by Eden Redd
“Over my dead…” Rayce’s eyes widened and looked down.
A sickening horror filled the chamber as Rayce saw the tips of claws sticking out of his shoulder. Wetness bloomed and dark crimson spurted along the tips. Trying to move, he couldn’t.
Lota and Lucian watched as a succubus stood behind him, white foam spilling from her mouth and evil intent etched in her brow, eyes and sinister smile.
“Fuck…” Rayce whispered before he was lifted up and thrown.
The mad succubus let out shrill cry before launching forward, blood covering one hand and part of her forearm. Rayce crashed into a wall and slid down, a trail of blood streaking across the stonework.
Lota readied for the incoming demoness when Lucian shouted a word of power.
You cast Unseen Force! Mana: 145/250
The succubus’s body turned sideways and changed direction in midair. The demon’s face crashed into a cabinet, splintering wood and shattering it. Falling to her feet, she turned around with cuts across her face before launching again.
Lota stepped into the advancing demoness, mace swinging. The end struck her stomach, bending her in half before Lota pulled it back and brought it down on the back of her head. A loud crunch filled the space, but the succubus turned her body, side stepped and slashed across with foot long claws. Lota parried and maneuvered to get another strike in. The skeletons and zombies attacked, not the paladin, but the mad succubus.
The starving creature screeched as she swiped her claws at a skeleton’s head and shattered it. The other zombie and skeleton grabbed the flailing succubus for a breath before both were knocked back.
Lucian saw the undead trying to stop the insane succubus and knew this was not part of the game. Lota stepped in, mace swinging. The succubus dodged each strike in frenetic blurs. Lota growled as she pushed her attack, missing with each swing.
You cast Lightning Bolt! Mana: 115/250
Lightning sparked and curled along Lucian’s hand before he pointed it. Lota leaned into her attacks until a clawed foot shot up, striking her chin. The paladin stumbled back and lightning filled the room.
Lucian aimed and released the magical energy. A bolt of lightning streaked across the small space. The succubus screamed before her voice went silent. Flesh smoked as part of her throat was blasted away. Head flopping to the side, the pathetic demon made a strange gurgling noise as it tried to walk. Balance gone, it spun and crashed on the leather couch. Blood spurted and ran down the black leather. The succubus shuddered before she became still. Eyes turned glassy and exhaled her last breath.
Lota rubbed her jaw, gaze on the dead succubus. Lucian turned his attention to Rayce. The shadowmancer was sitting up against the wall, the mimic at his side and pressing on his wound. Blood soaked into his clothes and his eyes blinked slowly.
“Rayce!” Lota said as she turned her attention to the fallen shadowmancer.
Rushing to him, the paladin stopped short as Rayce lifted his sword and aimed at her chest.
“Stay away…from us,” Rayce coughed.
Roxxy was close, black fingers trying to stop the flow of blood. Lota stared in disbelief, the shadowmancer giving her a grim, serious stare.
Lucian opened his satchel and pulled out two healing potions. Stepping to Rayce, the shadowmancer let his sword arm drop, a small clatter filling the room. Lucian pulled the corks and put one to Rayce’s lips. Rayce drank deeply until the potion bottle was empty. Another was pressed to his lips and he drank.
The wound along his shoulder glowed before it pressed together and began to heal. Lucian watched, knowing the potions would stop the bleeding and knit back bone and muscle, but it was not instantaneous. A wound of that kind could take hours to a day before he was at fighting strength again.
“How do you feel,” Lucian asked.
Rayce coughed up blood and licked it from his lower lip. “Claws went through me. I’ve never been wounded like that before.”
The shadowmancer grunted in pain. “Do you have another one?”
Lucian nodded. Stepping back to his satchel, he pulled out two more. Walking back, Lota looked to them with immense sadness. The mage opened a potion and put it to Rayce’s lips. When the shadowmancer finished drinking, Lucian placed the remaining potion on Rayce’s lap.
Lota stepped closer, “I can heal you.”
Rayce let out a mad chuckle before his eyes hardened. “Don’t get near me. You said you were my friend, but couldn’t stand the thought that I had found love so quickly. If you heard us, you heard our plans. Your righteous love of Vala should have been happy for us!”
“This place…reeks of evil,” Lota said with wet eyes. “I have always been sure it was a den of darkness, meant to…” the troll trailed off.
“I don’t…give a shit,” Rayce coughed. “I want my happiness.”
The shadowmancer turned his gaze to Roxxy’s black eyes. “I want to explore the world…with you.”
Roxxy took Rayce’s bloody hand into hers. “You gave me hope when there was none before.”
Lucian eyed the wound as the flow of blood stopped. “Love cannot be put in a box and defined. It is a force just like all forces.”
“Yes, it is, Master Mage,” Rayce smiled with bloody teeth.
Lucian nodded. “I believe our quest together has come to an end. I think new adventures await you and your friend,” Lucian smiled at Roxxy.
The mimic gave a shy smile.
“It appears so,” Rayce said softly.
“I know hidden passageways where the undead take people back to the surface. I can take you and we can leave this place,” Roxxy whispered.
Rayce nodded. “I think I’ve had my fill of lust and adventure. I just wish there was a little extra gold.”
Roxxy smiled before holding out a black hand. Gold pieces emerged from her skin until it was nearly overflowing.
“I have much more in hidden places along the way,” the mimic grinned.
“I truly have found who I was looking for,” Rayce grinned and grunted.
Roxxy helped the shadowmancer get to his feet. The pair stood close, Roxxy holding up Rayce and his arm over her shoulder. A skeleton and zombie moved closer and Rayce nodded.
“They told me that the succubus committed a crime and paid for it with her life. It will not be held against us when they are questioned on what happened,” Rayce said out loud.
Lucian nodded.
Rayce held out his hand. “It was a pleasure, our short time together. I hope you find what you’re looking for at the bottom.”
The mage clasped Rayce’s forearm. “I hope I am as lucky in love as you are.”
The two men let go.
“I hope we meet again,” Rayce coughed.
“May fate make it so,” Lucian said with a kind smile.
Roxxy tugged on the shadowmancer. Both turned and made for the door, Rayce shooting Lota a glare before they exited the room. Lucian turned to the troll as she watched Rayce and Roxxy enter the corridor and stepped out of sight.
“I meant well. I wanted to protect him,” Lota said in a small voice.
“He found what he was looking for. We should respect his decisions, even if we don’t agree with them.”
Lota looked up to Lucian’s gaze, “Is the quest over?”
The mage shook his head, “No. We must carry on.”
The troll nodded before tilting her head forward, shadows covering her eyes. “I wish to make amends for my foolish actions. I will continue with the quest, at your side.”
Lucian eyed the beautiful troll and gave a grim nod. Without another word, the pair gathered their personal items and left the room. A skeleton and zombie picked up the dead succubus body while slime cubes crawled up the leather sofa, drinking in streaks of crimson blood.
Six
Warm air drifted along the corridor, two figures walking side by side. Lucian and Lota were silent as graves, senses alive. Torches and lanterns glowed, but little else moved. No rats skittered or bugs
flew. Lucian could almost feel a dark energy curl along his nerves, pushing away innocent life.
Lota let out a small sigh. “Whatever is the source of this dungeon’s power, it’s beginning to make me sick,” Lota whispered.
The pair dodged succubi patrols by the edge of their teeth, but only barely. The 8th level was a confusing maze and Lucian blamed luck for finding the stairs down. Now on the 9th level, empty corridors and tunnels stretched on, but nothing appeared, not even succubi patrols.
“Will it affect your ability to fight?”
Lota shook her head. “Not enough to stop me.”
Lucian nodded. “We have one more level and then we can allow ourselves to rest.”
The paladin nodded.
Walking on, they turned corners and made their way deeper along the dungeon floor. Lucian tried to make sense of the dungeon’s design, but it was a patchwork of different designs. Some corridors held intricate carvings, while others were plain gray walls. Some rooms they passed held bodies in the throes of passion on the previous floor, but on this one, it was silent as a tomb. Several rooms they passed were devoid of furniture. The mage pondered if this level was meant to be barren to discourage anyone from reaching the last level. A void to send adventurers back to the upper floors for warmth and sex.
Lota’s thighs trembled and she slowed, hand pressing against a wall.
Lucian stopped and looked to the troll, a sliver of concern in his eyes.
“I don’t know if it’s the dungeon or exhaustion,” the troll said with a defeated edge.
“We can take it slower if it will help?”
Lota shook her head. “We should turn back, but I know that is not an option for you.”
Lucian said nothing, his gaze on the troll.
“I know because of my previous actions, you’re concerned about what I may think or do, but I have to ask, what’s down here? What are you searching for?”
Lucian was silent, grim shadows covering his face before he stepped closer to the troll, torch light revealing kind eyes.
“It’s about finding a dream,” Lucian said as he took a seat on the stone floor, leaning against the wall.
Lota copied him, pressing her back to the wall and sliding down until the pair were sitting side by side.
“In the Mage Academy, the one tenant above all is to find and understand knowledge. It is a cornerstone on studying the mystical arts so it can best be utilized in any situation, but it goes beyond that. Sometimes it becomes more. Mages often specialize in specific spheres of magical arts because they become obsessed. It is an affliction that is encouraged and desired.”
“Is this place part of your obsession?” Lota asked with neutral eyes.
“Not the dungeon itself. You must have some understanding of what I mean? You have chosen to join Vala’s crusade to bring lust and love to the people so they may balance out their lives. You told me that you wanted to right great wrongs of your people’s past. We are very much the same except we are going about it in different ways, different paths.”
“I still don’t understand what is here that will satisfy your hunger for knowledge. The only things that dwell here are from the abyss. Your words tell me you wish to explore the deeper mysteries of that plane of existence.”
Lucian gave the paladin a gentle smile. “And if I am, will you stop me?”
Lota eyed the mage for a long moment before she looked down. “No. It is not Vala’s way to stop those from exploring their light and dark sides. We fight to end pain and suffering. You haven’t done anything to warrant punishment. I cannot hand out judgement on curiosity.”
The troll lifted her gaze, staring into Lucian’s soul. “I can sense a pain, from within you. Vala’s gifts allow us to see the rifts in a person’s spirit, but it doesn’t tell me what it is, only that it is there. Your rift is powerful and I would be lying if I didn’t want to heal it.”
Lucian looked down as the troll placed her hand over his. “Do you think being intimate will heal me of my obsessions?”
Lota smiled. “I believe exploring the light and the dark will help anyone to find their balance. Besides, it would take more than one time.”
The mage gave a slight chuckle. “Maybe when this is over, we will both understand what is meant to be.”
Lota’s eyes shined. “Lucian, if you stray too far into the darkness, I promise to be one of many beacons to help you find your way back to the light.”
“Thank you, Lota, Paladin of Vala. I will be sure to look for you if ever a time like that darkens my soul,” Lucian pulled his hand away and stood up.
Holding his hand out, Lota looked to it before putting her hand in his. With a gentle pull, the troll was to her feet. Mage and paladin began walking down the empty corridor, the troll glancing to Lucian, heart fluttering.
The pair travelled on, passing empty rooms and walking down lonely corridors. Concern wrinkled Lucian’s brow as he slowly felt they were lost. Finding their way back would take twice as long. Pulling his spellbook, he turned to a page and began an incantation as he walked.
You cast Scry. Mana: 105/250
Mind opening, images floated along of a long room with many succubi. Beyond them, a grand room opened up with hundreds of demons. In the back, a golden throne stood, a black heart beating on it and blood running down along the entire throne in thin rivers. Before he could see beyond, the image faded away and his mind closed.
“What did you see?”
Lucian closed the book and put it away. “Horrors the deeper we go.”
“We can turn back,” the paladin said, but already knew the answer.
Lucian didn’t say anything, noting his remaining mana. The pair continued down a plain tunnel until a light appeared at the end. With every step, it grew brighter and brighter. Soft violin and harps drifted along the corridor. The murmur of conversation tickled their ears.
Lota’s hand fell to her mace, but it was Lucian who placed his hand over hers and shook his head.
“The demons on this level should be well fed and in their right minds. We should try reason before violence.”
“They will simply seduce us until we are drained. They will cart us to the surface and your quest will come to an end without the answers you seek.”
Lucian took a confident step forward, “Let’s be clever and see if that happens.”
The pair made their way along, stepping closer to the light. When they reached the entrance, senses were nearly dazzled as they stepped inside.
A long, wide room stood, filled with chandeliers, opulent furniture, tables with food and drink and many nearly naked bodies. Men and women were on their knees or serving with trays of food or wine. Succubi in garments that barely covered their bodies laughed and talked like it was an elegant affair.
Lucian and Lota stepped in, other details emerging. Some of the succubi were engaged in lewd acts, whips rising and falling with a crack and moans blending with the music. Men licked toes of some demons while others cried out, horned heads bobbing on members. Thighs were spread as succubi laughed and moaned, licking wet slits. Lucian noted that the room was a mixture of polite conversation and lewd depravity.
A succubus turned from a conversation and a fanged smile widened at the sight of Lucian and Lota. Turning, she stepped to the newcomers, wine glass in hand and eyes filled with glowing blue energy.
Lucian smiled as he studied the approaching succubus. Nearly her entire body was shades of blue. Her horns were a dark blue while her skin color was similar to Lota’s sapphire blue. The glowing blue eyes crackled with power as she approached. She wore a sheer, see-through robe, her pink nipples contrasted against her skin.
“Welcome! You both have been the talk of the party! My name is Nadia and we are so happy you could make it.”
“Greetings Nadia. I had no idea we were being watched so closely,” Lucian said with polite edge.
The succubus gave a small nod and took a sip of her red wine. “Oh yes. Everyone is impressed wi
th how you handled Della. She had grown obstinate with her duties. It is a shame she met her end, but it was all for the best. Please, have some wine, take off your clothes and relax. You’ve earned it.”
Lucian bowed his head, “Thank you, but we are simply passing through.”
Nadia tut-tutted. “This will not do. You earned high praise and should be rewarded. Gold will be freely given after we sample your delicious bodies.”
Lota’s fingers flexed as she took in the room. The paladin counted about forty demons. If it came down to it, she was ready to use her paladin abilities to help even the odds.
Lucian on the other hand, took Nadia’s hands into hers. Leaning forward, he kissed the backs of her hands in turn and held them as he addressed her.
“Nadia, you seem lovely and your party looks delightful, but my companion and I wish to reach the last level. I see at the other end of your room, there is a stairwell leading down. If we can pass through, we can come back on the way back.”
A dozen succubi turned and moved toward Lucian and Lota. Wicked grins and devilish eyes drank in the couple. Tongues licked lips and tails moved from side to side. Some were naked while others barely wore clothes. The heat in the room turned up as a semi-circle of succubi stood before Lucian, Lota, and Nadia, barring passage.
“I’m afraid our queen will not be taking visitors, even ones as fun as you both. We commend you on sneaking past our patrols, but your rewards are here and now. We promise to be gentle, but we require your attention on our bodies.”
“Lucian, say the word and we will get through,” Lota said sternly.
Demons turned their attention to the tall troll, heat in their eyes.
Lucian let go of Nadia’s hands and stood straight up, chest out and eyes filled with confidence. “You will let us pass so I may speak with your queen.”
Nadia stepped closer, her pointed tongue snaking out and licking the tip of Lucian’s nose. “And why would we allow that?”
“William Fyre,” Lucian stated with knowing eyes.
The mood shifted like the wind. Smiles vanished and many pairs of eyes turned in their direction. The music stopped and moans were silenced. Lota looked to Lucian with confusion, but the mage stood, shoulders relaxed.