Part 9

The oaken doors were protected by a crude magical lock, and his mind snapped the ward even as he strode up the steps. He would not knock, would not call out a hallo... he would merely stride in as if walking into his own bedchambers, hoping his boldness and ability would impress her. It was a dire gambit indeed, this display of arrogance: if she was angered by his intrusion he would be dead before the night's mist had fully settled on the grass outside. He had no fear of a lone vampire; they were an arrogant lot, but with all he'd learnt in his travels he'd no doubt he could put one down easily enough. He'd even watched and studied individuals, when and where he could, learning their strengths and weaknesses. But if the Goddess struck him down, he would not so much as raise a hand in defense. Her will was his, whether by sorcery or by choice. Perhaps both.

He paused a moment on the threshold, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room beyond before entering. Using magic would be a sign of weakness here, so he relied on his senses alone, reaching out with a sixth. There was power here, power indeed... at long last, he'd found her. He smiled as the shadowed outline of a lithe female form stepped from the inky blackness of the stairwell to his left, each soft footstep on the stones sending shivers of long-denied ecstasy through his veins.

"Goddess," he said through suddenly dry lips as he dropped to one knee, bowing his head in submission before her.

The soft, musical laughter which issued from the shadows where she stood carried an air of amusement, but an edge of warning underlie it which raised the hackles on his neck. Something within him cried out in alarm, and he stretched his senses outward in every direction, suddenly realizing the ward which resisted his probing. Just as he did so, he saw shadows detach themselves from each corner of the room, the murky depths of the main hall coming alive with motion. His head snapped up as the soft murmur of whispers echoed in his head, attempting to take control. Even in his panic, he felt the probes of the mental attack, and sealed his mind off against them, lashing out with his own wave of mental energy. He felt rather than saw them pause in momentary confusion, before her melodic laughter broke his concentration.

"I know not who you are, mortal," she whispered in a sultry voice that could have sold apples to the first man, "but I do SO love waking to a treat so feisty. You... taste... so much better that way..."

She stepped forth from the shadows, moonlight from an open window cascading across her form as she slid forth, stretching like a waking cat, arms held high. Her perfectly formed breasts jutted forth over her wide ribcage, bared to the cool night air, and she paused at the top of her stretch to watch him, her face still hidden in shadow.

"Mmmm," she moaned softly as her hands came down, caressing the curves of her body down to her hips, "a pretty one to boot. Do run along now, handsome... I'll feel so much more... satisfied... that way."

He saw the gleam of fangs, and as she stepped fully into the light he realized what his arrogance had cost him. This was not Illestra. He was going to die.

"Go on now, run along," she purred as her hands slid back up, gliding over the tips of her breasts, "it's more... exciting that way, don't you think?"

She traced a finger across her blood red lips, and even in his horror Iblis couldn't help but watch as she gently sucked it into her mouth, smiling at him. He stumbled backwards as the other 4 emerged fully into the moonlit room, and he fumbled in panic for the doorway behind him, unable to take his eyes off her, his mind fuzzy. His body jarred to a stop as he tried to back his way down the steps, and he turned see what stopped him. Directly before his eyes was a massively muscled chest, arms like thighs crossing it. He looked up to the man's eyes, a full head taller than he, and saw the cruel smile that slowly crossed his features.

"Do let him pass, Ubu," she called from within, "I like it when they sweat..."

Her maddening laughter chased him out into the night, each note stabbing like a frozen dagger in his fevered brain, and he fled in a blind panic through the woods...