2: Seriousness and Fun, Hate and Love
“So what now? Are you going with us or not?” asked Rilliana, looking at her friend with a wicked smile.
“I said, let me think about it!” repeated Trisha, drumming her fingers on the table.
“Girl, I need to get to bed soon, could you please make up your mind?” Arissa Berryriver nagged, examining her cards once more. Rilliana grinned at the petite woman. She knew Arissa wasn’t tired, she just wanted to make Trisha even more nervous. The shifter finally sighed and pushed her money into the middle of the table.
“All right, as you wish. All in. Show me what you've got.”
Arissa and Rilliana exchanged glances.
“I'm out,” they said in unison. Trisha snorted in disappointment.
"And I won again. Seriously, guys. First you push me like that and then you quit? That's no fun,“ said Trisha, pulling the small pot toward her.
”How about another game?“ asked Rilliana.
”Fine by me, but I'll beat you at that too.“
”Oh, no, not with me. I meant what I said,” said Arissa, jumping up from her chair.
“I think our host is trying to get rid of us, Rilliana,” said Trisha, amused, but she also got up from the table to put her winnings in her pockets.
“Can you blame her? You cleaned us out,” said Rilliana.
“No, honestly, girls, I have to get up early tomorrow,” Arissa repeated, stretching and yawning, “but could you take on the job next month?”
“You can count on us!” said Rilliana, saluting.
“No problem, Ms. Berryriver, it was a pleasure to meet you,” said Trisha, bowing.
“The pleasure was all mine, dear Trisha, and please call me Arissa. Take good care of my Rilliana in the meantime,” she replied, escorting them to the door.
“Don't worry, I'll keep her on a tight leash.”
“I didn't really want to know that. Well then, good night, you two,” said Arissa, opening the door.
“Good night, Arissa,” they said, hugging the woman and walking back to Trisha's apartment.
“So she taught you how to survive on the streets?” Trisha asked curiously.
"Yes, the orphanage couldn't always take care of all of us. So I took matters into my own hands until I got caught. Luckily, Arissa talked me out of the mess. After that, she taught me lots of tricks and tips,“ said Rilliana, looking thoughtfully at the dark sky. ”I think she was the only one I could call family until I met you."
“Aww, Rilli, I wish we had met much earlier,” Trisha murmured, putting her arm around her friend. The elf said nothing and kissed her cheek instead.
“Rilliana, are you coming to bed?” Trisha asked as she fluffed her pillow.
“No!” echoed from Trisha's study.
“No? What does that mean?”
“Come here, we need to talk about something.”
Trisha frowned. Had she said something wrong on the way home?
“Can't that wait until tomorrow?” asked the shifter, walking into the study. But when she opened the door, she stood rooted to the spot and her mouth fell open.
“Are you serious?” Trisha asked Rilliana, who was sitting on her desk, which she had moved to the middle of the room, wearing only a purple, semi-transparent nightgown. She had her legs crossed and was holding a deck of cards in her hands, which she shuffled playfully. Behind her on the table lay a stack of ropes, neatly lined up.
“I was just joking with Arissa. I'm already quite tired and I can't just meditate for four hours like you and then be in top shape.”
“Then you'll just sleep an hour longer today. It's not like you never do that. Come on, sit down. I want to play a game.”
“Rilliana, please, let's do this tomorrow, okay?” said Trisha, and was about to turn away when Rilliana said, “I'll bet two weeks.”
Trisha stood rooted to the spot and thought about it. Two weeks of Rilliana helplessly at her mercy sounded tempting, but if she lost…
“Nah, that's too risky for me.”
“If you sit down here now and we play, I'll be the bait in Arissa's mission.”
Trisha hesitated. Even if she lost, what were two weeks compared to not having to play the bait? Trisha licked her lips and grinned mischievously. It was a win-win for her. Trisha let her smile fade and turned to her friend.
“I'm in. But it looks like I still have a lot to teach you about negotiating. Arissa seems to have skipped a few lessons,” she said, sitting down at the table.
“Why? I got what I wanted, didn't I?” said Rilliana, sitting down across from her. Trisha raised an eyebrow.
“Right…” she muttered, watching Rilliana shuffle the cards before her gaze lingered on the ropes.
“I assume those aren't just for decoration?” Trisha asked, pointing to the ropes.
“They're there to make it a little more interesting. We'll play up to nine rounds. With each round lost, a new restraint is added, and the one who loses five rounds will be gagged at the end,” Rilliana explained excitedly as she dealt the cards, “all-in every round.”
Trisha stared at her and then shook her head.
“You're really into bondage, aren't you? What's next? Are you training a mimic so you can always have a nice evening with it?,” Trisha asked, clearing her throat before she started singing. “Rilliana has a mimic, and she has it not without reason. In the evening, she jumps into the crate and then it's game time."
Now it was Rilliana's turn to stare at her friend with her mouth open. Her head turned red and she gasped for air.
“Trisha!”
“I'm just joking,” Trisha laughed wearily and glanced briefly at her cards, “Come on, turn them over.”
“You… haaaa! You're impossible!” said Rilliana, trying to banish the thought of her pet mimic. The elf shook her head and placed the flop, turn, and river face down on the table. She placed her own cards face up next to them and smiled maliciously at Trisha.
“Two kings! Well? Nervous yet?”
“No, no. The key to Hands of Fate is not to get nervous and then surprise your opponent,” Trisha said, placing her cards on the table as well.
“Two and four? You're going to lose,” said Rilliana, revealing the cards on the table. Her face froze.
“Looks like I have a straight,” said Trisha almost casually, taking a rope, kneeling down next to Rilliana, and tying one of her legs to the chair.
“You deal, I'm still a little busy here. I don't want it to get loose.”
Rilliana swallowed. That shouldn't have happened. Had she made a mistake while shuffling? The elf shuffled the cards again and dealt them out while Trisha tied the last knot and stroked her friend's leg.
“That was just one round, your luck is over now.”
Trisha just smiled to herself and didn't even look at her hand.
“Let's go,” said the elf, “two aces!”
“I have, oh, only… two twos,” said the shifter, but she didn't look very surprised.
“So far, so good,” said Rilliana, revealing the cards on the table. “Ace, eight, seven, oh, a pitiful two. Don't worry, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, Trisha.”
The shifter said nothing and just pointed her finger at the last card.
“I guess that means we're tied…”
Two.
“WHAT?!” said Rilliana, her jaw dropping.
“You know, maybe it would be better if I gagged you right now, then it wouldn't be so embarrassing for you,” Trisha mused aloud and began to secure Rilliana's other leg to the chair. Meanwhile, Rilliana feverishly looked at the cards.
What's going on? I practiced and… Rilliana thought, flinching when Trisha put her hands on her shoulders.
“Is something wrong?” Trisha whispered, gently squeezing the elf.
“NO! No, everything's fine.”
“Good… then deal,” the shifter ordered, sitting back down in her seat. The elf did as she was told and laid the cards down slowly and carefully.
“I have a jack and a ten.”
“Ten and another two. Come on, reveal them while you still can,” said Trisha, yawning. She knew this game would soon be over. Rilliana revealed the cards on the table and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ha! A straight! Now it's your turn to be tied up!”
“Rilli, honey… I have a flush…”
“What?” asked Rilliana incredulously, and sure enough, Trisha had gotten five hearts with her last card.
“Oh, come on!” groaned Rilliana, stubbornly crossing her arms.
“Give me your hand!” demanded Trisha, pulling the elf's hand onto the armrest. She was quickly secured, and Rilliana pulled on the rope to test it. “Here, I'll take over now,” said Trisha, picking up the deck of cards, shuffling it carefully, and dealing them out. Without much talk, they turned over their cards, and less than five seconds later, Rilliana groaned loudly as she lost again.
“I'm going to end this now, sweetie, okay?” said Trisha, tying the last of Rilliana's limbs tightly to the chair.
“No, no, no! You may have the match point, but I still have a chance.”
“Rilliana? I have to keep holding back to keep from laughing. Do you know why? You picked my magic deck of cards, which punishes cheaters.”
“Excuse me?”
“Here.”
Trisha dealt again and then revealed her and Rilliana's cards.
“Royal flush…” said Rilliana and fell silent.
“Yep… you cheated, and the deck punished you by making you lose this round of Hands of Fate.”
“Then let's play again, this time with a normmmhmm!” Trisha had pushed a thick gag into Rilliana's mouth and tied it in a knot.
“Rilli, you don't believe that yourself, do you? I won, and cheating must be punished. See you tomorrow morning… slave,” she added. Trisha kissed Rilliana on the forehead and walked to the door.
“Mhhhmmh! Mh mmmhmh mhmhm!”
Trisha turned around again and looked thoughtfully at her friend. Then she nodded, went to a cupboard, and took out an elongated, smooth crystal. She also took a rope.
“I actually wanted to give you this for our six-month anniversary, but I think now is the perfect moment.”
She pressed the crystal and it began to tremble. Rilliana's eyes grew wide. Trisha inserted the crystal into Rilliana and secured it with a crotch rope, which she tied tightly without mercy.
“Punishment must be served,” Trisha whispered in Rilliana’s ear again and bit her earlobe.
“Sleep well,” murmured the shifter, turned off the light, and closed the door behind her.
The muffled scream of the elf that came through the door was like music to Trisha’s ears. She just smiled to herself and lay down in bed.
“Oh… what can I do to you this coming week?”
Rilliana screamed at the top of her lungs in the darkness, but it fell on deaf ears, if Trisha could even hear her at all. If she could manage to free herself, she might be able to take Trisha by surprise and turn the tables. She searched for a knot, as Trisha had taught her, but in vain.
“Mmmmh!” Rilliana cursed and threw her head back as the crystal began to stimulate her.
I deserve this. She thought and tried to close her eyes, but the rope around her crotch combined with the crystal made it difficult for her to concentrate.
I'll get you one day, Trisha, just you wait!
She doubted she would be able to complete her meditation that night, let alone sleep.
When Trisha woke up, she wondered at first where Rilliana had gone. Then she remembered. She immediately jumped out of bed, rushed to the door of the study, and listened. She heard only a soft whimper. She carefully opened the door, but refrained from turning on the light, instead letting the light from the hallway illuminate her study. Rilliana was a wreck. Her whole body was drenched in sweat and her blonde hair was stuck to her face. She was so exhausted that she sat bent forward in her chair. The only thing preventing her from falling out of it were the restraints on her wrists and legs. A slight humming sound could be heard as Trisha approached.
“Oh, you poor thing,” Trisha whispered, gently pushing Rilliana back and releasing her restraints. Next, she removed the crystal and turned it off. Trisha thought she heard the elf breathe a sigh of relief, but it could have been her imagination. She removed the sweat-soaked shirt and carefully lifted Rilliana out of the chair. Trisha laid the elf in the bathtub and began to fill it with warm water. Trisha undressed and climbed in after her friend. She kept a constant eye on Rilliana to make sure she didn't collapse from exhaustion. She washed her friend thoroughly from head to toe and rinsed her hair several times.
Half an hour later, Rilliana was lying in Trisha's four-poster bed, covered with thick blankets. The two had not spoken to each other, but Rilliana had smiled contentedly when Trisha had put her to bed.
“Rest now, we have a busy day ahead of us,” Trisha whispered and kissed her friend on the forehead.
“Thank you, mistress,” Rilliana murmured barely audibly and fell asleep instantly.
“So you can sleep if you want to,” Trisha murmured with a grin. She quietly removed all traces of the previous evening and packed her and Rilliana's backpacks. She also placed a cage next to them and threw a blanket over it. On top of it, she placed a pile of black leather straps. Finally, she set down a plate of food for Rilliana and a letter with instructions in case she wasn't back when the elf woke up. She grabbed her cloak and left her apartment.
Slowly, Rilliana regained consciousness and stared at the ceiling with empty eyes. Only gradually did her senses return, and she smelled cheese. Carefully, she sat up and picked up the plate. Immediately, her mouth watered, and she devoured the prepared cheese sandwich in four huge bites. Only then did she see the letter, unfold it, and read it.
Hello slave,
If you are reading this letter, I am currently still making preparations. I want you, if you feel able to do so, to put on the leather straps that are lying next to the backpacks. Then I want you to kneel on the floor and wait for my return, hands on your knees and eyes downcast. I will be back soon.
With love
Trisha
Behind Trisha's signature, Rilliana could see that her friend had kissed the letter. The elf hugged it and could even smell the faint scent of Trisha's perfume on it. She put it aside and climbed out of bed with trembling legs and walked over to the leather straps. She wasn't sure if she was trembling with anticipation or because of last night.
“Trisha, where did you get something like this?” Rilliana asked as she tentatively placed the straps against her body. It fit, but only just.
“Better if I put it on right away,” she muttered, biting her lower lip. At first, she had trouble figuring out how to put on the harness until she loosened a few buckles and was able to slip into it. The leather felt cool against her skin at first, but quickly warmed up and adorned her with a zigzag pattern. The black straps accentuated her slender body, pressing into her skin and lifting her breasts. Rilliana swallowed as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Beautiful…” she murmured, running a hand over the smooth black leather. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Trisha coming home.
“Well, do you like your new clothes?” Trisha asked amusedly, and Rilliana startled.
She immediately spun around and flopped down on the floor as the letter had instructed her to do.
“Yes, Mistress, I love them!” she replied promptly, feeling that warm tingling sensation in her stomach again.
“'Just you wait. You haven't seen everything yet,” Trisha said, lifting the blankets from the cage to one side. Inside the cage were even more leather straps.
“Close your eyes!” Trisha demanded, and Rilliana did as she was told. The elf felt the shifter put a collar around her neck and seal it with a small lock. Rilliana couldn't see it, but the moment the lock clicked into place, a mean grin crossed Trisha's face. Next, Trisha took the leather harness out of the cage and placed it on the floor in front of Rilliana.
“Lie down!”
The elf felt a chill run down her spine with excitement as she lay down on the leather. Trisha wasted no time and folded Rilliana's arms and legs so that they fit into the pockets of the new harness. She completed her work by connecting the two leather harnesses together. Rilliana could now only move on all fours and was unable to grab anything or free herself from her restraints.
“You can open your eyes again. What do you say?” Trisha asked gently, helping her to stand up. Rilliana hesitantly opened her eyes and stared into the mirror in front of her. Looking back at her was a helpless elf with a broad grin on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She tried again, but with the same result. Panicked, she looked up at Trisha.
“Ah, I completely forgot. This collar prevents you from speaking. The only thing it allows are animal sounds like those of a cat or a dog,” said Trisha, slapping her forehead with her flat hand. Rilliana immediately saw that she obviously hadn’t overlooked it and raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, hey. Be glad I'm a good owner. With this bracelet, I could set it so that you get a shock every time you talk without permission,” Trisha explained, waving her arm in front of Rilliana's nose. On it was a black bracelet with a green crystal.
“Come on, bark for me, I've always wanted a dog,” said Trisha, looking at the elf expectantly. The elf just shook her head and tried to loosen the collar with her useless arms.
"Fine, as you wish. Naughty pets go in the cage! We have to go now anyway," said Trisha, pulling Rilliana by the collar into the cage. The elf couldn't do anything against Trisha's strength when she was free, so she was simply dragged across the floor and thrown into the cage. Trisha locked it with another lock and put a blanket over it so that Rilliana was bathed in twilight. Rilliana immediately pressed her new paws against the bars and began to whimper and bark.
“It's too late for that now, Rilliana. You'd better get some rest, we're leaving for vacation in a few minutes,” Trisha whispered through the blanket.
Vacation? Rilliana wondered, blinking.
What the hell is a vacation?
Rilliana couldn't understand how Trisha had managed to load her into the cage and all the luggage into a carriage without anyone noticing, but here they were, slowly rocking their way south. The elf thanked the gods that no one had seen her, otherwise she would probably have sunk into the ground in shame.
That must have been how Trisha felt when I dragged her through town, Rilliana thought, tapping against the bars once more. Trisha seemed to ignore her, however, and said instead, “You know, I actually wanted to go on a ‘normal’ vacation with you, but the carriage would probably have been a little too cramped for both of us.”
Rilliana heard Trisha put her legs down on the cage and yawn loudly. The elf whimpered humbly and pressed her head against the cage door.
“I'll let you out when we get there. I don't want you to get lost.”
A dull sound came from the cage as Rilliana kicked it to express her displeasure.
“Oi! This is still part of your punishment for cheating. Besides, you lost and you belong to me for the next two weeks, so be a good dog before I decide to let you run behind the carriage and electrocute you every minute. And the road isn't so long that this is an empty threat, believe me!”
Rilliana immediately fell silent and swallowed. She lay down on her arms and sulked, the jolting of the carriage her constant companion.
Three hours later, the carriage finally stopped.
“We're here, young lady,” said the coachman, opening the door.
“Thank you, Jeffrey. Could you carry my luggage into the house?” said Trisha, jumping out of the carriage and stretching.
“Of course, young lady,” said the coachman, taking her and Rilliana's backpacks and walking away. Rilliana also stretched as best she could in her small cage and looked up at the blanket with excitement. She wondered what this vacation would be like and whether they had really arrived at their destination. She whimpered quietly so Trisha wouldn't get mad at her, and Trisha tapped gently on the cage.
“Stay quiet for a little while longer, Rilli. I don't want Jeffrey to have a heart attack when he sees you,” Trisha said, falling silent when she heard footsteps.
“Should I carry that inside too, young lady?”
“No, thank you, Jeffrey. I can manage that myself, thank you for the ride.”
“It was my pleasure,” said the coachman. Rilliana heard the crack of a whip and Jeffrey drove a little further into a barn before going into a small guest house himself. Trisha waved innocently after him and waited until she was sure he wasn't coming out. Then she lifted the blanket off the cage and opened it. Rilliana was immediately blinded by the bright sun and the enormous estate in front of her. It had several floors and was so wide that she could barely see the forest behind it. She slowly crawled out of her cage and stared up.
Does this belong to Trisha? Is this what wealthy people call a vacation? Rilliana wondered, her mouth agape.
Something this enormous belongs only to the two of us?
Rilliana looked up in disbelief at the shifter, who just smiled at her. Trisha knelt down next to her and stroked her back.
“Come on, let off some steam!” Trisha commanded, and immediately Rilliana stormed out of her prison and stumbled on all fours across the paved floor into the villa. Trisha followed her, laughing, and explained where she had taken Rilliana.
“This is one of my father's estates. My sister usually lives here, but she's away on business right now. So we have plenty of peace and quiet here, and above all, space to do whatever we want.”
Rilliana barked questioningly.
“Yes, everything,” Trisha confirmed, and Rilliana began to beam. Trisha smiled as she watched her friend try awkwardly to lie down on her back. When she finally managed it, she proudly presented her body, adorned with black straps. She whimpered softly and looked at Trisha imploringly.
“All right, an hour's break, but first…” Trisha said, raising her hands and kneeling down next to Rilliana with an evil grin. The elf immediately knew what was coming and tried in vain to escape Trisha's claws.
"When you present yourself to me so willingly, you don't think I'm going to pass up such an opportunity. You can't escape me!" said Trisha and began to tickle Rilliana. Rilliana immediately howled with laughter and fought back with all her might, but she didn't stand a chance as Trisha's hands worked on every exposed part of her body. Within a very short time, Rilliana was gasping for air. But even then, Trisha continued until tears appeared in Rilliana's eyes. Satisfied, she stroked the elf's breasts one last time and began to loosen the harness that held Rilliana's arms and legs in place. Finally, she removed the collar, but left the rest of the leather to adorn Rilliana's body.
“Oooh Trisha, it's beautiful here! And your sister doesn't mind?” asked the elf, still lying in the hallway and slowly stretching.
"Pfff. What she doesn't know… but stay on the grounds and don't go to Jeffrey's cabin. He likes his peace and quiet and isn't particularly keen on seeing a naked elf," Trisha explained, kissing her on the mouth.
Trisha spent the next hour showing Rilliana almost the entire house. It had several bedrooms, a huge bathroom with an even bigger bathtub than Trisha's, a first-class kitchen, and a large garden with a pond. Vegetables and all kinds of plants that Rilliana had never seen before grew there. However, a few doors were locked, which seemed to bother Trisha greatly. But Rilliana didn't care. To her, this property was like a palace. Only when Rilliana's stomach growled loudly did they return to the hallway. Trisha locked her back into the leather restraints that had been left lying around and led her by the collar into the garden.
“I'll make us something to eat, so run around for a while. BUT DON'T GO TOO FAR AWAY AND, ABOVE ALL, DON'T GO INTO THE FLOWER BED!”
Rilliana nodded seriously, but a broad grin immediately appeared on her face and a second later she dashed off. She ran as fast as her bound body would allow her over the soft grass. Although she was bound, she felt an incredible sense of freedom. A freedom she could never have felt at home or with Trisha. Far away from narrow stone walls and, above all, far away from prying eyes, she could do whatever she wanted.
So this is what vacation is like! Rilliana thought happily and promptly fell into the grass when she lost her balance. Covered in mud, she scrambled back to her feet and looked down at her body.
Well… dogs sometimes get dirty… and then they need to be cleaned up!
Rilliana grinned, ran again, and deliberately let herself fall. She slid through the grass again and in no time was covered from head to toe in dirt and mud.
“Rilli, dinner's ready!” called the shifter, placing two bowls on the terrace for the elf.
“You're not coming into the house like that,” Trisha commented with a raised eyebrow and cleaned Rilliana's face so she wouldn't eat the mud. The elf looked at the bowls. One was filled with water, the other with a porridge that Rilliana couldn't identify.
“That's all you're getting. Get used to it,” said Trisha, noticing the elf's questioning look, and went back into the house. Rilliana's stomach growled again, so she sighed and hesitantly stuck her tongue into the porridge. It was a warm mixture of potatoes and apples.
Edible, Rilliana thought, licking her lips. She devoured the contents of the bowl in record time and slurped some of the water into her mouth. Ultimately, however, Rilliana still didn't feel full. She took the bowl between her teeth and carried it into the apartment.
“Ooh, does little Rilli want more?” Trisha asked absentmindedly as she read a book, placing another plate in front of the elf without looking up.
“Here, sweetie,” she murmured as she continued reading. Rilliana barked happily and buried her face in the food again, as she couldn't use her hands for the foreseeable future. Trisha interpreted the barking as a sign that Rilliana was also thirsty and looked up from her book to fill a bowl. When she put one foot on the floor, she slipped and was just able to hold on to the kitchen table.
“What the…,” she muttered, then saw the trail of mud Rilliana had left behind. Her mouth fell open, and when Rilliana looked up, she could see a little ghost escaping from Trisha's mouth.
“Damn it… Rilliana… I told you to stay outside…” Trisha exclaimed angrily, putting her hands on her hips, “you brought half the garden with you!”
Trisha pointed to the muddy footprints Rilliana had left behind, and the elf crouched down humbly and began to whimper.
“Haaaaa, all right… I guess I'll have to clean it up,” Trisha said, crouching down next to Rilliana. The elf lowered her head even more, but Trisha lifted it again to give her a kiss.
“It's okay, sweetie. After all, you're just my dear little pet, aren't you?” she asked, and Rilliana nodded.
“Let's clean you up first, and then your battlefield,” said Trisha, lifting Rilliana as if she were no heavier than a stuffed doll.
Rilliana yawned loudly and rubbed her face against the leather bag that had held her arm for a week now. Except for a few breaks that Trisha allowed her, she had meditated, eaten, and bathed in the harness. By now, Rilliana had so much practice running around the house on all fours that Trisha had trouble catching her when they played together. The elf rose from the soft pillow that served as her bed and walked around Trisha's bed to see if her friend was already awake. But Trisha was still fast asleep, and Rilliana decided not to wake her. Instead, she crawled into the kitchen and took a sip of water from one of her bowls. As she drank, Rilliana wondered what Trisha had planned for her during the second half of the vacation. She couldn't wait to find out, but she would have to be patient a little longer. Since she had nothing else to do, Rilliana decided to get some fresh air and deftly opened the door to the garden. Opening doors in her condition was no easy feat, but she had learned how to do it over the course of the week and had almost perfected it. She heard the frogs croaking in the pond, and a few birds were already awake, singing their enchanting songs. Rilliana crawled across the grass and breathed in the cool night air. She never would have dreamed that she could ever be as happy as she was at that moment. She looked back at the villa and saw the light come on in Trisha's bedroom. Beaming with joy, Rilliana crawled back to the house when she suddenly stopped. Something was wrong, something was missing.
“The animals…” thought Rilliana, “they've fallen silent. But why?”
Curious, she looked around, but there was nothing to be seen anywhere. She looked back at the house and saw Trisha, whose face changed from joy to fear when she spotted something above Rilliana. A figure had cast a shadow near Rilliana in the moonlight, and her heart sank when she saw it getting closer and closer to her.
“RILLI, RUN!” Trisha shouted, running toward her friend. Rilliana didn't need to be told twice and sprinted toward her. She put all her strength into her limbs and demanded everything from her body. Only a few meters separated them. But then she felt the ground beneath her give way and she flew over Trisha. Her face was contorted with fear and she stared after the elf in shock. Rilliana's mouth moved, but no sound came out. The collar blocked her voice. The ground moved further and further away from Rilliana as she was lifted into the darkness by a giant bat. Trisha knelt on the lawn and looked up at the sky. Rilliana's frightened face was burned into her memory. Tears ran down Trisha's face and she clenched her hands into fists. She wiped away her tears. As she did so, she noticed the color of her new bracelet. It was yellow, and as long as it turned green again, Rilliana would be safe. Trisha knew she had no time to mourn, no time for fear, no time to hesitate. She got up and ran back to the house and up to her bedroom. She rummaged through her backpack until she found a rolled-up leather cloth and laid it on her bed. Trisha unrolled it to reveal a dark dagger. Trisha shook her head when she saw it.
“I didn't think I'd have to use you here,” she muttered, trying to concentrate. Her body began to transform, taking on a wilder form. Her arms and legs became more muscular and her teeth grew longer. At the same time, claws shot out from her fingers, becoming so sharp that she could cut through the air with them. She opened her eyes. Her pupils had changed to cat-like slits and were full of energy.
“Rilliana… Don't be afraid, I'm with you!” she said, throwing on her cloak and running at unnatural speed in the direction the bat had disappeared.
Rilliana trembled with fear and the burning cold of the night air. She prayed to any god who would listen that Trisha would bring her home safely or that, through the intervention of the gods themselves, she would survive the bat.
They glided over the trees of the forest, which looked like a green sea. Rilliana felt sick and looked up. The bat held her with its razor-sharp claws, its teeth like daggers dripping with saliva. She swallowed. But a sudden warmth made her look up. The sun rose above the trees and warmed Rilliana's body with its rays. A second later, the bat screeched and sped up. The sun's rays seemed to hurt the bat, and it wanted to get to its lair as quickly as possible. Rilliana blinked as she made out an old, dilapidated fortress that the bat was flying toward.
Is that the bat's lair? Rilliana wondered, looking up at it. Why it hadn't already sunk its long fangs into her was beyond her, but she didn't question it. Every extra second was a gift. The bat screamed in pain again as the sun rose fully, and Rilliana wished she could cover her ears. Her captor began to spin and lose more and more altitude. The elf closed her eyes as they hurtled toward a hole in the highest tower. There was a loud hiss as they flew past the wall and the bat took shelter from the sun in its lair. Rilliana felt herself being released and gravity taking hold of her. She opened her eyes again, just in time to brace herself for the impact. Due to the enormous speed, she rolled across the floor like a doll and then lay motionless on her back.
Ouch, she thought, looking up at the ceiling of the tower. There, the bat was hanging upside down, seemingly licking its burns. She felt her pulse race and panic grip her heart again, but there was something else.
“Trisha…” She remembered her training and what her feline friend had taught her. First, stay calm, then assess the situation and get a picture of your surroundings. She forced herself to breathe calmly and looked around cautiously. Rilliana saw animal bones that she could perhaps use as daggers, if she could find a way to free herself from the harness. Rilliana looked down at her naked body, trapped by the harness and the bags covering her limbs.
I guess I can forget that, she thought and continued to look around. There was rotten furniture in the room, but she doubted that the table could protect her. But then she let out a silent scream of joy when she saw a fireplace built into the wall. It was deep enough that she believed the bat couldn't reach her in it. If her voice hadn't been magically silenced, a joyful cry would have been heard throughout the tower.
She carefully tried to roll onto her stomach, which was difficult for her anyway, but in a situation like this? With momentum, she managed it, lay motionless, and listened. The bat, however, did not seem interested in her and continued to lick its burns. Hesitantly, Rilliana got up and crept toward the rock.
She looked up and was relieved to see that she was unobserved. There was a loud crack. Rilliana's blood froze in her veins and her head spun to the ground. A bone had broken under her elbow. The bat screamed and fell to the ground. Rilliana didn't wait to see what would happen next and stumbled over the bones toward safety. She felt a draft and threw herself to the ground to slide the last bit across the floor. She bumped into the inside of the chimney wall and quickly pulled her legs behind her, just in time. The next moment, claws scraped across the floor where she had just been lying. The creature howled and tried to pull Rilliana out of the chimney, but the elf pressed herself into the corner and held her breath in tension. Only when the scratching stopped and Rilliana heard flapping wings did she dare to gasp for air.
That was close, she thought and relaxed. She hadn't thought that this week's training would help her escape the claws of a bat. She cautiously looked up from the fireplace. The bat stared in her direction, its eyes narrowed maliciously.
At least I'm making new friends on vacation, Rilliana thought and lay back in the fireplace. At that moment, she felt resistance in her upper body and looked down.
Fuck…
A bone had pierced her body and blood was slowly dripping onto the ashes. Rilliana swallowed and turned pale. She didn't feel the wound yet, but she knew from experience that this wouldn't last long and that she needed help. And fast.
Trisha, please… hurry…
“When I… no, as soon as I… get my hands on that bastard… I'll wring its neck!” Trisha muttered breathlessly after leaving the forest behind and finding the fortress. She pushed open a door, found a staircase, and climbed it in no time. She could smell Rilliana. Very close. The last door at the end of the stairs. Her bracelet was blood red. Trisha swallowed and took a swing.
Rilliana was trembling. She had lost a lot of blood and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to stay awake. She swallowed and took a deep breath. Breathing hurt and every breath became more difficult. She wondered if it was because of her injury. Trisha… was her last thought, then she embraced the darkness.
The door flew open. The bat screeched in surprise and spread its wings. Trisha darted from wall to wall. Like a black flash, her dagger shot upward and severed the wing. The monster crashed to the floor, bouncing off the wall. Trisha's dagger whizzed past its neck. A dull rumble echoed through the room as its body, wings, and head crashed onto the stone floor. Trisha landed smoothly on all fours and ran to Rilliana.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. Rilliana, can you hear me? RILLIANA?!?”
Trisha slid to a stop beside her. Her heart was racing. She turned Rilliana onto her back. The elf's blood smeared her hand. She gasped for air and lifted Rilliana up. Blood dripped onto the floor, but the elf was still alive.
“Honestly, Trisha! You can't just…”
The woman was interrupted by a rumbling sound, and Trisha and she looked up.
“Please…” Trisha murmured, and the woman waved her hand.
“Go on.”
Trisha didn't need to be told twice and hurried up the stairs to her bedroom. She opened the door and there was Rilliana, lying on the floor. A bandage was wrapped around her upper body and she was struggling to stand on her shaky legs. “Rilli? You're already awake?” Trisha asked, rushing into the room with concern. “For the gods, stay down,” Trisha murmured, helping Rilliana up and back into bed.
“Trisha, I…”
“It's all right. You're safe and nothing can happen to you now,” Trisha said, hugging Rilliana gently. Tears rolled down her face.
“Trisha, please don't cry… I'm fine. You saved me.”
She hugged her friend tighter.
“How long was I gone?” Rilliana asked.
“Just a few hours…” Trisha said, sobbing. Rilliana gently patted her back.
“Then I guess we can continue, right?”
“What?” Trisha asked, sobbing, and broke the embrace. She didn't understand what the elf meant.
“I still owe you a week, remember…?” Rilliana asked. But she lost her voice when she saw the horrified look on her friend's face.
“You want to… continue?”
“Well… yes? That was our bet…” Rilliana said meekly, but she wished she could have bitten her tongue when Trisha exploded.
"HAVE YOU GOT NOTHING ELSE ON YOUR MIND?! RILLI, I THOUGHT I HAD LOST YOU!
YOU LOST SO MUCH BLOOD…“
Trisha fell silent and turned away. She covered her face with her hand and closed her eyes.
”But you saved me… and protected me…“ Rilliana began, but Trisha raised her other hand to silence her.
”Rilliana… I… I need a break… I just can't… I can't do this!“ murmured the shifter and left the room.
”Trisha…" said Rilliana weakly as she watched her friend leave.
Rilliana stared blankly at the wooden beams above her. She had felt an ever-expanding emptiness since Trisha's coachman Jeffrey had brought her home.
Have I destroyed everything that connected Trisha and me? she thought and rolled onto her side. She saw the necklace she had been wearing just a few hours ago. She picked it up and curled into herself. Tears rolled down her face as she began to cry. There was a knock at the door.
“Trisha, it's…” She fell silent when she saw Arissa standing in the doorway. Rilliana quickly wiped away her tears and jumped out of bed.
“Arissa! What can I do for you?” she asked, rubbing her eyes and trying to hide her sadness.
"That… is secondary right now… Are you okay, sweetie?“ Arissa asked, walking towards her.
”Yes, yes, everything's fine,“ Rilliana lied, sniffing, ”I just have a slight cold.“
”Oh… I see… difficult subject," Arissa muttered, tilting her head. She knew she shouldn't press Rilliana any further.
“Do you feel fit enough for the mission? There's been a slight change of plan, so I'll have to sneak you in today.”
“Yes, no problem,” lied the elf, putting on a forced smile.
“Mhmmmmh,” Arissa murmured doubtfully, "come to the stables in the east tonight and put this on. It's not exactly my taste, but I think after everything you've told me… about the two of you… you might like it,“ Arissa murmured, placing a brown package on the bed. The sentence was like a dagger in Rilliana's heart, but she tried not to let it show.
”Um… Get some rest. I need you in top form."
“You can… you can count on me!” said Rilliana.
“I will, dear, I will, but…”
Arissa sighed but said nothing and left Rilliana's quarters. The elf fell back onto the bed and reached for the package. She heard something clinking inside it, as if there were metal in it, but she also felt fabric and opened it curiously. Inside was a blue robe decorated with gold sequins.
“What kind of change of plan is this?” she wondered as she put on the robe.
“Are you serious, Arissa?” she exclaimed as she looked at herself in the broken mirror. The robe left nothing to the imagination. Not only did the scant fabric fail to cover most of her body, it was also transparent, revealing her bare breasts underneath. Only her crotch was concealed. She also had to fasten the costume around her ankles and wrists with golden shackles. At least there had been a small golden key in the package, and she could take it off again after the mission.
“Of all times…” she muttered, glancing at the collar, which was still lying on the bed. A thought flashed through her mind.
Should I call off the mission after all? I'm not really in the right frame of mind… but Arissa.
“I can't disappoint Arissa, she's counting on me…” she muttered, letting herself fall back onto the bed. Rilliana picked up the collar again and turned it thoughtfully in her hand. Suddenly, an unfamiliar rage washed over her, pushing a red veil across her face. She gripped the collar tighter and threw it with all her might against her closet. It flashed briefly as the magic escaped from it and landed with a clatter on the floor. A second later, Nibbel crawled out of the closet in fright, with a cookie in his mouth, and disappeared into a hole in the wall.
“Nibbel, wait! I didn't mean to… I…”
Rilliana fell silent and sank back onto her bed.
Evening was approaching and Rilliana had made her way to the stables. A cloak concealed her exotic clothing and she waited for her contact.
“Hey, kid, long time no see,” said a male voice she recognized. She couldn't place the face and spun around in fright. She saw a tall man with gray hair. He smiled when he saw her confused face.
“What? Don’t you remember me? And I left my dagger with you,” he said indignantly, and then Rilliana remembered.
“You?!” she asked in horror, pointing her finger at him accusingly.
“Do you know how long I searched for that damn dagger?”
“Calm down, Arissa said you and your shifter friend enjoyed it. How is she? I thought she would be here too,” he asked, falling silent when he saw her face.
“Oh… I see… difficult subject,” he muttered, drawing in a hissing breath.
“Anyway, what are we waiting for?” Rilliana asked, turning back to where a carriage was being prepared. The man stood next to her.
"For a carriage to come by so we can put you in it. I hope you're wearing those weird clothes. The target specifically requested it, and it should serve as good camouflage when you're looking for the chalice.“
”Good camouflage?“ Rilliana asked indignantly, pulling back her cloak to reveal her costume. He grinned amusedly and whistled appreciatively.
”At least that's what Arissa's informants said," he said.
“So… this chalice…?”
“It shouldn't be hard to spot. Very valuable, with the city's coat of arms on it. Similar to the emblem you already stole.”
“I know what the Leon's Keep coat of arms looks like!”
“Sure,” he muttered.
“Anyway… where…?” asked Rilliana.
“Tell me, didn't Arissa tell you anything?”
He rolled his eyes as the carriage pulled away.
“Just get in the carriage. The rest doesn't matter for now. Just don't get caught.”
Now Rilliana rolled her eyes.
“What's your name, anyway?” she asked, turning to him, but he had disappeared. Annoyed, she hid behind a nearby crate. She heard the carriage approaching, then the horses neighing and a short cry as her partner stunned the coachman. The man waved Rilliana over and motioned for her to be quiet. She followed him and he opened the carriage door for her.
“After you, young lady,” he said, helping her up the steps into the gold-trimmed carriage.
“Thank you, thank you,” she said with a smile, taking a seat on the red velvet cushion. Her partner sat down behind the horses and cracked his whip briefly to get them moving.
They rocked toward the upper town. Rilliana's stomach turned as they passed Trisha's apartment. But she lowered her gaze and sank back into the cushions. The Trisha chapter was over, forever. Her hand clenched into a fist, but she pricked up her ears when the carriage stopped. Her partner jumped down and spoke to someone before the carriage door opened.
“Ladies,” he murmured, and Rilliana's mouth fell open as one beauty after another entered the carriage. They were all wearing the same costume as Rilliana, only in different colors. The last to enter was a tall, slender woman with midnight black hair and a dark purple robe. She eyed Rilliana sharply but said nothing. The elf swallowed as she was scrutinized from head to toe, but the woman turned away as the carriage started moving again. Rilliana breathed a sigh of relief and looked out the window. They drove past a house with large letters spelling out: Terra's Moonveil Pavilion. Rilliana immediately turned her head toward the dark-haired woman, who began to smile.
“You…”
The woman held a finger to her lips to silence Rilliana. Then she closed her eyes and leaned back into the comfortable cushions.
“Finally, what took you so long? Lord Dekar is already waiting and his guest is getting impatient.”
“Quality has its price and requires time above all else,” said Arissa's friend, stepping down from the carriage.
“Hey girls, we're here!” he said, banging on the door. One of the women cautiously opened the carriage and stepped out. One by one, they left the vehicle until Rilliana was the last to expose herself to the cool night air. Rilliana opened her mouth to complain that it was much too cold and that they needed to get inside as quickly as possible. But she fell silent when she saw where she was standing. In the middle of Upper Town, right in front of the gates to the keep, which overshadowed everything except the bell tower.
I really should prepare myself better, thought Rilliana, who now swallowed hard. This place was probably the best-guarded in all of Leon's Keep. One mistake and it would be over for her.
“Wait a minute, Lord Dekar only ordered seven women, but there are eight.”
“Yes, this one is a small gift for the gentlemen as a thank you for the order and as an apology for the delay.”
The guard frowned at this plan.
“So… you knew you were going to be late and packed an extra woman as a precaution?”
“Hey, what do I know? I just drove the carriage.”
“Of course…” muttered the guard, waving the women toward the keep.
“Good luck,” whispered Arissa's friend Rilliana, sitting back down in the carriage.
If Trisha's villa had already seemed like a castle to Rilliana, the keep was like a whole new world. There was wealth everywhere. From the gold-trimmed picture frames to the display cases containing weapons and artifacts. A servant led them past the chalice, next to which two guards stood. He turned into a corridor with several doors on the left and right. At the end of it was a double door, which he opened for them.
“Come in, ladies, and wait until the honored guest arrives,” Lord Dekar's servant ordered. Rilliana entered the room first and was immediately hit by hot, humid air. Rilliana had never felt anything like it before, and the rapid change in temperature made her dizzy.
“Hey, are you okay?” asked Terra, holding Rilliana by the shoulder to keep her from falling over.
“Yes… yes, I'll be fine in a moment, thank you.”
She smiled encouragingly at Rilliana.
“It's overwhelming, isn't it?”
“The temperatures, the wealth on the way here, or the fact that I met the spider from Leon's Keep herself?” Rilliana asked, and Terra flinched at the name. Her sympathetic smile faltered, but she quickly recovered.
“So you know my second line of work? I don't particularly like the name, though…” she said, almost whispering, pointing ahead into the room, “I meant more our location.”
Rilliana looked up and froze when she saw all the wealth scattered around the room.
How could anyone have so much money that they could build waterfalls in their house that filled a small pond? Rilliana wondered, shaking her head.
And for that, we had to go hungry in the orphanage?
She clenched her hand into a fist, but Terra's hand on her shoulder brought her back.
“Relax, dear, you're among friends here,” Terra said, pointing to her employees, who were already stretching out on the enormous bed or splashing around in the warm water.
“Mmmmhmm,” Rilliana murmured, looking up at her, “I'm sorry. It's a little difficult for me right now.”
“Oh? You have to tell me everything. What's your name, dear?”
“Ril…” Rilliana began, but fell silent and quickly added, “Rike. My name is Rike.”
“I see, Rike?” Terra asked, leading her to the bed where the other women were. “Does your difficult life have anything to do with a certain catgirl?”
Rilliana looked up at her.
“Oh… I see… difficult subject,” Terra murmured and helped Rilliana onto the bed before sitting down next to her. Rilliana was already preparing herself to be bombarded with questions from Terra and the others, but they seemed to sense she didn't want to talk. So Rilliana got to enjoy the latest gossip from Leon's Keep. Which husband had cheated on his wife this week, which magical creatures had bewitched someone in the forest, or rumors about missing women in the west. Rilliana only listened with half an ear and only looked up when the door to her room opened. They heard voices.
“Now that we have finally concluded the contracts, I would like to present you with a small gift for this evening. I hope I have met your taste.”
A man dressed in white robes entered the room and looked at the scene and the women with little enthusiasm.
“Thank you very much, Lord Dekar. If you'll excuse me, I would now like to retire to the harem you have provided,” he said with a strong accent.
“Of course, Prince Al Alabischahad, if you need anything, my servants will fulfill your every wish.”
The door closed and immediately a few of the women went to the prince and began to remove his robes.
“Stop, leave me alone. I just want to… let me just get into my bed,” he said morosely, shooing the women aside. Rilliana and Terra climbed down from the bed and made room for him.
"But my lord, we are here to sweeten your evening. Your journey must have been very arduous, and you need to recover from your exertions. Let us entertain you and help you relax,“ whispered Terra in a honey-sweet voice, stroking his chest. The prince clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
”Don't touch me,“ he muttered, and Terra immediately withdrew her hand. ”If you insist on entertaining me, then do it my way. Go into the bathroom and choose a partner. I'll explain what you're going to do in a moment.“
The man went back to the door and spoke to the servant while the women strolled to the bath and stepped into the knee-deep water.
”Come on, Rike, you're my partner now," said Terra, pulling Rilliana into the pool.
“Wait a minute? What I have to do, not necessarily. Hey, wait!” Rilliana cried, clinging to the bed in panic. Terra just laughed and easily pulled her by her legs to the pond. She slipped on the smooth, wet floor and finally landed in the water, in the middle of the other women. They started laughing when Rilliana pulled her hair out of her face and then hid her breasts, which were now clearly visible through the wet fabric.
“Oh, come on, I'm not really in the mood…” said Rilliana, but her words were drowned out by the others' conversations when the prince returned with ropes in his arms.
"Have you divided yourselves up? Good, the rules are simple: you will now fight each other until only one of you remains. Please be careful not to hurt yourselves. The last one standing will receive a bonus once the night is over.“
”And what's the deal with the ropes, my lord?“
”The losers of each round will be tied up and can spend the rest of the time bound. Any questions? None? Good, you can start," said the prince curtly and lay down on the bed.
“Wait, I have…” Rilliana was about to begin when Terra threw herself on top of her and put her in a headlock. Completely taken by surprise, Rilliana tried to break Terra's grip, but the woman seemed surprisingly strong for her slender build. At least stronger than Rilliana. The elf fought back with all her might, but she had never placed any particular value on muscle. Her head turned red and she slowly ran out of air, causing her vision to slowly darken. Her fingers dug into Terra's arm, but in the end she had no choice but to tap her arm. Terra immediately understood that she was giving up and released Rilliana. Coughing, Rilliana slumped back into the water and croaked a “thank you” from her throat. Terra helped her back onto land, and just as Rilliana was about to thank her again for her help, Terra picked up the ropes.
“You really won't give me a break, will you?” asked the elf, who was torn between accepting the ropes and running away.
“Just a little,” Terra laughed and began to wrap the ropes around Rilliana's wrists. She felt that the ropes were tied very loosely and looked up at Terra. The woman smiled down at her.
“I think you're done for today… Rike,” Terra said, ruffling the elf's blonde hair. The elf looked at her bonds in disbelief.
“Well… thanks for the break, but… is that all? I'm already a little disappointed,” Rilliana said, freeing herself from the bonds with a quick movement of her hand. Terra's eye twitched.
“As you wish…”
Ten minutes later, Rilliana was tied up like a ham. Ropes bound her ankles, knees, and thighs together, and her arms were tied so tightly behind her back that her elbows touched. The rope was so tight that it pressed into her skin. In addition, Terra had tied the crotch rope that Rilliana loved, and the elf groaned loudly as she tightened it.
Three rounds of fighting later, the game was over, and of course Terra had won. But Rilliana had noticed that she had been much more sensitive with her employees than with her.
“Well fought, my lady. Now throw the losers into the bath and have some fun with them.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” said Terra, bowing to the prince. She did as she was told, and one woman after another landed screaming in the water, where Terra, grinning like a shark, pounced on them and tickled them, kissed them, or held them briefly underwater. Meanwhile, Rilliana wondered if she was imagining it, but she believed that with every passing minute, her bonds were tightening.
Terra and the women played together late into the night until the prince said he had had enough and wanted to sleep.
“Alone,” he emphasized. One after another, the women were freed by Terra and left the room. Rilliana watched them go, one by one, and the question of when she would finally be freed burned ever more intensely in her stomach, especially since the ropes had cut deep into her skin and were slowly beginning to hurt. But finally, Terra stood over her and smiled.
"Could you please give me a hand? The ropes are pulling a little,“ murmured the elf, smiling back.
”Mmmmhh… no, not yet, I want to have a little more fun. Maybe I'll just ask the prince if I can have you as a reward,“ Terra pondered aloud, lifting Rilliana up with ease.
”I suppose I don't have a say in the matter?"
“You forfeited your right to speak a moment ago,” Terra replied with a laugh and went into one of the rooms directly off the hallway that had been made available to them.
“By the gods! It's cold in here!” Rilliana exclaimed as they entered the room.
“Don't worry, I'll make sure you'll be much, much warmer in a moment,” said Terra, laying Rilliana on the bed, “but first…”
She took a piece of cloth and stuffed it into Rilliana's mouth.
“Keep it in!” she ordered the elf, completing the gag with another cloth, which she tied around her neck.
“So… I have a few questions for you, little elf. And it would be wise to answer them truthfully, you understand?” said Terra, tickling Rilliana's feet. The elf recoiled, but the tight, wet ropes prevented her from moving.
“Question number one. Are you here for a different reason than us?”
Rilliana shook her head. Terra closed her eyes.
“Come on, Rike. I can't stand lies. You should know that, right?” she said, tickling the elf. Rilliana struggled with all her might against the ropes, trying to escape the attack of the fingers. She screamed with laughter into the gag and writhed in her bonds.
“Second question,” Terra said as she continued to tickle her, “is your name really Rike?”
Rilliana nodded as tears of laughter ran down her face.
"Lying again. Come on. Just from the way you hesitated, Rike is definitely not your real name. But let's move on to the last question,“ Terra said suddenly in a serious voice. She stopped tickling Rilliana and pulled a knife from under the bed. She placed the blade against the elf's throat, who immediately fell silent.
”Are you here to harm me or one of my girls?"
Rilliana hesitated and finally shook her head.
“Oh ho, so the elf can tell the truth after all. So why are you really here?” she asked, pulling down the gag. Rilliana spat out the cloth and said, “I thought that was your last question.”
Terra tickled Rilliana again and she giggled.
“I ask the questions here! So…?”
Rilliana rolled her eyes and leaned back.
“I'm supposed to take the chalice in the hallway. Today seemed to be the only way to get in here safely. I'm sorry you got dragged into this.”
Terra shrugged.
“We're all just pawns on the game board of some greater power, aren't we?” she said, cutting the ropes that bound Rilliana. Rilliana nodded, but the woman couldn't help noticing that something else was on the elf's mind.
“Tell me, how would you feel about working for me? You seemed to be the only one who really enjoyed her restraints. That's rare. You would be the attraction at the Moon Veil Pavilion.”
“Thanks, but I'm happy where I am,” Rilliana murmured, massaging her limbs. The rope marks were clearly visible all over her body.
“The offer stands. You're also welcome to come by for a cup of tea,” said Terra, laughing.
“I'd love to. I had fun today, Terra. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon. But I really have to go now,” said Rilliana, standing up only to fall to the floor immediately.
“Not again…” she muttered, struggling to get up.
“I think I tied the ropes a little too tight, didn't I?” Terra asked, lifting her back onto the bed.
“That's absolutely correct,” Rilliana said irritably, massaging her legs to get feeling back into them.
“What if I get you the chalice and you spend the rest of the night with me in return?” asked Terra, snuggling up to Rilliana.
Rilliana hesitated. But then she pulled away from her.
"I get what I want and a night with you? I feel like there's a catch somewhere,“ said Rilliana, furrowing her eyebrows.
”Oh, catches schmatches, I always say,“ laughed Terra, placing her hand on Rilliana's leg. ”You just have to tell me a little bit about yourself.“
Her hand wandered up her hip.
”About the tunnels under the city."
Rilliana looked at Terra bitterly as her hand continued to move upward until it was under her chin.
“Or about your little friend and her sister…”
Rilliana pushed Terra's hand away.
“I'm sorry, I… I can't do this…” Rilliana whispered and turned away.
“Oh, I'm sorry, Rike. I didn't mean to upset you… This could have been a nice night, but I don't want to be like this right now. I made a mistake and I intend to make it up to you.”
“What do you mean?” Rilliana asked, turning her head toward Terra.
“I'll get you the chalice, after all, it's my fault you can't move. And maybe you'll reconsider working for me?”
Rilliana's expression darkened.
“Fine, just the chalice,” Terra said with a grin and stood in front of a large mirror covered with jewels and gold.
“That should fit,” Terra muttered, reaching out her hand toward it. Immediately, it began to melt and reshape itself until a replica of the chalice stood before them, the original of which was being guarded just a few feet away in the hallway.
“What the…” Rilliana said, fascinated, staring at Terra with her mouth open as she picked up the chalice from the floor.
“You can do magic?”
“Of course. You can too, can't you?” said Terra, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I…” Rilliana began, lowering her gaze.
“Don't tell me you don't know how?” asked Terra, putting her hands on her hips.
“What kind of elf are you, that you can't do magic?!”
Offended, Rilliana stared at Terra, who raised her hands apologetically. “I'm sorry, I just thought every elf…”
“Apparently not every elf,” Rilliana muttered, crossing her arms. Terra scratched her head. She knew she had just put her foot in it.
“Well, um, I'll go get you the chalice…” she said and left the room. Still wearing her wet costume, Terra went into the hallway and knocked on the door opposite. Rilliana was curious to see what she was up to, so she slid down to the floor and crawled to the door. She saw Terra and a few of the other women go to the chalice. While the guards were being led away by the ladies to their respective rooms to enjoy themselves, Terra tampered with the chalice. She came back with a big grin on her face. One chalice in her hand and another on the pedestal.
“Here you go,” Terra said curtly, tossing the chalice to Rilliana. Perplexed, Rilliana caught it and examined it. Without a doubt, it was the object of her mission.
"Don't lie on the floor all the time, come to bed. If you don't want to have fun, you can at least keep me company,“ said Terra, looking down at the elf, who stared at her with furrowed brows.
”Just as friends… not business. You look like you have a lot on your mind. We can talk about it if you want."
Rilliana looked at the chalice and then up at Terra.
Maybe she deserves a little trust. She thought, climbing back into bed.
“Thank you…” Rilliana murmured, leaning against Terra's shoulder.
“You're welcome,” she said. “So… tell Terra what happened.”
The next morning, the women smuggled Rilliana and the chalice safely to the carriage and off the grounds.
“So remember, if you're ever in the area, come visit us,” said Terra, and the other women nodded in agreement.
“I… I'll try. And thanks again for the great night and for listening, Terra,” Rilliana murmured and hugged everyone before they got out and left the carriage. Shortly thereafter, the carriage started moving again, and Arissa's friend drove her almost to her front door. She jumped out of the carriage into the bushes so that the other residents wouldn't see her, but turned back to the man.
“I assume you have something else for me?” he asked with a broad smile, and Rilliana pulled out the goblet, which was wrapped in a cloth. But she grinned as she began to play with the cloth.
“Come on, little one… or should I visit you again tonight?”
“Nah, it's fine,” said Rilliana, throwing the chalice to him.
He caught it deftly and nodded appreciatively.
“I thought so. I'll let Arissa know she can give you a bonus,” he said with a laugh.
“You can still come visit me. I could use the distraction,” she said.
“We'll see, little one, we'll see,” he replied, nodding goodbye and letting the horses run. The carriage rocked its way to the stables and disappeared around a corner. The elf retreated into the bushes and climbed through the gap to get to her apartment. But when she reached the hallway, she paused. Just like when Arissa's boyfriend had ambushed her, she sensed that something was wrong.
“Not today. Not now,” Rilliana muttered, looking down at herself. The exotic dress didn't exactly give her the protection she might need right now and even restricted her movements. Nevertheless, she clenched her hands into fists and crept to the door. It was open. Rilliana threw it open and froze. Trisha was sitting on her bed. The broken necklace lay in her hands. She was trembling. Before Rilliana could say anything, Trisha spoke. She sounded exhausted and frightened.
"The necklace and my bracelet are connected… it can show me where the wearer of the necklace is, whether they are comfortable, in danger, injured…“ She looked up and Rilliana saw Trisha's tear-stained face and her swollen, red eyes. ”Or dead," she finished, raising her arm. Rilliana saw the bracelet and the crystal in its center, which had turned black.
“At first I thought you were …” she swallowed, “then when I found the necklace, I thought you had destroyed it to lure me here.” But then you weren't there and I … I was scared … terrified … for you! And now you're standing here in this costume, unharmed."
She shook her head, stood up, and stood in Rilliana's way.
“Say something!” she demanded, pushing the elf. Rilliana opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“Anything!” said Trisha, pushing her again. Rilliana now began to tremble and held her hands in front of her face.
“Please…” Trisha whispered and slid to the floor in front of Rilliana.
“Trisha…” Rilliana began, kneeling in front of her and hugging her.
“I'm so sorry for everything, for my ignorance towards you and your feelings, for my addiction. I wish I could take back everything I said, and if I could somehow…”
She began to cry and hugged Trisha even tighter.
Trisha, I… I love you! And I…“ She was interrupted when Trisha pressed her mouth against Rilliana's.
”I love you too, silly…" Trisha whispered as they pulled apart.
A few days later, Rilliana and Trisha were lying in bed in Rilliana's apartment. The shifter pretended to be asleep and waited patiently for her friend to finally sneak out of bed to meditate or, for a change, to sleep. Rilliana seemed to opt for the former. She disappeared under the covers, and Trisha heard Rilliana finally climb upstairs. The shifter waited a moment before nimbly getting out of bed herself and secretly kissing a letter she had placed on the nightstand. She glanced up briefly at the elf in trance and left the apartment.
Rilliana stretched contentedly as she awoke from her meditation and looked outside. The sun that usually woke her was hidden behind dark clouds, and a harsh wind swept through the streets. There weren't many people on the streets either. Probably because they didn't want to get caught in the rain.
“Hey sleepyhead, we should get up,” Rilliana called, stretching again. She got no answer and looked down the ladder, only to find that instead of Trisha, a letter was waiting for her. Rilliana's heart sank as she feared the worst, and she almost jumped on her bed to tear open the letter. However, as she read the first few lines, she quickly calmed down and let herself fall back onto her bed.
“Trisha, damn it. Don't do this…” she muttered and continued reading.
My dearest Rilliana,
When you find this letter, I will already be at my home waiting for you. But first, you must complete three tasks to earn your entry.
First: Tie yourself up as I describe on the back of this letter and put on only the clothes I have hung in your closet, nothing else!
Second, go to the place where we first met and find a package I have hidden there.
You will find your third task there.
With love
Trisha
Rilliana bit her lower lip as she read the lines and turned the letter over. On the back was a drawing that explained step by step how she could tie herself up with a harness made of ropes. Without thinking twice, she set to work. Rilliana took a rope, which she cut in half and hung over her neck. Then she tied the rope with several knots in front of her chest down to her crotch. She licked her lips as she read the next instructions on the sketch and decided to ignore the warnings, pulling the rope through herself at her neck and tightening it. Tight. Rilliana's face immediately turned red.
Now came the fun part. Rilliana read and brought the rope forward, threading it through the gaps created by the knots. She pulled it tight again and already felt one of the knots sinking deep into her crotch. She moaned with satisfaction and repeated the process until there were no more gaps in the rope and it was pulled tight around her body, as if she were wearing the leather harness again.
“Wow,” was all she said when she saw her body being embraced by the rope. She caressed her breasts, which were lifted by the rope and presented themselves proudly. She had to force herself to tear herself away from the mirror and go to her closet. Inside hung a loose-fitting white dress that reached her ankles and covered her body so that no one on the street could see that she was bound.
“Mmm, Trisha, that's a little boring, isn't it?” she muttered, flinching as she took a step toward the dress and the rope penetrated her even deeper.
“On the other hand, a little boredom might not be a bad thing…” she whispered, her face red, and carefully put on the dress.
Rilliana stepped out of her hiding place and was immediately greeted by a gust of wind that tried to lift her dress. Startled, she quickly pulled it down and cursed softly as the rope made her blush again. A few sailors passing by looked at her curiously but said nothing. Rilliana nodded shyly at them and hurried as fast as she could, without giving in to the rope, toward the alley where she had her fateful encounter with Trisha. The wind made it difficult for her to move forward, and she had to keep preventing it from lifting her dress and exposing her naked body to the whole of Leon's Keep. Rilliana wasn't sure until the very end whether she had managed to hide her “underwear” from the whole town. All too often, the townspeople seemed to be following her with their eyes. Exhausted, she arrived at the alley and leaned against a wall, letting her gaze wander. She spotted a package under a pile of wood and quickly ran towards it. She tried to pull it out, but it seemed to be stuck, and she clicked her tongue disapprovingly. The rope wasn't much help, and she quickly realized that it was constricting her chest and restricting her breathing. Annoyed, she paused briefly to catch her breath and leaned against the pile of wood. She flinched when something wet fell on her neck. Irritated, Rilliana raised her hand and wiped it away.
“It's going to rain soon, I should hurry before …” Rilliana muttered, and suddenly her eyes widened, “BEFORE THE RAIN MAKES MY DRESS TRANSPARENT!”
She frantically pulled on the package, and with her newfound strength, she had it in her hands with one jerk. The woodpile swayed menacingly, but Rilliana pushed it back and breathed a sigh of relief. The package was heavy, and there was a letter stuck to it. Rilliana tore it off and unfolded the written paper.
Dearest Rilliana
This package is for your old friend Arissa, take it to her. She also has one for you from me. And please be so kind as to attach the enclosed jewelry to yourself.
See you soon
Trisha
PS: Yes. BEHIND your back.
“Jewelry?” she asked, turning the envelope over. Handcuffs and leg irons fell out. Rilliana groaned loudly, but didn't think twice and fastened the restraints around her ankles and wrists. She knelt down and took the package in her hands. It was leaning against her back, and Rilliana hoped that it would at least hide the chain of her handcuffs. Thanks to the ankle cuffs, she could only take small steps, and so she stumbled toward Arissa's house. Before, Rilliana might have been paranoid, but now she knew for sure that all eyes on the street were following her. They stared holes in her dress. Pulled it off her body with their eyes. With every step accompanied by the clanking of the chains between her feet, she knew she had been exposed. Every person she met could reveal her secret. Every light breeze that gently caressed her shackled ankles. Her face, which was becoming increasingly red, felt so hot that she thought the drops on her head were evaporating. Rilliana quickened her pace as the rain grew heavier, and luckily, many people were leaving the street. When it really started to pour, Rilliana's dress became completely soaked. Immediately, her dress became transparent, and anyone on the street could have seen the ropes underneath, but they seemed to have other things on their minds. Out of breath, exhausted, and half-frozen, Rilliana finally arrived at Arissa's house. The rope was now clearly visible through her dress and seemed to get tighter the more water it absorbed. Rilliana knocked on the door with her head and flinched when she felt a sharp pain inside. She gasped for air, but immediately started smiling when Arissa opened the door.
“Oh, Rilliana, what a wonderful… Why, girl?”
“Hello, Arissa, it's good to see you. I have a package for you,” Rilliana said woodenly and turned around so that the woman could take the package from her. Arissa opened it while the elf was still standing in the rain.
“Can I come in?” Rilliana asked.
“No. You'll get the floor wet,” she was told. She read the accompanying letter and pulled a raincoat out of the package, which she threw over Rilliana's shoulders. Immediately, a weight was lifted from her heart.
“Here, I'm supposed to give you this,” Arissa said curtly, pressing another oblong package into Rilliana's hand.
“Tell Trisha, but this was the first and last time I'm participating in one of your games, okay?”
The elf nodded hastily and said goodbye.
“Last stop: Trisha's hideout.”
Without further incident, she reached the wall and opened the door to Trisha's apartment. Rilliana's breath caught in her throat when she saw her friend lying on the bed, undressed and adorned with red ribbons. A heart was taped over her mouth, serving as a gag. Her legs were folded and tied with ribbons, and her arms were crossed behind her head and tied with more ribbons. The elf noticed a key hanging around her friend's neck, presumably for her restraints.
“MMHMM MHM HM HMMMHMM MMHMM!” said Trisha with expectant eyes.
“Wait, I don't understand a word,” said the elf, laughing, and walked over to her. Awkwardly, she turned her back to her and tore the heart from her mouth.
“Happy 21st birthday, Rilli,” Trisha finally said, “I hope you like your gifts,” she said, wiggling her hips seductively.
“Ooooh, I completely forgot about that! Thank you so much, Trisha!” said Rilliana, beaming, and wanted to slap her forehead.
“Come here, let me give you a hug!”
Trisha's eyes immediately widened.
“How about drying yourself off first?”
In response, Rilliana ignored the question and jumped, wet as she was, onto Trisha to give her a kiss.
“You mmmmh are really aaah impossible and… wet!” Trisha murmured between kisses.
“Thanks, Trish,” whispered Rilliana, rolling off Trisha. The key to her handcuffs was between her teeth.
“If you don't mind, I'd like to take a warm bath before I unwrap my gifts. You understand?” Rilliana continued, deftly spitting the key into her hands. She unlocked her restraints, slipped off her raincoat and dress, and threw them at Trisha.
“HEY!”
Rilliana disappeared into the bathroom and ran the tub while Trisha stood in the bedroom, soaked through by her clothes. Only when the tub was full did Rilliana, still bound by the ropes, return to the bedroom.
“Actually, I don't feel like taking a bath alone,” she said, hoisting Trisha off the bed, breathing heavily, to have fun with the shifter in the bathtub.
After they had both warmed up, Rilliana untied them both and hung up the ropes while Trisha disappeared into the bedroom. When Rilliana joined her, Trisha had the package from Arissa in her hand and handed it to her.
“This is a joint gift from Arissa and me. I hope you like it.”
Curious, Rilliana opened it to reveal a curved bow, artfully decorated with engraved branches and leaves. It fit perfectly in her hand and seemed to speak to her.
“It… it's beautiful,” Rilliana murmured, frowning and gripping it more tightly. She had never really held a bow before, but she knew she was holding something special. The elf put the bow aside and hugged Trisha.
“I thought to myself, what elf doesn't have a bow?” whispered Trisha, hugging her friend back. “I'm glad you like it.”
“I do. Thank you so much, Trish!” whispered Rilliana back, who had received more than just a bow. She had also received a piece of her culture.