"Down and Out Deceiver"
Copyright 2005 Penn O'Hara

F13

Usual disclaimers apply.

Follows immediately after "Matched Twister".

~*~*~*~*~

"So, hon, how did I do?" Phoenix asked.

Zankou's wife turned to him as they materialized in the center of his office on the fifty-fourth floor of Phoenix Byzantine Publishing.  Hands on her hips, she tilted her head, looking satisfied with their night's work. 

Zankou had to admit she did good.

Sauntering over to the black leather sofa that butted against one wall, he lay down on it and crossed his ankles.  "You were superb as always, Phoenix," he said.  In truth, he thought his wife overdid the performance, but if it got what he wanted…  "But did you have to throw me so hard?"

"Darling, you told me the sisters weren't stupid and I believed you.  Therefore I had to make it convincing."

Zankou winced and rubbed his shoulder.  "Perhaps.  Do you think the Charmed Ones bought it?"  

"Hook, line and sinker, Zanky."  Phoenix swayed over to him.  "Right now Paige is feeling sorry for you for having to endure physical abuse at the hands of a dominatrix wife; Piper commiserates with me for having to divide myself between a career and so many children and Phoebe pities me for putting up with you and your lecherous ways." 

"But I never even got started." Zankou laughed and guided her down on the sofa with him.  "Don't you think seven children was a little over the top though?" 

"Not at all."  Tossing off her suit coat, Phoenix ran her palms over Zankou's chest.   Her soft hands on his bare skin rippled an eager shiver through him.

"It achieved the desired affect," she said.  "But it wasn’t as good as your 'afterglow' routine." 

Smiling, Zankou fingered the top button of her silk blouse then slid it loose.  "You could have at least taken me home for a change of shirt."

"No way."  Phoenix pushed the torn ends of his tee further apart.  "I like that look on you," she said, wriggling down on his hips.

Zankou growled and undid another button.  "How soon before we visit them again?"

"Not long."  Phoenix bent down and nuzzled his rib.  "We need to tackle them one by one.  You first.  Get Paige alone without alerting the others, and work on the abused husband routine."  She tongued the line of his rib and moved to the next one.

Zankou sucked in his abs, hissing through his teeth at the delicious feel of her teeth on his skin.  He writhed under her, hinting at what he wanted.  Needed.

"Feeling frisky, my love?" she asked. 

"And if I am?"

"I think I can accommodate you."

"What?  You made up that Terri Bellotti excuse too?"

"No, but Terri can wait a little longer." 

Zankou groaned as Phoenix nipped him then her hands went to the waistband of his leather trousers.  He felt a purr rumble from his throat at her intuitive obedience to his wants.  Usually he had to work for it, but tonight's role-playing with the sisters must have motivated her. 

Zankou wanted children – to guide, to coach, to join forces with him – and he was eager for this she-demon to give him those children, but she was too busy with her career, always on the road fêting authors.  She had so little time to devote to him.  Maybe if she was around more, he wouldn't have to find his entertainment locking heads with the Charmed Ones.

"Are you sure Paige will buy my act?" he asked, helping her slide his trousers over his hips.  "Will she really believe that I would let a woman walk all over me?"  He undid the last button on her blouse and pulled it wide.  "More than that, grind her heel in me?"  Massaging her breasts and pinching the nipples with the exact pressure she liked, Zankou felt his own body tightening at the sound of her pleased moans.  "Can I do… 'helpless'?"

Phoenix's head was thrown back, her teeth biting her lip, eyes closed.  Sliding her hands over his exposed hips, she sighed and leaned forward.  "Darling, you can do anything!"

Zankou's clamped his jaws together as her lips pleasured him. 

He had to agree with her. 

oOo

Zankou straightened away from the old oak on which he had been leaning and casually  strolled to meet Paige as she left the front doors of the Magic School.  The place was a source of extreme frustration for him.  So much harnessed magic within its walls, all being fashioned for the greater good when it could fuel absolute power.  He quelled his irritation and concentrated on the matter at hand.

The youngest Charmed One was accompanied by a small group of teenage girls who hung on her every word, no doubt in awe of being in the presence of a such an important witch.  

"Paige," he called, keeping his voice low, trying not to draw too much attention.  He already attracted interested gazes from other students leaving the institution, and he cursed himself for wearing his favorite leathers instead of dressing to blend in.

"Zankou?"  Paige stopped where she was and looked about her. 

For what? he wondered.  A posse of demons?  Or maybe she thought Phoenix would be around to keep an eye on him.   He considered playing that card. 

"Why are you here?" Paige asked.

Zankou determined his first task was to disperse witnesses.  He smiled widely, injecting the same brilliance into his eyes, then he softened his lips, his gaze touching each girl with a deliberate message of appreciation and interest.  His effort was rewarded by downcast eyes and shy smiles.  Only one of the students appraised him boldly and he filed her statistics away for future reference.

"Ladies, would you excuse us?" Paige said to her companions, accommodating him by getting the girls out of his way.

Zankou transferred his gaze to Paige and saw her withdrawal in her wary eyes and tense body.  He reigned back, not wanting her to misconstrue his intentions.                      

"Thank you, Paige." he said, turning on sincerity with full force.  "I was hoping to speak to you alone."

Paige watched the students walk on and separate and then turned back to him, her eyes battling and mouth grim.  Zankou liked and admired her spunk for one so young against one so powerful. 

"Why?" she asked.

He lowered his eyes at her obvious suspicion, then remembered to round his shoulders, mimicking intimidation.  "Phoenix said… I mean, I wanted to apologize for the other day.  For… harassing you."

"You mean, coming onto me," Paige amended, her voice clipped.

He flicked a glance at her and allowed a small smile.  "Can you blame me, my Paige?  Your beauty–"

"Yes!  I can blame you.  You're married, remember?"

He pretended to wince, then looked down at his hands.  A quick glance confirmed Paige had followed his gaze to the self-inflicted rope burns on his wrists.  They looked worse than they felt, which was precisely the way he wanted it.

"What happened?" Paige asked, concern shading her voice. 

Zankou threw up his chin, tried for a fleeting look of pain, then shut his eyes.  "Phoenix… she…  I'm sorry, I have no right to burden you," he said quietly.  Opening his eyes, he made his voice firmer as he continued, "Now, please, let me apologize–"

"Zankou!  What did she do?  Tell me!  If this is my fault somehow–"

"No, no, not at all.  I… I've been bad…"  Very bad.  "… and Phoenix feels she must… er, discipline me.  It really is my own fault."  Zankou hoped he wasn't overdoing it, but Paige looked genuinely worried, so maybe he had the right mix after all.

"Zankou, you don't have to put up with that.  No one does.  If she's mistreating you–"

"Paige!  What must you be thinking?"  He painted mild shock onto his face, shaking his head.

"What does she do?"

"I really don't think it's appropriate I tell you–"  Zankou lowered his eyes and dropped his chin, turning away to hide from her.

"Zankou, I saw the scratches and bite marks."  She gently grabbed his arm and he bit back a smile. 

"They weren't love-bites," Paige continued.  "It was abuse."

"Please, Paige, don't worry about me.  I deserved it.  It is my choice–"

"Zankou, has it ever occurred to you that you do the things you do because of the way you're treated at home?"

"Ah, no, not really.  Do you think so?"  A little eagerness gave his words the right combination of hope and helplessness.

Paige pursed her lips, battling over her revelation.  "Not really.  But that doesn't mean you have to put up with it.   Let me help you–" 

Zankou could hear her ambivalence with her experiences of him and this new evidence.  He had her nibbling at his line.  "How can you?"

"I'll talk to your wife."

Zankou feigned horror at the suggestion.  "Can you imagine how she will react if a beautiful woman comes calling and pleads for my case?  The motives she will fabricate for such a move?"

"I have to agree," Paige nodded.  "It wouldn't look good."

"I must go," he said.  "But I still haven't apologized.  If she finds out I couldn't even accomplish a simple directive of hers–"  Zankou pulled his coat closer in a protective gesture.

Paige's eyes widened.  "We… my sisters and I, can er, … shelter you," she said quickly.

Zankou had to bite his lip to prevent the laugh from erupting.  She was hooked.  He turned it into a grimace of agony.  "Shelter me?" he gasped, his voice strangled.  "How could you possibly–?"

"You can stay with us.  At the manor.  There's plenty of room.  We wouldn't get in each other's way and–"

"Paige, I do thank you."  I really do, you silly little girl.  "But your sisters would never allow–"

"Let me talk to them."

"They would never trust me.  How could they?"  Zankou took a deep breath and imitated deep regret.  "After what I've done?"

"Maybe you can't help it?  Maybe it's because of how your wife treats you that you… do the things you do?"

Paige's eyes were misting, her voice distraught and Zankou wondered if she herself had suffered abuse at some time in her life.

"Paige, I don't think… Phoenix would never… I mean, she'll just come after me–"  He experimented with a trembling in his bottom lip and was rewarded by her fascination with the result.

"We'll protect you!"  Paige grabbed his arm with both hands, desperate to convince him. 

Zankou liked desperate.  Desperate was empowering.

"But what about when you're not there to…"  He almost choked on the words.  "… protect me?   If I was stronger," he said, hunching his shoulders again, "I could protect myself."

"We can help you with that too," Paige said eagerly.  "Give you more power."

Is she listening to herself?  "Well… if I moved out, it would save me from being tied to the bed–"

Paige gasped.  "Is that what the rope burns are from?"

"You should see my ankles."  Zankou looked down the length of his black leathers to his black shod feet.  He hoped she wouldn't ask to see the non-existent wounds, but he decided to throw in a tease for the fun of it.  "Perhaps you could bathe them for me," he asked hopefully, lifting his head.

Paige's eyes darted back to his.  "I don't think that would be appropriate, but I could give you some ointment."

"Paige, I really mustn't impose."  Zankou shut his eyes, fearing she would see his disbelief at how easy she had been snared.

"Just let me talk to my sisters.  I'll let you know.  Er, how do I contact you?"

Zankou thrust his hand into an inner pocket of his leather coat and pulled out a card.      "My business credentials," he said.  "And Phoebe knows where to find me."

Paige looked at the card and frowned.  "Demkou Publishing?"

"It's a subsidiary of Phoenix's corporation."

"Oh.  What do you publish?"

"Romance novels," he dead-panned.

"You're kidding, right?"

"You think me incapable of being romantic or recognizing its qualities?"  Zankou let his eyes widen and jaw drop slightly.

"Honestly? Yes."

"I'm wounded."  He stepped closer and raised his hand to her hair.  Gently threading his fingers through its long silk, Zankou lowered his eyelids, softening his mouth.  "‘Believe me, if all those endearing young charms, which I gaze on so fondly today, were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms, like fairy-gifts fading away, thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art...’"

Paige's eyes were a deer's trapped in headlights, as well they should.  Zankou didn't usually turn it on so full.  He never had to, but he considered this a case of a little effort going a long way.  He was tempted to taste her parted lips, having been denied the opportunity the other day, but thought better of it.  For him, caution overruled temptation every time.

"Keats?" she breathed.

"Thomas Moore," he whispered.  "Believe me now?"  He dropped his hand and stepped back. 

Paige blinked several times and nodded.  "Uh, right, okay."  Her hands jerked at her sides, then she gave a quick smile and disappeared.

Shaking his head, Zankou stared at where she had been standing.  "Gullible.  Beautiful, but so very gullible."

A hand snaked around the back of his neck to his jaw, a firm grasp forcing his head to the side and a warm moistness breathed into his ear. 

"Don't get any ideas, Zanky."

Zankou turned around and molded his wife's body to his.  "No chance of swapping a she-demon for a wet-behind-the-ears woolly witch, my love," he crooned.  Ignoring the fact they were in a public place, he kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and grinding his hips into hers to show her exactly how exciting she was. 

He lifted his mouth and buried his face into the curve of her neck.  "You didn't happen to bring the ropes, did you?" he added, breathing in her perfume, fueling the heady feeling of power he gained from duping the young Charmed One.

"If you've got the bed–"

The End