Where There's Smoke...

Zack grinned, climbed into bed and lay back against the headboard. He began to read the reports on the fire once again, but he soon dozed off. Mandy came running in the bedroom, skin a bright pink with excitement, and flung herself on the bed next to Zack.

"Wake up lover," she cried happily. "I've solved the mystery."

Zack jerked awake and looked at her sleepily.

"What? Huh? You solved what mystery?"

"The mystery of how the fires started, silly."

"We've been over these reports until I can quote from them by heart. I didn't see..."

"I saw something on the television. A quiz show called "Jeopardy." They were asking questions about candles. Then I knew how it was done."

"Candles?"

"Yes, candles. It's like this. You make a pile of easily ignited materials, like paper, cardboard or wood shavings; place the stub of a candle in the center, scatter books of matches in the pile to make the fire hotter, light the candle, make sure the wick's staying lit, then away you go."

"It certainly sounds plausible..."

"That's the way it happened; remember the circular burn marks? They were always near highly flammable materials. Look at the reports. They were never mentioned. Who wrote those reports?"

"Keith Warner, of course, Mandy you're a genius!"

He hugged her to him and they shared a soul kiss.

"What shall I ask for as my reward?" she purred, stroking Zack's cock as it hardened under her touch. "I think this will do nicely."

In one lithe motion, she turned, straddled Zack's head and engulfed his thick meat in her mouth. He gripped Mandy's round ass and pulled her wet pussy onto his wiggling tongue. They licked and sucked wildly for several ecstatic minutes, driving each other into a frenzy of lust.

Mandy's lips left Zack's cock as she pulled away from his mouth, turned around and straddled his hips, rubbing his velvet cock head on her pussy lips. She lowered herself slowly onto his throbbing hardness, sighing as it entered her inch by inch until it was all the way in.

They looked at one another for a moment, love shining in their eyes, knowing at that instant they belonged with and to each other, never to part.

She leaned forward and their lips met in a burning kiss. Slowly their hips began to move, savoring each penetration as one became quicker than the last. Soon their bodies were as one in the dance of love, gasping and moaning as their passions climbed to greater heights.

Zack sucked Mandy's thick nipples one by one into his mouth, lashing the rock hard flesh with his tongue as she moaned to him to fuck her harder, harder. The bed creaked and shook with the intensity of their lovemaking. He clutched her ass cheeks and pulled her harder onto his pounding cock. She responded by impaling herself as hard as she could, the sounds of their flesh slapping together mingling with their cries of ecstasy.

Mandy's body shook as an orgasm suffused her body. She shrieked in release, drenching Zack's cock and thighs in a torrent of warm juices. He, in turn, cried out, jetting streams of cum deep in her soaking pussy. They continued fucking until Mandy climaxed again. Locked in an embrace, they exchanged soft kisses, basking in the afterglow.

The bed gave a final creak and collapsed under them, dropping the box spring and mattress to the floor. Zack and Mandy laughed uproariously, continuing to snuggle until they drifted into sleep.

***

"He'll be in that meeting for at least an hour," Zack said as he and Mandy walked down the line of parked cars at department headquarters. "Keep watch and I'll see what I can find in his...ah, there it is." He pulled on the white sedan's door handle, "Damn, it's locked."

"You keep watch," Mandy said. She shimmered and disappeared.

How does she do that?

"Ew, what a mess," Mandy remarked, reappearing seated on the vehicles trunk. "He must live on fast food. Wrappers and cups all over the floor. I found something interesting though."

Zack sat next to her, "And that would be...?"

"A burlap sack of wood shavings, flattened cardboard cartons and a plastic bag full of candles and matchbooks hidden in the spare tire well; he's the arsonist. I wonder why he's setting these fires when he's supposed to be investigating them."

"I remember how he acted in training, always trying to be the first with the answers, seeking the instructor's approval. He was a real eager beaver, working overtime, shining up to the brass, pushing until he became Chief Investigator. There have been cutbacks in the departmental budget this fiscal year; maybe he thinks his position will be eliminated unless there's some spectacular fires to investigate, keeping his profile high and looking indispensable."

"What do we do now? Tell Captain Cartwright what we've found?"

"I'm not sure we have sufficient evidence to accuse him of anything. He could explain away everything in his trunk, but I agree, we need to tell the Captain... Wait a minute, how are we going to explain finding those things in a locked car?"

Mandy touched the trunk lock with her index finger, the tip turned bluish white and the lock snapped.

"He must have forgotten to lock it, how careless of him."

***

"It's not that I don't believe what you've told me," Captain Cartwright said with a sigh, "I'm just amazed that one of the most trusted men in the department is a serial arsonist and he's escaped detection all this time."

"When you control what is seen by others it's easy," Zack replied. "He's supervised the investigations of all major fires for the last 8 months. If something odd would be discovered, he'd just 'forget' to put it in the report."

"I have a good idea where he's planning to set a fire next," Mandy said.

"What's your idea, sweet...I mean cousin."

"Continental Chemicals just finished a multi-million dollar expansion to it's laboratories and distribution center on Old Town Road. It's now the largest factory in the city. That has to be a tempting target."

The Captain began shuffling through a stack of papers on his desk.

"Here it is. I knew that sounded familiar. Chief Inspector Warner attended the opening ceremonies representing the department at the request of the Mayor and the City Council. They toured the entire factory, and he probably has copies of the construction plans from the Building Department. He knows every inch of that place."

"We can't do a thing until he makes a move, then it may be too late," Zack said disgustedly.

"How long has it been since the last fire Warner investigated?" Mandy asked.

"About three weeks," Cartwright said looking in a file folder. "Hmm...closer to four actually."

"And the one before that?"

"Aha...just over a month. Why didn't I see that earlier? There's a definite pattern."

"It's just about time for another one then."

"I'd be willing to keep watch," Zack said.

"We don't know when he'll make his move. You could be there night after night, it's not feasible."

"I know someone who can help us," Mandy said with a smile.

***

"Your Mother and Father said to tell you hello and they miss you. I think the Supreme One isn't as angry as she was. Do you like it here?"

Zack stared in astonishment at the creature on the hearth. When he and Mandy returned to his apartment, she asked if she could build a fire in the fireplace. Zack said yes, although it was mid-August and you could fry an egg on the sidewalk. When the fire was blazing merrily, Mandy called out "Blaze. Are you there? The portal's open."

Out from the flames waddled something seen in nightmares. It vaguely resembled a large iguana with scaly skin and a serrated fin down it's spine, but it's huge yellow eyes, scimitar like claws and skin the color of heated metal belied that impression. It's mouth opened revealing needle-like fangs and a darting black tongue. It climbed in Mandy's lap and licked her face. It's voice was clear in Zack's mind as the two of them began talking.

"I'm having such fun here," Mandy said, "But I miss the Realm, and Mother and Father. Do you think the Supreme One will let me return?"

"She said she's thinking about it. It took her quite a while to placate some of the Imps. You know how they are." Blaze looked at Zack, "Is this the mortal you're in love with?"

"Yes. I want to take him home to meet my parents, but first I need a favor."

***

Keith Warner trembled with excitement. This would be the most spectacular fire yet. He had obtained three thermite grenades that would make the fire even hotter. Everyone would be thanking him for trying to save the new chemical plant. He would be a hero.

High above, yellow eyes watched his every move.

***

Mandy sat up suddenly from where they were lying in bed snuggling after making love.

"Zack! Blaze says Warner's preparing to set a fire at the plant. He'll try to keep him occupied until we can get there."

Dressing hurriedly, they were soon speeding across town.

***

Warner fastened the timer to the cluster of grenades and set it for one hour. He would be safely away when the fire started and yet close enough to get there first. A loud hiss made him turn around. Shining his flashlight into the darkened factory, he saw nothing. When he turned back to his work, there was an even louder hiss. He stepped away from the chemical storage bins, looked about and still could see nothing.

He jumped as a stack of cartons fell over with a crash, and then there was a hiss and the sound of something dragging across the floor. Warner played his flashlight beam around in the darkness. He saw nothing. A crash of glass and another hiss sent him lumbering toward the source of the sound, his plans for arson temporarily forgotten.

***

Flashing his badge at the startled guard, Zack drove through the opened gate heading for where Mandy said Blaze was watching their quarry.

Mandy giggled, relaying how her friend was leading Warner a merry chase through the darkened factory, drawing him further away from where he intended to start the fire.

Stopping at a particular door marked 'No Admittance, Authorized Personnel Only', Mandy wrenched it open and they were running through the darkened factory. Her eyes could function in the entire spectrum of visible light bands, so they easily avoided obstacles.

Reaching the area Blaze had described to them, Mandy saw the cluster of grenades and the timer. She picked it up and handed it to Zack, who in turn examined it with his penlight.

"This thing might be set to go off any time. I'll try and figure how to disarm it. See if you can bring Warner back here so he can."

Mandy smiled and was gone.

He was still puzzling over it when a blow from behind knocked him unconscious.

***

"Blaze. Where's Warner? I thought you..."

"I lost him. I was ready to make some more noise, when I heard him running away. I didn't see where he went."

"He's gone back for the bomb to make sure it's still going to go off. Zack's there alone. Come on."

She scooped Blaze up and sprinted back to her lover.

***

Warner hefted his flashlight, ready to strike again if Zack moved. He didn't. Panting from his exertions, he dragged Zack inside the storage room, checked the timer on the thermite bomb and turned to leave.

Zack's cousin stood in the doorway holding a hideous creature in her arms. It's mouth opened revealing needle sharp fangs and it hissed loudly. Her eyes glowed and her skin was deep red. Warner shook with fright.

"What have you done to my Zack?"

Warner's mouth opened, but he couldn't speak. He backed away, nearly stumbling over Zack's body. She moved closer, and then set the creature down.

"Watch him Blaze."

The creature waddled forward, fangs bared, hissing and lashing it's tail.

Mandy knelt, lifted Zack in her arms, turned and walked out.

Warner tried to follow, but the creature hissed menacingly.

"You have to let me out of here. The bomb is going off any minute," Warner screamed.

"Then you better disarm it," Mandy said over her shoulder and continued to walk away.

He picked it up in sweaty hands, frantically pulling at the wires.

Mandy shielded Zack with her body as the grenades exploded, lay him down carefully behind some crates, returned to the flames and absorbed them; sinking to her knees from the effect.

Blaze nuzzled her and licked her face. In a moment, she stood up, her legs wobbly.

"Are you alright, Mandy? You've never absorbed that much energy before."

"I'll be okay in a minute. I need to see if Zack's badly injured."

Zack appeared from behind the crates, gingerly touching the swelling lump on his head.

"Mandy, what happened? Where's Warner? Was the bomb disarmed?"

Mandy didn't answer. They embraced, kissing and hugging.

"Here's what's left of him," Blaze answered, whisking a smoldering pile of ashes and bone fragments with his tail.

***

"Courageous Firefighter Gives Life to Save Factory," Zack read the headline aloud, "What a crock of crap."

"That press release came directly from the Mayor's office," Captain Cartwright said disgustedly. "They don't want to admit Warner made fools of them, so he's a hero instead of a demented arsonist."

"Politicians!" Zack snorted.

"Well, they did offer you the Chief Inspectors job as a consolation prize," Cartwright replied with a grin. "Are you going to accept it?"

"Yes I am. Mandy will be staying with me a while longer...and she likes to help me with cases...

Zack's cell phone chirped.

"Scuse me, Cap'n, it's Mandy. Hi cuz. What's goin' on? Really, no kidding? Sure, I can be there. Bye.

I gotta go, Cap'n. Something's come up."

***

When Zack entered the apartment, Mandy and Blaze stood on the hearth, talking excitedly. She was wearing her tunic and a fire was crackling in the fireplace.

"Zack!" she cried happily, running to him and giving him a hug that made him gasp.

"I'm sorry, my love. I'm just so excited. The Supreme One said I may return home. Isn't that wonderful?"

Zack's face fell. "That's great, sweetie. Are you leaving right this minute?"

"Oh, yes. I can't wait to see my parents and my friends."

Mandy saw the look on his face.

"You're coming too, silly. Everyone is looking forward to meeting you."

At that instant, a wall of flame appeared where the fireplace had been. Oddly, Zack felt no heat as he looked into it and saw nothing but a raging inferno.

"Mandy, I can't go in there. I'll..."

"Nonsense. Take my hand. You won't be harmed."

Blaze waddled through first, wriggling happily.

Zack's senses screamed danger as they stepped through the portal. It closed behind them and the fire went out.

***

They stood in a bizarre landscape reminiscent of a Dore' or a Bosch painting. The ground was alive with flames, the sky a dull copper; tumbled boulders, grotesquely shaped plants and shadowy creatures were occasionally visible between billowing clouds of smoke.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Mandy said excitedly. "Mother and Father should be here soon. I just know they're going to like you."

"I'm sure they will," said a gravelly voice behind them.

Zack turned in surprise, what he saw was Blaze, grown as large as an alligator with eyes the size of pie plates.

"You can speak?" Zack said.

"Of course, when I am in your plane of existence it is necessary to reduce my size and communicate mind to mind. It attracts less attention that way. The last time I materialized there in my present state, men in armor were trying to spear me with lances. I frightened them away by breathing fire."

"Dragons," Zack muttered under his breath.

"Mother and Father are here," Mandy called from somewhere in the billows of smoke. "They want to meet you."

"Follow me," Blaze said, waddling into the smoke. "You better hold on to my tail."

Zack emerged and stared in amazement at the sight before him. Mandy was standing between two fantastic beings, smiling and motioning him to come closer.

One was clearly female, skin a dazzling white, yellow hair artfully piled and sculpted on her head, full breasted, wide hips, thick waist and long legs. She was naked except for sandals on her feet. Hovering just above the ground, her emerald eyes gazed benignly at her daughter then at Zack.

The other was unlike anything Zack had ever seen.

The beings upper half was human in appearance, a head on a thick neck, heavily muscled arms and torso that blended seamlessly into a huge lizard-like body with squat legs and scimitar claws. Long black hair dangled in ringlets from its head matching its full beard and thick eyebrows. Its yellow eyes had vertical pupils and brilliant white teeth flashed in a welcoming smile. Mandy ran up, hugged and kissed him and said "Mother, Father, this is Zack. We're lovers and we want to marry."

"You have chosen well, my daughter," the woman said as she floated up to Zack, looking him up and down. "A handsome face, such muscles and so well endowed. If I was a few hundred years younger I might go for him myself."

Zack suddenly realized his clothing had disappeared. Mandy was naked too and her hugging him was not helping his composure, but her parents seemed not to notice.

A hearty laugh burst from the man-lizard, making Zack jump.

"You haven't changed a bit since the day we met, Kalli, always keeping an eye out for the virile young men. That one is Mandy's."

"I was merely familiarizing myself with our son-in-law to be, Lagar. You know you are my mate for eternity. So tell us, what do you do where you come from?"

"Well, I fight..."

"Zack is a mighty warrior," Mandy interjected. "He's strong, fearless, brave and a wonderful lover."

"How exciting," Kalli replied. "Whom do you fight, the Phoenicians, the Spartans, the Goth's...?"

"A warrior son-in-law," Lagar boomed, "How appropriate. There are some beings about that could use a good thrashing."

"Zack saved me from an evil ogre who was on a rampage," Mandy continued, warming to her subject. "He tracked him to his lair, freed me and destroyed the evil creature."

"Mandy, that's not what happened..." Zack began.

"So modest too," Kalli said admiringly, "Truly the sign of a noble warrior."

Before Zack could explain further, Mandy began pulling him away.

"I want him to meet my friends. We'll see you later. Bye."

They disappeared into the smoke, her parents staring bemusedly after them.

***

"Mandy, why did you tell your parents I was a warrior?"

"I couldn't very well tell them you put out fires, at least not yet. Once they get to know you we'll tell them the truth."

"Where are we going?"

"To meet my friends, like I said."

They stepped through a roiling cloud of smoke into a verdant landscape of tall grass, huge trees and flowers of every size and description. Zack was amazed.

"Mandy, what place is this?"

"This is Earth, the source of all life. It's one of the four lands that make up the Supreme One's Realm. I am one of the few Elementals that can travel from one land to another, and I have since I was a child. Let's sit under that tree for a bit."

Zack had never seen such huge trees in his life; they made Sequoias look like flagpoles. The grass under their feet was a living carpet; brilliant green and soft to walk on. They stretched out on the grass, snuggling and kissing.

"I love you, my Zack," Mandy purred, nuzzling his neck.

Her silken skin against his inflamed his simmering arousal and he pulled her atop him as his throbbing cock glided easily into her. She sighed and wiggled her hips, twisting his cock in her pussy. They locked ankles and rocked slowly back and forth, kissing hungrily. Zack gripped Mandy's ass, pulling her harder onto his cock as she moaned loudly in pleasure.

Mandy rolled onto her back, carrying Zack with her; her legs crossed over his back as he thrust into her with all his strength; the slap of naked flesh and their moans and cries the only sounds in the stillness of the Earth realm.