Jasra Warren #36
06/23/00

Has The Man Gone Insane!!

Ghost couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had dreamed of starting a
new life away from the trouble that had plagued them back in Geode... But
trouble seemed to have followed them in the guise of that damn drunken bitch.

"I am responsible for her and I let her down."

"You are not responsible for her. She is. She lets herself down everyday,
every drink." Ghost countered hoping to make him see his thoughts were
absurd. She knew Key took his responsibilities to heart more so then most
riders, but the damn bitch wasn't one of them. She had made her own bed, her
own choice in life and Ghost would be damned if she was going to bring Key
down with her.

She had to make him see reason!

"She needs help."

"No - she needs locked up! I don't believe this!!" said Ghost, close to
tears. Couldn't he see what this was going to do to the two of them. 

"I am sorry, my love. But whether I am responsible or not, I feel that I am.
I need to help her and make up for my mistakes. I really need your support
right now."

"Key, I love you. If it were anything else, you know I'd be behind you all
the way. But HER!!" 

"My mind is set on this, Ghost. I need to do this. The only question is: are
you with me?"

"I..... I... can't give you an answer to that Key," she said shaking her
head and moving away from him. It wasn't fair him putting her in the middle
of this insane idea. Making her choice.

He **KNEW** how she felt about Iggie. Knew how deeply her hate for the woman
went and he was now asking her to put that aside, pretend it didn't matter
because he felt a need to help the bitch!

It wasn't fair. They were just getting their lives started again and now
this...  Her hate for the woman grew even deeper.

Her head hurt thinking about it. Tonight was suppose to have been a fun
night. Something to enjoy together. But for Ghost it was now ruined. That
bitch was about to do what a wraith battle hadn't been able to do... and she
wanted one last night with the man she loved.

"The very least you can do is take me to the party and help me forget all
this for now. I need some time *not* thinking about this." She told him,
keeping her reasoning to herself for now. 

"Of course, my love. I'll get changed." She saw him grin and could have wept. 

"My love... he had called her. And she knew he did love her, but not enough
to give up this crazy idea he had come up with concerning Iggie... A plan
that Ghost wanted no part of. The woman had almost ruined their lives once
before and she wanted no part in giving her a second change to get it right
this time.

Ghost was ready by the time Key came out of the bed room dressed for the
party. She knew he wanted her answer, but thankfully he kept any questions
to himself as they mounted their dragons for the short flight down to the
green in front of the great hall where they party was already in full swing.

The dragons took off as son as their rider's were out of the way, and Key
held out his hand to take Ghost's, leading her inside to where everyone
seemed to already be having a good time.

"You missed the opening ceremonies," a female voice said coming up beside
them after they'd each accepted a drink from the bar.

"Shawnee ... is that you?" Ghost asked admiring the beautiful gown the woman
was wearing. The white blonde color of her hair giving the Wingleader away
as it was hard to hide.

"Schuss..... Don't tell anyone," the woman chuckled. 

"Oh of course not," ghost laughed and then looked out over the crowd
gathered and wondered if *she* was here. 

"Well I'd best get back to my Mate... you don't know how many of the town's
women have been trying to get him to dance with them," she sighed. "I guess
next year I'll have to make his costume a little less appealing. Have fun
you two."

They watched her leave and then Key held out his hand to her. 

"Care to dance my love?" he asked grinning. "I think they're playing our song."

She allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor and went willingly when
he pulled her into his arms. Their bodies moved well to the slow sounds of
the notes coming from the bards up on the stage. But Ghost really couldn't
enjoy the moment as fully as she should have.

Not with the decision she would have to give Key later. Though maybe it
wouldn't come to that. Maybe if she reminded him about what they had
together. What he'd be giving up if he went along with this crazy plan of
his, then he would see reason and drop it.

Only the fear of running into Iggie that night Kept Ghost from having as
good a time as she could have wished. But later she talked Key into leaving
early so that when they were alone she could try and persuade him to give up
this stupid idea he'd come up with.

He didn't owe Iggie a damn thing. She'd gotten herself into the mess so why
in the hell couldn't he just let her work her way out of it the same way?

"How about we go on home and finish this party with one just for two?" she
asked rubbing herself against him in a very suggestive way that left little
doubt in his mind as to her intentions.

"Oh?" he teased, dropping his hands down to cup her buttocks and pulled her
even closed. He bent his head down, lips close to her ear, his breath
sending shivers down her spin. "Just what did you have in mind?"

Her mouth went dry, her breath caught in her throat. Being near Key when he
was feeling amorous always effected her in this way.

"Why don't give me a few minutes to pick something up and then meet me at
home and find out?" she purred when she got her breath back. "Say in about
15 minutes?" she murmured when he began nibbling on her ear.

Slowly he release her. "15 minutes," he winked and then watch as she walked
away.

............. 

"I need it to play a joke on someone," Ghost was telling the kitchen worker
after requesting the unusually desert.

"A joke or have some other kind of fun," the older woman laughed winking at
the girl. "I'm not that many years past it myself young woman."

Ghost blushed. "Yes well..... I ah..."

"Here you go... now enjoy your *joke*," she said and winked again.

Ghost took the package and hurried out the back door to where Kiki was
awaiting her. "Hurry home my dear... we don't have much time left."

She never hurried so fast to undress before, but soon everything was ready
and she could hear Key enter the living room from the dragon's ledge none
too soon.

"Ghost?"

"Back in the bedroom," she called out and couldn't help loving the look in
his eyes took a double take, when he walked in and saw her laying there
covered in the sweet white whipped cream she had gotten from the kitchen
worker. 

There were three piles of the cream that were higher then the rest, two over
her breast and one in the junction where her legs met her torso. All three
spots were topped with tiny piles of cherries and other sweet soft fruit.

"Your dessert awaits," she teased stretching her arms up over her head...
"Care for it now?"

[[Tag Peter..... ;> ]

"So you're still going to go along with this crazy insane idea of yours to
move in with Iggie," Ghost said the next morning after the two of them had
eaten breakfast.

"I have to Ghost..." he said in a low tone. "I told you that last night and
my feelings haven't changed. I thought you understood that."

"Oh I understand!" she exploded, pushing out of the chair she'd been seated
in. "I understand all right Key! That ... bitch has some hold on you that
you're not willing to admit to but I'm not going to be a part of it! I can't
stay here and watch you let her ruin your life! Because *my love* that's
exactly what's going to happen if you get involved with her! Didn't you
learn anything from what she did in Geode?"

"That wasn't her fault," Key tried to explain but Ghost wouldn't hear any of it.

"No it wasn't her fault," she sneered. "Just like her drinking isn't her
fault, or her lying or her using people or anything else that happens to her!"

"Ghost..."

"It *IS* her fault Key! The drinking the lying..." Ghost shouted. "You
didn't make her take to drinking. You didn't force her to try and kill
Phaedra..... No she set those wheels into motion all by herself the first
time she picked up a bottle. You are NOT responsible for her doing those
things."

"No but maybe if someone had been there for her when she was younger and
needed the help, then she wouldn't be the way she is right now!" his voice
rose in his own anger now at his mates lack of understanding. "Like Phaedra
and the rest of Geode Warren was there for you when you needed it. Or don't
you remember how that was."

"I remember Key... but I also remember how it was before I got to Geode...
Losing my family to a traitor.  Having to pretend I was younger then I was
in fear of my life. The many's of times I was nearly raped by Lord
Bridgette's men and then almost by the bastard himself, being forced to flee
for my life soon afterwards. I remember being to scared to tell anyone who I
was for fear that he would find me and take me back to that hell hole. I
remember it all Key. But then I was strong! I didn't let the past drive me
to drinking to forget the pain. Remembering made me stronger so that I could
face it when the time came! So don't EVER compare me to that bitch! I'm
nothing like her. Nothing!"

"That's not what I meant Ghost."

"Isn't it Key," she said sadly. "I'm sorry... but I can't... No make that I
won't be apart of this thing if you chose to go through with it. I love you
Key and would stick by you for just about any reason on this earth... any
reason but her. The choice is yours now. Do I stay or go?"

[[Tag Peter ;> ]]

***Submitted by: *****

Ghost & Kikeane 
Jasra Warren

Aka
Barbara