Steel Sapphires and Shattered Emeralds
Chapter 5
Kayleigh got to see Sage again soon, sooner than she would have liked given the circumstances. She was waiting this time down in the morgue when Kayleigh got back off her break, looking at the body of another young woman. Kayleigh joined her for a moment before cursing.
“She’s not a mutant Sage. The bastard is branching out.” She shook her head; more scared she’d been before. If he became unpredictable things would get a hell of a lot worse.
“No. She is exactly his type. Same height as the others, long dark hair and she is a mutant, only not obviously. If anything, he is refining his methods.”
Kayleigh thought back to the past 4 cases, and realised that Sage was right. They did all fit the same type. “So, what was her mutation?”
Sage paused for a second, looking up the information. “She could see up to three times as far as a normal person, a minor mutation really. He seems to favour them.”
“This means that he has some way of knowing that they are mutants.” Kayleigh said slowly.
“I’m beginning to suspect very minor telepathy. It would explain how he gets them to leave without a fight. She was taken from outside her office, during the day, in plain sight. And nobody saw a thing.” ‘Again’ Kayleigh added to that mentally.
“Holy flying fuck…” seeing the look she got from Sage Kayleigh had the grace to look sheepish. “Sorry. Its just, how the hell are you supposed to catch him?”
“He’ll slip up eventually, and when he does I’ll be there waiting for him,” Sage sounded cold and determined, “but I’m going to need as much information as possible.”
“Point taken. Let’s be getting this over with,” said Kayleigh grimly. As with the last one, this autopsy just confirmed what they both already knew. Death by strangulation with bare hands, a few more bruises than last time and a spilt lip.
This was Kayleigh’s last corpse of the day, and as she cleaned up Sage stuck around to compare points about the case. Going up to the entrance with her, Sage offered to give her a lift home and as almost an afterthought added, “we can continue with those self defence lessons if you like.”
“That’d be great, thanks. I mean, if it’s no trouble.” Kayleigh replied, trying to cover her enthusiasm.
Before she knew it, Kayleigh was at home, warming up in a cleared space in the centre of her living room. This time, her runaway mouth behaved. They reviewed what Sage had taught her last time, and Kayleigh remembered the lessons well. When she had demonstrated that she was adept at the basics Sage decided to show her some more advanced techniques.
“I’m going to start you off on something more difficult this time,” Sage explained. “The principal is simple, but timing it right is harder. If someone kicks for your knees, or lower, step back like I showed you. If someone kicks for your midriff, like this…” she demonstrated, “try and catch it. They won’t be expecting it and if you step back and pull them past you, you can get them off balance, if not throw them right over.”
Kayleigh nodded. She understood the basic mechanics, and her balance was still pretty good. She just hoped she could pull this one off without fucking up. She was concentrating so hard on impressing Sage and not fucking up that when she caught Sage’s leg and stepped and pulled, she didn’t notice until it was too late that she had stepped too far back and seriously unbalanced herself.
As Kayleigh went over backwards she took Sage with her, and it was only Sage’s quick thinking that stopped Kayleigh’s head impacting the wooden floor. Unfortunately it didn’t save her shoulder or Sage’s knees. This left them in an extremely intimate position, with Kayleigh flat on her back underneath Sage, who was straddling her lower ribs, with her right hand providing balance next to Kayleigh’s head, her left hand cupping that back of Kayleigh’s head, having protected it from the impact of hitting the floor. From her position, all Kayleigh could see in front of her face was Sage’s leather clad chest.
‘Oh my fucking Christ…’ Kayleigh’s thoughts gasped as she felt her hair shift. Not only her hair, but her eyebrows as well, to a violent purple. ‘Could things get any worse?’ She wondered. Sage’s next words confirmed that yes, things could get worse and God was indeed a bastard.
“I arouse you.” Sage stated in a tone that left no room for discussion, a self-satisfied smirk on her lips. Kayleigh looked up at her wide-eyed and whimpered, not daring to speak. Sage’s smirk deepened and as she moved her left hand out from under Kayleigh’s head it brushed down across a nipple as hard as a diamond. Kayleigh’s eyelashes joined the rest of her facial hair in its purpleness.
Sage’s now free hand continued to the top button of Kayleigh’s shirt, undid it with a great deal of skill and continued to the second. Before Kayleigh could catch up with what was happening Sage had finished with that and was on to the third.
‘This is wrong.’ Kayleigh thought, ignoring the part of her that was screaming for her to let Sage continue. ‘I’ve got to stop her. But if I do, I’ll never get the chance again to… fuck it. I can at least do this before I stop her.’ Kayleigh lifted a hand up to Sage’s head and pulled her in for a kiss, aiming for passionate. Instead she got chaste, as the minute Sage felt the kiss she pulled back, as if in shock.
“Why did you do that?” she demanded, as if Kayleigh had committed a crime. She had a sharp frown crossing her features as she settled on the floor, several feet from where they had been lying.
“Because I knew I had to stop you, and I knew I’d never get a chance to do that again,” Kayleigh admitted, figuring that the truth couldn’t make things any worse.
“Why would you stop me? I arouse you and…”
Kayleigh interrupted. “Aye, you arouse me. I think it’s obvious by this.” She said, pulling her plait around. “But you also fascinate me. There is more to you than just your body.”
“What do you want from me? I’m willing to let you have my body.” Sage said accusingly. She was scarily calm again.
“I want to know more than just your body. I want to know you, to know the woman behind the detective. I don’t just want a fuck.” Kayleigh said, slightly upset and frustrated, “I am not that shallow.” Kayleigh felt her hair shift from purple to a very dark angry blue.
“I didn’t say you were…” Sage began
“No buts.” Kayleigh interrupted. “I may not be looking for true love, but sex, making love, is more to me than just a quick fuck with breakfast. If I wanted that I’d go and sit in a bar for ten minutes. I want this to mean something.”
“I’m sorry.” Said Sage calmly. “I didn’t mean to offend you. These things are awkward to me, even now.”
“Why do you say that?” Kayleigh questioned, pushing gently now that Sage had opened up a little.
“I’ve had a troubled and painful past, one that I don’t like to dwell on. But needless to say that love didn’t come into the picture at all and sex was a commodity to be sold and traded. Kisses were far too expensive to deal in. I was badly betrayed by that part of my past. Bits of it still haunt me.”
“Oh.” Was all Kayleigh could say to start with. “So, if we had sex, would you have enjoyed it?”
“Yes. I only have sex with people I’m going to enjoy it with… now anyway.”
“Oh. Alright.” Was all Kayleigh could say. Her head was whirling. It was hard to imagine anyone being able to make Sage do anything she didn’t want to.
“So why does it make you so angry?” Sage asked. Kayleigh sighed. Sage had just opened up a hell of a lot, and if she didn’t give her something to fill the void things would only get more awkward. She shuffled closer to Sage, who made no attempt to move away.
“Its all to do with my last partner, my boyfriend. Everything started out perfectly. I had just arrived from Ireland, got this place and then I found him. He didn’t even care about my mutation, not to start with. Then, after about six months, things started to change. Whenever we went out with his mates, he’d do things to set off my mutation.”
“Things?” Sage asked.
“Oh, things like groping me under the table and embarrassing me. He did it to show off to his mates. I don’t think they actually liked me, no, I know they didn’t like me. Towards the end I wound up just being a bit of fun.” Sage nodded, watching her intently.
“I put up with it for a month; I told myself that it would stop. But it didn’t, and then the last straw came. We were waiting in line to go into a club, and his friends joined us. Of course, he tried to wind me up, telling me to flash at the bouncers, and when I didn’t accusing me of being a killjoy and frigid. Since he’d done everything else possible to set me off, he decided to slap me, give them all a good laugh when I went blue.”
“What did you do?” asked Sage. Kayleigh wasn’t sure if she was contemplating killing him.
“I punched him. Put him on his fucking skinny ass and walked away. Got applauded for it too. This was nearly six years ago, and I still haven’t regained my faith in things like this. Anyways, now we’ve both bared our chequered pasts, I’m about ready to kill for a drink. I’ve got whiskey if you want it.” She laughed slightly harshly.
“No, thanks.” Sage said, standing. “I only ever really drink wine.” They headed into the kitchen.
“Fair enough.” Kayleigh shrugged. “Fruit tea then?” she poured herself a double whiskey and knocked it back expertly, and then began putting together two cups of fruit tea.
“Since we’re almost certainly facing a telepath,” Sage said as Kayleigh put a steaming cup in front of her, “it would probably be wise to teach you how to defend yourself against a psychic attack. I doubt that being able to throw someone will be much use if they are already inside your head.”
“That sounds like a good idea and all…” Kayleigh began, before warning lights went off in her brain. Would Sage be able to hear her thoughts? Control her somehow? She didn’t even know Sage had any telepathic ability and…. She realised she was sat staring at Sage with her mouth open. The other woman’s expression was hard to read, but she seemed amused. “Fine.” Kayleigh said sheepishly.
“Try not to panic.” Sage said. “The first time will feel strange, perhaps similar to taking off in a plane. Your eyes may hurt a little.”
Sage wasn’t joking when she said it would feel strange. Kayleigh’s train of thought began with ‘holy fucking flying cows…’ and stopped when she realised that Sage could possibly already hear her.
‘Kayleigh?’ Hearing without using her ears was a bizarre sensation, and Kayleigh had to fight the urge to look behind her. Across the table Sage’s eyes were closed, her breathing steady.
‘You didn’t tell me you were a telepath.’ Thought Kayleigh quietly, deciding it was best not to make too much noise. She remembered Sage saying that she had other abilities but hadn’t realised that it was telepathy.
‘I have enemies who would use it against me given the chance.’ Said Sage. ‘I keep it shut down normally, but I doubt we are in any danger at this moment in time.’ She paused for a fraction of a second. ‘And no, I can’t control you. But if you’re going to think that loudly, I have no choice but to hear them.’
Kayleigh panicked, and lost control of the hundreds of little thoughts that usually buzzed around in the background of her mind. For the past few weeks, most of those little thoughts had been thinking about sex. With Sage. She felt Sage wince as the volume rose, and then a strange cold feeling as the other woman withdrew from her mind.
“I’m sorry!” Kayleigh began as soon as Sage looked up, “I mean, if you heard anything, which I’m hoping you didn’t and all since it was really noisy in there please don’t take it the wrong way or anything and…”
Sage interrupted. “Never mind that. It’s not important. Now that you know roughly what someone entering your head feels like, I can show you how to counter it. Everyone feels slightly different, and not everyone finds it as difficult as I do. My ability in this area is limited, which is why my presence is so obvious.”
Kayleigh nodded, very red in the face. She knew without looking that her hair was pink. She also knew that Sage had probably heard every word while she had been in her head. A mind like that didn’t miss much. Thankfully, Sage saw no need to bring up the issue, and after several successful telepathic conversations she was satisfied that Kayleigh could shield herself, at least briefly, against an attack.
“So, what do you want to do now?” Kayleigh asked as the conversation between them stagnated. “I don’t know about you, but I’m too fucking tired to eat now, and I need a shower.”
“I’m not that hungry.” Sage said, effectively killing the entire conversation.
Kayleigh found that yet again there was an awkward silence stretching in front of her that she couldn’t seem to break. “Well… ah… I need to have a shower and…” she started babbling again.
“I should probably contact Bishop.” Sage said shortly.
“Right, uh…” Kayleigh mentally crossed her fingers. “I wouldn’t mind some company while I was showering.”
Sage looked up. Her face softened slightly. “I could do with a shower as well. I’ll let Bishop know I’ll be here a while longer.”
“If you want…” Kayleigh began, aware now that she might be pushing too far.
“Yes?” asked Sage.
“You could stay here for a few days. I mean, this fucking bastard isn’t going away any time soon, and it’s silly you staying in hotels and all. You may as well base here until this all clears up. They’re getting closer together after all. Soon, it might not be worth you going home, and I’ve got a bed I can share, in a completely non-sexual kind of way. The floor is ok for one night, but you’d be bettor off in the bed.”
“Thank you.” Said Sage. “I’m sure Bishop will be able to make alternate arrangements. I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Alright.” Kayleigh said, hoping her voice didn’t betray the fact that she had butterflies. “The bathroom is just down the hall. I’ll be in the shower. It takes a minute for the water to heat up.” She explained.
“I’ll see you in there.” said Sage, smiling more than Kayleigh had so far seen. As Sage left Kayleigh wondered if she was doing the right thing. Sage had offered to sleep with her, something she desperately wanted, and she’d turned her down. Not only turned her down but then told her what she really wanted. And then invited her to share a shower. Oh god… what was she thinking.
But it was done and she didn’t want to have to take it back. She wanted to see Sage naked in the shower, wanted to get closer to her. Sighing, she shed her dirty clothes into the laundry basket in her room and walked into the shower room.
She stood for a moment in front of the mirror, checking her body and hoping that it was good enough, that it wasn’t too chunky. Shrugging, since there wasn’t much she could do, she got into the shower and set it to warm. She had just got her hair wet when Sage arrived in the bathroom. Kayleigh turned at the sound of the door closing and watched as Sage stood looking at her.
“Are you going to join me?” Kayleigh offered.
Sage nodded, and began to strip off, which was an education for Kayleigh. She started with the heavy belt, undoing it and pulling it off, and then moved on to her close-fitting top. She slid the strap off the one shoulder it was on and pulled it off over her head, revealing a black silk strapless bra that made her skin look marble-white.
As she turned to take off her boots Kayleigh got a good view of her naked back. Although it was as pale as the rest of her, it was criss-crossed with slightly paler marks, the signs of old and long-healed scars. Kayleigh made a mental note not to ask Sage about them, as she was sure that it was a part of the past that Sage didn’t want to talk about.
Sage’s trousers soon followed her top, belt, boots and bra into a neat pile on the floor. They revealed a skintight black silk thong, and Kayleigh found herself glad that she was in a cool shower and knew that her hair was blazing purple.
Sage reached up and unbound her hair, shaking it gently free of the plait that had bound it up. Loose, it fell almost to her waist, and Kayleigh had to stifle a gasp of amazement. It was a lot longer than it looked, much longer.
Sage’s body was perfectly proportioned and more elegant in its nakedness than it had been clothed. Kayleigh found herself wondering how many people had seen the same view, and then told herself that she should feel lucky to see it, no matter what.
Kayleigh moved slightly in the shower to make room for Sage.
There wasn’t much room in the cubicle, and they found themselves nose to nose. It was then that Kayleigh realised that they were exactly the same height. She only thought Sage taller because she wore heels. Ok, sure, so her hips had a few inches on Sage’s, but that didn’t matter much.
She turned to the side awkwardly, stepping forward so that Sage could get under the water. Sage’s arms slipped around her waist, and Kayleigh gasped. She hadn’t been expecting that. Sage’s breasts were pressing against her back, and she could feel Sage’s breath against the side of her neck. She looked down. It appeared that all the hair on her body was now a universal shade of purple.
She shrugged mentally and relaxed back into Sage’s arms, letting the warm running water run over them both. Her hair hung heavily behind her, and she wondered idly what it felt like to Sage.
She was constantly aware of Sage’s eyes on her body, pretending to avoid looking in certain places. Kayleigh found herself doing the same. More than once Kayleigh found herself pushed up against the cold glass of the shower door, and the resulting tingle and hardness that came from that left Kayleigh slightly embarrassed and trying to cover her nipples up.
Turning around after one such encounter with the door she found two of Sage’s fingers coming to rest delicately under her chin. Kayleigh’s eyes met hers, and their lips brushed gently together. The tips of their tongues met. The kiss deepened gently. Had Sage kissed her like that while they were on the floor, Kayleigh reflected, they’d both probably still be there now. Naked.
They broke off gently and looked at each other again. Kayleigh brushed a strand of wet hair from Sage’s face and smiled. “We’d probably better get clean. Maybe we can finish this another time, when we’ve got the time.” Kayleigh said, reaching for the soap.
“Indeed.” Said Sage softly. The tip of her tongue tasted her bottom lip gently. “I would like that.”
They had ended up both using Kayleigh’s toiletries, and now both smelled faintly of lavender. She nodded towards the set of spare towels that she’d gotten out of the bedroom and began drying herself with her normal towel set. It took very little time for them to get as far as her bedroom. Kayleigh climbed in to her usual pair of pyjamas, while Sage pulled a pair of soft green silk ones from her own bag.
Kayleigh moved over to the bedside table and reached for her alarm, setting it to her normal evening wake-up. She got into bed and pulled the covers back on the other side. “Are you coming to bed?” she asked Sage, who was stood there looking at the bed. It really was more than big enough for both of them. Sage nodded, and climbed in next to her. As sleep claimed her, she wondered if this time, Sage would still be there when she woke up in the afternoon.
That afternoon found Kayleigh curled up tightly around Sage, both of them deeply asleep and both of them oblivious to the world. Sage was the first to wake, off balance and sleep fogged. She felt the arms around her, realised the quilt was over her head and panicked. She was not used to being in bed with anyone, and claustrophobia and bad memories gripped her, fear crawling over her as she fought down panic and wormed her way gently out of the arms.
Once she was standing Sage looked down at the body in the bed. The sight of Kayleigh pulled her back into the present, but the panic was still rising above her normal calm. She headed to the bathroom, desperate not to break down in front of Kayleigh.
Kayleigh woke up as Sage left the room and slipped out of bed to follow her. Standing outside the bathroom she listened and heard Sage telling herself to pull herself together, and after a few moments, the sound of a slap.
Kayleigh hurried towards the kitchen, determined not to let Sage catch her listening. She was both disturbed and intrigued by what she had heard. She started making herself her morning cup of tea, and washed out a glass for Sage. She knew she should have more than one set of crockery, but it had never bothered her before. After all, six and a half years of living on her own meant that she didn’t need more than that.
“Morning.” She said as Sage came into the kitchen, paler than normal but otherwise calm and collected. “Is apple juice ok again?” she asked. Sage nodded, and helped herself to the juice in the fridge. She didn’t saw a word about her reaction on waking up, and Kayleigh didn’t either. “Would you like some breakfast?” she asked, hoping for a more verbal response this time.”
“Please.” Sage nodded. “Toast would be nice.”
“That’s good, because toast is pretty much all I have. I wasn’t expecting any company.” Kayleigh said brightly.
“It’s ok. Anything is better than a hotel breakfast.” Sage said. Kayleigh wasn’t sure if this was an attempt at humour.
“Would you like me to do you some lunch? Erm…” Kayleigh caught up with what she was saying, “I mean, I always do myself lunch, to take into work, although I guess you’d call it dinner and I was just wondering and you can stop me any time you wanted. I’m sorry. I have a tendency to babble.”
Sage smiled softly. “I noticed.”