Camp that night was louder than previously. Karlach was telling stories while everyone shared the meats and cheeses that Gale has rescued from the fire. In a way, everyone
appreciated the effort, since the fare they had been eating for the last few days had been simple yet filling. Listening to Karlach and Lae'zel trade war stories over the campfire was
pleasant. Eirina sat quietly and watched her companions in the shadows cast by the fire.
Gale picked through a bowl of berries, alternating with bites of a sharp cheese that Eirina and Shadowheart both agreed needed wine to truly enjoy. He would sometimes interject his
own story when Karlach stopped to cool off. Lae'zel listened to each story, her muscles twitching as she seemed to recreate the battles and how she would respond. Her own stories
had everyone sitting quietly, since her tales came from the stars and until the mind flayers took them captive, none of them had ever dreamed of being on a spell jamming ship.
Shadowheart had disappeared into the small garden that the druids had said they had permission to use, returning with a large bowl of leafy greens and a couple of large carrots. No
one was sure where the oil had come from, but the soured wine and some berries on top had been a most delicious salad. Eirina had eaten more than one serving, being reminded of
the light summer dishes her parents had often served their guests.
Astarion sat next to Eirina, picking at his food and taking a few bites here and there. On the other side of her, Wyll sat quietly, looking into the flames. Erina wanted to say something,
but there was something about his expression that told her not to say anything. Astarion didn't have as much self control.
"You seem to be rather dour this evening, Wyll," Astarion put his plate down and leaned back on the log, looking behind Eirina at the other man. Wyll didn't look at Astarion, just
continue to look into the flames. He spoke after nearly a minute.
"There are going to be consequences for my actions," Wyll's voice was low and rough, "And I'm not looking forward to whatever hell is coming." Even as he spoke the words, a black
pit of flame erupted directly behind them. It wasn't lost on Eirina that both Astarion and Wyll moved to stand between her and the pit of flames as everyone leapt to their feet.
Two massive wings covered in a thick black ooze rose amongst the flames. Wyll groaned, stepping even further in front of Eirina. A tall, athletic woman accompanies the wings, the
dark liquid melting away to show four horns and an elaborate gold head piece.
"Not her," Karlach groaned. "Please tell me it's not her." Eirina looked over her should as Karlach and Lae'zel were both reaching for their weapons. The heat of the flame melting off
the devil in before her wafted towards her.
"Tsk, tsk, pet," the voice was seductive, suggestive, as the last vestiges of black ichor melted away and the tall, blue-skinned cambion, "So disappointing."
"You made a deal with HER?!" Karlach's question was tortured. And directed to Wyll. Wyll's face was blank, taking a stoic expression.
"Mizora," even trying to be neutral, Wyll's tone was short, clipped. The cambion stepped forward, reaching Wyll in a couple of steps. Astarion moved back, keeping his body between
Eirina and Wyll, shifting them to the side. Eirina grabbed the back of his shirt to stop him, her mismatched eyes meeting his red ones. Maintaining eye contact, she stepped around
him so she could get a good look at their uninvited guest.
"You had one task pet," Mizora clawed fingers extended forward and stroked down Wyll's cheek with enough force that the dark skin was broken, thin droplets of blood trailing down
Wyll's skin, "Clause Z, Subsection 13: Should the promised soul refuse obeyance or neglect duty, the pact-holder shall cast the promised in Avernus as a lemure." Her claws continued
to slide down his neck to the collar of his shirt, leaving a trail of blood and broken skin in her wake. "We better strip you down. A lemure can't really move in clothes."
The following was removed in accordance with the guidelines of this site. The full text can be found on Ao3.
Wyll doubled over in pain as flames raced over his whole body. Eirina hadn't moved. She was still staring directly at Wyll as he watched his features change. Horns curled out from
under his hair, the muscles beneath his skin shifting and reforming. He grew taller, wider, stronger. As the flames died down, a human man no longer stood before her, but a tiefling.
Zariel and Mizora had changed his species before their eyes.
"Next time, don't disappoint me," Mizora's smile faded as she spoke to Wyll, only to return when she looked at everyone else, "I've loosened his tongue a little if you want to know
more about the perks of his contract," She winked at Eirina, "Ta for now." As the circle reappeared beneath her, she continued to smile indulgently, watching Eirina the whole time. As
soon as the last vestiges of the teleport circle faded away, everyone in the camp let out a collective sigh.
Eirina dropped to her knees, her arms covering her chest, and she shook. Someone dropped a blanket over her, giving her an added warmth, but it did little to stop her from shaking.
Every nerve ending was on fire, and she had come close to begging Mizora for release. She had recited every prayer she could remember to Selune, trying to breathe through the
sensations still rippling through her body. Someone's hand tentatively touched her back, and she hissed in a breath.
"Don't. Touch. Me." She bit out each word. The hand retracted, and she slowly stumbled to her knees. Karlach was standing next to Wyll with Shadowheart, who was tending to Wyll's
wounds, a blanket wrapped around his hips.
"You didn't have to do that," Wyll was looking at Eirina, his words filled with emotions, "My contract with her allows her to humiliate me like that," he grimaced, "I have serviced her in
similar ways on more than one occasion." Whatever the pact with his patron was, Eirina had gotten a taste of what such a contract could entail.
"You need out of that contract," she said, standing on unsteady legs. Looking at the others, she pulled the blanket tighter around herself. Looking down, she saw Gale was already
using simple magic to repair her clothes. She waited for a few minutes and he held the pants and repaired shirt out to her. "Thank you." Eirina took the clothing, careful not to touch
Gale. "I'm going to go to the small waterfall on the edge of the grove," a bar of soap landed on top of her clothes, curiosity of Lae'zel. All Eirina could do was nod. She turned and
walked towards the cold pond and running water to wash the sensation of Mizora from her skin. She stopped when Astarion made to follow her.
"Please," her voice was low and coarse, "I need to be alone." No one followed her as she made her way to the waterfall, head held high and gait strong.