Trenchcoat and Spellbook?

[DarkWarrioress]

Perhaps it was a good thing Mirela was blissfully ignorant of Annalise or her thoughts, at that moment or she more than likely would not have reached down to guide his crowned shaft back into her body. There was something in the cry Lucas gave but Mirela was still caught up in the euphoria they had created together, to notice. Her body gripped him, beckoning him deeper as the length of him slid deeper, filling her again.

“Lucas… Lucas… “

It was a breathless, aching whisper. Her body curved upward, her body opening as she took him in. Shudders wracked her body again. Hands wandered over his body. There was a certain feeling of wholeness that invaded her being. One hand slipped over her lower abdomen, fingertips brushing against the small amount of his cock still exposed and not seated inside her. He was slick with her, coated with it, in fact. Fingers widened to either side of her feminine lips, her thumb resting lightly on the top side as he pressed forward and retreated. Dear heaven, he was huge. How much of his endowment was due to the pact with his succubus? How much of it was his own? Mirela quivered with a husky moan…….

~~ ~~​

The fire sconces on the wall flickered continuously. The flames, a silent sentient to the scene unfolding in the stone cobbled room.

Her matted hair hung off the slab as did her head. The gag that had been seated between her lips when the monster had arrived, had been removed and been replaced by the solidness of his cock spearing her oral depths.

“That’s it, my little pretty. Suck my cock, just like that. Just a little more to left…”

He cooed at the girl as his hand stroked her throat, taking pleasure in feeling himself bulge in her tight little throat. Her gagging tickled the head. He pulled out of the O-ring, staring down at her, stroking himself before he leaned over to whisper against the column of her neck.

“Take a deep breath, love. Then another because you won’t know when you’ll be allowed another one.”

He moved back into place, fitting his cock through the ring and pushing it straight back, down her throat and held there. Her lips were pressed to his cum filled balls. He loved this. How he loved the feeling of being stuffed down an unwilling throat. He leaned over her, filling his hands with supple tit flesh and squeezing with rough force. He began to piston in and out of her throat.

His heated explosion filled her throat, spilling out around his cock and past her lips, to drip unappreciated to the stones of the floor. He stood, withdrawing from her breast, his hips still sawing back and forth for a moment before withdrawing, his manhood deflated and dripping. His cum spewed from her throat as she coughed and choked. The monster moved away from her head toward the other end of the slab the girl was lying limply on. He looked down at her splayed legs, spread wide and tied down. Crude, crooked fingers took a flogger off the wall. Standing between her legs, the first blow fell. Her body jumped. There were a succession of blows, each one falling harder than the last. At first, there were gurgling sounds from the girl’s throat. By the twelfth blow between her legs, she had gone silent.

“Oh no, you don’t, my little soiled dove. You don’t get to escape me that easily.”

The flogger was tossed aside, her unresisting body turned until she lay belly down on the slab, pulled back until her hips rode the edge of the slab. There was a whimper of protest from the girl as her cheek drug against the roughness of stone. Her arms stretched taut, still tied to the head of the stone. That whimper told him she was awake again. Good. He stood staring at her nicely rounded ass, stroking himself to hardness again. This little delectable morsel was lasting much better than the others. Stepping between her spread bound legs, he guided the head of his cock to the tiny puckered opening of her ass, forcing himself inside, stretching her open.

She squealed in pain. Her body feebly trying to escape this fresh raping of her body. His hand gripped her hips as he pressed deeper, glorifying in the heated tightness she presented. There was another squeal of pain as he retreated then slammed into her deeper, forcing her flesh to accept his girth and length.

His body shuddered against her own as he soaked up her pain and fear. His hips slammed against her ass again and again.

“Oh yes, my dove…. feed me your pain… give me your fear…. so sweet…. so delicious…. “

The squeals.

He adored the squeals.

 

[dryfter]

He was pissed. A fact that she had thought was funny, even lying in a crumpled heap of disheveled, dirty blonde hair and clothing. She reeked of sex. She couldn't feed off of other humans without Lucas' command, and she couldn't climax without him either. The scent of her was proof enough that she had tried her damnedest to resist that last contract proviso.....had strummed herself until her breath raced, and her blood boiled, her sultry body as tight as a violin string.....but release never came.

And when it had become too much. She had crawled back to him. On her hands and knees.....her once beautiful tresses of hair dragging along on the ground to either side of her weary head. Her sex exposed and dripping whorishly, yet still strong, proud enough to snarl viciously and fend off any unwitting human who thought to claim her in her weakness. Any human that wasn't Lucas wasn't allowed to touch her, would only damn her further in his eyes. And even in such disrepair....one of the demon pits was more than strong enough to beat back the soft and fragile human denizens of this world.

But now she knelt before them both, their combined fury enough that their very gazes sought to blister her skin. Her panting echoed across the room, ragged and painful with need.....and hunger.

"Please......Master......"

For the first time, Annalise felt fear, her head lifting just enough to dare a look at him. Finding nothing but ice and hatred in the stormy eyes of the wiry man who had summoned her years ago. Had he ever looked upon her like that? She had knowingly overstepped her bounds in tormenting him.....and yet there was no mistaking the look of cruelty that haunted those emerald eyes now. It was a look she knew well, one that she had been happy to give to her impish subordinates before her summoning......one that she had received more than once from Hell's masters as she answered a very different kind of summoning......

"Beg."

"Please Master! Your servant hungers.....I'll do anything for you, let you ravish my body in any way you desire, my every thought and action will be on pleasuring you. Fill my holes, treat me like your whore, my flesh will bend to your will if you desire! PLEASE....Please FUCK ME!"

"You're begging the wrong person."

The room went silent for a moment. Annalise looked up at him from where she had crawled to kiss at his feet, stroke his calf with her cheek.....confusion only lasting so long.....

"No....," came the barely audible whisper.

"My body belongs to Mirela now. As you saw fit to do what you did, I must at least for now, prepare myself to be a responsible father. If that means marrying her, then I will."

He hadn't even spoken of marraige yet with her, hadn't spoken of what exactly he had been told by the succubus either, nor did he intend to tell Mirela the true extent of Annalise's conniving. He would simply wait. It would take, or it wouldn't. He had told her that it was Annalise who had intervened, and how she had done so.......Mirela had been able to figure out the result on her own once the afterglow had finally ended, and the wetness dripping from her was more than just her own juices. He saw no reason to let her know how dangerous of a time this had been for her if she didn't already know.

At least now she knew, rather unexpectedly no doubt, how serious he took this matter and how far he planned to go if she did turn out to be with child.

"Matrimony would mean that I'm hers...though I'm sure a creature like you wouldn't understand the concept of such holy things."

"No....master.....what would become of me? Of us? If I die and waste away here, then you.....can you not feel my pain?"

Indeed he could. But it was a small thing compared to the anger he felt, though he knew it would grow stronger. As the succubus died, so too would he. He would share her weakness through their bond to the point that even his grip on the arcane would be less acute and focused until it ebbed away to nothingness. Finally, he turned to Mirela, his gaze softening the moment he beheld her.....yet hard enough to deliver the information he had yet to bestow upon her.

"As she dies, so do I. That was the unavoidable part of the contract we both bear. She can make me feel her eternal lust, yet in return she also bears any pain I feel."

"A hundred fold."

The mutter brought another dark look from him, yet one that did not hold question as well.

"A human's pain is nothing. For me though, it is magnified. When Lucas is in physical pain, I need to end it. Even if it means my flesh is rent and torn, even if my body is scarred as a result....if the pain is sharp enough, I must act or have my own senses torn asunder."

"I didn't....know that."

There was hesitancy in his voice as he struggled to hold onto his anger in the midst of this new information. Annalise was a demoness after all....lying was akin to her nature.

"Have I ever let you get hurt?"

Tears streamed down her face from where she knelt huddled in a dirty mess. The proud succubus shivered and took a shaky breath.....

"Fine.....I'll do it....."

Her shame was tantamount as her muddied head lifted mournfully to the gypsy shopkeeper. There was no mistaking that she was completely unremorseful for what she had done.....and yet.....willing to accept the shameful punishment her own Master had forced upon her, more than she had ever imagined he would concoct in that warlock brain of his. To have to beg a mere slip of a human girl....

And yet her pride was broken, had been for days now, days that she had spent locked out of his shop....unable to feed, unable to feel his touch, hell she even missed the orc right now....friends? She wasn't supposed to have friends. She was a demoness.....

"Mirela.....please.....please Miss Mirela.....let me suck his cock.....don't let us weaken further.....don't let us die......please......"

She didn't want to say it, gods she didn't want to!

"I'll serve you too.....anything.....please......"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Beg."

Clearly Lucas was furious with his servant. Annalise, from the looks of her, was a pathetic mess. Clearly unlike her usual, well fed, smart assed, sensual self. It made Mirela wince to listen to the succubus beg. The female’s words, after having just been so intimate with Lucas, were distasteful. His next words made her eyes go wide in a shock she couldn’t contain or hide.

"My body belongs to Mirela now. As you saw fit to do what you did, I must at least for now, prepare myself to be a responsible father. If that means marrying her, then I will."

There were already too many things in her mind to sort, process and now Lucas adds this? The very idea that he would marry her if she turns out to be pregnant made her grind her teeth. As if.

"As she dies, so do I. That was the unavoidable part of the contract we both bear. She can make me feel her eternal lust, yet in return she also bears any pain I feel."

His words made Mirela turn her eyes from the pitiful mess on the floor, to Lucas. She took in his softened look when he spoke with her, a look that was totally unlike how he had been staring at Annalise.

“Then it will be a good day when she has all the souls promised so that this contract is fulfilled. Nothing against Annalise, mind you but the knowing that both of you are indentured to the other is something I find….”

She shook her head. It didn’t matter what she thought. This wasn’t about her. God, why now? Ever since meeting Lucas her life had become a whirlwind. Her mind spun in so many circles now, sometimes she had to wonder which way was up. Her own emerging powers, something she hadn’t realized she possessed to begin with, still made her uncomfortable. The insane, sadistic, murdering priest who was killing young girls somewhere below the city. The appearance of Lucas, a warlock in her life, dragging along a sidekick who was a demonic succubus, who, apparently enjoyed needling Lucas and needed his body to feed off of. The materialization of all of these factors in her life, was more than enough to make her want to curl up in a ball someplace, covering her head and never surfacing. She simply could not ignore what was going on around her, could not and wouldn’t be allowed to. Looking from one to the other, she had to believe they were telling her the truth. If all else failed to convince her, Annalise’s appearance shouldn’t. The succubus looked downright shattered and fragile. And Lucas. What of Lucas? His body belonged to her? Truly? Mirela blinked. How the hell had that happened? From just having sex with her once? Not that she was complaining, mind you. She rather liked the idea. The things Lucas had made her feel, well, she could get use to that. She had been drawn to Lucas from the moment she had set eyes on him. Perhaps that was why she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her belly just thinking about Annalise with her sexy full lips riding Lucas’ cock. Then anger rose up to mingle with that feeling.

How dare he put her in the middle of this? In order to save his life, not that she cared one wit for Annalise’s, the female was a demonic succubus for god’s sake, Mirela had to grudgingly acknowledge that the demoness had looked after her during that incident with her shop and the succubus had done nothing wrong to warrant her anger.

Except for the fact that she belonged to Lucas. She belonged to Lucas.

That thought was enough to set her stomach churning. Why that was, Mirela wasn’t ready to delve into so readily. At least not yet. The more thought she gave the situation, the more her stomach churned. A look flickered Lucas’ way before brown eyes turned to Annalise.

"I'll serve you too.....anything.....please......"

Mirela drew herself upward to her full stature. Her eyes bore into Annalise’s.

“You are not mine, demoness. I made no pact with you.”

Her voice held an icy vein that could have frozen a mountain in that moment.

“You serve him. If he dies, you best be thankful you would too or you’d have me to deal with. And you…”

She whirled on Lucas.

“I can’t begin to tell you how I feel right this moment and I----“

Her stomach rumbled at the thought of what she was about to say.

“Take your demoness and get out. Let her feed on your cock if need be to preserve both of you. I. Don’t. Care. I think I’m going to be---“

Mirela dashed out of the room, looking quite ill.

 

[dryfter]

To him, it couldn't be over fast enough. Sure Annalise was talented, but there was no attempt at seduction this time, no desire to win him over with her curves and allure. Every time she even hinted at a try at it, the coldness he exuded made her shudder. And so the succubus worked him over as only she knew how, knowing that even when she made him reach release he did not find comfort. Especially when he had strength enough to tangle fingers in her dirty golden locks and rip her hungry mouth off of him when he had deemed her as having had enough. Annalise fell to a crumpled, pouty, silent heap on the floor. Her pert rear had barely made contact and he was reaching for his clothes. She was definitely not used to this kind of treatment in their contract.....

She was rapidly becoming of the opinion that she didn't like it. Was she not his partner? Or was she a more a tool now than she had ever been? It was a question that would no doubt haunt her throughout the coming days.

The door closed behind him as he left her alone, the silence deafening as even his footfalls faded to the corner of the shop that was furthest from her.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"He did not choose her."

Thrusk had been first to find her of course. Mirela had been in a hurry wherever she was going, and it had been his bad luck to have been standing between her and wherever it was. Unluckier still to not have been bowled completely over, instead enfolding her with thick green arms, more muscular than Lucas' own would ever be. The pretty gypsy shopkeeper became more than familiar with the feeling of how it would be to run into a brick wall and not bounce off. The orc butler frowned softly at the sudden grunt and whoosh of air expelled upon violent impact. It didn't mix well with his own uncomfortable grunt.

He had no idea what was going on of course, but the fact that Master Lucas wasn't with her.....well he could pretty much guess the basics of the situation. He was intelligent for his species after all, and hanging around a warlock for the last dozen or so years had helped the matter considerably.

"What did he do? Tell me."

He was slow to release her, wanting to make sure she was steady on her feet and half expecting her to bolt from him the moment he let her go. Still....it was his job to provide immaculate hospitality. He wasn't about to fail now.

"Over tea if you'd like? Or perhaps you'd prefer something a little stronger? Master keeps a rare fae wine or two for moments of weakness. Humans such as yourself need to be very careful when indulging, but I've been told to your kind its as sweet as ambrosia. Magic itself is brewed into the concoction, much like your teas you sell."

Regardless of what she chose, he preferred greatly to keep her here rather than have her storm off home as upset as she was. There was no telling what could happen to someone of her stature traveling the city streets at this hour. There were those that could scent the magic in her blood far better than Lucas could. The more the orc thought about it, the more he wondered why it had taken his Master to discover her in the first place.

And so he had gotten the gist of it, albeit reluctantly at first. Though the more time spent, and more he served her, the easier it seemed to come out. In truth, Thrusk wasn't surprised considering just how much he knew Annalise loved to torment the Master. Still, not even he could keep his face stoic and passive when their guest spoke of the succubus' punishment. Instead, it was all he could do to swallow the remainder of the warm scone he had helped himself to, choking on it until tears formed in his rheumy yellow eyes.

"And so you find yourself more caught up in this than you cared to be. Shameful, Annalise. That is not the way of a warrior, but then, she has always prided herself on deceit. You might be surprised to know that deep down, she does indeed have feelings for the Master and isn't just a completely vicious hellion of the Abyss. Most succubi do once bonded."

A genteel sip of tea from around his tusks. He could hear the young master storming about the abode portion of his own shop, not really surprised as he heard Lucas settle himself in behind his desk with a sigh. A long, green finger raised to his lips with a wan smile. The warlock no doubt thought his gypsy lover long gone, and with any luck, mourned her passing. Still....it was not his place to interrupt such things, especially when the tempest was only beginning to pass.

Thankfully, Mirela was more than bright enough of a girl to know that keeping their voices down was the best thing to do. Spells were tedious things, constantly tugging at the brain of the one who would control them, requiring constant memorizations. Unless very unlucky, Lucas would be completely oblivious to their presence for some time.

"I should bring him his tea. Wait here please. He will be most agitated without it, though I imagine just dealing with the situation Annalise has caused has already put him in a sorry state. Much like yourself."

Minutes later and a murmured "thank you" could be heard through the stout wall, the butler backing through the lone door and towards Mirela with a soft bow in Lucas' direction.

"As I was saying, Lucas did not choose her. Any hellion could have answered his call for a familiar, though they say that which appears resembles its Master in spirit somehow."

He watched her reaction to those words, liking the look he saw on her face. She was intelligent this one, and it was no wonder why the young master took to her and her budding talents.

"I've known Annalise for a very long time now, ever since the two of them took me in and protected me from my own clan. She's a royal pain in the ass, but then.....Lucas can be at times too. I think they both do a wonderful job of trying to be something that they're not. Like an illusion. In Annalise's case, its obvious. She's a creature of torment and hell who cloaks herself in lies and magic to appear human. Not that it'd matter to most human males. Teenagers could see her in her true form and still give up their souls to bury themselves in her just once."

The orc chuckled as he nudged the plate of scones in her direction.

"The real question then....is what is Lucas hiding?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She was upset. Very upset. The very thought of Annalise ‘s lips wrapped around Lucas’ cock, the same cock that had just been inside her, milking him, of her making him hard enough to suck on, of being able to make him cum…. Just the thought of those things made her stomach churn. There was no reasoning with her. There was no damn reason to it at all in her mind. Her stomach was rolling and all she wanted was the bathroom so she wouldn’t disgrace herself in his home then all she wanted to do was get the hell out of this place and never see either one of their faces again. Instead, she had ran smack into what felt like a brick wall, only it had arms that wrapped around her and held tight. Funny thing was, and she would think about this much later, she didn’t have the urge to pull away from those strong green arms. Instead, she went still, burying her face into his chest. Thrusk. Yes. That’s who this was. Lucas’ butler. His words whispered over the top of her head.

"He did not choose her."

He had spoken before she had even gotten her breath back from running into him. Her stomach rocked perilously.

"What did he do? Tell me."

There was a tone in Thrusk’s voice. Oddly comforting for a stranger. She supposed she should be thankful for such things. She was angry. Hurt. Confused and those were only three emotions she could define at the moment.

Aside from feeling as if anything Lucas and I had just shared had gone from something wonderful to something meaningless.

After all, he had just gone from between her legs to Annalise’s lips. DAMN IT! Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Over tea if you'd like? Or perhaps you'd prefer something a little stronger? Master keeps a rare fae wine or two for moments of weakness. Humans such as yourself need to be very careful when indulging, but I've been told to your kind its as sweet as ambrosia. Magic itself is brewed into the concoction, much like your teas you sell."

“Tea would be fine, thank you Thrusk. I think I need something to settle my nerves before I head home.”

She sniffled and forced her stomach to not do anything to embarrass her. He had gently released her, guiding her into the efficient kitchen and seeing her seated before he began to make her some tea. Mirela found the small sounds as he moved around the kitchen, soothing. Slowly, as she watched him, she haltingly began to talk. Mirela told Thrusk basically what had happened and how Lucas had used her in his anger as an implement of Annalise’s punishment. And Mirela did feel used. It hadn’t mattered what Annalise had done; it hadn’t mattered that Annalise was Lucas’ familiar. All Mirela could see was that Annalise was female and she had her lips wrapped around Lucas’ cock and wasn’t going to release him until he unloaded down the wench’s throat.

"And so you find yourself more caught up in this than you cared to be. Shameful, Annalise. That is not the way of a warrior, but then, she has always prided herself on deceit. You might be surprised to know that deep down, she does indeed have feelings for the Master and isn't just a completely vicious hellion of the Abyss. Most succubi do once bonded."

Like that’s what she wanted to hear. Well, it didn’t take a genius to know that Annalise cared about Lucas. Even Mirela could see that despite the succubus’ acidic tongue and despite her protestations otherwise. The image of Annalise at Mirela’s feet, begging Mirela to let her suck her master’s cock so they both might live, flashed into the gypsy’s mind, making her choke slightly on her tea. The sounds of Lucas moving around somewhere else in the house, the finger drawn to Thrusk’s lips in silent warning, freed her of that torturous moment. Mirela simply nodded, her eyes dropping to her tea cup.

"I should bring him his tea. Wait here please. He will be most agitated without it, though I imagine just dealing with the situation Annalise has caused has already put him in a sorry state. Much like yourself."

That brought a nod from Mirela, nothing more. She silently watched as Thrusk made Lucas’ tea and leave the kitchen. After he had gone, she ran her fingers through her hair just above her forehead with a sigh. She was angry and hurt in turns. She couldn’t begin to fathom the relationship between the succubus and her master. All she understood was how Lucas had made her feel and now, she, well, just didn’t know how she felt. The thought of Annalise and Lucas-----

There was the faint, muffled voice of Lucas thanking Thrusk and before Mirela could even think of getting up and letting herself out of the house, Thrusk was back and speaking. She listened. It was, aside from the polite thing to do, important in some way she had yet to fathom. Her head was aching. Her stomach was roiling and her heart, hurt. No, her soul hurt. Thrusk nudged a plate of scones in her direction and without thought, she picked one up and nibbled on it. Surprisingly enough, it made her stomach settle a bit. So, she drank her tea and nibbled some more.

"The real question then....is what is Lucas hiding?"

The scone was halfway to her lips when she paused and lowered it again, looking at the comforting Orc with a slight shake of her head.

“I’m sorry, Thrusk. I’m human. I can’t think right now. I can only feel and I’m not sure I want to know what Lucas is hiding if anything. I keep wavering between two emotions and I know one of them is absurd. I just can’t help it.”

Placing the rest of the uneaten scone on the table, Mirela lifted her teacup and drained it before she rose and walked over to his side of the table. She lightly set her hands on his shoulders, leaned over and kissed one cheek then the other before her eyes sought his. Her voice was soft and grateful as were her eyes.

“Thank you, Thrusk. Thank you for everything. I’m going home now. I can’t stay here. Not now.”

Mirela had noticed the back door in the kitchen and before he could say anything or try to stop her, she slipped out into the night. Walking around the side of the house, she came to the front and hailed a lone cab cruising down the street. Mirela climbed in when it stopped at the curb. Once the door was closed, she gave the cab driver her address. She sat back in the shadows of the backseat, blankly looking out of the window.

The sight of her shop was a welcoming one. The cab pulled up in front of it and Mirela paid the driver before she got out. She stood on the sidewalk and watched the taillights vanish into the night and only then did she move toward the door of her shop and open it, closing it quietly behind her. There was the soft click of the lock setting into place before the soft sounds of her heels tapped on the floor as she made her way into her back apartment, closing and locking that door behind her too.

A dark form separated itself from the shadows and stood silently looking at the shop on the corner before it walked off into the growing night. A form, Mirela didn’t even know had been there. As for the lovely, exotic shopkeeper, she went about getting ready for bed and slid between cold sheets, turning on her side before a single tear from the corner of her eye. It was all she allowed herself by way of self-pity. It slid across her cheek, unchecked and was absorbed into her pillow. No one, except herself, any wiser for it.

 

[dryfter]

An interesting development......

It had been sent here to watch, and watch it did. Perhaps now that its mission was complete, it would be set free, though the flitting shadow through the alleyways strongly doubted it. Her Master had been treacherous in life, death had not changed that one bit.

She phased through the solid stone of the street without so much as a whisper. She was no longer of the physical world after all. No longer bound by material barriers, no longer of feeling....anything....save for the pain he brought her. Pain...and lonliness, the feeling of being cheated of something valuable. Like her life.

"She has returned.....Master."

The sound of her voice was the barest of whispers, one that would no doubt cause a shiver to run down the spine of any mortal who heard, yet the priest who stood before her remained undaunted. No. Interested. Immediately curious. The shade shivered slightly, her amorphous ethereal form wavering slightly as she took in the sight of the new girl......or rather.....what was left of her. A dark whisper of smoke, a tainted soul now ripped from her lifeless body. A body that still cooled as her Master retook his clothes. There was little left of the girl now, not even enough to scream her agony and despair, strong emotions that would fade from her with alarming speed, consigning her to the same world that she herself walked......

"And her guardian?"

"She was alone. I saw nobody else."

The face beneath the thick cowl frowned softly, and yet she no longer knew fear, simply obedience. If she was disobedient, he would hurt her. Sometimes she did so on purpose now....just to feel pain again, remember what it was like. Anything but the cold death she had become, her new sister had become. The new one would learn of the torments of the Master. Soon. Very soon.

"She's being watched no doubt. I've never been thrown out of a dream sequence before. Whomever she's alerted is talented, that much is certain. However, its not the necromancer. I would have known if he had made a move. So who is it.....?"

"Lucas Viernes."

The man in the robes turned with a sudden snarl, gesturing with a hand. Shimmering ropes of arcane energy snaked out to seize the unexpected speaker and drag him in to the one beam of moonlight that pierced this dark place from the surface world above. Strangely enough, unlike any other victim, male or female that he had brought here....this one didn't struggle at all.....

The moment the man grinned, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth, elongated incisors displayed prominently, the mysterious priest knew why. Vampire.

"I suppose that's one way to invite me in."

His binding magic wasn't known to last long to begin with, but as the undead creature flexed his superhuman strength against them, he knew it wouldn't be long before they were overtaxed to the point of uselessness.

"Defend me!"

As one, both shades moved to interpose, even as the suckhead laughed. Patiently he eyed both spirits, knowing them to be harmless to one already devoid of life himself.

"Useless. And you call yourself a dark priest. You're no slouch when it comes to torture though.....and you're certainly perverse enough."

The newest shade cried out in dismay.....as the newcomer approached its newly slain body, a wicked tongue slipping from between thin lips to taste of fresh gash, the blood long having started to cool, yet still warm enough to provide a tease to him.

"You're making a mistake going after that one if she belongs to him. A neophyte like you couldn't possibly knock off a full fledged warlock."

"Who are you?!"

That earned the dark one another fanged grin as the body he had been toying with was dumped unceremoniously on the ground.

"Me? My name's real important to you, huh? Barl. I've been living down here for centuries longer than you have, mate. You've provided some amusement however, so I decided I'd just stop by and provide a friendly warning. Don't get involved, or at the very least.....be prepared for a fight you're not likely to win. Oh, you might have a really fun magic battle.....but this warlock packs a sexy little succubus I think you'd really like."

--------------------------------------------------------------

"And this is why I shouldn't get involved in relationships."

It was no good. He couldn't memorize a thing in this state. All he could think about was her. Good and bad memories alike kept getting in the way of the arcane scribbles and runic jumbling his spellbook contained. Nor was he left much in mindset to research all he had learned in the last few hours. Lucas might have learned that she was a gypsy, but that did him little good unless he knew what clan Mirela came from.

At least for her part, Annalise was silent. More so than perhaps he had ever seen her. She shared his emotions....his lust, his desire, his anger.....acutely.

And now, perhaps for the first time in a very long time, she felt his pain. There was no point in apologizing further, it would solve nothing. While the succubus wished for nothing more than to be able to fill the shoes vacated by the distraught shopkeeper....she too had known that would never come to pass. Certainly not with the relationship they had not only as Master and familiar, but mortal and immortal demoness as well.

Silently, the succubus slipped from the room, not missing how the orcish butler refused to even make eye contact with her.

Why?! Why did she feel ashamed?! Should she? Wasn't this what her kind did? Broke hearts, slew men, and worse....much worse. She had committed sins so wild and unrestrained it would cause the Pope to fall into languid acts of squalid desire. So why then did she regret this one? When had she ever felt regret for something she had done?

When was the last time she had been held accountable for her actions? The very thought made her stop in her tracks and shiver slightly. She had always been the one with the power before, but these last few years beneath this mortal Lucas, had been humbling to say the least. Humbling, and yes, slightly scary. He had demonstrated his power the eve he had summoned her.....and she had been cowed.....

Yet she had also felt awe.....and perhaps something else.....

The cobbled stone of the back alley behind the store clicked beneath her heels. She still wasn't at full strength again, far from it in fact.....but she was restless. For lack of anything better to do.....

Well, she knew where Mirela's shop was. The very least she could do was make sure her....rival.....was she a rival?.....made it home safely.

She was in no mood to fly. Flying brought the risk of getting caught, and that would only anger him further. And so she walked.....heedless of percieved dangers, easily ignoring the catcalls and whistles as more than one man mistook her for a night walking whore....

She felt uneasy, and worse....Annalise felt that it was more than just Lucas' new feelings that were gnawing at her......

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Mirela paled even more than she currently looked, if that was even possible, as she folded the newspaper in half and leaned forward to set it on the coffee table. Her teacup was retrieved in the process. Taking a cautious sip from the cup, the liquid coated her sore throat. Her head tipped, resting lightly on the back of the couch as her eyes closed.

Three days.

It had been three days since that debacle with Annalise. Three days and she still wasn’t of the mind to forgive Lucas for placing her between himself and his familiar. Mirela’s first few hours home she had spent on the floor of her bathroom, hunched over her toilet as her stomach roiled and anything she had consumed was evacuated. She wasn’t sure what was more disturbing to her, Lucas using her as he had or the thought of Annalise’s lips wrapped around the cock of the man that Mirela had invited into her body. She had tried. Really she had. To understand this world that was unfolding around her and it still made little sense to her. God, she wished her granny was still with her. If anyone could make Mirela understand, it would have been Granny.

Her free hand rested lightly on her stomach. What if she turned up pregnant? What then? Would she tell Lucas? She sure as hell wasn’t going to marry him, that’s for sure. Not because she was carrying his child. Marriage was something that deserved more respect than it got these days. It was definitely too early to tell though. The hand lifted away from her flat belly and raked backed backwards through her hair from the crown of her head. She looked like hell and knew it. Sleep was elusive. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Annalise on her knees, first begging Mirela to save them both, then the images would flip to the succubus sucking Lucas’ cock. She couldn’t shake the image. It was as if her mind was locked on watching Annalise expertly suck off Lucas and what hurt more…. Far more than she cared to admit…. Was the knowledge that Annalise could make him cum. Even after they had… he had…. With a soft small cry, Mirela was up and off the couch, depositing her cup in the sink. She paused by the door to her apartment, peeking into the small wall mirror as she raked her fingers through her hair, brushed the tips of her fingers under her eyes and forcing her head up, setting a false smile on her lips before opening the door and stepping into her shop.

Another body had been found, dumped into a ravine about thirty miles outside of town. The police were pretty sure the same person had committed this heinous act, had committed the previous ones as well. A young pretty girl. Tortured. Raped. Mutilated. The worst of it was that the police didn’t have a clue on this monster but there had to be something. People like that, they couldn’t resist leaving their mark. Most times, their egos were larger than the act they had committed.

She tried. Mirela smiled until her cheeks ached. She answered questions by customers. She fetched books, teas and various things requested by her patrons but none of it helped. Her thoughts kept wandering back to Lucas. Why? She inwardly sighed as she checked out a customer. Because she didn’t have sex to just scratch an itch. She had felt something for Lucas from the start and that attraction had been building over the days and had culminated with them sleeping together. As a lover, she had no complaints about Lucas. The smile that graced her lips now was softer.

“Thank you, please come again, Mrs. Terry.”

She missed him. It had been only three days, but felt longer. How many times had she picked up the phone to call him only to set the blasted thing back in the cradle, suddenly remembering why she had walked away.

“Hello, find everything you needed?”

Her smile was back to generic.

~~ ~~​

A willow tree, not far from the pond. It’s graceful branches arcing up and over. Some touched the ground, others did not. He stood beneath it, hidden mostly from view by those branches. Watching. Cold eyes hidden behind mirrored sunglasses watched the young beauties playing in the waters of the otherwise still pond. Their laughter drifted up to him like an aphrodisiac . No. he wasn’t here for one of them. Not this time. That other female had to be disposed of. She somehow saw too much. Knew too much of his activities. She was evil incarnate. Barl’s words came back to him and he shrugged them off. He had no desire for a succubus. They were demons. No. He was trying to save these young women. Their souls needed to be cleansed. He had tried to cleanse their bodies too, but when they kept screaming and begging, he just knew he needed to cleanse their wayward souls. Their mouths would beg him and when that failed, their eyes would speak to him. He would stare down into their open eyes as his body thrust into theirs. Couldn’t they see what he was trying to do for them? His bodily essence would cleanse them. Their pain would free their souls from affliction. And the woman? His nostrils flared slightly. She told others. His little minion had confirmed that. His mouth turned down in distaste. He was probably going to have to dispose of this warlock and his succubus as well. How hard could that be? He was a man of God, doing the Lord’s work. Surely the Lord would stand at his side and smite these representatives from Hell, sending them back into the Abyss they had spawned from, leaving God's servant to carry out his work.

~~ ~~​

Mirela ushered out her last employee with a gentle thank you and good night. The sign in the window was turned to Closed. The locks on the door, turned and the shades in the windows were pulled down. The soft tap of her heels sounded around her, indicating she was headed back to her apartment for the night. Pausing by the light switch, her eyes scanned the small shop before plunging the room into darkness and entering her apartment, closing the door behind her. Mirela removed her heels, giving them a gentle toss. They landed close to the couch. Stocking clad feet padded into her small kitchen. She wasn’t hungry but should eat. When had she last eaten? A day ago? Or had it been two? Mirela had lost count. Reaching for her tea kettle, she filled it with fresh water and set it on the stove to boil. Regardless, a cup a tea sounded good.

Curled up at one end of the couch, teacup held precariously in one hand, she lightly dozed. The Dreaming held her. The feel of Lucas’ hands on her skin, his voice in her ear, felt very real……

 

[dryfter]

How long had he sat there?

Three days. Long enough for the entire household to grow uneasy. Annalise hovered about him from time to time worriedly even as Thrusk whisked away another offered tea setting that had gone unused.

It was unnerving how still he was, the warlock's emerald eyes normally alive with mischievous clarity were dull and lifeless, locked in a stare that had nothing to do with what was written in the tome still opened before him. His gaze was unwavering, yet seemed to have no focal point at all, both butler and familiar having already tried their best to figure out what it was that had entranced their master so......

Three days. He hadn't eaten. Certainly hadn't slept. His normally clean shaven appearance was marred by thick stubble, the bags under his eyes adding to his new and slovenly appearance. Perhaps the most curious thing, or alarming depending how a person looked at it, was that Lucas hadn't even left his chair to visit a restroom in equally as long of a time.....

They had exhausted their hypotheses as time had dragged on. It was obvious to Annalise at least, that their master was in a trance, and a deep one at that. Yet she had felt no signs of danger, no portent that preceded an unexpected attack from an enemy. That left her precious little to go on as to how he got in the state he was in now.

All she knew was that he was completely unresponsive. To her words, to Thrusk's....hell she had spent half a day pleading with him to return to them, apologizing for the thousandth time for her behavior that had led to the lovely gypsy's abrupt departure. It hadn't taken much guessing to figure out where she had gone....and yet Lucas hadn't pursued. His succubus had certainly not been in the position to encourage him to do so. She had done enough.

Thrusk was beside himself with worry, to the point that the orc had actually retreated to his basement home to fetch his old blade, an action that had been met with cold hostility from Annalise. That was....until the butler showed her the newspaper. What she had seen there badly jangled her nerves, yet brought about a strange calming sense of relief at the same time.

There had been another murder. The same mode of operation, the same patterns of wounding. A colder part of the succubus chided the unseen killer. Such sloppy torture. The poor girl had probably died within a day. Annalise had made it a point in the past to let her playthings last at least four times that before she broke them. But that was a long time ago. Torture wasn't something Lucas approved of.............often.

While the picture wasn't released to the public due to its graphic nature, this girl had a name, a family who had come forward to identify her. Rachel Moreno. A bank teller from the eastern side of the city. It hadn't been Mirela....a fact that hadn't been lost on either of them. For a moment, orc and succubus exchanged looks, then worried glances back to the stillness of the study before Annalise's gaze drifted back to Thrusk's weapon.

A silent nod of approval and a soft, nervous stirring of her leathery wings was her only response. The latter was swiftly shrouded again in illusion seconds later.

---------------------------------------------------------------

He watched the shadows. He felt its malevolence. He remained here.....for her.

What had originally been a spell of clairvoyance had turned into something much more. It hadn't taken more than a breath, if he were capable of that in this state, to feel more than see....that he wasn't the only one watching her.

He had wanted to observe, though always carefully retreated in moments her privacy would have been compromised. His sight profound while all other senses failed him. Unlike the poltergeist that had frequented this place before him, Lucas couldn't affect his physical surroundings in any way, only cast his gaze about. The magic was tiring, yet his resolve was unshakable. He was not quite a spirit, and could not be detected as such. Just an overprotective warlock with a migraine from staring into the aether for too long.

And yet observing was something he had to do. He might not have four of his five senses, but Lucas' sixth sense was as keen as it had been the day he first suspected himself of being capable of more than just playing tag with the other kids at school. He had heard voices back then, the fact earning him committal to more than one psychologist office. How could a nine year old kid explain to a grown adult that he could hear the voices of damnation?

And while this was different, the intent felt exactly the same. Malice, cruelty, and bloodlust as well as something downright perverse. He'd become quite familiar with such things while combing through the auras of Hell.

Come out, you bastard. Let's have a good look at you.

His eyes hurt. There was a pounding in the base of his skull. He felt like he hadn't blinked in a month. But it would all be worth it if he could nail this son of a bitch before something truly bad happened.

He wasn't chasing shadows. He knew it. This was real. It was here. And it wanted the woman he was rapidly coming to love. That thought alone and the fear that came with it, was the only thing fueling him through his magick right now.

He just had to be patient for a little longer......

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The book lay across her chest, spine up, open and forgotten. The tea in her cup had grown cold and forgotten as she dreamed.

He felt so right. Like a missing part of herself. Her own voice was a mere raspy whisper in his ear.

“Oh, Lucas. Don’t stop. Yes…. yes….yes….oh please….”

Mirela’s legs twitched restlessly in her sleep. Under her work blouse, her nipples tightened as if in response to his fingers. She could feel her body stretching for him. Accepting him. Even in her sleep her body readied itself for him. It was a dream. Only a dream. Her conscious mind interceded, waking her with a violent start. Her eyes shot open, staring up at the ceiling of her apartment. Slowly, she sat up, fingers raking through her hair, pushing it back from her face. Two things happened at once, her grandmother’s book fell on the floor and the cup of tea she had been holding in one hand spilled across her thigh. Soft curse words vented. The cup and saucer were righted and set on the table. Her eyes went to her grandmother’s book lying hastily discarded on the floor at her feet. For the last three days, Mirela had dived into it, trying to comprehend the things she didn’t understand. Had she made headway? Maybe a little. She still horribly found the idea of how a succubus fed, more specifically, Annalise (because she was Lucas’), distasteful. Some part of logic had seeped into her brain and relayed that this arrangement of his had been made long before they had even met. Therefore, she had little reason to object. It had just been poor timing that she and Lucas had become intimate and Annalise had decided to be a little bitch that had gotten her nothing but Lucas’ anger. She was still angry that Lucas had injected her, Mirela, into the equation. Then again, how could he not? Had he not just made love with her? In order to survive, for both of them to survive, what had to be done, had to be done and Lucas had placed the power, in her hands. Mirlea leaned over with a sigh and retrieved the book, setting it closed on the coffee table. She drug her fingers through her hair before she held her face between her hands, still bent over at the waist, elbows resting on her thighs.

She was falling in love with Lucas. That’s why all this had affected her so strongly. The thing was, she wasn’t sure she could compartmentalize the relationship between warlock and familiar. Mirela got up off the couch. She needed a shower. It was a silly thing to fall asleep with a full teacup in her hand in the first place. Her slacks were soaked.

~~ ~~​

They were such pretty things but they were God’s bane. They flaunted their body parts. Tempted men into sin. Only he could save them. God had chosen him. But he couldn’t get the warlock out of his mind and it had to be a warlock that had tossed him out of the gypsy’s mind. There was far more evil there to deal with. He gave the young nubile beauties one final look and turned away. They would be there when he was finished with the warlock. They were always there. Right now he needed to draw out the warlock and the one sure way to do that was through the gypsy.

~~ ~~​

In her bedroom, Mirela stripped out of her clothes, tossing them into the laundry hamper. Naked, she padded into the bathroom, leaning into the shower to turn on the faucets. It wasn’t long before steam swirled in the small room. The glass door clicked softly behind Mirela as she stepped inside, water streaming over her body. She turned into it, lifting her face to the steady stream, closing her eyes. Her hands unconsciously cupped her breasts, offering them to the water. The extremely warm water felt good against her skin. The heat seeped into her tense muscles, making them relax. For the moment, al thoughts that had plagued her for the last three days were cast into the back recesses of her mind.

~~ ~~​

The alleyway was dark and suited the hooded one’s purpose. The door was an easy matter to negotiate. It was a simple lock to pick. There was a soft click and the figure froze, listening. When nothing occurred, the door was slowly opened and closed. Stealthy footsteps took him through the tiny space that housed a washer and dryer. The door to her bedroom or what he perceived to be her bedroom, was slightly open. It was fortunate for him that the rest of the place was shrouded in darkness. Roughened, blunt, fingertips gave the partly open door a soft push. Running water came to his ears, making him grin. Excellent. The gypsy was in the shower. His soft soled shoes made no sound as they made their way across her bedroom, they paused only long enough for him to strip the bed of its coverlet. The partially open bathroom door was also pushed open in the same manner as her bedroom door had been. The silhouette of her naked body was fuzzy through the steamed glass. He had to be swift now. His heart was racing at the prospect of having this one in his underground room, stretched out. The warlock would come for her. His spies had told him things. A hand was stretched from beneath the dark cloak. The door was torn open and the girl within was blinded by the coverlet thrown over her naked body.

~~ ~~​

Mirela was humming softly to herself, head bent as the warm water splashed over the back of her neck. That felt so good. She hadn’t realized how tense she was. She was just reaching for the bar of soap when her mind registered, too late, the door to her shower being ripped open just before something was thrown over her. Mirela started to violently struggle against whoever was doing this. Two arms that felt like steel wrapped around her body and lifted her feet off the wet floor of her shower. Her arms were trapped by the material covering her and she ineffectively kicked her legs back against whoever was doing this to her. She even tried to throw her head back against this person, hoping to catch them unaware and making them release her. Her scream was muffled but her own ears heard her words plainly.

“LUCAS! HELP ME! DEAR GOD… LUCAS…. ANYONE…. HELP!!!”

Her plea ended on a sob for she knew he couldn’t help her. He didn’t even know she was in trouble.

No one did….

 

[dryfter]

He noticed the intruder immediately. A feat made easier by his refusal to peep on Mirela while she showered. The rest of the time was spent trying to get a good look at him, to burn his image into his own mind. As easily as he had thought it would be, whomever the stealthy figure slipping through the gypsy's shop was.....he was cautious, and wore the shadows well.

Not well enough to avoid his cowl from slipping from his about his face as he seized the vulnerable shopkeeper however. The poor girl not even having realized that the inner sanctum of her apartment had been breached just minutes earlier. Just seeing her being manhandled, suffocated, and yes....groped lewdly even now in her naked state, threw Lucas into a blind, yet helpless rage. It would take some doing to extricate himself from the magick he had started. More than enough time for this asshole to retreat to wherever he was taking her.

Wait....where was he taking her? For a moment, Lucas forced himself to calm down. Ending the spell would do little good if he lost her now!

And so he let his awareness follow where his love was being taken. The pain in his head was rapidly growing unbearable even for his considerable pain tolerance. For the first time, he had to question just how long he had been in this state. He hadn't given it any thought up until just now, focusing only on learning as much as he could about Mirela....that, and protecting her from threats just such as this.

Lucas endured, though it felt like he had gravel in his eyes, a feeling that only intensified as he pursued the man underground. He could see lips moving, though Mirela was clearly unconscious yet.

If I could read lips, I'd probably hear this asshole's life story right now. Just when are you planning to stop anyway?

Chains. Manacles. A bloodstained altar. More than that, Mirela wasn't the only girl down here.....wasn't the only.....

A dark form slipped from the shadows to draw dangerously close, its hollowed out pits of eye sockets staring directly at where Lucas "existed." A shiver rippled through his thin frame as it suddenly felt as if he were being blasted with extreme cold.

The last thing he remembered before finally letting the last of the spell unravel.....was the sound of a voice echoing from the grave.....

"Be gone."

It was enough for the shadowy man to spin around in alarm. Alarm that slowly slid into a knowing smile.....

-----------------------------------------------------------

They had both rushed to his side, Annalise quicker than Thrusk had been. It had been her sudden and shrill cry of alarm that had alerted him that something was wrong after all. She too had felt the sudden chill, and hadn't wasted a single second wondering about what its cause had been. Instead, the two of them moved almost simultaneously back into the study......

The desk was a mess. The warlock had collapsed upon its oaken surface, the makings of a fresh tea set now dripping its liquidity upon wood and carpet. Neither paid it any attention, instead rushing to the dark robed figure they had been doting over for three days.

"He's breathing, but unconscious."

"Of course he is, he's not eaten or drank a damned thing in over three days."

The succubus was beside herself with a mixture of fury, contempt, and concern. Did Lucas really value their bond so little that he'd send himself to the grave over some stupid, inappropriate prank she had played? Hell...it wasn't even a prank. She had been trying to look out for him in her own twisted way.

"Look after him."

The butler looked up in surprise, more so as his yellow eyes picked up the darkly purple and expressly demonic aura she freely exuded currently.

"Where are you going?"

A soft smile, yet one that held no love or kindness at all. Cold, calculating, and with a malice that only one of the Abyss could hope to muster.

"I'm off to carry out my master's wishes, of course."

"Wishes?"

The butler was truly stunned. Other than the sound of Lucas' collapse, there had been nothing said at all. And yet, he remained in enough of control of his thoughts to remember the bond between warlock and familiar.

"You know who did this, don't you?"

A soft chuckle, one completely devoid of humor.

"Yeah. Lucas did it. To himself. You heard me. He's not eaten, drank, or slept in three days. He's collapsed from exhaustion. He's certainly not in any condition to go after the bastard who took that hot little gypsy of his."

"MISS MIRELA IS IN DANGER?!"

The butler half roared as he stood up to his full and imposing height, the thin frame of Lucas draped in his thick biceps and looking ludicrously frail. It would have been more intimidating if Annalise herself didn't tower over him at the moment, having completely abandoned all intentions of using illusion to maintain a human appearance. Blonde hair darkened to onyx, her horns visible once more. To his credit, the orc didn't back down from the hellion she was becoming.

"She is. And I think I'll use this as a chance to get back in Master's good graces. As you can see, he's in no condition to be wielding anything remotely resembling power. Fortunately, the image I got from him tells me that the bastard is undeniably male. And you know there's no resisting me, Thrusk. Not even you can with all your damned stubbornness. You're alive because Master wills it. Because he has a use for you."

The orc swallowed hard, followed by a slight nod of the head.

"I have Master's will. It was conveyed to me quite clearly. Probably the last thing he did before his collapse. This murderer's soul.....I hope its tasty....."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

They always tell you to never stop fighting. You just never know when an opportunity could present itself and you needed to act quickly. Yeah, well, easier said than done. Especially with something pulled over you that made breathing hard and restricted your movements. Whoever had taken her was no dummy. He kept his feet out of the way and had stopped outdoors (she felt the change in temperature) to toss her over his shoulder before he hastily moved again. Shortly thereafter, she was tied with something, a rope presumably. It was wound around her, over the material that covered her. It bound her arms to her sides and her thighs together. She called this unknown assailant every dirty name she could think of. It did nothing to improve her situation and only mildly feel less powerless. They seemed to drive for hours, turning so quickly, so fast, that she lost count of how many turns, right and left, they had made. Mirela kept trying to loosen the rope binding her from the outside of her manmade cocoon. Just as she started to feel the ropes loosen, the car came to an abrupt halt. She was hauled unceremoniously out of the car and flung over his shoulder again. This time, she tried kicking her torso. The person carrying her simply wrapped his arm around her legs to still them.

Mirela’s hearing was distorted by the covering but the temperature changed. It was growing colder as they descended. The stopped momentarily as a door was opened, stepped through and the door closed behind them.

“Where am I? Where have you taken me and why?”

Her words were muffled, but understandable. Unfortunately, they weren’t answered. Instead, the rope was removed and the coverlet from her bed (she was to recognize it once it was removed from her) was pulled off of her. Immediately her arms went around her nakedness. Mirela’s eyes took in several things at once. She was standing in a room made of stones. In the center of it was a blood stained slab of granite. Manacles rested on the slab at both ends. Mirela’s chest rose and fell rapidly. Her blood surged through her veins until she felt lightheaded. She recognized this room.

“You can either lie down on the stone by your own will, child or I shall put you there myself. I should warn you, I am never gentle.”

The cold air in the closed chamber hardened her nipples against her arms.

“May I have the coverlet, please? It’s cold down here.”

“You’ll adapt to the cold, child. That pretty little body of yours won’t notice it after a while.”

The hooded figure walked toward her and instinctively, Mirela back stepped.

“Your choice, child. I’m feeling generous. Lie down or I will lie you down. “

“Why am I here? Who are you?”

He came closer still. His hands came up to grasp her arms, pulling her closer.

“Don’t you recognize me, child?”

All of a sudden he released her and spun around with a look of apprehension. She didn’t see the look transform from the depth of hood from distress into a knowing smile. He turned back toward Mirela, reaching for her.

“Patience is golden, child but it’s an attribute I need to work on.”

Her reached for her again and this time all but threw her up on the slab himself. The instant he did, she scrambled to get off it. The thing horrified her. The slab of granite was incredibly clean. From the smell of it, it had been washed down with bleach but nothing could remove the stain of blood embedded into the pores of the stone. He grabbed her, pinning Mirela to the stone altar. Mirela would have screamed but had the strength of mind to guess that if she had, the hooded man might do something horribly wrong to her. She had to remain calm. She had to think. She did fight him when he went to manacle her wrist. It was a losing fight but simply lying there and letting him do it, did not set well with Mirela. His hands were huge. Both of her wrists easily fit in one of his hands. He moved around the slab to stand above her head as he manipulated her wrists into the cold metal cuffs. A feeling of dread washed over Mirela. He was a large man, broad shouldered. His hands were large. His fingers, blunt. Mirela kicked her feet, doing everything in her power to keep him from clamping them into circles of iron. It was as if she stood outside of her body and watched this scene unfold. His fingers tightened around her ankle, squeezing so tightly she thought her bones were going to snap. The urge to scream was very real and the only thing it could lead to was the real chance he would harm her right there and then. The cold steel snapped around her ankle and made her leg jerk. Her other leg was taken, forced apart from the other and then it too was snapped into place. Mirela was naked, chained spread-eagled to the slab. Never had she felt more vulnerable or helpless. Never had she wished for Lucas, or even Annalise for that matter, more. But they weren’t going to find her, let alone save her. For a moment, despair sunk in. Lucas would be her biggest regret. He would never know how she… No. No. She wasn’t doing this. Mirela jerked on her chains. She looked down her body and glared at the hooded figure standing there at the base of the slab, between her spread legs.

“Who the hell are you and what do you want me with me?”

She lifted her head off the stone to better glare at him. He lifted his head then. Once more he replied.

“Don’t you recognize me, child?”

One hand slowly rose and pushed back the hood hiding his face.

“I am your salvation. You have been cavorting with the devil’s spawn.”

Mirela’s eyes went wide as they filled with fear. She found herself staring back into eyes that were bluer than the Mediterranean and a million times colder.

“The devil’s kin must be eradicated from this world and you, my child, will be the bait to lure them out.”

 

[dryfter]

"Don't disappoint me now."

It was the first thing in hours that had stopped her. Apparently several terrified cityfolk had called in a monster. The skeptical policemen who had been dispatched to investigate had been easily dealt with. Rather tasty too, though to her they didn't even amount to a snack, not when she couldn't kill them and gnaw on the meatiest bits of their souls. In the end, it only made Annalise even more furious.

How could the dumb bitch get herself caught? Worse. Was this her fault? If she hadn't done what she had done, Mirela would most likely be safely in the arms of her master right now. And worst of all was that no matter how she tried, she couldn't really direct the blame onto the gypsy shopkeeper. Not after Lucas had projected all he had learned to her, not after she had felt his life tilt dangerously in the wrong direction moments after that split second. It had felt like time immemorial had gone by, and yet it had been only a few seconds.....seconds that had been too critical for her to have been sitting on her plush fanny sipping tea with that orc.

Perhaps she should abstain for a while from that tea. Even though it had been a gift to her from him, not even truly understanding the dark things that had gone into its creation. Every herb steeped in the tears of children, it was one of the few things that calmed her on those rare occasions that she found control to be.....difficult. Perhaps it was best that he didn't know, though he certainly had to suspect.

Thoughts just like those had led to her distraction, and even now she bristled, much to the amusement of her admirer. For a moment before she turned to face this new speaker, her dark heart thrilled with the male tones resonating deep within his voice.

That ended the moment her eyes came to rest upon him. In an instant, she knew exactly why she had failed to feel him draw near.....

"Vampire. You're already dead. Be gone, I've no use for you."

The dark creature's chuckle of amusement only served to grate on her nerves further. Fortunately, she had reached her destination.....the time for flight had long ended, now it was time to go and find her quarry underground. And thanks to Lucas, she knew exactly where to go within the dilapidated ruin of a church that had been her true objective all along.

"I know where you can find him."

"I don't need your help. I know exactly where he is."

"He lies in wait for you."

"Good. That will make my job easier."

"Priests have a small modicum of control over your people, do they not?"

That gave her a small pause, but only to snort in derision as she cast a ruby red eyed glare from over her shoulder at him. The vampire was wise to take a step backward, having no doubt that the creature before him had the means and the strength to physically dismember him using nothing but her natural assets.

"Do you take me for some imp or mephit? I'm a middle circle demoness. It would take a priest of ample strength to force me to submit were I free willed. As we both know that I'm bound, that makes such a task nearly impossible....and yes, that includes banishment back to the Abyss."

"He has spells, like your Master employs."

A dismissive wave of a hand, "Don't even compare this gentle little child to my master. Priest magic is a completely different brand altogether, and his has long since lost the holiness required to scar my flesh."

"And should you be wrong?"

This time Annalise's indifference came in the form of a simple shrug.

"I said that I'm a middle circle demoness, remember? In Hell, its good to always remember that there is always someone more powerful thant you. My last master found he had developed a fondness for my liver, and took it upon himself to tear it from me and devour it himself. I dare say that whatever that wannabe down there does, it can't best the eons of torment and torture that I've already seen."

"Having your liver torn out and consumed is torture? It sounds rather fickle to me as it can only be done once."

A wicked grin that rivaled his own when it came to sharpened teeth flashed brightly in the night. Barl knew then that like himself.....the taste of blood and human flesh was woven into her very being, no....murder itself....it mattered not if the victim was human. A second later....and she had slipped from view in pursuit. It was not in his best interest to delay her any further.....and yet....he called out softly....

"I'll be watching. Do provide me some amusement. Life has been rather.....boring....lately."

---------------------------------------------------------

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The knife that had been hovering over the bare flesh of Mirela paused for a moment.

"I've been waiting for you......Lucas Viernes....."

The hooded man straightened slowly, his turn towards her even slower as the sound of soft, feminine chuckling reached them both. Hollow, empty of even the slightest amusement....the sound was familiar to him....though the last time he had heard such a noise was when it had come from his own mouth as he relished the begging and pleading cries of a past victim.

"Sorry lover, its just me tonight. I'm sure you're not too disappointed."

She was holding nothing back. Especially since Mirela could probably see her from where she lay. A cold and practiced eye ran over the naked form of Lucas' lover, her lips turning up in an ugly sneer.

"Your cuts were too deep. Amateurish, just like the rest. She'd have been dead in a day if I hadn't come along. Your past little projects at least served to give me an idea of what kind of time frame I was working with."

Gone was the sexually smoldering blonde amazon that she normally portrayed herself as. Truth be told, she only appeared blonde because it seemed most human men had a preference for it. Here and now, she was in her truest form, though even now with wings and horns included, she only barely matched the height of the human before her.

Annalise wasn't concerned. Her strengths had never lie in intimidation and muscles.

"SHADES!"

They attended him quickly, the shattered fragments of the souls he had broken. It was sad really, that they would be his first defense against her. While their touch may have chilled a mortal like Mirela.....Annalise basked in the wickedness of the corrupt.

"Worthless. The vampire was cowed before me. You think mere soul puppets will be effective?" How little you know about daemons.....priest."

The last word was spit out with full contempt. This man had disappointed her. Where she had expected delicious wickedness, she found only lunacy and desperation. Right down to the babbling words he had been speaking to Mirela when she had first found him. Purifying her? What nonsense. It would have been so much more fun to simply corrupt her proud soul, turn her feeble love into something much more carnal. The very thought dampened the dark onyx thong that only barely covered her modesty.

"Please...forgive me....for not being able to give you a full crash course lesson on both daemons, but succubi specifically. Strictly speaking, my master has forbade several of my abilities. However, all middle and greater circle daemons are more than capable of gating in companions. If I so chose, I could summon a host of imps and mephits, other lesser creatures that your sanity probably couldn't handle......and the first thing I'd do is show you just how weak your little shades are."

She drew closer, her form blurring slightly to any who watched, her full lips turning up into a sultry little smile as he instinctively drew away. Hands moved in the air as if drawing a protective ward, one that she even recognized.....one that was useless against her.

"On succubi, as you might expect, I'm an expert however. Allow me to teach you a few things."

She had drawn what he needed from him already....had almost from the instant she had entered the room. Her power didn't have nearly as much to do with her discovery as his insanity might have. Either way.....

The cowled human found himself suddenly facing a scared and helpless little girl. Brunette, with smoldering hazel eyes and a body that no man would ever turn down, naked as the day she was born. Naked....confused......and frightened......toned and supple to the point of breathtaking as she struggled to take in her surroundings once more.....

"What....what did you do to me?"

The priest's grin widened. A gift. His god's gift. Deliverance from the devil spawn, just as had been prophesied.

----------------------------------------------------------------

"That was fun. A little brief though. We'll do it again soon. My place next time. And I promise it will last much longer."

Chains were easily sundered, the teenager slipping free from her bondage to slowly take measure of Mirela. The places where he had cut her own body were bearable, hell, almost enjoyable. She liked a little pain in her sex, and quite frankly, the bastard had been far too overcome by her feigned innocence and fear.....all too eager to rut her full of his spend, so his flair for torture had suffered.

Eyes that had shimmered with frightened tears and hour ago now regarded the dried and withered husk of a corpse at the foot of the altar coldly. It had to be cast off of her, disgusting thing....its flaccid death bloated cock still buried inside her. Annalise was glad to be rid of him. His soul tasted like shit anyway.

"Pfft, don't worry gypsy girl. I'm ok. See?"

Keys easily found in the mans robes found the manacles holding her. Even now her own deep and crude wounds were beginning to heal themselves now that she had fed.

"You regenerate."

The same hollow, lifeless voice from before. His surprising her was becoming annoying, and for a moment she turned enough to present herself as a living shield for the much more vulnerable human girl behind her.

"Of course I do, moron. It wouldn't be much of a torture if I'd only had my liver devoured once. You said so yourself. You didn't figure that out until just now? Humans die from such an extrication. You really should try experiencing it at least once. It's....unforgettable."

Why was she so irritable? He had said he was going to be watching her. It had to be the fact that she couldn't detect his presence, not having a living soul for her to key on.

"You've had your fun, I hope we relieved your....boredom. We'll be leaving now."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Annalise? Here?

Mirela’s mind was foggy, heavy laden with pain. The sound of the succubus’ voice had drawn her up from the blissful unconsciousness and unfortunately, that meant the return of the searing pain she felt on various parts of her anatomy. Mirela weakly lifted her head from the stone, looking down over her body. Blood was smeared all over her. A trail of smeared blood made a pathway down toward her stomach and past it. It covered her naked mound, the sight of which made Mirela groan faintly as she lowered her head back down to the slab.

How had Annalise found her?

It didn’t matter. The fact that she had was enough. Darkness, held at bay, crept up on Mirela again and fight it as much as she might, it was a losing battle. She surrendered to it but when she came to again, the man was no longer to within Mirela’s range of vision. Mirela blinked and blinked again, trying to shake the fog that seemed hell bent on consuming her.

“Annalise? You’re cut.”

Mirela’s throat felt parched. It was a strain to vocalize.

"Pfft, don't worry gypsy girl. I'm ok. See?"

Mirela’s eyes kept closing and she kept forcing them open. Sure enough, the succubus’ wounds were healing. Lucky her. Mirela’s head was pounding and she was sure she was dying. Before she could screw up enough energy to ask about Lucas, another spoke. Someone she didn’t recognize.

"You regenerate."

Annalise placed herself between Mirela and the bodiless voice.

"Of course I do, moron. It wouldn't be much of a torture if I'd only had my liver devoured once. You said so yourself. You didn't figure that out until just now? Humans die from such an extrication. You really should try experiencing it at least once. It's....unforgettable."

Torture? Liver devoured? What the hel---

Nothing made sense to Mirela. The fog filled her head, pain engulfed her and darkness descended once more. Perhaps it was a good thing it had. Mirela had had enough of things that go bump in the night. Necromancers. Succubi, even if she had only met one so far. Gentle Orcs. Dead people walking. Demented men wielding knives, hellbent on saving her soul by carving up her body. That one made her weakly giggle as she surrendered to the darkness this time.

Blood loss.

It made her loopy.

If she had been faced with the vampire, there was no telling what she would have done.

"You've had your fun, I hope we relieved your....boredom. We'll be leaving now."

Annalise turned toward Mirela, only to find the human female passed out.

“Crap. Now, I suppose I will have to carry her back.”

“Allow me.”

The deep timbre tones of the vampire interrupted and before Annalise could say or do anything, he had gently scooped up the gypsy in his arms. Despite her feeding, Annalise was still feeling cranky. For a second time, she asked herself, what was it about this vampire that irritated her so? The succubus held out her arms.

“Give her to me. She is my responsibility at the moment.”

The vampire merely arched a brow, sarcasm and mild amusement reflecting in his compelling eyes.

“I travel as fast, if not faster, than you do. I will carry her for you. She needs some rapid attention or she may just die and you wouldn’t want that to happen, would you? Personally, I think it would be a shame, unless it was I draining her.”

His head bent. His tongue gently flickered over Mirela skin, lapping up a trail of spilt blood. He glanced over to Annalise.

“Oh be still, Daemon. I have already fed this night. I wouldn’t dream of poaching on the warlock’s private property. But I am tempted. She tastes sweet, then again, gypsy girls usually do. Now, point me in the right direction and do try to keep up, will you?”

 

[dryfter]

“Oh be still, Daemon. I have already fed this night. I wouldn’t dream of poaching on the warlock’s private property. But I am tempted. She tastes sweet, then again, gypsy girls usually do. Now, point me in the right direction and do try to keep up, will you?”

"Try to keep up? Or what? Continue to trust an undead with penchant for blood drinking with a bleeding, helpless gypsy? I think you're asking quite a bit of me, don't you?"

She hadn't advanced a step, certainly not aggressively. But then again, Annalise didn't have to. All she had to do was raise a single hand......which burst suggestively into impromptu flames.

"Funny things, undead. They all seem quite susceptible to flame, and that's something most demons have an abundance of."

A wicked flash of fangs showed amusement, but there was the telltale flickering in his eyes that spoke more. She posed a very real danger, despite his seemingly cavalier attitude.

"Flame won't kill me. And you know you won't risk setting this poor girl, whom your Master sent you all this way for."

This time it was Annalise's turn to chill what was left of the dead man's heart with an equally predatory smile.

"First time facing a daemon, suckhead? It must be. Most demonologists or warlocks already know that any daemon of real power controls the flames of hell itself. You wouldn't become just another bonfire of the damned, my shadow loving friend. I could burn you from the inside out without even cracking that feeble shell of a body you have. I could torch you in a pillar of flame that burst from the streets above and still not singe a hair on Miss Mirela's head. Its all about control, you see. Control....and affinity. You have an affinity for shadows and bloodlust. Mine ranges closer to passion. And my dear little vampire....passion...is nothing...if not a flame."

As if proving her point, she grinned at him, revealing her own wicked looking fangs as he stood there transfixed by a marble sized ball of flame she sent to dance along her slender fingertips. Before long, it stretched....elongated....even took on humanoid form.

Before exploding with a soft puff.

"It's true. You regenerate just like I do. Tell me then....just how long would it take to return to your current form if I burnt you right down to your bones? And would it hurt? Oh, I bet it would hurt."

"Faster were I to drink the blood of a maiden."

Annalise's teasing amusement ended as the last word fell from Barl's crooked mouth.

"Well you'd better keep searching then, because that one's no maiden."

A low, full chested chuckle, and a dark haired nod.

"I surmised as much. Hence why I readily acknowledged her as the warlock's property. Listen. We can fight this out, and I guarantee neither of us would be happy with the outcome.....or we can get this poor, bleeding girl to safety. You no doubt think she needs her warlock lover. I personally believe that's a great place for you, but she needs a hospital."

"I personally believe that I don't care what you believe."

The vampire frowned, his stance shifting slightly though still calmly cradling the helpless shopkeeper.

"Just like a woman, you're so stubborn. Fine, we'll go together. And don't think me stupid enough to try anything. I know who you are, and I know the full extent of what you can do to me. Need me to prove it? Fine then."

He had noticed the still skeptical, and quite dangerous look on his opponent's heated face.

"Being set on fire would certainly suck, but there are worse things you could do, really. Bertram's taken a shine to you like co many other mortal men. I'd rather not spend the next decade as his personal marionette, forced to serve and run his rather tedious errands."

A spark of recognition flickered somewhere in the depth of the succubus' eyes, followed by a quirky smile and a definite aura of amusement. The necromancer. Of course he would be this one's weakness. Annalise filed that fact away for potential future amusement.

"Very well. To the hospital then. To be honest, Lucas isn't in any shape right now to entertain guests."

That came as a surprise to her new companion, who turned in mid stride to gaze darkly at her.

"The warlock is not well?"

Ebony locks shook, snaking about her head almost of their own volition as she matched him stride for stride.

"He pushed himself too far. I'm not sure what spell he cast, but judging from how he was able to give exact directions where to find this one, I'd wager that he's been observing her for the last few days."

"Ok.....," the vampire failed to make any sort of connection....

"Nonstop."

"Oh....oh!....," it finally clicked.

"Wait a second, wouldn't that take a retarded amount of arcane power?"

The succubus merely nodded, Barl whistled softly in admiration.

"Too much. He's in a coma right now with his butler seeing to him. He's not in danger of dying, or I'd be a lot more worried than what I am."

A soft snicker at those words earned him a sharp glare.

"Don't think for a second that he is my weakness, vampire. If he dies, I do not....I'm merely sent back to Hell to await another powerful enough....or foolish enough....to beckon me."

"You don't want to go back though."

It was the first real sign of worry he had seen from her, the mere mention of the possibility enough to make her tough facade crumble like rotten plaster.

"No......I don't."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Well, she wasn’t lying on stone any longer. Mirela shifted her body slightly, testing it and her surroundings out without opening her eyes. There was no wish for anyone to know she was awake yet. Cracking open her eyes, she gazed about from under her eyelashes. Where was she and what time was it? For that matter, what day was it? Eyelashes lifted and Mirela stirred herself to sit up, frowning. A hospital room. It was empty except for its main occupant, namely, herself. She eased her head back onto a pillow and breathed, deeply. Her head felt like some little imp had taken up residence with his hammer. Her body, now covered in a hospital gown, felt like it had been pinned on razor wire and was on fire. The memory floodgates flowed open. Annalise. The priest. Mirela made a face. He had been a lunatic thinking he was a priest. She lifted a hand to her hair and found it hooked into an IV. Oh bloody hell, had she been that bad off? Mirela remembered nothing after Annalise had entered that stone chamber. Her next recollection was this room.

She pressed the call button. A petite brunette, with a cheerful disposition walked came briskly into the room a half a minute later.

“What can I do for you, Miss Karoli?”

They knew her surname?

“Would you happen to know who brought me in here and how long have I been here?”

“I personally don’t, but let me check your chart.”

The nurse left again and returned.

“You were admitted three days ago, Miss Karoli. I asked a couple of the nurses and found out that a woman named Annalise brought you in with a gentleman who wouldn’t give his name. You were unconscious and bleeding. They said they found you like that in some old abandoned church. You didn’t have any clothes but you were wrapped in a cape. Whoever that gentleman was, he sure did leave quite an impression on the nurses. They said he was quite handsome. The woman was a bombshell. She said she’d back to check on you but there’s no record of visitors. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

Mirela shook her head and gave the woman a frail smile.

“No. No, thank you, Nurse….”

“Bennett, Ma’am. Nurse Bennett. I’ll leave you to rest then. It took a lot time for the surgeon to sew you up. We were afraid we were going to lose you for a while there. You have some severe blood loss. You’re probably still very tired. Well, ring if you need anything.”

The nurse turned on her heel and disappeared back out of the door to the private room. Mirela lay there thinking.

Annalise, I know, but who is this gentleman she spoke of? And why didn’t Lucas come for me? I guess there wasn’t much between us as I thought. Maybe, it was all one-sided, my side. But it’s so unlike Lucas not to come around. I would have staked my life on him coming for me if I was in trouble. Funny how things work out. I was in danger and it was his minion that came for me. I wonder what happened to that priest? Surely he still isn’t running loose through our city?

Considering Annalise, what she was, what he had done, Mirela didn’t think that priest walked out of there at all. Tentative fingers slipped under the hospital blanket and skimmed across her abdomen. They encountered stitches.

Oh, dear god… it all came rushing back to her. Her fingers explored her own body under the gown. Mirela bit her lip to keep from letting the distressed sounds free of her throat. Did he----had he---- her hands went immediately to her breasts and Mirela heaved a soft sigh of relief. They were unmaimed and her nipples were intact. Thank goodness. Her heartbeat slowly returned to its normal rhythm. Mirela’s eyes fluttered closed. So tired.

The blonde nurse strolled into the room and to Mirela’s side. Her eyes noticed where Mirela’s hands were under the blanket and smirked, wondering what the human female had been thinking or doing to herself. It didn’t take long to scan Lucas’ human lover. She wanted to be able to give her master a reassuring report when he came to. Mirela was going to be the first thing on his mind, she knew. Hopefully, she will have redeemed herself in his eyes with his awakening. The blonde sauntered out of the room and disappeared around a corner. His lover was going to make a full recovery. Now, all she had to do was wait for Lucas to wake up.

Maybe even, torment a certain Orc for her own personal amusement.

 

[dryfter]

It hadn't taken much. Nurses were such busybodies after all anyway. A little blurring of the flesh, a little subtle hinting from the girl's man, thinking of course that he was really engaged with her.....

And while the pretty little thing was no doubt being fucked senseless for yet another night, her alter ego was walking confidently up and down the halls of the hospital, flinching only when the head nurse called upon her by name for something. Annalise didn't know a thing about caring for these frail creatures, nor did she care to learn. But for now, she at least had to pretend. She was a nurse after all.

Miraculously, she had kept her patience. Mirela's trauma had kept her from any semblance of stability for days. The poor girl didn't even realize that this hadn't been the first time she had woken in the bed she lay in now. Though the other two times had been enough to draw every nurse on the floor to her room, doctors rushing to find sedatives powerful enough to lull her tormented mind and body back to sleep. Sheesh....and that creep hadn't even really done anything to her. At least by demon standards.

A quirky smile ghosted across her face as she looked in on the now sleeping brunette once more, noting almost instantly the slowing of her heartbeat, a rhythm that had been racing just moments ago. Judging from where her hands lie now, just what had she been doing? And yet, there was no scent of her natural perfume about the place. Had she really been doing something naughty, the demoness' heightened senses would have picked it up instantly.

"Checking out the damage, were you?"

It was then, that she realized that her "charge" wasn't quite as asleep as she had initially thought.

"It'll scar, some of the deeper cuts. But don't worry, that just makes you look tougher. Lucas seems to enjoy strong, determined women."

She met the gypsy woman's sudden look of incredulity with an impish smile. Sure enough, it faded quickly to suspicion.

"Now now, don't be ruining my secret. I've went to a lot of trouble to keep an eye on you. Someone's got to do it, seeing as how Master burnt himself out doing it himself. I suppose he felt too put upon to rely on me, considering how angry he was at the time."

A single slender finger was held over her thin lips, so different from the plush, thoroughly tempting lips she usually wore upon her face.

"I'm Nurse Critzer for now, ok? Behave, and I'll answer all your questions as to what happened these last three days you've been sleeping. But if you want to blow my cover, of course, I'll have to run off before shit really hits the fan and then you won't know a whole lot. Not to mention you'll be all alone again."

The door cracked open just a bit, pale blue eyes sweeping guardedly in its direction, noting the slender brunette nurse slipping into the room just as she herself was noticed.

"Oh! Barbara! I'm sorry! I was just here to take Miss Karoli's blood pressure and see if she wanted anything from the kitchen. I had no idea you'd beaten me here.....ummm.....why are you here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the South Wing?"

A soft nod of the head sent ashen curls bobbing, "Mirela and I are past acquaintances, Charlotte. I had an extra minute, so I wanted to make sure she was feeling comfortable. Not to worry, she has excellent things to say about you."

The two women shared a casual, knowing glance for a moment, its meaning completely lost upon the new arrival. With a soft sigh, the blonde strode slowly past her darker haired counterpart and moved towards the exit.

"Well then, I won't distract you. I'll be back later to chat with you some more, Mirela. I'm sure we have....lots....to talk about."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Well then, I won't distract you. I'll be back later to chat with you some more, Mirela. I'm sure we have....lots....to talk about."

Mirela’s dark eyes narrowed as they followed the swaying succubus’ backside out the door. Her hands clenched the sheets as the nurse….. what had Annalise called her?....Charlotte… came to bedside and was checking the iv drip.

“How are you feeling this evening, Miss Karoli?”

Mirlea forced her fingers to relax their grip on the sheet.

“Better, thank you. “

Mirle’a reply was a bit abstract.

What did Annalise mean by Lucas had burnt himself out?

“Miss Karoli? ….. Miss Karoli?”

“Hm?” Mirela blinked and focused her eyes on the nurse standing by her bedside, “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

“I asked if you’d like something from the kitchen. They’ll be shutting it down for the night in about fifteen minutes but I’m sure they have a few extra trays from the evening meal.”

“Um. Yes. Yes, thank you. That would be lovely.”

The nurse smiled at Mirela.

“Right. I’ll be back shortly then.”

“Thank you so much. I’m sorry to be such a bother.”

“Oh no bother, Miss Karoli.”

The nurse hustled out of the room and before the door could close behind her, Mirela was out of bed and brought abruptly short by the iv in her arm. A few choice words echoed off the walls of the private room. Scrambling back across the bed, Mirela took the iv pole with her, heading for the cabinet against one wall and began pulling them open as she searched for her clothes. Then it dawned on her, she didn’t have any. A few more words of blasphemy echoed about the room. Not sure why she had done it, but she yanked open one more door and found herself staring at a blouse and a pair of slacks hanging neatly from a pair of clothing hangers.

Thank you. Thank you. Whomever you are.

The clothes were snatched off the hangers and draped unceremoniously across the end of the bed. Her hospital gown was given up and the pair of slacks were pulled on.

Now what to do about the infernal IV?

Snatching a few tissues from the rolling tray at the end of the bed, Mirela gently and carefully removed the IV tubing then extracted the needle from her arm, pushing on the site with the tissues. What she hadn’t counted on was the IV machine to begin beeping. More cursing. Mirela had no idea what she was doing, she kept pressing on the panel until the beeping stopped. She had no bra but there wasn’t time to worry about that, she hurried into the blouse and hurriedly buttoned it up. She also had no shoes but again, not a matter. Mirela’s concern of the moment was getting the hell out of the hospital before Annalise or the nurse returned. Quick strides, which made her wince, took her to the door of the room. Cautiously, it was opened and her head poked out. A quick look one way, then a quicker look the other determined that the hallway was empty except for a few people who were sitting in chairs down to the right. Mirela slipped out of the room and the hallway.

At the busy curbside of the hospital, she was going to summon a taxi but fate decided to play along with her and one pulled up to let a doctor out and she snagged it, slipping into the interior of the cab and closing the door behind her. She gave Lucas’ address to the driver and sat back as they pulled away from the curb.

What had Lucas done to himself? He was still alive because Annalise was, so that was a good thing.

Mirela chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. The cab driver’s attempts to engage her in conversation failed dismally. Mirela was lost in her own thoughts and didn’t hear a thing. On a side note, she was also fighting dizziness. Whether it was from not eating anything solid for the past three days or the discomfort she was starting to feel in her abdomen, she wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter. All that mattered right now was getting to Lucas.

The cab pulled up to the curb of the address the gypsy had given.

“That’ll be twenty-one eighty, Miss. “

Oh, crap on a cracker! She didn’t have any money on her. Now what. She leaned forward with a wince.

“Uh…er… sir? I just remembered I don’t have any money on me. If you’ll wait right here, I’ll run upstairs and get what I owe you and I promise you, there will be a nice tip in it for you.”

Before the driver could say anything. Protest or acquiesce, Mirela was out of the cab and running up to the building and inside. What was she going to do now? There was a quick rap on the front door before she let herself inside.

“Hello? Thrusk? Anybody?”

She slowly moved further into the room, breathing heavily, one arm wrapped around her own middle and leaned against a desk.

Oh please… please… make the room stop spinning. I have things to do. A cab driver to pay. Lucas to check on. I need to know what the hell happened these past few days….

 

[dryfter]

“Hello? Thrusk? Anybody?”

His name being spoken froze him in place for the second time in scant seconds. The orc had reacted almost immediately to the sound of the front door being opened, had actually began to move when the first knock sounded upon the stout wood. The pause to grip his trusty blade had been a brief one as their visitor had decided to let herself in.

He had been away from the caves of his people for a long time. However, he had not let any of his natural abilities slip, certainly not while living in the poor lighting of Lucas' basement. The natural darkvision of the orcs pierced shadows that would cloak human vision. And what he saw frightened him even more than the simple intruder he had taken her for.

"I'm here, Miss Mirela."

The words were practically murmured into her ear as she slumped against a nearby wall, her breathing quick and labored. A stout arm wrapped about her in a manner he could only hope his young Master wouldn't find too offensive as he sought to steady her.

"Why are you here? You shouldn't have come in your condition. Come."

The study. It was the closest, and the very least he could do was offer her a chair. The gypsy woman was disheveled enough that he severely doubted she'd put up much of a resistance regardless of where he led her. Still, a normal chair wouldn't do. The green skinned butler fidgeted nervously after helping her into Lucas' own plush desk chair, thinking only at the last second to reach for the yellowed pages of the tome laying before her and closing them with a sudden, soft puff of dust.

"Best not to try reading that, miss. Liable to make your eyes hurt. Now then....if I can be permitted a leave for a moment, I'll fetch the tea. Promise me you'll stay here long enough for me to return and find from you what's brought you here at this hour?"

He was doing his utmost to be the perfect gentleman. Yet from the way he wrung his hands over and over, his beady yellow eyes raking across the open and empty expanse the room itself presented....it was clear that he was nervous as hell.

---------------------------------------------------

A half hour later and the tea kettle settled between them. It was then and only then that Thrusk managed to relax just the tiniest amount, sipping the molten liquid gingerly before wincing. It wasn't the first time he'd burned his tongue on the stuff.

"Now tell me what brings you here at this time of night, Miss Mirela. From the look of you, I'd say you're still not healthy enough to travel alone."

"Now Thrusk, whatever makes you think I would allow her that luxury? She might not like me, but I'm not going to be held responsible if she dies."

The voice was silken smooth, and as unmistakable as the vermillion eyes that penetrated the darkness with a soft glow even Mirela could notice. Not that she needed it when the fist of the succubus burst into flames a split second later, illuminating their small area with its magical heat.

"And when are you going to remember that humans can't see in the dark well?"

The butler had just been in the beginning stages of an acidic retort. One that was appropriately choked upon as the butler's brain caught up to Annalise's latest question. Wistfully ashamed, Thrusk moved silently to the lamps Lucas kept in the room's corners for light.

"There. Now you have light. I'm leaving. You don't want me here, and I don't blame you."

With one last glance over a shapely shoulder, Annalise paused....full lips pursing thoughtfully for a moment before curling just a little into a sly looking smile.

"By the way, you don't need to worry about paying your taxi driver. He's been compensated...quite....well. And no, I didn't eat him. Now I'll leave you two to your private time whilst I check on the Master."

The air hung thick with tension for long minutes before the silence was finally broken by the orcish butler, deciding that it might be better to just grab this situation by the horns.

"Why are you here, Miss Mirela? What reason could you have for leaving the safety of the hospital? It would pain Master Lucas grievously should some harm come to you."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"I'm here, Miss Mirela."

His voice startled her and she would have fallen if not for his arm wrapping around her.

“Thrusk.”

A single word that held a marathon of relief in it. She had never been so happy to see someone in her whole life.

"Why are you here? You shouldn't have come in your condition. Come."

He led her to Lucas’ study and helped her into Lucas’ chair. The plush comfort of it was more than welcome. Mirela was starting to doubt her own rashness for coming here, yet, she couldn’t help it. Lucas was here somewhere and something had happened. Her eyes skimmed over the open book lying on the desk top. Thrusk’s arm shot out, reaching across her to quickly slam the book closed. The book, in protest, gave a small belch of smoke.

"Best not to try reading that, miss. Liable to make your eyes hurt. Now then....if I can be permitted a leave for a moment, I'll fetch the tea. Promise me you'll stay here long enough for me to return and find from you what's brought you here at this hour?"

Mirela had to agree with him. It probably would have melted her eyes. She turned her attention to the Orc.

“Yes, please. A cup of tea sounds just perfect, Thrusk. Thank you. I promise I won’t budge from this chair while you fetch the tea.”

Mirela didn’t add that even if she had wanted to, she couldn’t have moved one iota from that chair. It had been enlightening as to how weak she felt right this moment. After he left for the kitchen, Mirela allowed her head to drop onto the desk top on her folded arms. Exhausted. Had she lost that much blood? Had that fiend put her body through…. Well…. what had he put it through and did she really wish to recall it all now? Lucas’ butler was back in no time at all. Mirela lifted her head off the desk and sat back in the chair as Thrusk set the tray down, pouring her a cup of the steaming liquid before he poured one for himself and sat close by.

"Now tell me what brings you here at this time of night, Miss Mirela. From the look of you, I'd say you're still not healthy enough to travel alone."

She took her time in formulating a response. Instead, Mirela lifted her tea cup, inhaled the heavenly aroma before taking a sip and letting the fragrant brew slip down her throat. It’s warmth trailed into her stomach. She was about to answer Thrusk when another voice intruded. Annalise!

"Now Thrusk, whatever makes you think I would allow her that luxury? She might not like me, but I'm not going to be held responsible if she dies."

Mirela lifted her head, brown eyes seeking the source of that feminine voice that simply grated on Mirela’s last nerve. All she could hear was Annalise begging her to allow the succubus access to Lucas’ cock. The same cock Mirela had just experienced for herself. A request, she wanted to deny the demoness but by doing so would have doomed both. Mirela’s eyes narrowed over the rim of the cup that was still lightly pressed to her bottom lip.

"There. Now you have light. I'm leaving. You don't want me here, and I don't blame you. "By the way, you don't need to worry about paying your taxi driver. He's been compensated...quite....well. And no, I didn't eat him. Now I'll leave you two to your private time whilst I check on the Master."

The taxi driver! She had forgotten but apparently Annalise hadn’t. Grudgingly, Mirela admitted to herself that she was indebted to the succubus. First, Annalise had rescued her from that sorry excuse of a preacher. Then, she had come to hospital to check on her and finally, she had paid off the cab driver. Okay, so maybe not with cash but Mirela was sure the driver hadn’t been disappointed and Mirela was thankful that the succubus hadn’t drained the poor man to death. She had been about to thank Annalise when the demon glided out of view. Brown, wistful eyes followed the lush one until she was no longer to be seen. Mirela felt a pang in her heart. She should have been the one going to check on Lucas, not Annalise. Tension fairly crackled in the study. A tension that Thrusk broke by speaking yet again.

"Why are you here, Miss Mirela? What reason could you have for leaving the safety of the hospital? It would pain Master Lucas grievously should some harm come to you."

Mirela’s deep brown eyes found Thrusk’s face.

“Lucas. I need to know what happened to him. What did he do, Thrusk? Annalise said he was going to be okay but that’s not good enough for me. I need to see him.”

Mirela shifted in the big comfy chair and winced. It made her all the more aware of her own body and that it been abused. Her aches and pains, now that she was back here in Lucas’ home, came rushing back and she could feel each and every place that currently ached.

 

[dryfter]

“Lucas. I need to know what happened to him. What did he do, Thrusk? Annalise said he was going to be okay but that’s not good enough for me. I need to see him.”

He wasn't sure what manner of reaction Mirela had been expecting, but the fearsome smile that crossed his face certainly prompted one. What was meant to be heartwarming could have quite possibly been interpreted as something else entirely.

"Relax miss."

It truly was good to see her so worry about the young master, especially considering what he had learned about how they had parted ways. Thankfully, the human shopkeeper had the presence of mind to stay seated in the plush chair he had provided for her. The butler eyed her carefully as he raised his cup to his tusked lips once more for a delicate sip.

"I'm a warrior, not a spellcaster. Such things are considered taboo in my tribe. Cursed. Shamen? Sure. Priests? Absolutely. But wizards and the like were killed outright. Until Lucas I'd yet to see one who had ever been up to any good. Just as I imagine.....he'd never seen an orc so unwilling to split his skull upon meeting him."

The room echoed softly with the large male's burly chuckles.

"But I do know this. Magic is not infinite. And when one over reaches past his or her bounds, bad things can happen. In the Master's case, I believe he was trying his hardest to watch over you and pushed himself a little too hard."

He wasn't even sure if he should be telling her this. He simply felt she had the right to know, obviously caring for the warlock as she did.

"You can see him if you'd like to, of course. I'm not going to keep you from him unless I feel such a visitation is likely to endanger your health. I will tell you this though...."

He took another soft sip, his eyes taking on a more serious look over the delicate porcelain cup. The drained vessel settled with a soft clink upon the saucer that had borne it into the room.

"Don't expect him to be responsive. He's not moved a muscle in three days. I doubt your sudden appearance is going to change that."

With a huff, the enormous butler stood from his own chair, walking slowly around the desk towards her. Silently, he stood rigidly before her as a butler should while in service, though his arm jutted out, the crook of an elbow offered suggestively to Mirela.

"Not to worry. We've sent for help already. This is a wide and complex world you've stepped into, Miss Mirela. There are more than a few capable of curing what ails the young Master."

He moved at her pace, knowing that she remembered the way. He'd have been surprised if she had forgotten, with the trauma she underwent the last time she had been in Lucas' bedroom.

Finally, the door loomed before them....well oiled hinges moving at a gruff, insistent touch.....

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Relax miss."

Mirela was trying but she felt the ache of tense muscles in the back of her neck. Across her shoulders. In fact, throughout her body. It probably wasn’t good for her own healing but it wasn’t something she seemed to be able to do, at least, not until she saw Lucas with her own two eyes. Thrusk was trying to be a help even if he did look more menacing than friendly. Mirela had taken a liking to the Orc from the very first. Strange as that was to her own mind. She had never knew Orcs existed until she had come to Lucas’ home. There were a lot of things she hadn’t known existed until she met Lucas, despite the fact that she had lived with the lore of such beings, creatures all her life. Mirela had simply, deliberately, ignored and denied such things unless she was around her grandmother. Even as she listened to her elder, the words went in and right back out again. After all, there were just so many more interesting things that held her rapt attention. Mirela loved her grandmother, dearly. The day the woman passed from this world had colored Mirela’s own existence a little grayer. Thrusk’s continued speaking drew her back to him.

"I'm a warrior, not a spellcaster. Such things are considered taboo in my tribe. Cursed. Shamen? Sure. Priests? Absolutely. But wizards and the like were killed outright. Until Lucas I'd yet to see one who had ever been up to any good. Just as I imagine.....he'd never seen an orc so unwilling to split his skull upon meeting him. But I do know this. Magic is not infinite. And when one over reaches past his or her bounds, bad things can happen. In the Master's case, I believe he was trying his hardest to watch over you and pushed himself a little too hard."

“Wait…. What?.... Lucas did what?”

Her mind was racing ninety miles an hour trying to process what Thrusk was saying. Even knowing she was not happy with him, with the position he had put her in or knowing the very fact how repelled she was by knowing that his succubus had her lips wrapped around the very same cock she, Mirela, had just enjoyed herself. She was sure her distaste had clearly shown on her face but even more so the anger at being put in the position she had been. Through all that, Lucas had done something so he could watch over her and had put himself in danger. The very thought of it made the gypsy swallow and hard, setting her own teacup on the surface of Lucas’ desk. Her eyes lit upon the book Thrusk had closed earlier. Mirela reached out and traced its spine with her fingertips.

Lucas.

She bit her bottom lip. This was all her fault. Thrusk’s voice intruded.

"Don't expect him to be responsive. He's not moved a muscle in three days. I doubt your sudden appearance is going to change that."

Her fingertips drew back from the book. Her eyes found the round ones of the Orc butler who stood up from his chair and moved around the desk to stand next to her, offering his arm.

“I’m not expecting anything, Thrusk. I just…. I just need to see him with my own eyes.”

Mirela stood up and slipped her hand under his arm. Her fingertips pressed into the solid mass of the butler’s arm. It was a reassuring feeling as was his next words.

"Not to worry. We've sent for help already. This is a wide and complex world you've stepped into, Miss Mirela. There are more than a few capable of curing what ails the young Master."

She sighed, squeezing his arm.

“I’m beginning to realize that, Thrusk and whoever this person is, I hope they can bring Lucas back to us. This world’s a better place with him in it, that’s for sure.”

They moved slowly and easily, for which she was grateful. Now that she was here, her body was starting to protest her ill use of it but she refused to give in. The need to see Lucas with her own two eyes was far greater than whatever her body was trying to protest.

They stopped in front of master bedroom’s door. Mirela took a deep breath and slowly let it out. In the meanwhile, Thrusk extended and an arm, his hand opening the door for her. It slowly creaked open and the gypsy stood there, all of a sudden immobile. The tip of her tongue ran the length of her lips, wetting them before she shot Thrusk a look then slipped her arm from his and stepped into the room where Lucas lay. The room was darkened but not dark. The soft glow of a bedside lamp illuminated the room subtly. Dark eyes glanced about the interior. Mirela’s head dipped slightly in recognition of the silent figure at the foot of the bed.

“Annalise. I’d like some time alone with him, please.”

Mirela’s eyes turned from the succubus to the form lying still in the bed. The demoness was forgotten as the Mirela gazed at Lucas. So still. So silent. She moved to his side, an arm extended, fingertips brushing lightly across his forehead.

“Oh Lucas, what have you done?”

Her words were just a whisper. Mirela sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching for the hand lying so still on the top of the covers. Her fingers slipped between his and she gently squeezed. After a moment, the day’s events started to take its toll on her. Her body felt like it couldn’t go on. Gently, she eased her body down on the bed next to Lucas’ and stretched out with a wince, their hands still entwined. Mirela eased her head against his. The last few days were catching up with her again but of one thing she was certain, no matter what they had to discuss, no matter what they had to go through, Lucas was someone who mattered to her and she wasn’t going anywhere. Eyes, heavy with exhaustion, closed as a weary breath left her and the warmth of the man beside her, gave her comfort in a way no one could.

She was fine. She would be fine. Now, Lucas needed to come back to them.

 

[dryfter]

It wasn't until several hours later that there came another knock on the shop's front door, this visitor much more expected than the last.....

"Ahhhhh.....dis be good, dis be just what da Doctor be needin. Tank ya much, orc. Components like dese very diffucult ta find round my parts of da world. Musta been tough on da young warlock ta be gettin his hands on dese."

A soft, nearly silent exchange, followed by a nod of each of their heads....one every bit as bald as the other. It had taken but a call to bring this one here, a call and a promise of payment now received. Thrusk calmly stepped aside to lead the new arrival down the long corridor towards the master bedroom.

They came upon Annalise expectedly enough. Thankfully the succubus didn't turn on the charm too harshly when the butler approached with their new guest. It wouldn't do to kill this one, though even the orc could hear the scraggly, dark skinned human man swallow hard at the sight of her. The demoness was leaning hard against the wall next to Lucas' bedchamber door, a leg cocked slightly behind her out of boredom, not caring in the slightest how the pose splayed her thighs for the enjoyment of the men before her. At least she was back to her original blonde illusion again, the orc knew first hand how difficult dealing with Annalise could be should she decide on a whim to be truly wicked. For now, all Thrusk would have to do is pry the new arrival's gaze from his companion's bountiful chest. If he could yank his own away first.....

"About time you got here."

Silken and deadly, the honeyed words that flowed from the demoness were tinged with impatience. Even now she jerked her flowing golden mane in the direction of the closed door.

"Get in there and work your magic, witch doctor. I've no use for him in a state like this. I trust those body parts you wanted as payment sufficed?"

A jerky nodding of this aged, bald head. A wide grin spread across his face as he leered at her despite the movement.

"Fangs of da vampyre, fur from a werewolf and not one allowed ta turn back hooman again. Dese are hard tings ta find, daemon. Bone fragments from a hundred graves be easy enough, but I feels sorry for ta faerie wicked enough ta get his wings plucked fer me."

The succubus merely snorted, gracing the ancient human with a soft smirk.

"It was a female fairy, though I'm sure that would make you feel so much worse. However, just so you know.....it was also a will o' wisp. Lucas wasn't happy with it at all so don't feel sorry for it. We were both happy to hear it scream. Just as happy as it had been with doing the same to all those children I'd wager."

That ended the dark skinned man's good mood. Silently, he lowered a hand to pat the worn leather medicine bag at his waist where the newly coveted components now lie.

"Da fairy hurts da chilren?"

That earned him a truly wicked flash of teeth.

"Of course. Didn't you know old man? Children always provide the best entertainment."

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Miss Mirela.....its time to wake up."

Of course, he knew exactly how long she had been laying there. The butler had long ago decided that it might be best for both of them to just let Mirela lie there by his side. If nothing else, the gypsy woman was in sore need of sleep, so who was he to wake her? But this.....this was important. Somehow Thrusk knew she wouldn't mind being woken for this......if she could get past the creepy, nearly naked man now standing over her as well.

He was dressed in little more than shamanic robes, tattered and torn from years of wear. Both sleeves were missing, allowing his boney arms to flail about wildly as it seemed they had a tendency to do. The hem over the years has risen steadily, only barely covering modesty and most unbecoming before a young woman. Still, the old geezer seemed completely nonplussed.

"Oooo....now who be dis? Dis not da warlock? Dis be da warlock's woman, yah? What beautiful chile you are."

"Stop ogling and get to work. Before I decide to eat you after all, Dramman."

That set the marionette looking man into motion, albeit a very jerky, spindly motion....with muscles and the limbs attached to them seemingly flying randomly at times. A sad look upon his face was mirrored by a soft crooning in his voice as he neared closer to the bed.

"No eat poor Dramman, daemon. Dramman be gettin ta work. Dramman be fixin da poor warlock as Dramman promised, yah."

The dark skinned man looked up suddenly, locking gazes with Mirela. A shrewd intelligence fumed deep within hazel retinas as for a long moment he studied her and not the man on the bed.

"You be wonderin why I'm here? You disturbed by mah appearance, yah? Was expectin a priest mebbe? A druid?"

The room echoed suddenly with cackling laughter as the withered old man threw back his head and voiced his sudden mirth. When he finally came down again, his grin never faded, not even as he waggled a bony finger before him at Mirela.

"Warlocks be creatures o' darkness, even if they be usin their powers for da light. A priest won't touch someone as unholy as him. And druids despise their affinity for da daemons. Both be likely ta kill him dey see him like dis."

He moved then for the pouch at his belt, undoing its drawstring with a deftness that seemed unlikely for someone so ungainly. Moments later and a fine dust was filling his palm. A second later, and he was stretching the offered hand out to the bed, blowing suddenly across its flat surface before any of them had a chance to even react. To his left, Thrusk sneezed, which only seemed to amuse the witch doctor even further.

"Magic is part of da soul, yah? So dems dat wear out dere souls be in need of da special healin. Dramman can heals da warlock's soul, jus you watch."

But even Thrusk flinched as the scrawny little man retrieved a wickedly curved dagger from his belt. Both of them could acutely feel the slitted gaze of Annalise from behind them, though perhaps not as much a minute later as Lucas' shirt was carefully sliced away.

From there it was a mixture of strange, foul smelling ointments rubbed directly onto the skin. The odor was foul enough to make the butler gag as he made a knowing face in Mirela's direction. Thankfully, Annalise remained silent, choosing to simply watch protectively from the doorway.

And then it got really weird, as Dramman lit a small bundle of incense sticks and began to.....dance. Spindly legs and all, around the bed, waving the much more pleasant scent of the incense about the entire room as he sang out in a language few understood anymore. When it was finally over, even his thin bones shined with sweat, the old man's breath coming labored.

"I miss da drums. Usually do dat dance ta drum beats....."

The sadness in his words was swiftly overcome by his usual scraggly grin. Nodding towards the bed, the old witch doctor tossed a mischievous wink at Mirela.

"Da warlock'll rise by da next day. Jus ya wait and see!"

"You'd better hope so, Dramman. You'd hate for us to come looking for a refund."

Hands on his hips, the ancient huffed, glaring openly at the succubus at the doorway.

"Don't ya be forgettin that I be twice as good at da voodoo den I be at healin. Be rememberin that when ya speak da poison at me, daemon."

Annalise for her part, seemed amused, finally sliding out of the doorway and into the room. She didn't miss how the human immediately backed down and out of her path. It wasn't him she was interested in anyway.

"By the next day. So tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow? I have a hard time understanding you sometimes, Dramman."

The bald, dark head nodded understandingly.

"Not tomorrow, daemon. Da warlock needs more time ta let the medicines soak in through his skin. Gotta protect him for that long. Not hard for you, yah?"

"Not hard at all."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Miss Mirela.....its time to wake up."

“Hmmm?”

It was a sleep disoriented sound that left her throat. Immediately following that sleepy sound of a question, Mirela stirred, absentmindedly rubbing her cheek on a firm surface. She didn’t want to open her eyes. They felt so heavy. She snuggled closer to her source of warmth, which was the still unconscious warlock.

"Oooo....now who be dis? Dis not da warlock? Dis be da warlock's woman, yah? What beautiful chile you are."

"Stop ogling and get to work. Before I decide to eat you after all, Dramman."

Dramman?

Her brow knitted together in a frown.

What the hell was a Dramman? And was that Annalise? What was she doing back in Lucas’ room?

Mirela rolled over onto her back and lifted a hand to rub at her eyes before opening them, ready to scold succubus the moment her eyes fastened on the busty creature.

"Oooo....now who be dis? Dis not da warlock? Dis be da warlock's woman, yah? What beautiful chile you are."

"Stop ogling and get to work. Before I decide to eat you after all, Dramman."

Instead, they fastened on something or rather, someone else and Mirela screamed. Softly. But it was still a scream.

What the…..

As the strange man drew closer to the bed, Mirela shrank back against the headboard, pulling the sheet up with her. Her dark brown eyes were fastened on this man. A host of unspoken questions surfaced from those eyes.

"You be wonderin why I'm here? You disturbed by mah appearance, yah? Was expectin a priest mebbe? A druid?"

Mirela’s mind spun. His words made her thoughts sharpen. He was here for Lucas. Hadn’t Thrusk said they had sent for someone? The wizened old man’s crackling, bordering on manic, laughter brought her awareness back to him. Her eyes went over his shoulder to Annalise still standing in the doorway. Her eyes asking the question… Who and what was this man? Suddenly the old man was blowing some sort of dust across the bed, making Thrusk sneeze and she followed suit, pulling the sheet higher. The moment the man pulled a wicked looking dagger from his belt, Mirela scrambled from the bed. She was still in her hospital gown. He slit open Lucas’ shirt and began rubbing some foul smelling ointment on the unconscious man’s chest. It made Mirela’s nose wrinkle in distaste. From the look on Thrusk’s face, the orc didn’t find the odor pleasant either.

"I miss da drums. Usually do dat dance ta drum beats....."

Drums? Her eyes were fastened on the spectacle the man was making of himself by dancing, yes, dancing around the bed. Mirela scooted closer to Thrusk. She really shouldn’t be so surprised by this, she realized. So far, she had become involved with a warlock that came with a succubus and who had an orc working for him. She had met a necromancer who got some sort of sick delight in making the dead walk. Now this. What was he? She watched spindly legs prance around the bed, arms flapping. Sharp angles and all bones. Some sort of….of…. witch doctor?

The man winked at her.

"Da warlock'll rise by da next day. Jus ya wait and see!"

Mirela glanced at the sleeping form still in the bed. He was going to need a bath, that was for sure. Her eyes roamed over him, sliding down from his chest to his toes and only briefly stopping to observe, as unobtrusive as possible, his groin. What did the wizened old man mean by rise, exactly? Her eyes lifted and met Annalise’s, whose full lips were curled in a brief smirk as if she had just read Mirela’s mind. The latter had the grace to blush to look away.

"You'd better hope so, Dramman. You'd hate for us to come looking for a refund."

The succubus and witch doctor bantered as Mirela sidled up Thrusk to whisper in his ear.

“Thrusk? Do you think you could find me something to wear besides this hospital gown? Maybe one of Lucas’ shirts? And do you think I could get a cup of tea too, please?”

Hearing the man’s words, Mirela looked back at Lucas and softly sighed. Another day. Well, that decided things for her. She wasn’t going home until Lucas was awake again. She wanted to hear from him what he had done on her behalf. Her assistant could open the store and run it. The woman also had Mirela’s cell phone number for emergencies. There was nothing to keep her from watching over Lucas, even though he had two very capable companions who could guard him far better than she could. Still, she wasn’t leaving. The dark-haired gypsy took a step closer to the bed and wrinkled her nose.

Yeaaaah. She was going to need someplace else to sleep too.

 

[dryfter]

The look on her face.....well....it was kind of funny.

Not even the butler could resist smiling, though that was nothing compared to Dramman's cackling and Annalise's much softer laughter. Yet for once, there was nothing wicked about the sound coming from the succubus. She'd smelled all manner of foulness in her time in the pits of Hell, very few rankled her nose like whatever sludge the witch doctor had rubbed all over her Master.

As they each departed, leaving the stricken warlock to sleep, his pet wondered if he would approve......seeing his own falling bringing them all together to a point.

-------------------------------------------------

"Gypsy, yah?"

Dramman, for his part, continued to hover uncomfortably close to Mirela. At least that was what Thrusk surmised, judging from the look on her face.

"Gypsies like da witch doctor, yah? Joo good at da cursin. Mebbe not so good at da healin, but da cursin joo do well. Dramman....he do da voodoo....but joo.....joo do da evil eye and finger waggin. Very powerful, gypsy curse. Dramman best be careful. Stay on gypsy lady's good side. No tellin how much trouble it be to remove gypsy curse should you no like Dramman."

There was a long pause, and very little humor in the old man's gaze as it met with her own.

"Joo worried about the warlock, yah?"

For the first time since he arrived, the dark skinned elder's chest puffed out with pride until he beat upon it suddenly like a drum with one fist.

"Joo trust Dramman, yah? Leave the healin ta me? Been doin da soul healin for long time, though first time I be called here."

And yet for all his bluster, it seemed to do little for her mood as Mirela's expression clearly showed. Consequently, the witch doctor's voice took a small dip....

"Da damage weren't bad, chile. He recover in no time, jus you see. Trust Dramman?"

"Here you are Dramman.....Mirela....."

Thrusk had returned, bearing his ever present tray of tea. The orc frowned softly as the witch doctor made a wary face at the dark stuff being poured into a cup and offered to him.

"Before you make a comment, you should know this blend came from Miss Mirela's shop and as is.....a favorite of Master Lucas. Perhaps she should be the one telling you to trust her?"

There was another long moment of silence as the spindly little man acutely felt every eye in the room on him. With a sudden shattering of silence, the room erupted into another sudden round of manic laughter.

"Played well, that ya did, orc. Come then, les be havin a taste. Not what ol' Dramman be used ta drinkin....but who's ta say won't be better!"

The orc nodded staunchly, smiling just a bit despite his normally gruff manner. Handing off one cup, he made sure to have a steaming hot offering handy for Mirela as well.

"You'll find it quite adept at regenerating mana lost in that little ritual of yours. You should feel better in no time."

That earned him an indignant snort from their gangly guest.

"Dramman feels just fine, ne'er been better in fact."

Yet neither missed how eagerly he sipped at the hot brew, once past the initial taste......

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Gypsy, yah?"

She was doing her best to be polite and not offensive. It wasn’t that the witch doctor was doing anything wrong. There wasn’t a smell to him, unlike that ointment he had put on Lucas that reminded her of fifteen day old fish that had been left out in the sun. With its guts intact. No, she was just…….. a little unnerved by him. Mirela was wishing she had sat anywhere but in Lucas’ chair again. She had no retreat from the spindly, old man.

“Um… yes. Gypsy.”

"Gypsies like da witch doctor, yah? Joo good at da cursin. Mebbe not so good at da healin, but da cursin joo do well. Dramman....he do da voodoo....but joo.....joo do da evil eye and finger waggin. Very powerful, gypsy curse. Dramman best be careful. Stay on gypsy lady's good side. No tellin how much trouble it be to remove gypsy curse should you no like Dramman."

Her eyes widened at his words. Who? Her? She could never see herself being able to curse someone. Memories tickled at the back of her mind. Summers spent at her grandmother’s. Early morning knocks on the door. Finding strangers in the kitchen with cups of tea. Often times there was someone sitting at the kitchen table begging her Dàki dey (maternal grandmother) to remove the curse. Of course, Mirela didn’t believe that a person could curse another. She did, however, believe that a person believed they were cursed. The human mind was a powerful thing and science had yet to fully understand it. But her? Able to curse people? Not possible…….was it?

"Da damage weren't bad, chile. He recover in no time, jus you see. Trust Dramman?"

Her eyes spoke of her skepticism though not a single word left her lips, not that there had been any time for her to do so, even if she wanted to. Thrusk came back into the room carrying a tray loaded with tea cups and a pot of tea.

"Here you are Dramman.....Mirela....."

Mirela glanced up at Thrusk, relief in her voice.

“Thrusk. Thank you. Tea is just perfect.”


"Before you make a comment, you should know this blend came from Miss Mirela's shop and as is.....a favorite of Master Lucas. Perhaps she should be the one telling you to trust her?"

"Played well, that ya did, orc. Come then, les be havin a taste. Not what ol' Dramman be used ta drinkin....but who's ta say won't be better!"

Mirela reached for a cup and took a sip then cast the witch doctor a sideways glance, a small smile crossing her lips as she did so. For the first time in what seemed like a long time, humor lit up her brown eyes.

“Lucas seems to cast great store by it, Dramman so there must be something to it. Please, do try it. It was a recipe of my grandmother’s.”

~~ ~~​

It was late. Sometime past midnight. Mirela had chosen to sleep on the couch. Propped up on some pillows, she had been reading. It had taken a bit of doing, but between her and Thrusk they had found a book that she could read that wouldn’t melt her eye balls. Mirela closed it, letting it rest on her lap as her head tipped back against the pillows. Her grandmother was a firm believer that everything that happens in one’s life, the people that come into it, all happen for a reason and purpose. She just wished she understood how they fit together like some sort of puzzles pieces into hers. On a sudden impulse, Mirela set the book aside and slid from the couch, padding back to Lucas’ room. She let herself in, closing the door behind her. Drawing closer to his side, her nose wrinkled but she endured it as she leaned over him and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Her fingers brushed back his hair.

“Oh, Lucas. Lucas. Lucas. What did you do to yourself? And all because of me. You’re lying there like that, because of me.”

She felt so bad and yet so thankful. If Lucas hadn’t been watching after her, Annalise wouldn’t have found her and she could have easily not been here now but lying in some field or in a lake somewhere. Dead. Her fingertips lingered on his brow. Yes, she owed Lucas a lot. And Annalise. She might not care for the relationship between the two, but it was necessary and it was something that had come to pass long before she, herself, had come on the scene. Mirela needed to make peace with it and move on. Studying the man who still slept so deeply, she smiled and knew, despite the smell, she couldn’t leave him. Moving around to the other side of the bed, she slipped out of the robe she was wearing and into bed next to him. Turning onto her side, propping herself up on an elbow, she watched him sleep. Dramman said to trust him. Did she really have a choice?