Ebusuku’s PoV - The Maze

A claw scraping is all the warning I get, and I twist away. The furry form is still airborne when another comes in low. Stepping into its lunge, my hand smears its drool along its jawline as I deflect its bite. Spinning onwards, I grab it by the scruff and propel the blight wolf towards its hunting partner. The grey fur of the pair is a perfect blend for the stonework. Why hadn’t they eaten the children?

Demonic beasts. They stink of the Abyss and I’ve no spells or enchanted weapons. I could rip them apart if I still had claws. The pair are a snarling mass, and I use the chance to move between them and Pip, not bothering to draw the blade. The extra reach was useless when it wouldn’t even get through their iron-grey fur.

There is no loyalty among the Abyss beasts, and they vent frustration on each other. A line of blood drips from a muzzle as they bite at each other. Teeth sinking into a throat is the chance I need. My knee slams into its head, and blood sprays my arm as energy washes through me. We all go tumbling, but with blood staining the ground, only one of them rise. Two firsts for me; using another’s fangs to kill an enemy and Death Strike surging without a weapon.

Now how to kill the second?

A blight wolf; I should be able to kill it with my bare hands. Already my knee is aching where I’d struck. Momentum and its teeth killed its hunting partner, but its corpse would be unwieldy to use as a weapon.

I’m used to being all I need; now, I’ve nothing to kill a simple wolf. A child who’s been trapped in here will die because of my arrogance. Heat flares inside my chest, and every pulse makes acid race through my veins. It’s a familiar Heat, an expression of the wolves’ stench inside me. Power just waiting for me to grab it and claim it again. I throw myself back as the wolf leaps. Hands grasping, the top of its paws, the floor scrapes my back as I fall and roll. Feet planted in its chest when I straighten, the wolf twisting in mid-air as it goes sailing through the junction.

Power familiar as the wolf’s stench, part of me screams for it, wanting its rush even as I push it away. For a moment, I’m too busy fighting to keep the Power away; only with the acid cooling in my veins do I realise the wolf hasn’t gotten up. Brains and bone lay splattered across the stone, the wolf lifeless on the ground; the rear of its skull crushed in by impacting a corner. The thud of its flesh hitting the ground, lost in the hammer’s echoes or my distracted state.

The sound fades away, and the wolves disappear, leaving behind a key. Large and clunky, it looks simple enough. The key’s handle is a solid circle with the Titan’s symbol etched into it, while its blade is in the shape of a twisting flame made of white bronze. The moment I touch it, two images flash through my mind. In one, I see myself using it to reject the chance She’s given me, burn it to ash, and escape to safety, restored to being a Succubus. The other, Pip is passing through white flames at the top of some stairs, then reborn; cleansed of her past life’s flaws and the regrets that held her prisoner here.

Power pulses in my veins again, a siren call to set this weak flesh aside and return to the strength I’ve possessed for so long. I’d killed the wolf purely through luck. The corridor’s walls holding enough magic to damage its flesh hadn’t been the outcome I’d expected. I’d been buying time to plan, not looking for an immediate kill.

“Y-your way out, Pip.”

The words stammer in my own ears as desire and hunger claw at me. My hand trembles in the conflict’s grip, I still hold the key out to her. Pip merely looks at me in confusion and an eternity of need digs into my guts. Power tempted me with every speeding heartbeat until at last, her hand moves. I force my fingers to open and drop the key into her palm. The moment its metal touches flesh, the key vanishes, and a white tattoo flame crawls up her forearm.

“Can we get more for the others?”

Pip’s question isn’t the response I’d expected. I’d been sure she’d head straight for the stairs and humiliation forces down the desire within me. “How many other children are there?”

Pip’s reply comes quickly, accompanying a bright smile. “Five hands and two fingers,”

Telepathy, which had been absent, was suddenly there, letting me hear her concerns and doubts. Stammering had unnerved her, but my voice settling so quickly convinced her that her friends could be free as well. I wish I had her confidence in me. Twenty-seven more keys for this place to tempt me with, and part of me already wishes I’d used that one. The aches in me cry for its healing Power and the Heat. The Heat that had weighed on me for so long, its absence now a relief.

“Let’s see about getting keys for them.”

Pip wraps her arms around me, her little body shaking with her sobs as her tears trickle down my stomach.

“Come on, let’s get to one of your friends. It’s not safe out here.”

Her impulsive hug reminds me of Amdirlain and the words she used for accepting my service. Trust—oh Goddess—I’m not sure you did the right thing trusting me.

Pip nods against me before she steps back, smearing tears away with the back of her hand.

My continued silence gains her attention once she’s composed. “Pip, can you do something for me?”

“What’s that?” asks Pip brightly.

“If we gain other keys before we get to your friend’s hidey-hole, pick them up.”

Pain grumbles its way through me, my knee, and patches of abraded skin, all objecting to the abuse I’ve already taken. I’m not used to not healing quickly after the battle stops. Will I get tired in this place as well?

“Okay.”

Pip points the way, and I head off, glad now for her slower pace as the pain continues. How do mortals stand this?

* * *

Elemental Plane of Earth

Amdirlain’s return set her on the cavern’s edge instead of where she’d left Sidero, the Greater Teleport having shifted her arrival point. Ahead of her, the location she’d targeted was a swirling energy and the materials it held aloft; teleporting into it would merge with her stones. The power blocking True Sight, Amdirlain relied on the sharpness of Infernal energy from the chains to guide her back to Sidero. Mundane material—earth and rocks—shouldn’t cause injury, but carried the Plane’s energy, they batted at her, trying to abrade flesh. A final step forward let her make out a red metal dome. A hand extends beyond the barrier shredded down to the bone—the cries of pleasure from within carried attention-grabbing force.

“Are you right there?”

“Fuck yes! I’ve already got a pool forming under me. This has been going for hours,” Sidero groaned. Pulling her flayed hand inside the dome, the metal shifted before she extended the other.

Amdirlain sat down on the rock nearby, and as the materials continued to bounce off her skin, nothing progressed. Taking in her Ki-soaked flesh, Amdirlain tried to draw the mist back to the pool. The slightest scratch as the mist condensed inwards teased it might eventually work.

[Health: -1]

The energised rock that grazed Amdirlain bounced off Sidero’s arm, the deep cut it left undermining her words with a moan of pleasure. “Did they have your list?”

Amdirlain, shielding her mouth from the swirling dust, laughed at the situation. “Yes, Sidero. You are one weird puppy now, girlfriend.”

“Speak for yourself. I might resemble that remark, but at least I’m not afraid to float my boat,” retorted Sidero.

“Fine, have it your way,” Amdirlain replied, returning her attention to the Ki trying to escape the pool.

“I will!” groaned Sidero, the metal shell reverberating from frantic motions within just had Amdirlain shake her head.

[Health: -1]

“It doesn’t do enough damage to me to pressure my resistance to rise.”

Sidero snickered and fought down her laughter. “Well, I’ve got plenty of pressure to get mine to the red gauge.”

The energy faded hours later, and Amdirlain just blinked as Sidero’s metal shell reverted into chains. Her disbelief was clear as her friend rose and sensually stretched with a languished expression. “You don’t feel pain now?”

“No, it’s all just pleasure. The worse it should hurt, the better it feels,” purred Sidero.

“That’s seriously messed up,” Amdirlain said, not looking at the evidence of Sidero’s enjoyment.

“Oh yeah, it’s hard to keep mentally balanced or realise something is making me bleed, not just squirt. On the plus side, I can cum even while I’m fighting for my life,” offered Sidero.

Amdirlain rose and moved clear of the musky aroma now that the cavern was no longer overflowing with energy. “I think I’d find that a little distracting.”

“Maybe, but I’ll die with a smile on my dial,” retorted Sidero, who had followed her movements without comment.

“Did that energy storm increase your earth resistance to a decent degree?” Amdirlain asked.

Sidero’s smile was evident through the gap in her shroud, but her posture made her mischievous mood clear. “Indeed, it did. Want to check the puddle I made? So many orgasms.”

“I’d rather not. I think horny boys on other planes are having wet dreams from it,” Amdirlain said, shaking her head in shock. “Maybe I do owe Torm a better apology for asking him to take you a message.”

“He was fun to tease,” declared Sidero. “Certainly didn’t have a stick up his arse like most of the expedition.”

“We need to find something that will do more damage for me. The Krillnix acid damaged my flesh fine, but that energy didn’t manage against the durability Ki has added to me even after it’s withdrawn.”

“The Ki got itself in deep, baby, got you all filled up. Though speaking of acid, I could do with a good acid scrub,” said Sidero, running her hands down her sides with a distracted look.

“I think you’ve soaked in fluids for long enough for now,” retorted Amdirlain, growing amused at her antics.

Sidero’s expression turned smug and arrogant. “Meow.”

Amdirlain took in her behaviour and nodded. “Are you happy you can still get a reaction?”

“You’re still the same person I knew, just a more focused individual now,” assured Sidero, her posture losing its exhibitionism.

“And you still like skating along the edge of someone’s comfort zone,” stated Amdirlain, motioning again towards where Sidero had sheltered.

“You can tell a lot by how someone reacts to extreme situations,” Sidero said with a smile.

Amdirlain considered her carrying on for a moment before responding. “Did I pass your test, Sidero?”

“I’m still here,” countered Sidero. “You would always focus too much on others, J. when you were in pain. You’ve gotten more extreme in that regard. How much time have you given yourself for mourning? Someone has got to be the cynical one and make sure it doesn’t bite you. So you stay the kind woman I knew, and I’ll watch out for the arseholes.”

“No, I know how I am. But what about yourself? I told you how I got to where I am—you’ve been in Hell longer—now spill,” insisted Amdirlain.

Sidero crossed her arms as she stood ramrod straight, her gaze looking down at Amdirlain’s own. “My egg was a runt that Mother never expected to hatch. She felt it rock and brought it to the surface. I busted out, and congrats to her. It turns out I was a girl.’ Nuff?”

“Don’t pull that shit. How did you stay sane? How did you stay you?”

Sidero shook her head in disbelief. “Sane, geez J, you think I’m sane? As for being me, I’m not the person you knew. Being a succubus, that I likely could have handled. Being a Kyton with no boundary between pain and pleasure, I lost myself without even knowing I’d done it.”

“I don’t believe you,” opposed Amdirlain. “If that were the case, you wouldn’t have cared about me walking into Hell.”

“Maybe I was just afraid you’d want to take over and kick me out,”

“Why do you say you’re not yourself anymore?”

“Being a dominatrix was about control—not going to lie, I did enjoy it—but it was also about helping my clients. People crave things that other people don’t understand or revile them for desiring when it’s just how they find pleasure. They needed things that weren’t hurting anyone else, weren’t illegal; heck, some clients’ desires didn’t even hurt them. The key to the whole thing is they are surrendering control to someone they can trust. That’s why a dom needs to know the sub’s limits and push them up to the edge they crave, but ensure they’re being safe and trustworthy. Really—in the end—the sub has control. They say the safe word or give the signal, and everything stops. If it doesn’t, you’re not a dom but an arsehole that’s getting off on the control.”

“Are you going to tell me I can’t trust you? Because if you do, I’m going to hit you, repeatedly,” warned Amdirlain.

“No, that’s not it; if I have an agreement with someone, I’ll keep my fucking word. But I’m no longer the person that keeps anyone safe just because they want it to stop. It doesn’t matter if they say stop; it matters what they agreed to before anything started. I’m not sure I recognise myself anymore,”

“Why do you say that?”

“I can’t feel my pain, and it makes it hard to see it in anyone else. Shouldn’t any discomfort just be pleasing them? Physical or emotional pain, it’s all just the same for me now; it results in more pleasure.”

“You told Gaius that if he moved his hands, everything was going to stop. Torm fought beside you in the Ice, killed things with you. If you don’t keep anyone safe, then why did you have his back in those fights?”

“Gaius, I had him by the balls and not in the nice way of a bit of friendly fondling between playmates. He kept looking at me, maybe the exotic look did it for him, or he’s got a thing for scars. I knew he wanted to fuck me; I could taste it in his scent. While I could taste his desire, I could taste his fear and disgust at the same time. He signed a contract he should never have considered, and I wanted to make him know he was going to regret it,” declared Sidero.

“You’re the one with the shrink’s degree. Why am I asking the questions?” huffed Amdirlain.

“Because you want information, obviously. Maybe I should have put you in touch with a broker instead of coming running,” Sidero replied with a smile.

“See bitch; you keep other people safe, again, you kept me out of Hell,” Amdirlain growled.

“Eye for detail. Maybe I should be afraid if you took over, you’d make me do paperwork,” teased Sidero.

“You’d better. I would make you read every copy of every document to make sure each match down to the inkblots. Tell me about fighting beside Torm, then. Why did you defend him so well? He said you always had his back?”

“Torm’s situation was different to Gaius'; I agreed I’d work with him to bring in the materials, so I was just doing what I agreed to. Though I could taste the way he felt about you, so it inspired me to play nice. I was going to make sure he got back to see you again and not have to wait a century. Other people; Fuck ’em, but you’re my sister by choice, not by blood. What do we get first from your list?”

Amdirlain raised an eyebrow at the rapid subject change but didn’t let her move immediately. “You said change is constant. If you’ve become someone you’re uncomfortable being, maybe it’s time to focus on finding your way to a new place in life. Focus on that Order concept you're sworn to instead of pleasure and pain. I won’t push, but please think about it. Now, feel like a journey to the centre of the Earth?”

Sidero looked ready to retort but closed her mouth and stared at Amdirlain, the initial anger in her gaze softening before she spoke again. “Elemental gemstones? Maybe you’ll find an Elemental that can redline you since you’ve not let Torm get to that point.”

“Oh yes, haha.”

Sidero ignored the sarcastic response to draw forth a steel disc along with a stylus and set compass marks at the edges. Between their lines, runes ran in a spiral; line by line, the Mana in them grew stronger until the disc spun freely and floated above her palm. The main point she’d cut in the metal shifted directions a few times, but it settled and pointed towards a tunnel in the cavern’s floor.

“That tunnel will take us towards stronger concentrations of Earth energies. You told me about your conversation with the Servant, but you didn’t tell me why you wanted to know the name of Mercury in this reality,” stated Sidero.

“I can open a Gate to a planet if I know what it looks like and the name. However, I don’t know what Cemna looks like, Mercury—if it’s enough like the NASA images—I can get to. Once I’m out on Mercury, then World Step will get me to Cemna.”

“So open a Gate on Mercury. If it’s night, wait until day time to step through, and immunity to fire stops you roasting?” asked Sidero. “If you had immunity to cold, you could step through regardless of the position of the Gate. Wouldn’t you lose atmosphere because of the pressure difference though, and risk getting sucked out into the cold?”

Amdirlain just smiled and waved a finger. “That shows you’re an Artificer, not a Wizard. Gates don’t allow the atmosphere through, just individuals or objects, so if I pour in enough Mana, I can keep it open a while.”

“What then? Do you plan to go Demon hunting on Cemna?” enquired Sidero, her voice warming with amusement.

“They shouldn’t be out in the Material Plane. Plus, they’d only still be there if there are life forms they could hunt and torture, that I know for sure,” declared Amdirlain. “Even if I don’t hunt them down myself, once I’ve been there, I can open a Gate directly. I’ve got a bunch of folks that need to gain experience; cleansing a world of Demons at the same time seems a bonus. Though I could mine Mercury with Inventory to dig to the deposits, I’ve got spells that would let me find them.”

“It’s a way to push it up,” conceded Sidero. “At some point, I might tell you about Mother’s test before Hell sent me to answer Gaius’ summons. Tell me more about the construction work you’ve organised for your Domain.”

“I don’t know enough, so I’ve just given them guidelines after they explained options. But I will not be a control freak and oversee the folks that know what they’re doing.” Amdirlain replied.

* * *

Northern New Egypt

A caravan of misery trundled its way down the dusty road through the open grasslands. There was no one around for kilometres in any direction. Whispered message spells provided a warning. Slaves—young and old alike—dropped to the ground in a clutter of chains. Still standing, the slavers were targets for coordinated spells from multiple platoons positioned alongside the road. Invisibility shrouds failed as the onslaught began, letting the slavers see the women coming for the kill.

Though surprised, the entourage around the main wagon closed ranks quickly. The reaction that their attackers had hoped for in their planning. Sagga’s Lightning Bolt tore through the shield wall and sent some bodyguards crashing to the ground. A scream of pain replaced the sharp-edged Abyssal chant of a Priest’s Blessing. Before the survivors could reposition themselves, Rikka surged from her place of concealment. Wrapped in swirling crystals, frantic strikes from those defenders still standing didn’t slow her or her long axe’s blow. Her barrier shrugged a spear aside a moment before her charge ended with an impact that caved in the Priest’s face, and Death Strike surged its acknowledgement to her. For the broken guards that scattered across still open fields, their heraldry of Set merely provided targets for earthen spears from a still invisible support platoon.

Her axe cleaned, Rikka moved towards the first group of slaves. Her spells made quick work of dissolving the manacles and collars. They left stripped corpses of slavers in the field for hungry scavengers—by the time the Portal closed, without a prisoner among them—the remains had the ravens circling. Hundreds of kilometres away, the distribution of food and clothing in the compound of the Daughters of Hope outside Eyrarháls began.

Priests and Priestesses of Amdirlain and Týr alike moved among them, their blessings healing the injured, taking the time to speak calmly to the distressed. The appearance of a Priest of Týr, his eyes covered with a rune-covered band, drew curious looks from the grateful ex-slaves, but none objected to his help.

“Víðarr looks weird with that metal band across his eyes,” Sagga said, stopping where the heavily pregnant Gellamel was watching her eldest help pass out water skins. “Does he wear it in bed?”

Gellamel almost snorted, hurriedly covering her mouth rather than spraying the ground with her drink. “No, he does not! Though seeing the children and me, at last, makes him ecstatic.”

“Rikka said the note from Yngvarr indicated Amdirlain arranged it?” questioned Sagga.

“Yes, though they’re unsure how long it will last. They wanted to ensure a permanent version would work given the cause,” Gellamel said. “That’s a prototype of the visor they called it, but we’ve sent back news already and been told the Master Artificer that Clan Gildenshield hired will work on it immediately. How did Platoon Solveiga work out?”

“They held position and reacted exactly as needed. They’ve been all keyed up after the news about her promotion,” Sagga replied, nodding towards the platoon’s leader. “So glad they stayed calm.”

“A good start then?” Gellamel asked.

“Yes, we didn’t even need the melee platoons,” Rikka answered and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “His Majesty’s advisers seem pleased with Amdirlain’s followers providing Wizards in such numbers.”

“Aggie thinks some of their requests are to hamper the expansion of our Lady’s faithful,” commented Gellamel.

“She’ll scold you for that,” chided Sagga, looking away so Gellamel couldn’t see her amusement.

“I know, but it gains us acceptance from more Norse,” sighed Gellamel, stroking her hand across her stomach as she took a calming breath.

“No, that’s their choice to serve in the army. I meant the Lady title,” teased Sigga, shooting her a smile.

“Alfdis sent me a message to pass along when it wouldn’t distract you. They’ll release the platoons from port duty at the end of the season as expected. There’s only been one small incursion by Sahuagin since mid-winter. The guardsman dealt with it alone, with no help from the platoons. There was no evidence of any casters during the raid,” Gellamel stated, “Lucky I even told you, brat.”

“That’s good news!” exclaimed Sagga, a beaming smile lighting her face. “I’ll send the Captain a message to let her know; we’ll have a welcome party ready.”

“Then I’ll warn your neighbours to stay away from the windows,” Gellamel said, laughing when Sagga put her nose in the air.

“Loud love birds. I think the requests are going to burn them. The older platoons are past their term of service. A lot of those ladies have plans to head home with friends they’ve made,” stated Rikka. “Others are planning to help the Adventurers’ Guild in various towns all over the ten kingdoms and promote her work through them.”

Gellamel raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Seeds blowing in the wind?”

“Very much so,” responded Rikka. “Veteran wizards making a fresh start with the coin in their pouches are certain to make a splash in several communities.”

“I’d best see about if we can at least send some lay Priests out. Could you find out what towns will be closest to those leaving his Majesty’s service?” Gellamel asked.

“I know who to ask,” acknowledged Rikka.

“I just bet you do,” Sagga teased. “Don’t wear him out first. You want answers, not snores. I’ll get some extra books copied; easier to educate more wizards if they have references on hand.”

“Will we go scouting again after you’ve had time with Alfdis?” asked Rikka, ignoring the teasing.

“Alfdis is leaving service, so she’ll be joining one of the other teams or us,” replied Sagga brightly.