“It’s been delivered.” Coral watched as Connie picked up the heavy bag as though it weighed nothing. When she had attempted to lift it, she realized just how heavy it was, and how strong this tall muscular woman really was.

“Coral, your body hasn’t recovered fully yet. You’ll injure yourself if you try to lift it without stretching or warming up. Stretch, and warm up a little, then try the mats, or the box of gloves, and supplies.” Coral pursed her lips, and waited until Connie came back upstairs.

“Talia.” Connie frowned, and came closer. It sounded like her young companion was a bit angry.

“Is something wrong, Corrie?” She tugged Connie’s shirt which made her bend down a little. Coral had learned a bit of a secret. Connie would not hurt her, and when she made her come closer, she would not fight her. “Corrie?” Connie squeaked out.

“Do you think I’m weak?” Coral kissed her firmly on the lips. Connie moaned almost immediately. She had a natural dominant personality, but when Coral pulled her in, she had no choice. She submitted to every crook of her finger.

“Hm?” Connie said after Coral lifted her lips. Her eyes were unfocused, and her cheeks had warmed far too easily.

“Didn’t you teach me that a limit is just a goal that I haven’t met yet?” Connie nodded. “Then if I want to test my limits, aren’t you going to let me?” Coral grinned, then kissed her again. This time, she pushed her against a wall and delved her tongue between her lips before she sucked Connie’s bottom lip into her mouth.

Connie had to admit that Coral’s forceful kiss was on par with Talia’s ghostly kiss, as Talia had gotten stronger recently as well. During the day, Coral made her submit, while at night, Talia stole her breath, and her thoughts.

It was a wonder that she had the ability to focus on the house renovations at all.

After that firm kiss left her knees weakened, she watched as Coral pushed her body to the limits. She didn’t try to out muscle the bag. She dragged the box to the stairs a bit at a time. She pushed it, pulled it, and also resisted its weight as it slid down the stairs.

“Damn. I didn’t think she paid that much attention to what I said.” Of course, Connie was not oblivious to the girl’s intentions, but she was a bit impressed at how she eagerly gobbled up whatever she taught her.

It’s only been a week, but every morning, they went for a walk that had just turned into a jog that morning. She lifted weights, and already pushed out a new personal best.

Connie almost couldn’t see the original timid girl she once knew. Instead, she was bolder, and aggressive with her own wants, and needs. Coral wasn’t arrogant, but where Connie once had to encourage her, or soothe her tears, she now made firm decisions, and learned from her mistakes.

She wasn’t afraid of failure. This timid young woman’s true nature was one that was quite attractive to Connie. Her timid nature was almost a binding spell woven by the author, and right now, she hated that author with a passion.

Not only did they force a wonderful young woman to be a timid mouse who was abused on a regular basis, but they also tied Talia’s character with a fierce jealous personality. No one felt any sympathy for her due to the way the author made her character.

Connie, however, felt that the author held some sort of hatred for women in his heart. What kind of author would turn Talia into a jealous crazy ex-girlfriend type when they had never been in that kind of relationship?

Connie now believed that the author saw themselves as the male lead, the knight in shining armor, and the woman should be grateful that he even looked at her. That was probably why the women he associated with were madly in love with the intended male lead. That was what the author wanted to be. A lady’s man who protected the weak female lead, and since he was so strong and handsome, they should feel grateful he paid attention to them.

She would not let Coral or Talia fall victim to that author's whims.

*****

“I see you’re still dazed by her kiss.” Connie’s eyes went wide, and was quickly pressed against the wall by another pair of lips, but this pair was still invisible. Talia delved her tongue into Connie’s mouth and had to hold her up so she wouldn’t fall.

Connie rolled her eyes and tried to get her legs back under her.

“I wanted to press her between us, but I’m starting to think I’ll be pressed between the two of you.” She heard a soft chuckle at her ear.

“Will you let me go?” she whispered.

“Not a chance. I will never let you go.” Connie said firmly. Talia smiled and felt another delightful shiver run down her spine.

Every time that Connie declared she would never let her leave, and held her firmly, her chains grew stronger, and the rope lost another strand. She wasn’t safe yet, but Connie’s will had not faltered, and her desire had never changed.

It might take a few years, but eventually, her destiny would have so little power to bind her that they could tear the rope in half. When that day happens, she had no idea what the result would be.

Will she be freed? Will she be reborn in Connie’s time? Will she take back her place, and Connie would go home? Or was there another possibility that they couldn’t foresee?

Connie felt Talia’s warm breath on her neck.

“As long as you hold on tight, it will never be able to tear me from your grasp.” She whispered in Connie’s ear. Connie’s lips were once again covered and a tongue slipped into her mouth. The kiss was a lot more gentle this time, and it stole Connie’s senses even faster.

That was Connie’s weakness. She was fast, strong, and could beat many normal men in a straight up fist fight. She could also kick the ass of a reasonably decent fighter. But when these two women dominated her, she became aroused, and meek.

“Remember, I may share you with her, but I will never give you to her. Ah, out of tiiimmmmeee.” Connie felt alone each time Talia disappeared, until she reformed inside her soul space. When she laid on the bed, weak and exhausted, Connie’s eyes flashed as another strong chain was forged around that space.

Each chain bound Talia inside her soul, so she couldn’t disperse, or be forcibly taken by the author’s cruel intent. When Talia regained her strength, the chains would allow her to move about freely, as long as she was within a ten foot radius of her host.

As soon as her exhaustion reached a critical point, and the author’s destiny tried to rip her spirit away, the chains would hold her tight, and pull her back within her safe space.

Talia was Connie’s prisoner, but at the same time, she was also her savior. Without Connie, the story would progress, and each character would be bound to do the will that the story laid out for them, bound to a destiny that was forged with ill intent.

At one point in the timeline of this alternate reality, that book overlaid itself, and rewrote the actions of many people. However, when Connie was pulled back in time, the book was forcibly eroded, and began to peel itself off that timeline. Not much of the original book remained intact, except for the eventual destiny that still tried to suck Talia’s essence away.

*****

“I will never let you go.” She whispered as she combed her fingers through Talia’s soft hair. Talia’s sleepy smile made Connie smile as well.  Talia sighed when she heard the last few soft words.

“I am your destiny now.”