Chapter 10: The Spread of Evil
Sennira, a large town not far from where we last left off
The room of the inn was massive and decorated with nothing but the finest the region had to offer. A fire roared nearby in a large fireplace, illuminating its surroundings with orange light. The owners of the establishment did not care that their tenant looked slightly different in appearance, nor did they question the casks that he brought with him. Xarthul's generosity with coin was enough for them to make safe assumptions about him, even though they had no idea how inaccurate their beliefs were.
Teneila sat naked on the bed, her skin now a shade paler than it was before. Her fiery red locks stood out more prominently against her new alabaster complexion. Xarthul was dressed in a pair of black pants and a loose white shirt.
"How does it feel Teneila?" asked Xarthul as he sipped dark crimson liquid from a snifter.
Teneila looked up at the pale man. She hugged her naked torso. "Cold." she quietly replied.
"That feeling will pass." said Xarthul. "Do not worry however, you will still be able to feel the extreme sensations like pleasure and pain. You will probably welcome the inability to feel simple sensations like cold."
"What I don't welcome is the hunger!" Teneila spat. "I have been trying to suppress it but it throbs inside me. I can't stop thinking about it!" Teneila suddenly lunged for Xarthul's snifter of blood. Xarthul skillfully dodged her and watched as she fell to the carpet with a thud.
He downed the last of his drink in one large gulp. "Ahhh...fresh blood." Xarthul boasted. "You do not know how good that feels. Almost as good as yours."
"Damn you. Why me?"
"You posed the most immediate threat to me. As a magician loyal to Karyn, you know I cannot tolerate sunlight, or one of your magic flares. With you at my side it will make defeating Karyn much easier."
"So you wish for me to kill Karyn?"
"No. A frontal assault cost me an arm last time. The next time I could lose far more." Xarthul explained as he waved his formerly missing hand at Teneila. "Luckily the gift of the vampyre gives you the ability to regenerate lost limbs."
"But at a terrible cost." Teneila said venomously.
"One gets used to it." Xarthul said nonchalantly. "You will aid me in destroying Karyn's spirit. I think the image of you by my side will prove to be a powerful symbol of my strength. It would certainly depress Karyn if she knew even her magician friend could not stand against me."
"Why can I not use my magic against you?! Have you robbed me of my skills?!!" Teneila barked.
"No. I am your master now. You cannot harm your creator. It is the way of the vampyre. You will also obey me, and you will help me recruit another for my vendetta. Then, I will kill Karyn when she is vulnerable. They say strength of the spirit affects the strength of the body."
"Why do you wish to kill Karyn? What has she done to you?"
"That is none of your concern." Xarthul turned away.
"Was she a former lover who spurned your affections?" Teneila said maliciously. "Or perhaps a petty jealousy?"
"Silence!" Xarthul ordered, his fingers clenched the glass in his hand. The dark man paused before speaking again. "No doubt the hunger is building within you."
Teneila stood silent, trying to suppress the desires for blood within her. But Xarthul's words had caused a resurgence, reminding the magician of her throbbing need.
"I can give you some if you need it. Do you need it?" Xarthul whispered in her right ear. He dipped his finger into his snifter and collected the last drop of blood on his fingertip. He presented it to her lips and she slowly opened her mouth and closed her lips over the end of his finger. Teneila's cheeks puckered as she sucked the smear of blood from his finger. She leaned back, releasing his finger and closed her eyes as she swallowed, savoring the metallic taste of the blood She groaned and her naked frame shivered pleasurably as she consumed blood for the first time.
"Now I've given you a taste, you want more do you not?" Xarthul whispered.
Teneila opened her eyes and bit her lip. Her body tingled as she tried harder to suppress it.
Xarthul repeated the same offer in a hypnotic whisper, "You want more."
The words echoed in Teneila's mind, until finally she caved in. "Please!" she begged.
Xarthul smiled and snapped his fingers.
From behind him, the door to the opened and Karna stepped in. Her athletic body was clad in tight black leather pants and boots. While her stomach and shoulders were bare, her bust was wrapped in a tight black leather band. A leather collar snugly wrapped around her neck, completing her outfit. She and Xarthul kissed briefly.
Xarthul sat back in a padded chair and Karna approached Teneila.
"If you want blood, you must earn it." Karna purred as she looked down at Teneila as she still knelt on the floor. "Take off my clothes."
"What?!" Teneila gasped.
Karna responded with a quick smack to Teneila's face. "I do not like to repeat myself." Karna said sternly. "Take them off."
Teneila reached out and hesitantly began to unfasten Karna's belt. Karna smiled and aided Teneila slightly, wiggling her hips and lowering her pants as Teneila removed the belt. Her black silk undergarment became visible but Teneila continued to slowly peel Karna's pants below her knees.
"Forget the pants." Karna ordered. "Take off the rest."
Teneila closed her eyes and reached up to remove Karna's undergarment, peeling it down to her knees. Karna ran her fingers through Teneila's red hair and tilted her face up revealing her eyelids pinched shut. Karna frowned with dissatisfaction pulled Teneila's mouth against her exposed mound. Karna slowly rotated her hips and smeared her musky labia against Teneila's closed lips.
Karna tugged at Teneila's hair. "Remove my top."
Taneila stood up slowlyand reach around to untie the laces that held the leather breast wrap in place.
"Too slow? Why?" Karna asked as she noticed the lack of eagerness in Teneila's actions and continued her hold the red locks.
"I do not lay with women. The sight of another woman's body is not appealing to me." Teneila solemnly replied as she finished unting the bow that held the top together. She slowly pulled the leather breast wrap away and dropped it, revealing Karna's breasts.
Karna gasped slightly as she felt her breasts freed from the tight confined of the leather garment, her nipples visibly hardening.
"Kiss me." Karna whispered as she pulled Teneila's face to hers.
Teneila initially resisted, but Karna glared at her angrily which persuaded Teneila lean forward and kiss her briefly on the lips. Karna slithered her tongue over Teneila's lips and continued the kiss more forcibly. Teneila stiffened in protest, but relaxed when Karna did not punish her. She opened her mouth and accepted Karna's deft tongue, pretending that she was kissing a man.
Karna cupped and fondled Teneila's naked breast using her free hand. Then she directed Teneila to sit on the bed.
"So sweet and ripe..." Karna whispered sensuously, her fingertip strumming Teneila's nipple.
Teneila quivered when Karna moved her hand and reached down to caress Teneila's fleshy petals. Karna laid Teneila on her back and crawled on top of her, continuing to kiss the magician.
"Stop..." Teneila moaned, "uhhh.... please..." The words becoming harder to say as they were interrupted with Karna's tongue against her own.
Karna kissed the magician's chin, then move her lips down the side of Teneila's pale neck. She kissed her collarbone and licked and kissed down to the magician's breast.
"But you like this. Do not fight me... embrace the pleasure." Karna whispered as she closed her lips over Teneila's left nipple and sucked. The magician's nipple grew hard as Karna caressed it with her tongue. She placed it between her teeth and nibbled gently, causing Teneila to writhe in pain and pleasure.
Karna vigorously massaged Teneila's pussy, causing the magician to groan louder and more frantic with lust. Karna withdrew her fingers from Teneila's wet entrance and sniffed at the sticky nectar that coated her fingers. Then she slowly licked it off. Running her tongue down Teneila's clenching belly, Karna guided her mouth to Teneila's womanhood. She tugged apart Teneila's thighs and the magician relented, spreading her legs wide.
Karna traced a finger over the swollen and parted labia and inhaled Teneila's musky aroma. Teneila whimpered, the strength in her legs gone and her pussy throbbed with lecherous need. Teneila unleashed a long, aching moan as Karna pressed her face into Teneila's crotch, enveloping her clit with her mouth. Karna sucked on the fleshy labia, tugging at the reddened folds with her teeth and lips. Her tongue flattened againstTeneila's clit, causing the magician to arch her back with blissful agony.
Teneila clenched the sheets of the bed beneath her as her thrashings became more violent. Teneila groaned sharply, her bare nipples stiff as her pussy flared with passion. Karna relentlessly suckled on Teneila's womanhood, causing the magician to whimper helplessly with rapture. She groaned as her muscles clenched and clear honey burst from within, splattering Karna's tongue and lips. Karna swallowede Teneila's orgasmic juices, her nose buried in the magician's musky red bush. Once the magician's pussy stopped convulsing and seeping with honey, Karna moved her wet lips to the inside of Taneila's thigh, licking the splattered droplets from the pale flesh.
"For such sweet honey, you deserve a little blood." Karna whispered mockingly as she used a finger to wipe the last of Teneila's climax from the side of her mouth.
Karna stood and fetched a flask of blood from Xarthul. When she returned to the redhead, she opened the flask and dribbled a little on Teneila's breasts. "Drink up." the female vampyre ordered.
Teneila cupped her breasts and lifted the soft flesh to her mouth, licking the blood without hesitation. Karna and Xarthul watched intently as the magician licked the blood from both of her breasts. Once she was finished and lsat up, her breasts were gleaming with saliva. The two vampyres smiled ate each other as they saw the need still in Teneila's eyes.
"More!" Teneila demanded.
"Mmm... then you will have to earn it." Karna purred as she bent and kissed Teneila on the lips.
"You will also have to learn how to get your own." Xarthul said as he watched the two women. "But it will have to be tomorrow. The sun is rising very soon, so can't be shopping now."
"That means we have time to get acquainted." Karna added as she pulled Taniela's face against the dark curls of her bushy mound
Karyn and Lynthia embraced fiercely, needfully. Their lips collided and molded together in a ferocious, passionate kiss. Their gasps were heavy as their tongues swrled, stroking and caressing each other. Karyn turned Lynthia toward the wall and pushed her forcibly, holding her against the wall as she ripped the blonde woman's clothes from her body
Lynthia grinned and gasped as she felt the fabrics torn from her body with a loud ripping sound, as well as the arousal from her lover's enthusiasm. Karyn grabbed a handful of Lynthia's blonde hair from behind and pulled her head back, so the two women could kiss and suck at each other's tongues. Lynthia reached behind herself to hang onto Karyn, her body squished against the wall beneath Karyn's stronger body. Karyn continued to strip her lover, only pausing to kiss her mouth roughly, and finally pulled away the last pieces of fabric that covered Lynthia's flesh.
Once she was totally naked, Lynthia pushed from the wall and spun about. She giggled playfully and pushed Karyn back until they reached the bed and she pushed the warrior down. Karyn smiled up with surprise at Lynthia's rough play. Lynthia began to undress Karyn with enthusiasm that equaled her lover's. Bit by bit, more of Karyn's body was exposed. Lynthia paused to admire Karyn's breasts jiggle when freed.
Ignoring the clothing for a moment and succumbing to her libidinous needs, Lynthia cupped Karyn's soft breasts and squeezed them, pinching and pulling the nipples to hardness. Karyn threw her head back, closing her eyes and moaned as she felt the air and Lynthia's hands caress her naked flesh. Lynthia returned to her task and pulled away Karyn's loincloth, revealing her lover's brown tousled patch of pubic hair and now Karyn was completely naked.
Gasping with sexual enthusiasm, Lynthia laid on top of Karyn and entwined her long legs with Karyn's, pressing their mounds against each others thigh. Animal lust guiding them, they thrust their crotches against each other in perfect unison, each lovely woman panting as the heat between their legs grew. Juices trickled from their slits and lubricated their swollen clits, encouraging them to grind harder.
Their bodies began to sweat as they writhed against each other and they nearly climaxed in unison. Lynthia and Karyn both screamed out their lust, forming a sensual duet of cries that echoed through the room. Their labia spread against each lover's thigh, creamy smears of cum drenching their thighs and wetting the sheet beneath them.
As their cries of pleasure turned to soft moans, Lynthia lifted her wet crotch off Karyn's thigh. She whined slightly at the warm throb within her pussy. Lynthia knew that greater pleasures awaited as she crawled up and knelt above Karyn's face. Lynthia twined fingers of one hand in her lover's auburn hair and used the fingers of her other hand to spread her labia as she settled on Karyn's mouth.
Karyn stuck her tongue out and pressed her lips against Lynthia's pink inner petals, then probed her tongue deeply between them into Lynthia's tunnel. Lynthia's shoulders shivered like a wave as Karyn tongue caressed her slick interior walls.
She released Karyn's hair and used both hands to maul her own breasts as an excess of ecstasy built up within her. She pinched and pulled her hard nipples with while continually rocking her hips on her lover's face. Karyn increased the intensity of her sucking, causing Lynthia to lean back and support herself with her hands on either side of Karyn. Lynthia shuddered with ecstasy as she felt Karyn suck on her clit with wet smacking sound that drove Lynthia mad with pleasure. Her breasts shook as her torso convulsed with the blissful orgasm. She clamped her eyes closed and her mouth gaping open as she moaned loudly. Her orgasm came like a wave, washing over her with intense rapture over from the back of her neck down to her pussy that clenched and drooled cum onto her lover's face.
Karyn continued to lap at the oozing slit while caressing Lynthia's thighs. Lynthia slowly sat up, looking down at Karyn grinning against her womanhood. As her inner muscles stopped clenching Lynthia leaned to the side and laid down to hug Karyn. They kissed again, their tongues entwining and exchanging saliva and Lynthia's cum between the two.
Karyn moved down and fastened her mouth on Lynthia's left breast, sucking hungrily on the nipple. Lynthia moaned and reached down to fondle Karyn's cleft and run a finger between her aroused petals, spreading them apart and probing the warrior's entrance with her finger.
"Oh Karyn!" Lynthia whispered. "Please let this never end."
Jatz walked through the halls of the inn, humming softly to himself as he twirled a small sack of coins in his hand. His latest round of pick pocketing was quite profitable. He knew they were moving on soon, and he wondered where Teneila was. He knew she had disappeared previously to meditate in the woods, so he assumed she was doing it again. As he walked by Karyn's room, the thief paused as to listen to strange moans coming from within.
Karyn laid herself on top of Lynthia, moaning as she gave her lover another passionate kiss. Sweat gleamed on their bodies and matted their hair, the result of hours of lovemaking. Karyn leaned herself forward, supporting herself on hands and knees to hover over Lynthia. Her sweat-covered breasts swayed and dripped with perspiration onto Lythnia's chest. She moved up and pushed one dangling breast into Lynthia's face, feeding the nipple between her lips.
Lynthia pressed her mouth into the soft breast and sucked at the hard nipple. Then Lynthia moved to Karyn's other breast and suckled its nipple. Her tongue circled Karyn's pebbled areola and then caressed and stroked the stiff nipple, biting down on it gently. After adorning the right breast completely with saliva, Lynthia moved back to the left, lavishing it with the same lustful attention. Karyn's fingers dug into the damp bed sheet beneath her, the auburn woman's nipples were one of her erogenous zones, and she moaned while Lynthia continued to feast hungrily upon them.
"Yes...harder... Lynthia!" Karyn begged, her body on fire from Lynthia's passion.
The fog of bliss that filled the two licentious women's minds disappeared in an instant, with the sound of the door opening and Jatz's gasp.
"Jatz! Get out!!" Lynthia screamed at the thief, reaching over to the nightstand for her dagger.
Jatz closed the door quickly and stood for a moment, puzzled. The tip of Lynthia's dagger suddenly popped through the door with a splintering thunk. The thief yelped, stepping backwards with fear. The sounds of Karyn and Lynthia's moaning returned from within the bedroom, this time even louder and more ferocious than before. He heard the bed beginning to knock aganst the wall, accompanied by even louder moans, causing another guest walking by to take notice. Jatz shook his head and motioned the man to move along.
"Great gods." Jatz muttered as he walked away. "Am I the only one here who has not had sex with everyone else?" The thief stiffened with surprise as his ears filled with two ear-piercing orgasmic shrieks.
Cold grey stone walls surrounded the dirty furnishings and strewn about weapons. The owner of the house had no desire to clean up after himself, he even grew accustomed to the constant buzzing of insects swarming around; attracted to the specks of leftover food on dirty dishes and utensils. On top of a bed made out of furs, the massive form of Rath slept. His snores were muffled by a mouthful of fur and his massive frame rose and fell with his breathing. The smell of alcohol filled the room, and was the reason for the barbarian's deep slumber.
A sudden thump in the small dwelling awoke Rath. For a drunken man he moved with incredible speed, rolling out of bed and grabbing a lance that hung on a nearby wall. He crept into the next room and saw a naked red-haired woman lying on the floor.
"Hmmm?" he mumbled as he gently prodded the woman with his lance. The woman began to stir and she rolled onto her back, revealing her face. But Rath was staring at her breasts as they moved with her body, then he recognized her face.
"You." he sneered, and bent to grasp Teneila by her red locks. He pulled her to a seated position and knelt down so they were eye-to-eye. "You are that magician. Do you realize what humiliation I suffered from your little trick?!"
Teneila did not reply. Her face was completely solemn and her body completely still. The magician's slender arms were bound by the wrists behind her back with a strong cord, as were her ankles. Rath guessed that she had been dumped her, but he could not guess by whom or for what purpose. However, the woman's beauty and her naked figure were enough for the hungover man to forget his questions. His lust drove his next actions, and he ignored the fact that her skin was very pale.
"Please, kill me." Teneila whispered, tears filling her eyes as she spoke.
"Certainly." Rath consented as he dropped his lance and began to undo his pants. "But they say that pleasure should take priority over work."
Rath pulled out his soft cock and lifted Teneila to her knees. He squeezed his shaft and stroked his manhood a few times, arousings it from slumber before pressing the swelling head into her face. After prodding at her lips a few times with it, he useed his free hand to hold her jaw and opened her mouth. Rath pushed the dark head of his cock between her lips and grunted with pleasure as he began thrusting against her tongue and his cock stiffening with this unexpected tryst.
Teneila's cheeks became wet with tears as she held her mouth open and allowed the cock to slide between her lips, her tongue caressing the underside of the firm shaft with saliva.
"Kill me, kill me, it's the only way to save yourself." Teneila thought over and over, the taste of Rath's expanding manhood distant in her mind.
Rath grasped a handful of Teneila's red hair and used it to pull her beautiful face into his hairy crotch. Teneila closed her eyes and tried to ignore the hot cock growing in her mouth. Rath grunted with pleasure as he felt the tip of his cock poke the back of her mouth, causing Teneila to grunt and choke slightly.
The unexpected visitor and submissive compliance was too much for Rath. He felt his balls tighten and quickly pulled his cock from Teneila's mouth. With a grunt, his cock pulsed and hot white cum spewed from the swollen head and landed in her open mouth. The strand of thick cum settled along the length of her tongue and dribbled over her lower lip. With another grunt, Rath shot a second strand of hot white cum that splattered the side of her nose before the white glob slid down over her lips. Teneila reacted with a blank stare as a third strand of thick cream sprayed against her chin and hung there briefly before the glob fell onto her breast.
"No...I must fight it..." Teneila thought to herself. The smell of Rath's seed began to arouse dark hunger within her.
Rath picked up Teneila by the hair and one hand in her armpit and dragged her to the nearby bed. Throwing the magician on the dirty cover, he used a knife to cut the cord around her ankles before spreading her legs apart. Rath lifted her legs by the back of her knees and held them around his waist.and grinned, his eyes focused on her red tufted pussy. Teneila looked up at Rath through wet eyes, wriggling with resistance as Rath pressed the head of his wet cock below her clit. He pushed his hips forward and the engorged cock slid into her warm pussy.
Teneila moaned and panted with pain and hesitant pleasure, her saliva had provided a good lubricant for Rath's veiny invader. The old bed rocked as Rath withdrew slightly and then thrust into Teneila. Desire, and a hunger began to build up inside the magician's womanhood. She began to rock her hips and return his thrusts, her body enflamed hunger now guiding her actions while her mind could only watch. Teneila's inner muscles embraced Rath's rod eagerly, she began to clench around the hard wet shaft.
Rath planted his hands alongside the shoulders of the naked magician and he began intensifying his thrusting motions. The sounds of their slapping wet crotches filled his ears, as did the weak, sensual moans of his new slave. Teneila's wrists bounced against the rise and fall of her buttocks as her body moved with Rath's thrusts. Rath grunted as his cock throbbed and orgasmed into Teneila's hot pussy. The volume of cum was less than his first climax, but his cock twitched several times, and hot cum seeped from his cock with each pulse.
Teneila tossed her head back and forth as her mind was bombarded with sexual ecstasy, screaming out with lust. She bit her lip as she tried to fight her blooming hunger. Already she had succumbed to sexual desires, but a greater, darker need was growing against her will.
"No...ahh...I can not hold it back any longer! I ahhh...am sorry!!"
Teneila gasped as her own climax exploded. Her pussy clamped on Rath's cock and her hips quivered as clear fluids flowed from her slit stretched around his shaft, and darkened the dirty cover beneath her ass.
Teneila shuddered and moaned with orgasmic bliss, her pussy still throbbing with their combined fluids coating Rath's veiny cock. She sat up with a surprising lunge, and her mouth clamped on Rath's neck. Her fangs pierced his skin and she began to suck the flowing blood.
The bedroom was quiet for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. Only the smell of sex remained, hanging in the air. Perspiration and other bodily fluids glistened on the naked bodes of the two lovers as they embraced on the bed. Karyn and Lynthia's passionate lovemaking had finally been reduced to gentle petting.
"Karyn." Lynthia whispered, her face next to her lover's.
Lynthia's left hand continued to stroke over Karyn's soft breast. Her hand moved to Karyn's round hip, and Karyn reached forward to gently stroke Lynthia's golden hair.
"I feel so happy Karyn." A smile formed on Lynthia's face. "Never have I felt such joy."
"Nor have I Lynthia." Karyn smiled. "I have you, the quest is nearing its end, and I have confronted my own weaknesses. I have learned so much about what it means to love someone, and about myself. It seems twisted that we should both become stronger by causing so much pain between us."
"Life is full of pain." Lynthia stated. "Sometimes it is learning to avoid it that you become stronger. But why are you so reflective all of a sudden? I can only think of your body right now."
"No reason." Karyn replied flatly.
"Well, there is one item I sometimes ponder. What will our future be like together?"
Karyn paused, continuing to stroke Lynthia's hair gently while a blank look emerged on her face. "I see us in the bath." Karyn smiled.
Lynthia smiled back, snuggling closer. "With scented soap?"
"Mmm...yes..." Karyn replied. "And hot water. And I am rubbing oils into your skin, on your face, your arms, your breasts. Perhaps even...a little right here." Karyn whispered her last suggestion as she cupped her hand over Lynthia's blonde-haired crotch.
"Mmmm...." Lynthia kissed Karyn.
After a long, erotic bath together, Lynthia and Karyn finally left their sex-scented room. They mounted their beasts outside and waited for Jatz and Slithe. Slithe finally appeared in his long, concealing cloak and hood, while Jatz appeared shortly after; a look of confusion marring his face.
"Where is Teneila?" the thief asked.
"I do not know." Karyn replied with concern. "She did not say anything to anyone?"
"No." Lynthia said.
Slithe shook his head.
Karyn pondered what course of action to take next. "Perhaps we should just continue." she suggested.
"You mean, leave Teneila behind?" Lynthia asked.
"Teneila probably left us to tend to magician business. I think we would know if she was in trouble." Karyn explained.
"I suppose so." Jatz agreed. "After all, she is a fairly powerful magician. I doubt anyone could cause her any harm."
Teneila's awareness returned as she groaned weakly with bliss-shrouded bodily sensations as she felt Xarthul stabbing his manhood into her pussy, with her legs spread apart cruelly. She was on her back and her arms were pinned to the headboard above with shackled wrists. And her mouth was being painted with the juices flowing from Karna's labia.
Karna exhaled with exertion as she rubbed her splayed and wet pussy on Teneila's mouth. Her feminine moans were accompanied by Xarthul's masculine grunts as he hammered the magician's red tufted womanhood with his hard pale shaft. Karna's back arched as she felt herself climax. She clutched Teneila's red hair for support as her shoulders shook. Xarthul watched Karna writhing and cumming on the magician's face and the view took him over the edge as he thrust deeply and held his hips against Teneila's crotch as his cock flexed and deposited globs of thick cum within her. The two vamyires orgasmed in unison, and Teneila moaned beneath them as both her pussy and mouth were flooded with cum.
"Master Xarthul?" a soldier called out from behind the door as if he had been waiting for the moans to cease from inside the room.
"Yes?" Xarthul panted.
"The sun will set fairly soon, and our spies have indicated Karyn is moving out of town. We can catch up with them if we depart now."
"Alright." Xarthul pulled his cock from Teneila, smeared with their lovemaking juices. He watched her wet labia slowly close as he stepped off the bed. "Tell the men to prepare the shielded carriage, we will board it shortly."
Karna slid off the redhead and lay to the side. She used a finger to scoop the female honey along Teneila's chin and cheeks and push it between the magician's lips.
"You...cannot tolerate... the sunlight... can you?" Teneila asked between licks of Karna's cum-collecting finger. Her arms were still pinned above her head.
"Neither can you." Karna smiled, stroking Teneila's red hair. "Seeing a sunrise and sunset is overrated anyway."
Darkness began to envelop the land, its shadow slowly forming over Karyn and her party. The town behind them was already quite distant and before them a lush forest laid in wait to accept the travelers. The trees in this grove were not as ancient as the ones in Nightwood, so they did not possess any of the claustrophobic elements of the dark forest. The full moon easily illuminated the group's path, as they walked alongside their beasts at a relaxed pace. Slithe, the Lizaroid suddenly stopped and extended his arm in a gesture to halt the party.
"What it is?" Jatz whispered.
"Something is watching us." Karyn said, her eyes scanning around them.
"I smellsss something, butsss how could yousss sensed itssss too?" Slithe asked the warrior.
"I do not know," Karyn replied, "but... almost as if I can just sense some sort of negative emotion nearby." The palmed her Mustel's flank and placed a hand on the sword hilt hanging on her hip. "In fact, I sense it is coming closer to us."
Slithe turned around, towards the forest behind the party, just in time to see it.
Two black Mustels exploded from the treeline, their dark hides provided them with excellent camouflage. The Mustels each had a rider garbed in black clothing, and once they cleared the trees they stopped as several other dark-clothed men emerged from the treeline.
Battle cries echoed as did the sounds of steel clanking as the soldiers also stopped and readied their shields. Behind the row of soldiers, came five figures, three of them wore dark hoods that concealed their faces. One of them was extremely tall, and he stepped forward toward the group. The entire party took notice at the way the soldiers parted as he walked through their line.
"Run!" Karyn suddenly ordered to her friends.
Jatz took off immediately, climbing atop his Run Lizard and slapping it's neck to persuade it to run as fast as it could. Slithe hesitated for a moment, but dashed after Jatz once he realized the sincerity of Karyn's command. Lynthia however, refused to leave her lover's side.
"Kill her companions." Xarthul calmly ordered his soldiers. "Start with the blonde one."
Lynthia glared at the tall darkly clad man and drew her dagger, reading her body into a battle stance as several soldiers began to advance on her.
"NO!" Karyn screamed, running to stand between the dark man and her lover. "Run Lynthia! If I fall, continue the quest!" Karyn then quickly gave her medallion to Lynthia.
Lynthia accepted the medallion but remained. "I will not leave you!"
Karyn kissed Lynthia quickly on the lips. "If you love me you will finish it."
Lynthia reluctantly nodded and lept on her Mustel. Lynthia heeled her Mustel in the sides, causing it to whine and break into a dash almost instantly.
"This is clearly between me and you." Karyn sternly addressed the darkly-clad man, whom she recognized from their brief skirmish in the desert. "I think it would prove your strength to leave my friends out of our conflict."
"I have more interesting demonstrations of my strength, than mercy to bystanders." the tall man replied.
"Who are you?" Karyn demanded. "If you wish to kill me at least let me know my enemy."
"I am Xarthul." He replied, his eyes remaining focused on Karyn. "And you ruined my life."
"That name means nothing to me. Why do you stalk me Xar-thul?!" Karyn blurted angrily.
"You have no idea." Xarthul smirked. "Are you aware of the past your mentor's past?"
"I am aware that he was once a great warrior. And his old age has brought him wisdom." Karyn replied.
"Perhaps, you do not know that he had a son."
Karyn's eyes widened as she realized the meaning of Xarthul's words. "You..." she gasped.
Xarthul nodded slightly. "Imagine Karyn, growing up with a full-blooded warrior as a father. Always trying to impress him, and never succeeding. I worked and trained endlessly, but he was never impressed. Then one day he told me to leave. He said he would devote his time to training someone else."
Karyn stared silently.
Xarthul continued. "That new person was you Karyn. You took my father."
"I did not take him. Your father chose to mentor me" Karyn asked.
"I wanted to prove to my father I was stronger than you. I wandered the world, obtaining skills and knowledge but never growing stronger. Until one day by chance, I was attacked by a vampyre. It almost killed me but Karna saved my life. So I rewarded her." Xarthul paused as Karna stepped forward to stand behind Xarthul and wrapped her arms around his waist. "By allowing her to become my first victim."
"Had I know all this,." Karyn explained. "I would have encouraged my mentor. Your father... to take you back."
"I would not have wanted it that way!" Xarthul bellowed. "I am now stronger than you. Stronger than any mortal. I will march back to my father with your head on a pike. I do this to spite him, to prove he was wrong!"
"You will not win Xarthul." Karyn sneered, tightening her grip on her blade.
Xarthul's lips turned up slightly in a half smile and he softly uttered one word. "Teneila."
One of the hooded figures standing behind Xarthul disrobed her cloak, dropping it to the ground, revealing Teneila. The red-haired magician was naked from the waist up, her pale breasts glowed in the moonlight. A black wrap was tied around her hips.
Karyn gasped with shock as she saw the Teneila's ivory skin and the obedient manner in which she joined Karna to drape herself around Xarthul spoke to her absence and vampyre conversion.
Xarthul smiled and placed an arm around Teneila, who caressed Xarthul's chestplate with one hand. Karna lifted Teneila's chin and placed a wet kiss on the magician's lips.
Xarthul was confident. "As you can see Karyn, I defeated your magician. As well, I have also recruited an old friend of yours. Come Rath."
The tallest hooded figure pulled back his hood, revealed Rath beneath it. His expression held revenge as he scowled at Karyn.
In the moonlight, Karyn could see his formerly bronzed complexion was now resembling ivory. Karyn knew the barbarian would have increased strength and invulnerability, and his bloodlust for her would only be augmented by his new thirst.
"And then of course, there is Flinton."
"Flinton?" Karyn whispered. The warrior snapped, "Is he also a victim of your vampyric curse?!" She tightened her grip on two sword in her hand.
"No as a matter of fact." Xarthul replied, slowly unsheathing his own weapon. The darkly-clad man then snapped his fingers and the last hooded figure revealed his face. Flinton's blonde hair was tussled from the hood, but he stood solemnly among Xarthul's troops, his bow and arrows were slung over his back.
Xarthul watched Karyn's shocked expression and added, "It is a greater blow to you is it not, to know that Flinton agreed to betray you... for gold."
Karyn clenched her jaw as she listened to Xarthul's boast. Although the vampyre had offered no evidence to back his claim, something inside Karyn knew that he was telling the truth.
"Hello Karyn." Flinton waved with a smile. "So good to see you, although disappointing it is under such circumstances. I was hoping to ride your hips at least one more time."
"You bastard!" Karyn screamed. "When I am through with Xarthul I will relieve your shoulders of the abomination you call your head!"
Xarthul smirked and he mentally gloated - A former ally now fallen. A former enemy returned, stronger than ever. And a former lover, now bragging about his conquest of her womanhood. Her attacks will come from raw, unfocused emotions of anger. No doubt she will prove an easy target. - he thought to himself.
"Karyn. Obviously my father did not teach you much about human nature. You are a whore Karyn. Nothing more. That is why Flinton so easily lay with you many times. He is able to live and brag about how he coupled with Karyn, the Mighty Warrior."
Karyn growled loudly and ran towards Xarthul, her hands on her sword in preparation for a wide sweeping arc. Karyn cried out her rage as she swung, the blade slicing the air with an ear-piercing sonance.
Xarthul leapt high in the air, avoiding his opponent's strike and drew his sword over his head. He brought it down as his entire mass crashed to the ground, narrowly missing Karyn as the warrior rolled to her left. Dust kicked up from the impact Xarthul made upon landing, and Karyn made a swoop at he recovered from the slight shock of hitting the ground. Xarthul anticipated this action, and blocked her attack. The two fighter's blades met with a loud crash, and they pressed towards each other with gritted teeth.
"Whore." Xarthul taunted.
He suddenly felt an impact on his thigh. Karyn had just kicked him while she held his attention. Xarthul mentally complimented Karyn for the deception as he felt his body begin to lean and compensate for the blow, enough for the force he exerted on his blade to lessen slightly. Karyn took the opportunity to perform a backflip, catching th surprised Xarthul in the chin and allowing her to gain a bit of distance away from him.
Xarthul staggered backward, he could feel a bit of blood on the corner of his mouth as he attempted to regain his balance. Karyn screamed as she ran towards him again, her sword drawn back for a powerful swipe. Xarthul blindly swung in her general direction and luck blessed his stroke that he was able to deflect the warrior's attack. He watched the tip of her blade fly harmlessly past his face, and by then he had regained his balance and prepared a strike of his own.
Clash after clash rang the air as two metal blades crashed into each other, each blow guided by the strength and skill of two incredible fighters. Each swing, was intended to take the other's life. Xarthul stepped back a bit so he could muster all his strength into one wide slash to behead the warrior. Karyn ducked beneath it and heard his blade connect with a tree beside them, sending bark flying through the air.
The warrior thought that might distract the him for a moment, but her next attack was quickly blocked and the two resumed the duel with their blades. An attempted upward swing by Karyn was intercepted by Xarthul, who redirected her blade and pinned it to the ground with his own. As the warrior attempted to free her blade from beneath Xarthul's, the vampyre punched Karyn in the jaw, sending her staggering backwards, without a sword in her hand.
That was a fact Karyn noticed immediately, but she quickly had to refocus as Xarthul went on the offensive. Swing after swing sailed by her body, missing her only due to the skillful series of dodges she performed. Her face was still numb from Xarthul's strong blow but she ignored it. She saw from Xarthul's fighting stance what his next move was, a low attack to her ankles. She jumped into the air and performed a strong roundhouse kick that connected with Xarthul's cheek.
As he staggered backward, Karyn landed on the ground and rammed her shoulder into his chest. It sent the two fighters backwards enough that Karyn was able to reach down and scoop up her fallen blade. Karyn brought it slicing against Xarthul's chest, only to see her blade was unable to pierce his strong armor.
'Cowardly bastard.' She thought before attempting another blow. Xarthul had by then recovered from Karyn's previous attack and returned her new offensive blow for blow.
After parrying with Xarthul, Karyn suddenly fell to the ground and attempted an arcing sweep. Xarthul leaped backwards before her foot could connect. During his jump, he concentrated on his next move and not on his opponent. That, was what Karyn predicted, and she took the opportunity to strike.
The warrior quickly lept from the ground and raised her blade as she ascended. Her sword met its intended target as it sunk between the gaps in Xarthul's armor, the tip of her blade punched through his torso to emerge out the other side as a bloody point. Karyn pulled out her sword before Xarthul even had a chance to react. Karyn stabbed him again, this time piercing his side with a powerful thrust. Xarthul gasped in shock, and Karyn kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground.
As Xarthul rolled, Karyn lifted her blade for a final strike, aiming for his neck.
Even raw anger was not enough to cloud her judgement. Curse you father - Xarthul thought. - You raised a pupil stronger than I ever could have been. - The last image he saw was Karyn raising her sword above his fallen body.
It was then that Karna released Teneila and unsheathed her sword.
Karyn did not see the bystander strike coming. Nor did Teneila, whose warning came a second too late. Karyn felt a sharp pain on the right side of her back, above her pelvis. The pain that flared through her body sent the warrior crashing to the ground. She heard a slight laugh from behind as she struggled to stand, but found she could not.
Teneila's thoughts raced - I cannot help Karyn, for Xarthul's hold prevents me from harming him. Curse him for infecting me. - Teneila thought to herself. Then a realization came - "Xarthul told me I cannot harm him...but he did not specify Karna."
Teneila clenched her eyes shut as she exerted herself. Pain rose in the back of her head as she summoned her willpower, the dormant magic made it difficult to perform the spell. Her hand suddenly extended and a lightning bolt flew from her fingertips, striking Karna.
The vampyre woman never saw what killed her; as her body fell to the ground in ashes.
"Teneila?" Karyn gasped, staring at the magician and holding the wound at her back.
"Run!" Teneila insisted as the previously stationary soldiers around her began to move. Another realization flashed inside Teneila's mind. - She was the one that bit Rath. - "Rath! Kill Xarthul's soldiers!" she commanded the large barbarian.
Rath stirred with obedience and swung his fist towards the nearest soldier. The soldier wheezed as the barbarian's punch shattered several ribs and sent him crumpled to the ground. Two soldiers attacked Rath, drawing their swords and slashing at the large vampyre. Rath felt the blades slice across his flesh but they were not enough to injure him. Rath gripped one of the soldiers by the neck and snapped it. The other soldier plunged his sword directly into Rath's stomach, but Rath didn't flinch as he grabbed the soliders arm and broke it. He held the broken and arm and pulled the sword from his gut, twisting the soldier's arm and used his own sword to impale him. The large barbarian dropped the soldier and scanned the area for more soldiers to kill.
Karyn stumbled and ran despite the pain, and disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
Teneila attacked the soldiers with her new vampyric abilities. They fell quickly before her speed and strength, as well as her magic. With a wave of her hand, two more soldiers fell to the ground, victims of sudden heart attacks. A soldier attempted to attack her from behind, but the red-headed vampyre grabbed his throat and snapped his neck with a powerful squeeze. Bloodlust raged within her, Teneila bit into the dead soldier's bent neck and she drank from his body's, savouring the hot blood.
Once her thirst was satisfied, the vampyre magician howled with pleasure; the consumed blood was beginning to flow through her veins. Her body filled with warmth, and her skin began to display signs of color again. For just a brief moment, she almost felt alive again.
Karyn stumbled through the woods, her body reeling from a steady agony rather than a sharp pain that stood out in her back. Her vision began to swim and she found it difficult to hold her head steady. She was surprised how far and how fast she had been able to walk.
"Karyn!" a female voice suddenly exclaimed. Karyn looked up in the direction she heard the sound coming from and saw Lynthia running toward her.
"I told you to run..." Karyn wheezed.
"We did. All the way out here." Jatz said as he appeared to Karyn's left. The thief and the former queen picked up Karyn and guided her to the waiting mounts. Karyn laid down over the much shorter Run Lizard while Jatz and Lynthia mounted the Mustels. Slithe knelt beside Karyn and began securing her to the reptilian beast.
"The...amulet..." Karyn gasped as she weakly pointed to Lynthia. Lynthia looked down at the amulet on her neck, and held it within her palm.
"Yes, it is sensing an altar nearby. But we should take you for care..."
"No." Karyn disagreed with surprising energy. "I know...this...is the last one."
"How do you know?" asked Jatz.
"Because...the last beacon activated...I saw them..." Karyn said before passing into unconsciousness.
His eyes were still filled with darkness when they opened, but the stars that slowly came into focus made him realize he was staring at the night sky. Xarthul shook his head and clutched his side, he could feel his injury beginning to heal but great pain still burned within his torso. His hearing was still clouded, but he could detect Teneila's loud, ecstatic moans. He forced himself to sit up and saw Teneila drinking blood from one of his soldiers while Rath stood obediently nearby, standing in the middle of several dead soldiers. Xarthul turned away, only to see a pile of ashes to the other side. A strong feeling of dread rose from the pit of his stomach he tried to deny, but the sword that laid beside the ashes confirmed it was Karna.
The vampyre snarled quietly with rage, that grew into a growl, catching Rath's and Teneila's attention. The magician smiled with malice before resuming her consumption of the soldier's delicious blood. She closed her eyes and savoured it, the pleasure of it was almost enough to bring her to orgasm.
Xarthul forced himself up and shuffled to Teneila. "Stop Teneila!" he commanded angrily.
Teneila stopped obediently and set the dead soldier down, the second of the dead bodies she had drained of blood, She turned to face her master. Xarthul kicked her in the stomach, sending her doubled over with pain and shock. She clutched her belly as she curled on the ground, moaning at Xarthul's feet.
"You have cost me dearly." he fumed. "My soldiers are decimated, Karna is dead, and Karyn has escaped."
"Your soldiers... were delicious." Teneila gasped between her gritted teeth.
Xarthul responded with another swift kick to her back. This time, Teneila didn't give him any satisfaction, for she did not scream.
"Tell Rath to obey me from now on." he ordered his red-haired magician slave.
"Rath... obey Xarthul...." she repeated with hesitance.
Rath displayed no emotion as he walked to Xarthul's side and looked down at his previous master.
"Where in the god's names is Flinton?" Xarthul demanded as he looked around.
"Right here." Flinton said as he emerged from the thick foliage.
Xarthul's wrapped a hand around Flinton's throat and raised him slightly above the ground. "And why were you not helping the soldiers, or Karna?!"
"You paid me to break Karyn's spirit. Nothing more. I would have demanded more money if you wished me to be your soldier." Flinton replied.
Xarthul's grip tightened.
Flinton added, "However, I could make an exception and add whatever services you need at no extra charge. After all, the sun will rise and you will need someone to guard you during the daytime. You did say your soldiers are decimated" The archer smiled at Xarthul, then he began choking.
Xarthul paused in contemplation. He was still silent as he released Flinton and watched the archer drop to the ground. "Follow me." he ordered.
Continued in Chapter 11
The Restless Gods - Chapter 10
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