A/N: Advance warning for mature content in this chapter.
The first year at Lucen Monastery passed quickly for Linnea and the other aspirants. They had settled into a stable routine: physical exertion through exercise and learning to fight, classes in which they learned what was expected of them and the skills they would need, and carefully allocated time to socialise, and form a tight community with their sisters.
Linnea had hardly noticed the time that had passed, except to feel the change in her body. Daily exercise under the eye of Priestess T'Nira had caused her and the other aspirants' bodies to become firm and taut. The aspirants had joined the monastery a mixture of pampered, undisciplined and unfit asari... and were now a formidable group in peak physical condition.
The day always began with running laps; the Ardat-Yakshi accepting the exercise as much a part of their lives as breathing, and quickly moved onto bouts of more intense drills... the eager maidens even developing some of the competitive sports into an on-going challenge between the houses, something wholeheartedly encouraged by the priestess watching over them, who said that true strength came when there was something to win, or lose.
Of all of the aspirants, one had quickly stood out as truly exceptional, able to take on the much older and more experience acolytes and neophytes: Aspirant L'Trea of House Palaven, whose speed and stamina in hand-to-hand combat were almost unnatural.
As Briony and Linnea came to a halt from their daily run, breathing heavily but still easily, Briony shook her head and gestured to the aspirants of House Palaven milling across the field. "Can you believe that? L'Trea thinks that she's actually going to beat the champion today!"
Linnea did not even need to look, but like the rest of the class, could not help but watch as Aspirant L'Trea held her weekly challenge with Neophyte Valtrexa of House Tuchanka. "You have to respect her for trying again after the thrashing she took last week. Besides, if someone's going to do it, I'd bet on L'Trea."
As the two approached, they joined a growing circle of students who were finishing their daily run and were getting ready to watch the challenge. Close by, Joquil stood with the rest of her house, and they all cheered on their sister.
"Come on L'Trea... Do our house proud!"
"Kick her ass L'Trea!"
Even Linnea found herself rooting for the younger asari, there was something about her that made her a favourite. She felt her blood start to pump in eager anticipation of what was sure to be a good fight.
Two girls stood in the middle of the crowd, obviously getting ready to square off against each other. One was older, taller and her muscles were more developed, while the other was younger and relatively small, but her eyes were fixed on their target with a determination that could have melted her competitor.
Priestess T'Nira stood in the circle as well, ever vigilant, ready to step in if things got too out of hand.
At an unspoken command the pair started circling each other, both looking for a chance to strike and gain dominance over the other. Valtrexa held herself with an easy confidence, knowing strength and reach was on her side, but all watching knew that L'Trea was fast as lightning, and she held a hard determination that hated to lose. That kind of belief led to great strength, if controlled.
Valtrexa surprised them all by moving in first with a series of rapid jabs, keeping the younger asari at a distance even as she deflected and dodged the blows, the crowd naturally shifting as the pair moved around the field.
With a startling suddenness, L'Trea batted a left hook away and darted in, foot jerking out towards Valtrexa's knee, causing the older asari to hop backwards-
Too caught up in the movement to notice it was a feint. L'Trea ceased the low kick almost as soon as she had started the movement, instead using the momentum to spin around and lash out with a much higher kick that landed directly into Valtrexa's unguarded stomach with a thump all could hear, and the crowd burst into cheers at the skillfully executed move.
But if the older asari was seriously winded by the blow, she did not show it. Taking two quick steps backwards, she rubbed her stomach and gave a vicious grin, then moved in again with a heavy hook that L'Trea, still recovering her balance from the spin, only managed to partially deflect, the blow managed to collide with the side of her head - sure to daze her a little - when the younger asari hopped back out of reach of Valtrexa, and shook her head angrily.
More wary of each other now, the pair moved to circle again as a hush fell upon the crowd. The previous week, Valtrexa had landed a similar blow to L'Trea early on which had hindered the younger asari for the rest of the short fight... would this one be similar?
L'Trea did not intend to give the crowd a chance to find out. Again she darted in with a series of lightning blows, two breaking through Valtrexa's defence to hit the same spot on her stomach the kick had landed, and Linnea could see the hits were taking their toll on the older asari. Her breathing was laboured now, and with flashing eyes she lowered her guard for a second-
For L'Trea to take the bait. Thinking she had weakened Valtrexa enough to land a heavier, disabling blow, she closed in, only for the larger asari to grapple her, turning the fist fight into a desperate wrestle.
"There's no way she can win, Valtrexa's bigger and stronger-" Briony began quietly, until somebody else to quieted her.
"Shh!"
L'Trea broke her left hand free and began slamming it into Valtrexa's side even as the older asari began to twist the younger to the floor, grunting as each blow landed.
L'Trea is like a wild animal!
Again grabbing the younger asari's free hand, Valtrexa toppled them both to the ground, before using her sheer weight and power to roll over and pin both of L'Trea's shoulders down. The younger asari struggled wordlessly for a moment, and all thought it was over-
Before L'Trea jerked one leg up under Valtrexa's imperfect hold, planted it directly in the centre of the older asari's chest, and kicked with as much force as she could manage, splaying Valtrexa to the soft grass. Without a moment's hesitation L'Trea pounced, taking a stronger grip on the larger asari, straddling her chest, hands pinning Valtrexa's arms to the ground...
When the entire mood of the scene shifted. Linnea felt her heart begin to hitch, her breathing started to grow shallow. As she watched the two asari wrestle and struggle with each other on the grass, her mouth grew dry, and she wanted to join them, to feel strong hands on her body, to overpower them and force the other into submission, to feel them resist, maybe managing to push her away for a second, only to increase the pleasure of the hunt, to-
"Enough!" Priestess T'Nira's commanding shout broke through the now eerily silent field, and she strode forwards, grabbing the back of L'Trea's tight top with a biotically charged hand to bodily pull her from the older asari, propping her on her feet. She bored into the L'Trea's eyes for a second before grabbing the young asari's hand and raising it into the air. "Aspirant L'Trea of House Palaven, you have overpowered your opponent. You do your house and your sisters proud!"
A moment of confused silence passed across the crowd, and Linnea glanced to Briony, seeing her blink as if awoken from a spell.
Goddess, what was that?
The Priestess' words sank in, and suddenly the moment passed, as one the aspirants burst into cheers and applause, as Valtrexa sat up, rubbing what was sure to be a heavily bruised stomach. T'Nira let go of the aspirant and shoved her playfully towards the cheering group, but Linnea could swear there was something other than pride in her smile. Something like relief.
Before she could ponder it any further, the asari pressed around her towards L'Trea, all congratulating and cheering on their sister.
"Goddess... she did it! L'Trea, you did it!" Joquil was jumping up and down, bursting with pride at the accomplishments of her House.
Valtrexa pushed through the crowd with a wide smile on her face, and she offered her hand to L'Trea who gladly accepted it and pulled her in for a friendly embrace. "Congratulations." Warmth radiated in the older girl's voice, and she practically drank in L'Trea with her intense gaze, flushing with the exertion. "It's about time one of you showed me what you were capable of!" She leaned in and spoke something to L'Trea in whispered tones that made L'Trea flush slightly.
L'Trea held Valtrexa close for a few more moments before breaking into a wide smile and a nod. The two held each other's gaze, as the students cheered around them.
"Excellent work!" The unmistakable voice of Priestess T'Nira called out, as she strode forward and pulled the two apart again.
"You both have made impressive improvements. All of you can learn from L'Trea's determination." The Priestess nodded her approval. "We will end physical training here today, for you have a group assembly to attend. Matriarch Lucen has some things to discuss with you and I think that you will find today's match very appropriate."
"What do you think the Matriarch is going to tell us?" Briony's voice rang with an undercurrent of unmistakable excitement.
"I have no idea, but the Matriarch seems to only talk to us when she has something important to relay." Linnea took her friend's hand and pulled her towards the gardens where the students were heading. "Come on, let's go find out!"
The two moved quickly to stay in front of the other aspirants. After the excitement of the morning, the students were all talking in muffled tones and were anticipating something exciting from the Matriarch.
"Do you think that L'Trea is going to get some type of award?" One of the aspirants from House Sur'Kesh asked.
"Oh I hope so! That would reflect well on House Palaven." Joquil gloated.
Matriarch Lucen stood on the podium before the aspirants, looking very regal in flowing ivory robes, the colour and material making her natural blue skin seem radiant. As usual, her headdress was perfectly placed and glittered in the artificial sunlight that was streaming down on her. Surrounding her were all of the priestesses and neophytes of the monastery.
Standing to the side of the Matriarch, looking very serious and dressed formally in her finest robes was Gelsey. Linnea immediately noticed her sister and was taken back by how powerful and self assured she looked, especially in the presence of the Matriarch.
The Matriarch took a step forward and the slight movement caused a cascading effect in her robes; the woman looked even more majestic when in motion. She cleared her throat to get the students' attention and instantly a hush fell across the crowd.
"Aspirants, you have come to a crucial point in your training. Over the past months you have shown exactly where your inner talents lie. We recognise that each of you come from varied backgrounds and we wish to provide you with the opportunity to further explore these talents." The Matriarch looked over the aspirants and then to the priestesses, as if taking inventory. She then turned her attention to the neophytes and continued, "As neophytes, part of your responsibility is to mentor others, to provide guidance to your sisters and demonstrate discipline in your specialities. You will now have this opportunity... To help advance your sisters' training, whilst also helping yourselves."
Linnea watched as her sister shifted her posture as the Matriarch scrutinised her. I've never seen Gelsey look so austere. She must know what's coming.
The Matriarch's shifted to something more serious, her tone was stern and drew the students' full attention. "I would like to take this time to talk with you all about some of the limitations of our nature. Genetically, we are the furthest evolved of the asari. Both the strength and stamina of our biotics are greater. Our bodies harbour pheromones that, when used correctly, can attract any sentient being in the galaxy. Our senses are more defined, allowing us to detect fear, lust, betrayal, love, and all other emotional states. We are predators, made to kill through melding." She paused and looked out at the crowd to make sure that the group was giving their full attention to her.
Gelsey had not moved and was watching the Matriarch with devout engrossment. This must be the talk, Linnea realised; she had received the same words from her parents and more than once from her older sisters.
Content that she had the attention of her students, the Matriarch continued, "The meld itself is a blessing and a curse: A blessing in that we can know the soul, the very essence of those we meld with and a curse in that by doing so, we take also their life. It is for this reason that an Ardat-Yakshi cannot love like any other asari. Love will lead to the truest form of heartache and loneliness. For an asari, love is intrinsically tied to our ability to link minds, but such is denied to us. This is something we cannot control, and we must never imagine we can. To love, will lead only to pain."
The aspirants looked from one to the other, they knew the truths told to them, but to hear it from the Matriarch brought a sad finality.
"This is the hardest part of living as an Ardat-Yakshi. How you cope with this, will determine your success and in some cases, your lifespan. You share this fate with all of us... we understand this and are your family now." The Matriarch's voice held empathy and as she spoke, her posture shifted into a more relaxed and less formal stance. "I bring this up now because I see your bodies changing and can see the drive in you. You will develop bonds with your sisters that are stronger than those with anyone else, but you must be careful. There are no exceptions to this... you are Ardat-Yakshi, genetic perfection - the ultimate killer." The Matriarch fell silent as she let her words sink in.
Linnea looked at her older sister, who was staring back at her. She had heard similar warnings from both of her parents and her siblings. Linnea had never worried that love would pose a problem for her. She enjoyed her new friendship with her sisters, but she did not harbour a desire for more than that.
"Your lives will not be easy. Ardat-Yakshi live in the shadows of asari society and the tales that are told are of horror and suffering. The reality is, however, that the Matriarchy rely on us. We are the protectors of our people, not the monsters that we are portrayed to be. And yet, we also pose the greatest threat to asari society. Our very existence is kept secret to aliens out of shame, and an uncontrolled Ardat-Yakshi is the most dangerous being in the galaxy. It is for this reason that our monastery recommended the creation of the Justicar order, in order to reign in those unfit for our purpose. It is why other monasteries are places of quiet contemplation rather than excitement and fulfilment. But know that you, the elite of our people, are amongst those who will help you attain your fullest potential and support you in ways that Thessia cannot."
As the Matriarch's words sunk in, the celebratory mood from the morning changed to something more sombre.
Sensing the shift, Matriarch Lucen finally raised her voice, breaking the downbeat tone. "Aspirants, we have been watching your progress and we are all very proud of your work here. You have started to make a community here for yourselves and now it's time to give you new tools. Each of you will be assigned a Neophyte mentor and be given advanced training in the areas that we feel to be your strengths. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Neophytes as well." The Matriarch pulled out a sheet of paper that had names handwritten on it. She cleared her throat and started reading off names.
Thirteen aspirants stood before the Matriarch, waiting for their names to be called and matched with their new mentor and Priestess to start their specialisations. The group was silent, even holding their breaths in anticipation for the first name to be called.
"Aspirant L'Trea... you have been selected to be under the tutelage of Priestess T'Nira and Neophyte Valtrexa." Linnea looked over to see the victorious L'Trea bouncing happily on the balls of her feet. Lucen looked back at the list and read the next name.
With the conclusion of the announcements, the aspirants were all talking again and the animated buzz from before had returned. All seemed excited except for Joquil, who was petitioning her Houses Priestess about the decision. "Anyone but T'Samri... I mean really! House Sol is so beneath me and I'm paired with that Ianthe bitch." Her high pitched whining could easily be heard above the crowd.
Linnea didn't know what to feel; she had been selected to work under the guidance of Priestess T'Samri and Neophyte Lasis to perfect the art of seduction, and that was exciting. But so had Joquil and that meant that they would be spending extra time together, that was depressing. She's a damned bitch and I'm stuck with her!
"Can you believe it?! I'm going to learn from your sister... Gelsey is my mentor and I'm with Priestess P'Trona!" Briony was bouncing up and down at the announcement. She grabbed Linnea's arm and smiled warmly at her friend. "I'm so excited, Linnea!"
Doing her best to share in her friend's elation, Linnea forced a smile. "Congratulations... I'm not surprised! You're one of the best biotics I've seen and you will do well with Gelsey. I'm kind of relieved that she's not my mentor." The thought brought a genuine smile from Linnea.
"Of course you, you sexy thing, are under Priestess T'Samri and Lasis has always been nice to us..." Briony was quiet for a moment as she tried to read her friend's expression, "But you're with Joquil. Goddess, that one is such a prima donna nightmare. I don't know if I should feel excited for you or bad for you."
Linnea laughed at her friend's teasing, "I'll just have to out seduce the bitch!" Linnea bumped up against Briony playfully and both girls shared in the laughter.
Aspirant L'Trea sat in her room, looking out her window at the gardens below. Goddess, I'm inside an asteroid and it feels like I'm overlooking a park. Such quiet, it's hard to sleep without all the noise of the city. I still can't believe I'm here. They were all chanting my name today, cheering for me to win! Even Joquil was excited about my win. Valtrexa... the way her body moves, the feel of her strength, her muscles tensing... and she's my mentor now.
"You kicked ass today!" Joquil congratulated her housemate as she made her way to her bedroom.
"Thanks." L'Trea looked up, but not at Joquil. Only an hour to go, just one more hour until I see Valtrexa again.
"Lights out girls, tomorrow will be another long day." Priestess Pel'Reka's voice called out across House Palaven.
L'Trea smiled; her light had been out all along. She returned her attention to the gardens and to what was waiting in the darkness. It will be easy to sneak out. I've gotten out of much harder places. She took one more look and then lowered herself out of the window.
"Easy."
The practice grounds were deserted, dark and unnaturally quiet. L'Trea's senses were heightened, as she strained her hearing for any indication of another. Nothing. She inhaled deeply and then smiled. Valtrexa was close, her scent was in the air. Sweetness and sweat... she's here.
"I know you are here." L'Trea held herself still and her voice was soft. Her body felt like it was on fire, knowing that Valtrexa was close and ready to pounce from the shadows.
"You came." Valtrexa confidently approached L'Trea. She looked relaxed and her face was full of mirth. "Then again, I knew you would."
"Of course I came... I never turn down a challenge."
"So, I'm a challenge." She smiled coyly, arched her brow and looked directly in L'Trea's eyes. "You know, I grew up on Illium too." Valtrexa took a step closer to the younger girl and crossed her arms across her chest. "I heard reports of a dangerous asari in the ghettos, young, stealthy, beautiful and deadly... and now here you are."
"How did you know that?" L'Trea was genuinely surprised.
"Your accent, I can tell you grew up on the streets of Illium. I would recognise the dialect anywhere. My parents were not enthusiastic about having a pureblooded daughter and thought that Illium would offer more diversity than Thessia." She shrugged her shoulders, the casual tone peaking L'Trea's interest.
"Goddess, it was so hard there. Illium is as bad as Thessia, maybe worse." There was venom in L'Trea's words. "Were you disowned too? I don't even know who my parents are."
Valtrexa reached out and held L'Trea's shoulders, "They didn't disown me, but they made sure that I was hidden from society. They told me it was for my own safety... It was really for their reputation."
The weight of Valtrexa's hands was comforting. The touch made a rush of warmth rush through L'Trea's body. She longed for Valtrexa to move even closer and instead closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath and let the scent of the older girl fill her senses.
"How old were you when you found out what you are?" Valtrexa asked.
L'Trea could feel Valtrexa's eyes boring into her. Those eyes, they were making her dizzy and she wanted nothing more than to bare her soul to her mentor. "I was 32... I melded with some turian that had a fetish for young asari. I wanted to hurt him and when I melded and felt the fear in him... I could taste his last breath and know his last hideous thought. I wanted more... When he screamed out in pain, it was like music. Turians were my favourite."
"Ah... I always seemed to favour salarians, but then again I've only had 5 melds." Valtrexa rested her forehead against L'Trea's. "I was 41 when I knew, it terrified and thrilled me all at once. I heard you had quite the body count."
I can't believe she's heard of me. "It was enough to draw the attention of a Justicar." L'Trea pulled away from Valtrexa as the memory of that night took over her thoughts. She felt the pain again, the realisation of what she was and the choice that she had to make: die at the hands of the Justicar or join the monastery and become a weapon of Thessia. I was born to be a weapon. "Some grandiose matriarch found me and now I'm here."
L'Trea looked back at Valtrexa to find the older asari smiling broadly at her. "What?" L'Trea asked, curious about the reaction.
Laughing slightly, Valtrexa took L'Trea's hand in hers, "I know your story... The Matriarch that sponsored you is my father's cousin, Matriarch Leyya. She's one of the highest and most powerful Matriarchs on Thessia. She was also my sponsor."
L'Trea did not know what to say, she just held Valtrexa's hand tightly and took in everything. She could feel her heart pounding and was a bit lightheaded.
"I told you, we aren't too different." Valtrexa took her hand back, but still held her smile. "Alright, enough about us... I think we snuck out for a rematch, if I remember. We going to do this or are we going to stand around talking?"
"Oh I'm ready... just be ready to lose again!"
"We'll see!"
L'Trea smirked at her opponent, and settled into an easy fighting stance. Tonight would be more of a spar than a true competition; they were both still recovering from the true fight earlier, but that didn't mean she wouldn't give it her all.
Darting forward, she launched a couple of jabs towards Valtrexa's likely still bruised ribs, but the older asari anticipated the movement, and blocked them easily, before lashing out with a heavy kick that L'Trea flowed around easily. The bigger asari was stronger, and any blow she landed would cause L'Trea serious problems, but she knew she was fast, and could avoid most obvious blows.
"Getting slow?" L'Trea teased, hopping out of Valtrexa's reach. There wasn't much she could do from this distance either, but the flicker of amusement across the other asari's face was worth it.
"Didn't want to embarrass you too early on." The older asari closed the distance with a series of long armed punches that kept L'Trea at bay, until a wicked idea came to her mind.
Dodge
Block
Not that one...
Weave
Block
Yes!
The perfect jab for her move flew towards her, and L'Trea stepped into it, grabbing the hand to keep it away, and spun on her heel, jabbing her elbow into Valtrexa's gut, yanking the other asari into the blow.
Valtrexa let out a grunt that sounded so deliciously... primal... but before L'Trea could move away the older asari recovered admirably and wrapped her arms around L'Trea, superior strength easily overpowering the younger asari's grip.
Damnation!
She began to struggle, managing to slip around in the grasp so, as before, the pair's fight devolved into a tight grapple. L'Trea slapped away the grip Valtrexa had on her shirt, and dug her heels into the soft grass. She needed to break free, to get back into a position where her speed and agility would be of greater use.
She began to turn again in the grip, when Valtrexa's hand slipped from its position on her shoulder, and brushed across her chest.
The sudden sensation had both leaping backwards from each other, breathing heavily.
Goddess, that was... so...
She looked into Valtrexa's eyes, seeing them heavy with... something... that was well beyond the fire of battle.
How had she not noticed how beautiful the older asari was? She was quite heavy set but it was all taut, lean muscle, tinted in a shade of violet she would have killed to possess herself.
There was a thin sheen of sweat across her, something L'Trea could feel mirrored on herself, that seemed to glisten in the fake moonlight of the garden.
Her mouth dried out, just as it had earlier in the day, before T'Nira had pulled her off the older asari. Remembering how it felt to have Valtrexa pinned like she had, under her power, those beautiful muscles shifting beneath her grasp, that wonderful curve across her chest pressing against her thighs, against her-
She looked away, berating herself.
This is stupid, it is wrong. What Lucen said earlier...
She glanced back at Valtrexa, to see the other asari looking similarly confused. "We... ah... should call it a night, at that, I think..." L'Trea said, to see the other asari nod.
"Yes. We can practice more tomorrow, with the priestess."
The thought of the priestess there to pull them apart like she had sent a jolt of frustration through her, but L'Trea suddenly understood it was for the best. She nodded. "Let's... ah... shower, and go to bed. We don't want anybody to know what we were doing."
L'Trea tilted her head back, letting the cool water run over her.
It did little to quench the need she felt, and the heat at the back of her head, down her spine, between her legs, did not go away.
Goddess, this is... unbearable!
She glanced around the shower, despite knowing she was in a private cubicle. The reason for that was apparent now as well: on Illium most asari shared showers, but if the Ardat-Yakshi were so easily aroused...
She reached over and turned the water back to a warmer temperature, before hesitantly drawing one hand up her side, shivering as it brushed across her breast. It felt just like Valtrexa's touch had earlier, only now she could finally give herself what she truly needed. She cupped her warm, wet breast and softly massaged the sensitive flesh, groaning in gratification at the pressure.
She had explored her own body dozens, hundreds of times before, but it had never been like this, the memory of Valtrexa's strong hands pressing against her still strong, making every slight touch, every drop of water like lightning across her skin.
Her breathing grew shallow, and she slowly brought up her other hand to softly brush against the grooves beneath her crest- to feel her legs give out at the sudden, unexpected rush of pleasure.
Strong arms caught her, and her lust-addled brain took a second to realise what was happening.
"Val-" A soft finger pushed against her mouth, soon replaced by a pair of damp lips that tasted like heaven.
It was the most wonderful sensation she had ever felt. She had kissed before, but it had never been like this. Every nerve in her body was firing, her senses were completely overloaded with pleasure, and she let out a soft groan into Valtrexa's mouth, feeling the older asari's lips curve into a smile. "This'll just be physical, ok? We don't need to meld to give ourselves what we need..."
L'Trea was too caught up in the moment to reply, but that sounded like a wonderful idea. She launched herself at the older asari, feeling the warm water cascade across both of their naked bodies.
This time there was no wrestling.
L'Trea ran her hand up Valtrexa's spine, gratified to hear the older asari gasp in pleasure, before Valtrexa's firm but gentle fingers slid into the grooves beneath her crest, sending fire through her body. Again her legs trembled, but Valtrexa's hold was strong, and she did not fall.
L'Trea gave a wicked smirk, and ducked her head to take one of the beautiful violet peaks ahead of her into her mouth, feeling that overwhelming lust fill her body, and she needed more, and could sense Valtrexa wanted more.
She nibbled gently, and when Valtrexa responded by pressing her head in harder, the older asari's nails scratching the sensitive flesh on the back of L'Trea's head in a way that both hurt, and felt magnificent, that was all the go ahead she needed to sink her teeth into Valtrexa's breast, rewarded by a cry of pleasure from the sensual asari.
Their hands and mouths everywhere at once, touching, grabbing roughly, caressing softly, biting and licking and scratching, and both could feel the inevitable peak approaching, all as the water continued to spray down from above, the noise drowned out by their wanton groans and gasps and cries.
The pair tumbled to the floor, legs too shaky to hold them, and they immediately used the opportunity to reach for the hidden azure flesh of the other, roughly and inexpertly toying in a way that was so deliciously primal. The sudden rush of pleasure was too much, and L'Trea felt her breath begin to hitch, just as Valtrexa's did the same, and they both knew what was coming, what was about to happen-
L'Trea's mind turned blank as a majestic wave crashed over her, and almost unknowingly, she reached out for the one sensation she knew could even further enhance the experience...
To feel Valtrexa's mind hit her own first.
L'Trea felt everything that was the other asari sink into her consciousness. There was strength there, so much strength, and anger, for the way her parents had hidden her away, and also a hint of sadness, about her condition.
But that was all buried beneath the absolute, unstoppable lust, the sensations across her body now shared with the other asari's, so good, both riding that beautiful climax together until-
W-
The presence of Valtrexa became undeniable, forceful, crushing down L'Trea's own feelings, her body seeming distant-
No-
A huge black abyss sucked her down, spots of red dashing across it, each one tearing a hole in her consciousness-
Please-
It hurt, her mind failing, dying, L'Trea feeling every sensation, her body still locked in a perverse, tidal orgasm-
Stop-
For a second, it stopped. There was nothing more.
But there was nothing of herself left.
Valtrexa was everything.
Then with a final, searing pain, L'Trea's existence turned to nothing.
"Another assembly? Goddess, they get us up earlier every day!" Briony stood next to Linnea as the voice of Priestess T'Samri called out across House Sol.
"Listen to her tone Briony, something's wrong. We need to wear our black robes, those are almost never used. We only are supposed to wear them if someone dies." Linnea struggled to get her gown on and find her shoes.
Briony's expression had changed, as she too was trying to get dressed quickly. "Goddess, who do you think died?" She stopped suddenly and looked around to make sure they were alone and spoke in hushed tones, "Maybe it was Joquil!"
Linnea rolled her eyes, "We would not be that fortunate. Come on, we need to hurry up."
When the girls arrived, neophytes from the various houses handed out candles. Briony looked at Linnea with a confused expression.
"Draw your hoods, light your candles, find a place with your house and remain silent." The words came from Gelsey and were issued in a stark, cold tone. Linnea knew better than to question her sister and did as she was directed.
The crowd was absolutely silent and the scene before them was not a comforting one: Matriarch Lucen and Priestess T'Nira were dressed as all the other attendees, except that their hoods were lowered and their expressions were somber and pained. At their feet was Valtrexa, dressed in a dark purplish-blue gown, the color of asari blood, she was crying in muffled sobs that shook her whole body. Neither Matriarch Lucen or Priestess T'Nira were holding candles, but something metalic was reflecting off of the light from the flames.
Linnea strained her eyes to get a better look and realised that the object was a beautifully decorated blade that glistened with a bluish aura. What is that for and why is Valtrexa so upset? It can't be because she lost to L'Trea?
Raising her hands up to the artificial sky, Matriarch Lucen appeared to be saying a silent prayer. The movement caused the crowd to focus on the Matriarch and all waited in anticipation to find out what was happening.
Matriarch Lucen's voice was strained, but still powerful, as she addressed the students. "Neophyte Valtrexa's actions, have broken the most sacred bonds of sisterhood that we share at the monastery. She has tasted the mind of a sister, an Ardat-Yakshi."
With pity and sadness in her eyes, Lucen looked down at the trembling form in front of her, "Once an Ardat-Yakshi has fed on the mind of another, she will never be satiated again. Her life will be tortured and incomplete without the kill, without the taste and rush of another victim. We do not allow this..." The Matriarch paused and exhaled as if she had been dealt a blow. "We can not allow an Ardat-Yakshi to continue to live once this has occurred."
A collective gasp could be heard from the crowd as the meaning of the Matriarch's words started to sink in.
Nodding to Priestess T'Nira, Matriarch Lucen stood straight and prepared to take the ornate blade from T'Nira's hands. "This is the Blade of Janiri and like the goddess herself is filled with power and tragedy. It is this sacred blade that will deliver justice upon you and will provide your final release from this world." She spoke the words deliberately, never taking her gaze from Valtrexa.
A silence filled the room, as all in attendance knew what was about to happen.
"Go with the Goddess Valtrexa, and be at peace." The practiced swing was swift, the sword glittering in the candlelight as it descended. The impact was swift and clean, and unknown energies flared from the blade as it parted asari flesh. The candles were extinguished in unison and all stood in silent reverence for their deceased sister.
A/N: Thank you for reading.
Unfortunately not much light-heartedness in this one, but fear not, our next chapter should more than make up for it!