cyrene and Ciera, collapsed on either side of Reece. They lay there for some time, basking in the afterglow. They all held each other for several minutes, enjoying the feel of one another. Warm skin against warm skin. It didn’t take Reece long to drift off to sleep, Despite being re-energized.

The love and comfort he felt nestled snugly between the nymph and the lilin were better than he ever imagined. It was moojiness at its best. That sweet thought made him think of Karina. He missed her and hoped everyone was okay. Things hadn’t gone according to plan, but he had to admit… he was making the most of it.

The dream began pleasantly enough. Reece walked through a meadow full of yellow flowers, a gentle breeze with occasional gusts blowing through the area, disturbing the blossoms and leaves. The sun shone down, warming his skin, the breeze battling to cool him. Bees buzzed about, traveling from flower to flower, while birds whistled and tweeted into the distance. It was serene until it wasn’t. A roiling mass of smoke came out of nowhere, billowing across the meadow and through the flowers. Wherever the cloud touched, everything wilted and died. It only took moments before the beautiful meadow was reduced to a barren plane covered in death and decay. Reece had an idea of what this meant even as he woke.

Looking down at Cyrene’s face as she slept atop him, he brushed the hair from her face. The motion woke her, and she smiled while opening her sparkling sapphire eyes and gazing lazily into his own deep brown ones with them. Smiling back, he traced the narrow tip of her right ear, gently dragging his finger along its edge. She moaned under her breath at the touch and gave a little shiver.

Turning his head, he studied the smooth dark complexion of Ciera, feeling her kinky hair tickle his no longer wounded shoulder. Her dark brown eyes opened seductively, filled with desire and mischief of their own.

“Good morning, lovelies,” he whispered, his eyes smiling when they returned her gaze.

“Good morning, lover,” Ciera replied. “Pleasant dream?”

“Not really,” answered Reece honestly. “I’ve always had strange, perhaps prophetic dreams. This wasn’t much different, except I’m finally figuring out their meanings. What do you know of the haze?”

“Ahh, the purple cloud that stole the men’s ability to procreate on this planet?” Cyrene asked, joining the conversation.

Reece raised an eyebrow at the nymph’s intuitiveness. “Exactly. We need to figure out how to reverse it if we are to survive as a people,” he explained. “There may be three or four of us males that can still have children. That won’t do.”

“Well, then you’re in luck,” Cyrene said, smiling widely. “For I happen to have something that I believe will work miracles on that front.”

“What is it?” Reece asked, his eyebrows jumping up in excitement.

Ciera also seemed excited at the prospect, sitting up in the bed and pressing a perky breast into Reece’s arm as she held him for support. Cyrene rolled her nude body off the bed and fetched her simple gown. Reece couldn’t help but admire her form. A form he now knew intimately. Rifling around inside, she withdrew a small parcel. Reverently, she held it in the palm of her hand. She carefully handed the wrapped package to Reece. As he took it, he felt Ciera’s hair tickle his face as she peered over his shoulder at the mysterious treasure.

“Be careful,” warned Cyrene. “These are the last in the whole world.”

Unfolding the thick cloth of the package, Reece found small brown pellets inside. There looked to be about thirty of them, each the size of a pea.

“What are they?” asked Reece.

“They are silphium seeds,” answered Cyrene. “Eating one will return reproductive health to whoever consumes it.”

“Hmm,” said Reece, thinking aloud. “Are they viable?”

“You mean to grow them?” asked Cyrene, her eyes widening as a smile appeared. “Yes, I believe they are viable.”

“Excellent. And yes, I absolutely mean to grow them,” answered Reece. “We’re going to need more than thirty. After all, we have half a world to save.”

Cyrene reached over and gently pulled him into another kiss.

“I never thought whoever woke me would have the forethought to do that,” she said. “And we couldn’t say a word, a part of the curse that bound us all.”

Ciera squealed in delight, kissing Reece in her exuberance. “We have a real chance of fixing the world now!” she exclaimed.

Cyrene took a moment to let them speak before continuing. “Unfortunately, these can’t be cultivated normally. That’s part of the reason they went extinct. The conditions must be met for them to produce new viable plants. I will show you when the time comes. However, if I don’t make it, I’ll tell you what I know.”

Cyrene spent the next several minutes explaining the intricacies of silphium cultivation to Reece and Ciera while they dressed and prepared to leave. They were surprised by its complexity and understood how it had become extinct. Reece wrapped them carefully and placed the seeds in one of his many special pockets. They were precious, and Reece would treat them so. Ciera squeezed his arm in support.

Based on the sun’s movement, Reece figured they’d only been there about five hours. Still, the Order would be there soon if they hadn’t already arrived. There were only so many places for Reece and the girls to hide. Checking the windows, he didn’t notice anything amiss. Looking like they may be in the clear, Reece slowly opened the front door and looked around the area. There was no sign of the Order. Turning to go back inside the large house, Reece heard a gurgling ‘caw’. Looking down the street, he saw a huge black bird. He watched it take off from its perch atop the garage where he had stashed the Order’s vehicle.

Reece wasted no time rushing into the house. He knew he’d been seen. He assumed the unnatural bird was a spy of the Order. They had eyes everywhere, and he couldn’t afford to take any chances. Luckily, they didn’t need much time to leave, and they had all healed up. Unfortunately, the bird had already found their means of travel, and Reece had no idea if the creature was alone.

“Cyrene! Ciera!” Reece called into the bedroom. “I think we’ve been found. We need to get out of here, now!”

The nymph and lilin came out of the room together. Cyrene was dressed in a bandana top with a blue scarf print and snug blue jeans, something she must have found in the room’s walk-in closet. Sleek brown combat boots completed the outfit. She smiled as she did a little twirl.

“It took a bit, but I found some things that fit,” she said. “What do you think?”

“I think you’d look great in a paper bag,” said Reece, giving her an approving smile. “But we need to get going.”

“Ahh, you’re such a sweetheart,” she replied. “Lead on.”

“What about me?” asked Ciera, showing off her abs in a black halter top and blue jeans that matched Cyrene’s down to the designer holes worn into the fabric.

Reece had to chuckle inwardly. It’s the apocalypse, but these women still needed to look good. At least Ciera had also grabbed a pair of functional boots, sexy but rugged.

“You look perfect as always,” said Reece, giving them both a half smile and raising his eyebrows. “Now, ladies… can we go?”

The women nodded, and they all hurried to the garage. Reece grabbed the two sets of keys hanging from hooks near the door.

“Just give me a second,” said Reece, looking back at them from the doorway.

Holding the keys in one hand, Reece pushed through the door. He checked the two vehicles inside. He needed one to be a viable option, or the Order would be on them. Removing the grey tarp, Reece uncovered a cherry red Lamborghini. Clicking the keys, he found that its battery was dead. No surprise there. It was also stuck behind some of the rubble from the collapsed side of the garage, and its bay door was warped. He tossed one set of keys on the beautiful but useless car’s hood.

With one set of keys left, he turned around. Fortunately, the other side looked more promising. That vehicle’s garage bay door was in good condition. Of course, the garage door wouldn’t have power, but Reece figured he could open it manually. Still, that wouldn’t matter if the vehicle under the tarp was inoperable.

Pulling back the heavy brown tarp, Reece sucked in his breath. Beneath the protection of the cloth tarp sat a VX Drust-Jaeger. Metallic grey, the electric sport utility vehicle was in pristine condition. Looking like one part classic SUV and two parts muscle car, the thing exuded angry metal under tension. Getting his hopes up, he popped the door and slid into the synthetic leather driver’s seat. Ciera slipped into the back seat while Cyrene sat in the passenger seat.

Once they were situated, Reece energized it. It took a moment to power up, but the car finally zoomed to life. The car’s internal diagnostics caused lights and information to flash across several screens while beeps and chirps accompanied them.

“Yesssss,” celebrated Reece, punching his fist into the grey felt above his head.

“Boys and their toys,” commented Cyrene, giving Reece a knowing smile and a sideways glance. “Some things just never change.”

“You know it, sister,” added Ciera, the two women giving each other a high five, both giggling at Reece’s expense.

“Yep, and this toy’s gonna save our collective asses,” quipped Reece, raising his eyebrows twice. “Be right back.”