Chester and the Amazon

[Sepsis]

Her heart, if it had a beat, would have been broken. As it was, she felt a sense of numbness...a sense of loss, and an underlying sensation of growing hostility. They'd sent him to the Fade. Her Progeny. Her chylder. Her partner in crime. Judar. Slapping her hand in anger against her office desk, she knew SOMETHING had to be done. Damn murdering Tytonidae. They were as bad as the american government, appointing itself as police of the world, or in this case the city. Sepsis scowled, muttering under her breath. 'And it was THEM...again!'

The 'them' she referred to were Doc and Dulce. The black mailer and the bird shooter. She shook with rage as images of her own first 'murder' flitted through her mind. She knew them well. All TOO well. Thrusting herself to her feet she knew before the thought was fully formed, of what she was going to do. Some may think it juvenile, but sometimes juvenile is exactly what is needed. A malicious smile spread across Sepsis's face, and she closed her eyes, concentrating.

In her mind's eye, she saw him. Doc. Carefully, she began to build the image, allowing it to traverse the Empty between them, and creep into his mind like an anesthetic. It all started...with a song...

"It must have been cold there in my shadow..."

Sepsis smiled as she allowed the song to flow from her mind..

"To never have sunlight on your face..."

Sepsis snickered as she imagined a Teddy Ruxpin sized bear slowly dancing into Doc's view, complete with satiny under garments, and a mysterious belly dancers veil covering it's face.

"You were content to let me shine, that's your way..."

Sepsis watched with glee as the bear began rubbing itself most inappropriately against Doc's leg. Lovingly. In a super creepy and disturbing way.

"You always walked a step behind..."

The bear put one finger to his mouth to strike a provocative pose, much like one would witness from the dancers at Silks.


That's when Sepsis allowed the 'dream' to take a lurid turn. Much to Doc's chagrin she could only hope. 'Teddy' began to gyrate. Thrusting his little bitty bear hips against Doc's leg with as much enthusiasm as a teenager experiencing their first sexual experience. Grabbing on to Doc's pant leg so he couldn't escape. trying to reach under the hem of his pants to fondle his kneecap while rubbing his plush butt trying to tempt the Doc.

Sepsis allowed the horror to continue for a few moments, before the chorus began...

"Did you ever know that you're my hero..."

Teddy began to spasm...

"and everything I would like to be..."

Stuffing began to poke its way through the bear's 'fur'..

"I can fly higher than an eagle..."

Sepsis could barely contain herself as the bear began spasming as if the throws of passion..

"Cause you are the wind beneath my wings..."

Laughter ripped uncontrollably from Sepsis as she envisioned the bear 'blowing his stuffing' all down the from of Doc's pants. Landing in a fluffy pile by his foot. Unable to contain her concentration any longer...the image faded, and Sepsis fell back into her chair, mad sounding giggles flitting through the air. "Take that!!" She thought to herself.

The black mailer was taken care of as far as she was concerned...now for the bird shooter.

******************

A short while later, and several hundred dollars lighter (damn informants!) Sepsis found herself pushing open the door to one of the seedier establishments of Harper Rock. Bars, in her mind, were all the same. Some had more bling, but they served the same gods. Booze, and the all mighty dollar. They had their uses though.

And this was one of those times.

Unseen, which was the one saving grace of these places, she made her way to the bar, hovering in the shadows where ever she could. She had been told her subject would be found in the company of a woman who always wore a white linen pants suit, Sada Abe. She did not know the woman herself, but sure enough...there she was. Dulce Periculum. The bird shooter. Freakishly tall this one was...like the Amazon women of Greek mythology. Sepsis snorted under her breath, trying to be as invisible as possible. No..it wouldn't do at all to let herself be seen. She had a present she wanted to share. One that had been terrorizing her. One that she would gladly allow to terrorize Dulce if it meant having a moments peace herself.

Slipping off the back pack she carried, she unzippered it, carefully pulling the doll from her bag. She eyed entity in her hands. Knowing it was not what appeared to be. HE was so much more.



Chester Bennington may appear to be 'just' a doll...but Sepsis knew better. He had been speaking to her for quite some time now, and had a knack for making even the undead be fearful of the shadows. She was quite certain he was possessed, and whomever, or WHAT ever it was, was not happy about it at all. Sepsis eyed Dulce one more time, almost feeling guilty for what she was about to unleash upon the woman...then decided she deserved every bit of it. Smiling maliciously, she settled Chester on the bar, facing Dulce and her company, before quietly making her way to the door. She wasn't worried about Chester finding his way home...

He always did.

Chester watched the pretty lady. He liked pretty ladies. Even BEFORE. He liked their screams. He liked their blood. He liked the way way their broken bodies looked when he displayed them for the world to see. The crazy one said he could play with the BIG woman before he came home...and he was going to do exactly that.

Turning his eyes to face the BIG woman, he 'spoke' to her...

"My mama said your insides are pretty....can I cut them out and see?"

[Dulce Periculum]

Sada Abe was staring blankly and it was rather odd to see the tiny female doing so. Ice blue orbs stared down over her while a succession of long fingers tapped on the counter beneath them. Dulce was waiting and it was something she hardly had the time for. The doors were opening and closing to Dragon Gate Inn and things were getting busy. The window of opportunity to get the numbers together that Sada had in her efficent head was closing quickly. Now was not the time for the human to shut down.

“Great. Just great.” Dulce mumbled and reached over the counter they stood at with ease. The generous length of her tall frame had her long fingers pulling out a manilla folder. This would be familiar to her assistant had she been following her boss’s movements. It had the produce supplier order forms as well as the paper and linen supplier that had called earlier. This was one of Sada responsibilities.“I need to call these people and get things ordered. They have not heard from you.”

The silence was concerning to the tall blonde that moved to pull out the top form and found her elbow at eye level of the dark haired woman’s head. Had the one she counted on for basic tasks finally lost her mind. If so why now? Dulce was left to ponder this while prying her eyes from the face that was so perfect in it’s fine features it was like a porcelain doll occupied the space where the human stood. Sada had been employed by them for how long now?

Employ was the acceptable term for what otherwise would be the cold truth. Sada was bewitched by Dulce Periculum to the extent she couldn’t refuse whatever was the vampire’s bidding. As far as that went Sada had it pretty good. In fact really good. However there was a sudden change. The sweet dark eyes were looking upward on Dulce’s face and nearly looked vacant.

“Did you hear that?” The sound of Sada’s voice was a relief when she spoke.

The forms in Dulce’s hands were released to the hard surface beneath her hand. Finally they could get back on track and finish ordering the supplies for the restaurant. Ground control had reached the otherwise distracted female in front of her. The warm nights meant business was increasing and inventory was the last thing that needed to be lacking with large numbers of customers coming in. She would prefer not to deal with Hantu on such avoidable issues such as lack of supplies. There were far more important things to bother him with.

“Hear what?” Dulce had pulled out the stock orders from the file in her hand. She stepped closer to Sada and pressed her cool open palm against the females forehead. “You feeling alright?”

Sada immediately shifted the minimal weight she balanced on her right foot and teetered on the sharp heel of her left shoe. The shoe which was color coordinated to blend nearly perfectly with the rest of the petite womans white linen pantsuit. Not that it was important to Dulce at that moment. She was more concerned that she had barely got the connection working between them when Sada visibly was uneasy about something. That was rare. The woman generally was about as unshakeable as the blonde ‘allurist-in-denial’ was.

“That!” Sada’s delicate finger flipped out as the others folded in to point at the space beside Dulce’s hip.

Dulce did a double take at the spot that was empty only minutes ago. Much to her surprise she discovered a doll that looked vaguely familiar. She picked it up and lifted it between her body and Sada. Instantly Sada stepped back a few feet while Dulce chuckled lightly giving it a firm shake up and down as if some hidden prize would drop from its backside.

“It said it’s mama said your insides were pretty and wants to cut them out of something like that.” Sada’s naturally almond shaped eyes widened bigger than ever seen before.

“Sada…” The blonde head shook as a low purr of a voice tried to console the confused woman before her. “Don’t be ridiculous. It is a doll.” Dulce turned it upside down and tugged on the pants portion of the rather creative outfit to find some string that she could pull and make it speak again. finding nothing but plastic bare *** she shrugged and let the pants snap back into place. “It is a child’s toy.” She thrust the doll out between them. “You been smoking something or Bunny give you more of her stash?” She might have also asked about Scott but she was more interested in the resistive movements Sada made to put more distance between them. “C’mere. Now.”

Dulce was not amused by her assistants actions. Her frosty eyes narrowed down and her tone shifted to a direct and assertive one. This foolishness was going to end right there. It was her job to make sure the young woman remembered her role and expectations.

“It reminds me of that movie...what was it?” Dulce stepped in closer to the woman. “Beetlejuice!”

Sada shook her head but didn’t dare make another step to increase the distance between her boss and the place she stood. Blondie could be tolerant but when it came to defiance she had less mercy than a striking cobra.

“You know what?” She let the corners of her thick lips lift slightly. “It obviously was left behind by some child patron. It clearly upsets you so take it over to Winterbrook Asylum and donate it to the nuns there for the patients. It would be gone and serving a good purpose.”

Dulce stepped in closer and handed over the doll to Sada Abe. Sada was nearly shaking as she took hold of it and held it safely at arm's length. Now the tall female was nearly grinning with amusement. Dolls seemed to be a issue for the living one Dulce secretly picked out and now treasured.

“Shall I send my wraith to escort you?” That would surely have Sada bolting to the transit to drop the doll off.

“No. I will be back in ten minutes tops.” Sada was out the door and clearing transits before Dulce could call the creepy wraith to do as she had suggested. the doll was bad enough. The wraith was a whole other misery to endure and she avoided that thing like the plague.

Ten minutes almost to the second Sada entered the doors of the restaurant with her megawatt smile plastered across her tiny face. She had been victorious it would appear. Softly she slid up on a chair across from the one she was relieved to find waiting patiently for her return.

“Dropped it off at the front desk to some old lady in a black and white dress and hat.” She announced the deed was done.
“Good. That was a nun by the way.” Dulce shrugged putting the stock list in front of Sada. “think Doc has a few working for him.”

[Sepsis]

Chester didn't like it here.

Oh no he did not.

So close to the BIG one...and yet so far. She'd dismissed him like a peasant after rudely hanging him upside down, shaking him, and even peeping in his pants. The pervert! Chester was in love. She was everything he could ever want. Beautiful...strong...and most definitely dead. He must get back to her, he simply ,must! But, here he was....unceremoniously dumped by the one in white. He didn't like her. He 'dreamed' of plucking her eyes out, burning the hair from her head, and cutting deep into the flesh. How delightful her screams would be.

How beautiful her blood would be, spreading across the white she wore like an incoming tide.

"It's too ugly to give to children, why bring it here?" Chester 'listened' as this new woman spoke, her accent thick and unkown to Chester. Head to to this one was covered-except her hands and face. Chester wondered what hidden treasure lay beneath that needed hiding in such a way. Maybe he could make her show him? But no...no...that's not what he was here for. He wanted back to the BIG woman, and this covered one was going to help him.

Whether she liked it or not.

"I want to go out and play some more." Chester 'said' to the woman. But sadly..she didn't appear to be paying attention to him. Chester fumed, wishing he could wrap his tiny fingers around her neck and squeeeeeze. Squeezing necks was incredible fun! Determined...he tried again.

"Bring me back outside to play you dumb cow!" Chester ordered, putting as much into his 'voice' as he could.

The covered one's head whipped around, her eyes falling on Chester, furrowing slightly. Her mouth opened and closed as if she was going to speak, but snapped shut instead, as if afraid to admit to herself that he had spoken to her.

"Venha aqui!!" the woman barked, turning her head to address another covered woman.

"Sim, Irmã Philomena?" the woman replied. Chester wondered what their gibberish meant, then decided it didn't matter, just as long as they did what he wanted.

"Bring this...thing, to Doctor Charles." The one apparently named Philomena ordered. "Sim, Irmã" the second woman replied, and reached out to pick Chester up, tucking him beneath her arm as she turned, taking him deeper into the strange building...

[Doc]

Sister Philomena trotted into Doc’s office and plunked down the doll on his desk. “Was brought to you.” She said matter of factly.

Doc looked counted silently in a rather long suffering manner. “Yes. You just brought it. I do not want it. Remove it.”

“No, Doctor Charles, No. I did not brought this!”

Another silent sigh, “Yes. Yes you did I just watched you.”

“No the leetle woman brought it.”

Tiredly, “Fine a little woman brought it. Now take it away.”

“No is yours. Mother said to brought to you.”

“Sister Philistine.. You brought it.. now take it back.”

“BAH! Philomena!” She huffed and whirled about, stalking out of the office.

Doc stared at the doll. It was the ugliest doll he had have seen, who would even buy that for a child? But he had work to do. She swept it off his desk into the trash can, and thought nothing more about it, returning once more to the six month report due to the board of directors.

An hour or so later, his report was complete and had been emailed when Sister Thereasa entered and plopped an identical doll on his desk. Doc looked from the doll to the Penguin.

“Another one? I didn’t want the first one, I don’t want this one either.”

Sister Thereasa looked relieved, “Dos?” She cast her eye upwards and said grassy ***, at least that is what sounded like to Doc, before she left. He picked the doll up and was about to drop it in the waste bin, when he realized it was empty. He leaned back in his seat. Where did it go? He glanced at the office door, it was open, but no one had been in or out in the last hour. He would have noticed.

Doc frowned, had one of the nuns managed to slip back in and get the doll? Why would they want it.. unless they were pranking one another with it. It was obviously not liked by Phil, and as far as Doc was concerned, if they wanted to prank Phil, more power to them.. Phil got on his last nerve. He dropped the doll in the bin, again and started his rounds.

Several hours later, sitting at the nurses station notating patient files three penguins crowded about him jabbering in Portuguese and gesturing wildly. He caught the would diablo, but the rest sounded like jibberish to him. “Oh for **** sake.. One at a time!”

Sister Mary Marie pointed over the counter, “Et es possessed by the devil. Et should be taken away from this place.”

Doc stood to see what she was pointing at. The doll stood unmoving in the middle of the corridor. “Look ladies..” He counted mentally, “Someone is pranking you with the ugly doll. If you ignore it.. they will stop.” he said it slowly and clearly in order to make sure they understood.

“No no! Doctor Charles! Et spoke to us. Et said et would keel us in our beds! Et must go from this place! Now.”

Doc almost snorted. ******* gullible penguins. He sat back down. “I have charts to finish. If you want it gone you take it away. Now leave me alone, or I will kill you in your beds tonight.” He said with barely concealed ire.

The nuns began hysterically jabbering and pointing at one another, fighting over who would be responsible for getting rid of it.

Doc erupted. “Go argue somewhere-*******-else! I am trying to work here!”

The nuns stopped staring at him silently, until Sister Philomena gasped, “Et’s Gone!”

[Sepsis]

Chester was not happy.

'The penguins', as this Doctor Charles called them, just would not do what Chester wanted them to do. He wanted to go play with his dream girl. The BIG woman was out there somewhere, and he wanted there now! If only his little feet worked the way he wished they would. He would have kicks that Doctor right in the nads! HA!! Chester liked that idea, imagining the Doctor hopping about, aching scrotum in hand.

It was then Chester saw another chance for escape.... "Take me out of here, NOW!!!" Chester 'bellowed'. The man's eyes glazed, and Chester felt that if he had a heart, it would have soared at that moment...

*********************


The man pushed his janitor's cart into the elevator, glancing down at the doll that lay across the top as he did. 'Homely looking thing..' he thought to himself. Jabbing the basement button, he sighed deeply as the doors closed. No one ever noticed the janitor. Why would they? All they did was ensure the crazy farm kept up and running. Apparently Harper Rock was full of them. The man looked down at the doll once more, and a sense of uneasiness filled him. Why had he picked the ugly thing up in the first place? It almost felt as though he had been compelled by some unseen force of nature. The nuns were arguing with the Doc as usual (superstitious old bitties that they were), trying to convince him that this ugly little doll was possessed. The man snorted, unable to contain himself. "Possessed indeed..." he mumbled to himself. He would take it home with him. His dog always liked something to chew on....it was decided...

*********************


'Finally!' Chester thought to himself, his little legs tucked in beside the gauges of the monster bike. He wasn't quite sure how he knew, but he knew this beast of a machine belonged to the BIG lady. They would be reunited....soon! Chester hoped that she would pick him up, and snuggle him to her breast, and maybe fondle his.... Chester scowled. She'd probably just be a perv again and pull down his pants...but that was okay...he was definitely in love. He'd be a fool to object to any sort of groping by his amazon princess.

**********************

Sepsis blinked several times , taking a moment to orientate herself. It was always discombobulating when she returned from where ever it was that her mind had taken her. She wondered if she was going mad sometimes, but shook the idea off. Glancing at the cell phone clutched in her hands, she peered closer, a grin spreading across her face. "Ming!!" she called out. A tiny Japanese woman with long dark hair appeared a moment later, hanging on to every word her Mistress said....

[Dulce Periculum]

“If there is any more delays on the shipment I will have to tell Blondie myself. We both know how understanding she is when it comes to delays.”

Sada slowly breathed out the last part of her reminder into her cell phone that was cradled in her petite hand. She was already dreading what her less than tolerant boss’ reaction would be to another set back in the arrival of the Gogi berries. The call disconnected with the assistance of her finger pressing on the screen.

“Oh, she will be very displeased.” The low hiss crawled over Sada’s shoulder. The cool air that signaled Langsuir was not missing the information arrived just as the petite female stepped out of the restaurant doors. “How are you going to keep this from her, hmmmm?”

Sada Abe was sure if shipment didn’t arrive the woman she answered to would be calling her to her office for yet another discussion on her expectations not being met. Those ‘fireside chats’ as the lethal blonde referred to them were anything but cordial or sweet as cherries. However, on numerous occasions those discussions did involve fire and she really wished the woman she was bewitched by would get over her dark fascination with using the element to impress her finer points in a discussion. A chill set in across the tiny female as she navigated her way through the parked cars on the warm night. Finally she found the car she parked near the building that seemed to have issues all it’s own with the increased break-ins.

“Don’t you have things to do?” Sada pulled out the keys from her pocket that would wake the all white Lotus Elise. There were perks to working for Dulce Periculum. Sada looked like a million bucks in white linen and in wheels thanks to her employers. “She expects you to be gathering some information last I heard. The restaurant and it’s shipments are my concern not yours, Casper.”

Sada hated wraiths with a passion. Leng Tche was bad enough to deal with when she first encountered the disturbing presence of Hantu’s trusted servant. It followed her everywhere until she accepted the fact she was going to be happy in this arrangement the two business partners dreamed up. They plucked her out of a normal life that included a promising dance career and decided they could give her everything she ever wanted. And they did. She just had been a little difficult to manage at the beginning. All was eventually smoothed over and they were happy. She was locking eyes on the luxury car used for all of her business needs while talking to the air as a restaurant patron passed her by glancing back over their shoulder to see what perhaps was missed.

“Langsuir-r-r-r.” The wraith hissed as it nearly clung to the back of Japanese female that hurried her pace as soon as the name hit the air.

“I don’t care what she calls you.”

Sada was about to open the car door when she noticed the boss's bike double parked as usual. that was no reason for the woman to be distracted from her current task at hand. What was sitting on the black Davidson Night Rod Special VRSCDX 280er Air Ride was enough to have her nearly drop the keys. It was back!

“If you be good then perhaps we can stop for rides over at the fairgrounds but first I need to pick up something for grandma’s bunions at Pandora’s Box.” A voice reminded a child that was already getting impatient with the long day that had been turning out to be anything but fun for a six year old that was free for the summer. “I promise it shouldn’t take long.”

Sada was many things and a fast mover was one of them. Spotting the bouncing head of curls following behind the parent working their way through the parking lot she quickly grabbed the creepy doll by the hair. Not missing a beat she darted swiftly behind the two about to climb into a car.

“I was trying to catch your attention back in the restaurant but you are quick!” Sada was nearly breathless with the relief that would be hers to enjoy if this little plan worked. “You were the random winner back in the dinner drawing for a prize.” She beamed with her brilliant white smile that nearly outshined the suit on her body. Her hand thrust the doll in her grip to the child. “Congratulations!”

“I won it?!” The child squealed as if the day gained some merit after being towed around by it’s parent.

“Yes.” Sada confirmed with a nod as she stepped away. “You certainly did.”

How the doll came to be on the back of Blondie’s bike was not her first concern. The woman ate those less than appealing Gogi berries like old people feasted on prunes. She had little dishes full of them everywhere. She wasn’t sure why but they existed and the shipment was late. She would fly to Malaysia if she had to just to get them before the last one was popped into the lethal allurist’s mouth. First she was going to make a stop at the office where they would be checked in.

“That has to be the most hideous looking toy imaginable.” The mother commented as she pulled open the door to Pandora’s Box and allowed the child to walk in before she did. “What an odd thing to give away at such a fine restaurant.”

“I need to go to the bathroom!” The child whined handing the woman the doll quickly.

As soon as the bouncing curls disappeared back out of the open door still in her hold she looked down at the doll and shivered. It was not going home with them. If she had to get the herb patches for Mabel’s toes elsewhere she would. Cupcakes! That was a good diversion. She dropped the doll on the counter next to the cash register and ran back out in pursuit of her child.

“Hurry up and we can stop and get grandma some cupcakes!” The door chime jingled loudly as she left in a hurry.

[Sepsis]

Once again, Chester was most certainly not happy.

Once again, the evil woman in white had stopped him from being reunited with his BIG woman. If only he could wrap his little hands around her neck and squeeeeze until the air was all gone from the wretched woman. He would gouge her eyes out if he could. Stomp on her head. And then toss her to the sharks!! Chester felt a bit better at imagining the meddling one in white being eaten by sharks. No more white...just red. Red, red, red. The colour of dead.

Even worse than being taken away from his perch upon his beloved's two wheeled chariot, was being thrust into the sticky hands of the small child the evil one had tried to pawn him off on. Children with their runny noses, dirty faces, and carelessness was most certainly NOT what Chester had had in mind. "Let me go!" Chester had 'screamed' at the pint sized human, but Chester wasn't sure if the scatter-brained mini had even heard him.

Worse yet, was 'hearing' the child's mother say he was hideous. He was not!! Most certainly not!!! He was sexy! He was divine! Just because they obviosuly needed glasses, didn't make him hideous! Chester didn't even feel slighted in the least when the woman dropped him on the counter in this new strange place. Anything was better than being toted along by some snot nosed little twerp who'd probably bang Chester's head on everything and drop him in the dirt anyway...

[Zodiac]

"MISS HAYES!"

Jennifer jumped from her chair as the shriek cut through the normally tranquil air of the shop that was only being broken by The Doors playing low in the background. She quickly walked to the front while Jim and the gang continued to tell anyone who was listening about Texas and approached the temp that had been tending the front while she caught up on the daily receipts.

"What happened?" she asked, considering almost 50 things that could happen in this place at any given moment. In reflex she looked about to see if Ginny was up to something.

"Is this a hazing thing temps go through?" the girl asked as she pointed to the doll laying beside the register. "I mean, if so-I get it, but this thing is a bit creepy to suddenly discover."

"What?" Jenn looked at the strange doll that was laying on the counter. It certainly looked like it belonged in Pandora's but there was no such thing for sale in the shop-save for the voodoo dolls and this was not one of them. "Oh dear. Where did this come from?"

"Oh come on. You had one of the others put it there. Right?" the temp insisted.

"You just found it laying here?"

"Yes, I told you that." the temp grew a bit louder now. "The joke is over!"

Jennifer ignored the girl now as she went back to the supply closet and pulled out a set of tongs one might use on a barbecue grill. Gently, she opened the tongs and slipped them just under the doll's arms and lifted it up. "Easy there, little guy." she turned and handed the tongs to the temp girl. "Just hold it. Don't touch or squeeze it."

"What the hell?"

"Just do as I say or the agency will get a really nasty review of you, okay?" Jennifer looked over her glasses at the girl. The girl was clueless and she made a mental note to speak to the agency again about what kind of help they should be sending them. Keys unlocked a drawer under the register and the redhead pulled out a vial of clear liquid. She held it between her hands and prayed softly. She uncorked the vial and continued to whisper in Latin as she splashed a small amount of the water onto the counter. North to South, then West to East. The woman dropped the vial back into the drawer, then locked it back shut. "Don't touch the counter till the water dries." she warned the girl as she took the doll back from her. It would not be the first time someone had dropped a cursed item in the shop. Either out of jealousy, a planned attack or warning, or a simple 'Hey, I can't deal with this-you fix it!' deal. She was not her employer, so could not say for sure, but she knew enough not to take a chance.

"C'mon, little dude. Let's put you somewhere comfortable until the boss lady gets here, okay?" She unlocked the door to the upstairs and went up into Zodiac's work area. She looked about the room, debating where to set the doll till her eyes settled on something almost as disturbing at the doll. It was something her boss had improved up. Let alone the sick mind that had originally given her the item as a gift. Zodiac had made it even sicker in a fit of humor.

"Here you go," she eased the doll onto the table and let it go gently. "You can keep Miss Marie company for awhile." She sat the doll next to 'Marie'.

'Marie' was supposedly a prosthetic replacement for a female body part normally hidden by panties. Zodiac had taken fangs from a make up shop and upgraded the item to be a visual representation of the myth of the vagina dentata. "Now be nice to the lady, little guy. She can get bitchy sometimes." Jennifer warned the doll as she went back downstairs to text her employer to come in early and check this out, and to scan the security logs to see how the doll had even gotten here.

[Sepsis]

Chester liked this new place. In fact, he felt quite at home.

Even if he was being shuffled about in the hell grippers. Cold they were! And shiny...like the big knives he 'dreamt' of plunging into the heart of any who dared keep him any longer from his BIG woman. At least his new captor, 'Miss Hayes', was being gentle as she transported him further into her witchy lair. She was even promising some 'boss lady' would come visit him later on. He must be very popular, or else why else would they want him to stay? He hoped this boss-lady lady listened better than the others he had ran across on his adventure so far...and didn't throw him in the garbage! Chester would have scowled if he could as he remembered 'Doctor Charles'. Throw Chester in the garbage will he! Chester hoped someone had kicked him in the 'you know what' by now. Yes, yes!

"You can keep Miss Marie company for awhile."

Chester tried to 'see' as the woman set him down, but his little head just didn't seem to want to co-operate.

"Now be nice to the lady, little guy. She can get bitchy sometimes."

Chester was't worried. He knew the fastest way to get to any bitchy woman's heart...straight through the rib cage! Chester watched as Miss Hayes left the room, closing the door behind her, giving Chester the time to allow his gaze to span the room. He was impressed to say the least, for all the weird and wonderful objects were organized with apparent love and care. Whomever this 'boss-lady' was, she at least appeared to know how to take care of her toys. Before he could take a second look however, a large bang was heard from another place, and Chester felt himself falling. Oh no!!

Landing with a small 'thwump', Chester found himself looking into the face of...

the second most beautiful creature that he had ever encountered in his entire life!! His BIG woman would always be first of course, but Chester knew better than to tell her though. Women didn't like those sorts of things. Of that he was sure.

This divine creation before him beamed at him, her teeth straight and pointy looking, her skin soft like satin. Chester stopped himself there, suddenly remembering his manners. Changing his tactic, Chester took on the 'coy' approach, and decided to bust out some of his magnetic male machismo for the lady.

"Why, hello there darling...you must be Miss Marie". Chester thought at her in his most sexy voice. Marie, of course said nothing in return, merely 'smiled' at him in her alluring way. Chester of course was highly impressed..he liked it when the ladies played hard to get. Not to be deterred, Chester pressed on. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing in a big bad place like this?" Chester knew that women liked to feel protected, and thought he could be the cowboy of her dreams if she'd only give him the chance. His BIG woman would never know. He certainly wouldn't be telling her, and there was always a little bit of Chester that could be shared with the ladies. At least in his mind.

Marie, to his dismay, still did not reply. "Ah, don't be shy..." Chester coaxed, wishing he had a tongue he could waggle suggestively at Marie. Some might suggest he was being a pervert, but he knew for a fact that women just liked to play hard to get. It made them feel better. At that moment somewhere in the building, another bang could be heard, and Chester slid further into Marie's 'mouth.' "Oooh yeah baby, that's right." Chester thought, believing his overwhelming maleness had coaxed her into silent submission.

Oh how Chester wish he could stroke her precious teeth. Maybe mount her like a stallion even! Chester smiled inside, wondering if the BIG lady would mind some 'love children'. After all he knew the dead ones couldn't have babies like the warm blooded ones. Things birthed from the dead ones frightened even Chester. But, he needn't concern himself with those things right now. Not with this sultry vixen before him.

As far as he was concerned, this 'boss-lady' could stay away for a few hours and give him time to 'get to know' Miss Marie. After all, he was a man, and no woman, dead or not...could resist him!

[Zodiac]

(two hours later)

"You found nothing on the tapes?"

"There were a couple moments it could have happened," Jennifer admitted as she followed the mystic up the stairs. "But we could not see exactly how it got in here. The temp found it on the counter and screamed blue murder, so I did what you told me to do then contacted you."

"Better safe than sorry. Good job."

She paused on the stairs as a loud banging noise was heard echoing in the building. "What the hell is that?"

"Guys on the roof installing the new central air system."

"Do they have to be so damn noisy about it?" the gypsy scowled as she entered the work room. Her eyes turned to the workbench and froze as she took in the sight of the doll laying face down on the table. It was not a strange thing, but how gravity and fate chose to knock over the toy is what was making both women laugh. The doll's face was laying on top of the prosthetic vagina.

"Did you do that?"

"No." Jennifer was trying to stifle her laughter.

"Poor little guy. Looks like Tyrion from 'Game of Thrones' flirting with Andre the Giant's big sister." Both girls were now laughing. "Well, any male who would try and flirt with Miss Marie has stones the size of Texas or is insane. Or both." After the pair managed to compose themselves, Zodiac stood next to the table. Her hands passed in a pattern above the doll as she focused her perceptions upon it while Jennifer watched. In a few minutes, she stopped and pondered.

"Well?" Jennifer asked.

"Well, there is something a bit off about this doll, but I don't sense a curse or anything like that. You probably scared the crap out of that temp, but that's okay. Better that than her picking it up and suddenly we dealing with who knows what." gently, she tapped the doll on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir." she grinned as she picked up the doll and turned it so she could see it."Break time. Come up for air. Smoke if ya got em."

"Kinda different, but..."

"Yes, exactly." Zodiac softly combed the doll's hair with her fingers, trying to neaten it up a bit as she smiled at it. "But just look at him. He belongs here." She pulled the doll close as lips coated with Violet Vixen pressed against the doll's cheek, leaving a purple lips print on it. She then pulled it against her chest and hugged it tight and squealed.

"You have no clue where that's been." Jennifer continued to laugh.

"Oh yes I do." she looked down on the table at the faux vagina laying there. "Bad Marie. Vile temptress! Seducing this sweet little boy like that."

"So now what?"

"We put him on display downstairs. If he is lost and someone is missing him, they will claim him. If not, I'll keep him. He certainly fits in with the place. If anyone does try to claim it I want to meet them first."

"How come?" the pair and doll headed back downstairs now.

"I told you, the doll isn't cursed but there is something unusual about it. I can't be sure what. Maybe it's just me or I am picking up on something. Perhaps the owner can explain it." Zodiac answered as she carried the doll against her breast like a child. Within an hour, the unusual doll sat on a shelf behind the register area with a sign that read...

LOST- INQUIRE TO CLAIM

*****

(1 hour later)

The large black cat sat glaring at the doll. A low note of warning escaping it's mouth as it pawed at the doll, as if daring it to try something.