It was late in the evening as a young, blonde woman stepped off a public transport bus, ready to head home after a long day's work.  She waved to the driver, saying "Thank you!"

He shot her a queer look but smiled and shrugged.  "Jus doin' ma job."  He thought as he pulled away.

It wasn't a long walk to her home, a small apartment just within the New York city limits and the neighborhood wasn't too bad either.  There had been next to no gang violence for the past few years and few homeless people came this far from the busy city central.  As she rounded the corner to her street, her building came into view, a small five story structure that was probably a hundred years old.  It wasn't as good as her last apartment, but it was, relatively, cheap and kept the heat in.

Unable to help herself, she thought fondly of the roughly three months she had lived in her old apartment, almost half of the time she got to spend with the tiny love of her life, Sirus.  She had been checking social media updates and news from Nova Scotia, overjoyed to learn that Sirus had pulled through and was discharged just over a month ago.  She didn't know what he was up to now or where he was, but she hoped he was happy.

As she got to the steps leading to the entrance of her building, Eri halted when she saw a dirty looking hooded man with a thick beard slumped up against the railing.

"Oh my!"  She thought, crouching down to him.  "Sir, are you alright?"  She asked, tentatively reaching out to him.

Her voice seemed to stir the homeless man from his sleep.  He coughed a bit to clear his dry throat and offered her a smile, holding up a hand as to politely refuse her aid.  "I'm just wai-"  He began to say, his voice as cracked and dry as an ancient crypt, but stop once he saw her.  Tears began to fall down his face as his smile grew wider.

"Do I..."  Eri began to think, his voice sounding familiar but it was so hoarse and brittle.

"May I trouble you for some water?"  He asked, motioning to the disposable water bottle sticking out of her bag.

"Oh, of course!"  She replied, quickly handing the bottle over.  "Have as much as you like."

"You are very kind."  The man thanked her, slowly partaking of the water.

Eri smiled to herself, seeing the grateful man drink as she walked past him towards the door.  "I hope whoever you're looking for shows up soon."  She said, waving good-bye.

As she neared the top of the steps, the man cracked a sly smile and took a deep breath now that his throat was quenched.  Just as her hand grasped the door knob did he start to sing.

          "Empty spaces fill me up with holes.
          Distant faces with no place left to go.
          Without you within me I can't find no rest.
          Where I’m going is anybody’s guess..."

Eri felt her body freeze instantly in response to the man voice, his powerful yet gentle tone resounding in her.

         "I tried to go on like I never knew you.
         I’m awake but my world is half asleep.
         I pray for this heart to be unbroken,
         But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete."

This song, burned into her memory.  So bittersweet.  She knew, it could only be one person.  "Sirus!"  She thought jubilantly, practically jumping down the stairs and diving into his arms.  "Oh Sirus!  My handsome, gentle Sirus!  I missed you so much."

         "Voices tell me I should carry on,
         But I am swimming in an ocean all alone.
         Baby, my baby
         It’s written on your face.
         You still wonder if we made a big mistake."

Wrapping his arms around her, Sirus continued to sing.  He didn't just  pick this song because it was what he had been singing along with when he first met her.

Eri also knew he chose this song to relay a message, it's what he does.  Overly poetic and a hopeless romantic.

         "I'd try to go on like I never knew you.
         I’m awake but my world is half asleep.
         I pray for this heart to be unbroken,
         But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete.

         I don’t mean to drag it on, but I can’t seem to let you go.
         I don’t wanna let you face this world alone.
         I won't let you go (alone)."

Eri tried to remind herself why she left, why she couldn't let herself be with Sirus.  She was ashamed that she couldn't protect him and afraid that he would hate her for shrinking other humans.  But all of her doubts and worries lost all meaning to the magic of Sirus' voice and the warmth of his embrace.  He didn't care about any of that, he was here for her because he wanted her, loved her.  She could tell he made some subtle changes to the lyrics and smiled as she wrapped her arms around him as he pulled her in tighter.

         "I'd try to go on like I never knew you,
         I’m awake but my world is half asleep,
         I pray for this heart to be unbroken,
         But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete."

Pulling back a bit, Sirus touched his fingers under her chin, lift her gaze to meet his own.  He leaned in, whispering the final phrase.  "Incomplete."

At a loss for words, Eri stared into his brilliant blue eyes.  She made no illusion that she could persuade him to forget about her and move on with his life, as always his choice of song was too perfect.  "Sorry I left, I... I..."  She tried to apologize, tears welling up as she overcome with emotions.

Sirus said nothing in reply.  He merely leaned in and kissed the most beautiful girl in the world with all his heart.

Eri's mind instantly went blank, surprise letting way for joy and passion as she reciprocated.  Moments into the heated lip-lock she felt something surge through her body and her power reactivate.  "It's back!?"  She exclaimed, looking at Sirus in confusion.  "What did you do?"

"I'm just the delivery boy."  Sirus replied smiling.  "Eris helped me find you and asked me-"  He began to explain before quickly fading away.

"Sirus?"  Eri asked, looking around.  She knew he wasn't an illusion, she could still feel the chill on her lips from his cold mouth.  She quickly checked at her feet, just in case but he didn't shrink out of view, it was more like he was whisked away like smoke in the wind.  "Sirus?"  She asked again, panic sinking in.

"Oh, sorry sweetie."  Eris' voice said apologetically.  "He and I had a deal."

"Deal?  What deal?!"  Eri asked shakily.  "Actually, never mind that.  Just give him back!"  She said, her worry giving way for her mounting frustration.

"Oh, but he's mine now."  She replied, with a heavy emphasis on the 'mine'.  "I'm the one that was keeping him alive after that piece of shit almost killed him, yet he still wanted to come back for you.  So I gave him a choice.  He could return to his normal life but never seek you out again or race against time to find you where if he loses I get to keep him, forever."

"How long did he have?  He only got discharged from the hospital a month ago."  Eri tried to argue.

"I gave him plenty of time, two whole weeks.  I even added a special service of not starting the timer until after the got out of the hospital."  Eris replied.  "I gave him the ability to sense your direction from further than 50 km away.  I can think of two ways he could have gotten the job done in less than a week!  It's not my fault he didn't think about them soon enough."

"No..."  Eri said silently, as if to reject reality.  "It's not fair.  We only just reunited..."  Tears began to run down her cheeks and she had to stabilize herself with the hand rail, slowly sitting down.

"Not fair?"  Eris asked with a hint of anger in her voice.  "Not fair!?  No, you want to know what's not fair?  Running away from the guy that almost got himself killed trying to protect you because you were too afraid.  What, did you seriously think he would blame you?  Hate you?  Do you know anything about Sirus?!  He loves you.  Of course he wouldn't blame you.  Now, you enjoy having your power back, I have to seduce Sirus into serving me faithfully until I get bored of him.  And trust me, I've eaten and stolen the domains of all the Gods and Goddesses in my world, including Lust and Love.  Sirus will honor our deal and stay with me, that's just the kind of guy he is, but while he'll try to hold on to his love for you, I'll make sure he forgets all about you and lives only for me."

Eri was powerless to stop Eris, powerless to fight back and unable to deny her words.  It was fact that she ran and whether she intended to or not it made it look like she didn't trust Sirus, didn't trust his love for her.  She knew that if she were to tell someone her tale, of how she met and fell for Sirus and ultimately lost him, that she would seem to be the sympathetic, tragic heroine who lost to the evil temptress but that would be wrong.  Eris, in her own way, does actually care for Sirus and with all her power can make him happy.

"But it should be me."  The blonde thought defiantly, swiping away her tears.  "I'm the one that spent half a year with him.  I may not deserve it and it may be selfish, but I want to be with Sirus!"  "Take me too then."  She demanded.

"Oh, now that's an idea."  Eris replied, intrigued.  "You two do look cute together and having a pair of toys would be twice the fun.  I could keep you in my pussy and Sirus up my asshole!  Sure, there'd be a fleshy wall separating the two of you, but you'd still be together."  She giggled, contemplating Eri's offer.  "Just know that eventually I will get bored of you two and creatively get rid of you."

"That doesn't matter, I want to be with Sirus.  Please, I don't care what I have to give up."  Eri replied.

"Oh?  Well then how about this?"  Eris offered.  "I'll lend you my Sirus for a bit, he's mine forever now so I guess I can put off properly training him for a while.  You can have him for the rest of his 'natural' life, after which I'm reclaim what's mine, and in return, at the end of your natural life, I get you as well.  Sound fair?"

"That's more than I could have hoped for."  Eri replied happily.  "Maybe she had a soft spot for me afterall."

"Goodie!  There will, however, be one catch."  She stated playfully before they formally closed the deal.

"Uh-oh."  "Okay, what is it?"  The blonde asked hesitantly.

"You'll have to give up the memories the two of you share and start your relationship over from square one."  Eris explained without her usual mischievous tone.  "Sirus will forget everything you've done as well, you'll both believe his little yarn about being abducted 'Old Boy' style."

"Really, you can do that?"  Eri asked.

"Sweetie, I can do almost anything.  Since I got to my current level of power there is only one being I know of that can do more than me and I'm not even sure it's real.  Apparently it can create an entire universe and dicate the everything about it with but a thought, while I merely mess around with said universes, but that's beside the point."  Eris said, assuring Eri of her power.  "The minds of mortals are easy to rewrite, as such all the bad things you have done can go away.  Sarah won't know where Buttplug, Pillowpants or Slave came from, neither will they remember how they came to be in her possession.  You will be free to chase after Sirus if you want and live happily."

"Live happily with Sirus.  It sounds too good to be true."  Eri thought, smiling to herself.  "We'd forget some things now, but we'll have the rest of our lives to make new memories, better memories."  Eri began to sift through her time with Sirus, how broken up she got when she realized just what she had done to him and his family.  All the times she almost unintentionally hurt him and the mornings she would wake seeing him in tears.  The time she carelessly left Sarah in her apartment and she found him and finally seeing Chad kick him into a wall.  All of these horrible events that she'd rather never think of again.

She was about to resolve herself to take Eris' deal, but then she also remembered Sirus' kindness the first time they met.  His easy to listen to but powerful singing and their first night in that tiny bachelor.  How he'd always be concerned for her before himself and the deep trust they formed, trust enough to know she could keep him in her panties and neither would feel embarrassed.  Placing a hand over her chest where her most precious item hung, the necklace Sirus bought for her, that he meticulously doted over every detail of.  The passion they shared on her birthday right after receiving said gift.

Hanging her head, Eri couldn't help but cry.  "I-I can't..."  She declared, breaking down into sobs.  Every memory, the good and the bad, was precious to her, proof of the path she and Sirus walked to their love.  "I c-c-can't... I... I won't forget.  Everything we've done.  All the mistakes I've made.  It all made me who I am now, into the person Sirus loves."

"Are you sure?"  Eris confirmed.  "I told you the deal."

Eri couldn't bring herself to utter a single word.  Sirus offered Eris himself in exchange for a way to find her, confident he would reach her in time.  All because she got scared and ran, yet another mistake the blonde had made for which Sirus is now paying the price.  She wanted to take Eris up on her offer, but the Sirus in her memories would never forgive her if she did.  She nodded her head in acknowledgement.  "Can I... see him one last time at least?"  She asked weakly.

Eris didn't reply immediately, instead she just let out a heavy sigh.  "Fine, fine... geez.  I'm too nice for my own good.  Just hurry up, I actually want Sirus too you know."  She said as Sirus reappeared in front of Eri.  "I'm going to go make sure Little Si's new room, aka rectum, is ready for it's new occupant.  When I get back I'm taking him, no ifs, ands or buts."  The sorceress added before leaving.

"Sirus!"  Eri claimed, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his neck.  "I love you Sirus, and I always will."

"Me too Eri."  Sirus replied, returning her embrace.  "I'm sorry I wasn't faster... I-"  He tried to apologize but was cut off when she started to passionately kiss him.  Their lip lock lasted for quite a bit before she released her grip and stood back on the stairs.

"Are all of your injuries healed?"  She asked, sitting on the steps and motioning for him to sit beside her.

Sirus smiled and shook his head.  He quickly picked her up and sat her on his lap as he seated himself.  "As good as new."

"And how's your family?"  Eri questioned, happy to be in the moment as she leaned back against him.

"Happy to have me back."  He replied, wrapping his arms around her waist.  "Though I told Mom and Jamie you were press ganged into looking after me when I was 'kidnapped'.  Told them you were being threatened, so they've more or less forgiven you."

"Thanks."  She said, taking his hands into her own.  "What about Sarah?  Is she taking good care of those three?"

Sirus could help but chuckle as her remembered his night at Sarah's when she showed him exactly how well the trio were being taken care of.  "Well, they're not people to her, only toys.  She's renamed them and trained them to answer when called by them.  You may remember them as Chad, Vincent and Rock, but now their names are, and I quote, 'Buttplug', 'Pillowpants', and 'Slave' respectively."

"Oh, cute names."  Eri said, giggling.

"You should see their living conditions."  Sirus replied with a light smile.  "First thing she did when I was at her place was drop her short and spread her ass to show off Buttplug's head sticking out of it.  Asked if I could, again I quote, 'use your meat stick to put him back where he belongs'."

"Did you?"  Eri asked, with a slight edge to her question.

"No.  She shrugged and simply pulled her panties back up, trapping him inside."  Sirus informed.  "Pillowpants has it much easier, he lives in her sextoy drawer next to her bed.  It has a lock but she says he's hardly even in it."

"Why 'Pillowpants'?"  Eri asked, not getting the reference.

"It's the name of the imaginary 'pussy troll' that lives in the vagina of a character's girlfriend as a way of preventing pre-marital sex from the movie 'Clerks 2'."  Sirus explained.  "Oh, but the best is Slave.  As it turns out, Sarah's little sister found out about the 'pixies' her big sis found and wanted one."

Eri let out a little gasp.  "No, she didn't."

"Oh, it's better than that.  She said they were underwear pixies that need to constantly be in your undies or they'll die.  She even made her promise not to tell anyone else because if the more people that know, the more likely they'll just disappear one day."  Sirus said, laughing at the poor man's misfortune.  "He belongs to her now."

"I wonder for how long though."  She thought aloud, knowing that children are anything but gentle with their toys.

"Hmm, Eris must be purposely taking her time."  Sirus said, realizing that she hadn't returned yet.

"Want to head inside?"  Eri asked, feeling him gently shivering beneath her.  He nodded in agreement, standing and letting Eri lead him to the door.  "She can take as long as she wants, I don't mind."

"Is your place big enough for the two of us?"  Sirus asked as they entered the building.  As the door closed behind them he felt a shift in his perspective before staring up into her beautiful, captivating hazel eyes from the palm of her hand.

Smiling down to her love, Eri giggled playfully and seductively.  "It is now.  Want to have some fun until Eris comes to get you?"  She asked, heading for her apartment.

Sirus laid down on the comfortable, nostalgic surface of Eri's hand and smiled.  "If I can only be so lucky."

In her room, Eris set a round bottom flask that was fill with an insubstantial inky blackness interspersed with motes of light of varying sizes, clusters and intensities on a bookcase with other flasks filled with similar contents.  On the neck of the flask she just put away was written a single word in her mother tongue, 'Canary'.  Smiling to herself, she took a couple steps back to admire the entire case, which seemed to stretch much further than its frame allowed and was filled with flasks.

"It's a good thing you didn't take my offer Eri.  If you had, I never would have let you see him again.  You have to stop running from your past and accept that it's a part of you."  She monologued to himself a bit before stretching a bit.  "60 or 70 years for them will pass in the blink of an eye for me.  It's not even worth taking a nap for."  She said, as she began to peruse her collection.  "So which universe should I occupy my time with next?"  She asked, before standing straight and looking up towards some unseen presence in her ceiling.  "Or should I ask what kind of universe are you going to write for me next?"