In the Oculus, Vanderau watched as Katherine warred with her newfound powers. Whatever entity was with her was now trying to come to terms with a new mistress. The Drake had been with Sauvageon for decades and the new power that had been called to Katherine in the shape of a Gryphon were at odds with one another.
Vanderau tried to touch her, but both the Drake and the Gryphon pushed him back. The force of the combined chimera was enough to send him back several feet. Katherine could see through the veil of light but was trying to make sense of what was happening to her.
"I can't tame either of you!" she declared as she began visualizing the two creatures. "You must combine – I must combine you together so we can work as one!"
Both creatures protested but she began to meld the two of them together. Slowly the two opposites began to blur into one. The outflowing power was taxing Katherine's already waning energy.
It was now time for Vanderau to temper his blade! He got as close as he could, and he began to weave a power tether that began to wrap around her right wrist.
Vincent and Martine watched from the safety of the hallway. It was Martine who spotted the family ring on Katherine's right index finger. He called out to Vanderau,
"It is a Gryphon!"
Vanderau then saw the ring. The power had taken the form of his heraldic crest! This was a creature, part eagle and part lion! As the Drake yielded to the strength of the Gryphon, Katherine turned her attention to what Vanderau was trying to do. Only the Gryphon was being stubborn!
The transformation to Katherine was astonishing! Vanderau watched as Katherine's hair began to turn white and glitter with flashes of opalescence. The Gryphon made a physical appearance, stepping outside of Katherine to roar. It arched its wings, raised its massive eagle head up toward the opening of the Oculus, and blasted fire into the air!
"Katherine, to me!" Vanderau shouted.
The Gryphon roared once more and spilled back into Katherine. She embraced the powerful image and fell into Vanderau's arms. Together they sank to the floor of the Oculus.
She drew her head back and looked up into Vanderau's black intense gaze. "Your will, Dominus Vanderau!"
Vanderau began to laugh and then the tears came, and he gathered her up against him, stroking her now snow-white hair. Even her eyebrows and eyelashes were white. Her skin was flushed and when she opened her eyes the deep blue had become a bright sparkling sapphire blue with a ring of ice blue around the edges – that began to dissipate as she began to become aware of herself and her surroundings.
"Can you stand?" Vanderau asked.
"I think so," Katherine answered. "What happened to everyone?"
"They're gone," Nicklaus whispered.
He got to his feet and held his hands out to help Katherine stand. She felt a little jelly-legged, but after a moment felt steady.
Vincent and Martine ventured into the Oculus. Both approached with caution but when Katherine turned to face them, Vincent was both shocked at her transformation and enthralled by what he saw! He smiled in open appreciation, "By God, Katherine! You're exquisite!"
Nicklaus felt pangs of jealousy rise in his chest, but Katherine was his! She was his blade! Martine saw the look and came and drew Vincent back, "We will escort you to your car, Dominus. It is waiting in the garage. Your luggage and everything is waiting for you both."
"Are we going home?" Katherine asked.
"No, mon coeur," Nicklaus said taking her hand in his. "We have a ball to attend tonight."
She looked down at her gown. "I already look like I'm going to a Renaissance Festival!" she said, "I should change into street clothes."
"Everything is waiting for us. The penthouse I have is not far from here." Vanderau said, "We can change and rest until the evening."
She nodded. Martine and Vincent walked ahead of them to the set of elevators in the hallway. The door panel slid back, and Katherine and Nicklaus stepped into the elevator. Once they were alone, Vanderau turned to Katherine, "Now you're all mine!"
He took her into his arms and looked down into her face raised to receive his kiss. When he raised his head, both were breathless! The elevator door opened, and the car was waiting, doors open and ready for them. Nicklaus pointed to the sword and scabbard at her waist, "I don't think you will need that for a while!"
Katherine laughed lightly and unbuckled the belt with the scabbard holding her blade. It was part of her now and she watched as Vanderau placed it in the back seat, so it was still within her reach.
The drive to the building where the townhouse was relatively short. It was still early in the day. Katherine got a view of the building where the Oculus was secreted away and marveled at the way the architecture camouflaged the ancient subterranean building. It was all glass blocks and shiny sleek angles. The townhouse was near the lakefront and as they drove up to the gated wall entrance, it slid back as Vanderau aimed a slender remote at the electric eye. It was a corporate-looking building of brick and concrete. The gate wall closed behind them the garage bay rose and the car slid into the bay and parked alongside several other vehicles.
Vanderau cut the engine and looked over at Katherine. "The staff has brunch ready for us, but after that, no one will be upstairs until later tonight. I've sent for Collette."
"Thank you," Katherine said, "I think she was more nervous than I was. She'll be happy to know everything went well."
"The entire Sun Maiden staff was happy for you, Katherine," Nicklaus told her.
He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car. It was then he began to feel intense raw pain in his back, it was almost like a sunburn. He flexed his shoulders, and it was sharp and raw like a scratch or cut. He came around and held out his hands to Katherine as she stepped out of the car. He hissed as the pain began to radiate over his back.
"What's wrong, Nicklaus?" She asked.
"It's my back," Vanderau replied. "Something happened to my back." He eased his jacket off and felt wetness. He turned and Katherine gasped!
"Oh my God, you're bleeding!"
He opened the back door and handed Katherine her sword and scabbard to carry. The staff would come and get everything later. "Let's get upstairs," he said softly. "We'll see what has happened."
There was an elevator nearby he pressed a series of numbers and the elevator opened. They stepped in and he pressed the top floor button. When it opened it was a massive open floor plan apartment. The living area and dining area were together and at the other end was a double panel set of doors that opened into the master bedroom and on either side was a dressing room and a large bathroom.
Vanderau began unbuttoning his dress shirt and he went into the bathroom that had large mirrors and bright lighting. Gingerly he eased out of the shirt. He turned his back to the mirror and looked over his shoulder. Already it was healing over, but the scarring would be there forever! Like a tribal tattoo, the cuts were healing in a series of raised welts. Some were thick and others had delicate tracings across his back. It was a gryphon! Pinions arched in a challenge, eagle's head turned, beak open in a scream of defiance. The lion's hindquarters were well-muscled, and the front claws were thick and corded. The talons looked lethal even etched as they were in his flesh. He had been marked! He studied the gryphon under the bright lights and wondered at the power of his gladio! Katherine had manifested the power and strength of the gryphon – his family crest symbol. The meaning behind it was obvious. The gryphon was a mystical creature of incredible strength, unfailing protective instincts, and a zero-tolerance policy against evil. It was the superhero of mythological creatures!
He came out of the bathroom with a bemused look on his face. Katherine was standing in between the doorway separating the bedroom from the other part of the apartment. "I've been marked, mon coeur. I think we'll have to consult the Chamberlain to find out exactly what this means."
"Let me see," Katherine whispered.
He turned and she slowly came up behind. Her cool fingers traced along a welt, and he felt something akin to snow falling over him. It was both erotic and soothing to have her touching him. He stood very still as she continued to run her fingertips lightly over the welts that created the gryphon. Finally, she moved around to stand in front of him. "I guess it's official."
Vanderau smiled. It was slow and hesitant at first then grew into a happy grin that was like a child on Christmas morning. He reached up and took her face between his hands and bent and kissed her gently. "I was not the only one marked, mon coeur," he murmured against her mouth. "You've been transformed as well, marked forever like me."
She smiled up at him. "I saw my reflection in the windows. I look like the snow queen from some Grimm fairytale."
"You are even more beautiful than when I first laid eyes on you!" Nicklaus declared. He heard a chime softly ringing in the living room. "I believe our meal has arrived. You must be hungry."
"I am," she whispered, "But not for food!"
Nicklaus drew back and looked down into the eyes of his blade and the sultry fire that sparkled in her eyes took his breath away. He was already aroused and could feel the heavy ache in his body begin to thrum with his heartbeat. "Go change, Katherine, I'll see to the staff". He went to the closet and pulled a shirt off the hanger and shrugged it on. She watched him for a moment then went into the dressing room. Clothes were waiting for her just like the Sun Maiden. She carefully undressed, laying the gown on a bench that sat at the end of a small storage module that held shoes and slippers.
She avoided looking at herself, and then when nude she raised her eyes to the mirror. Her long blonde hair was now platinum white which included her eyebrows, and eyelashes. She preferred to keep her pubis shaved but assumed it would also be white. All the more reason to keep that area of her body free of hair! She put on a silk robe and tied it at the waist. She found a pair of slippers and put them on her feet. When she came out, the table was set for two and Nicklaus was waiting for her with a frosty glass of juice. "Mimosa?" He offered.
She came and took the glass and sipped it. "That's wonderful! I think I am also hungry for food too!"
He chuckled warmly and drew a chair out for her. She sat and he took a seat across from her. Brunch was delicious and as they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Katherine sat back and sipped her drink, the bubbles from the champagne tickling her nose.
Nicklaus felt her eyes on him, and he glanced over at her. She had so many questions that he could not tell where one question began, and another started! The connection they had allowed him to hear her strongest thoughts. "Quiet your mind, mon coeur, we don't have to figure it all out today."
She laughed. "I'm sorry," she said as she looked around the apartment. "It's still unbelievable what has happened to me, to you. I have so many questions, so many feelings that I don't know what to do next!"
"I know what you need, Katherine," Nicklaus said. "I know what I need."
Without another word, she rose, and he followed. They stopped only long enough to shed all their clothing and went into the bathroom. Nicklaus reached in and turned the shower on, all jets and the overhead shower began to steam up the glass doors. In the warm mist, they stepped in the hot streaming water, and both stood together, bodies pressed together, mouths finding each other. There the pounding jets of hot water washed away the stress and anxiety Katherine had held onto for so long. Everything slid away as the water sluiced over her body.
Nicklaus had held himself in check for so long that when he finally released his passion he was afraid he would hurt her in his need to claim the depths of her body. He did not have to worry for Katherine took the initiative and pushed him to sit on the bench in the shower and straddled him and guided him deep inside where she tightened the pelvis muscles around the length of him and he groaned in deep pleasure.
She lost herself in the feeling of him deep in the folds of her body. She began to move against him, rocking slowly and deliberately. It was the same three-beat measure she had learned riding. Now she was riding him! He felt himself losing all control, and Katherine was in control, she slowed and pressed him deeper, holding him. They explored one another then Nicklaus needed release! "To me! Come to me, Katherine!" he growled, and she began to move again. With every stroke he matched hers, thrusting deep, then it came. The magnificent release! He called out her name and held on. She was fierce and the climax thundered through her body as she continued to move in quick strokes. He was amazed at how his body responded to hers! She vibrated all around him and he knew he was not done, but the water was growing tepid.
Nicklaus shut the water off and they gazed through the steam at one another. She began to giggle and then laughed delightedly. She felt incredible! He started to laugh with her. "Do you feel a little more relaxed?"
"I do," she said as she continued to recover her breath. She made ready to move but he tightened his arms around her. Happily, she stayed where she was for a few more minutes. "We should dry off before we shrivel up!"
"Yes, but I don't think we'll get much further than the bed." He nuzzled her neck and he felt goosebumps spring up.
Katherine slowly eased him from her body, and it was an exquisite sensation but also created a hollowness in her that made her ache for him again. He rose and reached out to grab a large bath sheet from the stack waiting for them. He wrapped one around Katherine and took another and wrapped it around his waist. She found her slippers and stuck her feet in them and shuffled out to the bedroom. Nicklaus made certain the elevators were locked securely and that they would not be disturbed. He looked at his phone and saw several messages. He put the phone down and came back to the bedroom. Katherine had towel-dried her long silver-blonde hair and it was slightly curling like a wild pony's mane.
He slid the bedroom panel doors closed behind him and joined her on the bed. He kissed her shoulder nearest to him. "We should get under the coverlet, it feels a bit chilly."
Together they threw back the coverlet, sheet and towels dropped to the floor. He pulled her close and in moments his body was aching for hers. They reached their climax together and Katherine continued to quiver and spasm around him, causing his body to reach release several more times before they were both spent. They fell asleep entangled together.