by Riker Kane
“The power you have taken from me… A minor concession for allowing me to rest and strengthen myself. Now I will use this power to destroy you.” He turned toward Cellica as she tried to get to her feet.
“Never!” Vull barked as he popped up and charged with his axe.
“Foolish.” The Herald raised his hand and used another blue barrier to knock back the big man’s swing.
Another blue barrier. Another damn blue barrier.
“Wait a second…” I muttered to myself. “Is he…” I fired a Radiant Beam at the Herald and he absorbed it effortlessly with a black barrier. “He’s blocking the elements with the opposite. All I have to do is…” As soon as it hit me, I started barking out orders.
“Lyra! Ice arrows! Zafina! More flames! Rhiannon, wait for your opening!” The ladies got up to their feet without the Herald noticing because he was too busy focusing on Cellica.
“This better work,” I muttered to myself. I summoned my Light Clone by my side and it immediately fired a Radiant Beam. “Now!”
The Herald blocked my clone’s beam with a black barrier as Zafina and Lyra fired. Zafina’s fireball got through the barrier though, igniting his robes. Lyra’s ice arrow pierced him in his side. I fired a Rock Burst that caught him on his legs.
“No!” The Herald spun around and aimed at me.
I sent a Stone Golem charging back at him. But he couldn’t raise the right barrier in time and got cracked right in the center of his chest. He went sailing to the side of the room and crashed hard against it.
“Ahhhh!” Rhiannon didn’t waste a second as she streaked at her vulnerable target.
“Zafina!” I looked toward the Mana Seer and she nodded. We both aimed our weapons at Rhiannon, who caught the attacks with her dagger to turn it into a Divine Blade pulsing with white energy. With a swift stab, Rhiannon plunged it right into the Herald’s face.
“Ungh!” The Herald grunted in pain as it tried to break free. But Rhiannon kept twisting her blade, digging it so deep that black blood sprayed in every direction. He finally managed to knock her back with an energy blast but immediately fell on all fours. All of the damage he’d taken was enough to leave him nearly motionless. His blood dripped like a broken faucet over the stone tiles around us.
Queen Cellica walked before him and looked down her nose at him. Vull moved by her side, ready with his axe.
“Detain him,” she said. “Put him back in stasis.”
“What?” I exclaimed. “You can’t be serious. Leaving him alive will only give him a chance to recover.”
“I will not allow him to recover. I will make him suffer like all of my people have. He will spend the rest of his existence on the verge of death.”
“You can’t do that. Cellica…” I was pleading with her at this point. If it wasn’t the Herald, someone or something was influencing her so much she couldn’t see reason.
The Herald slowly turned his head up. His pale face was blackened with streaks of his dark blood all over his cheeks, some of it getting into his eyes and teeth. Despite how much damage Rhiannon’s blade had done, he smiled a bloody smile.
“Yes, I see it in you,” he said. “The same as the people on Earth. Your lust for power. You cannot kill me. Not when you can continue to draw strength from me. Do it.”
“You’re doing what he wants,” I said. “If you don’t kill him, I’ll do it myself—”
“No!” Queen Cellica commanded. “I…” She closed her eyes and sighed deeply through her nose. “My… My mind is… My mind is my own…” She gritted her teeth as she stared at Vull. “Execute him.”
Without waiting, the big man brought his axe over his head then buried it into the Herald’s skull. The Herald slumped to the ground in a pool of blood before turning into a pile of Mana orbs.
“Ungh…” Cellica groaned as she collapsed to the ground.
“My queen!” Vull fell to his knees and cupped her in his arms.
Zafina rushed up and cast a healing spell over her. Though Cellica’s eyes were closed, she seemed to be breathing softly.
“Is she okay?” Lyra asked, an eyebrow raised.
I listened closely and noticed the fighting outside had stopped. “I think she’ll be fine,” I sighed.
18: Disillusions
The Nobles stayed up through the night to begin the reconstruction of their town. The burning fires were put out, though the aroma of ash and cinders would linger for several days. The rubble from the buildings was carried away, though time would be needed to repair the damage. Every orb of Mana was collected and every trace of a Shadow was removed, though the memory of the attack would stay clear in everybody’s head. The injuries were many but the casualties were few. Despite all of the ‘thoughs’ they had to deal with, the people of Euphoria were more relieved than anything else to see that it was over.
I stood near the castle with Lyra, Rhiannon, and Zafina. The Mana Seer healed a man still recovering from his wounds. He thanked her with a bow of his head before assisting others who were moving a chunk of stone that had been broken off the castle.
As I surveyed the damage, I felt someone standing just behind me. Vull’s presence was hard not to notice, even when you weren’t looking at him.
“Queen Cellica will speak to you now in her chambers,” he said with his stern voice, though he wasn’t trying to be as intimidating as he was before.
“We will help the others,” Rhiannon said.
As the ladies got to work, I headed into the castle with Vull. He accompanied me up a spiral stone staircase and to a set of ornate silver doors. He pushed them open and inside, I saw Cellica’s lavish quarters. The space was as big as any quarters I’d seen in Iorus. There was a dresser made from silver off to one side. Next to it, a rack held several elaborate gowns for her to choose from. A long mirror next to it gave her a chance to look over herself, like any woman wanting to look her best back home.
Bearskin and wolfskin rugs lined the floors, soft underneath my feet even though I was in my boots. The place was comfortable enough but it was even more inviting because of the perfume in the air. It was subtle and not overpowering, like standing in a rose garden.
Queen Cellica stood next to an open balcony where I could see the clouds and mountains down below.
“That will be all,” she said to Vull. “You may excuse us.”
The big man bowed his head and closed the door behind him. I dug my cane into the soft fur and walked next to Cellica to get a better look at the view.
“It’s even better than I expected,” I said. “I can see the plains. I can see the forest in the south. I can see Haven. I can see…” The ominous fortress in the distance was barely visible. But the dark aura coming from it permeated through the clouds enough for it to stick out. It was another reminder of what was more important than anything else.
“You can see it,” I said. “It’s right there in front of you…”
Cellica turned to me and put her hands on my cheeks. Without warning, she leaned close and kissed me. It wasn’t a soft kiss either. It was rough and forceful, her tongue probing my lips open as if she wanted to examine my teeth. The sweet scent of her perfume and her soft hands caressing my face made it more enjoyable. I didn’t protest, though I was a bit confused.
She pulled away from me with a focused stare. Her eyes were blue like I remembered but they no longer shimmered as they did before.
“Are you sure you’re thinking straight?” I asked.
“I assure you, my mind is clearer than it has been in ages.” She put her lips back on mine, whispering as she kissed me again. “I am no longer under the influence of another. My desires are my own. And right now, I desire you, Euphoria’s savior.”
Cellica moved away again and walked over to her dresser. She placed her silver tiara down then turned back around toward me. Her eyes locked on mine, she reached behind her back. With one swift motion, the tight fabric of her silken white dress loosened on her body, wrinkling until falling of
f completely around her ankles. She had nothing on underneath, giving me a chance to admire her fully.
She was as slim as I expected. Her breasts weren’t as large as Rhiannon’s or Zafina’s, though they had a youthfulness that made them round with little sag. Pale skin covered her from her head, down her flat stomach, all the way down her long legs. I looked between her smooth legs and saw her mound was just as smooth. There was just a hint of a line of pink, wetness shimmering enough for me to notice.
She stepped toward me, not moving her gaze away. “I may be the Queen of the Nobles but I have desires as any other woman. They have not been fulfilled in a long time.”
“Hmm…” I put my hands on my hips and shrugged. “And I suppose you want me to find someone to help you with that. Because I know a guy…”
“Hmph.” The corner of her lips turned into a smirk. “Even at a time like this, you find a time to joke.”
“I can’t help myself.”
“Neither can I.” She moved closer and raised my tunic over my head. My pants followed and I was just as naked as her, my length throbbing and pointed right at her.
“Come…” She took her hand in mine and led me over to the bed. I watched her crawl onto it before moving onto her back and spreading her legs. I crawled on top of her but two hard hands on my shoulders forced me down on my knees on the edge of the bed. “I am a queen. Even you, Ultima, will treat me as such.”
The aroma from between her legs was as sweet as the rest of her. I didn’t protest, moving my mouth forward and meeting her folds with my tongue.
“Ahh…” A deep gasp escaped her as I licked up and down her sensitive area. Her slit wet with more of her sweet taste, making it even easier for me to lap her up. Something about doing this to her made me so eager that I lost myself. My hands moved up and gripped her thighs, forcing her legs even wider so I could dig in even more.
Cellica’s gasps turned into throaty moans. Her skin was wet with sweat under my touch. I gripped her firmer as she began to writhe uncontrollably.
Her moans grew louder and louder until suddenly she cried out with a scream. Her groan eventually became too big to get out of her throat. There was only her shuddering to signal how much pleasure she was experiencing. I held onto her as she came, digging my tongue into her folds to taste the sweetness spilling out.
As she collapsed back onto the bed, I crawled on top of her to take my position. Now she was more than willing to please me. Her eyes flickered open and closed as I plunged into her.
Back home, I’d been with enough women that I lost count. Instagram models and wanna-be celebrities. Fashion designers and failed actresses. Rich CEOs who liked to push people around. Ordinary women I’d run into at the clubs in the North Side. But I’d never been with a queen before.
I wasn’t thinking about anybody else except for Cellica at the moment. I wasn’t thinking about her as a queen either. She was just a blond wrapping her legs around me, pulling me even deeper.
I pressed my hands on her wrists and pinned them at her sides as I drove myself into her. I pumped hard and fast, trying to drill her right into the soft mattress. The echoes of our bodies slapping together were unmistakable. I wondered if the rest of Euphoria could hear us through the open window. A part of me wanted them to know I was taking their queen.
But my thoughts emptied as my desire grew stronger. There was nothing more I wanted than to reach my end—to enjoy the woman wrapping herself tight around me.
“Virgil…” she spoke with a hard voice. Her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched as she began moving her hips back in the same rhythm as me. “Give me what you have inside of you. Give me the strength I sense.”
I gritted my teeth and pumped even harder, digging into her as much as I could. My hips were a blur as I slammed my body into her. All of the pleasure ramped up inside my body, gathering until I couldn’t hold back.
“Say my name.” She forcefully freed her wrists from my grip and grabbed the sides of my head. “Say my name!”
Overcome by my lust, I let go. “Cellica…”
“Say it…”
“Cellica…”
“Say it as you come.”
“Cellica…”
One last word was all I got out. My grunt stuck in my throat as I lost myself. My length throbbed hard inside of her, spilling every drop of my seed I’d been holding back. Her wetness wrapped tight around me as if she wanted to pull even more out of me. I held on for as long as I could, trying to give us both what we wanted.
But even Ultima had his limits. My desire left me and I collapsed on top of her, completely spent. We stayed against each other—sweaty, breathing hard, heart racing.
I’d never been with a queen before. I was glad I fixed that.
~ ~ ~
Cellica wrapped herself in a white robe that covered her body except for her cleavage. Even after she’d been satisfied, she still looked like she was trying to seduce me. But I knew that wasn’t the case. The look on her face as she stared out her balcony window was one more somber.
I walked next to her to enjoy the view. It was a lot nicer after both of us had satisfied one another.
“That was fun.” I smiled at her but she didn’t return it.
“My mind is heavy. I needed something to clear it. I apologize for being so… forward.”
“I wish more women were like you and not ashamed to admit what they wanted. You should see some of the women back home and the games they play…”
Cellica stood there, eyes unblinking. It was obvious she didn’t care what was out there because something was on her mind.
“When the other world attacked us on Qashia, I thought it was a dream. So many of those ‘Heralds’ came. And they summoned beasts as large as our buildings. There were thousands of us and we fought back. I did not think they would be able to withstand our defenses but they crushed us as if we were insects. We never had a chance.
“When we fled here to Iorus, the memory of what happened remained as fresh as the moment it happened.”
“It’s hard to forget something like that,” I sighed. “I can’t imagine what it’s like. To lose so many people… To lose an entire world.”
“I was not sad. I was not confused. More than anything, I was angry. I was frustrated. I have seen the greatest Mana wielders of our world not able to put up a fight. It hurt me to my core. It hurt my pride. If they could not win, then what chance did I have. I wanted vengeance. So… I took those who shared the same strong will as me and founded a new city.”
“Is that why you kept that Herald captive?”
She sighed softly and nodded. “I knew it would only provide me a modicum of comfort. But I would rather have that than nothing at all. As we drew power from the Herald, we were able to strengthen Euphoria. We mined resources at a faster rate. We reinforced our structures. My guards could go on hunts to fight Shadows and collect even more Mana. The Herald’s power would be the one who would help us avenge those we lost.
“But something happened. I remember one night I had a nightmare. I brushed it off but it happened again. By the time I realized his presence was growing stronger, it was too late. I thought I was the one drawing energy from him but he was merely biding his time.”
Her head dropped as she stared at the ground. “I failed my people. And now we have suffered casualties and we must rebuild Euphoria.”
“You might’ve made a mistake but that doesn’t mean you can’t recover. Euphoria will be back, just like you said.”
She turned her head back up and smiled softly at me. The hardened queen I knew was gone though I could still sense the pride coming from her. “You are different. You speak with unrivaled optimism.”
“No point in getting down about anything.”
“Though your advice is obvious, it is much needed. I thank you, Virgil. I will remain the beacon my people have always looked to.” She walked over to her drawer and pulled it open. She grabbed something and held it out. The blue light coming f
rom the jewel in her palm was bright but not enough to block out what I knew it was.
“A Mana Core,” I said.
“We synthesize the Mana we drew from the Herald. This in particular is noticeably stronger—from one of our latest extractions. I know you will put it to good use.”
I nodded and took it from her. “Thank you.”
“I will grant you access to the resources in the mountains. As soon as possible, I will have my men begin gathering the ore from the caverns.”
I sighed a breath of relief, remembering why I’d come all this way in the first place.
“There is something else I think you might find interesting,” she said.
“Still more, huh?”
“There is a podium at the center of town. On it rests a clear orb. We did not know what purpose it served though I imagine you might have some use for it.”
“…It sounds like a Mana Point. It allows travel here directly without draining endurance.”
“As I expected.” She walked closer to me and put a hand on my cheek. She kissed me deeply, letting her tongue linger on mine before gently pulling away. “There is a great battle ahead. We are from different worlds but we will fight against the darkness together.”
The determination in her eyes was palpable. I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah… We will.”
19: Loss And Recovery
We returned to Haven in the afternoon, exhausted, worn-down, and wanting nothing more than to lay our heads. After a few hours of rest, I woke up with the sun still near its apex. I had a full day ahead of me but I wanted nothing more than to take a break from all of the drama and fighting.
Joris listened to the details of what happened and nodded in approval. “You have been on quite a journey. I would recommend you take this opportunity to rest. I can see the fatigue clear on your face.”
“That obvious, huh?” I sighed.
“The Nobles will need some time to gather the resources. There is no need to rush back out there so quickly.”