First of all, thank you DrZevil for the pep talk. That was really helpful in motivating me to keep at this. Now this chapter WILL contain some disturbing scenes so you have been warned. Now, on with the show.
The First Mistress?
"Greetings Sire" Gnarl bowed as Malek descended into the throne room, "I am glad to see your, ahem, meeting, with the Succubus Queen ended rather well."
Malek strode over and sat down on the throne, "Where is Cynthia?"
"Lady Cynthia is at the Forge Dark One, she is speaking with Giblet about creating a weapon for herself. Something to do with a chain."
"Right, how is my domain doing?"
"Nordberg and the Everlight resort are providing weapons and lifeforce. The Empire city is not under our full control but we have secured the palace as a base in case we need to expand up there."
Malek nodded slowly, "What of Heaven's Peak? Open a link to Sierra"
"At once Master" Gnarl turned to the stone floor beneath the portal. It opened into an eerie pool.
Sierra's face appeared in it.
"Sierra" Malek spoke.
His sister jumped and her eyes darted around.
"Don't scare me like that" she scolded, her eyes still darting nervously, "What is it?"
"What is your report on the Heaven's Peak invasion?"
A small patch of red appeared in Sierra's green skin, "The city is conquered. There was almost no resistance."
"Excellent" Malek nodded, "You may return to the Netherworld then."
Sierra coughed slightly, "Um, actually I would rather stay here for a bit, there are some loose ends that need tying up."
"Such as?" Gnarl questioned.
"I am conducting my own investigation into marine life-forms and the possibility of an aquatic assault force." Sierra answered quickly.
"In English?" Malek waved his hand.
"I am taking a ship to look at the fish" Sierra rolled her eyes, "That plain enough?"
Malek's eyes narrowed, "On whose authority are you doing this?"
"My own" Sierra answered, "I have taken a small crew and fresh meat to bait the creatures I am after."
"And what meat exactly did you take?" Malek folded his arms.
"Lamb?" Sierra offered hopefully.
There was a pause while Malek tapped the arm of his throne.
"Lamb" he casually examined his armoured hand, "Is that your final answer?"
"Can I change to roast beef?" Sierra asked tentatively.
Malek's eyes glowed red, "Explain"
"Okay, okay." Sierra took a breath, "I am taking children, which I kidnapped from Heaven's Peak, out to a small island where I will use them as bait to attract mermaids. I am hoping to capture several of them for experimentation."
Unsurprisingly, bolts of lightning burst from Malek's hands as he stood up, "You are using children as live bait!" he shouted, "The people of Heaven's Peak will rise against me for this."
"They are too scared" Sierra grinned, "I made sure of it."
"Get back here now" Malek thundered, "If you are so desperate for mermaid test subjects then try a different method but you are not using children as…"
"Quiet Mal" Sierra interrupted, "I have to go." Her face vanished from the pool.
Cynthia walked in. She took in a shattered statue, Malek on his feet with glowing red eyes, and Gnarl looking rather nervous.
"So, what did I miss?"
(EMPIRE CITY/DOCKS)
"Are you okay?" Cynthia asked her brother as they watched Silent Shadow pull into the dock.
"Fine" he answered, "But Sierra has gone too far this time."
They spotted their sister walking down the gangplank, with a proud look on her face.
"Care to explain?" Malek folded his arms.
Sierra grinned and waved a hand at the ship. Her crew were unloading dead mermaids.
"I found a nesting ground on my way back. So the children weren't needed." She pouted, "I don't get what the big issue is."
"The issue" Malek gasped, "It is one thing to kidnap people, it is another to enslave their home and it is another thing entirely to use children as live bait."
For a moment all eyes were on the arguing siblings. Sierra's golden eyes narrowed and her claws twitched, Malek's hand was resting on his sword hilt and sparks were emitting from his gauntlet.
"Enough of this" Cynthia stepped between them, "Bottom line is that the children weren't eaten. Sierra take the mermaids back to the Netherworld for whatever it is you want. Malek take the children back to Heaven's Peak. Now give each other a hug like the brother and sister you are."
Sierra raised her eyebrows at Cynthia; Malek moved his hand away from his sword and coughed.
"I, um," he held his arms out awkwardly, "I guess I'm sorry about that."
"Yeah," Sierra looked at the ground, "Me too"
They stepped towards each other and embraced. A moment later they yelped as Cynthia jumped on them both.
"Hey, your skin doesn't burn anymore" Sierra remarked in a squashed voice as she was crushed against her brother's armour.
"I worked out how to control it" Cynthia replied gleefully, "So now I can turn it off, or on" she somersaulted back from them and tossed sparks in their directions. One ignited Malek's cape and the other starting smoking in Sierra's hair.
"Hot, hot!" Sierra dived off the pier and into the water.
Malek tore his cape off and flung it aside, "Come here!" he ran after Cynthia.
"Mistress?" Reaper and Jagged looked down at Sierra. Her long black hair was plastered against her face and she didn't look happy.
"Get me a towel." She climbed out of the water.
(NETHERWORLD/THRONE ROOM)
"So the people were overjoyed" Cynthia wrapped the imbued chain along her arm. It turned blue and sank into the skin, "Let's give it a go." She punched forward and blue flames shot out of her fist.
"Neat trick" Malek returned to his spell book, "Yeah the people of Heaven's Peak were happy to get their kids back."
"What do you reckon Sierra wants with the mermaids?" Cynthia examined the chain styled tattoo on her skin.
Malek looked up from his book, "Knowing her it's probably better if we don't know."
"That hurt" Sierra chuckled as she entered, "Since only Blues can swim I decided we need assistance in sea warfare. Using the dead mermaid bodies as test subjects I am close to creating a new species that shall give us a great advantage at sea."
"You know we can swim Sierra?" Cynthia juggled blue fireballs.
"I can," Sierra answered, "You, as a Red probably not."
Cynthia frowned, ignoring the fireballs that landed around her, she put a finger to her chin, "I don't see why it would affect me. I'll go for a swim at the Everlight resort to see what would happen."
"No" Malek raised a finger, still engrossed in his book, "Something might go wrong."
"Mal" Cynthia pouted, "Just let me try."
Her brother raised his head towards her, "What if something does go wrong?"
"Then you can say 'I told you so'" Cynthia took a deep breath and raised her hand at the portal "Everlight resort" she was pulled up and into the portal.
"I suppose we better go after her" Sierra and Malek raised their hands and were likewise teleported.
(EVERLIGHT RESORT)
"Greetings Dark One" Jocala bowed as Malek and Sierra appeared, "Lady Cynthia said she was going to the beach."
"To the beach!" Malek shouted and a group of Minions fell in behind him as he and Sierra sprinted for the gates leading to the sandy shore.
As they arrived a figure with red skin was clearly visible standing beside the clear blue water.
"Stop her!" Malek yelled.
Cynthia flinched and spun, "I need to try" she back flipped into the air and landed up to her waist in the water.
For a moment no-one moved then Cynthia screamed and steam rose from the water. It frothed and boiled around her while she writhed in pain.
"Blues!" Malek roared as Sierra sprinted into the water.
(NETHERWORLD)
"Ugh" Cynthia groaned and sat up slowly. She was lying on the bed in the Private Quarters. Malek and Sierra were sitting on the edge of it.
"I told you so" Malek teased before his voice grew serious, "You could have been killed Cynthia."
"I needed to test my theory" she slid off the bed, "And it seems that even though we are half human we are still vulnerable to water."
Sierra facepalmed, "I can swim and water doesn't bother me. It is because you are a living fireball that being in water weakens you."
"I guess so" Cynthia admitted, "But I have a solution."
"This should be good" Malek folded his arms.
(THRONE ROOM)
"Fire it up Mal" Cynthia grinned as she stood beside the stone bath.
Malek raised his hand. Lightning surged from the portal into the bath and filled it with a strange blue substance.
"Blues dive in" Cynthia directed.
As the Minions jumped into the substance they vanished but the blue ooze glowed brighter.
"Can this work twice on her?" Sierra whispered.
"You're asking me?" Malek shrugged, "All I know is that it might turn her blue."
Sierra raised an eyebrow at her brother, "What other effects?"
The bath shook violently as Cynthia jumped into it. As before the ooze gradually faded.
"Did it work?" Cynthia stood up. There was no change.
"Nope, you still have red skin and claws" Sierra brandished her own, "Want to go a round?"
"Sure" Cynthia's shoulders slumped, "So much for my theory."
Once his sisters left for the training arena Malek started to laugh.
"What is it Sire?" Gnarl's brow wrinkled in confusion.
"It worked Gnarl" Malek beckoned an elf slave over, "Cynthia is imbued with Blue Minion. I want you to go to them and tell Sierra to cut Cynthia. Reds don't heal quickly but if my calculations are correct then the Blue Minion in her will heal the wound instantly."
"Very wise Sire" Gnarl scurried away.
"Bring me a glass of the finest wine taken from the resort" Malek commanded the slave.
"At once Dark One" he hurried away.
Malek sat on his throne and his eyes drifted to the stone bath. His sisters were getting stronger each day. What if they decided to take over? Sierra could slit his throat while he slept, or Cynthia could burn him to ashes. He shook his head, this was ridiculous, the three of them were as close as ever. His eyes fell on a female elf polishing the serpent head that was the arm of his throne. She had brown hair that reached her shoulders and deep green eyes. His eyes explored her body, taking in the elegance that the elven race possessed. She caught his eye, blushed, and looked away quickly.
"Sire" the elf handed him a goblet.
Wrapped up in his thoughts Malek lifted the drink to his lips.
He didn't notice the elf smile wickedly.
(TRAINING ROOM)
"Take that" Sierra slashed at Cynthia.
"Only if you take this" Cynthia flung out her hand. A long stream of blue fire shot out and wrapped around Sierra's claws like a chain.
Sierra pulled her claws apart, destroying the fire chain, and ran at Cynthia.
"Pardon me ladies" Gnarl interrupted, "But I have a suggestion. Sierra, cut your sister's arm. Your brother believes that you possess Blue Minion within you that will heal any wounds inflicted."
Both sister's exchanged looks.
"I guess I'll give it a try." Cynthia held out her arm, "Not too deep please."
Sierra slowly placed a long claw over the skin then quickly sliced the skin in a neat line.
"Ouch" Cynthia stared at the cut, "Hey, look at that."
Blue sparks emerged from the skin surrounding the wound and dived at it. The small slice mark sealed itself and vanished, leaving no trace of an injury.
"Impressive" Sierra blinked, "I'll have to get Blue Minions in me as well. Let's head back and tell Mal."
(THRONE ROOM)
"No!" a hand swatted the goblet aside, spilling wine across the floor.
Malek snapped his head towards the female elf and stood up. He towered over her, who had almost struck him.
"Explain yourself" he growled.
She flung herself at his feet, "It was poisoned my Lord" she spoke to the ground, not daring to raise her head.
"And how would you know this?" Malek noticed the male slave starting to crawl away.
"I saw him do it" she pointed in the fleeing elf's general direction since she didn't risk looking up.
"Minions!" Malek thundered, "Bring him to me."
A group of the armoured Brown Minions sprang forward and pinned the slave to the ground. They dragged him back to their master.
"I spared your life and the lives of your people when I conquered Everlight" Malek glared down at the elf, "So you betray my generosity. Kill him."
One of the Brown lifted his halberd over the slave's head.
"Not you" Malek held up his hand, "You" he turned to the female.
"Sire?" she looked terrified as he pulled her to her feet.
"You are willing to save my life you must be willing to kill anyone who tries to take it." Malek placed a dagger in her hand, "Prove your loyalty to me."
The female looked down at her fellow elf.
"Don't do it" he told her, "We must oppose him."
"What is your name?" Malek whispered in her ear.
"Gwenith" she answered, "Gwen"
"Gwen" Malek ran a cold armoured hand up her arm, "You have a great opportunity here."
"Sire?" Gwen flinched as his warm breath tickled her ear while his hands were on her shoulders.
"Kill the traitor and be rewarded for saving my life" his hands travelled down her sides until resting on her hips, "There are many rewards I can offer you."
"Promise me you won't harm or ill-treat any of my people" Gwen blushed as she felt his hands squeeze her butt.
"As long as they don't give me a reason to" Malek's hot breathed trailed up her neck, "Is there anything else I could give you?"
"You're a sick demented freak!" the elf being pinned by the Browns yelled, "Leave her alone!"
"Do it" Malek whispered.
"No!" the male screamed.
"Do it" Malek spoke louder.
"Gwen get out of here!"
"DO IT!" Malek roared.
With a scream Gwen spun around and stabbed at Malek's heart. The dagger blade didn't even scratch the arcanium armour.
Malek gave a sigh of disappointment, "Very well then" he deftly twisted the dagger from her hand and dropped it on the floor, "Take them both to the cells" he ordered, "I will have Sierra visit the male later. She has a talent for torture; in fact I'd say it's one of her favourite hobbies."
Before the Minions dragged Gwen away she flung out a hand to the Overlord, "I saved your life" she pleaded, "You promised you wouldn't harm any of my people."
Malek's glowing eyes turned red and he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"I lied"
(NETHERWORLD/LOWER LEVELS)
Screams echoed along the stone corridors as Sierra tortured the elf who tried to poison the Overlord.
Sierra's methods were, unusual, first she would have a large Brown Minion beat the person to a bloody pulp, following that a Red would burn the flesh right off the bone. Her beloved Greens would cut, stab, and slice the helpless victim. Finally, some Blues would heal the person.
And the cycle would start again.
Gwen shuddered as the victim started his third cycle. Each time the screams were worse because each time he was healed it only meant more pain and suffering.
"Let's try something different, slave" Sierra hissed
Gwen couldn't see what was happening in the other cell but she could hear and sense her fellow elf. It wasn't good.
After he tried begging for mercy during the first cycle Sierra had ordered him gagged. When the second cycle began he started begging for death. His tongue was cut out.
"You can make it stop"
Gwen turned as the door opened. Lady Cynthia leaned casually against the frame.
"Kill the elf as Malek ordered" Cynthia drew a line across her neck, "You will be rewarded, and you will prevent the traitor anymore suffering."
"I can't just kill one of my own people" Gwen shuddered, "I have a heart, unlike you and your siblings."
Cynthia just stared for a moment, "Believe it or not I'm trying to help. So are you going to hlp your friend or will we let Sierra keep going?"
Another scream cracked the air.
"Okay" Gwen stood up before she lost her nerve, "Stop her"
Cynthia guided the distraught elf down the corridor and pushed open a stone door.
In the centre of the room the victim was chained to the floor, without a stitch of clothing on him.
Standing with her feet on either side of his waist was Sierra. She wore a black latex corset, but no undergarments. In her hand was a nasty looking thorn whip. She lowered herself down onto the elf and grabbed his face with her free hand.
"Fuck me slave" she commanded, "And I better enjoy it, or else" she snapped the whip across his bare torso, leaving deep scratches.
The elf shook his head violently.
"Either you do it or I'll let my boys have their way with you" Sierra grinned over at Jagged and Reaper, "I don't think they'll be as gentle. Now do it!" she snapped the whip across his face.
"Enough Sierra" Cynthia interrupted, "Gwen is going to kill him."
"Give me ten minutes first" Sierra snarled.
Cynthia folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Enough."
With much grumbling and muttered swearing, Sierra stood up and beckoned to Jagged and Reaper, "You two come with me." The trio left the cell.
"Get on with it" Cynthia handed Gwen a dagger, "Hurry up or Sierra will be back."
Slowly Gwen walked over to the disgraced elf. Just looking at all the blood and bruises made her sick. Without even looking at the face of her brethren she plunged the knife into his heart.
"Forgive me" she whispered.
In the throne room Malek smiled wickedly as he watched.
"Sire," Gnarl raised an eyebrow, "Forgive me but, what are you planning on doing with that female?"
"I am going to follow the wise teachings of Lord Sayron" Malek indicated a book on past Overlords, "He encountered a fairy know as Queen Fay, he filled her with his Dark energy and turned her into his Mistress. I am going to turn this elf into my First Mistress."
"What about that Succubus Queen, Laurcelle?"
Malek paused for a moment. "I suppose while Laurcelle isn't here I need someone to keep me company. No offense Gnarl"
"None taken Dark Master, though what are you going to do about your sisters?"
"Where is Sierra anyway?" Malek waved a hand at the pool. The image blurred for a moment before showing another cell, "What is she doing…"
Sierra was flat on her back with no clothes on. Jagged was lying between her open legs with his tongue darting into her womanhood. Reaper was pinching her nipples with his long claws. Sierra moaned loudly, and everyone in the Throne Room heard it through the pool.
"Such sights" Gnarl's eyes widened.
Malek stood up shakily and took a few steps forward, he waved his hand and the pool went blank, before he threw up in a nearby vase.
I think that's enough. Please review, I've got people subscribed from this and I've seen how many have read this so come on. It doesn't take long to write a short review.