A Talk of Heart & Magic

That night Marcus slept in the nearby inn while Rebekah headed for her room to sleep alone since Joy failed to cheer her up since she had no real knowledge of magic or what could've been going in the study. So with a sigh of defeat she kiss Rebekah good night before seeking out her grandfather who was still in the study.

"Where is Marcus!" snapped Joy as she entered the study glaring at Old Ben who was sitting in the same chair Rebekah had been sitting in and was sipping on some tea while reading an old book.

"He's staying at the inn down the street until Rebekah is ready to talk about what happened." sighed Old Ben as he placed a marker in the book he was reading before closing it and setting it to the one side.

"What exactly did happen? All Rebekah could say was that she was pinned to the chair and someone tried to take her panties off!" half growled Rebekah as her voice also contained a little hint of concern.

"I had instructed Marcus to clear his mind of everything and to focus on the Ari-Force. Well he failed to clear his mind of Rebekah and thus the Ari interpreted her as a target of his pleasures. Now what I don't know is if the Ari attacked her in jealousy or if it was tying to build a bond between them. He says the smell and feel of what he saw were very familiar to what I smell and feel when little Rebekah gives me a hug right after a shower especially during that special time of the lunar rotation." explained Old Ben as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's hard to tell because Marcus was born with a special bond to the Ari that usually takes a normal mage years to form."

"So what do we do?" asked a partially scared Joy as she approached Old Ben.

"For starters give her time and once she's ready then I'll talk with her until then all we can do is wait." sighed Old Ben.

"So are you covering the bill at the inn for Marcus or is he spending the gold his father gave him for the daggers he sold that Marcus had made?" asked Joy, "And what about food?"

"He took food from the kitchen before he left as for the rent money he was determined to pay his own way but I've made provisions with the innkeeper to send me the bill once his money has run out just in case Rebekah needs more time than he has the money to cover." explained Old Ben As he slowly stood from his chair.

"I'll go visit him tomorrow and see if I can help some." sighed Joy as they headed for the door to the study.

"May I ask you something about little Rebekah?" asked Old Ben once they reached the door.

"What's that grandpa?" asked Joy as she opened the door.

"When she reached you did she still have her panties or did you find them in the hallway leading back here?" asked Old Ben stepping through the doorway.

"No why?" asked Joy half confused, half worried.

"Just a theory that I'll have to speak with Marcus about tomorrow about." yawned Old Ben as he slowly hobbled over to his room. "Sleep sound my dear."

"You to grandpa." sighed Joy as she tiredly went to her own room for the night.

Meanwhile in a shadowy area a figure sniffed the discarded panties of Rebekah Squirrel. Oh how the scent made their heart beat and every ounce of lust peek. They needed more of it! They just had to have her! They'd die without her!

The next morning Old Ben slowly rose from his bed and started for the stairs to go to see Marcus at the inn yet when he walked past Rebekah's room he was shocked to find her missing. Part of him was very concerned until he noticed her standing in the doorway to the study.

"Rebekah dear are you okay?" asked. Old Ben as he walked over to her side.

"Oh I was looking for Marcus he never came to bed last night." replied Rebekah as she turned to face him.

"He's not here. He felt bad about what happened that he decided it would be best for him to stay elsewhere until you were ready for him to come back." replied Old Bed, "Can we talk dear it doesn't have to be in the study if you're not ready to go in there?"

"Grandpa Ben, I'm not scared of him I just felt violated. You see I wouldn't mind taking my panties off for Marcus all he'd have to do is ask but to use magic it felt wrong I I though I could've sworn I felt paws on my legs it was creepy. Why would he want to scare me like that?" asked Rebekah as she let Old Ben lead her towards the dinning room table.

"Too be honest dear I don't think he meant for any of that to happen. You see when one first started training in magic they have to first creat a strong bond with the Ari-Force. To do this they must clear their minds of everything and focus only on the emptiness. Unfortunately Marcus just couldn't seem to get you out of his head which lead to you to he'd by the Ari-Force. I'm not really sure if it was out of jealousy or in attempt to getting close to you." explained Old Ben once they reached the table and both found a seat.

"So Marcus was thinking about mating with me and that influenced the actions of this Ari-Force thing?" asked Rebekah with a questioning glance at the study.

"Not exactly he was just thinking of you. You see magic comes both from the mind and the heart. The more you care about something the stronger your protective spell or attack spell will be. From what I heard little Marcus as a baby fried the balls and penis of someone who tried to rape his mother. I believe the Ari took his anger and targeted that spot of the attacker on purpose." explained Old Ben taking her paw before adding, "You see the Ari is more then just a simple force that allows mortals to use magic but it is also a living being that has a mind, heart and will of it's own. It's why we must always be careful of letting our heart determine our magic because then it influences the Ari and alters its purity."

"I see will Marcus ever come back?" asked Rebekah with sadness starting to spread across her face and the slightest hint of a tear in her eye.

"Well dear I was just about to go speak with him about something and I think if I tell him you don't blame him and are ready for him to return then he will." replied Old Ben with a smile and for a moment he felt an odd chill and Rebekah could've sworn she saw a small smile like crack in the shadows.