Part 16
Chapter 72: Ellie the Dominant
’So, Mistress,’ the elf asked. ‘How do you want me?’
‘Naked is a good start,’ Ellie said, appraising the slim toned body before her with its multiple piercings. She hardened her voice. ‘On your knees.’
‘Yes, Mistress.’ The elf smiled, lifting her hands behind her head and preparing to drop to her knees.
Ellie used the whip. It felt instinctive, one of those character traits that the AI gives a character. The whip slashed across the elf’s belly, curling round it and Ellie jerked her in close.
‘When I give a command,’ Honey said in the same tone, ‘I expect you to obey instantly.’
‘Yes, Mistress.’ The elf’s black cat-like pupils dilated and Ellie felt the woman’s breathing quicken then she dropped quickly to her knees, head bowed, hands behind her neck.
‘I hope you’re not going to be so slow in all your tasks, Worm.’ Ellie began to strut around her.
‘No, Mistress.’ the elf said. ‘I will try to do better.’
The whip slashed again and the elf gasped. The blow would have ripped the skin off a human but it left barely a mark on the woman.
‘YOU WILL DO BETTER.’ It was Honey’s voice again but somehow not, like the tone she had used with Prospero but with more resonance. This time there was a ripple of experience that made Ellie smile inwardly.
‘If I may be so bold, Mistress, we elves can take a lot of punishment, though we feel pain like humans.’
‘Do you now?’ Ellie lashed out, kicking the woman over and felt the thrill of experience and something more. ‘Fetch some cord. Mistress wishes to bind you.’
The elf climbed to her knees and Ellie kicked her again. ‘I DID NOT SAY YOU COULD RISE, WORM.’
‘No, Mistress. Forgive me.’
Ellie watched the woman crawl to a chest, the sort of which seemed to be ubiquitous in Thoth and which undoubtedly contained her collection of bondage gear. She opened it.
‘Wait,’ Ellie said. ‘Bring chains and locks. The iron chains.’
The woman looked up.
‘OBEY YOUR MISTRESS.’ Even saying it brought a thrill, even before the XPs came and Ellie glanced to the side to see the black clad Honey, a malevolent glint in her eye. ‘I know you have some.’
It was likely that the elf could free herself from ropes, possibly even break them but with her power limited by iron she would not be able to do so. It followed then that a submissive who had clearly chosen the character of an elf to enjoy the punishment such a body could endure would have some way of ensuring she could be made helpless.
It was likely, however, that only certain dominants would be allowed to use them unless they had the power of Command.
She saw the elf swallow, knowing the consequences but unable to resist the Command as she pulled out a drawer at the base of the chest which contained iron shackles, a collar and cuffs for her wrists and ankles.
This woman was a higher level than her and could probably have chosen to kill her if the Command had failed but, in the shackles she would lose all her power, be rendered weak, vulnerable. She knew the touch of iron caused elves pain, even burned their skin after long periods of contact.
Ellie watched, fascinated as the woman knelt up, totally in her thrall, and slid the collar around her throat, gently closing it with a click. The thrill of controlling this woman, her total obedience and the way she seemed to sag, to succumb to the loss of her magic was palpable and the roll of Experience nearly made Ellie stagger.
‘Your wrists,’ Ellie said. ‘Cuff them behind you.’
The woman looked up, genuine fear in her eyes but took up the shackles, her eyes locked on Ellie’s.
‘As Mistress commands.’ Very deliberately, the elf woman locked her wrists behind her as instructed. Her pain this caused was evident and Ellie felt her pulse race with excitement.
‘The darkness lurks within us all, Mistress,’ the Elf said, submission clear in her voice. ‘You must know that I am utterly in your power.’
‘SILENCE.’
The elf bowed her head.
There were rings in the floor and the beams supporting the walls and ceiling and a hook clearly designed for suspension. After the woman had crawled to her and licked the spiked heels of her boots, it was easy for Ellie to winch the elf’s arms up behind her, forcing her into an intense strappado that left her almost suspended in a position that would probably have dislocated Ellie’s shoulders.
She kicked the woman’s legs apart and then locked the shackles around them, tying them in place with ropes so that only the tips of her big toes touched the floor. Then Ellie stood back, loosed the whip and lashed the woman until she begged. The pleasure was intense, the roll of XPs exciting her but there was more than that, there was an excitement brought on by the thrill of dominance; it aroused her more than she would have expected - way more - so that with every stroke of the whip and every scream she felt lust rising higher within her, a hot flame that spurred her to greater cruelty.
She took cords and, tying them to the woman’s silver piercings, stretched her small breasts before using the piercings in her ears to drag her head back, increasing the tension in her captive body so that she was allowed almost no movement that did not cause her pain. Then she used the rings in the woman’s labia to spread them, finding herself almost disappointed that they were wet, dripping from the woman’s arousal. A weight hung from her clit and a cord tight on her nasal piercing left her all but immobile.
‘Ready for more?’
The elf swallowed nervously then nodded. ‘Yes, Mistress,’ she whispered.
‘I didn’t hear you, worm!.’
‘Yes, Mistress.’ The woman said, more loudly.
‘What?’
‘Please punish me again, Mistress.’
Ellie did, whipping the tight round buttocks and the toned calfs then the soles of the woman’s bare feet.
When Ellie had finished, the elf was whimpering, her body trembling from the pain of the beating and the punishing bondage. She slumped to the floor when Ellie released her from the suspension curling into a ball, the heavy chains clanking.
Ellie squatted over her, undoing the leather knickers before emptying her bladder.
‘Thank you, Mistress.’ The woman gasped, her face and hair wet with hot urine.
‘Now, pleasure me, worm.’
The woman lifted her head, chains clicking, her tongue raking over Ellie’s labia and then finding her clitoris. She was talented and Ellie’s body was hot with need. She climaxed quickly, squatting lower and smothering the woman with her sex, grinding it over her face even as the tongue worked inside her. The orgasm was intense and she howled with pleasure before standing to look down at her helpless slave and found herself filled with a desire to own her, to keep her as a pet, a sex toy, a slave.
‘May I cum now, Mistress,’ the elf said, breaking through Ellie’s thoughts.
‘If you can.’
The woman smiled. ‘Oh, I can.’ She rolled onto her belly, the heavy chain linking her cuffed wrists clanking and then began to grind her hips on the floor.
The spell was broken and Ellie felt a need to help the elf climax. It was what Seductresses did, after all. She crouched and lifted the woman in her arms, pulling her back against her body and sliding her fingers between the woman’s legs. Her pussy was soaking wet, hot and clearly sensitive and when Ellie stroked it the woman came hard spasming and crying out.
The ripple of Experience brought back a little of the pleasure she had felt a few moments before and she realised that these XPs were the ones she was used to - the ones before and the ones when dominant Honey had emerged in Prospero’s shop had been subtly different. Just as pleasurable, but different.
‘Hmm.’ The elf smiled saucily at Ellie. After the woman had climaxed, Ellie had released her and she had washed and dressed. ‘You’re good.’ Her wrists were red from the iron shackles, her body bruised under the brief elf-silk dress. ‘Quite the bad girl.’
Ellie watched as she bent and placed the new outfit in a bag, the whip marks on the pale skin of her bottom red and livid, calling to mind the woman's moans and screams and the pleasure of inflicting pain, the thrill of complete dominance.
It had been way more rewarding than the satisfaction of punching Val.
She was naked once again save the black thigh boots.
‘I need a couple more things before I go.’ Ellie said, snapping her attention back to the present. ‘Your Assassin friend took my butterfly kiss. Do you have one?’
‘I do,’ the elf said. She looked levelly at Ellie. ‘I guess you get through clothing quite rapidly.’ She smiled. ‘How many do you need?’
‘Two should be enough,’ Ellie said. ‘I need something to wear now.’ She glanced meaningfully at the elf. ‘And one spare.’
The elf frowned. ‘If I may be so bold, Mistress,’ she said, ‘perhaps something a little more in line with your current mood.’
She took a tiny parcel from a shelf behind the counter and dropped it into Ellie’s bag.
‘I have something more suitable for the bad girl around town.’
‘Ok.’ Ellie said. ‘And our party’s Adventuress has lost her clothing. Do you have anything suitable?’
The elf rolled her eyes. ‘Adventuresses!’
The members of the party that Ellie hadn’t sold into slavery were in the common room of the Traveller’s Rest when Ellie reached the tavern clutching her bag from Frills and Thrills.
Battle Babe turned as Ellie entered. Behind her were Bu-Shi-Doll and Katana Girl both dressed in formal kimonos and they stepped forward with the deliberate gait of women in tight skirts and wearing wooden sandals. The two Japanese were, Ellie noticed, still carrying their katanas.
‘Hey Beeb.’ Ellie clapped a hand on the woman’s shoulders feeling the hardness of the muscles beneath. ‘Doll-sama.’ She bowed courteously. ‘Maiko.’
‘Honey-San.’ Bu-Shi-Doll bowed and Maiko followed suit clearly trying not to giggle.
The big warrior looked down at Ellie and smiled, apparently amused by the girl’s gesture of camaraderie although she saw the Warrior’s eyes taking in the bruises from her morning in the Assassin’s guild. ‘Someone’s been shopping.’
‘I’ve been naked for at least half the time I’ve been here,’ Ellie said, turning to display her new purchase. ‘I felt it was time to make an effort.’
‘Well, it’s certainly discrete.’ The big warrior said wryly.
The outfit was far from discrete. The elf had dressed her in a patchwork figure hugging leather bodice with ‘designer’ rips in all the right places and a leather thong that was marginally less brief than the butterfly kiss. The outfit went well with the wet-look thigh boots and was accessorised with a studded leather collar and fingerless gloves; there was a leather sheath strapped to her thigh for her dagger.
As she’d walked through the streets of Thoth she’d discovered just how eye-catching it was, noticing at one stage that a leering Bard had walked into a lamppost as he’d craned his neck for a better look. Now she thought of it, the common room had gone quiet as she’d entered and only now were its occupants looking discreetly away.
‘A girl has to make an effort.’ She grinned and glanced at Maiko. ‘You look good too Mai.’
Maiko gave her a radiant smile, her head bobbing and the jewels hanging from gold combs in her lush black hair danced in the light.
‘I take it you have news,’ BB said, business-like.
Ellie looked around to make sure they were not overheard. The room was crowded and a buzz of conversation had arisen, apparently leaving all the room’s occupants distracted aside from a dwarf with long red hair wearing leather mail dozing on a couch in the far corner with a battle hammer clutched to his chest.
‘The final part of Sister Stephania’s Wand of Warding is in the Gordian Palace. I plan to break in and steal it tonight.’
Battle Babe raised her eyebrows, her amused smile returning. ‘Just you?’
‘I’m Level 4 now.’ Ellie said drawing herself up to a height that meant the top of her head came just above Battle babe’s huge cleavage. ‘Besides, I’m going to take Maiko,’ Ellie said, turning to Bu-Shi-Doll. ‘She’ll be wanting to try her…skills and…well…’ She grinned. ‘Someone’s got to keep me out of trouble.’
Ellie saw Maiko’s face break into an excited smile. Everyone looked at Bu-Shi-Doll who nodded slightly, her own hair jewellery swinging.
‘Still quite an undertaking.’ BB remained skeptical. ‘Even for a Level 4 Seductress and a Level 3…Samurai…with Ninja skills.’
‘There’ll be one other too,’ Ellie said. ‘Someone who knows the palace.’
‘Another one of your ‘contacts’?’ BB asked wryly.
‘Something like that.’ Ellie tried to suppress a smile and, she was embarrassed to realise, a blush. ‘More of a friend.’
‘Also with…Ninja skills?’
‘An Assassin actually,’ Ellie said.
‘I don’t know how you do it,’ BB said. ‘I’ve been in Fantasia X for four years and I don’t seem to know as many people as you.’
‘It’s what we Seductresses do.’ Ellie grinned.
‘So it seems,’ BB conceded. ‘Are you sure you don’t need me?’
‘Could you even climb over the palace walls?’ Ellie asked.
‘What?’ BB was askance. ‘Are you serious? Do I look like a monkey?’
‘Then, you stick to slaughtering legions of enemies in open combat and I’ll do the subtle stuff.’
‘Subtle?’ BB raised an eyebrow skeptically. ‘Are you going dressed like that?’
‘Of course not.’ She grinned. ‘I have something far more suitable in this bag.’
BB looked at Bu Shi Doll. ‘Looks like we’ve got the night off.’
Bu-Shi-Doll gave one of her rare smiles.
‘We’ll get it tonight,’ said Ellie with a note of triumph.
‘Dressed like that Honey, I don’t doubt it.’
‘I mean…'
‘Just don’t get distracted by all those Gordian machines,’ BB interrupted her. ‘I know what you Seductresses get up to.’
‘Maiko will look after me,’ Ellie said.
‘And if she doesn’t I’ll come and bust your sorry ass out of prison in the morning.’
‘Care to wager on that?’
The huge warrior laughed. ‘You’ve really got balls, Honey.’
Ellie laughed. ’I certainly hope not. There’s really no room in my new outfit for them.’
Maiko giggled.
‘Oh, and one more thing,’ Ellie said. ‘I found out what it does.’
‘The Wand?’
‘It makes you invulnerable to arcane magic,’ Ellie said with a smile of triumph. ‘So if we get hold of it, I’m guessing the Council will send us out against some Sorceress that I’ve heard is causing trouble to the west of the city.’
Battle Babe shook her head. ‘I really don’t know how you know that.’
Ellie smiled and winked.
‘BeBe-Sama.’ Bu-Shi-Doll asked.
‘Yeah?’ The big Warrior turned looking down at the little Samurai.
‘Can you watch girl?’ She bowed slightly and indicated Maiko. ‘She needs practice and I have…errand to run.’
‘Seems everyone’s got a contact in Thoth,’ BB said to Ellie with a wink. ‘Sure, I’ll watch her.’ She said turning to Bu-Shi-Doll. ‘At least until midnight or whenever this plan of our Seductress is going to be enacted.’
Bu-Shi-Doll bowed again. ‘Domo arigato.’
‘Doitiashimashite.’ BB bowed back as Bu-Shi-Doll turned and left.
Battle Babe watched her go.
‘I’d love to know where she goes every time we come here.’ The Warrior said.
‘Perhaps we should find out,’ Ellie said. ‘Here, hold this.’ She thrust her bag into the hands of the big warrior.
‘Hey…you can’t…’
But Ellie was already following the Samurai out of the door.
Maiko tried to follow but BB called her back. ‘Practice!’
Chapter 73: Bu-Shi-Doll’s Secret
Ellie kept her distance. There were many colourful figures in the streets of Thoth in the gathering darkness of evening but the diminutive Japanese woman in her green kimono with its dragon pattern walking with measured steps on the wooden sandals was easy to follow. From the Travellers’ Rest she headed west, crossing one of the main streets of Thoth, busy in the late afternoon with merchants’ carts and personal rigs, some pulled by ponies with four legs and some by those with two. There were slave coffles too, some long with at least three dozen slaves; threading their way among the traffic; most in the coffles were the standard bodies: Jewells and Kristals, Ambers too and a few Jades and Topazes but some were clearly adventurers most of whom looked surprisingly happy with their lot. Ellie spotted a blonde in a chastity belt that from the way she walked was clearly keeping something inside rather than protecting her.
Almost all the slaves, Ellie had noticed, were female although she did see one line of male slaves, all muscular and heavily chained, their bodies oiled; all wearing chastity restraints.
Slavers tended to walk at the head of their coffles while merchants and others drove carts. There seemed to be an arrangement of sorts like that on a conventional road with faster traffic in the centre and slower on the outside. Traffic came from the left too.
She was about to cross when she saw a pony cart of the two legged variety approaching rapidly, the driver whipping the blonde between the shafts with almost every step she took. The human pony was lathered with sweat and frantically high stepping in an attempt to imitate a pony at the trot. The woman wore a harness with a thick strap running down between her breasts from a high collar, it disappeared between her legs and was held there by a waist belt; the blonde was bridled and her reins attached to the end of a thin steel bit between her teeth held in place by a plethora of straps that encircled her head; blinkers kept her eyes from straying. Bells danced from her nipples as she ran, jingling as she passed Ellie.
It was only at the last moment that Ellie recognised Val. Many of the ponies Ellie had seen in Thoth seemed entirely happy with their lot but Val’s expression radiated a mix of fear and fury and, as they passed, Ellie could see that her buttocks were covered in welts and blistered in places from liberal use of the whip. Ellie tried and failed to feel a pang of guilt then crossed the road to follow Bu-Shi-Doll into a section of town with oriental style houses.
The Samurai glanced over her shoulder once and then walked under a torii gate into a broad street lit with paper lanterns. Ellie followed at more of a distance now, aware she might be more conspicuous here but soon found herself lost in a sea of brightly dressed bodies who looked to be her own age. Some were clad in kimonos but many wore coloured rubber and leather, the boys in wide shouldered jackets and the girls in colourful bustieres with briefs or skirts and over the knee socks like Manga heroes and heroines. A number of them, like Ellie, wore black. As she looked more closely, she realised there wasn’t much of a gender divide; as many boys as girls wore skirts and there were a number of pretty young boys with breasts. Most of the latter seemed to be pets, led along on leashes, usually attached to their tightly strapped balls. Some were down on all fours. There were Samurai too, some in complete suits of lacquered armour, others in kimonos; most carried katanas or dai katanas but some carried naginatas like the one Bu-Shi-Doll used in the open when she had space to wield it.
Ellie pushed her way through the crowd, following Bu-Shi-Doll noting a slight increase in XPs as she used the skill - those other XPs - nice but in a slightly different sort of way. A reward for the dark Seductress within her. It was enough to make her nipples harden and make her more aware of the thong between her legs.
She turned into a side street just in time to see her entering a gateway at the bottom of the street. This seemed to be a residential area and was almost deserted. Ellie hurried down the stone paved street past traditional houses with paper walls and straw roofs. The gate leads into a garden; an area of gravel set with stones, a pond among a grove of bamboo, a little wooden bridge. Ellie climbed the wall beside it, swinging her leg over no longer giving any thought to the flash of pussy as she swung her leg over then, with the help of a convenient flagpole, dropped into the garden nearly falling as her heels dug into soft mud and the momentum of her breasts carried her forward. She managed to right herself and crept forward crouching low, enjoying herself now, taking pleasure in the thrill of this clandestine surveillance; circling the pond as koi stared up at her open mouthed, creeping towards a wooden house with a tiled roof. There was a partly open bamboo blind over one of the windows and Ellie peered into the room beyond.
Inside, Bu-Shi-Doll had lit an oil lamp and was removing her formal kimono. Her obi lay on a low bamboo stool and Ellie watched as the woman folded her kimono. It was, Ellie thought, the first time she had seen the woman naked and was surprised by the pallor of her skin which nearly matched the heavy white make-up on her face. The Samurai’s body was small and neat, the skin smooth, unblemished, the breasts gentle swellings like Maiko’s with prominent brown nipples; her sex, Ellie noted, was smoothly shaven.
‘So that’s why you’re called ‘Doll’,’ Ellie whispered under her breath before wondering how the woman managed to keep her skin so smooth and soft looking.
Once naked, Doll knelt in front of a low bamboo table placing her katana beside her. There was something sensual in the way she knelt, legs spread, shoulders back, breasts thrust out; just as a slave would do. She knelt for several minutes with her eyes closed and Ellie wondered if she was meditating; then she opened her eyes and lit a small stove before placing a kettle on it with precise and economical movements. It was only at that moment that Ellie thought she saw her calm mask drop, her body stiffening, dark eyes searching the room, head turning from side to side with the jewels in her hair swinging. Then she relaxed again, assuming the perfect poise that Ellie associated with the Samurai.
Ellie waited, shifting her weight slightly from side to side to ease the muscles in her legs and the strain on her back from her heavy breasts while Bu-Shi-Doll knelt with her eyes closed.
Finally, the kettle began to steam and then boil. At that moment the door slid open and Bu-Shi-Doll opened her eyes, turning for a second to look directly towards Ellie then back again to face the door. She gave no indication of whether she had seen Ellie. Ellie ducked down quickly and waited a few moments before cautiously peering through the open window again.
The man who came in was also Japanese based on his avatar, a Samurai wearing a belted brown cloth jacket and trousers; the jacket was made of rough sack-cloth and had been patched and repaired multiple times; there was a katana and tanto thrust into the red sash of his belt. He was solidly built with black hair worn in a top-knot.
Bu-Shi-Doll bowed forward, placing her forehead on the bamboo matting of the house.
‘Master.’
Ellie was surprised the Samurai spoke in English.
‘It has been a long time Bu,’ the man replied, again in English.
‘Yes, Master.’
‘And my grand-daughter?’
‘I have been keeping her safe, Master.’ Bu-Shi-Doll continued to kneel with her forehead on the mat as she spoke. ‘And encouraging her skills.’
‘I would expect nothing less.’ He paused. ‘I sense there is more.’
Bu-Shi-Doll’s posture softened, but only slightly. ‘As I feared she has chosen to follow another way.’
‘It was ever the way with the young.’ The man regarded her. ‘The path of the Ninja?’ He sighed softly, resignedly rather than with sadness. ‘It is her choice.’
‘You are not saddened, Master?’
The man shrugged. ‘You have placed her feet on the path, now she must explore the garden.’ He paused. ‘And your own skills?’
‘I have been endeavouring to maintain them, Master.’
‘We shall see.’ He dropped to his knees in front of her and clapped his hands together. ‘Begin.’
Ellie half expected the Samurai to leap to her feet and snatch up her katana but instead, Bu-Shi-Doll took up the kettle…
The tea ceremony was exquisite to watch and Ellie was entranced as she followed Bu-Shi-Doll’s movements - so precise and perfect and, somehow, deeply submissive from the way she knelt, naked and in the posture of a slave; obediently and fastidiously preparing the tea before offering the man a tiny steaming porcelain cup; waiting for his approval, eyes cast down then hopefully raised.
The man placed the cup down and nodded once.
‘Thank you, Master.’
‘English?’
Bu-Shi-Doll’s eyes flicked in Ellie’s direction and the crouching Seductress feared the man might follow - turn and gaze - and that she might be spotted even in the growing darkness of the garden. She noticed a slight movement in his shoulder but he did not otherwise move.
She knew she should go. Honey told her they knew she was there yet, if they were aware of her presence then why did they not act? Besides, Ellie was in control here and Ellie needed to see what happened next.
‘You are ready?’ the man asked.
‘Yes, Master.’
Ellie watched the man slide his weapons from his belt, placing them on the floor before he stood. Bu-Shi-Doll looked up at him then picked up her katana and, springing to her feet, unsheathed it in one fluid motion. The couple stood facing each other for a long moment, a strange pairing of a deadly, china doll and the ragged old man with his broad face and unshaven continuance.
Bu-Shi-Doll changed her guard, lifting the katana, rising onto her toes.
They passed twice, Bu-Shi-Doll’s blade flashing faster than Ellie could follow and then, when she stepped forward and thrust for the third attack, the man spun and struck her with his elbow on the back making her stumble. She turned immediately, crouching and sweeping the deadly blade low; the man jumped in the air, somersaulting and kicking out towards Bu-Shi-Doll’s face. The woman just evaded the blow, the man’s bare foot merely brushing the side of her head and dislodging one of the jewelled combs which clattered to the reed tatami of the floor. She thrust the katana up but the man was no longer there.
The pair faced each other again, the man’s countenance was relaxed but there was a certain stiffness in Bu-Shi-Doll’s movements. Ellie saw the man tug at the silk sash holding his jacket closed; the garment swung open and Bu-Shi-Doll thrust, her blade slicing through the rough cloth. The man took a step back and Bu-Shi-Doll pushed her attack, cutting and sweeping with her katana driving the man backwards.
They fought for what seemed to Ellie, crouching in the darkness, like an age. Bu-Shi-Doll’s attacks slowly becoming less defined although undertaken with increasing determination; the man seeming to avoid all her efforts while at the same time inflicting a punch here and a kick there or simply pulling one of the combs from her hair as he passed her so that as the fight progressed Bu-Shi-Doll’s hair fell and swirled around her body. The Samurai’s katana pierced and sliced the man’s rough jacket so that, like Doll’s hair around her, it danced around him in ribbons as he moved but he remained unharmed.
Eventually, he struck, ducking her blade and catching her wrist, twisting it so that she dropped the katana. They grappled, twisting and turning, punching and kicking until suddenly he twisted her arm forcing her to the floor where they rolled together. Ellie saw Bu-Shi-Doll kick out and struggle but the man crouched over her, the shredded remains of his jacket hanging about them like a cowl.
When the man stood, Bu-Shi-Doll lay on her belly in a hogtie, bound with the silk sash that had been the man’s belt. The woman was panting hard and the beads of sweat on her milk white skin glittered in the flickering light of the oil lamp.
Ellie watched the man stand as Bu-Shi-Doll, teeth gritted, rolled and strained in her bonds, her muscles bunching as she tugged impotently against the silk Her once immaculately coiffed silky black hair had shaken almost completely loose and lay spilled across the reed matting in a lush carpet; strands of it hung across her face. Ellie saw Bu-Shi-Doll shake her head and blow at it in an effort to clear it away, shocked at the helpless state in which the fearsome warrior now found herself.
The man laughed at her plight, though not unkindly and bent to pull the last remaining comb from her hair.
‘You are improving.’ The man circled her slowly.
‘You beat me easily.’ Bu-Shi-Do wriggled, turning in an attempt to follow him and eventually rolled over onto her back, her spread legs and glistening pink sex now facing Ellie.
‘I hope my granddaughter develops half your skill.’
‘Even though she wishes to become a Ninja?’
The man stood above her, his feet between Bu-Shi-Doll’s spread legs. ‘It is her choice.’ He turned away and Bu-Shi-Doll resumed her struggles. ‘Do you spurn me in defeat?’ The vehemence of her outburst was a complete contrast to her usual temperament.
‘I would never spurn you, My Love.’
‘But you will punish me.’ There was a tension in the woman’s voice, tension from a need that Ellie recognised easily. It had been a reminder not an acceptance of defeat. She watched as the man took up a wooden cane and saw Bu-Shi-Doll struggle to her knees pushing out her breasts.
‘Hurt me, Master,’ she said. ‘Use me like the worthless slut I am.’
The man brought the cane down on the kneeling woman’s breasts.
‘You kinky slut.’ Breathed Ellie ducking below the window.
She wanted to look again but, instead, crept away as she heard the cane fall again.
Chapter 74: The Art of Illusion
‘Hey, Beeb.’ Ellie entered the common room of the Traveller’s rest. It was late evening, at least two hours after her return from the Japanese quarter of Thoth. After reaching the inn she’d gone to her room, masturbated to ensure she would be able to concentrate then read a little more of ‘On Illusory Magic’ by Carmen Colours.
‘How’s it going Honey?’ Battle Babe sat at a table with a flagon of what Ellie assumed was ale, oiling her battle axe.
‘Pretty good.’ Ellie flashed her a smile.
‘I thought you’d join us for dinner,’ the big Warrior said leaning forward. ‘Between you and me, young Maiko’s a bit serious.’
‘I was a little nervous, butterflies, you know.’ It was partly true but while she’d been reading she’d also been thinking about Bu-Shi-Doll. Now she knew what the Samurai did, Ellie realised she didn’t really want to know. She also knew that Bu-Shi-Doll knew Ellie had followed her. What had seemed like a game when she’d started out now felt like a betrayal of trust.
‘And was your mission successful?’
‘Eh?’
‘Did you find out where Doll goes?’
‘Oh, right. Em, yeah….’ Ellie shrugged trying to make light of it. ‘She goes to meet someone.’
Battle Babe rolled her eyes. ‘That’s it?’
‘Pretty much.’
‘Oh, well.’ Battle Babe shrugged. ‘And, despite the butterflies, are you ready for later?’
‘Pretty much.’ Ellie shrugged again. ‘Beeb, do you actually know what we’re going to do with this thing when we get it?
‘You know as much as I do.’ Battle Babe flashed a smile. ‘More actually.’
‘Really?’
‘That’s how it works sometimes. You get the item then you find out what to do with it. The council will let me know.’
‘Yeah, I guess so.’ Ellie sat down, setting the book in her lap.
‘Is there something else?’
‘I’m nearly Level 5 right?’
BB’s eyes flicked to the side as they did when she was consulting the AI. ‘Some way to go I’d say.’
‘But getting close.’
‘Maybe.’ Battle Babe leaned forwards.
‘Well, at Level 5 I get Illusionist spells, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘It’s just it would be really helpful, for the quest I mean, to have access to them now. You know, like you unlocked my Thief skills before I got to Level 1. Can you do it for other stuff?’
‘You’re asking me to break the rules of the game?’
‘No. Of course not,’ Ellie said hurriedly. ‘You know we all get a chance to access stuff before the Level occasionally; try before you buy; like mum…er, Amazonne did with her ability to spot traps. And I don’t have any Merchant skills but I can still strike Bargains sometimes.’
She realised as she said it that it was becoming harder. The Way of the Assassin made that part of her character stronger and led her away from the skills of Commerce. She had just chosen her skills for Level 4, aware that the Dark Seductress had grown in her vision when she had moved further down the path of the Assassin and the Spy. Was she more substantial too - strengthened by the Experience Ellie that had gained when dominating Prospero or the brutal way she had treated the elf. Was spying on her party the beginning of her first steps down the dark road?
‘I’m just asking if there’s any way you can ensure that I can cast an Illusion later,’ Ellie said carefully. ‘If I need it, obviously.’
‘Does your plan rely on an ability you haven’t got?’ Battle Babe raised an eyebrow skeptically.
‘No, no, of course not. I’m just saying that I’d hate it for things to go wrong. I mean you’re just as excited by this Golden Quest as we are. You clearly have a reputation and…well, you’re probably the best party leader in the game.’ Ellie touched a finger to the huge warrior’s arm. ‘I can see why…’
‘Don’t even think about using a Seduction on me.’
‘Of course not.’ Ellie masked the smile that threatened to give away her plan, and the successful Persuasion she had used before to get the Warrior to speak to her. ‘You’re way too high level and I can see you’re not interested in scrawny little girls like me. I know you prefer warrior types like Bu-Shi-Doll and Valkyrie.’
‘Yes.’ Battle Babe nodded. ‘You may be right.’
Ellie hid a grin.
‘And, of course, you like to fight.’
‘I’m a Warrior.’
‘And you don’t like the city.’
‘I prefer the open sky, the wilderness.’ The Warrior’s tone was wistful.
‘So I’m simply asking you to help me. Unlock my Illusionist skills, I get the artefact and we’re back under the open sky. I go up to Level 5, nobody’s the wiser.’
‘The use of illusions is learned magic. You have to study.’
‘I’ve been reading up.’ Ellie showed Battle Babe the book. ‘And you know I’m good at learning stuff like this.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Please.’ Ellie slipped out the Persuasion, felt it catch. ‘You know you can trust me.’
‘I wanted to be an Adventuress.’ Battle Babe said suddenly.
‘Why didn’t you?’
‘I failed my Trial.’
Ellie took her hand. ‘Why don’t you tell me about it?’ She purred.
‘Sure, and while I do, you can sharpen your dagger.’ Battle Babe passed Ellie the whetstone and guided her to a seat.
‘I started out as an Adventuress,’ BB said. ‘I was going to make a name for myself, become a Legend.’ She grinned at Ellie’s expression. ‘Believe it or not, like you, if I didn’t lose my costume and get tied up, it hadn’t been a good night. Yes, black girls do bondage too.’
‘What happened?’
‘I guess you know about the Trial of Artemis. When my time came, when I felt the summons to the Temple I went full of expectation. I was ready to face Artemis and prove myself for her to invest me with the Amulet that would define me as an Adventuress. I lay at her feet and worshipped her, let her use me, punish me mercilessly. She gave me these.’ Battle Babe touched the keloid scars in her face. ‘I went away sure I’d satisfied her and then, in the morning, when I woke up there was no Amulet and I realised I had failed.’ She shrugged. ‘That’s how I became a Warrior.’
Ellie reached to touch the Warrior’s hand, her finger tips brushing the woman’s fingers. ‘I’m sorry, Beeb.’
‘It was a long time ago.’ Battle Babe sighed. ‘I’ve made a good life here.’
‘Do you think…’ Ellie said. ‘Do you think mum will pass?’
‘Amazon?’ The Warrior smiled, teeth white against her black skin in the dimness of the common room. ‘I’m no judge but I’ve seen a lot of Adventuresses. She’s a wild one and I think Artemis likes that. I think she’ll do ok.’
‘Wow, Honey. You look gorgeous.’ Maiko stopped, staring open mouthed at Ellie in her tight black rubber and leather as she came into the room the girls shared. ‘That even better than your other outfit with collar and sexy thong.’
Ellie regarded her as she pulled the cowl over her face. Ellie had finally taken a Healing Potion and spread Healing Lotion on the remainder of her wounds from the morning and her adventures in Thoth. She was wearing the Lipstick of Seduction too.
The little Japanese girl was naked other than her chastity belt, her kimono neatly folded over one arm, a roll of material in her hand.
‘Can I touch you.’ Maiko reached out and ran her hand over the rubber of the bodice then up to Ellie’s right breast. Suddenly her hand froze. ’Your nipples just go stiff?’
‘Maiko?!’ Ellie said defensively, ‘you were cupping my breast.’
‘Oh.’ Maiko withdrew her hand quickly. ‘Sorry, Maiko get carried away.’ She continued looking at Ellie circling her. ‘That thong gorgeous too. Maiko want one when she get out of chastity belt. Does it…. Is it nice to wear, for girl I mean.’
‘Well, it’s…Maiko!’
Without warning Maiko had just slapped Ellie on the bottom.
‘Hey!’
‘Sorry,’ Maiko said. ‘That bottom just so spankable. I been in chastity for ten days, I feeling needs. If it help, Maiko’s nipples very stiff at sight of Honey in tight rubber.’
‘Mai. Are you feeling ok.’
‘Maiko never felt better. Maiko choose Ninja path to help Ellie. She tell Bu-Shi-sama today.’
Mai,’ Ellie said. ‘It’s just one part of the quest. I’d have been fine with you as a Samurai.’
‘But Ninja better. Beside, Maiko not just do it for Ellie. Maiko do it for Maiko. She always want be Ninja.’
‘Ok,’ Ellie said. ‘Do Ninjas go on their missions naked in Fantasia X?’
‘Of course not.’ Maiko undid the string on the package lying in the bed, unrolling it. ‘See, Honey not only one been shopping.’ She held up a black leather catsuit complete with hood.
‘Is that standard Ninja garb.’
Maiko blushed slightly. ‘I buy from shop where nice Elf lady help Maiko chose. Shop really for Seductresses and Adventuresses but Maiko go in anyway. Elf say this very sexy Ninja costume. She say perfect my body. She think I should have been Seductresses.’
Ellie watched as Maiko pulled on the tight leather catsuit.
‘That must have been expensive,’ Ellie said. ‘How did you afford it.’
‘Oh, Elf make Bargain with Maiko.’
‘Really?’ Ellie tried to sound casual. ‘May I ask what she wanted in return?’
‘Honey!’ Maiko turned, fastening the suit up between her small breasts. ‘A girl must have some secrets even from her roomie!’
Ellie grinned as Maiko’s face flamed red and bent down to pretend to adjust a strap on her boot.
‘So, Ezio,’ Ellie said, trying to ignore the way the Assassin was looking at her in her rubber outfit and the desire it was causing in her own body. ‘This is…’
‘I Katana Girl,’ Maiko said, stepping forward and bowing slightly. ‘I Ninja,’ she said with a smile. ‘Level 3.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Ezio said, his eyes running over the little Japanese girl in a way that instantly made Ellie jealous but then the Assassin’s gaze returned to her. ‘Honey said you were coming.’
Maiko looked at Ellie. ‘He call you Honey too?’;
‘I was being Honey when we met, it sort of stuck.’ Ellie said.
‘And your real name is…?’ Ezio said.
‘We’ve only been on one date,’ Ellie said coyly. ‘Maybe after this one, I’ll tell you.’
‘You been on date?’ Maiko exclaimed. ‘How you manage that?’
‘I’m a Seductress,’ Ellie said. ‘Anyway, you’ve been cavorting with elves.’
Behind her Ninja mask Ellie thought Maiko blushed.
‘Anyway, shall we go?’ Ellie leapt onto the barrel and reached for the handhold she knew was there then began to scramble up the wall. Looking back she saw Maiko begin to climb, her movements fluid and in a few moments she was up level with Ellie. Ezio had stayed where he was.
‘Come on,’ she hissed, nearing the top of the wall. Then she saw him lift something and heard a twang and a whoosh. Something sailed past her in the air and clicked onto the wall in a fine spray of dust. A moment later, the Assassin was up with her on the top of the wall.
The girls who Ellie had seen on display were gone including the one in the weather vane but there were two guards patrolling the courtyard.
‘I take one on left,’ Maiko said and Ellie turned to see she had a short bow in her hands.
‘Mai…Katana Girl!’ Ellie whispered.
‘They NPCs, they not matter.’
‘But you can’t just…’
‘I’ll take the one on the right,’ Ezio said, a small crossbow in his hand.
The bowstrings thumped almost simultaneously and both guards clutched their chests at almost the same time then they crumpled to the floor.
‘I thought you didn’t kill people.’ Ellie hissed at Ezio.
‘Like Katana Girl says, they’re NPCs.’ He hung his grapple launcher back on his belt and pulled a rope from his pack. ‘It’s Player Characters I don’t want to kill. Hits are usually on the sublimed and it just seems so unfair.’
Ellie watched as he secured the rope to a crenellation on the wall and dropped it down, sliding expertly to the courtyard below. When he’d reached the ground, Maiko followed then Ellie.
‘What?’ Ellie asked as her feet touched the ground.
‘Nothing.’ Maiko said. ‘It just you move like…like top heavy bear.’
‘The Red Room is over there.’ Ezio said, cutting off any reply as they crouched in the shadow of the wall.
‘Can you two take the guard’s bodies and hide them,’ Ellie asked.
‘Where?’
‘I don’t know,’ Ellie said, slightly irritated. ‘I was planning to sneak past them.’
‘Typical bloody Thief,’ Ezio said. ‘No contingency planning.’
‘And no killing!’ Ellie snapped. ‘As the Thief…’ she emphasised the word, ‘…I’ll get the door open, you drag the bodies inside.’
‘Ok.’ Maiko said and nodded to Ezio.
They broke from the cover of the wall, Ellie running to the door to the East wing and crouching there for a moment as Ezio and Maiko retrieved the bodies. The lock was pretty straight forward, a simple and very old fashioned mechanism as she had guessed it would be; more for show than for any real security. She eased the door open and Maiko dragged a body through.
‘Where’s Ezio?’ Ellie asked.
‘He coming,’ Maiko said. ‘Went to gate.’
‘What?’
At that moment, Ezio arrived, panting and pulling the body of the second guard by his ankles.
‘Where have you been?’ Ellie demanded.
‘Preparing an escape route in case we need one.’ He smiled grimly in the darkness. ‘It’s drummed into us from the first day. Assassins don’t do suicide missions.’
Chapter 75: The Museum
With the three of them inside, Ellie pushed the door shut then paused to let her eyes grow used to the increased darkness.
‘I can light torch,’ Maiko suggested.
‘No,’ Ezio said quickly. ‘We’ll find our way easily enough.’
As Ellie peered into the gloom, she began to make out shapes, large and bulky, angular, like trees or scaffolding.
Suddenly there was a scream and they all jumped.
‘What the…’ Ellie exclaimed, stopping when Ezio clamped a hand over mouth.
At that moment a light came on illuminating the strange scene and casting a jarring pattern of fantastical shadows around them giving the impression of a haunted forest. Then, Ellie saw her; a pale skinned figure, her feet several feet off the floor as if suspended, arms and legs spread, her skin gleaming in the stark white light.
Ellie stifled a scream of her own, aided by Ezio’s hand still over her mouth. Beside her Maiko let out a frightened squeak. ‘Is that Ghost?’ The Ninja asked, pointing at the figure.
‘Perhaps it’s a Ghoul,’ Ellie mumbled through Ezio’s hand.
The figure screamed again, throwing her head back, a more human sound this time, albeit one muffled by a large gag; then she lifted her head and opened her eyes. Whatever it was, Ellie knew it was female or had once been; its body was slender and it had breasts; bright blue eyes stared fixedly ahead. It was at that moment that Ellie recognised her as a Lapis, one of the standard, if somewhat rare, slave bodies.
‘She’s on one of the Gordian machines,’ Ezio whispered. ‘You can pay to ride them. They also mount slaves onto them for the visitors to see how they work; sometimes they leave them there overnight as a punishment - or a reward.’
There was a click, ominous, echoing heavily around the hall, a clockwork mechanism triggering and the woman gasped into her gag throwing her head back again and Ellie saw there was something moving between her legs, something pumping in and out of her sex, something swinging from it too and Ellie saw that she was strapped to the rim of what looked like a giant waterwheel, her body arched; the wheel was rocking back and forth. There was something happening to her breasts too, they were moving, deforming and then taking up their expected shape; it took her a moment to realise that there were rubber paddles striking them repeatedly, there were paddles striking the soles of her feet too.
Ellie found herself mesmerised by the writhing woman, her senses attuned to her sexual need, her tense frustration, a mix of pain and pleasure. The woman’s cries grew stronger and despite the obvious torment, those cries were clearly sounds of arousal rather than distress.
‘Wow,’ Maiko said in a low voice. ‘Maiko want try machine like that.’
‘That one’s called the Paddle Wheel,’ Ezio said. ‘It’s pretty popular.’
‘And you know that because…?’ Ellie asked a little pointedly.
‘I come here a lot,’ Ezio said.
‘Really?’ Ellie fixed him with a firm stare although she couldn’t help recalling her own experiences on the replica of a Gordian machine she’d ridden in Prospero’s shop and her desire to sample another.
‘The machines,’ he said quickly. ‘I like to study the machines, they’re really interesting.’
‘I see.’ Ellie said, distracted from any other thoughts, her eyes still fixed on the helpless Lapis as the slave climaxed violently, throwing her head back and screaming into her gag.
‘Come on. We have a job to do.’ Ellie said, the release of the woman’s sexual tension reminding her where they were and why they were there.
Beside her, Ezio gestured for them to go along the side of the hall. They passed nearly a dozen machines, mostly wooden or steel frames most fitted with heavy straps and clearly designed for restraint and mostly, judging from the huge dildos protruding from them, designed to restrain women or, Ellie thought as she was reminded of her encounter at the dress shop, humanoid females.
At one point, Maiko stopped to look at a plaque bearing a sketch that showed how a particular machine worked; a woman in a hogtie lying face down, held in place by multiple straps, a phallus designed to go into her mouth at one end and another between her legs. There were clamps for her nipples too. The device was called ‘Fellatio Trainer’. She saw the little Ninja reach out a hand and caress the machine longingly.
‘Mai,’ Ellie said. ‘We have a job to do.’
‘Katana Girl,’ Maiko corrected. ‘We on mission. You call me Katana Girl.’
‘Ok, but we need to go. Maybe we can come back after…after we’ve done whatever it is we have to do next. Then, you can have a go on that one.’
‘Really?’ Maiko’s face brightened with excitement then she frowned. ‘But I still be in chastity.’
The second lock was harder to pick, especially when the light went out plunging the hall back into near darkness but Ellie was gratified to hear a click and feel a warm rush of XPs. She pushed the door open and was about to step through when Ezio grabbed her shoulder.
‘Wait.’
‘Why?’
‘Traps,’ Ezio said. ‘There are some valuable exhibits in here.’ He paused. ‘You did a recky right?’
‘The place was closed after….’ She stopped and looked at him adding more quietly. ‘After I left you.’
‘What you do all all afternoon, Honey?’ Maiko asked.
‘Please don’t tell her,’ Ellie said.
‘Oh!’ Maiko giggled. ‘I thought you take this mission seriously.’
‘It was a balance between recruitment and reconnoitring.’ Ellie said defensively.
‘So that was all you trying to recruit me?’ Ezio said archly.
‘No…yes,’ Ellie said in frustration. ‘I had myself tortured by the Master of Assassins just so I could hook up with you and persuade you to join this little adventure.’
‘You got tortured?’ Maiko said. ‘You want me kill someone?’
‘It’s ok, Mai… Katana Girl.’ Ellie turned back to Ezio,
He was clearly expecting her to say something.
Ellie sighed. ‘Look, I had sex with you because I wanted too, okay? Then, afterwards I thought this would be a cool place for a second date, ok?’
Ezio shrugged. ‘Ok,’ he said, sounding slightly unconvinced.
‘Can we discuss this later?’ Ellie said, grabbing hold of him and kissing him.
‘Oh, get a room you two,’ Maiko said.
Ezio was right about the traps; there were tripwires and a trapdoor and they circumvented a Mimic on the floor by running along the top of a line of display cases; however, when they reached the Arcane and Religious Section there was a magical pentagram chalked on the floor.
‘Any suggestions?’ Ellie asked as they stood looking at it, the display cases almost within their grasp.
‘It’s quite a common final line of defence,’ Ezio said. ‘We should be ok as long as we don’t touch the floor inside it.’
‘And can Assassins or Ninjas fly?’ Ellie asked.
‘No, but I do have this.’ Ezio produced his grapple launcher. ‘It’s really for going up and down but if I snag it on the rafters one of us could swing over and, if we attach a rope to them, we could pull them back.’
‘Ok.’ said Ellie. ‘I’ll go.’
‘It, er…’ Ezio said. ‘Requires a lot of aerial dexterity, if you’re not careful you end up upside down.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ Ellie said.
‘I just think…’ Ezio said, his voice carrying a note of caution.
‘You just think what?’ Ellie folded her arms across her breasts defensively.
‘He trying to say that with tits like those you never gonna manage this,’ Maiko snapped. ‘Katana Girl go.’
Ezio shrugged apologetically. ‘Sorry, but she’s right.’
‘Alright,’ Ellie said. ‘They only cause minus one to my Dexterity. There’s no need to be too personal.’
Ezio fired the shot and Maiko undid the front of her catsuit so the could clip the launcher to the ring on the front of her chastity belt then they tied a rope around each of her ankles.
‘Ready?’ Ezio said.
‘Katana Girl ready,’ Maiko said and gently tipped backwards.
Cautiously they let her swing out over the pentagram, Maiko adjusting the length of the cord as Ezio had shown her as Ellie and Ezio controlled her position using the ropes tied around her ankles. It was surprisingly easy to position her over the case containing Sister Stephanie’s Wand.
‘It locked,’ Maiko said.
‘Can you pick it?’
‘I don’t think so,’ Maiko said. ‘I use dagger, force it open.’
‘Be careful.’
‘Oh, really?’ Maiko snapped. ‘Katana Girl not think of that, hanging by chastity belt over magical trap.’
There was a clunk as the lock yielded and then Maiko opened the lid.
To operate Ezio’s grappler more easily, Maiko was on her back, her lithe body arched, legs spread for balance so it was a feat of skill or perhaps luck that she registered the cords shooting from the sides of the case that, had she not blocked them would have wrapped themselves around her neck to strangle her. As it was each cord snagged a wrist leaving her arched back, spreadeagled in the air above the case.
‘Honey,’ Maiko said after a moment’s helpless thrashing. ‘I think I stuck.’
Ellie looked at Ezio for advice.
‘Can you reach the wand, KG?’ He asked.
‘I think so if I take it in my mouth.’
‘Ok, do that and then we’ll get you out but whatever we do is probably going to trigger the pentagram so, when we move, we go together.’
‘Ok,’ Maiko arched back, opening her mouth and lowering it over the wand, making Ellie think of some oriental hooker giving a speciality blow job.
‘Got it?’
‘Mmmmm.’ Maiko nodded her mouth full of wand.
Like this, Ellie realised, it looked even more like a penis.
‘OK, Honey…’ Ezio said. ‘We’re going to draw blades and take a Snaring Rope each. The moment we enter the pentagram, the alarms will sound and there might be some sort of magical ward but we keep moving. There’s a window at the end of this gallery. I’m going to go through it and you are going to follow. We’re only on the second floor, your Assassin Skills should take care of it. Then we’ll be back in the courtyard and we run for the wall. Whoever gets there first goes up the rope first. We don’t wait.’
‘Ok.’ Ellie nodded.
‘Did you get KG?’
‘Mmmmm.’ Maiko nodded again.
‘Go.’
Ellie and Ezio dropped the ropes and Maiko swung away from them held upside-down by her ensnared wrists. Then they leapt into the pentagram, Ellie drawing her dagger Ezio pulling a knife from his boot. There was a howl of alarm, far more shrill than the cry of the slave they’d heard on the Gordian machine but they ran forward both hacking at the ropes that held the Ninja’ arms. The ropes cut easily but Ellie jumped back as the ends reached for her, trying to ensnare her. Then they pulled Maiko clear and Ezio unclipped the grappler from Maiko’s chastity belt.
‘Let’s go.’ Ezio turned and ran, Maiko behind him, the ropes around her ankles trailing until she stopped to slip them off.
Ellie looked around her, the alarm was getting even louder, rising to deafening levels. It was some twenty yards to the window and she saw Ezio dive through it, the glass shattering but seemingly soundlessly as the pulse of the alarm rose in force until it was pounding at her eardrums and making her teeth vibrate. She saw Maiko clamp her hands over her ears and stagger, the Wand still clasped in the mouth. Her catsuit hung open where she had undone it to clip the grappler to her chastity belt.
‘Come on, Ellie shouted catching up with the Ninja though it was as if she made no sound and she felt pain building in her own ears, the force of it making her unsteady. She grabbed for Maiko, catching the strap holding her katana on her back and the two of them staggered the last few yards to the window.
Reeling from the sound beating at her, Ellie suddenly realised Maiko was shaking her. The girl was trying to say something but Ellie couldn’t hear. Then the little Japanese girl thrust the Wand into Ellie’s hand before turning away.
Ellie watched as Maiko dived through the shattered pane, her hand catching the window ledge so she flipped over and then she kicked her legs pirouetting in the air and swinging around a flagpole before tucking into a ball and flipping to land on her feet. Even as she landed she looked up, drawing her katana. Ezio was already crossing the courtyard, his crossbow out and she saw him fire, making her sweep her gaze up to see at least a dozen guards running towards him.
Ellie looked down. It was two stories although it looked like more, and with the noise thumping in her ears she could barely stand let alone perform aerial acrobatics. It was obvious Ezio and Maiko were far more agile than her. She was only a Seductress playing at being an Assassin. Frantically, she glanced around for a rope or something to lower herself down on but there was nothing. Maybe she thought, if she could climb onto the window ledge, she might jump and catch the flagpole.
She had to get out of the noise, it was stopping her thinking straight. And she was holding this stupid Wand in her hand.
‘Shit!’ She hadn’t come this far to fail. She’d jump. She’d take Damage but she’d just jump.
She stuffed the Wand into her cleavage and stepped back about to run and then she remembered the cape. She hooked her hands into it and ran for the window.
It wasn’t quite like flying but it was close. She dropped for a moment, fearing that she was expecting too much but then the cloak caught the air, billowing above her and she felt herself gliding forward. Out of the noise, her head cleared and she looked down to see Ezio with a shortsword in one hand and crossbow in the other engaging with the first of the guards. In a second, Maiko was beside him, katana drawn and she watched as the little Japanese girl ducked a clumsy sword cut from the guard in front of her and slash up with her katana, the razor sharp blade slicing apparently effortlessly through the man's leather armour.
Ellie leaned forward meaning to land beside her friends but abruptly wondered what she would be able to do with her dagger and her limited fighting skills. Leaning, she swung away. She wasn’t high enough to clear the walls but she could make it to the rope. What was it the Assassins said ‘Let the chaff fall’? Ezio had said clearly that whoever got to the rope first got out first.
She had the Wand. It would be easy. She might not have the agility of the other two but she had other skills. The Party would understand and Ezio wasn’t even a member of her Party - he was just a failed Assassin, one of many, and she was a Seductress - a Seductress with, it seemed, a reputation.
She’d always rather liked the colour black and, after all, wasn’t this whole game a way to explore other parts of you; to play other roles. The image of the Dark Seductress formed in her mind. The memory of those other XPs.
Below her, sparks flew as Maiko’s katana tip raked across the guard leader’s chain mail and she could see Ezio being driven back by two guards, defending with his sword and levelling his crossbow. She noticed, oddly, that his aim was off and, when he fired, the bolt went wide. The guard in front of him grinned fiercely and lunged. His expression changed to one of surprise as he went down on the end of Ezio’s blade and then an explosion ripped across the courtyard, fire erupting from the side of the gateway, smoke billowing. Ellie’s ears must have been recovering because she heard it and felt the rush of air and then heat buffeting her, nearly sending her tumbling from the air.
Ezio’s other opponent was warier now and she watched as the Assassin cast away his crossbow and drew a second shortsword. There were at least eight guards still standing, those at the back looking at the flames and smoke roiling around the main gate.
‘They have Magic,’ one shouted. ‘Rouse the Mage.’
Another of the guards ran towards a doorway.
‘There,’ the first man said, pointing up at Ellie, ‘a Sorceress.’
Ellie supposed it was an easy mistake to make. In the rush of flames, Ellie was more or less hovering in the air and why else might she be flying if not by magical means? Why else would three individuals take on a dozen guards so fearlessly? How could they have created those flames?
She might not be a Sorceress but a Seductress wore many faces.
There was a moment when everything seemed to pause, as the guards reassessed the situation. It was at that moment that Maiko decapitated their leader. It was a turning point. The guards were now facing Swords and Sorcery.
It was time for the Dark Seductress to show them her power.
Ellie dropped to land lightly on her feet in front of four guards.
‘Hello boys,’ she said with a wink, raising her arms.
They stood back for a moment, wary. Then they rushed her.
Even Ellie was surprised by the intensity of the flames that leapt from her hands as she wove the illusion - and their heat. She quickly moved the fire further from her fingertips spreading them as magical fire roared towards the men who backed off, one tripping and falling in his haste to beat a retreat.
She took a step forwards, the flames still spraying from her fingertips and the men retreated further, the one who’d fallen crawling desperately away, clawing at the ground, boots scrabbling wildly for purchase like one in a dream whose movements are ineffectual even in the face of terror. She turned the fire towards him and heard him scream, saw the armour of his chest blacken, watched his cloak catch fire.
And felt a thrill in her body that was like an orgasm.
‘Honey…Ellie…'
Someone was calling her, like a voice through water.
There were only five guards left alive and the four that remained standing were backing off. There was a ragged hole in the gate and Ezio and Maiko stood side by side before it. Maiko was beckoning her.
Reluctantly, Ellie let the fire die.