The princess' nightmare

Liana woke to a crash in the other room, followed by loud sobs. Sleepily, she wondered who had hurt themselves. It had sounded like someone had fallen into something. She reached for her bedpost, wanting to help whoever it was, and was shocked to find it wasn’t there. Instead her hand found something slick, slimy . . . and [b]alive[/b]. She gasped, backing away into a writhing mass. She could barely make out the bed of tentacles she lay in. Everything came back in a rush: the guards, the creature, the woman, the pain and then the pleasure that made no sense to her.

Everything in her told her she needed to flee, to escape this place of horror, but she had no idea where to run to. What was it she always remembered in her stories? Princesses were always rescued by princes. If they just waited, their prince would come. But she didn’t want to wait here, all alone, naked and with these strange sensations. She wanted to go home.

She started to cry, choking off her sobs when she could. She was lost and afraid, but she didn’t want to alert the monster underneath her. Fear kept her from getting up, fear that had shattered any delusions she’d had. Back in the castle, she thought she knew what fear was when she’d heard Father talk about the Ruan and what they wanted to do. Now she knew that fear had only been small. She had to get that fear under control. She had to be brave, like the other princesses in her books.

Ultimately, it was the creature itself that calmed her down. There was a rhythmic movement to its appendages, almost like breathing, and it allowed her to focus on that and slow her tears and fears. For the first time, she truly looked at her surroundings, her green eyes going back and forth.

Though the room was dark, only lit by some burned down candles, she could see the hay over the floor and the wooden enclosure. She tried to ignore what was underneath her and looked at the stone walls and the door on the wall in front of her that was cracked open. The noise had come from there.

She took stock of herself, noting the teal liquid that engulfed almost her whole naked body. It had a surreal feel, like it wasn’t attached to her, but it kept her warm. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong otherwise. She hadn’t been hurt physically. Unfortunately, looking herself over caused her to see the creature beneath her.

The mass of tentacles cradled her like a young bird in a nest. The appendages throbbed and she could see it even in this dim light as fluid rushed along the purple ribbing only to cut off from time to time with the white parts. She looked for a head or a body, but found neither. [i]Is it just snakes?[/i] She couldn’t think of another animal to compare it to.

A hissing sound drew her curiosity, coming from the other room. She debated about whether it was wise to move and look, but it was better than staying here. She slipped off the creature as quickly as she dared, but it showed no signs of reacting to her at all. The straw scratched at her bare feet and she had to climb a bit to get out of the pen, but soon she landed with a wet smack on the stone floor. She winced, looking back, frozen to the spot.

Nothing. She gave a small sigh of relief and made her way to the door. Each wet smack of her feet on the stone floor caused her heart to jump. Even if the creature didn’t wake, the noise had to be loud enough to alert her captors. But no one raised an alarm, or came in to get her. She was hidden for now.

As she neared the door, she heard a female’s voice. It was the same woman from before. She leaned around the door just enough to see, her eyes scanning a well-decorated room with a lavish interior and a large bed. A big meal was laid out on a dark wood table and Liana’s belly to rumble as she smelled it. No one seemed to notice and Liana felt no one would catch her, just like when she’d spied on Father. She was the mouse of her sisters, getting in and out of small places without being seen.

The woman was on her hands and knees, and she looked upset. Liana strained to hear what she said, but it was too low to be heard. She was crying, and Liana wasn’t sure why, but she wanted to help her feel better. She supposed it was the caring nature some of the boys teased her about. A hiss came back and she could barely see another of the creatures near the woman. She pushed a little on the heavy door, hoping to get a bit better look without being seen.

She felt the creature’s presence before she saw it. She whirled away from the door, hands clamping on her mouth to keep from screaming as the tendrils rose in front of her. She immediately regretted doing so as the liquid smeared her mouth and under her nose. The aroma was pungent and it made her feel dizzy, but her panic overrode it as she knew it was here to take her again. She dug in her toes to keep from fainting in fright. Her heart beat faster than ever and she shut her eyes, praying she’d wake up from this nightmare in her warm bed, waiting for Mother to come in and get her. Anything was better than thinking about what this creature was going to do to her again.

It didn’t snatch her up this time. She waited, but nothing happened. She gathered up enough courage to peek out at it. The tendrils just moved in front of her, dancing before her eyes in a rhythmic fashion. It gave a series of hisses, but Liana could not understand what it meant. However, she got a strong sense of them emotions behind them. There were portions of confusion and concern. It was strange to feel another’s feelings like this, the sounds creating a wave of emotion that shook up her spine like it was snaring her all over again.

“Please, don’t hurt me,” she whispered.

Shock ran along the response and a tentacle came up. She shrank back against the cold stone as it approached. She flinched away, but instead of the expected snare, it curled around her throat like a necklace, reached across her chest and pet her. It felt like Mother when Liana had woken with a night terror. [i]It’s trying to soothe me?[/i] Her trip into the bizarre was taking another bewildering turn and it was more than she ever cared to experience. She wanted things to make sense. Just when she thought she had a grasp on where everything stood, her world flipped upside down again.

She reached up, gently pulling the tentacle off. It was soft now, and she didn’t want to cause it to be angry again. Her hand lingered on the tentacle a moment, her own fear and confusion evident, but also her curiosity as she ran a hand along it. It was an awkward feeling. There was a question laced along its hiss but, without knowing the language, she couldn’t guess how to respond. [i]What was it the lady said? That I might learn to speak it someday?[/i] She wished that day was today.

“I see your plan failed.”

The arrival of a deep male voice nearly sent Liana scrabbling up the walls. Not only was it unexpected, but the voice cut through her in a way she’d never felt before, skating on her nerves and sending chills all over. Despite those chills, she turned back, wanting to catch a peek of the new arrival. There was a screech like that of a male bird trying to scare off predators from its nest just like those she saw on rides outside the castle. Liana winced, but it didn’t last long enough for her to cover her ears. It came from the creature at the lady’s side.

The one near her was radiating fear now and kept trying to pull her away from the door. Liana stopped it with a gesture, and it just hovered nearby. For a moment, Liana imagined a frightened man, dancing from one foot to the other. It was a strange dual image. She didn’t have time to ponder her image, or its reaction to her gesture, too intent on getting a look at this male that frightened her so with only one sentence.

Liana didn’t see anyone and neither did her captor. Liana could see her completely now. She was whirling around, trying to find the person who spoke too. She looked ready for a fight, like some of the men in the courtyards. “Where are you?” she growled.

“Where I have always been. Here with you, watching and waiting.”

“Why? Why would you be following me?”

“Because I can tell you and I are aligned.” Motion drew Liana to the shadows and a large one spilled into the room. It oozed toward her, flowing into a male form. When it finished, there was a surprising amount of detail and Liana’s upbringing brought her gaze above his waist, though she was curious about what she’d seen between his legs. Was it the same thing the tendrils were putting in her? She didn’t know. The form was muscular and handsome, like some of the guys Saisha fawned over in that fake tone she was learning so well. “You and I have similar goals.”

Her captor snorted. “Really? I didn’t know you and I had the same past.” She folded her arms beneath her breasts. “And you decided to show to tell me that I screwed up? I just lost someone very special to me and I would appreciate it if you would just leave me alone.”

“Lost to the little Princess Saisha. Yes I know.” Liana didn’t know it could feel so good to hear her sister’s name again. She almost cried in longing.

“How . . . ?”

“I have been watching. I know she used a power she shouldn’t have had any knowledge of on you and destroyed one of your precious younglings in the process.” His voice was low and taunting. “And what will you do now, Shakada? Ruan has been looking for any excuse to enslave you. I’m sure he’s slobbering over the trophy he thinks you’ll be. Will you run now, tail between your legs? It would be just like you did all those years ago after what Letine did.”

That hit a nerve. Shakada screeched, sapphire light rippling along her hand and illuminating her brown hair. White-blue lightning shot from her fingers, lancing at the shadow. The man didn’t move and it passed through him, scarring the wall behind him. He chuckled as Shakada slipped to her knees again. “I...won’t run . . . until I’ve had my vengeance.” She was panting now, her chest heaving in the tight outfit.

“Ah yes, that quaint concept.” He began to glide across the room. His legs never moved, disturbing Liana even more. “Is it vengeance for you, or Cassandra?” The monster with Shakada tried to pull her away but the shadow caught her arm before she got far. She screamed as he touched her and her cries continued without end. He seemed to drink it in, grinning as she writhed. After a few minutes, he let her go and she dropped back down. Liana wasn’t sure why she’d been screaming. She couldn’t see a mark on her. “And how far are you willing to go, witch?”

Shakada touched her arm gingerly, wincing. “As far as it takes,” she grumbled, staring back. “Why?”

“I have come to offer my assistance,” he said, sweeping in a bow. Liana didn’t like how he said that. It reminded her of her Mother and how she would say something that wasn’t just a question or statement, but an order made out to sound nice. She usually pulled that one when she or her siblings did something in company. Liana still winced when she thought of the last one of those she disobeyed.

The monster by her side shivered and the fear was evident with every hiss, resonating in a way that was in tune with Liana. It made it very hard to concentrate and she had to work very hard not to bolt. Her curious nature warred with it and she had to motion it away to keep from running.

Shakada was quaking as well. “I...might need a way into the castle,” she said, her words quavering and she had to gather herself. “That wench and her toady have been destroying any mirror they find.”

The shadow waggled a finger at her. “Now, now, I’m sure you’re resourceful enough to figure that out on your own. No, my help is something that will keep your children safe.” He grinned, pointing to something out of Liana’s view. She heard Shakada gasp in fear and when she heard the creature’s howl, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “They are excellent hunters, difficult to defeat, relentless on the hunt and supremely loyal. Find a way into the castle, and you’ll have your prey.”

“In return?” Shakada shrank back, finally tearing her eyes away from the corner.

“We can get to that later. Do we have a deal?”

Shakada laughed, the tension of the moment broken. “You must think me a fool. I’ve learned over my years of exile. I make no promises when I don’t know everything.”

He advanced on her in an instant, looming over her. Liana wanted to yell at Shakada to run, her natural caring taking over, but her own fear froze it in her throat. The malice she felt of him was so thick it was choking her. She spun against the door, unwilling to look at the woman’s death as she hugged herself. Weeks passed to her, but there were no screams, no sickening crunches. “Impressive, witch. Most would have caved from the overwhelming fear you felt. And to feel my power and not flinch . . . I must say. You surprise me, even now. Your vengeance must be important to you.”

“Important will never scratch the surface of its true value.”

The shadow chuckled. “Very well. Let us adjourn to a more neutral setting. Then we can see if an alliance is viable.”

Liana let out the breath she’d been unaware she’d been holding. The witch may have taken her from her family and home, but Liana was one who hated to see a life end, no matter whose it was. The boys back home made fun of her for it, saying she had a soft heart, but she didn’t see what was so wrong about caring about life.

The sounds of magic brought her back to reality. By the time she looked back in the other room, the shadow and the witch were gone. She gave a sigh of relief, letting it fill her. She was determined to hold onto it for as long as possible.

An emotion intruded on her relief as the tendrils began to guide her back to the nest and tried to coax her back up. Determination filled her. She wasn’t going to wait to be rescued and hope for a hero. One book that one of the older knights had given her in secret had mentioned a woman that was able to protect herself. He had told her she could become that woman someday. Now, that’s what she was going to be.

[i]No,[/i] she thought, and this time it wasn’t a futile thought. She shook her head. It tried again, confused. She fought back this time, pulling against it. Hurt and confusion radiated from its hisses, almost overwhelming her, but she held her ground. Even if she couldn’t block out its feelings, she didn’t have to obey it. It was not Mother or Father.

“I need a bath,” she said, stomping her foot and trying not to slip. “I feel dirty and a lady should not get dirty.” She started to walk away even as she felt its disagreement. She didn’t get far as it scooped her up and plopped her down into the nest. Tentacles rose up on all sides as she got up, becoming the bars of her dungeon. She ran to them, shaking and prying at them to try and escape. They held firm. She sank to the coils, sobbing. [i]So much for that. I’m not her. I’m just little Liana.[/i]

Her books had not prepared her for horrors like these. She had wanted a knight and an adventure, but nothing like this. [i]This isn’t what I wanted.[/i] Even her dreams had always been about her rescuing damsels, not being one. [i]How can things be like this? How can innocent girls like me be captured and hurt?[/i] She wanted to be brave like Elsi in the story, but no one had ever taught her to fight, or use magic. She was all alone, and she felt deep down no one would rescue her because no one knew where she was. She didn’t even know.

More of that awful, sticky liquid dripped down from the ends of the tendrils above and began to fill the bottom of the nest. Large globs plopped into her hair and on her neck. [i]Truly not this disgusting in my stories.[/i] She hugged her knees, rocking back and forth and praying for anyone to save her. When the creature wrapped her limbs up and spread her out, she began to scream for help in earnest, but those were soon muffled as her mouth was stuffed again. [i]Someone! Anyone! Help me![/i]


************


“Lady Ficia, wait!”

Ficia wasn’t interested in waiting as she stomped down the halls. She’d had her fill of knights today after being patronized by that pompous Sir Hoaris. [i]I don’t know why that squire thought this was a good idea. I’d have had more success teaching these walls to waltz.[/i] She turned, kicking the wall in frustration. Her anger flipped to anguish and she cursed herself for a fool as she hopped on one foot. That had not been the most intelligent move.

The pain subsided, but her guards caught up by that time. “Lady Ficia, are you alright? Were you attacked?”

“No,” she said, seething as she set her foot down. She winced, but it was better. Her mother often told Saisha that she should focus her anger into something more productive. Ficia should have taken that advice herself. Hoaris had just made her so mad and these bumbling idiots following her around were not helping. Their hearts were in the right place, but they weren’t the best soldiers around. She wouldn’t have been surprised if Hoaris had personally assigned them either.

The knight captain had gone out with her father along with most of his best knights, leaving behind some good ones, but many unseasoned or veteran knights. Hoaris held rank among them, so he was in charge. Unfortunately, the man had more brawn than brains and did not believe in magic. He also didn’t like ‘a little slip of a girl’ telling him what she felt he needed to do. She’d done her best to explain what had occurred but he would have none of it. He was blind to the danger within the walls of the castle. He’d dismissed her fantasies and told her he knew very well how to defend against invaders. He told her to go back to her knitting and etiquette. She’d nearly attacked him for that.

She turned, hurrying down the corridor to the courtyard. Her destination was across from her: the priest’s tower. It was a daunting spire made entirely with stone that stood aloof from the main castle. It was a refuge for the sick and wounded and home to the current clergy. There was only one way in or out, and it could be barred quite well from inside to keep out invaders. Light was kept by torches inside.

Today, it only held two people: the current priest Armeni the third and her mother. Mother had cloistered herself in the tower to pray for Liana’s safe return and refused contact with anyone until her daughter returned safely. Saisha called her all manner of names, many she’d picked up from knights she denied spending time with. As much as Saisha tried to hide behind dresses and propriety, Ficia knew her older sister was just like Liana, enticed by a world outside the castle. She was just afraid to admit to it.

Ficia, on the other hand, had a great deal of respect for the ritual her mother was undertaking. However, since no one would listen to the girls or Josef, Ficia had no choice but to try and persuade her of the danger. She was the Queen and held authority over Hoaris. He wouldn’t like it, but he’d obey. So Ficia would brave the consequences, even if it did mean she was in the slimy priest’s presence.

Ficia had distrusted the priest from the moment he’d come to the castle. The old priest they’d grown up with had been kindly and had a small amount of healing power. He listened and advised, but did so in a way that showed he believed your concerns, no matter how trivial. He also kept a small contingent of studying priests in the tower with him. He’d died of a heart attack three summers past and Father Armeni had taken his place. The first thing the priest had done was send all other priests back to the temples. He had a different approach to his duties. Ficia despised the false concern he would show and, especially lately, she felt dirty after leaving the tower.

She knocked on the heavy wooden doors, hearing the echo reverberate inside. “Wait here,” she commanded the knights, ignoring any protests they voiced. She gave them a sour look and both clammed up. She tapped her uninjured foot, waiting in the heat for some time before the door creaked open and Armeni poked his head out. He had short brown hair and wore spectacles over his dark blue eyes. He seemed slight of build, but one couldn’t tell under those voluminous robes. “Princess Ficia,” he said, his eyes traveling up and down her. “I wasn’t expecting you today. Please come in.” He slipped back inside, letting her storm in. He closed it behind her, shutting the dimwits outside. “I do apologize for the wait. I was praying with your mother for your sister’s return.”

Ficia shivered, her light-blue eyes darting to the torches. Despite the heat outside, the halls were icy and she was surprised she didn’t see her breath. The cold smothered her and she hugged herself to keep warm as she followed the priest to his chambers. “Priest Armeni, I implore you. I must be allowed to speak with my mother.”

“That’s quite out of the question, child. You know this.”

“Yes, but the situation has grown more dire and she’s the only one the knights will listen to about it.”

“Why would she need to?” They reached the chambers and he led her in. Ficia delved into her story, telling as much as she dared to him. She left out what the creatures were doing to them and Saisha’s powers, but the story still held. Armeni’s face darkened as she spoke and he went to a shelf, pulling a book down and thumbing through it. Ficia took the time to look around his chambers. Aside from the bookshelf, there was a desk that he used for composing his letters with an inkwell and papers on it and a lavish chair behind it. There were also two padded chairs with a wooden table between them that held candles and many torches around the room, lighting any nook and cranny.

He was taking long enough that Ficia stretched to work out any knots, then she gathered up her skirts and took a seat. She stared at the candles, watching the flames dance. The turning of the pages soothed away her anger and she relaxed into the cushioning. The room was warmer than when she entered and she let out a soft sigh. She was sweating and it was a bit of an effort to raise a hand to wipe it away. She wanted to get up, but it was hard to convince herself to stand. She just felt so safe here.

“This is a serious problem,” Armeni said, but he sounded so far away. “I must talk with your mother immediately.”

Ficia nodded, an effort in itself, and she let her head fall as the priest hurried out. It took an effort to raise it again and she leaned it back so it wouldn’t fall again and she could still look around. She kept being drawn back to the candles again, her eyes following the flames. The smell of fresh flowers rode the smoke in the room and settled in around her. The smell invaded her mind until she felt swept away by the scent.

~Stand up.~ The male voice didn’t come from the room, but from inside her head. The words were a bow to the violin of her spine and she couldn’t help but follow the order, even as she wobbled and had to steady herself on the arm of the chair. Droplets of sweat ran down her face, getting in her eyes, and down between her breasts. Fear fought through the fog of her mind, fighting the feelings of relaxation.

She felt hands grip her shoulders, gently massaging. She tried to look, but all she saw was the movement without any visible hand to do so. It was disconcerting and she had to look away. She tried to speak, to talk with whoever was doing this, but her tongue felt heavy and flat. She could barely breathe. “So...warm...” she managed to croak out.

~Remove your dress and underclothes then.~ Ficia hesitated, her natural reactions warring with the orders, but it lasted only a short minute. She nodded and disrobed in the room as though it was a natural thing to do. Her skin glistened and her breasts bounced as she breathed. ~You are growing into a fine young woman.~ Hot breath brushed her neck and she could feel hands sliding up and down her sides. Tingles of pleasure followed the touches and she wanted to sink into the man’s arms.

As she began to lean back, there was a smack on her ass. ~Stay still.~ came the command. ~You move only when I tell you to.~ Ficia gulped, nodding. The spank had brought her out of her stupor and fear was climbing back in. She tried to run, but her legs wouldn’t cooperate.

The smells of lavender and flowers trailed along the smoke, washing over her and drowning her in the scents. The hands continued their caresses and her resistance fled with the tension, her muscles relaxing again. It felt so good and became harder to fight against the control. ~Do you see the mug on the table?~

[i]Mug? There wasn’t a mug on the...table...[/i] As she looked down, she saw an ornate mug lined with gold and silver and encrusted with jewels. Steam rose from the liquid inside. She had no idea how it had gotten there.

~Take a deep drink.~ She bent to pick it up and gasped as hands grasped her ass. She tried to turn around and received another spank. ~Go on.~ She could hear the impatience creeping in. She picked it up, trying her best not to drop it as her ass was treated like dough in the cook’s hands. She sniffed, the liquid smelling like apples with a hint of something else. She swallowed some, the spices tickling her tongue. Her body warmed even more, the fire inside fueled by the mysterious liquid, and she began to pant. She opened her eyes wide. She wanted more and fast. She tried to get it, but when she looked down, the mug had vanished from her hands. ~Not yet. That was just a taste.~ She whimpered and his chuckles laced cruelly along her skin. ~Let this fill you and then you’ll be ready for more.~ That elicited a contented sigh from her.

She was pulled back up, hands gripping her chest as he did so. “Mmm...” The feeling was so wonderful and she didn’t want it to stop anymore. She couldn’t even remember why she hadn’t wanted it before. One hand trailed down, gripping her flower and spreading her lower lips. He touched her sex unhindered and her corresponding cries echoed around the room.

~Oh Ficia, my pretty pet, we’re going to have so much fun together.~ Lips suckled her neck, teeth nipping at the skin. ~My Ficia...~

~Ficia.~

“Ficia!”

The princess’s eyes snapped open, looking up at Armeni. She was seated in one of his chairs and he was looking at her with concern. She brought a hand slowly to her chest, her fingers brushing the fabric of her dress. “Oh, my apologies. I must have drifted off.” She felt embarrassed but she wasn’t sure what she had to be ashamed of. She didn’t remember sleeping, but she must have. She didn’t remember what the dream had been about. Her hand ran on her neck, trying to recollect the feelings from before. Suddenly, she recalled why she was there. “What did my mother say? When can I see her?”

Armeni shook his head. “I’m sorry. She has refused to interrupt the ritual. However, I can see how dire things are. Give me some time to convince her. Return tomorrow, and I might have better news.”

Ficia sighed, standing and brushing a loose strand of her blonde hair out of her face. That was odd, as she kept her hair bundled tight like a crown around her head. [i]It must have come out while I slept.[/i] She bowed before the priest. “I will return on the morrow then.” She curtsied in front of him.

“Until the new day then, Princess.”

“Good day.” She turned on her heel, striding out of his chambers. As she strode down the long hall to the wooden doors, her anger returned, and she got the same dirty feeling she always got. It made her feel sick. There was also an uneasy feeling creeping through her and she hurried to open the doors and get back out into the sunshine.

If she expected any warmth in the sun, she didn’t feel it. The door closed behind her, the large wooden bars booming as they slammed into place. There was a finality to the sound that made Ficia shiver. The setup of the door might keep invaders out, but it would also keep anyone in that the priest wanted to. It was a disturbing thought to have just then.

She leaned back against the door, staring at the two knights. They were waiting for her next move, but she didn’t want to leave the tower and she wasn’t sure why. She took a breath and shoved away from it, motioning for them to follow her back across the courtyard. The feeling faded as they walked, and the sounds of the armor clanking soon made it vanish completely.

At the other side of the courtyard, she turned back and looked at the priest’s tower once more. At the top of the tower, presumably where the sun rituals were performed, were two narrow slits that passed for windows. They were like eyes piercing her soul and the entrance was a mouth wanting to engulf her again. She got the absurd notion that it wanted her and would do anything to possess her. She tried to dismiss it as a fantasy, but it stuck with her for most of the evening.


*******


Mellioni rocked back and forth, sitting on the bed and clutching her teddy bear to her chest which was something she hadn’t done since she was Liana’s age. She’d had trouble leaving her new room since the nightmare she and her twin had shared. She had never been so frightened in her life and the pain still lingered even now. Unfortunately, she also remembered pleasure that left her with a longing she didn’t understand and that scared her even more.

She hated this new room. It was sterile and bland. Something made for a servant, but not a princess. The bed had plain grey sheet on them and there were no curtains. The room had no windows and only a small desk to put anything on. Right now, a candle holder held one candle that burned alone in the darkness. She felt like she was a prisoner now.

She knew it was more than that. She was angry at the Knight Captain for separating her from her sister. She was angry at Father for leaving. She was angry at Mother for not being there. She was livid with Saisha for making her stay here.

Ficia took most of her rage though. She had left her all alone. She needed her twin’s support now more than ever. She knew what had happened. It had nearly happened to her too. She had always relied on her twin to help her through the worst of times. Saisha had called her a baby, but maybe she just didn’t understand. She connected with Ficia in a way that just made her feel whole. Ficia had always been willing to guide her. Now, when she’d desperately needed someone to confide in, Ficia had abandoned her.

[i]She didn’t leave. You just hid.[/i] She shoved that thought deep, standing and pacing. She fought very hard not to suck her thumb. That was an unladylike habit. It was hard not to, so she settled for gnawing at her fingernails. Mother might have chastised her for it, but Mother wasn’t here. She was hiding too. She ignored the jagged edges her teeth left.

She finally had enough, tossing her bear onto the bed and promising to come back for him. She needed to go for a walk. Anything to clear her head. Maybe she’d seek out Ficia. She hadn’t changed for bed yet, so she didn’t need to worry about waiting. She simply stepped out the door.

She was alarmed immediately. Neither knight sent to guard her was there. The moon lit the corridor quite well and the torches on the walls lit all around. They were nowhere nearby. [i]No wonder Liana was taken. Her guards weren’t doing their duty.[/i] “Hello?” she called impatiently. As much as she wanted to find Ficia, she was too frightened to walk the halls alone.

Her door slammed shut behind her and the panic that took over caused her to fight the door to try and get it open. Oddly enough, it was locked. She whirled around, expecting danger right away, but the hall remained empty. She walked slowly to the railing, peeking down to the courtyard. Even from the second floor, she saw no one there. Something felt very wrong.

Mist began to fill the corridor and the temperature dropped to a chill. Mellioni clutched her arms to her body, rubbing them to keep warm and shifting back and forth on the balls of her feet. She was never able to keep herself still when she was worried; a fact Mother picked up on quickly when she was younger. She didn’t like this at all. Something evil was in the air. She wanted to run, but she could barely see in front of her face. She didn’t want to misstep. It was a long way down to the courtyard.

A low growl echoed off the walls, and Mellioni gasped as she spun, looking for the source. She couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but she saw no shapes in the mist. It got louder from her right, so she hurried in the opposite direction, going as fast as she dared while still checking to make sure she kept finding a solid floor. She was very surprised when she ran into a wall. [i]Did I get turned around in the mist?[/i]

She turned back, barely able to make out the flickering of the torches in the fog, and looked for the source of the growls. No shapes emerged, but she wasn’t about to wait for them to find her. She felt along the wall, moving to her left. She felt even more confused when she found another wall. She remembered the layout of the castle well enough to know that didn’t make any sense. Given where the torches were, there shouldn’t have been a wall here.

She slipped back to her right, determined to figure it out later when she was safe. She made her way down a hall that was close on either side and she had to slow down or she was going to cut herself on the increasingly jagged walls. The creature’s howls came from behind and spurred her on. She ignored the tearing of her dress on the stone or the cuts and scrapes she got from them. All that mattered was that she got away. After a few minutes, she reached an opening and her momentum caused her to fall flat on her face.

She scrambled to her feet, eyes darting back and forth, and she tried to see if the creature had followed her. What she saw shocked her to the core. She was in a small courtyard surrounded by blackened-stone walls with jagged, stone spikes. Moss grew along the walls, giving an odd contrast to the dark coloring behind them. Dead weeds were everywhere, littered along the ground and clumped near a fountain devoid of water. In the center of the fountain was a crumbling statue of a woman caught in the clutches of a large snake. Most of her face had worn away, but you could still see the scream etched forever on her face.

Opposite from Mellioni was one small opening that led to a long path. She looked around for more exits, but the only other way, a small tunnel where water might have streamed out before, was barred. She shivered in the cold. Whatever path might have brought her from the castle was gone now. She stared up into a cloudless, night sky, silently begging the gods to show her the way. She had no idea what lie on the open path, but she was also afraid if she stayed put, the beast she’d been fleeing would find her. The stars may have twinkled back, but if that was a message, she did not understand it. Otherwise, her gods remained silent.

Her choice was made for her. The bars on the tunnel retracted as if by magic, screeching as they moved, and a mournful howl escaped from within. She shrieked and raced for the path. The soil was loose, shifting beneath her slippered feet, and it was difficult to keep her balance while avoiding cutting herself on the stone spikes jutting from the walls. Twice she fell to her knees, but fear pushed her back up and running. “Help me! Oh gods someone help me!” The only reply she got was her own echo.

At the end of the path, she had a choice of left or right. She chose left and was soon forced left again. It was followed by two rights and then she had the choice of going forward, left, right or back the way she came. It reminded her of the hedge maze one of Mother’s royal friends had, only getting lost could be much more deadly here. She had to fight down despair, but she didn’t have a clue where the exit might be or how far she might have to run to get there. The awful howls kept coming, and she went forward, then took a right at the next intersection.

At first, she tried to keep track of where she felt she was in relation to where she started, but with all the twists, turns and backtracking, it proved futile. Three times, she found dead ends and had to retrace her steps. Any time her dress caught on the stone spikes, it ripped and soon there were more tears than fabric. She didn’t know if she’d come down a path before or gone in a circle. All she knew was that the howls were getting closer. Despite the pain in her lungs and legs, the beast’s cries kept her going.

Soon, she reached another four-way intersection and had to stop. She bent over, hands on her knees and panted. The night air’s chill froze the sweat to her skin and she started shivering again. She felt like she couldn’t catch her breath. Her lungs were burning and she took deep gulps of air, wheezing as she did. She could tell the skirt of her dress was in tatters and she reached down, tearing what remained at the knees so she could run freer. All she wanted to do was collapse to the sand and rest for a minute.

The creature called again, and it was so close she expected it to turn a corner right then. She glanced down each branch, trying to choose a path that would allow her to escape. She decided on going forward and raced down it, turning to the right. She stopped in her tracks. [i]Dead end![/i] She cursed, using one of Saisha’s favorites, and tried not to cry in frustration as she turned back to the intersection.

As she reached the turn, she saw movement. She gasped and ducked back into the small alcove. She peeked around, seeing a hulking figure at the intersection. It was too dark to make out, but she could hear its grunts and snorts clearly. It was bent over, sniffing at something on the ground. [i]The skirt! How could I be so stupid?[/i] It was tracking her and she’d just left it powerful evidence that she’d been there.

It lifted its head and Mellioni shrunk back, quaking. It didn’t move, just stared down the path she’d taken. She had to command herself to hold still even as her heart thumped so loud to her ears that she knew it had to hear it. Finally, it lumbered down another branch. Mellioni allowed herself to breathe again and she slumped against the wall. She’d take a minute and catch her breath, then she’d go down a different branch than it did.

She listened in the darkness to the wind and the howls of the beast. It was on the other side of the wall. Her heart slowed as it moved on, but she stayed put, even after she couldn’t hear it. She wanted to wait until she was certain it was gone.

She stood up, ready to run when there was a quaking thump behind her. She heard a snarl as she whirled, coming face to face with her pursuer. It was enormous. The body was muscled and the skin seemed to be made of night itself. There were patches of red fur all over its body that throbbed and pulsed like a living moss. Sharp black claws dug into the dirt as it hulked over. She couldn’t see any eyes, but it had a large, long snout. She couldn’t believe something that huge had leapt the wall.

She spun, running as fast as she could on the sand. She just needed to lose it in the maze again. However, her hope dwindled. In front of her at the intersection, rising out of the sand to cut off her escape, was another stone wall. [i]No, no, no![/i] She pushed herself, knowing if she didn’t, she’d be trapped with the monster. She had to get over it before it got too high. It was chest high when she leapt at it, hoping to grab the top of the wall. She almost made it, but fell just short, her fingernails grating as she fell back down. She tried to climb back up on the spikes, but only succeeded in cutting up her hands. She was sobbing in fear as she turned to face the monster.

It lumbered around the corner. It was in no rush and Mellioni felt it knew its prey was trapped. It stayed at the opposite end, but the masses of fur began thumping, the sound like many hearts beating simultaneously. She wailed and covered her ears. It only muffled the noise.

Just as quickly as it had started, the noise stopped. Mellioni took her hands off her ears, looking at the creature and expecting another audible attack. It groaned and Mellioni thought the fur was moving. [i]It can’t be. My eyes must be deceiving me. The fear is too much.[/i] Then, small bits of fur began to drop off, plopping to the ground. The scene made her sick, but she also was confused. [i]Why isn’t it attacking?[/i]

The fur began to shift on the ground. Mellioni’s disbelief joined her fear as they started to come towards her. She screamed again and forgot where she was as she backed up, getting caught in the stone spikes. She twisted and turned until she freed herself, falling to the sand, but her dress tore off in the process, hanging from the spikes in shreds.

From her spot on the ground, she could see the moving fur clearer. They were insects. The part she thought was fur was really their bulbous bodies. She’d never seen anything like them in her life. She scrambled back to her feet as they skittered across the sand. A quick brush with the spikes reminded her she couldn’t run. That only left her one option: fight. She snatched scraps of her dress and used it to try and swat the bugs as they neared.

Her panicked sobs echoed off the walls, mocking her upon their return. The ache in her arms matched that of her legs. Even though she was keeping the bugs at bay, she didn’t see a single corpse on the ground. [i]They must be going somewhere![/i] She felt something on her legs and noticed one climbing up. She dropped the scraps, bending and brushing it off her leg. The bugs were crawling out of the sand behind her. [i]They must have gone under the sand when I attacked.[/i] She jumped back.

They were now swarming under her feet and up the walls. She began stomping and moving, trying to do anything to keep them off her. She felt one land on her neck and she shrieked as she swept it away. Her fear could be heard with each breath. They were relentless in their pursuits, coming back no matter how she tried to kill them. One landed between her breasts and scurried down beneath her slip. She squirmed, reaching inside the garment to try and dislodge it while just shaking her legs.

A sharp pain came from behind her right knee and then she couldn’t move that leg. The sudden stop caused her to fall over and she was soon buried in insects. She grabbed a spike, ignoring the pain it caused, to force herself up. Another jolt of pain came from her left shoulder and that arm went limp. Mellioni tried to drag herself away from the insects but soon all four limbs were immobilized. She could only move her head as the creatures roamed her body.

They cut the straps on the slip, the fabric falling to the sand. The last to go was the underclothes and soon she was bared to the night, unable to cover up her immodesty. They fed on the sweat covering her body, tickling her skin as they scurried to and fro. She couldn’t keep from laughing and it was some time before she could stop. The smaller bugs fled her body, and she soon saw why.

Coming towards her were two larger bugs. One was a bit bigger than the others, looking more like a spider than the others. The other was humongous, looking like a giant caterpillar. It lumbered along as the other skittered past. It crawled toward her left leg as the other race up the right, moving behind her, up her ass and back until it dug in at the back of her head. There was a sharp sting and she nearly blacked out from the pain. She almost wished she had. Her head felt like it was being split open. She screamed, feeling like she was drowning and she couldn’t breathe. She clawed for the surface, trying to breathe in life again.

When she did break the surface again, she felt detached from herself. It was like she was looking through a window at the scene she was part of, instead of through her own eyes. She could still feel the tremendous pain, but she couldn’t turn her head to look around anymore. The pain left her shoulders and knees and she could feel her limbs again. She tried to run immediately, but her body didn’t follow her mind’s orders.

Instead, she spread her legs as the caterpillar creature moved between them. It latched onto her special place and began to suckle inside, cleaning out her pussy juice. The pleasure rippled through her like nothing else could. Her legs trembled and her moans echoed off the walls. She was acting like a trollop, the kind the priest claimed all woman should avoid becoming. Shame burned from within, but she couldn’t flee any more than she could grow wings and fly out of the maze.

She sunk to her knees as it ground in. Her hands dug into the dirt and two bugs climbed up, attaching to her nipples and rubbing those. The intensity of the pleasure overwhelmed her and she came, the larger one soaking up her juices. She was so lost that she never noticed the beast until it was almost on top of her. She glanced up, seeing the skin up close. It was oily and dark, and she could see its member standing at attention in front of her.

Mellioni screamed at herself to stop, but she was only an observer to herself as she took the member in her hand and stroked it softly. It throbbed in her hand and hardened. She leaned forward, taking in the tip as best as her small mouth would allow, licking it and swallowing a little of its cum. It tasted salty. She smiled, taking as much as she could. She had to relax herself to accommodate its girth and even then she gagged. She began bobbing up and down on it.

It felt different from the other creature that had stolen her virginity. The tentacles had been pliable, but this was hard and solid to her. More real. Claws dug into her back, but she didn’t pull off or scream. Something whispered that this would be her new place. She came again under the bug’s movements and she worked faster. Its cock quivered and she swallowed some of the cum that gushed out, having to spit the rest on the ground. She coughed as it dripped from her lips. It roared in delight and she collapsed to the sand, spent. She didn’t care that it was sticking to her skin. The part of her that was locked inside was mortified at what she’d just done.

“Good girl.” Mellioni twitched as she heard a man’s voice. The sand crunched under his boots. He bent over her, though she couldn’t see anything about him. It was as if he was cloaked in the same shadows as the beast. “It’s time to crawl to your new mistress. She’s waiting for you, and then she wants you to help bring her other two trophies home.” She could only make out one thing about him. He was wearing a cloak that fluttered about him, but the wind had stopped minutes ago.

She pushed her weary body up, crawling forward. She could feel him watching her and she was terribly humiliated. She knew he could see her ass moving and she hoped he didn’t work on her too. A black portal opened up in front of her and she crawled on all fours like a dog toward it. She fell into the portal and suddenly that fall continued on and on. She had no idea where she was going. She only knew that the other two trophies had to be her other sisters. She didn’t know if she could stop them and part of her wondered if she even wanted to.