Chapter 48, Exposed

Zelaria

As the tent flap opens I walk into a 2 meter wide and long room with another flap of cloth covering the real interior of the tent. This must just be some sort of waiting area. Runes suddenly flash all around the small room and I hear an all too familiar voice.

“Come back later!”

Julie sounds strained though and I look back at Charles behind me. He’s massaging his temples, his head jerking in a fashion that tells me to continue and I sigh before stepping through the next covered entrance.

Julie

I rake my nails across Howard’s back as he thrusts into me, his cock hitting deep and making me shudder in pleasure as I moan into his chest. He squeezes my ass in response to the pain, thrusting harder as I lean backwards, my arms around his neck as I arch my back to push it deeper into me. I look up at him, his massive arms and shoulders rippling with muscles as he holds me steady in the air, barely noticing my weight as I’m used like a toy.

The runic enchantments flicker around the entrance room, signaling the arrival of some inconsiderate jerk, probably a messenger who’d been told to deliver the letter in person. Or it might just be Helmer coming back to interrupt our lovemaking yet again. He’s been doing that more frequently lately… Maybe I should ask if he’s up to join us…

NO! I mentally shake myself. Howard is all I need and I won’t let myself slip now. I need to remain myself in case Zelaria decides to show up.

Connecting to the web of enchantments I speak, having my voice carry into the waiting room on magic as Howard continues thrusting. He’s good that way, never letting anything distract him from his duty.

“Come back later!”

Returning my focus to Howard I moan out loud as I meet his gaze.

“Oh, fuck yes.”

He practically growls the words as his throbbing cock fills me for the second time, his seed dripping to the floor from my slit as he continues, not stopping for a second. I close my eyes in enjoyment while my recovery magic is restoring him to the peak, his cock already rock hard after just a second of me using it. I shudder as my legs clamp harder around his back, getting close to another release of tension myself.

“Look at you two, that’s definitely some impressive use of magic and physical strength. Don’t you agree, Charles?”

Time seems to freeze as I lock up at the familiar, teasing voice. My mind isn’t willing to accept what my ears are telling me but Howard slows down his thrusting and I feel him crane his neck beneath my hands. I force myself to open my eyes. There’s a chance it’s just my mind playing tricks, isn’t there?

It isn’t a trick.

There she stands, looking almost exactly as she did before except for her even more exaggerated allure, eyes sparkling with laughter as the cocky grin I’d grown to hate, to love, HATE so much spreads on her lips. Next to her stands Charles, the regional manager of the Adventurers’ Guild but I barely glance at him, my whole focus being on the girl Howard had shown such an attraction towards. I can’t blame him, even if I want to.

Charles coughs before turning around, giving the verdict.

“By the king's command you two will be responsible for Zelaria from now onwards. She’s to fight the invasion by your side. Good day.”

He then steps out of the tent, not giving any of us a second glance. I barely register what he said though as I’m too focused on Zelaria, studying every detail of her appearance in disbelief.

She doesn’t look a day older than when I’d last seen her, the mature but youthful body not showing the slightest hint of age, in fact she looks even better than before. How can she look grown up but not lack youth? There’s a golden shimmer in her eyes that makes them even prettier, the thin, molten silver rims gleaming around them giving her gaze an otherworldly aura. Even the way she holds herself is different. She radiates confidence and there’s the grace of a seasoned killer to her, invisible if you don’t know what to look for. It tells of a perfect understanding and control of her body.

“Zelaria…”

Howard almost whispers and I look up at him as his cock gives a mighty throb inside of me. Remembering that I’m being held up by Howard and dripping with his seed I can’t help but flush, both in embarrassment and excitement. Shit! This is how I meet Zelaria? Howard’s cock inside of me as both of us gaze at her gorgeous features?

Overwhelming lust, disbelief and confusion tumbles through my mind that I’d sworn to keep clear for just this occasion.

The embarrassment slowly ebbs away as I feel myself losing control, my mind flipping like a coin with each throb of his cock, just waiting to see which face it lands on. Zelaria’s next words are the hand slapping the coin to a standstill, my mind shifting without my consent.

“It’s honestly quite hot, you sure you don’t mind me standing here watching?”

Her tone of voice makes it clear that she’d like us to finish up. I’m seeing another possibility however.

“You just want to stand there? Why not join us instead? I don’t mind sharing Howard with you and I can feel how much he’s lusting after your body. His is cock practically vibrating inside me with you here.”

I lick my lips as I look her up and down. Yes. She’ll make a good addition.

Zelaria

What the fuck did she just say? She wants me to join her? And that look in her eyes… what the fuck is going on?! Just a few seconds ago she looked shocked and angry. Then she looked embarrassed as Howard uttered my name, he himself having looked at me in disbelief but happiness. And now she’s looking at me with unconcealed desire??? There’s no way that she’s faking it, I don’t think so at least. I’ve seen that look too many times to not recognize the genuine feelings behind it.

Howard also seems taken aback, looking down at Julie with concern before he lifts her off his enormous cock dripping with seed and pleasure. It looks tantelizing as fuck if I’m being honest. Julie drops to her knees in front of him and rams his cock down her throat, moaning in pleasure as she looks at me, inviting me with her eyes, practically begging me to join her.

“Go. Please, Zelaria. Just step out for a few minutes. We need some time alone.”

Julie looks up at Howard as if hurt, pulling his cock out of her mouth with a wet pop, smacking her lips before speaking up to him, his tip being used to drum against her cheek.

“Why, Howard?! You want her as badly as I do, I know it! Why do you always push people away? Do you want me all to yourself and therefore refuse everyone else?”

I stare wide eyed at Julie, disbelieving of what I’m seeing and hearing. Howard draws my attention back to him with a slightly harsher tone.

“Zelaria. Outside, please!”

Giving Howard, his cock and Julie one last glance I turn away and walk through the flap to the entrance room of the tent, the sound of Julie's complaints disappearing with some sort of sound barrier activating with the closing of the fabric.

“Zel… What the fuck just happened?”

“I, I don’t know. She wanted to fuck us? And she wanted us to have a taste of Howard as well?”

“But why?! It makes NO FUCKING SENSE whatsoever!”

“I don’t know, darling. This wasn’t at all what I expected when entering. Their sex was fascinating, with her use of restorative magic and him carrying her like that… I’ve gotten wet. Fuck”

“Yeah, I’m also feeling like fucking. Fucking you that is, love. This is all too surreal though and I’m not sure I could have concentrated on the pleasure with all these confusing thoughts in my mind. I thought she’d scowl and growl, not drink seed and plead.”

Howard

Fuck, fuck, fuck… FUCK! This couldn’t have gone any worse. She entirely snapped and I was too distracted to notice in time. I look down at her as Zelaria walks out of the room, Julie licking the tip absently as she watches her go.

“Why?!”

She looks at me, a hurt expression in her eyes but her actions unchanging as she starts stroking me gently.

“You want to fuck her! I’d be blind not to notice it. Why do you always stop me from helping you?”

I sigh, placing a hand gently on the top of her head as she sucks my cock, grumbling incoherently with each breath.

“Julie, listen to me. You don-”

“No! Don’t tell me that I don’t really want to. I know what I want, alright?”

She interrupts me, her glare furious. Looks like I have no choice.

“I’ll fill you up if you promise to listen to me afterwards, how does that sound?”

“Hm. Alright, but you better fill all my holes. You hear me?”

“No. Pick one.”

“Ugh, fine. I want to swallow in that case.”

With nothing else for it I relax my tense muscles, enjoying her lips and tongue skillfully working me as my cock bottoms out deep in her throat. She’s a marvel at everything in bed and I pity those that would dismiss her for her plain looks. I allow her to do as she pleases and soon pass the edge, Julie gulping down my seed with gusto, moaning as my cock pumps it all out. She continues sucking after having swallowed and I grab her by the hair, gently pulling her backwards, ignoring her pleading eyes.

“You promised to listen, Julie. I want your full attention, alright?”

My cock leaves her mouth with a satisfying smack, trailing saliva from her lips and tongue. Not giving her another chance to reassert herself I bend down, face close to hers.

“Now then Julie, you listen to me and really focus on what I’m about to say, do you understand?”

“Yes, father.”

My gut wrenches. I feel sick at hearing her response, a reminder of what that vile man did to her. I don’t let it show though, this isn’t the first time after all.

“Snap out of it.”

She looks at me, all confused.

“Snap out of what?”

“Julie, snap out of it.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“Julie. SNAP. OUT. OF. IT!”

“Did I do something wrong, father? I swear they were happy, I made lots of money. See?”

She looks around, evidently surprised at not seeing the money she spoke about.

“JULIE! SNAP! OUT! OF! IT!”

I finish my yell with a light slap to her cheek, barely enough to leave an imprint but just enough to sting. She yelps, almost falling to the side before I steady her. Looking into her eyes, darting around confused as she blinks, I wait.

“Howard? What, no… No no no no-”

Curling into a ball she starts sobbing. I put my arms around her, holding her steady and offering her the support she needs. I wish I could fix this. Fix her. Now though… There’s only one thing that might help the situation but convincing Julie to do it will be very, very difficult. She’s never opened up to anyone else except me, ever.

Zelaria

“Come in, Zelaria.”

It’s Howard’s voice emanating through the enchantments this time, he sounds tired and slightly crestfallen. Standing up I enter the tent again. Julie lays curled up beneath the blankets of their bed, Howard seated at her feet with his giant hand placed on the blankets over her thigh. I stare for a few seconds and they stare back. Not entirely sure of myself I approach their bed, seating myself on a wooden stool next to a table two meters away.

“Soo,”

I start. Only to be interrupted by Julie’s shout.

“I didn’t mean any of it!”

I stare, wholly unconvinced.

“I don’t believe you.”

Howard looks between us before settling on me.

“Zelaria, I’m not entirely convinced either,-”

“Howard!? What are you saying?!”

Julie interrupts furiously and Howard pauses, looking at her with raised eyebrows.

“Julie, can you honestly say that you don’t have any interest in Zelaria?”

“None!”

Howard sighs wearily.

“Julie, it’s all right to not act on your feelings, it’s even okay to reject them. But don’t lie to yourself. It will only make things worse and you just promised me you’d do things differently this time.”

Julie squirms.

I blink, more confused than ever. Is Julie actually into me but in denial? I sort of got the impression she’s attracted to me when she asked me to join her but that was too abrupt of a change, bordering on lunacy. That just can’t have been her true self, can it?

Howard continues.

“Will you tell her or should I?”

Julie’s eyes go wide, horror apparent on her face.

“No, Howard. She doesn’t need to know! We’re practically strangers, we can just ask her to remain quiet about it.”

I’m right here? Hello? What’s with her?

“So you wish me to tell her then?”

Julie shrinks back, looking betrayed.

“Julie… You should just tell her. It will all be easier then and she will surely understand. I don’t think she will think less of you for it either, how could she? You two have been at each other’s throats during all the time you spent together, except for now.”

“What’s he talking about, Julie?”

I speak up, having grown tired of waiting for an explanation.

After a few seconds of Howard and I staring at her she looks down on the blankets, her lower lip trembling slightly. I’m about to stand and just walk away, not feeling like waiting for something that seems unlikely to ever happen when she actually starts speaking.

“I was born in the Sécilian dynasty, to the west of Damasus, Fioran and Corin kingdoms. My mother was a wood elf originally born in Èlesnim. You probably don’t know but it’s the domain of the elven empress of thorns, located west of the Sécilian dynasty and spanning a huge area along the western shores of the continent.

“My father was merchant in the Sécilian dynasty and he bought my mother of the slave market, slavery is legal there if you didn’t know. From what I understand he treated her well in the beginning, spoiling her with gifts and luxuries as he fell deeply in love with her. He never removed the slave collar though, keeping her as a slave instead of freeing her, probably afraid she didn’t love him back. He was right about that at least.

“My mother had me a year after she became his slave. She wasn’t fond of me, probably because of my features more resembling that of my father’s than hers. I was probably a constant reminder of her imprisonment as she took care of the household when he was out doing business. She made it very clear that my elven blood was weak, that I was weak and most importantly, that I was ugly.”

“You’re not though.”

I speak out, surprising both myself and Julie as she looks up at me. I continue to clarify my statement.

“You’re not ugly I mean. I won’t lie and call you gorgeous but your own mother calling you ugly is horrible.”

She just stares at me, a tear trickling slowly down her cheek.

“Well, I’m not going to believe someone as gorgeous as you saying that.”

She looks down again, a slight blush covering her tear-streaked cheeks.

“Thank you though.”

I merely wait in silence for her to continue, and she does.

“My childhood wasn’t all misery but there are few fond memories and none with my mother and father. My father became worse over the years, his business going downhill and his addictions beginning to take their toll. My mother was often bruised and even had some bleeding cuts every so often as I saw her in the morning. Her temper and heartlessness grew with the number of bruises, giving me some to vent her own torment. My father didn’t care though.

“A few months after my thirteenth birthday my father killed my mother. He said it was an accident that had killed her but that was a lie. I’d walked into their room earlier that morning, looking for my mother. I’d seen her strangled, naked corpse lying in bed, cuts and bruises covering her whole body and her makeup running down her cheeks where her tears had fallen. My father lay next to her in a drug induced sleep, her blood and his seed covering him.”

Julie shakes with renewed tears and Howard leans over, holding her tight as she tries to compose herself. My own mind is blank, having trouble processing the horror described. I’d had my own encounters at a young age that scarred me but nothing coming from my family.

“That’s where the real nightmare started.”

I blink. Wait… Was that only the opening?

“My father went completely off the rails after my mother's death and he started hanging out with the nastier crowds of the city where I grew up. One day close to my 15th birthday he brought home a slave collar he’d somehow procured, placing it on me. I had no class and no way of fighting him off. I'd planned on running away from home when I’d turned 15 but he must have realized as much, using the slave collar to shackle me to him.

“Barely a week later we lost our house, my father having gamled, whored and fed his addictions with all the money we had, even going as far as taking out a loan. It was then he brought me to the place he’d spent the last years, wasting our livelihood. He told me it was time for me to pay him back for his kindness as he led me below the earth, through the sewers and into a hidden city of darkness and depravity, the underground society.

“He had his own little filthy corner down there, barely enough to be called a room, and it was there he whored me out. His own daughter getting fucked by strangers for money, not batting an eye as I pleaded for help and got hurt. The only thing he kept repeating to me was that I had to show enjoyment or his customers would stop coming. That I didn’t have my mother’s looks and therefore couldn’t rely on those, needing my actions to speak of lust and desire. I’d gone from daughter to worker in mere days. Or he might have never seen me as family, just his property, I don’t know.

“He kept comparing me to other whores he’d seen down there, sometimes bringing them back towards our corner to fuck them in front of me, showcasing how those ‘beautiful’ ladies behaved. He struck me when I disobeyed or when his customers had complaints, eventually even taking part in his own merchandise when the rest of his addictions became too expensive to afford someone else, forcing me to act out his fantasies and wishes. “Pain or pleasure, choose.” was his daily greeting and I eventually started answering with ‘pleasure’. Answering ‘pain’ only brought me more of both.”

“How long were you trapped there?”

My whispered question is still heard in the silence following her story. My skin is crawling and I feel sick to my stomach. Howard also looks disturbed even if he’s obviously heard all of this before.

“Twenty-one years. Twenty-one years of being abused by strangers and my own father, drugs being shoved into me when I behaved and withheld when I didn’t fulfill my father’s requirements. He went more and more insane the longer we stayed there and came close to killing me multiple times, either with the aid of strangers or just by himself. For the first ten years or so I used to wish that he killed me but he never did.”

I stare at Julie in shock, feeling my dislike for her lessening as the pieces slowly begin clicking into place.

“How did you survive, though? And why didn’t you kill yourself? I’d definitely done that. And what do you mean ten years? Did you give up on dying or something?”

She chuckles, actually sounding a little deranged herself as she looks at me with fury in her eyes.

“Don’t you think I'd have done that if I could?!”

“Julie, calm down. She probably doesn’t know how the slave collars work. It’s not a subject often discussed, being outlawed and very taboo in most regions.”

Julie looks down at her shaking hands, balling them into fist before breathing out and answering.

“When I turned 15 years of age, having been in the underground society for a few months, my father ordered me to listen to his advice when selecting a class and I obeyed. I’d first been thrilled that he’d asked me to become a [Light Mage], thinking that he’d have me make money by healing the sick and injured. How naive.

“My father had ordered me to not hurt myself so I couldn’t commit suicide. After becoming a [Light Mage] he ordered me to heal myself when my injuries warranted it. Effectively forcing me to stay alive as long as nobody killed me instantly. Imagine being on the verge of death, finally thinking you’ll be able to escape the torment only to be forced to save yourself.

“The slave collars force their wearers to obey the commands of whoever has imprinted their mana signature but they’re not foolproof. There are ways of escape if one can find a loophole in the commands or if the owner dies. The slave can’t act to kill the owner or remove the collar but someone else could, if one is lucky. There’s also a limit on how many commands can be used on a collar, the more expensive and more complex the more command slots.

“I spent the first ten years wishing someone would kill me or my father but no one did and I eventually lost myself completely. The sex and drugs eventually became my whole world, my personallity twisted into that which my father desired. I was his perfect little sex slave and money maker or he’d make me wish I was, violence a language he’d perfected by that point.

“Even after he died, I don’t even know exactly when or how, I didn't run away. I was stuck in a mental loop and kept taking on everyone who came, not even needing to be paid to be used any longer. The money didn’t matter to me, only the pleasure and the drugs some of them provided. I was 36 years of age, having spent years trapped in my own mind after my father had already died, before finally snapping out of it.”

“Ask her how she escaped, Zel.”

“How did you escape?”

She sighs, wiping a few tears from her cheeks before looking up and continuing.

“Sense was finally slapped into me by a gang leader looking for a healer. Most people living in the area had probably forgotten that I was ownerless by that point, merely glad to use me whenever they wanted, me always willing and able. I forced myself upon the gang leader of The Bloodhounds, a king of depravity in the underground. He wasn’t interested though and slapped me hard enough to knock out a few teeth, eventually knocking me out as I didn’t stop. That’s when I met Howard.”

I look at Howard in confusion, his eyes downcast as he looks at Julie. Howard was in the underground too?

“Why don’t you take over the explanation Howard? I’m tired of reliving those days.”

“You did good, Julie. I’m proud of you.”

Howard gives Julie a kiss before laying her gently down on the bed and she closes her eyes as he turns to me.

“I’m not going to go into as much detail as the story after that is quite simple. I’d been born to a slave and been a slave my whole life, fighting in the pits of the underground for the sport of the audience. I was a favorite of the crowd as they liked watching me crush weaker opponents with force, taking pleasure in the death and gore I put on display as I ripped everything from children to weak adults to pieces.

“Julie was brought in one day after a nasty fight, a fight I would have died from hadn’t it been for her. I didn’t realize her situation at the time but she’d snapped back to her old self when waking up in the arena, the unfamiliar surroundings and abrupt return to consciousness enough to repress her split personality if I had to guess.

“She treated me with her light magic and stayed in the arena from that day onwards, treating the wounded victors without complaint. I’m not sure how many times she saved my life in that hellish place and I took it upon myself to protect her in turn. I was only 17 at the time but I was larger than most men thrice my age. Enough of an obstacle for most to leave Julie alone.

“She still had her episodes when her other persona came forth and I had to snap her out of it several times as she tried to fuck me instead of healing my torn open stomach or thigh, it was disturbing enough to not get me aroused. A few victors needing healing didn’t think their wounds worrisome though and they bled out as she fucked them to death.”

I look at Julie, both horrified and fascinated but mostly just impressed. I’d killed in a lot of ways but never by fucking something to death. Did she get a kill notification from it? She opens her eyes in the silence and meets my gaze. Her eyes widen slightly for whatever reason but I simply nod at her before motion for Howard to continue.

“It went on for a few months and Julie and I became like family to each other. She looked out for me and I, her. When the purge came we saw no reason to split up and made our escape together. Julie managed to get me free from the slave collar and hers wasn’t tied to an owner, somehow being overlooked by the people bringing her into the arena’s workforce. We might have been forced to face the army otherwise and we would have definitely died then and there.”

“The purge?”

I’d never heard of such a thing.

“It’s just what Julie and I call it. I’ve no idea if the event even got a name. It was thanks to the city getting new rulership from what I understand and they didn’t approve of having the den of depravity beneath their streets, sending down their soldier's en masse to clean it all out.

“That’s how we started our career as adventurers together. We quickly made our way east towards and through Damasus before our adventures eventually brought us to the Riverflow kingdom.”

Julie, Howard and I just sit there for a few minutes as I process everything, trying to fit Julie’s behavior from our expedition with this new information. But why did she treat me so horribly? Did I remind her of her mother or something? No, that makes no sense. Then what?

“Why, Julie? Why did you treat me so poorly?”

She looks away, fidgeting slightly.

“It wasn’t anything personal. Not in the beginning at least. I was a bit annoyed at you stealing the attention of my party, especially Ormar, but not enough to warrant my behavior.”

“Then why?!”

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with, not remorse… is that guilt? She fidgets a little more before bursting out into speech.

“I was attracted to you! Okay?! I was envious of you. Scared of what your inclusion in the party might mean for me. Ormar had turned his eyes from me to chase you, I didn’t really care about him but what if the same happened with my Howard! What.. What if-”

She breaks down again as Howard leans closer, bringing her into an embrace. Sobbing between breaths she continues.

“I was aroused, envious, scared and hurt. I felt like I’d lose myself if I didn’t brand you with another emotion, hate. It didn’t take long for it to almost become a real emotion since you always managed to tick me off without barely trying.”

It finally clicked then. I’d unintentionally placed her in a situation where she’d felt trapped and with similar emotions as when she’d been abused for years. She’d grasped for anything to blanket those emotions and found hate to be the easiest to apply. I didn’t do anything wrong to her and I didn’t deserve her treatment but likewise she isn’t wholly at fault.

It’s not like I didn’t make the situation worse. I can see it now, me becoming sexually provocative in response when she became too annoying, flaunting my body when we bathed or the like. It had made her even nastier instead of getting her to back off, no wonder why.

“You’re not at fault, Julie, at least not entirely. I can’t say I didn’t make it worse either.”

She looks a little taken aback, her tears starting to dry now with Howard holding her. She slowly nods after a few moments of considering me.

“Thanks… Zelaria. This doesn’t mean we’re friends though.”

I laugh at that and Howard chuckles.

“No, that we aren’t.”

“You tell her, Zel! It will take a lot more than this to win us over.”

“I wonder if she meant that she now sees us as more than friends…”

“NO! DON’T YOU DARE JOKE ABOUT THAT!”

I give Ari a kiss, getting a disgruntled but amused swat in return.