Temptation

Previously: Lily felt invisible before the Merge Necklace combined her with Hank, her boyfriend's bully. Suddenly in new, nearly identical bodies, she was empowered while Hank had a breakdown. She renamed him Red and taught her to be a woman. Recognizing a growing attraction between her boyfriend, Craig, and Red, she pushed them into a threesome. Craig dumped her, and she found herself mind-controlled by Randy for months as he buried her under a cam girl persona ‘glassdoll’. With Red’s help, Craig absorbed Randy and used the mind-control ring to release Lily.

Lily

Lily had been strong. In the weeks following her abduction, she was angry and focused. Now she was tired. Tired and hazy. She felt less herself than ever. Everything glassdoll did felt far away and out of focus, like through a thick pane of frosted glass. Through the glass, she thought she saw familiar green eyes.

Don’t get your hopes up.

And she didn’t. Until the glass shattered. She was in control again and felt EVERYTHING. Her skin crawled, and she jerked in bed at the unfamiliar control she had over her muscles. The light burned her eyes. She grabbed her ears to try to quiet the noise of each breath. Her body tensed at the sensation of hands on her shoulders. Her mind finally started making sense of all the input, and she realized there were voices in the room with her. Voices she knew.

“-you hear me? Tell me you’re still in there, Lily.”

Lily cracked open her eyes to reveal her own face staring at her. She wore a concerned expression, and there were tears in her green eyes. Green eyes.

“Red?” Lily whispered hoarsely.

The next thing she knew, Lily was being crushed into the bed with Red’s arms wrapped around her. Lily reflexively returned the embrace, squeezing Red’s trembling shoulders.

“Is this real?” Lily asked softly. She struggled to speak as her words threatened to catch in her throat. “Why? Weren’t you better off without me?”

Red’s shoulders stopped shaking. She pushed herself upright, her eyes full of fury. Somehow, she was wearing glassdoll’s lingerie.

“Don’t you fucking dare say that,” she snarled. “We never stopped loving you. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do to save you.”

Lily couldn’t meet Red’s eyes.

“But I ruined everything. I thought I could make everything perfect. I **** you into a threesome and got Craig beat up. How could he ever forgive me?”

Red cracked a grin, her eyes sparkling.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Red asked, gesturing with her head toward the door.

For the first time, Lily noticed the figure there. Her body instinctively recoiled at the bulky form. Once again, she was nude, her body on display for a man. Her legs snapped shut, and her arms covered her chest, but still her skin crawled as she felt his eyes on her.

Red leapt into action. Before Lily could even ask for help, Red was bounding back into bed with her discarded sweats in hand. After a flurry of motion, she was dressed in Red’s hoodie and athletic shorts.

Lily hugged the garments against her body. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to wear comfortable clothes. To have her private parts shielded from leering eyes.

She recognized the robe and purple ring before Red’s words hit her. It looked like Craig, but didn’t seem like him.

“Hey, Lily,” he said, giving her a little smile. Like the rest of his body, his voice was familiar, but deeper than she remembered.

“Craig?” She asked, “What happened to you?”

“I had to use the necklace on Randy to get the ring. He can’t hurt you anymore,” he explained.

“The necklace? But it was broken.”

“Oh, I was actually about to tell you at the gym. Before…” Craig said, trailing off. He grimaced, the pain of the memory written on his face.

“Fuck, so much has happened while you’ve been gone, Lily,” Red chimed in, taking over storytelling for the embarrassed Craig.

“That’s really Craig? He looks so… big.”

Red smirked.

“We learned that if you’re wearing it, you can absorb someone and gain their attributes and memories. Don’t worry, though. Underneath those scary muscles, he’s still our sweet Craig.”

Craig rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

Wait, ‘our’ Craig?

“You two used to be so awkward around each other. Now you’re so close. Don’t worry, I won’t get in the way-”

“Hold on,” Red said, putting her hands up. “We’re not together.”

“What? Why not?”

Red cringed and turned to Craig, her cheeks starting to flush.

“Tell her, Red. Why not?”

Red took a breath, pausing before speaking. “I’ll be honest, Lily. We did kiss once. I asked him out, but he turned me down because he couldn’t betray you.”

Lily’s brow furrowed.

“But we aren’t together. He broke up with me.”

A hush fell over the room. Red looked down. Craig nodded to himself and pushed off the doorway and into the room.

“It’s high time we settled everything,” he said with uncharacteristic confidence. “The three of us are finally together, and we can see where we stand. First of all, Lily. I don’t blame you at all for what happened. Randy taking you wasn’t your fault. I failed you by not being strong enough to keep you, but that’s never happening again. So I don’t want to hear about you not being enough for us. Right, Red?”

Red, surprised to be included, nodded to Lily in agreement.

Keep me?

“Now,” Craig continued. “From what I see, I wasn’t in my right mind when I broke up with you. I wanted to wield the only power I had. Well, as you can see, I’ve changed. I know my value now, and that I’m finally worthy to have you. I’ve been staying true to you so that I could take you back and officially rescind our breakup.”

Lily and Red flashed each other a concerned look.

That’s a good thing, right?

“So now, what to do with Red?” Craig asked rhetorically.

Red squirmed under his gaze.

“Bro, this is getting weird,” she said, her cheeks flushed.

Is this how they are around each other now?

Craig ignored her comment and continued speaking to Lily.

“She’s an enigma. She says she wants me. She’s been saving her cherry for me. And yet within minutes of laying eyes on Randy, she’s deepthroating him and offering him her pussy. What are we to think of that?”

“Red?” Lily gasped.

“No, it’s not like that,” Red tried to explain, her blush traveling down her neck. “I needed to distract him. He had a gun.”

“You were reckless!” Craig’s raised voice filled the room. “How can I be your man if I can’t trust you to keep yourself safe? It’s one thing if we’re just friends. But if I make you mine, I can’t have you risking your life.”

“I’m not gonna apologize for putting my ass on the line,” Red growled.

As the emotion in the room rose, Lily found herself starting to withdraw. The voices ringing in her ears felt like they were coming from far away.

“You wanna put your ass on the line? Fine. Let’s finally have that threesome.”

With a flourish, Craig whipped open his robe to reveal his cock. Lily and Red both recoiled at the sight of it. She realized it looked bigger now, while flaccid, than it had before erect.

“Whoa, dude. What are you doing right now?” Red asked, looking away.

God, these two. Assuming bigger is better, again. Lily thought to herself, not wanting to interrupt.

“This is what you want, isn’t it? This is why you were all over Randy, but it’s mine now. Don’t deny it. You were teasing me the whole walk here.”

“I will fucking deny it. It’s not that I don’t l-like you, Craig. This just isn’t the time or the place for this,” Red pleaded.

“When’s a good time, then? Huh? When do I get what I want? I did everything right. I stayed true to Lily despite your temptations. I stared down a gun tonight, and I still won. I deserve to be rewarded!”

“You do,” Red said, trying unsuccessfully to placate him. “We appreciate you, we do, but-“

“But?” Craig interrupted. “You won’t let me have both of you.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“No. You don’t have me all to yourself anymore. You wished she had stayed gone.”

Lily looked at Red, who looked away, guilt-stricken.

“I may have thought it,” Red said, her voice trembling. “But I never gave up on her.”

“You weren’t looking for clues in glassdoll’s streams like I was. I put myself in danger, and you couldn’t even get Lily out.”

Red clenched her fists in anger. She bared her teeth in a snarl and was halfway to screaming back a retort when she looked back at Lily. Lily was suddenly self-conscious as Red’s fiery green eyes bored into hers, looking into her soul. Red let out her breath and looked down at her hands, forcing them to unclench.

“I dropped out of college, Lily, but you haven’t. I’ve been going to your classes for you. I’m not the artist you are, but you’re still passing. And I took notes, so you can catch up.”

Red turned back to Craig, clearly hurt. “So don’t you DARE question whether I want Lily back.”

Craig looked stunned, the wind totally taken out of his sails.

“You never told me that,” he said, abashed.

“It wasn’t for you,” she said, before turning back to Lily. “It was for you, Lily. I owe you so much. We shared something special that day on the beach. You let me leave Hank behind. I can never repay you for that.”

Lily felt the veil lift from her vision, and once again, the world flooded back in. Her eyes focused on the pleading expression on Red’s face. Lily felt a tear track down her cheek. She touched her cheek to find more tears joining the first.

“Oh, Red,” she choked. Her throat was tight with emotion. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“I’m sorry, Red,” Craig said, looking sheepish. “I was out of line.”

Red scoffed while rubbing the tears out of her own eyes.

“‘s all good, bro. We’re tilted from all the shit that happened tonight, and you had to take the worst of it. I know the necklace can do a number on you. It's no wonder you’re all bricked up.”

Craig nodded, wordlessly accepting Red’s grace. He closed his robe, a familiar look of embarrassment playing across his changed features. The bed creaked in protest as he settled down next to Lily. Red, on Lily’s other side, scooted over closer, but waited for Lily to initiate contact.

In the expectant silence that followed, Lily wondered what the new normal would look like. She hadn’t dared hope for this day and now had no idea what she wanted.

Just as long as I don’t have to think about what happened. Anything would be better than that.

“You didn’t recognize us when we came in,” Craig said to Lily, breaking the silence. “Do you know what he made you do?”

“I know, but I don’t remember it that well. It was glassdoll doing those things, not me.”

“She’s gone now,” Red said. “No one’s ever gonna bring her back.”

“No, she’s not gone. She’s still here,” Lily said flatly, tapping the side of her head.

“What?” Craig said, clenching his fists. The ring on his finger glowed brighter, fueled by his rising emotion. “I undid all of his control over you.”

“Randy didn’t make glassdoll, I did. He made me do things I would never do. I couldn’t, but I still had to, so… I had to break myself. Glassdoll did those things, so I didn’t have to. I knew what she did, but it was… distant. I got used to it. But now, I know she’s still in me. Ready to hide me if I need her.”

They deserve to know I’m still broken. Even if it pushes them away.

The silence that followed was heavier.

“Come on, Lily,” Red said. “You can’t be going and adding new people to the relationship without telling us.”

“Relationship? I mean-I” Lily stuttered.

Red disarmed her with a grin.

“I mean, I’m the evil twin. You’re the good twin. There just isn’t room for one more person with our face running around. I’m afraid I have to vote glassdoll off the island.”

Lily snorted involuntarily before covering her face in embarrassment. Her chest tightened, trying in vain to hold back nervous laughter.

“You say that like you didn’t steal the poor girl’s underwear,” Lily joked. “Don’t worry, it looks better on you.”

Red looked down at herself, realizing the truth of it. With a grin, she thrust her chest out further.

“Yeah, what’s next?” Craig added. “Are you taking up lightweaving?”

Lily flashed Red a look before they both turned stonefaced to Craig.

“It-that was a Stormlight reference. You know, like Shallan, she-” Craig started nervously before Red and Lily broke out in identical giggles, letting him off the hook.

Lily laughed. Not out of joy, just relief.

Red’s laughter joined Lily’s. Her voice, while similar, was wild and unencumbered. Craig chuckled, happy to join in. Three people, trying their best to fill the space between them.

Maybe I can be okay. Together, we could be okay.

Lily held out each hand in offering. Red sprang into action, both hands immediately grasping Lily’s. The grip was solid, immovable. Craig gently reached for her other hand. He had barely made contact when her arm jerked back. Lily had thrown herself sideways, almost into Red’s lap, before realizing what had happened.

Lily’s hand reacted to it. A spark of magic. In an instant of contact with that cold metal, glassdoll was there again to protect her. When Lily regained control, Craig was kneeling on the floor in front of her. Her eyes were still locked on the ring on his finger, glowing menacingly.

“You don’t have to worry, Lily,” Craig said. “I’m in control now. It won’t hurt you.”

“That’s right,” Red added. “We’re going to destroy it so it can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

“We can’t do that,” Craig objected. “It’s a priceless artifact. Irreplaceable.”

“That’s the point. There shouldn’t be even one of those things running around.”

Red glared at Craig, her expression incredulous.

“Please, don’t fight,” Lily whispered.

“You’re fine, Lily, Red’s just talking crazy,” Craig assured her, standing to his full height. His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Yeah, bud,” Red bared her teeth before responding sarcastically. “Just some crazy chick. That’s me.”

Craig frowned, his face darkening. Lily’s stomach dropped.

Craig chuckled nervously and ignored Red to turn to Lily. “Don’t worry, Angel. It's mine now. I can do great things with it.”

“Name one good thing it’s ever done,” Red challenged.

“I just set Lily free.”

“The fuck are you talking about?” Red demanded. “Undoing the damage it already did doesn’t count.”

“What-Why are you fighting?” Lily said, trying to intervene, but her words went unheeded.

“You don’t trust me with it?” Craig asked Red.

Red gritted her teeth.

“That’s not the point. It’s a weapon, Craig. Weapons get used.”

“You don’t get to decide that!” Craig shouted.

Lily recoiled, her body trying to back itself into the bed.

“All my life, I was too weak. I just had to take it. Finally, I have everything I ever dreamed of, and you want to take it away.”

Red narrowed her eyes.

“Ever since you absorbed him, you’re sounding more and more like him. He’s in your head, and you don’t even realize it.”

“Oh, so you want me to give up this body, too?” Craig’s face twisted as anger and despair flashed across it. “I thought you had changed. You still need to be the bigger man, Ha-“

Craig cut himself off, the name caught in his throat, but it was too late. Betrayal flashed across Red’s face. It was quickly replaced by rage, but Lily knew what she saw. Red launched herself off the bed, getting right in Craig’s face.

“That’s what you think?” Her voice was low and strained.

Craig looked away, unable to bear the weight of Red’s fiery green eyes glaring straight through him.

“Come on, let’s not fight in front of Lily,” he said.

He must know it’s too late for that.

“No, if that’s who you think I am, tell me.” Red flexed her shoulders. Her body was preparing for a fight, barely kept in check.

“You’re obviously very emotional right now-”

“Say my FUCKING name!” Red roared. She trembled, her pain bubbling up from deep within.

“I don’t have to put up with this shit,” Craig mumbled. He turned away from Red, crossing his arms and hiding the ring under a flexed bicep.

Red stepped forward in pursuit. Lily reached out an open hand to her.

“Please don’t. You can still stop this,” Lily pleaded.

Red stopped and briefly looked back at Lily. Her anger faded, leaving only fear on her face. She silently shook her head and turned back to Craig

“I’m not dropping this,” Red said. “You have to decide who you want me to be. If you really think I’m still him, tell me. You owe me that much with what we’ve been through together.”

“Shut up.” The words were a **** whisper.

“No. You have to choose. Am I dominating you or trying to save you? It’s me or the ring. If-”

Craig raised his arms in front of his face and backed into the wall, trying to protect himself from Red’s words.

“SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP.”

The ring on Craig’s finger flashed, casting ominous shadows. Red dropped to her knees, her eyes glowing purple. Dazed, her mouth flapped open, but no words came out. Her eyes wide in horror, she grasped desperately at her throat.

So this is how it’s going to be.

Lily’s vision started to narrow. Sounds from the room came from a distance.

“Fuck, that was an accident,” Craig blurted out. “I mean, I wasn’t even sure if you’re enough of a woman to be affected by the ring. You know I’d never use it on you on purpose. Just-just give me a minute to think about this.”

Craig started pacing the room, muttering.

He could undo his command. But he won’t. He’s never had to resist using power.

“This is your fault, really,” Craig said to Red, turning back to her. “You **** me into it. You couldn’t let me have one win, could you? I faced Randy alone, but you had to be the one to beat him. I stayed true to Lily, but you had to one-up me on that, too. What’s next? Were you going to steal her from me?”

Red desperately shook her head, her hands balled into fists.

“No, I’m not letting it happen. I can’t lose either of you. And now I’m finally strong enough to have both of you. I’ll keep you safe. I never have to let you go.”

Lily felt herself dissociate. Her posture straightened, and her hands folded on her lap. She felt her body settle back into its familiar programming.

At least he’ll be a better master than Randy.

She was tired. So tired of fighting. It would be easier to give in. Her eyes drifted around the room. Craig was holding his head, his eyes pinched closed.

He can’t even look at her, at what he’s done. He doesn’t want this. Not really. But he thinks he needs to.

Next, she saw Red. Her arms trembled, veins standing out over fully engaged muscles. Lily could see the nails of Red’s fingers digging deeply into the flesh of her palm.

She’s fighting.

Something moved deep within Lily. Burned-out embers sparked back to life.

She’s fighting for me. For us. She never gave up on me.

Even if I give up on myself, I can’t give up on her. It’s up to me to save us all.

“Do you want me to be glassdoll again?”

Craig and Red whipped their heads around to stare at Lily, confusion written on their faces.

“What are you talking about?” Craig asked.

“You’re never going to let me go. To do that you’ll have to control me. Glassdoll will always give you what you want, always agree with you.”

“That’s crazy. You’re my Angel. This is all so you never have to be her again.”

“Then you have to let me choose. Even if it means putting myself in harm’s way. Even if it means we don’t stay together.”

Craig’s arms dropped to his side. Shame poured off him.

“I know how you feel,” Lily continued. “Control feels safe. The threesome, that was me trying to decide for all of us. But it didn’t work. It never could. Please don’t make the same mistake.”

“I-I-” Craig was frozen. Pain and uncertainty flashed across his face.

“You can let go,” Lily implored him. “You don’t need Randy’s muscles. You don’t need that ring. You were always enough.”

“This is what I always wanted. To be strong. How can I go back?” Craig said, his voice barely a whisper.

Beneath his new haircut and beard, Lily could see the Craig she had come to love.

He’s fighting too.

“Trust is hard. Honesty is hard. Giving someone the power to hurt you is hard. Only someone strong can do it. Someone as strong as you. I know Red thinks the same.”

Craig glanced at Red, and his composure shattered. Tears streaming down her face, she silently held up a hand, her fingers in a “V.”

Craig desperately clutched his necklace, and in a flash of light, Randy fell, ****, behind him. Bulky muscles collapsed back into a familiar wiry frame. He fell to the ground in a heap, his shoulders heaving as sobs tumbled over each other to escape his chest.

“Red, TALK. Talk to me. God, I’m so sorry.”

Lily leapt out of bed to embrace Craig. She held him tightly as he wept. Lily didn’t need glassdoll anymore, she could choose for herself. Craig pressed against her chest, and Red’s strong hand gently stroked her back.

Lily exhaled.