by Garth Ono
"I'm going to go all Lara Croft on your butts in about ten seconds!"
A pair of pistols would be nice. I wouldn't have to fight them so close and personal. Maybe throw in a little Indiana Jones. Arizona Ari?
I hit level four, and found the stairs ended there. Why did I think there were five levels? Fighting for my life, it was hard to concentrate. Who told me there were five levels? And why would they lie? And then there was, Who cares? I was still trapped and outnumbered a thousand to one.
Making for the other stairwell, I forced my way down the central corridor step by step, killing one, two, sometimes three zombies for per step. And unlike a regular MMORPG, I literally felt my muscles aching and my strength and stamina bleeding away. I didn't need no stinking HUD to tell me that I was in deep doo doo.
"When I respawn, I'm going to come back and burn this castle to the ground, and then some!"
Halfway down the corridor, I spotted something I hadn't seen above. A narrow stairs down. The fifth level. Only one way in and out, or was it? I was definitely going to die down there, and maybe even spend the rest of my session as an undead zombie dufus.
"Bye, bye, bye," I shouted, and rushed into the stairs.
To my shock and joy, none of the zombies or liches followed. Of course, that wasn't necessarily a good thing. What if they were afraid of what was at the bottom of those stairs?
I didn't have a choice. I kept going, just slower and with my gory sword held before me at the ready. The circular stairwell was much too narrow to fight with a sword, but I didn't like the idea of monsters getting dagger close.
The stairs ended in a small anteroom. It was circular, about twenty feet in diameter, with the walls painted with scenes of vampires sucking the blood of their victims. Really, there was a lot of blood in that mural. And everyone was naked.
There was an open door, with a much larger chamber beyond. I paused, still a little winded. While I rested before tackling my next challenge, I studied the door.
Temple of Blood.
"Well, that looks promising," I said.
Stepping through, I found a long, narrow room. It was a hundred feet tall, with bloody feasting vampire murals on both sides and painted on the ceiling. At the far end two black-clad men knelt facing the altar.
High Altar of the Vampires.
I smiled. Was I about to win that wager? That had to be the key to victory. The two men were probably guardians of some sort. Undead paladins or something. All I had to do was kill them and claim my reward.
I walked slowly toward the altar. The two men remained kneeling, heads down in prayer or meditation. They had to hear me. Stilettos on marble in a vast chamber like that echoed loudly. Still, they remained in place until I was three quarters of the way to them.
The first stood up and turned around.
"Ah, it's Ari," Lord Nieven said, his deep voice a bedroom purr.
The other stood, and turned around. He was a human vampire. The name above proclaimed who I faced.
Lord Travaren. Right Hand of the Queen.
"Sweet. I get to fight the second and third vampires," I taunted. "How sad."
Neither one was armed. Did vampires even need weapons? They were weapons. Undead and deadly. Then, and only then, did it occur to me that I'd need wood to kill them.
Timing was everything, and mine usually sucked.
"Not so sad for us," Lord Travaren said. "I'm starved, and you smell delicious."
"I am delicious," I taunted. I showed them my neck. "But if you want a taste, you have to prove yourself worthy. You have to defeat me, and I'm the rogue who just fought her way through hordes of liches and zombies." I wagged my brows. "I feel kind of lucky right now."
They advanced slowly, showing me their fangs. Have to admit, it was kind of scary. I didn't delude myself and think they'd fall as easily as a lich or zombies. Hell, vampires were strong and faster than orcs. They were at the top of the food chain.
"No man has ever defeated us," Lord Travaren said.
"Cool," I said. "But I'm a woman."
That made them smile, but neither of them appeared to reconsider. Lord Nieven moved more to my left, with Lord Travaren coming at me from my right. Dropping into a crouch, I steeled myself for battle when they were within five feet of me.
"Just one thing, Ari," Lord Nieven said in that bedroom voice.
I slanted a look his way. His violet eyes widened, locking with mine. I swear, his eyes glowed. And it hit me. Magic flooded my head, wiping away all thought. I just stood there staring into his hypnotic eyes.
"You are mine, Ari. Kneel to your master."
His words reverberated through my mind and soul. My heart filled with euphoria. The sword fell from my hand. I turned toward him, and dropped to my knees.
"I am yours."
Chapter 13
Lord Nieven yanked on my leash. He liked to keep me off-balanced for some reason. His cruel smile was probably significant, but I didn't care. What master wanted, master got. I lived only to obey.
The Queen's Right Hand, Lord Travaren, led the way up the spiral stairs. He was as tall as Nieven, just as brutally handsome and muscular, but human. He had long brown hair and brown eyes. Both men were clean shaven.
Wait. Do elves have to shave? I've never seen a bearded elf in any game or read about one in a book. My silent reverie was interrupted by reaching the top.
Liches and zombies milled around the stairwell's entrance. Lord Travaren waved his hand and they all calmed down and stood still, except for the few getting the hell out of our way.
I wonder if I can get that spell next time I play? It would make winning so much easier.
We moved quickly through the four levels of the Crypts. All of the doors were open, and I spotted a coffin in each of the few doors I checked out. Best defense against vampire slayers I'd ever heard about. But was that really a problem in this VR world?
"Return to your rooms," Lord Nieven commanded as we passed through each level.
The liches and zombies obeyed without hesitation. I admired their dedication and obedience. For some reason, I felt absolute obedience was paramount. Nothing was more important than obeying and pleasing your master. It's what I lived for.
Going up was a lot easier than the trip down. No fighting or running. And Lord Travaren kindly carried all of my heavy weapons. Of course, Lord Nieven's love of keeping me off-balance made it, um, interesting.
There was a little stir in the crowd when we emerged out of the Crypts. Everyone we passed looked me over with wicked glee. Odd how I was suddenly the center of attention. Even stranger, I didn't mind. Normally, I had to be drunk to enjoy everyone staring at me.
We passed through the vast entry foyer and into a Great Hall. Its vaulted ceiling wasn't as high as the Temple of Blood, but it was still impressive. The Great Hall was as long, but even wider than the temple, and it was packed with humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins, kobolds, and even a few minotaurs, centaurs, and ogres.
I think the ogres were guards, since they wore armor and flanked the stairs up into the Queen's Tower. Their only weapons were giant clubs. How did players get past them? A tough dungeon indeed.
"My Queen," Lord Travaren called as we approached the dais upon which sat the throne.
The dais was three steps higher than the rest of the Great Hall, centered on the wall opposite the entrance. Upon it rested a solid silver throne, about twenty feet tall, and encrusted with jewels. The most gorgeous woman in the history of that game and the real world sat comfortably on the throne.
Queen Vanessa was average height, but that was the only thing average about her. I couldn't tell how long, since she was sitting on it, but her raven-wing black hair looked silky and full. She was very pale, lithe, but with large high breasts, tiny waist, and well-rounded hips. Her spectacular body was sheathed in tight black leather, with a lot of cleavage showing. Numerous straps and buckles kept it all nice and snug. The only pops of color were her scarlet lips and fingernails.
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A smile slowly spread across her face. But she wasn't looking at me. I was nothing next to Nieven and Travaren. My master, though, pulled me forward and presented me to her.
"We captured this rogue down in the Temple of Blood," Lord Travaren said.
I dropped to my knees and bent my head to stare at the floor. I heard her delicate footsteps approaching. Then shiny black, stiletto-heeled boots came into view as she descended to the floor. I idly wondered where she got them, and how much she paid. My master detached the leash, and both Vampire Lords stepped back.
Queen Vanessa circled me a few times, before stopping before me. She squatted and lifted my chin with a perfectly manicured finger. When our eyes met, I felt her magic flow through me. I felt it in my bones and soul. She smiled, showing me her long, sharp fangs.
I now belonged to the Queen.
"You are very beautiful. What is your name, my pet?"
"I am Ariana Maria Alvarez. My friends call me Ari."
"I prefer Ariana," the Queen said. "So, tell me, Ariana, why did you go down into the Crypts? Did you know the Temple of Blood was below them?"
"I did not know, my Queen," I said. "But I was looking for something."
"And what exactly were you looking for, my pet?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, but I thought I'd know it when I saw it. I'm playing the game with my friends, and we thought the big prize was either in the Crypts or atop one of the towers."
"How precious. You're here on quest to defeat my castle dungeon," Queen Vanessa purred as she brushed my hair back and stared at my neck. "You are either luckier, or wiser than your friends, since the High Altar in the Temple of Blood is the secret to defeating me and my dungeon. The fact you made it past all of our guardians is impressive, but you failed to defeat my ultimate guardians, Lord Travaren and Lord Nieven."
She leaned in close. Her nose touched mine, as she stared deeply into my eyes. That made her every word vibrate through my very being.
"Now I'm going to eat you, and then teach you the errors of your ways," she whispered so seductively I longed for it. "Feel my fangs."
She kissed me, opening my mouth with hers. My tongue went out and found her fangs. They were longer and thinner than expected, and so sharp one of them pricked the tip of my tongue. The Queen smiled and pulled back just a bit.
Her head tilted, and I mirrored her movements. I thought she was going to kiss me again, so offered my parted lips. That amused her. Queen Vanessa grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanked my head to the side, and pressed her fangs into the warm flesh of my neck. All I could do was pant furiously as I waited.
"Mmmm," Queen Vanessa moaned as her fangs penetrated, thrusting deep into my neck.
It hurt. A lot. Yet, it felt divine. Her powerful magic flowed into me, filling me up with the coldness of her dark heart. I knew instinctively I would never escape her power. She truly owned me heart, body, and soul. There was no escape.
I groaned with pain and pleasure, holding perfectly still while she slaked her thirst on my life blood. I felt the blood flowing out and into her sucking mouth. Her feeding made me all warm and cozy inside.
"Delicious," Queen Vanessa purred once sated.
She rose up and returned to her throne. I swayed on my knees, feeling satisfied and more than a little light-headed. Oh yes, I was in love. I longed to hear a command so I could obey and by doing so please my mistress and queen.
"My Lords Travaren and Nieven, you may take your pleasures of my pet."
Lord Nieven stepped up. "I captured her, so I claim her."
He pulled me to my feet, turned me to face the crowd, and muttered something in a strange language. My clothes fell off my body and to the side, leaving me stark naked before everyone. I watched their expressions, and everyone appeared pleased.
Lord Nieven enfolded me in his thick, powerful arms and kissed me. I was in heaven. Pushing into that kiss, I felt like his queen, but knew I was his slave. His love slave. And, God, how I loved him!
He kissed a line down my neck, over the spot the Queen bit me. After kissing and nibbling my shoulders, my master kissed his way down to my breasts. He smothered them with kisses, kissing, licking, and sucking on my nipples until I squealed.
Casting another spell, Lord Nieven made his clothes vanish. My breath caught at the sight of him. He was more spectacular naked than dressed. His shoulders were broad and thick with muscles, his waist narrow, and his legs thick and powerful.
I was lifted up in his arms, carried to the top of the dais, and gently set down so that my legs were still on the steps. My legs were spread wide, exposing me to everyone. And then Nieven moved up between them and started kissing and nuzzling my inner thighs.
I gasped and writhed, not believing anything could feel so good or be so exciting. My master was about to take me, and he was giving me foreplay. I clutched at his long hair as his magical lips kissed and nibbled closer and closer. When he finally gave my aching, throbbing sex a firm lick, I cried out and almost climaxed. He took his sweet time eating me out.
Nieven smothered my sex with licks and kisses, before he spread me open and let his tongue do the talking. He didn't waste too much time before finding my sensitive clit. I jumped and cried out when he first touched it with his tongue. Something deep inside changed when he sucked my clit in and out, over and over and over. That heady rush to climax commenced, and soon roared to orgasm.
"Aaaiiee," I cried, eyes huge as intense pleasure erupted. My back bowed and pleasure pulsed through me, spreading out even to my fingers and toes. "Oooh, yes."
My master kissed his way up my belly, nibbling my belly button. He worked his way up my body until we were face-to-face.
"Enjoying yourself, Ari?"
"Yes, master."
"Good," he said. Lord Nieven pressed his manhood to my needy sex. He held my eyes in an intense gaze, and thrust in hard.
"Uggh," I cried. He thrust again, going deeper. "Uggh."
"Hurts?"
"No, feels that good."
My Lord Nieven, undead vampire elf, commenced to rock my world like no one's business. He was a machine. That man made me feel every long inch of him. My back bowed, legs wrapped around him, and I thrust my hips to meet him. He claimed my lips, and refused to release them while his thrusts became harder and faster.
In no time he had my whole body tingling inside and out, with my insides feeling like hot jello. I was in heaven again. I dug my nails in, dragging them across his powerful back. Nieven cried out, sounding so joyful. And he then started pounding into me even harder and faster. I sensed he was about to peak.
That set me off. My body changed. The tingle melted into a throbbing, which then became an urgent need. Then that rush to climax surged through me. My vagina tightened around him, and he gasped. I felt him swell a little more, getting even harder inside me.
He sank his fangs into my neck.
My body exploded with divine bliss when I felt his hot seed shoot into me while my blood flowed out into his greedy mouth. We both groaned long and wantonly, bodies tensed and motionless as applause filled the room.
"Ariana, my pet," Queen Vanessa said as I lay there huffing and puffing. "You are here with two friends?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"I want them. Find them. Give them to me."
"Yes, my Queen. Anything you want. I live to obey."
Chapter 14
Lord Nieven helped me back into my clothes. The undead elf was just as deft dressing me as he was undressing me. It was so much easier with help, too. My weapons were returned, and Lord Travaren buckled the sword belt around my waist his own fine self.
I felt special.
The Queen stepped up to me. She buckled a black leather collar around my neck, before handing me a leash and a pair of handcuffs. I hung the coiled leash on my sword belt like Catwoman's bullwhip, and the handcuffs went into a pouch that Lord Nieven attached to the belt, at the small of my back.
"Ariana, I give you the title of Queen'
s Sword," Queen Vanessa said. "Do not fail me."
"I won't, my Queen."
The Queen's Court parted before me. Everyone watched as I strode purposely toward the entry foyer and the two stairs up into the towers. Their smiles were vicious, hungry. It was infectious. Soon the thrill of the hunt consumed me.
The stairwell down into the Crypts went down under the Great Hall, so there were wide double-door entries to either side of it. The stairs up into the Champion's and Wizard's towers were on opposite sides of the foyer. I exited into the foyer closest to the Champion's Tower stairs.
"I guess Tom is first," I muttered. A smile spread across my face as a thrill caroused up my spine. "Lucky boy."
A suit of armor stood at attention and empty. One gauntlet held onto a spear with a feathery red plume below the spearhead. I snatched it up, spun it around in my hand, and headed for the stairs.
Me versus Tom. Mono-a-mono. I'd gone up against him once before in a PvP game, and he trashed me. He beat me so fast and easily it was embarrassing. He occasionally reminded me of that game.
"It's payback time."
Oddly enough, I felt supremely calm and confident. Not a care in the world. It was wonderful being the Queen's minion, her obedient warrior slave. Okay, I was a little surprised I wasn't a love slave, but it wasn't about me. My mistress's will was everything.
The Champion's and Wizard's Towers only had five floors. The Queen's Tower was one level higher. I was on high alert right off. Surely Tom had searched each level all of the way to the top, and was on his way back down.
On the first level up I spotted five corpses. They were kobolds and all chopped into pieces. Tom had been quite thorough. Unfortunately, he moved on before killing them all. Five more kobolds were examining the bodies. They turned enraged eyes on me.
"What? I don't get a pass for being the Queen's Sword?"