"Tricks?" she cried, offended. "Tricks and illusions are for petty street corner magicians. I am a High Sorceress."
"I'm impressed," Danica sneered.
"No...," Rebecca smiled again, now with malice burning in her dark eyes, "...You're doomed!"
Neither Danica nor Cat hesitated. They buried their swords deep in the sorceress's belly. To their horror, she never so much as flinched. Only laughed.
"Great Bandu Invincible!" Danica cried, jumping back. She gaped at Rebecca's belly, unscathed by their efforts. Shifting to mage sight, Danica gasped on seeing that the figure before them was nothing but swirling magicks, with no one underneath. "Watch out, Cat. It's a trap!"
Then ‘Rebecca’ lunged at them. They dived to the floor to escape her. The laughter continued, only now from a sitting area behind the door. Turning back to the magical simulation of the High Mage, Danica noticed her starting to fade away. Suddenly lamps flared, lighting the sitting area to the left of the door. Rebecca lounged there, tended by a beautiful brunette.
"You two are so entertaining," Rebecca said, stroking the cheek of her enslaved lover. "Don't you think so, Monique?"
"Yes, mistress."
Monique's tone of voice was hollow, emotionless.
Danica and Cat scramble to their feet, staring open-mouthed at the sorceress. The door slammed shut, no one near it. Both felt chills run down their backs.
"Now, Cat!" Danica cried, throwing herself at the laughing sorceress.
Neither had taken more than two steps before Rebecca's hand lifted delicately. She made an obscene gesture and spoke a Word of Power. Instantly both women were seized by unseeable forces and pulled against the wall. They were held motionless, spread-eagle against the stone as Rebecca, with Monique attending her, strolled leisurely over to inspect her catch.
"I fear, my dear adversaries, your sorry tale is coming to an end," she purred, looking so pleased with herself. "I can recall Puma Troop now and begin the gruesomely pleasurable task of questioning you. I think Dame Falen has some special plans for the two of you once I'm finished. Then come sunrise, I'll sacrifice you both to Dirusa, and damn your souls to an eternity of torment." Her eyes grew hard, the smile turning sinister. "Don't you just love happy endings?"
* * * * *
"Here's my charter," Maeve growled, handing the folded and crumpled sheet of parchment to the Votarian. "It specifically gives me leave to come and go as I see fit."
The White Sorority Votarian Guard Lieutenant scrutinized the paper under a lantern fixed to the gate. Her expression gave nothing away. The nine other Votarians seemed to be ignoring them, but Maeve could see the telltale signs of their keen interest. These women were professionals, and as close to fanatics as anyone within the Empire. For all practical purposes, the Divine Empress was their Goddess.
"Appears to be in order, Sorceress Maeve. You may enter," the Votarian said.
Maeve took on her most haughty demeanor, loath to allow these arrogant wretches to know they were troubling her in the slightest. Accepting her papers back, she carefully folded them and returned them to her saddlebags before easing her mount through the gate and onto the Imperial Palace grounds. Only after well beyond their sight and hearing did she allow herself a sigh of relief.
It was entirely possible for Rebecca to know she was no longer under the control of Dirusa's geas. Her own hasty investigation had indicated that there was a battle of sorts between Dirusa and possible two other Arisen Gods. Though she couldn't discover the results of that battle, she was able to determine it was the reason her geas was lifted or unraveled. She still didn't know if it was by Dirusa's choice or not.
Arriving at the Mage's Wing, Maeve hesitated. She was taking a terrible risk for Danica. Well, and the two Vikon witches she captured and sent here with Dame Falen. After passing through the outer gates and their protective wards, she had been able to locate the two witches in the waiting chamber next to Rebecca's laboratory. It would be easy to rescue them and leave, she had no doubt Danica would be coming tonight, either to rescue her friends, or as Dame Falen's prisoners.
What to do? Go for the sure thing and rescue the witches? Then hope she could make it back to cut off Danica's try at the palace? Or she could wait for Danica to arrive, and help her and Cat rescue the witches.
A low moan startled her out of her reverie. She quickly located two White Sorority Votarians in a flower bed.
"Danica," she muttered, starting to smile. "Beat me here, did you?"
Gods, how she admired her abilities. Apparently being turned into an elfmaid did nothing to diminish Danic's natural talents. What a team they could make, she and Danic. As it should be. As it would be, if not for her cousin Elsa and Danic's own wandering eye.
"It is his right," she said, shrugging. She was from the Tyrians, after all, where neither the men nor the women were known for their monogamist ways. "But it's my right to win his heart any way I can. And I will."
Then one of the Votarians let out a soulful groan, starting to stir. Maeve realized that the Votarians would set up the alarm, and endanger herself and Danica. With a simple gesture, she sent a bolt of arcane energy into first one, then the other guard. Neither would be waking for several hours now.
With that, Maeve hurried for Rebecca's laboratory. Nearing the laboratory door, she heard a chorus of harsh laughter coming from the waiting chamber. Knowing the two witches were within, she eased open the door and peered inside. The sight before her staggered her.
Puma Troop personnel were doing some of the most crude and brutal acts imaginable to the witches. Slipping inside, she closed the door with a sharp crack, gaining everyone's undivided attention.
"Mind if I join the party?" Maeve asked, blue eyes burning blackest anger. The fear and dread she saw creep into the Puma troopers' eyes gave her a warm feeling of satisfaction. With a Word of Power, she set her hands to burning with eldritch fire. "There is an old saying in the Tyrian Kingdoms…Turnabout is fair play."
Chapter 18
"My Gods, Rebecca, don't kill them!" Dame Falen cried, entering the laboratory. "You promised Danica to me."
Danica and Cat hung side by side from chains in the same spot they had questioned Helene. Their faces were soaked with tears and sweat, their bodies trembling from hellish, magically-induced abuse. The sleeves of their blouses were stained with blood trickling down from tortured wrists. Clothes and hair alike were plastered to sweat-soaked bodies. Their ankles bound tight, and then secured to rings in the floor, pulling their tortured bodies even more painfully tight.
"You can have what is left of them, when I'm finished," Rebecca said, giving her a withering look. Falen hesitated. "I've just finished my questioning, anyway." Caressing Danica's cheek, "They were virtual treasure troves of useful information. So eager to please, too."
"Then I can have them now?" Falen said eagerly.
"After I've had a little more fun," Rebecca said.
She gestured and an overstuffed chair appeared behind her. Sitting, she ordered Monique to fetch her some wine. She motioned for Falen to stand beside her.
"They are such good, devoted friends," Rebecca said. "You know, they were even more concerned with rescuing the two Vikon witches than Monique. I enjoyed describing and inflicting some of the torments we used on those two."
"There are a few things I'd like to show them," Falen growled, locking eyes with Danica. She caressed her inflamed cheek, with ugly, painful stitches keeping the ripped flesh closed. "And repay one injury tenfold."
"In time," Rebecca said, taking the offered glass of red wine from Monique. Monique knelt at her side, watching the sorceress obediently. "Danica here is racked with soul numbing guilt for what's happened to all her friends. She may seem defeated and docile, but inside she rages with a need for vengeance. Cat, on the other hand, has gone almost mad with fear and guilt."
Falen gave the bravo a quick look, noticing absently that she was back to her normal skin color of the darkest brown, almost black, bu
t she quickly forgot Cat, returning her attention to Danica. She needed to have the golden-haired elfmaid helplessly in her power more than ever now. She would make Danica beg, grovel piteously, for mercy. Danica would be stripped mercilessly of the last spreads of dignity, defiance, and beauty before she would finally finish with her. Falen wanted — Needed! — to break her spirit, and break her body. Only that would make up for the humiliation, pain, and mutilation.
"What are you going to do to them?" Dame Falen said.
Danica noticed a sadistic eagerness in the dark-haired Amazon's deep green eyes. She hadn't realized just how obsessed Dame Falen was, or what that meant to her own future. Being turned over to the mercenary captain hadn't been a fate she ever considered.
A tiny smile tugged at the corners of Rebecca's lips as she studied the silent interaction between her agent and Danica. Fear was again blossoming inside the elfmaid. A new fear, of brutal retribution and humiliation for past injuries and slights. Any delay would only go to stoke Falen's own frustrated need for revenge, and thus the brutality of that revenge. That same delay would allow Danica's fertile mind to dwell and ferment, driving her half mad with fear. Dirusa would surely approve of how she handled this, and overlook the fact she sacrificed the elfmaid instead of Maeve.
"Since they're such close friends, I've decided to have them cut each other to ribbons," she said. She watched with delight at the play of emotions on Falen's face. Before Falen could object, "Don't worry, my bloodthirsty minion, I won't let them kill each other."
"I'll never touch a hair on Cat's head," Danica declared weakly. "Nothing you do to me with change my mind, witch."
Rebecca bristled at being called a witch. Though Rebecca's reaction brought the bound and helpless Danica a measure of pleasure and satisfaction, she knew she'd be regretting it soon enough.
"Just like you would never betray you cohorts in Allaria," Rebecca said, stinging her sharply with the jab. After a little otherworldly persuasion, Danica, told her everything she wanted to know. "You will be just as helpless to defy me in this."
Danica couldn't suppress her groan of despair, bringing her captors no small pleasure. The thought of what she would be forced to do, what she'd been forced to reveal over the last two hours, brought tears of shame and self-loathing flowing again. It was the first time she'd ever broken under questioning; the first time magic was ever used to rip the truth from her. It had been as humiliating as it was painful. Now she would be forced to bring even more pain and degradation upon Cat.
"I've a better idea," Dame Falen offered. "Summon demons and such, to rape and brutalize them. Now that would be a show."
Rebecca paused to consider. Danica almost passed out at the thought of being raped, much less raped by demons. Cat roused then.
"Perverted whores!" she cried. "Neither of you has the mettle to meet us toe to toe! Craven cowards. Go ahead, let others, let demons, do your dirty work. You wouldn't want to get too close to us, we're dangerous."
Dame Falen, enraged, whipped out her sword and made to move towards them. Rebecca stopped her.
"You can have them later, Falen. Now it's my turn, and I want to see these two fearsome fighters, who scare timid little me so much, fight each other."
"We won't fight," Danica declared. "We're stronger than you think."
"That's what Monique thought, and she was a High Sorceress. Before I stripped her of all her powers, then enslaved her." Stroking the beautiful slave's silky soft, shimmering brown hair, "And look at her now. So docile and obedient. So eager to please my slightest desire."
Danica looked at the enslaved sorceress kneeling at Rebecca's side. She had a difficult time imagining the short and petite woman, with the long glossy chestnut hair pooling at her knees, as a powerful sorceress. She definitely had the look of a Silk Slave, deliciously trained in the arts of sexual pleasure, but not a haughty sorceress. Seeing her like this, Danica questioned the need for their quest. Monique may have been strong once, but she was now broken and stripped of her magic, useless to their cause. Useless to Talar's fight with Ayesha.
"Monique, go fetch two circlets," Rebecca said, turning back to her hanging prisoners.
As the slave scurried away to do her mistress's bidding, the High Mage muttered something and the bindings on their feet unraveled. Then with another Word of Power, the shackles snapped open. Danica and Cat fell in heaps, too weak to stand and defend themselves. Danica managed to work herself up onto hands and knees, glaring at her tormentors.
"Such defiance," Rebecca marveled. "I will use your own rage against you and each other."
"Never," Cat said hoarsely.
Monique returned with the whisper of bare feet on carpet, holding two bejeweled circlets similar to the one encircling her own brow. The two prisoners looked with dread on them as the sorceress took them from her. Turning to them, Rebecca cast a spell that forced them to raise up on their knees. They were held tightly in that position, unable to move.
"Time to prove you wrong," she said, stepping before them. Holding out the glittering circlets, "While waiting for you to come to me this afternoon, I enchanted these with a spell similar to a slave spell. Monique's circlet has a much more powerful slave spell, making her almost helpless to do anything without being told first. She won't even relieve herself unless told." She paused to let that sink in. "But I need you to have a little more self-control, so I whipped up these two circlets. I assure you, though, you will be quite helpless to fight their magic. You will do exactly as I order you."
Without further comment, Rebecca slipped one circlet over Cat's head. The large ruby affixed to it, and hanging down between her eyebrows, gave off a malicious glimmer as Cat's features relaxed. Her eyes became as blank as Monique's. Danica, watching her friend's transformation in horror, struggled to break loose of the magic holding her. Only Rebecca was too strong. The sorceress's dark eyes sparkled with evil glee as she set the other, sapphire studded, circlet upon Danica's brow.
All feelings — rage, fear, love, hope — evaporated immediately. Danica felt nothing, wanted nothing. Indeed, all she felt was a deep need to obey Rebecca.
"Now, pick up your swords and fight," Rebecca said, returning to her chair.
Danica and Cat stood up stiffly and walked over to the table holding their weapons. Picking them up, they turned on each other without a sound or thought, and began circling. Neither displayed any emotion.
"They're not experiencing any pain or humiliation," Dame Falen said. "How can this be considered torment?"
"They will remember everything they did to each other after I remove the circlets, and that will be soul-wrenching and humiliating," Rebecca said, only casually watching them. She was normally not one for bloodsports. "Once they slice each other up a bit, I'll let you have them." Falen perked up at that. "How are the two witches faring?"
"Fine. My troops are passing them around right now, taking what little pleasures their tortured bodies still have to offer. We'll begin their final torments once these two are on hand to witness it," she said, watching their first tentative probes of each other's defenses. Both seemed slow and sluggish. It wouldn't be much of a fight, so she turned her attention to admiring Danica's striking elven beauty. "Rebecca, I'd...appreciate it if you could at least keep Danica's face unmarred. I'd like that pleasure myself."
"Consider it done. Cat! Don't touch her face at all!"
Cat only nodded, never taking her eyes off Danica and the constantly moving sword seeking to pierce her defenses. Danica heard the order, not caring one way or the other. She only wanted to get past Cat's defenses, to cut her up badly. Just as her mistress wanted.
In a quick move, Danica slid her blade down Cat's blade in an attempt to shear off her fingers. Cat twisted her hand, and flicked her wrist in a way that pushed Danica's blade aside. The elfmaid's razor sharp sword whipped back in a blur of steel gray, slicing a thin red line across her belly. Cat never uttered a sound, though she felt the pain deep within. Instead, she trust for
her opponent's right knee. Danica nimbly danced aside, the thick leather of the thigh boot saving her from a deep cut and possibly being hamstrung.
"This is more boring than I had anticipated," Rebecca said at length. "I claim the big one's life, you can still have Danica." Falen started to object, but seeing the look in her mistress's eyes, kept silent. Rebecca turned back to the fighters. "Danica, kill Cat. Kill her fast and brutally. Cat, don't let her."
Danica didn't hesitate, driving into Cat with speed and agility the bravo couldn't match. Each thrust and cut came closer and closer to breaking through her weakening defenses as she backed slowly away. Danica was relentless, not giving her a chance to recover.
Cat, knowing she was about to die, but trying to stay alive per her orders, fought on while trying to figure a way out. Danica was just too good with a sword. Then without warning, she stumbled against a chair. Danica, seeing her chance, thrust for her heart. Cat seized the chair and flung it at the lunging fighter.
Danica was taken off guard, the chair smashing into the side of her head. Falling to her knees, Danica gasped in pain, watching in horror as Cat moved in with sword poised to strike. Suddenly, she realized she was master of her own mind and body. The circlet was on the floor beside her.
"I'm free!" Danica cried, rolling aside and up to her feet as Cat lunged. She turned on Rebecca, who came to her feet.
"Cat, kill Danica! Kill her now!"
Danica leapt at Cat, kicking her hard in the hip. Cat staggered and fell to one knee. Then rose again, presenting her blade. Danica slapped it aside with her own, then darted inside the bravo's defense and tried to slap the circlet off. Cat ducked, and deftly scrambled away. Danica cursed under her breath, desperate for a way to save Cat and keep Falen and Rebecca at bay. She noticed Dame Falen had her sword out and ready. Only Rebecca kept her from attacking. Cat was beginning to stalk her.
Danica suddenly spun and threw her sword at Rebecca. Everyone was taken by surprise, especially Rebecca. The sorceress froze, but Dame Falen leapt forward swinging her sword. She caught the thrown sword with a grazing blow, deflecting it just enough to save Rebecca's life, but the hilt slammed into the High Mage's forehead. Rebecca fell with a tiny cry, stunned. Danica turned to look at Cat, hoping the spell would be broken, only to find her still stalking forward.
Into Lands Forbidden (The Elfmaid Trilogy Book 2) Page 27