azazele

ARC 6-Winter War-27

[My summoner, a moment of your attention.]

I look up from watching Alana squirm over her dinner, annoyed. It must be serious if you haven’t simply dealt with it. At least, it better be. What is it?

[A mob has gathered before the estate. They are armed and agitated. There seems to be a split in the group. Some are arguing for a surprise assault. Others are attempting to send a repr...

ARC 6-Winter War-26

Three days have passed since Howie’s rescue. A very quiet three days, given the damage my household wrought in Quest. No one else has come to question me after Mr. Four Affinities’ poor attempt at an interrogation.

As for the future hero, the cut on his brow was healed, his system was cleansed of my madness-inducing pheromones, and he was sent on his way after mumbling apologies he di...

ARC 6-Winter War-25

From the corner of my eye, I notice Bell enter the room, slipping under the table to reach the comatose young man. She grabs him by his shirt and drags him from the room, leaving a thin trail of blood on the floor from the wound on his brow.

Most of my attention is taken by Alana. She looks ready to leap over the table at me. Instead, she retakes her chair. Her hand reaches out for my own...

ARC 6-Winter War-24

“Mm.” Mr. Talented’s words fade in and out as my wife’s tongue retreats from my folds and wraps around my protruding gift. Oh saints, those nubs are massaging my sensitive flesh. I can’t…can’t…

Under the table, Alana’s hand touches my knee. I blindly flail my hand until I manage to grasp hers. Our fingers lace together as her thumb teases my palm.

“Allow me to ex...

ARC 6-Winter War-23

“…what do you mean someone who can appreciate a pervert?”

I pant, delaying my answer as I watch Kierra tug my pants down to my ankles. I look away as she kisses up my leg, preparing myself for when she reaches her goal as I turn to Alana. “Someone like you.”

“What?! What does that mean?”

“You, mm, appreciate me, don’t you? You like watching.”

“I—�...

ARC 6-Winter War-22

“So, that’s it?”

“That’s it,” I tell Alana as she pokes the pliant shuba, marveling at the creature I’ve plucked from another realm to serve my whims. “Hashing out the contract is usually the easiest part of a summoning. Powerful creatures always want power so I never doubted I’d have a problem negotiating with the Dark Lord.” Though who knows what the thing is going t...

ARC 6-Winter War-21

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” I dip my head in a shallow bow. “I am Lourianne. May I have a name to address you by?”

“Shuba.” The shuba pauses, freezing in place. After a moment, its lower body continues to flutter. “Shuba…regum."

So, Dark Lord. It communicates through the shubas but its medium isn’t the best conversationalist. Seems I’ll have to keep t...

ARC 6-Winter War-20

“This is unbelievable.”

I glance over at Alana as she comes out from behind her hands, sitting up straight. Her clear blue eyes turn to me and I’m glad to see there is nothing worrisome in her gaze. No fear, no disbelief, and no dangerous awe.

“It’s ridiculous…but it’s also right in front of me so there’s no point in denying it.” She sighs. “This is what you mean...

ARC 6-Winter War-19

“Finally, it’s done.”

Last night might not have gone according to plan but there’s no time to dwell on it. I have two elementals to contract in less than two weeks. There’re also the other mundane preparations to be made when traveling any significant distance and the preparations for waging war.

I thoroughly expect fallout from our “rescue” but until someone is trying...

ARC 6-Winter War-18

Alana left Lou lounging in the bath and hastily dressed before exiting the house. She headed for Kierra’s garden, stopping before the tall trees that marked its boundary. She rubbed her rapidly chilling hands together as she shouted, “I’m here!”

Moments later, a dark figure came bounding over the higher branches. Kierra landed in front of her, posing without a care for her lack of...

ARC 6-Winter War-17

Alana woke in the middle of the night.

She didn’t know what had pulled her from the realm of dreams until she stretched and met nothing but cool sheets. Frowning, she sat up in the dark room. Normally, the thrall lingered around Lou and would light candles whenever the need for light crossed someone’s mind, but no flames appeared. Grumbling to herself, she cast a quick spell and exten...

ARC 6-Winter War-16

AN: Barmaid's name changed to Sara. I swear I've used at least two names by now but I'm sticking with this cause it's simple.

Thankfully, for the hunters, we don’t encounter any more resistance as we stop by the bar grab Nomad and then race to the guardhouse. There is a brief moment of tension as the guards gaze upon Geneva and promptly draw their weapons, but I manage ...

ARC 6-Winter War-15

The sound of the explosion is deafening, drowning out my yelp of surprise as the ground shakes. Heat and, surprisingly, water wash over me. Flying debris harmlessly bounces off my body, small pokes below my waist.

[Run, Master Lou!]

I follow the instruction, opening my eyes as I sprint forward. Devastation. The hunters have been annihilated. Bodies are strewn haphazardly throughout ...

ARC 6-Winter War-14

“What the—”

“Get it—”

“Fuck—”

I catch a brief glimpse of a small, orange blur tearing through the hunters gathered in the cramped hall, the tight confines doing them no favors, before I ascend to the ground floor. The room is still empty. I suppose all the fighters in the building are currently wrestling with Bell and the rest have evacuated or run for help. ...

ARC 6-Winter War-13

The stranger turns to us with disapproval but it is dismissive. He could care less about us besides the fact that we’ve interrupted his business. Not even Bell, the literal monster that barged through his floor. “Who are you?”

“She’s—”

“Lourianne Tome.” Simone cuts Cordy off. “An annoyance and the one responsible for this mess. You’ve made a mistake coming here...

ARC 6-Winter War-12

“Rrrooikk.” Was that a growl or a squeak? [Master Lou, I have the halfling’s scent, along with the attackers’.]

[I as well.] How? You don’t even have a nose. Her antennae twitch. Maybe? [You shouldn’t underestimate a creature’s senses because it doesn’t have a recognizable structure.]

I’ll trust you. “Alright. Nomad, stay here and start cleaning up. Gajin, take h...

ARC 6-Winter War-11

Eh? Something happened to Howie?

[It would appear so. The barmaid is quite distressed and the feeling is genuine.]

Saints damn it all. I didn’t think the guilds would be petty enough to retaliate this soon. How can monster hunters be so hot-headed? Don’t they care how it looks? Don’t they fear any repercussions?

These bastards are really looking down on me. I wonder who ...

ARC 6-Winter War-10

“What do you think you’re playing at?” Kimbleford shouts as he jumps to his feet. “Just sign the damn thing!”

“Why should I?” Howie bares his teeth. “If I let you get away with these insults, I can never show my face in the provinces again. Teach you to treat me like an idiot. I meant what I said! Get out!”

“You saints cursed monster—”

“My lord!” hi...

ARC 6-Winter War-09

It may be me but there’s tension in the air as Simone clears his throat. There’s no need for them to be worried. Bearskin and Cordy were cordial and negotiations happened without a hitch. Kimbleford practically begged for a beating, threatening Howie and ignoring my many warnings, but all he lost was a tooth. A good healer can have that sorted in half an hour, maybe less.

“Next we w...

ARC 6-Winter War-08

The latest arrival moves to the center of the room and wastes no time getting to business. “Thank you, everyone, for coming. My name is Simone, a consul attached to the Shadow Wolf guild. For those unaware of what my title means, I facilitate cooperation between guilds and third parties. I say that to assure you that I have experience in these matters so if you would all allow me to guide thi...

ARC 6-Winter War-07

“Huh? Are we the last ones?”

I turn on my stool as the door opens once again, the largest group yet coming through. Two guilds comprise it if I have to guess, based on the differences in their attire.

Of the five, three wear crimson robes over their clothes, reminding me of the casters from the Hall. If the analogy holds true, that’d make them fire casters. The oldest of them,...

ARC 6-Winter War-06

It doesn’t take long for the first hunters to arrive.

The door is thrown open with force, banging against the wall as a group of four walks in. I grimace as I take in the man in the lead. With his square shoulders, thick muscles, and broad chest, he is a walking pillar of masculinity. And his hair. There’s far too much of it. Ugh.

Covering most of his features is the head of a s...

ARC 6-Winter War-05

Alana is seated on one of the couches, munching through a plate of cookies. The smile that springs to my face seeing her wanes at the ends as I take her in.

It’s been a week since our sleepover, a little over two since we confirmed our feelings for one another. The last time I saw her, she was trying to hide her reluctance to leave as she boarded our carriage back to her dorm, a smile o...

ARC 6-Winter War-04

“Welcome back, my lady.”

“Coo!”

Earl and Bell are waiting by the front door upon our arrival, having known I would be returning with supplies. “Morning, you two,” I call as I hop out of the carriage and point to the wagon hitched to the back. “Bring them to the spare room and stack them in the hall.”

Unfortunately, the manors provided by the Hall do not come wi...

ARC 6-Winter War-03

Maxine smiled, thoroughly enjoying her older sister’s discomfort as Lou hastily left the room, quickly followed by her wife. It was undignified to rub a victory in someone’s face but she wanted to laugh at Marcella’s slight frown. “It would seem your charms are failing you, sister.”

“I hardly expected them to swoon at my feet during the first conversation. Rather than not cari...

ARC 6-Winter War-02

No?

What does she mean no?

I discretely turn my head to glance up at her, catching her expression. There is amusement there, but not her usual amusement of someone watching an interesting show. There is darkness to it that reminds me of a predator stalking helpless prey. I know her so well, that little glance is enough for me to understand her meaning.

She disapproves.

S...

ARC 6-Winter War-01

Snow has yet to fall but winter is upon us, pushing out the last vestiges of autumn. Even the days are cold, not just the nights. The sky is perpetually covered in thick, gray clouds and brisk winds creep beneath coats to chill the bones. More than enough to keep people in their homes, huddled around warm fires. Least, if it were the capital full of those with sensitive constitutions.

Que...

Miniarc-Sleepover-9 (End)

“Are you going to stay like that all morning?”

Alana ignored the laughing voice above her. She didn’t have to look up to see the amused violet eyes and smug smirk. Her mind did a good enough job conjuring them that it added more embarrassment to the weight she already suffered under, making it almost crushing in its intensity. The other images her mind continued to conjure of the pr...

Miniarc-Sleepover-8

“Fuck!” Lou hissed as Alana continued stroking her. She squirmed out of Alana’s grip and hurried out of the water, running a hand through her damp hair. “You’re making this really hard for me.”

“I thought that was the point,” Alana muttered. Her eyes roved over Lou’s body. It was the first time she’d been able to observe her lover in “all her glory”, so to speak. A...

Miniarc-Sleepover-7

Despite her confident declaration, Alana was a ball of nerves. She felt like she’d become a slab of meat and offered herself to a starving wolf. She certainly knew Lou could be an animal in the throes of lust. Alana was sure she was going to see another demonstration as she was swept off her feet, unable to contain a yelp of surprise. Her eyes closed tightly as her stomach fluttered, waiting ...