Blood Ties, Part 33

You limp out of the warehouse, you head hanging with exhaustion, leaning heavily against Ceriss, your arm around her shoulder. The familiars follow behind, the water elemental gently helping the captive girl. Looking wearily up, you see Nevati and Janessa on the other side of the barrier. The young wizard is sitting in a meditative position, her staff held horizontal in front of her.

You've never seen a staff quite like it before: there seem to be several metals used in its construction, and hints of crystal as well. The design is curiously asymmetric, with several slender tines jutting out at seemingly random intervals. As you approach Nevati opens her eyes, then relaxes her concentration, letting the barrier fizzle out. Then she taps her staff twice with her thumb... and it actually collapses, retracting in on itself until it's small enough for the gnome to clip onto her belt without issue.

As soon as the barrier goes down, Janessa rushes over to your side. "Niko!" she says. She's struggling to hold back her concern as she takes stock of the damage, trying to stay in control so she can actually be of use. Then she turns to Ceriss. "We need to get him medical attention," she urges.

"I've got it under control," Ceriss assures her. Then the sorceress glances back at the girl you rescued. "Can you get her back to my manor? Tell the staff to make sure she's cared for. She's... had a bad time of it. About as bad as it gets."

Janessa takes a look at the demon's final victim, then nods somberly. "Don't worry about it," she says. "Just... take care of him."

"Wait," you say, before Ceriss can lead you off. Gathering your strength, you manage to stand on your own two feet for a moment, hobbling over toward where Nevati stands. The gnome looks hesitantly up at you, uncertain what to make of this, her expression a mixture of emotions.

"There's a wrecked chest in there," you say, your voice grave. "It has a great many scrolls and magical items that this demon, this... incubus... was collecting during his time here. Studying them may offer more insight into what he was doing. And who his collaborators were. While I was in there with him, he spoke of others like him, spread across many different worlds. Dissidents, opposed to the current leadership of the Second Circle. He even gave me a name, of someone who seemed to be a leader among them. Zethuriel."

Part of you worries at exposing this much information, but you realize that it's more important that they know. "The demon Ceriss fought seemed to think that my brand was the key to their victory. To the rebirth of the old Incubus King. You need to warn the other heroines. I fear we haven't seen the last of them."

Nevati frowns, but nods in understanding. You want to say more... but your vision swims, your knees starting to buckle. Ceriss catches you before you can fall. "Easy..." she says compassionately. "Easy, Niko. Come on, let's go. You can trust Nevati; she'll figure it out."

You let her lead you away, while Janessa goes over to the rescued girl and Nevati hurries into the warehouse. Her familiars flock around her as she goes, the fire elemental enthusiastically telling her the story of everything that happened inside. You wince. Even they probably saw too much of what the ancient incubus was trying to get you to do, enough to give someone as smart as Nevati the hint she needs to re-examine her assumptions about you.

But there's nothing you can do about it now. You'll need to deal with that once you're fed and Ceriss is firmly on your side.

The two of you walk through the streets of the red light district in silence, attracting more than a few strange looks, all of which you ignore. Soon, you realize the direction that she's taking you. It's a place you've been before, though "Niko" hasn't. The brothel that Ceriss visits to help the prostitutes. The brothel where her mother worked.

By the time you arrive at the entrance, the Madame is there, raising an eyebrow at the strange sight. "Please, Renethe..." Ceriss asks her. "I need to borrow a room. It's urgent."

There are probably a hundred questions the Madame wants to ask. But after a second or two of consideration, she swallows them. "Of course," she says simply, looking at the heroine with affection and worry. She's not the sort of person who can be effusive about it... but it's unmistakable all the same. "Come with me."

The Madame leads you into the building. You don't pay much attention to the route, most of your concentration on putting one foot in front of the other while you lean against Ceriss' warmth. Soon you hear the door close behind her. And then you're left alone in the brothel room with the heroine.

Ceriss drags you over to the bed, allowing you to flop down onto it. You lie there on your back, savoring the chance to get off your feet. The tiefling sits down next to you, and for a few seconds everything is silent. You're both drained after everything that has happened, both physically and emotionally.

Eventually, she lets out a bleak laugh. "So... I suppose I really am an orphan now..." she says, retreating into dark humor as a shield. "Goddesses... How fucked up is that? I always hated my father for what I thought he did. Leaving my mother alone with me. But seeing what he was actually like..." Her voice trails off, and she shakes her head in numb dismay.

"That's not what an incubus is supposed to be," you insist. Despite how spent you are, you surprise yourself with how much fervor you manage to inject into your voice. "When you told me about your mother... how you wanted to follow in her footsteps, and bring pleasure to people? That's what it ought to be about. You're one of the few mortals I've met who understood it like that, even before I showed them. You already knew how important that is."

Ceriss glances down at you, and you can see a hint of surprise in her expression. "You... really believe that, don't you?"

You exhale, staring up at the ceiling, before finally nodding. "Yes," you say, your voice quiet. "Even if other incubi turn their backs on it. Even if this thing attached to my soul wants to make me forget. I have to keep believing. Because it's the only answer that ever made any damn sense to me."

Another silence falls. Then, to your surprise, you feel Ceriss' hand slide over to rest atop yours, the same hand that bears the mark of your curse. Her fingers interlink with yours, and she gives you a small squeeze. And for a moment you just remain there. Two souls. Each offering momentary comfort to the other, in the face of the uncertain destiny thrust on both of them.

"I don't know how much it means to you," you finally say. "But I swear to you by the Abyss itself. You don't have anything to be afraid of. You already understand more about what it really means to share pleasure than that worthless stain we left on the warehouse floor ever did. And that's your real heritage. From both your mother and the Second Circle."

You see a small, secret smile cross Ceriss' face. Then she removes her hand from yours... and brings it to the shoulder of her dress, toying with it as she rises to her feet to stand in front of you. "Well then..." she says, a gently teasing note re-entering her voice. It's welcome to hear, after all the tension and strain. "I suppose there's no reason not to share a little bit of that pleasure right here and now, no?"

Without waiting for a reply, she expertly twists out of the garment. The dress was quite tattered from her fight to begin with, and what remains falls easily, pooling around her ankles. Your eyes drink in her voluptuous figure, her long black hair running down behind her, accentuating her red skin and horns.

She crawls up the bed, over your body, her every movement dripping with sensuous grace. Her hands reach down, quickly stripping you of your bloody clothes. As she works, your hands reach up to grope those generous breasts. She lets out a throaty moan of appreciation at your touch, and already you can feel the pleasure starting to flow from her, like water on a parched tongue.

As she finishes stripping you, you roll her over, pinning her beneath you. She lets you do it without any resistance. As she looks up into your eyes, you can see the excitement in her gaze. And you know that neither of you will be denying the other anything this time.

Your hands continue to maul her breasts, before sliding lower, tracing your way down her perfectly toned body, around her hips, until you're in a position to spread her legs. You position her so that she is hanging off the edge of the bed, perfect for you to kneel and begin to eat her out, your tongue lashing expertly as your fingers knead into her flesh. She writhes and gasps as you cease any pretense of holding back, putting your full skill on display. And you feel quite confident that none of the mortal lovers she's ever had could even come anywhere close to you.

"Oh! Oh fuck!" are the only intelligible words you can make out. You keep up the pressure, bringing her right to the edge, but not letting her go over. You can feel your strength returning with each passing second, a heady feeling the invigorates you to new heights, temporarily ignoring the aches and pains that still persist after coming so close to the edge.

Eventually you climb back onto the bed, pulling Ceriss up and sitting her in front of you. She wraps herself urgently around your body with both her arms and legs, molding her body against yours, kissing you hungrily as she lines up her pussy for the main event. Even when she briefly breaks the kiss, her breath is coming short and shaky, but still she forges forward with fervent passion.

You can feel her lower lips start to part before your cock. Held so tight in your arms, you can feel her trembling with need. She knows this is going to be incredible... but you're not satisfied with just that. Leaning in, you whisper right into her ear, your breath hot against her cheek. "Lower your wards," you tell her. "Let me show you how it's really supposed to feel."

Her eyes widen at the command, and she sucks in a quick breath. But there's no backing out now. She knows she's going to do it. And perhaps... just perhaps... she really does trust you that there is nothing whatsoever for her to fear in this.

Ceriss traces one hand along her skin. For a moment you can see the glowing blue lines and the runes, far more complex and powerful than the simple version you saw on her student. But no defense can hold, no matter how powerful, if its defenders yearn to be overcome. The sorceress twists her fingers, and the entire spell fizzles into nothingness.

Immediately, you let loose with the full force of your aphrodisiac, your hands sliding up and down her body as you kiss her again, your tongue battling with hers as she moans into you. Then, when she can bear it no more, you pull her down hard onto your cock.

The heroine screams out your false name in ecstasy, as the most powerful climax she's ever experienced wracks her body. She spasms in your arms, trying as best she can to grip you tighter. She gasps for breath as she rides out the orgasm and its aftershocks. You just hold her close as she clenches around you, allowing her to feel.

It's what she's been chasing all this time. You've given it to her beyond anything she ever imagined... and you're just getting started. You push her onto her back again, her long black hair splaying out behind her. Lifting her legs, you put her into a mating press. Her eyes widen as she realizes what's truly in store for her.

And yet you can also see conviction and determination in those eyes, as she rises to the challenge. Determined to respond with all the skill and experience her own endeavors have given her, to give you every last bit of pleasure she can as well.

You thrust in again, railing her in that mating press for what seems like forever, drawing out orgasm after orgasm. Eventually you flip her over, switching to taking her from behind, as she begs you to fuck her like an animal. You oblige her pleas, discovering in the process how much she adores it when you grab her by her horns and pull, using the leverage to plow her even harder.

After that, you lift her in your arms and pin her against the wall, fucking her hard into it, each thrust a resounding thump intermixed with her breathless cries as she clings to you, her body expertly responding to yours with a sexual skill that is rare, for a mortal.

By the end she's back in your lap, bouncing wildly there with the last of her strength, wantonly impaling herself on your cock as hard as she can. You can feel the ideal moment approaching, the perfect time to bring this to a crescendo. Using your own grip, you increase her speed, helping to lift her and helping to slam her down. She is making all manner of alluring noises, throwing her all into it, even with her stamina and composure almost completely spent.

Harder and harder she impales herself down onto you, her breathless desperation only increasing. Until finally—without warning—you slam her down and hold her there, as you release into her with everything you have, your cum drawing forth a screaming climax that only ends after her limp body slumps over you, her forehead resting on your shoulder. Your arms are tight around, your hand running gently up and down her back as she shudders, spasms, twitches in your grasp.

As spent as both of you are, with the wringer of a day you've both had, it's about all you can manage. Carefully, you lower both her and you to the bed, pulling up a sheet to cover you both as she nestles in closer. Not that you're in much better shape. Without the fucking to distract you, the strain of what you've subjected yourself to is making itself known. And it isn't long before the two of you are both asleep in each others' arms.

Granted, you only sleep for a handful of hours. But it does gives you time to think as Ceriss comes around as well. You watch as her eyes finally blink wearily open, as she remembers the events that led to her offering herself up to you, that led to her waking held tight in the arms of a demon. As she watches, you even release your human guise, allowing her to see you as you truly are.

She does not, however, shrink back. Just smiles enigmatically back at you as you run your fingers through her hair. "So..." she finally asks, from her comfortable position. "What now?"

"That's your decision," you say, as your hands start to explore her magnificent body again. "But if you'd permit me to make a suggestion... I'd like you to meet my summoner."

Ceriss responds to your touch, slowly, sensually grinding herself against you, your faces inches apart as you both luxuriate in the more relaxed lovemaking. "You mean... mnnh... the one you said contracted you to try and stop the war?" she asks, considering it. "And who might this mysterious benefactor be?"

"Her name is Lily," you say, grinning. "But I believe that you'd know her better as the Witch Queen of Kovora."

Ceriss' eyes go wide in almost comical shock. You can see the doubt enter her eyes, the worry. But... she also knows that if you truly had any ill intentions toward her, you've had every opportunity to do whatever you wanted, while she was completely vulnerable. And yet you took none of those opportunities. She's unhurt, and her mind is still fundamentally her own.

Even if she really, really wants to keep fucking you.

"And besides..." you say impishly, continuing before she can pull her thoughts together. "I know that Verika and Khaytala will be happy to see you again. And I'm sure we can come up with even more fun things to do together."

Impossibly, her eyes go even wider, as she truly starts to understand what has happened to her friends. What is happening to her. What will happen to the other heroines. You can tell that it's playing out in her mind's eye. And you can tell how sinfully hot she finds the idea. "Goddesses..." she whimpers, offering no resistance as you roll over on top of her, her body eagerly responding as you start to slowly fuck her again. "How many of us are you going to do this too? How many of us are you going to seduce?"

"As many as it takes," you assure her as you thrust deep into her. "On both your side and Kovora's. As many as it takes, until we stop the war."

You caress her face for a moment... then give her a truly wicked grin. "Though I'm not promising I'll stop there. I want all your friends to see what you see. I want all your friends to understand what you understand."

It's obvious that Ceriss is imaging what that orgy would look like... and in the state she's in, the mere thought alone is enough to send her over the edge. She climaxes with a wordless cry, even as you fuck her through the orgasm while she clings to you. Then you let yourself release into her again, falling back into more heavy petting as she looks up at you in amazement and desire. Like you're the answer to a question that she never knew she was asking for her entire life.

"But... how are we going to do this?" she finally asks. "What about my duties? What about Nevati? How will we explain this to everyone?"

"We'll figure that out," you say. "For now, I think that—"

But your voice breaks off as a feeling of wrongness swells up in your soul in a sudden, violent assault. At this point you instantly recognize the signs, rolling off of Ceriss, off the bed toward the far wall even as you clutch your wrist, trying to suppress the unholy energy building there. The seal actually seems to help, giving you a few more precious seconds than usual as you shout a warning to the heroine. "Get back!"

Then everything erupts in a raging vortex of power that explodes around you, ripping the room to shreds, sending splinters of wood and bedding everywhere. And when it finally fades, you can see that a new rune has come alight on your palm.

ᚡ ᛤ ᚡ ᛤ ᛠ ᛤ ᚡ ᛤ ᚡ ᛥ

You regard the ominous portent with grim resolve. The steady countdown to the extinguishing of your soul has proceeded another notch. In fact, you felt as though this was even more powerful in some way than any rune that preceded it. As though with this step, you've crossed some important threshold.

Not to mention that the very next rune is now that unique rune that Nevati warned you about...