Dungeon Master 8

by Eric Vall

  “I love it when you cum inside me, Master,” Annalise whispered as she pressed a kiss to my neck. “Especially now knowing that I’ll finally be able to carry your child. It makes me feel special like I was chosen to be your wife and mother of your future children.”

  “You are special, Annalise,” I confirmed as I stroked her hair and looked into the dying embers of the fire. “I chose you and your sisters for this exact reason. I am your Master, and I love you, but you are also the tools I will use to build the new world.”

  “Anything for you, Master,” Annalise nodded as she laid her head on my chest and rested a hand against her bare belly. “And our future children.”

  Chapter Four

  I awoke before the sun rose and sat up into a sitting position. Annalise lay next to me, cuddled up to my side, and I smiled down at her. I stroked her soft cheek, and my fingers wandered to her loose chocolate brown locks. In one swift movement, I rose to my feet and began to dress myself in my holy armor. I kept an eye on the sleeping high queen, but she didn’t shift or stir from her curled position. I took these few moments to look upon her in the quiet darkness right before dawn.

  Both Annalise and Rana carried my holy children within their bellies, and soon, I would place my seed within my other three original minions and Heijing. Emotion built in my throat, and I swallowed hard as I turned away from the sleeping swordswoman. For all those years while trapped in my dungeon, I’d never dreamed that I would have five women who loved me so openly, without fear or reservations. That was the only qualm I held in my heart against Isolda. The frightened witch always worried about being judged for falling in love with me and the struggles we would face if we were found out.

  I’d learned the terrible truth about what happened to her after I was cast from the heavens, but all of that was in the past. She’d forgiven me and watched over me even now, which gave me strength. I’d never see her again unless Heijing opened up the portal between our world and the spirit world again, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to do that for me. Isolda was long gone, she’d moved on after I was cast away from her and made a life for herself, enough to leave a descendant for me to find. I couldn’t fault her for that, she was a mortal, her time on earth was limited, and I understood that, but I only wished that it had been with me.

  I moved through the still sleeping camp while I thought to myself about my life from before. When I glanced up at the sky, I saw nothing but dark clouds against the pitch-black background. It wasn’t cold out, but a wind whipped around me and sent a chill up my spine. I passed by Amos and Adam’s tent and heard their loud snoring from inside, and I chuckled deeply in the back of my throat. I made my way toward the beat of god’s power and stepped past the four gods’ camp. A long hammock was strung between two tents, and soft mutterings came from inside the cocoon of blankets.

  I could decipher the words, but from the tangled grey hair sticking out of the blankets, I knew it had to be Ruituri. Though her powers were inherited from Nergal, the goddess barely resembled her father at all. Without all of the rotted flesh, rolling feral eyes and intense personality, I would’ve considered the goddess quite pretty in her own way. She was wild and untamable, like a mad dog with a broken leash.

  I moved past her hammock and glanced over at the three tents that I assumed were Bellum’s, Domor’s, and my older brother, Malsumis’. I stood there for a second and stared at Malsumis’ tent, I hoped in the future that we would grow closer, and he would be a trusted ally to me, he already had been, and I hoped that he would stay by my side for the rest of time. Malsumis, though I had only known him for a short time, was more of a brother to me than Otia and the others had been, and I thanked him for it.

  I neared the fortress wall, and a spark of color caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I turned and caught a full view of Heijing as she leaned her head back and took in all of the massive fortifications. My boots crunched against the loose stones at my feet, and her head slowly turned to greet me. Heijing didn’t smile, but her eyes narrowed and sharpened on my face as I strode closer. I came to stand directly next to her and leaned my head back with her as I moved my eyes over the fortress.

  I had so many questions for her, especially one in particular. The Qianlong seemed to be omniscient, or at least, smart enough to catch onto things I hadn’t breathed a word to her about. The dragon knew that I needed to impregnate my minions before we entered into the heavens without me telling her, and I wanted to know how she learned these things. She’d told me while at the Qianlong breeding grounds that she could listen to the thoughts of my minions but she hadn’t said she could also hear mine. I turned to her and gazed down at her moonlit silhouette.

  Her icy blue eyes met mine in the darkness around us, and I felt the ageless connection between us that I’d so desperately tried to suppress. She felt it too, but it was only natural to her just as it was with my other minions. I was a god, I was unbelievably handsome with limitless powers at my fingertips, there was no way that a mortal woman could resist me. But with Heijing, it seemed a bit different from the others, except for Haruhi.

  I’d been drawn to the sage because she knew who I was, understood what I’d done in my past life and loved me despite all of it. The librarian had accepted me into her life wholeheartedly, without a second thought, and I was thankful to her for it. Haruhi opened her heart and arms to me without reservations as did all of my minions, and I was glad to have her as a part of my family.

  In a way, Haruhi and Heijing were similar, they both knew who I was in and out of the heavens. They’d heard the stories and legends of my past life during their childhoods, and I wouldn’t say I felt closer to them, but there was a better understanding between us. They knew me when my original four women didn’t, and it was easier to talk with them about my life in the heavens.

  I knew the time was coming when I needed to tell Rana, Carmedy, and Annalise, and it was fast approaching. I didn’t know how they’d react, especially since two of them already held my children within their bellies. I hoped they would accept me the way that Morrigan had and that they wouldn’t hold animosity toward me in their hearts for not telling them after all this time.

  I gazed down at Heijing for a moment and involuntarily, my hand slowly raised and stroked her small cheek. The Qianlong leaned into my touch as her eyes fluttered closed, and warmth beat in my chest. I held an affinity with the dragon. She understood the rage that I held within my heart toward the heavens. She felt the very same anger because the gods had taken her family and people away from her in a split second. She was more than a mortal, she was a heavenly being like I was, and just as Isolda said a holy guide.

  “Heijing, there is something I must ask you,” I stated as my thumb stroked her soft cheek. “It’s something that’s been bothering me for some time now, and I must know.”

  The Qianlong turned and faced me fully as her sharp eyes met mine. It was almost like she could read my mind as a sly smile slid across her lips. Her tiny hand found mine, and she gave it a tender squeeze.

  “Then ask,” Heijing stated as she tilted her head at me curiously and her cerulean hair shifted around her shoulders. “I am at your mercy, Kazama, if you ask for something then I will give it to you no matter what it is, so please, ask away.”

  “How did you know, both times, that I would impregnate Rana and Annalise?” I questioned in a deep, rumbling voice and Heijing raised a single, blue eyebrow in question.

  “You and I are both the same, Kazama,” Heijing murmured as her hand dropped from mine, and she stared into my face. “We are not mortals, we both are more carnal than anything. Our needs are straight forward; we desire nothing more than to eat, sleep, conquer, and procreate. It is a cycle, a complete circle that you go through from what I noticed. I may not have been around for very long, but I have seen that you feel the need to fill up one of your minions with your…love. Your appetite for them has become more ravenous, and I know it’s because of the impending war against the
gods. Your women, though I offered up my help transporting them, cannot reach the heavens because they are mortal. Your plan is quite obvious to me, I can reach the heavens because I am of their world, but by implanting a god within them, you are giving your women a gift.”

  “I see, you’ve been paying close attention to not only my women but my habits as well.” I chuckled softly as my hand left her cheek and moved to stroke her hair. “And what kind of gift have I given them?”

  “I’m unsure if you noticed the change within them, it hasn’t appeared in Annalise yet,” the Qianlong whispered as she looked intently into my eyes. “But once you’ve placed a child within them, your power is imprinted into them permanently. Your minions will be gods alongside you and your offspring.”

  “Ahh,” I said even though I had seen it out on the battlefield yesterday as Rana phased in and out of view while she fought.

  “Do you see now, Kazama?” the Qianlong questioned. “You’ve given them the gift of everlasting life and the ability to wield their own powers, tailored to their special skills. When your children are born, they will not be demi-gods but instead, fully blooded.”

  It was something I’d dreamed about for a long time, my minions living until the end of time by my side. They were mortals, and that came with an expiration date as it did with all living things, but with this solution, I’d have them with me for the rest of my life. It was an added blessing, my minions could enter the heavens, and once we’d won, they would give birth to my godly children and live on until long after the earth itself has ended.

  I squared my shoulders and looked down into Heijing’s small, round face. The Qianlong didn’t hold the infinite knowledge that Haruhi did, but the dragon was wise beyond her years. I was proud to call her an ally, but it was more than that. There was a connection between the Qianlong and I that I could only describe as electric, similar to the bonds I held with my minions. I’d already set my heart on making her mine and each time I spoke with her privately, the time drew nearer.

  “This life has been a gift that I never expected to receive,” I told her as I turned and looked out over the enormous mass of my soldiers’ tents. “I was a bastard son to two powerful gods in the heavens; I was thrown out merely because I fell in love with a mortal and banished to the depths of a dungeon where I thought I’d spend the rest of my days. My women found me by chance and helped me escape. As we destroyed other dungeons, placed countries under my control and acquired more power, we found Haruhi.”

  Heijing went silent, her eyes falling from my face sadly as she looked out over the city of tents. In the distance, I could make out the enormous shapes of the cannons the gods gave me, and I imagined the damage they’d do to the wall behind us in a few hours. I breathed in deeply and took in the dewy air that lasted for a few minutes right before dawn. Soon, I’d have my regents wake their troops and begin the attack against the Holy Order. There would be no mercy for the mages, and I would personally rip their hearts out of their chests with my bare hands.

  When I glanced over at Heijing, I saw that she had a pensive expression on her stunning face, and her thoughts were clear as day. My words slightly hurt her, I said I was thankful for my women, and yet, I said nothing about when she’d already helped me immensely. Tenderly, I lay one of my hands on her thin shoulder and brought the Qianlong to my side.

  “And then we found you,” I whispered into her ear, and Heijing immediately flushed red and shied away from me, but I held her tightly in place at my side. “I cannot imagine fighting this battle without you, my dear.”

  “I am honored to be here, honored to call you my Master.” The Qianlong whispered as she looked up into my face.

  I gazed into her sharp eyes that always bit into me and decided. I gripped Heijing by the shoulders, and the Qianlong gasped softly as she looked up into my face with wide eyes. I didn’t hesitate for a second as I cupped the back of her head in my palm and bent down. Her lips met mine, and we came together as I pulled my arms tightly around the petite woman. Heijing’s arms wrapped around my neck as she pulled me closer and deepened the kiss. Something came over the dragon as we kissed, and she went into a frenzy, her lips moved hungrily against mine, and I held her to my chest.

  When we finally pulled away from each other, the sun began to rise and bathed her ethereal face in beams of golden hues. I felt my heart swell just looking at her, and I ran a finger through her cerulean hair, knowing that at this moment, without even speaking, Heijing became my sixth minion. Heijing’s heart was mine, I held it tightly in my grasp, and I would never give it back.

  I didn’t have time to speak as a loud, excited cry came from the left of us that could only have come from Carmedy, and Heijing pushed away from me embarrassed. All five of my minions stepped out of the shadows with different expressions of excitement. The alchemist rushed forward and wrapped her arms around the Qianlong. Heijing allowed the feline to hug her as the dragon flushed even redder and attempted to hide her face.

  “We knew it was coming!” Annalise laughed in her raspy voice as she stroked her chocolate brown braid. “We just couldn’t predict when.”

  “I predicted it from the start, and all of you doubted me,” Morrigan said as she dropped her usual aloof persona and let out a little smugness.

  “I didn’t doubt it for a second,” The petite alchemist giggled as she hugged Heijing a little tighter.

  “Well, Scaly,” Rana grinned as she trotted over and placed a paw on the Qianlong’s shoulder. “You’re officially part of the family, how do you feel?”

  Heijing looked nervously around the group of women, and finally, her icy blue eyes met mine. I smiled to her and nodded my head for her to speak, but her cheeks flushed even redder as she attempted to untangle her limbs from Carmedy.

  “She’s not officially one of the minions until she and Master make ghost noises together!” Carmedy giggled, and Heijing’s eyes widened in horror, not understanding what the alchemist meant.

  “Sh, sh, sh,” Rana commanded as she waved a paw in Carmedy’s face. “For one, that’s my joke! Secondly, those ghost noises are private between Master and Scaly!”

  “What does ‘ghost noises’ mean…” Heijing asked as she lifted her eyes to me, but Haruhi stepped in.

  “You’ll find out on your own,” the sage grinned then lifted her eyebrows at Rana. “And someone will bring it up and embarrass you in front of everyone.”

  “It’s not embarrassing!” the redhead cried as she threw her paws into the air. “We all do it! It’s natural!”

  “Also, she’s not doing it to make fun of you,” Carmedy clarified as she stepped forward. “She’s doing it to tease me after I made a mistake…a long time ago that someone never seems to forget!”

  “It’s gold, Carmedy, comedic gold!” the fox giggled as she wrapped her arms around the feline and Carmedy shook her head as she joined in with a chuckle.

  I could tell from the uncomfortable look on Heijing that she was ready for, whatever this conversation was about, to be over. Thankfully, most of the encampment started to wake and exit their tents just at the right time. I placed a single hand on the dragon’s shoulders and pulled her away from my minions.

  “That’s enough for now, ladies,” I told them, and they nodded as they quickly closed their mouths. “Prepare for today’s battle.”

  Heijing gave me a relieved expression as I pulled her through the bustling crowd of soldiers toward the area where we kept the other dragons for the night. Right as we were about to reach them, the Qianlong stopped and pulled away from the two transformed lizards. I gazed down at her as I furrowed my brows, and Heijing opened her mouth to speak.

  “I want to help you,” The Qianlong uttered, and I looked at her with confusion.

  “Of course, you do,” I stated as I reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “What is the matter?”

  “The enchantments are stronger, stronger than I think any of you expected,” Heijing told me as she turned her head and looked b
ack toward the fortress. “You and Morrigan can do some real damage to it, but I am unsure if you’ll be able to bring it down in one go. That is why I was out there earlier, I wanted to test it for myself.”

  “You doubt Morrigan and I’s power?” I asked as I smirked down at her, but the tiny Qianlong shook her head.

  “No, that’s not what I meant at all,” Heijing shook her head vehemently. “I only wish to help, if there is another person there helping you, then you have better chances of bringing the wall down quicker than if it were just the two of you.”

  I thought for a moment and looked into Heijing’s desperate eyes. The Qianlong wanted badly to stand beside Morrigan and me and help bring down the Holy Order’s wall. I hooked a finger under her chin and lifted her face to me as I looked deeper into her icy blue eyes then nodded once.

  “Then so be it,” I stated in a deep booming voice.

  My armies assembled behind us as the four gods brought the four cannons forward. High above us, I could see a few faces of the mages peeking over the edge of the wall. I knew they meant to attack Heijing, Morrigan, and I as soon as we began taking down the enchantments but sadly for them, my men on the ground outnumbered them. I could feel the beating hearts of men on the other side of the wall, they were well-prepared if we managed to bring the wall down, but they were sorely mistaken if they thought a few extra mages would do anything against us.

  Behind us, Bellum, Domor, Malsumis, and Ruituri worked with more of my troops as they loaded the cannons. I gave them strict instructions not to fire until the enchantments were down and I could tell from the nervous tittering coming from Ruituri that the goddess didn’t want to wait to attack.