by Garth Ono
Obviously Joey knew more about the ultimate prize than my friends and I, but I had a hard time imagining Queen Vanessa being slavishly devoted to anyone. She was one hundred percent dominant. Then it occurred to me that everyone seemed to want to dominate everyone else.
"Is this secretly some kind of BDSM game?"
Joey laughed. "Seems that way sometimes."
I was forced to hand over my leash, which was immediately attached to my collar. Did he just turn me into some kind of damane? Not really, since the leashed ones were all witches, but I was to be used similarly.
"Do you know if the vampire's High Altar is in this tower?" he asked. "I've already checked the Queen's Tower and didn't find it."
I scowled at him. Should I cooperate? The enchanted necklace wasn't compelling me to answer. At the same time, I didn't want to spend the rest of session as his meat shield. The big stupid barbarian would eventually head down into the Crypts.
"No. The High Altar of the Vampires is located in the Temple of Blood," I said. "The Temple of Blood is below the Crypts."
"Have you been there?"
"Yes."
"Precede me," Joey said. "Defend me from all threats and once we reach the High Altar, I will set you free."
I rose to my feet and headed for the door. The search for Charlie would be slightly delayed. Actually, I expected to die on the first level of the Crypts. As would Joey.
An evil little smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Joey had no idea what awaited him in the Crypts. Those liches and zombies were doing to rip us to little bite-sized pieces. And I had no intention of warning him.
My only chance to be free of him and finish the task Queen Vanessa gave me was to die, respawn, and come back to the castle. I would find Charlie and give him to my Queen and Mistress.
Or will I? I wondered. Will dying and respawning free me from Queen Vanessa's power?
If that didn't free me, then I would be her slave forever. Oddly, that prospect wasn't at all frightening. It was a little annoying.
"Joey, how much do you know about vampires in this game?"
"About as much as anyone."
"I have a friend who was bitten tonight," I said. Yeah, a friend. I bet he understood it was me. "He's slavishly devoted to the vampire that bit him. Will that power over him extend to future sessions? What if he dies and respawns? Will he still obey her unconditionally?"
"I don't know," he said. "And, I don't care if you, or your friend, have to suck vampire dick forever."
"Troll."
"You should be nicer to me," Joey said. He gave the leash a yank. "Because this troll has control over your ass."
The entry foyer wasn't as packed as before. It was getting late, and the players at least were thinning out. There seemed to be the same number of goblins, orcs, and other game monsters, but the Goths were leaving in troves. Their sessions were ending. I saw two of them wink out of existence while running for the door.
Joey laughed. "Idiots. I'll give you a piece of advice, Ari. If you ever plan to return to the game, stash your loot. Any money you have will be saved automatically, but any loot you acquire, like talismans, clothes, jewelry and weapons, will be lost when the session ends. But if you stash them in a good hiding place, then they'll be waiting for you in your next session."
I stopped at the top of the stairs down into the Crypts. Scurrying sounds drifted up. The liches were out and about? Was there another player down there? Charlie?
"What if I buy weapons? Or someone gives me something?"
He stepped up next to me. One hand grabbed my butt and squeezed. It was hard to be offended so soon after amazing sex, even if he was a jerkass troll.
"If you buy something it is yours forever. Gifts are complicated. Some things can't be gifted, but with the others it depends on how they gift it to you. Read the online manual."
His hand moved to the small of my back, and pushed me forward. I started down the stairs. That evil smile returned. Joey was going to be so pissed at me.
We found a lot of dead liches scattered around. Some were hacked to pieces, but most were burnt to a crisp. Magic? Did Charlie do that? Or another mage? And then I didn't have time to consider such things.
Liches attacked.
"Holy crap," I cried, pulling my sword and dagger. Moving into a defensive stance, I glanced at Joey. "Here's where we die."
Joey seemed remarkably unconcerned. Did he really think I was that good of a fighter? And then he held out his hand, which began to glow. His avatar said he was a barbarian warrior, but was he really a wizard?
"Sleep," he shouted.
My jaw dropped as the liches all slowed to a walk, and then stopped. They swayed a few seconds, before turning around and shuffling off to their rooms. One and all looked and moved like they were utterly exhausted. Joey's hand didn't stop glowing until every one of them was locked inside his room.
"Damn. I wish I could do that."
"I've been playing this game since day one," he said. "Three and four days a week. I've learned my lessons the hard way, and now have lots of cool tricks up my sleeves."
"Will that work on vampires?"
"No."
Good. Last time I was in the Temple of Blood, Lord Nieven and Lord Travaren were its guardians. I was sure two vampires were always on guard. At least I hoped so. That'll teach Joey not to spite me.
Joey pulled his magic trick on each level. I was impressed each time. That had to be the most useful spell ever created. No dungeon could stop you. But I had to wonder about the limitations. Five uses per session? Per hour? Or did it eat up a lot of mana?
We made it to the fourth level in record time. I sheathed my sword and dagger. There was only a little disappointment I didn't need to use them. Joey was going to win. I just had to resign myself to that fact.
"This stairwell goes down to a huge temple carved out of the rock. It kind of looks like an underground cathedral," I said. "It has some really nice vampire blood-lusting murals instead of stained-glass windows. I'm sure you'll enjoy them."
"Lead the way."
"Can't you just let me go now?" I asked. "I've been there. No zombies, liches, orcs, or goblins. I'm sure you'll be fine without me."
Joey wasn't having it. He forced me to lead the way down the spiral stairs. I took my time. The vampires might know I belong to Queen Vanessa, so maybe they won't kill me. I'd like to avoid that fate, but Joey was going to force me to fight them.
Life sucks.
Chapter 18
The Temple of the Vampires was quiet as a tomb. A pair of undead vampires knelt before the High Altar. I was relieved to see Lord Nieven wasn't one of them. One was a tall blonde man and the other a tall black man. They wore all black leather like the previous guardians.
"Strip," Joey said.
"Why?"
"I've discovered the easiest and best way to distract a vamp is with hot sex," he said. "They're obsessed with sex, so will find a beautiful naked woman irresistible."
My body started obeying while my head continued to object. I might be his meat shield, but that didn't mean I wanted to be treated like a piece of meat. But then I glance at the two vampires.
My belly erupted with dancing butterflies. My sex got hot, tingly, and achy with need. Visions of them taking their pleasure of my body, of passing me back and forth, filled my head. That would be so much better than being sent out to be butchered in a fight.
Joey was sneaking looks inside the temple, looking up, down, and all around. He seemed pleased with what he found. Was he studying the murals?
"You'll never get past them. No one concentrates so much on sex that a stranger can walk through a huge empty room without them noticing."
"I suspect you are correct," he said. "What's through those doors in the sides?"
"What doors?"
I was completely naked by that time, and already dreading wiggling back into that outfit when it was all over. Moving up to the door, I peeked inside. Joey was correct. I hadn't no
ticed the ten arched openings on each side. They could be small alcoves, or passages to more chambers.
"Honestly, I've only been down here once before and didn't notice them," I said. "I was distracted by a pair of sexy vampires."
"Well, this time you will be doing the distracting of the sexy vamps," he said. "Lure them into one of those doors, and then keep them distracted for as long as you can."
Great. I had to sacrifice my body and have lots of sex with two big, strong men, while he was winning the game. The vampires would probably punish me after they discovered the truth. Even Queen Vanessa might want to punish me.
I tapped the necklace, which was the only thing I wore. Magic kept me from removing it, and I did try.
"Can you tell me what the prize is? And how do you claim it?"
He gave me a calculating look, like I was going to double-cross him.
"I have to do a certain thing, which will activate the High Altar," he said. "I will instantly become a Master Mage, and probably the most powerful spellcaster in the game. I'm not completely sure how powerful I'll be, since no one has ever defeated this dungeon."
Yeah, I wasn't pleased. I reached the temple the hard way, by fighting through their evil minions. I didn't win magical super power. Nope. I got my sweet ass captured and enslaved. And then I helped him waltz in effortlessly to claim the prize. There wasn't any justice in virtual reality or real life.
Joey forced me to put the collar back on, and then the thigh boots. He claimed I was a lot sexier dressed like that, especially to BDSM loving vampires. When I was ready, he pushed me back against the wall and started kissing me and rubbing my pussy.
"I have to get you warmed up and ready," he said.
I think he was lying. Men don't care if a woman is "warmed up and ready." They just want what they want, ready or not, here I come.
For all his faults – pig, troll – Joey knew how to super-charge my libido and body. He teased me with kisses and nibbles from my lips to my nips. Oh, man, the way he pinched, pulled, and rolled my erect nipples drove me crazy. And his fingertips swished around my slippery and ever wetter folds better than even I could do. The big barbarian quickly turned me into a hot, trembling mess, panting furiously, hips thrusting. I clutched desperately at him, gasping and groaning.
I may have begged him to take me.
Instead, "You're ready. Go get them, princess."
"Jeeze. I was almost there, you pig," I grumbled, head spinning. I tittered atop those sky-high heels a second while I sorted out my wits. Then I headed for the temple, and my date with the big sexy vampires. "I'm going to eat those guys alive."
Entering the temple, I set off in a sassy strut straight at the High Altar. I got about halfway before a scuffling sound to my left brought me to a stop. I didn’t see anyone or anything over there, but then the black vampire's head lifted and turned around. I caught and held his gaze until his partner in crime turned to look.
"Heeey," I purred. "Could one of you boys help me. I am so close, but need a little help to finish."
I bit my lip, while my hands slid all over my curves. I had their full attention. With a sultry smile, I turned right and strutted into the closest door. Whatever was over on the left side was Joey's problem. The vampires came after me before I reached the dark opening. I was immediately plunged into darkness when I stepped through. The only light came through the door, and that wasn't saying much.
The vampires caught up to me with astonishing speed, and without making any noise. The blonde one caught me up in his arms and spun me around a few times, leaving me dizzy and discombobulated. Of course, his hands roamed my nearly naked body, while his lips owned mine in a fiery kiss. He shoved me to stumble over to the black vampire, who immediately claimed my lips in a hungry kiss.
They pushed me back and forth for the longest time, but eventually I fell to my knees. Both vampires were immediately all over me. Fangs raked my flesh as they kissed and nibbled, while their hands grew bolder in their explorations.
"Ooooh," I cried when one of them thrust a finger deep inside me.
"How did you get past the guardians?" the black vampire demanded.
"Magic," I replied. "A spell that makes them go back to their room and go to sleep."
"Clever," he said. "It won't save you."
I didn't want to be saved. And then he sank his fangs into my neck. My back bowed, body energized. I felt my libido super-charge. The blonde vampire then bit the other side of my neck.
"Yes!" I cried. Two vampires sucked greedily, drinking my blood. "Yes. Yes. I'm yours. Take me."
They released my neck, bent me over, and the black vampire thrust into my pussy. He was huge, like everyone in that virtual world. Holding tightly to my hips, he went crazy on me. The other vampire palmed the back of my head, and guided his cock straight into my mouth. Before I knew it I was on all fours between them, getting it from both ends.
"Spit-roasting another fang groupie," the blonde vamp said.
"Isn't this the same girl Lords Nieven and Travaren caught down here?"
"I think so. She'd definitely got an addiction to vampires' fangs and cocks."
That wasn't the reason, but he was kind of right. I was definitely developing a great love of them, but I didn't think I was addicted. Not yet.
I moaned and groaned, loving every minute of it. And there were a lot of minutes, too. They had extraordinary stamina and prowess. Joey had it made out there. With all of the noise I was making, I doubted they could hear anyone.
But all things must come to an end, and with sex it was the best part. That amazing rush to climax consumed me, driving me to new depths of pleasure and joy. The vampires peaked at the same time, thrusting into me like crazy, faster and faster.
My body erupted deep and powerfully. Intense pleasure washed through me, even as movement to my left caught my attention. It was impossible to concentrate on the newcomer, as I felt both of my lovers coming inside me. One filled my vagina with his seed, the other my throat. And as they cried out in pleasure, one by one their voices were cut off.
Two severed heads thudded to the floor next to me.
"You give good distraction, Ari," Joey said.
He grabbed my collar and yanked me to my feet. I stared up into vicious eyes, and then looked down at two headless vampires. That guy was playing for keeps.
Joey the Barbarian dragged me back out into the temple proper. I wanted to fight him, but that damned enchanted necklace wouldn't let me. Still, I didn't exactly cooperate, so he had to drag me to the altar by the hand.
I had a really bad feeling about what he planned to do with me.
"Let me go, Joey. I helped you take out the guardians."
"We're almost done, babe."
He stopped before the altar and looked it over. It looked like a solid piece of black marble, with blood red veins. The altar was rectangular, about six feet by three feet, with strange runes carved into the sides. It was a little more than waist high to me. Behind it was a painting of a blood red vampire, who was completely naked.
"Is that the vampire god or something?" I asked.
"I guess," he said. He swept me up and laid me atop the altar. "Lay flat and be still."
I obeyed, even though my heart raced like crazy. There were only two reasons to lay me out on top of that slab of rock. And I didn't think he planned to screw my brains out. When he pulled out his knife my worst fear was confirmed.
"In just a moment you'll meet him face-to-face and can ask him if he's a god," Joey said.
"Or I'll respawn and will be waiting for you at the top of the stairs," I snarled.
Joey moved up close, lifted his knife high in both hands. He caught my eyes and grinned. My threat didn't worry him in the least. My body tensed, prepared to be sliced open. Would he cut my heart out? Would I live long enough to see it?
Chapter 19
The sound of running feet drew Joey's eyes away. He cursed and jumped back, before pulling his sword. I couldn't move, s
o didn't know if I was being rescued, or a mythical beast was about to devour me.
I tried, but couldn't even move enough to wiggle. How powerful was that damned necklace? The clash of swords echoed through the temple. I could just make their shadowy figures out of the corner of my eyes. Then bright flashes blinded me.
Ka-Boom! Ka-Boom!
Were they in a sorcerous battle? A fireball roared over me to explode against the Vampire God painting. Ka-Boom! It barely missed me, so I redoubled my efforts to at least roll off to the side of the altar. All of those bright flashes were killing my ability to see in the half-light.
"Get up, Ari!" Charlie called. "Help me with this big ass bastard."
"Charlie!" I cried. "Wahoo! You were always my favorite!"
Flash. Ka-Boom!
"What's the matter with you?"
"This necklace is magical," I shouted. "Joey the Barbarian is controlling me with it."
"Yeah, get up, Ari," Joey said. "Help me kill Charlie."
"Uh-oh."
My body obeyed, even though I was screaming in my head, No! No! NO!
Charlie cast a wary look my way. Was he staring at my tits? Or the necklace?
I was a little taken aback to realize Charlie wasn't fighting with a sword, but using his staff to parry Joey's blade. He was spinning, swinging, and even thrusting that staff like a Kung Fu master, while the crystal glowed. Every strike caused an arcane flash of light. The way Joey avoided it said there was magic involved I couldn't see.
"What the hell, Ari? Are you going to help him?"
I tensed. I didn't want to help. But what good would I be? I was all but naked, without a weapon. What was I supposed to do? Impale myself on Charlie's staff?
"I'm unarmed. I can't do anything."
"Go get your sword and get back here and help me!" Joey shouted. "Hurry!"
I took off running. My larger tits proved a bad decision at that point. I even considered dressing before going back, just to have a little support, but that necklace wouldn't allow me to waste time. I grabbed my sword and dagger, and headed back as fast as I could run.