The Master of Love

Those trees in whose dim shadow

The ghastly priest doth reign

The priest who slew the slayer,

And shall himself be slain.

Book I

The lights of Gotham shimmer in the night like some translucent being from the deepest reaches of the ocean, defiant against the darkness of nothingness. Murphy walked down the rain swept street glistening in the headlights of heavy rush hour traffic like an electric snake. It was Friday night. Work was finished. It was his birthday but for some reason it did not feel like it. He checked his phone. Still no word from Laura. He headed to his favorite bar , a dive known as “Rick’s Place”. A drink or two was in order for a variety of reasons.

Murphy walked down the steps to Rick’s Place, opened the heavy oak door to the cellar bar and entered it’s dark atmosphere heavy with the smoke of cigarettes and marijuana. He surveyed the scene. The usually collection of derelicts and whores. He made his way to the bar, found an empty bar stool and waited for the bartender to make his way to him. It was busy. Murphy was hungry for a drink but he would have to wait. Finally, the bartender gives Murphy the eye.

“Jack on the rocks.” says Murphy. “Make it a double with plenty of ice. It’s my birthday.”

The bartender entered the order at the register and then returned to Murphy.

“Sorry man. Your order’s been rejected. You have an outstanding tab and your bank card is overdrawn. However, according to company policy since it is your birthday, I can give you a complementary drink, but you have to buy something first. Have you bought a ticket for the big lotto drawing tonight? If not, we sell them here. They cost a dollar. Do you have a buck?”

Murphy fished into his pocket and pulled out some change. “Yes. I have a dollar. Give me a ticket please.”

“Do you have any special numbers you want to play?” asked the bartender.

“I’ve never played the lotto before. Seems like a big scam.” said Murphy. “How’s it work?”

“There are 5 large wheels with numbers on then from 1-99. The announcer spins each wheels to determine the winning numbers. Simple as that.”

“Okay,” said Murphy. “Give me 13′s across the board.”

“13′s?” said the bartender. “Isn’t that bad luck?”

“No, not really. There are thirteen full moons in a year. The thirteenth moon marks both the beginning and the end of the year. So the number 13 is not bad luck. It’s a number that marks both the end of one life and the beginning of a new one.”

The bartender just looked at Murphy with a faint smile of amusement, took his money and handed him the lotto ticket and complimentary drink. “The drawings at 11 which is in about 30 minutes. The jackpot is a billion credits. Now with the compliment drink you get a fortune cookie too.” The bartender reached under the bar and pulled out a cellophane wrapped fortune cookie and placed it on the bar in front of Murphy. “Happy birthday. ” he said. “Hopefully you will win the lottery night and can clear your tab.”

Murphy took the ticket and slipped into your breast pocket without looking at it. He unwrapped the fortune cookie, cracked it open to extract the slim slip of paper with his fortune on it and popped the cracked shells of the cookie into mouth. They were stale. He looked at the fortune printed on the slip of paper. It said: “If today is your birthday, it is the luckiest day of your life.” He then sipped his drink and causally surveyed the bar. Not much was happening. He pulled out his phone . Still nothing from Laura. They had not seen each other for a month now. She always had an excuse to cancel plans. He took another sip from his drink. He was going to have to leave her and he knew it. He certainly was not going to call her. He was not drunk enough. It did not seem like a lucky day to him but Murphy knew luck can be good or bad or both and the fortune did not say what kind of luck he would have.

A general commotion arose in the bar which distracted Murphy from his thoughts. The lottery drawing was beginning and everyone was intently watching the announcer on the large screen visual displays that populated the walls of the bar. The announcer, a rotund man holding a microphone, stood before five large wheels each mounted on a horizontal axis of rotation. One after another, with great fanfare, he spun the wheels. Round and round they went, each making a flipping noise as the numbers on the side of the wheels passed the red pointers that would determine the winning numbers. Flip, flip, flip, they went. Slowly, the angular velocity of wheels decreased. Friction overcame angular momentum. Flop, flop flop went the pointers. The bar grew silent as the first wheel stopped on the number 13. Then the second wheel came up 13. All eyes were on the large screen displays as the third, fourth and fifth wheels came up 13. Everyone in the bar was stunned. The announcer on the big screen looked stunned too.

“Well that is amazing. I doubt we have a winner.” said the announcer. “Who would be so foolish as to bet such unlucky numbers?” After being distracted by someone off screen, the announcer says: “No wait. We have a winner but because the ticket was purchased with cash, we don’t know the identity of the winner but we can tell you it was bought at a bar named “Rick’s Place” in Gotham.”

With that, the people in the bar let out a giant gasp and began chattering amongst themselves, looking around. The bartender glanced over at the stool where Murphy had been sitting and saw only a half empty glass. Murphy was gone. The heavy oak door of the bar could be seen closing has he headed out and up the stairs onto the street. If people in that bar knew he had a billion credits, he’s never leave that bar alive. He headed home. He would cash in the ticket in the morning.

That night Murphy had a dream. The same dream he’s had since he was twelve but different. He’s kissing this girl he really likes when he sees three cute girls walk by and he wants to chase them. Then, he is transformed into a beast which startles the girl and she runs away crying. Normally the dream ends with the beast standing alone, but this time, a young woman with a bow and arrow appears on the crest of a hill with hunting dogs and looks at him intently.

In the morning Murphy pondered the dream as he sat on the side of his bed. Murphy was not a superstitious man but he always paid attention to his dreams. They did not come often but when they did he knew his subconscious was trying to tell him something that his conscious mind was neglecting. Whatever it was, it would have to wait. Murphy staggered to the cupboard looking for coffee. He was out. This was a crisis. With no money in the bank, cashing in the lotto ticket became imperative. He knew that as soon as he cashed it in, this identity would be revealed but it really didn’t matter to him. His exact location would not be know and he really needed that coffee. He pulled on some clothes and headed down to the lotto office to cash in the ticket.

Murphy stood in front of the cashier’s window at the lotto office waiting. After he gave the clerk his winning ticket, she disappeared into the back and left him there. Overhead the florescent light flickered. After an indeterminable time, Murphy called out to no one in particular: “Say do you guys have any coffee back there?” The florescent light buzzed. Murphy shifted his weight from one leg to the other and leaned on the counter. Nothing happened.

Finally, the clerk reappeared and she ushered Murphy into the back.

“Congratulations Mr. Murphy.” she said. “The billion credits have been deposited in your account. We just need to take a few pictures of you for our press release.”

“Great.” said Murphy. “Can I get a cup of coffee?”

The clerk gave Murphy a blank look and then said: “Let me check.” She returned with cup of very stale coffee and gave it to Murphy. It tasted terrible. After a few sips he could not stomach anymore and put the cup down. Then they took Murphy’s picture several times.

“Try to look happy.” said the clerk. “We need a good shot of you for publicity.”

Murphy managed a half smile. The clerk snapped another picture.

“Okay, good enough. We are done. Oh, one more thing. Every winner gets a security suit. ” The clerk handed Murphy a large box with a dress suit inside. “You are going to need this as soon as we announce that you are the winner. You can change in that room over there.” The clerk pointed to an open door.

Murphy entered the changing room and pulled the security suit from its box. It was a nice deep navy blue Brooks Brother self fitting suit. Murphy tried it on, adjusted the mesh of the suit so it fit perfectly and hit the “secure” button on the remote so that the suit could not be removed. Then he hit the “armed” button on the remote and suit seemed to come alive and let out a little crackle of electricity. He was now bullet, bomb, as well as kidnap proof and otherwise basically untouchable. By the time he got out of the changing room, the announcement had been made and a picture of his face was on every viewing screen in the world. His phone immediately started ringing. The number that appeared at the top of the list of the myriad of calls that flooded his phone was Laura. Against his better judgment, he answered her call.

“Hello Murphy. Congratulations.” she said.

“Thanks Laura. You know yesterday was my Birthday.” Murphy replied.

“Sorry sweetie. I forgot. I was so stressed out moving to Pacifica.”

“You moved 3000 miles away to Pacifica?”

“Yes, I got this great job.”

At this point, if it were physically possible for Murphy’s decaffeinated brain to explode, it would have done so. Instead, it just melted into useless junk and went off line; disengaging completely from his mouth. Murphy does not remember exactly what he said but most certainly, whatever he did say, does not bear repeating in polite company. He used many invectives. Violent language. He impugned her integrity. He accused her of lack of moral fiber, lack of moral turpitude......lack of morals all together. When it was over, the line was dead. He was certain he would never hear from Laura again.

He walked out of the lotto office and across the street to get some coffee at the Java Hut.

“Black coffee.” said Murphy to the young lady behind the counter. He looked up at the display screen behind her and saw himself on the morning news standing in line buying coffee. Outside, drones from various new outlets were gathering. Things had changed.

Book II

Almost everyone in the world lived in one of seven large self sufficient cities: Gotham, Pacifica, Asiana, Europa, Braziala, Indochina, or Mesopotamia. Any pleasure, real or imaginary, that a person desired could be found in the cities for the right price. The rest of the world was abandoned to nature only because it was a vast wasteland exhausted of its treasures and no longer needed.

Each of the cities vied for the claim of most glamorous city by building great skyscrapers. Gotham had the Needle, a 2000 foot high structure with a long narrow clock tower crowned by the Apollo Room at the very pinnacle of the tower. The Apollo Room looked like a Greek Temple and was surrounded by white marble columns. The glass between each of the columns could be retracted into the floor to make the room an open aired space with panoramic views of the city stretching out below. It was not uncommon for clouds to drift through the room when the glass was retracted. In the center of the room sat a grand piano.

The Apollo Room was part of the Penthouse Apartment complex that sat at the top of the Needle which had been up for sale for quite a while. In fact, the owner had recently reduced the price substantially due to the slow housing market. Murphy always fancied the Apollo Room and so he bought the place. Then he decided to have a little celebration with his friends. Although Murphy received 1000′s of calls after it was announce he was the lotto winner, he had received only six calls the day before from people wishing him a happy birthday. He invited those people to a dinner at the Apollo Room to celebrate his good fortune.

The day of the dinner was a beautiful late summer day with a hint of autumn in the air. The dinner was preceded by a pool party, on the deck of the penthouse, for the families of the invitees. Murphy liked giving parties much more than going to them because it gave him a sense of purpose. He knew what to do when he gave a party and that was serve his guests. Everyone received gift bags and a sunburn. There was an open bar and barbeque with plenty to eat and the afternoon was quite pleasant.

At 8 o’clock, the six invited guests and their dates were ushered in to the Apollo Room for dinner at a long table covered by a white linen table cloth. Murphy sat alone at the head of the table and his twelve dinner guest were lined along the sides of the table. A string quartet played Bach. The room was lit only by candles. The sun hung low in the western sky casting a warm golden glow throughout the room. In the east, the full moon could be seen rising. The sky was a translucent shade of purple as the sun set and soon it was night.

When everyone was seated, it became quite apparent that Murphy did not have a date for the dinner. The dinner was quite opulent to say the least. Wine was plentiful and after dinner drinks were served with dessert. Everyone was quite drunk by the end of the meal when Murphy’s old friend Jake decide to ask the obvious.

“Where’s Laura, Murphy?” asked Jake with a hint of a smile on his face.

Murphy, who up until this point of the evening was having a good time, looked perplexed and after a moment replied: “She’s moved to Pacifica to take care of a sick aunt.”

Jake just looked at Murphy and said: “She ran off on you again did she?

“Yep,” said Murphy . “I don’t know why this always happens?” Having asked the question, Murphy’s guest, clearly under the influence, saw the opportunity of a lifetime and did not hesitate to give him their opinion.

“It’s because you are duffus, Murphy.” said Jake. You mistake sex for love and you choose the wrong person.” Murphy looked distressed but considered this constructive criticism under the circumstances.

With that, Pandora’s Box was open and without prompting, John offered: “It’s because you are a three bagger Murphy.”

“That’s good right?” said Murphy. “”I’m a triple. Almost a home run.”

“We are not talking baseball Murph.” said John. “You are so ugly, that use of bag over your head is required in case the bag over your partner’s head comes off and to prevent lasting psychological damage, a third bag needs to placed over your pet’s head.”

“It’s because you are a bastard.” said Joe with a smile.

“Okay.” said Murphy. “I’m stupid, ugly and mean. Anything else.”

“You are a dreamer Murphy.” said Rick. “You don’t know your limitations.

“It’s because you are an adventurer Murphy.” said Frank. “You enjoy with chase. Once you catch your quarry, you lose interest. That’s why you and Laura were together for so long. She ran away from you and you chased her.”

“Take heart.” said Rose. “You have a mysterious charm but you are not in control of it.”

And with that, Murphy slumped in his chair and it was obvious the evening was over. Murphy bid his guests good night and thanked them for coming. After they left, he fell asleep on the couch in the Apollo Room and had another dream.

In the dream, it is night. Murphy is in a grove of oak trees. A full moon hangs overhead causing the oak trees to cast shadows on the ground. He is the beast. All his senses are heightened. He can see as if it were daylight. Off in the distance he hears music. And from the same direction as the music, an intoxicating scent waffles gently on a night breeze. Carefully, he makes his way toward the music until he comes upon a clearing in the grove.

There he finds the huntress and her hounds. She is playing a lute and dancing around a fire while her hounds sleep piled one on the other. She is very beautiful with dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that flash in the night. She is bare-chested, wearing only a tunic at the waist with a belt from which hangs a dagger. Her bow and quiver sit on the ground next to the dogs.

“Welcome Beast,” says the huntress. “You are fine Beast. Come sit by my fire.”

And with that Murphy enters the clearing and sits by the fire as the huntress plays her lute and dances in the moonlight. As she dances, butterfly wings sprouted from her shoulders and she raises her arms over her head and bats her wings, fanning Murphy with her intoxicating scent. She smiles as she dances closer and touched him with her finger. Overcome with passion, Murphy pounces on her and pins her to ground. She just laughs and rolls away from his grasp.

“Always in a hurry.” she says as she pats his head, smiling and continues her dance. “Now be a good Beast, and sit back down.”

Murphy obeys her command and continues to watch her dance for him. She sways gently in front of him, smiling; her eyes shining bright. This goes on for hours. He is enchanted by her. He could not leave. Their eyes locked. She again approaches Murphy and this time she sit beside him; leaning against him.

“You are a good Beast.” she said and with that she places a collar around his neck and attaches herself to him with a chain. “Now you belong to me, Beast.”

“And who are you and who do you belong to huntress?” ask Murphy.

“I am Dyana and I belong to the moon.” she replied.

In the morning, Murphy felt different. He no longer missed Laura. He no longer pined for love. While most people have a jelly or cream filled donut for a heart, Murphy had a glazed donut with a hole in the middle. When he awoke, he felt like the hole had been filled. He felt content for the first time in his life. He was not quite sure what the dream meant so he did a little research.

He found that Dyana was the daughter of Zeus. She was also the Goddess of the hunt, the moon and childbirth among other things, and a eternal virgin. Anyone who tried to take her virginity was killed instantly. Lucky for Murphy he was not killed then he pounced on her in the dream. Apparently, Dyana trusted the Beast to be true to her. He belonged to the Goddess Dyana now but after all was said and done, he was not quite sure what the future held for him.

Book III

Murphy did not miss working as a Detective for the Police Department. Not for one moment. He retired the Monday after he won the lotto and forgot everything about work immediately. He forgot his badge number. He forgot all the cases he was working on. Any thought of work caused Murphy’s brain to constrict in a tight ball and he would immediately stop thinking about work. He never really liked being a Detective; it was something that just happened. He only did it because people told him he was good at it and it was better than having a real job.

Even though Murphy forgot everything about his job, he could not escape the fact that over the course of career he had acquired a Detective’s Mind. He was like a tracker. He saw things that did not show. He could look at a person and almost tell instinctively who that person was. It was something he was stuck with and it made him different from other people. Rarely did he let people know that he could basically read their minds.

There’s a saying that life is a four burner stove: family, friends, work and health. Well, being a Detective took a lot energy out of Murphy and as a result, only one burner worked on Murphy’s stove and that was being a Detective; nothing else and being a Detective had worn him out. So, for the first year after winning the lotto, Murphy rarely left the Apollo Room. He took his meals there and sat in the sun on the deck that surrounded the Apollo Room and read books about History. History fascinated Murphy.

It was not uncommon for aircraft to fly by the Apollo Room while Murphy as sitting out on the deck. Murphy would wave to the pilots as they zoomed past the tower and the pilots would wave back. Soon it was a regular thing and Murphy become a tourist attraction. The airlines would always make sure to pass close by the Needle in hopes of giving their passengers a glimpse of the man sitting at 2000 feet.

The Apollo Room came with parachutes for a quick escape. One day, for fun, as a large passenger plane went by, Murphy jumped up from his chair, waved vigorously at the airliner and plunged off the deck scaring the bejesus out of all the passengers. He got in a lot of trouble for that as well as a lot of press coverage however the Judge let him off easy and he promised not to do that again.

After that Murphy become fascinated with airplanes so he learned to fly. It gave him something to do and got him out of the Apollo Room. He also liked to go to the Casino located in the Needle. The management at the Casino turned a blind eye to the many beautiful women who worked the Casino floor looking for big winners with cash to spend. As long as they were discrete and the customers were happy, the Casino was more than happy to have them there. It was there that he met Virginie Aurore, a young French girl who was working in the Casino while going to school.

Book IV The Virgin Morning

Murphy was at the Craps Table the fateful night he first met Aurore. Einstein thought that God did not play dice with the Universe but he was wrong. It was late and the Casino was crowded with tourists from Asiana. People from Asiana believed you could control your luck. They love to gamble and to their way of thinking, winning just shows that they are living right. Now scientists will tell you that there is no such thing as luck but every gambler knows that every once in a while, everything flows just right. It’s like reverse entropy. The trick is to recognize your luck and take advantage of it because it will come along as sure as rain. It’s a fundamental element of the Universe. Like a cat waiting to pounce, Murphy’s hungry heart was on the lookout, waiting for his chance.

Murphy was on a run at the Craps Table and had attracted a crowd of gamblers from Asiana. They were all betting on him and he was making a lot of money for them so they were very happy. Murphy had a large pile of chips in front of him and just rolled a six when out of nowhere a cute young blonde appeared at Murphy’s side.

“Would you like me to blow on your dice for you Sir?” she asked with a thick French accent.

Now Murphy had a thing for blondes. Call it a weakness if want but they definitely held his attention. Young and French only compounded Murphy’s addiction to blondes.

“Sure.” said Murphy with a smile. “That would be very nice.”

Murphy handed the dice to Aurore and she pursed her lips so they formed a circle and gently blew on the dice. Then she handed the dice back to Murphy who stood mesmerized by her.

“Thank you.” said Murphy as he took the dice from her hands and their fingers momentarily touched one another and then slide apart. “Let me place a bet for you. Six the hard way.” He then place a thousand credits bet and as he did, he palmed the dice so that the two three were facing up and then tossed the dice high into the air so they landed flat and slide along the table.

“Double threes.” said the gentlemen working the table for the Casino. “That bet pays 9:1. Good for you Mr. Murphy. You win again.”

And with that, Murphy’s Detective Brain kicked into high gear and time slowed to almost a stand still. A great commotion arose around the Crap Table when Murphy hit his number, but Murphy only heard silence. He studied Aurore carefully. Her blue eyes were smiling at him adoringly. She was not wearing an engagement or wedding ban. She seemed very young and different from the other girls that worked the Casino floor.

Murphy could not quite put his finger on it but there was something special about her. Usually women only wanted to sleep with him if it would result in his arrest or murder or possibly large windfall profits but Aurore seemed different; at least he was hoping she was. Murphy also knew that opportunities like this were few and far between for him so he was going to take a chance with her.

Murphy took a 10,000 credit chip and gave it to Aurore. 10,000 credits was more money than Aurore had ever seen in her short life but Murphy did not know this at the time. “Here are your winning and a 1000 tip for blowing on my dice. You are very lucky for me. What is your name?”

“I am Aurore.” she said as she took the chip from his hand and held his hand. “Like the Goddess of the Morning.”

“That’s an interesting name. Come back me to my place?” asked Murphy as he tipped the gentleman working the Crap Table for the Casino and handed the dice back to him.

“Whatever you say, Sir.” said Aurore. “I am at your service.”

Murphy put his arm around Aurore and pulled her close to him. She was wearing a silk dress that felt smooth and cool to his touch. Together they took the elevator to the Apollo Room and during the ride up they began to kiss. By the time they made to the Apollo Room they were both in a state of high arousal and they made passionate love together until the dawn whereupon they both succumbed to a deep sleep, but before they did, Aurore looked at him as said: “I have always dreamed of meeting someone like you. I love the beast in you.” And with that she curled up into his arms and feel asleep.

It was then that Murphy had another dream.

Dyana sat before him with an earnest look on her face holding his chain tight.

“Beast.” she said. “Do you have any idea what you have done?”

Murphy looked at Dyana and puzzled over the question. He certainly did have some idea as to what he had done, but apparently he was missing something because Dyana was jerking his chain.

“Aurore.” she said.

“Yes, I like her.” said Murphy.

“She is the Goddess of the Morning. Her brother is the sun and her sister is my Master the moon. She is cursed by Aphrodite to never find satisfaction but you have broken that curse tonight. Do you understand what that means Beast?”

“I’m in trouble?” said Murphy

“Big time.”

When Murphy awoke it was late morning. Aurore was sleeping in his arms with a faint smile on her face. She soon began to stir and her eyes fluttered open like a butterfly. She smiled broadly at Murphy.

“I feel wonderful today. I love your brutality.” she said in a very sweet soft voice.

Murphy’s forehead wrinkled as his eyebrows rose like quotation marks.

“My brutality?” he said. “Well I am very lucky to find someone who loves my brutality but I was hoping you might also like me because I am kind?”

“It’s your brutality that attracts you to me.” said Aurore. “I must go to school now or I will be late. My mother will be upset with me if I miss school and will put me on restriction.”

“Your mother?” said Murphy.

“Yes, I don’t have a Dad. Just my mother. She is very strict. I hope to see you again soon Murphy.” she said sweetly as she left.

Book V - True Love

Murphy spent the next night waiting for Aurore to appear in the Casino. He whiled away the time at the Texas Hold ’Em poker table. Murphy felt poker was very similar to life because the trick was to play the hand you’re dealt the best you can while judging the opposition to see if you have enough to win. Different from dice because people were involved in the outcome rather than random chance. Some tables were more friendly than others and Murphy did not really need more money nor did he want to take other people’s money so he moved from table to table until he found a group of easy going card players and started to play.

After a hand well played like gentlemen by the players at the table, Murphy struck up a conversation with a fellow at the table who was wearing a big cowboy hat and spoke with a bit of a twang.

“You don’t look like you’re from around these parts.” said Murphy. “Where you from?”

“Montana.” said the Cowboy. “I have a horse ranch in the abandoned zone. It’s for tourists from the cities. We have a big barbeque out on the plains at night so they can see the big sky full of stars and during the day I teach them about horses. And if they want to, after the training, they can ride a real horse if they want. ”

“That sounds very interesting.” said Murphy. “The thing about riding a horse is they don’t have a gas pedal, a steering wheel or brakes and I like little more certainty in my ride.”

“This is true.” said the Cowboy. “Horses are just like women. The best way to gain the trust of a horse is to feed them and gently touch them while speaking softly. However they spook easy. If you startle them, they can panic and throw you off.”

Murphy pondered this homegrown wisdom when he saw Aurore looking at him from across the room. She look vibrant and happy. She seemed to glow with light.

“Very interesting.” said Murphy. “I have to go now. Nice meeting you and have a good evening.” Murphy rose and made a bee line to Aurore.

“Hello.” said Murphy. “Are you busy? ”

Aurore smiled. “Hello Sir.” she said. “No I am not busy.”

“I would like you to come back to my place.”

“That’s a 1000 credits for an hour. I will do whatever I am told Sir. I am very obedient.”

Murphy smiled and took her by the hand. During the elevator ride up to the Apollo Room Aurore hugged Murphy and said” “I love being a whore because I have to do whatever the customer asks. I hate to think plus I love sex and I get paid for it.”

Little did they both know that each of them had already fallen madly in love with the other but they would find out soon enough. It was their fate. It was destiny.

Aurore and Murphy entered the Apollo Room lit only by the shimmering light of the full moon of summer. They kissed passionately; their bodies pressing against one another. NGF surged through their bodies. They were in love.

“Tell me what you what.” said Aurore with an impish smile on her face. “What is your desire?”

Murphy was actually taken aback by the question. He really did not know what he wanted.

Auorore looked into Murphy’s bewildered eyes and offered a hint. “Would you like me to be your sex slave?”

Murphy smiled. “Yes. I like that idea.”

“I have some chains and restraints.” said Aurore. “You can handcuff me and chain me to yourself. I get very excited when my hands are tied.”

Murphy chained himself to Auore without hesitation. That way, he figured, she could not run away from him like the other women in his life.

“Okay.” said Murphy feeling a sense of great satisfaction once the chains were in place. “Please dance for me. What is your favorite song? Just say the title, and then say “play” and the sound system will play it for you.”

Murphy sat on a plush red chair as Aurore danced seductively in front of him; her body swaying to the music that surrounded them.

“I love your sexy body Aurore.” said Murphy. “You drive me wild with desire. Take off your clothes please.”

“Yes Master.” said Aurore as she shed her clothes. ” I must obey because you are my Master; the one who protects me.”

“That is correct.” said Murphy. “You are the one I want and you belong to me. I have sole dominion over you. You are chained to me and you must obey.”

“Those are the chains of love.” said Aurore.

In the morning, Murphy awoke alone with a start from yet another vivid dream. In the dream, he sat alone in a clearing, a long chain stretching from the collar around his neck to a metal spike in the middle of the clearing. Dyana was nowhere to be seen. It was night but Murphy could see everything clearly in black and white. He sat by a small fire ringed with smooth stones. In the distance, he heard the sounds of footsteps coming through the grove, growing louder all the time.

Then it appeared at the edge of the clearing with a crash. A Thing will long arms and white fangs framed by a red tongue. Murphy stood up. He grabbed a rock from the ring around the fire as he did.

“Hello Thing.” said Murphy. “What brings you here?”

“Dyana has sent me here to slay you. I wish to replace you as her guardian and the only way I can do that is by killing you.”

“Hold on there Thing,” said Murphy. “No need to go to extremes here. I’m not all that excited about this job anyway. The benefits aren’t all that great. One butterfly dance and that’s it. I don’t have any problems switching with you.”

“I have no authority to agree to that,” said the Thing. “My challenge is to kill you or be killed trying.”

“She did that butterfly dance for you didn’t she.” said Murphy.

The Thing just stared blankly at Murphy for a moment and then launched itself at him, its red mouth snarling, white teeth bared and aimed at Murphy’s throat. Murphy raised his left arm to block the strike and the Thing sunk it’s teeth deep into Murphy’s forearm, red blood spurting everywhere. As it did, Murphy clocked the Thing on the side of the head with the rock and the Thing fell stunned to the ground.

“Look Thing,” said Murphy. “I’m sorry I have to do this but I don’t want the guilt of your death on my hands.” And with that, Murphy stomped on the Thingy’s right knee, knocking it out of joint. As the Thing lay writhing on the ground he stomped on the left knee. Then he dragged the Thing over to the stake and wrapped the chain around him and went back to sit by the fire to tend to his wound and wait.

“I hope you don’t have rabids.” said Murphy to the Thing as it sat dazed in the night.

After a while, Dyana appeared.

“You are a real disappointment Beast.” said Dyana. “You have failed the quest.”

“Then release me.”

With that Dyana removed the chain from around Murphy’s neck. In the distance the faint hint of morning light glowed on the eastern horizon. Murphy smiled then turned, heading East at a run towards Dawn.

Book VI - The Old Rake and the Siren

Murphy was brought up by his father. After his mother had an affair with the next door neighbor when he was about three, she left. His father was militaristic and prone to violent outbursts. Once, when Murphy as about six years old, his father took him to the swimming pool at the airbase and without warning, picked him up and threw him in the deep end of the pool because Murphy was afraid of the water. As Murphy sailed through the air, his father yelled out: “Hold your breath son.” The next thing Murphy knew, we was sitting on the bottom of the pool thinking he better hold his breath.

Needless to say, with a home life like that, Murphy knew little about love, however, he did have a burning desire for the ladies and as a result, learned the art of seduction. Of course, Murphy never managed to actually have a real relationship with anyone because he did not know how to give love or receive love. He only knew how to bed a woman and you cannot really keep a woman with that kind of love. They can get that almost anywhere. Women want more than that from a man but it’s a secret and different for each woman. So when Aurore told Murphy she love his brutality, she revealed her secret desire but Murphy did not really know this yet however he would soon find out that he was the object of Aurore’s desires.

There is an old saying that “Appetite comes with eating; the more one has, the more one would have.” and being with Aurore struck a vibrant cord deep inside of Murphy. Now he was hungry for more. Something about her made Murphy want to possess her in every way. She was different from the other working girls. She was alluring and enchanting. Murphy wanted to take care of her. She aroused his paternal instinct. The hunger was so great that when Aurore was not at the Casino, Murphy found other girls to take to the Apollo Room.

In fact, he got to know all the working girls at the Casino really well. They were from all over the world but they all had one thing in common: You had to pay for them. Now the reasons a woman sells her body are always different and it is not just the sex, but they all have one thing in common. Whores love to be desired, like pastry. It fuels their ego. They are aroused by the desire of a man hungry enough to pay money to be with them.

Murphy make a few shrewd investments with his winnings and now had considerable more than a Billion Credits to his disposal so he could easily afford the 500 to 1000 Credit fee the working girls charged for the pleasure of a half hour of their company so there was no real limit to his appetite. All the work girls liked him because he was so different from the other John’s they usually met who were cautious and usually disrespected and treated them badly them badly. They all enjoyed going to the Apollo Room and often stayed much longer than the appointed half hour. Murphy was delightfully unrestrained and a slave to his love for women and the whores loved him for that. He kept himself in good shape and the gray hair at his temples made him look distinguished. He always wore his Brook Brothers Security Suit and it’s true, clothes make the man. The suit gave Murphy the air of a gentleman and his lifelong love of pleasure and danger showed through in his personality, the wrinkle in his eyes and in his smile. That also stirred a great desire in the women and being a Billionaire did not hurt either. This all made Murphy appear very masculine and the whores flocked to him, seeking his attention whenever he entered the Casino. However, there was one thing that always made them want to come back. They all had the most incredible sex of their life with Murphy. What was Murphy’s secret? Words.

Words are women’s weakness and Murphy would talk to them while making love, saying the things they wanted to hear. Murphy was a Master of seductive language. He knew exactly what to say and when to say it. It was almost a routine for Murphy and although it was not fool proof, it usually worked. And much like a whore, Murphy’s desire was not so much his pleasure but rather achieving the little death of his partner and he would spare no effort to achieve it. Only then could Murphy find satisfaction from the exchange. A conquest. In the most basic sense. the pride of a predator catching it’s prey.

In the dizzying blissful aftermath, some of the girls wanted to get serious, but Murphy was sure to explain he was a playboy, a wanderer; and nothing was going to change that. Once, twice or maybe three times in the past, women Murphy had bedded and then abandoned were left with broken hearts which left a scar on Murphy’s heart and so he did not want any misunderstandings. For you see, Murphy made love with his heart and most women weren’t used to that so Murphy felt responsible to explain his love making was only for fun and nothing more. And of course, as a rule, whores don’t get involved with their Johns anyway but sometimes they do.

After Murphy explained he was an unrepentant playboy, a few of the women left and never came back but others stayed around and so in the beginning Murphy developed a bevy of partners who accepted him the way he was. He became their wolf and protector. If one of them needed help or had a problem with a boyfriend or child, Murphy would take care of it for them. However, Aurore was always his favorite. In fact, when Aurore was busy with another client and unavailable, Murphy felt slight prangs of jealousy.

Aurore was Murphy through the looking glass of femininity but without the wisdom of experience to anchor her. She had been in a deep depression since her father was killed on Christmas day when she was 12 years old. Right after his death, Aurore met an older man who became a father figure to her. Recognizing her vulnerability, he manipulated her, pimping her out to his friends and turning her into a whore. Once Aurore realized she was being used, she left him and her depression only deepened....until she met Murphy.

For Aurore, Murphy’s burning desire for her was what attracted her to him at first. But there was much more to it than that. Aurore had not experience any sexual pleasure with any of the clients before meeting Murphy. Murphy was the first one to show her how to enjoy life. And like Murphy, she too wanted to possess him in every way and also felt jealous when Murphy was with someone else just like Murphy.

Aurore truly did not know anything of love or of herself. She was trained to be a whore at the age of 12 and knew nothing else. She knew all the right things to say to maximize the little death of her victim, just like Murphy. You see, for the unethical seducer, their partner is really just a victim to be teased and played with like a cat toys with a mouse. The victim is manipulated for the maximum fun and enjoyment of the seducer. Secretly laughed at, conquered and then slayed so as to enhance the ego of the seducer just like the female black widow spider eats the male after copulation; the suitor being nothing more than a good meal.

Aurore was good at creating a false intimacy but had no idea what real intimacy was. She had many dark secrets and fantasies that she hid from others and herself. And, Aurore took no responsibility for her actions. She was a Siren, that was her job and like the Sirens of Homer’s Odyssey, she beckoned sailors to their destruction and delighted in making men act like fools against their better judgment.

The Siren is the most potent seducer there is and they operate well on masculine types like Murphy. Think Cleopatra and Julius Caesar or Napoleon and Josephine. To be a Siren requires the beauty of Aphrodite, however, according to myth Aurore was so beautiful that even Aphrodite was jealous of her and cursed her with an insatiable desire for lust.

Aurore set her sights on making Murphy hers from the start. He was everything she wanted in a man and she had never met anyone quite like him before. He stirred a deep desire within her and he was fatally attracted to her. Because her home life had robbed her of a critical element for development: affection, her deepest unconscious needs were to feel loved and desired both of which Murphy naturally provided in abundance. And it was her constant vulnerable, like a little girl crying in the street in need of protection and comforting, that drew Murphy to Aurore. Her unintended gestures of need and vulnerability aroused a great desire in Murphy because they were unintended. Her innocence was exactly what excited Murphy and attracted him to her. Like Ulysses, Murphy wanted to experience the thrill of hearing the Sirens sing and live to tell about. Murphy did not always make the best choices however considering when asked what the songs of Sirens sounded like, Ulysses replied: Madness.

Murphy and Aurore were two satellites capture in an unstable orbit around each other in the vast darkness of outer space. The tidal forces of gravity heating their inner cores to molten temperatures as they passed by one another, swinging wide and then plunging back towards one another again in ever closer proximity.

Book VII

The two men sat eating lunch in the glass enclosed atrium atop Murphy’s Penthouse Apartment. Even though it was the middle of winter, the atrium was designed to absorb extra energy from the sun and support a tropical environment that was festooned tropical plants, palms trees, tropic birds and a small stream with aquatic life and fish.

“I really like her Joe. She’s French.” said Murphy.

“How do you know she is French Murphy?”

“She speaks French all the time Joe. She looks French. She’s French.”

“You don’t know anything about his girl.” said Joe realizing he was getting nowhere fast.

“Yeah, well she’s shy.”

“She’s just playing you Murphy. Come on. Wake up. The Bordello is not the best place to find a girlfriend.” said Joe as he stabbed at his salad. “You need to get out more and meet some nice girls.”

“I know Joe.” said Murphy absentmindedly as he squeezed several wedges of lemon into his ice tea. “Well Joe, what I found is some things come along only once in a life time and if you don’t grab onto it, it’s gone forever.

“Yes, but you have to distinguish between reality and fantasy.” said Joe. “Use your detective mind. What’s it tell you?

“It tells me, there is not much coming down the pike, and a relationship based on a fantasy is perfect as long as both people believe in the fantasy.” said Murphy. “And I really like her and I think she likes me. She’s French. Did I tell you? And young. 19. What could go wrong?”

Joe just shook he head slowly and smiled gently without saying another word.

After Joe left, Murphy sat alone in the atrium and pondered Joe’s advice. He knew a lot of what Joe said was right, especially about not knowing who Aurore was. She was a mystery to Murphy. She kept secrets; disappeared for days on end. She knew nothing about nursing although she said she was a nursing student. Often, she would evade answering Murphy’s questions or answer in ambiguous terms. Things she said just did not add up with her but something deep inside of Murphy was driving him towards Aurore. He could not ignore it nor did he exactly understand what it was but it was a dark secret within him and he could not going to back away from it. Against he’s better judgment; he was going to play it because he had to do it. He knew he was on his own. Nobody in their right mind was going to back him up on this one.

Murphy sat in the atrium long into the night unwilling to go to his bed; hoping for sleep but his mind was too active. Memories from the distance past drifted though his sleepless mind like dreams and always back to Charlene. If he had one day to live over in his life, it would be the day he met Charlene but it’s not possible to go back into time unless the Universe is spinning according to the great Mathematician Kurt Godel. And as far as anyone knew, the Universe was not spinning.

It was Joe that introduced Murphy to Charlene. She was working as waitress and was Joe’s connection. Murphy was visiting with Joe that day and Joe had to go pick Charlene up from work. Murphy rode with Joe to get Charlene and when they met there was an instant attraction between the two of them. She was blonde; of course and cute. Murphy poured on the natural charm and soon he and Charlene were alone at her apartment. That’s when it happened.

They were sitting on the sofa getting cozy when Charlene confessed she was wanted by the Federal Authorities. She told Murphy that this guy she knew used her as mule to transport a bunch of illegal cash and things went south. Charlene escaped but they have pictures of her and were looking for her. That confession caused Murphy a big dilemma. He liked Charlene but he was a detective. He risked his career just being with Charlene. Without so much as a word, Murphy got up and walked out. Later he heard from Joe that she had a bad time after that and committed suicide. Murphy wished he played it differently. Joe never really forgave him for it.

VIII The Rape of Persephone

It was a beautiful spring day. The air was crisp and the sky a brilliant blue. The trees swayed in the Spring breeze spreading their pollen as their flowers bloomed. Although the temperatures were still cool, the sun was higher in the sky and it’s radiance more potent by the day. The World was being re-born.

Aurore made her way into the Casino in the early afternoon on that Spring day and Security immediately reported her presence to Murphy. Murphy always gave them a big tip when they did. Upon receiving the news, Murphy pulled on his white suit and shoes and headed for the Casino.

Aurore gave Murphy a big hug when they met and the two of them melted into the each other’s arms; obviously in love. All the other girls working the floor were jealous of them and tisked quietly among themselves in their disapproval. Then, Sylvie, who had one too many free drinks, strutted across the floor headed for Murphy and Aurore. Rebecca, another girl working floor tried to stop her by grabbing her arm but she broke free.

“You’re no good Murphy.” she said in angry voice.

“Yeah I know that.” replied Murphy. “That’s the way I am. You know that too. Anyway Sylvie, I don’t see where you are coming from. I always treat you good when I see you.”

“Well if you want to see me again, my fee is double now, so will have to pay more.” said Sylvie but Murphy did not care. He did not want to see Sylvie again anyway. He wanted Aurore. Murphy nodded respectfully at Sylvie acknowledging her demand; then he took Aurore’s hand and led her to the Apollo Room. The Apollo Room was lit by the brilliant Spring sun. Murphy sat on the couch and turned on the sound system.

“Please dance for me.” said Murphy. “I love to watch you dance.”

“I love to dance.” said Aurore as she began to sway rhythmically to the music. “You have released me from the Cellar. I must obey.”

Aurore frequently referred to being sequestered in the basement by Murphy and, attune to satisfying the desires of his partner, he always played along. The more time they spent together, the more deeply Murphy became immersed in Aurore’s fantasy about the cellar and he began to explore the nature of her desires as a way of getting to know her better.

“Yes, I keep you trapped in my Cellar because I want you for me. I only let you out to see me and go to school .”

“But I hate school.” said Aurore.

“I know but it is good for you. You have to think about your future so I make you go. Now get on my lap. I love it when you dance on my lap.”

“I must obey and if I run away, the Police with return me to you because you have sole dominion over me by Court Order.” said Aurore for the very first time. Murphy did not know what to make of it. She never mentioned the Police or a Court Order before. He tried to tease more information out of Aurore about the odd reference to a Court Order.

“Yes, you must. By Court Order.” replied Murphy hoping she would tell him more about it.

“It’s true. After you divorced mom you obtained sole custody of me and as my Papa, I must obey your every word.”

“You want me to be your Dad?” said Murphy.

“Yes, I always wanted two Dads.” said Aurore.

Murphy really did not know what to do. Fathers did not make love to their daughters in the world that Murphy knew but he could not refuse her request. He wanted her too much. Normally he might blow it off but he looked at Aurore and knew he had to try. To Murphy, Aurore’s youth represented a new beginning with the girl he never had. A second chance. To Aurore, Murphy’s maturity was a safe haven and chance to recover something that once seemed forever lost.

“Take me to the cellar.” said Aurore.

Murphy led Aurore down to the wine cellar; a small room beneath the Apollo Room. On one side of the room was a oak rack that stretched from floor to ceiling and held vintage wines. The room was filled with the aroma of wood,

“Chain me to the rack.” said Aurore.

Murphy began to kiss Aurore; her arms handcuffed to the wine rack.

“Why are you doing this to me Dad?” said Auore. “I don’t understand.”

“I must have you.” said Murphy. “You are so enticing; I cannot resist you.”

“Stop Dad. I am too young. Stop.′ yelled Aurore.

Murphy was taken aback by all this. He did not want to be the bad guy. He wanted Aurore to want to make love with him. “You want me to stop?” asked Murphy.

“No, Continue. Rape me. Call me a slut.” said Aurore. “I love it when you call me a slut. I love your beast. Have your way with me.”

After they finished, Aurore looked more radiant that ever. She glowed like Spring Sun with the promise of renewed life. Although she wanted to stay, she had to leave because her Mother would soon be home and she was gone.

The next day, the rose bush in the Apollo Room bloomed with roses. It did not go unnoticed by Murphy because last year this time that rose bush was about dead. Murphy considered it an omen.