Complete - Prologue: Ring of Countless Horrors [18+]

Astorea housed as many rumors of artifacts as Vivian could keep track of. One in particular was a ring fashioned from obsidian metal but cursed with the screams of dying people. It was an object that Vivian had desperately wanted to be real and not just some rumor for the silly adventurer to go and look for. No, this object sounded too good to be true and Vivian had been hounding for secrets of rings and devious objects since her conception into this world. The Dark Witch had found herself in the city after dark. It was good thing too, she rarely showed herself in such afternoon lights, especially those who knew her by the name of Vivian, the Dark Witch of the Forest. Or a slew of other fantastical titles she was well known for, and some other titles she cared not.

But here she was, the Kingdom City and with passing lights and flickering candles all around her. The woman smoothed out her witchy hat, popped it a few times and allowed it to sink over her head. The long gown she wore was always revealing, the split that went up to her thigh showed off the black tattoo on her flesh when she walked with those hypnotizing movements. The busty woman knew exactly which heads to turn and which ones to turn away. For those who have met the Dark Witch knew exactly what they were getting into. She was infamous for her greed and her lust, always wanting and desiring more. However, she knew that gluttony was not too far off from her list of sins as well. The desire to be lavished and ravished, the desire to know no bounds of magical artifacts and the deep and thick tongues of ancient language all spurred the dark woman on her searches for these enigmatic and deadly artifacts.

Little did she know however that finding the Ring of Countless Horrors was going to be a much bigger task than she had liked it to be. The few rumors she had heard about was that of a basic ring carved from obsidian stone which she thought was a beauty all on its own. If it were just that, she would pay it little mind. But the damning of the object and the curse that held to it was so much more alluring for the woman. She wanted it simply because she desired it and since she desired it, it had to be hers. At any cost. At any cost to anyone's life as well.

As she stepped into a rather seedy looking establishment, the Dark Witch parked her behind at a seat of a dusty looking stool. Her mouth contorted as she looked at the dusty furniture and clicked her tongue shaking her head. There was not many places to sit, so she had to swallow her obnoxious behavior and sit at such a distasteful location. Sweeping one leg over the other, a seemingly greasy individual leering at her. The woman lifted her hand to cover his face, "A glass of wine..." she said not wanting him to stare at her for too long. The man laughed and shook his head.

"Won't find wine here, honey! How about some ale or is that not good enough for such a Noble woman?" The woman's look grew fiery as she dropped her hand from the man's view. Her lips twisted into that sultry smile, her hand turned up and flicked forward. Ash and darkness twirled around the individual before he was peppered with boils on his skin. He gasped for air and held his hands to his throat, "So, I believe I asked for wine, yes?" she declared with a nonchalant tone.

Her hand waved once more causing the stiff cough to stop and the boils to recede from his body and face. The man shook his head, "That's a good boy." She said with that superior tone of voice and then laughed as her tender, yet snake like gaze drifted around the room. Murmurs from the mouths of others, oh how she enjoyed a good show!

@Savannah Reed

 

Pausing outside the tavern, Savannah glanced from the list in her hands to the worn and weathered sign indicating that, yes, this was indeed the place she was to deliver the parcel. It was a silly thing, doing fetch and return quests, but she had been taking her time in TerraSphere light. Sure, she could just go out to the wilds and battle every single creature that crossed her path, hope for a rare-spawn, and then slay that, but her temperament wasn’t up for it. Something easy, something light, maybe some fishing and she’d be done for the night.

Of course, the best made plans for mice and men often go awry.

Shouldering open the door, Savannah’s silver eyes were going over the list once more, making sure that she had everything the tavern owner had requested. When she glanced up, it was at the exact moment that the man’s face, chest, arms and hands erupted into a sea of boils and a deep crimson rash. His meaty fingers clutched at his throat and Savannah could only assume that he couldn’t breathe.

She didn’t think, merely acted. Her lithe form rushed forward, the piece of paper flying harmlessly to the stained wooden floor, her graves clanking with every step as she made her way toward the woman who did that horrible display to him. She lashed out, her hand grasping at the more feminine hand of the witch and she yanked, forcing the woman to stand face to face with her.

What the fuck is your prob—

Her words stopped mid-sentence for two reasons; the first being that the bar tender had returned to his previous state of wellbeing, the boils and rash disappearing as if they had never been and two, the woman she was assaulting was none other than Princess Vivian. Granted, she looked much different than when they first met, but Savannah would recognize that contemptuous smirk anywhere.

She took a step back, her teeth clicking as they met, her face transforming from anger to…to…well, it was hard to say. Her eyes were narrowed at the woman, her jaw clenched, but there was no anger there, only…something else, some unknown emotion that warred between a few and made her brows slant over her swirling mercurial eyes.

“Here ma’am,” came the quiet response of the bar-tender, the clink of a glass hitting the wood igniting the air around them with sound though it did nothing to ease the tension she felt crawling up her spine and hanging limply around her shoulders.

Savannah struggled with how to proceed. She could ignore the woman, though that would be hard considering she had grabbed. She could deliver her wares and then scurry out with her tail between her legs, but the mere idea of that made her stand up straighter, taller. She could cut her down where she stood…

What are you torturing him for, she growled, the sound of her voice chasing that dark thought from her mind. She wasn’t a player-killer.​

 

Hand gripped like a vice, eyes wide. Vivian was caught unaware of whatever was happening to her body as it was yanked from one point to another forcing the woman to stand eye to eye with this troglodyte. The words came out like fire and heat, her eyes were wide and hungry before they recoiled into a surprised expression. Vivian jerked her hand from the woman's grasp when it grew lax. If there was fire to be met with, Vivian had her own burning intensity she could dish out to the woman.

Vivian was absolutely livid, no one would give her such a daring expression and then have it melt away so easily! Hot, heat, steam, the air churned into something an inferno. The temperature between the two got sickly hot, but Vivian was unaffected by this creation. It was hers to belong to. She owned the heat radiating from her body. Azure eyes met the mercurial swirl of the other. Burn her down! Burn her to ash and dust, leave nothing behind! Those hot thoughts were like flashfire in her mind, sweeping and taking control of her before the sound of the glass on the table knocked her back to a conscious state.

"Who are you to butt into my business?" The woman said with a pointed finger at the other. Her eyes, swirling with azure now showed flecks of red and black. Darkness was her nature, but she could spin this room into an instant inferno, not caring who it swallowed up in the process. To be burned to death was something people feared a lot, to die in a choking, hot inferno. The words that came from her mouth were not anger or intense, but a haughty tone.

"What I do to people is no business other than my own. Should you feel the weak deserve protection, there is a King sitting loftly on his throne right now. He could use another whore at his side. Why don't you just be gone."

Venom in her tone now as she looked the woman up and down. She was not a woman she knew, or had seen. There was nothing familiar, but the attitude was somewhat known. She had not meant many people who bit back on their anger, save one little mousey girl from back when. Perhaps this was some remnant piece of that archetype.

Vivian twisted her body around, her bouncy bosom moving as she took a step forward as the other took a step back keeping a careful eye on her. She swept her long purple hair from off her shoulder, a fluid motion as she also took up her glass of wine from the table. She sipped at it and gave a rather disgusted look from the taste. It had no real flavor to it, probably some swill he had in storage. With her thumb, the woman flicked away the taste from the corner of her mauve lips. Looking back at the woman, Vivian gave her that condescending smile as her eyes fell into a dreamy sort of state. Her body moved a step closer to the woman, backing her into a chair where her foot raised and slammed between her thighs down the middle.

She leaned over, her cleavage moving as she held onto her wine glass off to the side. Eyes smiling at the woman, the black tattoo on her thigh appearing more so as the garment of her lacey skirt came undone from the stationed leg, "Your name, girl. Before you see a wrath in me that will make the Devil scream for mercy."

 

The chair creaked under Savannah’s weight, more so her armor than the actual mass of the woman. Her attention was still pin-point on Vivian’s face, more specifically her eyes. She couldn’t remember her eyes looking like that and the darkness, the void, that peered back at her was unsettling. She tried to stifle her physical reaction to such a gaze but found herself shivering all the same. Eyes like that were dangerous.

But the rest of her face was as her memory recalled it…to an extent. Savannah could remember that smile, the very same that the witch woman had cast in her direction time and time again while they fought off dire rats. A silly quest, looking back at it, but one where she was made to feel less than all the same. It was the first time they had officially met, and it was a meeting that Savannah was hard pressed to forget.

What’s it matter to you, she grumbled in reply, feeling half intimidated by this new more dangerous Vivian and half envious. Savannah would bet that should she wish it, Vivian could kill her with a flick of those long nails and laugh over her gravestone. Hell, knowing her, she’d probably spawn camp her just to be a bitch. Perhaps picking a fight with this improved version wasn’t the best idea.

But that dark voice whispering in her ear would not let up.

She forcefully stood up and twisted her body to knock Vivian’s leg down, thus clearing the way for her to walk. You got your booze, why not get the fuck outta here? This place is too low down for a Princess like you.

She walked up to the bar and gave a nod to the bartender before shrugging off the pack that had been on her back, laden with supplies and other paraphernalia. One of those items, a roll of bandages, escaped the burlap sack only for Savannah’s quick reflexes to catch it and pass it back over. There were no words exchanged, merely items for gold.

Still, she strained her ears just in case the devil woman thought she would be able to get the jump on her. Savannah would not be brought low by sneak attacks.​

 

The action would cause Vivian to smile as her leg was contended with. Her eyes rolled along with her creamy shoulder as she turned to watch the woman walk towards the owner and deliver something from her satchel. She was on a fetch quest, how cute! But what was more remarkable was the words chosen by the female. There was only one girl that ever called her a Princess.

She waited till she was finished with what she was doing. Holding the glass of wine in her hand gently, cradling it with her palm and fingers in a dainty, snobbish fashion. The heated glare from her eyes calmed back down to the ocean azure flooding them. The pools of light blue traced over naked skin as she the girl moved as she bit her bottom lip waiting for that moment when her guard was down.

"Oh." The word was simple, but it made the room crawl with a cold air as her tone was all too familiar once again. It was like a ring to the ear, loud and annoying. Vivian was a woman who could be called as such, among other things. But she demanded respect, "So it's the little Mousy Girl from the rat quest." Vivian laughed. The chill from the voice warmed from the thick venom that was once there.

The cold gaze now soft and light as she laughed louder, "Still a frightened little mousy girl. You might have changed your appearance. But I can still hear the squeak in your voice. I figured after some time you would grow up a little more. I didn't expect you to actually get taller. Must be compensating for something, eh Love?" The words would full of demeaning tones.

Vivian drank gingerly from the wine glass, swishing it around once more before her eyes fell upon the frosted woman. Respect was demanded, "Savannah, was it not? Despite the way I just acted towards your, I do owe you something of an apology and a thank you do I not? You are Lucia's Guardian Angel if I remember correctly you even went out of your way to save me."

Vivian put her wine glass down on the table, she was through with that swill as it was giving her a horrible aftertaste. But how does one thank a person after something like that? She never expected this woman to protect her during that event, but she did. It was an odd relationship that might grow between them.

Vivian brought her hands over the woman's shoulder, not to strangle or to burn, not to curse or to hex. But simply to rub the tender joints, "You've seen to have been doing some adventuring. Much like last time, you are a workaholic. Why don't you come and let me rub some of the knots out of your back and shoulders? My thank you for...saving me that time ago. After that...who knows?" Vivian's lips brushed gently into the woman's ear. If her presence was unwanted, she most certainly would feel the back hand of the girl, well, that is if she could find the strength to do so.

 

It only took a single word from Princess Vivian to have Savannah’s shoulders creep up closer to her ears, the muscles in her upper arms going tight, her spine ramrod straight. Somehow, she had fucked up and mentally, she threw the biggest tantrum in the world, her inner voice screaming that it wasn’t fair, that she just wanted to win once, only once, against this big…bully.

Her exhale was slow and calculated, her eyes closing for a moment, a single heart-beat of serene silence, before they opened, and she turned to look at femme fatal that belonged to the voice.

She didn’t play this game to interact with people like Vivian and she damn sure didn’t play so that people like Vivian could laugh their haughty, snooty, snobby laugh at people like her. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides while she said nothing. Vivian’s words rained down on her like shards of broken glass, cutting and slicing and leaving invisible wounds she would no doubt be tending to later.

And what stung the most was that she remained silent. She said nothing! She stood there and took the verbal beating like a kitten. Frightened? Sure, there was no two ways about it. Savannah knew better than to mess with someone of Vivian’s caliber. She was death wrapped up in the skin of a human and the power she held under that skin was more than enough to make the Death Knight rethink her earlier position. Everyone might have needed saving, but she wasn’t going to be the one to always do it.

The call of the grave was not one she would willingly answer; no, she stayed away from it with good reason. She couldn’t die again…she wouldn’t die again.


Surprise loosened the tight muscles of her face, made her blink and arch a single eyebrow. Vivian was…apologizing…and thanking her? What in the world—oh. The memory surfaced due to Vivian’s words; her tiny vaulting in front of her and Lucia to protect them from the blast from that…screaming-angel-demon-thing.

You were next to Lucia, she murmured, her voice strangely even despite the warring emotions tearing through her. So you were protected by proxy. I didn’t do it intentionally.

Her words hardly had the same bite to them that made Vivian such an admirable wordsmith.

Savannah raised her hands and grabbed at Vivian’s wrists, delicately removing them from her shoulders. The other woman’s skin was warm, pleasantly so, and she had to force the muscles of her hand to react. When was the last time she had had a massage? Hell, she couldn’t afford one in the real world and she had yet to venture to the hot springs within this world…

No thanks, she said after clearing her throat. If you wanna repay me, stop fucking with Jonas. She thumbed over at the bar-keep who immediately shrank back and looked away, not wishing for anything else ill to befall him. His brother in law was killed in the war so he’s raising his kids, plus his own. He doesn’t need anymore shit than what he’s already dealing with.

She looked Vivian up and down, cornered as she was, and thought of pushing her away or sidewinding out of her personal space, but curiosity kept her pinned where she was. How’d you get so warm? she murmured, an inkling of inquisitiveness marring her words. ​

 

Vivian chuckled, not surprised by the depth of the woman in front of her. Even if it were by proxy or means of accident she was saved from death and that meant something to her. Having her wrists removed from her body, Vivian hugged her body as she folded her arms over her small frame. The look in her eyes didn't seem to wane, she was on guard and for good reason, this was Vivian after all, a woman not to be trifled with.

Though did give her space as she wanted and he acknowledged the man as the bartender was given the name Jonas and the sob story that entailed with it. Vivian's eyes danced like sheathed daggers at the fellow, her mauve lips curling with a flair of that haughty, snobbish look. Her feet moved and gracefully she fell into a seat to give Savannah some breathing room. She was rejected for the massage, but she had a question.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Love. I have always been warm." The Dark Witch smiled, of course she danced around the question. It was not what the woman meant, she had hinted at the possible pyromancy running through her veins. She laughed and flicked her wrist, her smooth long leg now resting and bouncing over the other.

"Pyromancy you mean? I have developed a taste for more destructive powers. Dark magic can only get me so far, so I have expanded my knowledge into deeper pools and wells of magic. It is good to have a variety of things to be good at..." The woman shifted in her seat, her leg still bouncing lightly over the other as she explained herself.

"Of course if you wish to learn more...all you have to do is just ask. Why don't we take a walk? We can leave poor Jonas here to tend to his shop and perhaps you could even help me with something, although you might say no, I could use a protector...too?" The woman would slide her words in there thinking that she might be able to pull some of that Loyal Knighthood out of Savannah.

 

Destructive magic, hm?

She wasn’t surprised. To be frank, destructive fit Vivian to the core. It seemed right up her alley, just as all the curses and hexes she threw at the dire rats seemed apt for her persona. Savannah couldn’t imagine her sitting on the sidelines, throwing out heals and shields to allies when they needed it. Nor could she see the svelte woman picking up a martial weapon and cutting down another where they stood, sprayed with blood and gore.

Had she quicker wit, perhaps she would have come upon the chance to comment on such a thing. But, the chance came and went, and Savannah was left standing there with most of her weight on the right foot, her hands behind her back, her eyes trying desperately to stay on Vivian’s face.

She didn’t get it, didn’t understand it in the least. She couldn’t remember her Princess looking as…appealing as she did now. Maybe she hadn’t been paying attention because they were in the middle of combat, but she was able to pay attention now. There was a part of her brain that she was sure hadn’t existed all those months ago that found Vivian…attractive.

Maybe it was all that dark power and destructive magic she was talking about. There was an art form to casting spells that Savannah appreciated and envied. After all, Lucia need a knight, not another spell caster and Savannah was determined to be what she needed; a protector, a guardian, someone who would brave the front line and tackle any incoming enemies to keep her Ladyship safe.

Still, after hearing Vivian speak about such magic, Savannah couldn’t help feeling more like a one-trick pony. Her bag of tricks held only her proficiency with her great axe and little else.

I think you’re powerful enough to protect yourself, Savannah told her. Yet, as soon as the words escaped her mouth, her brain remembered her various conversations with Lucia. Hadn’t she said as much before? And hadn’t she been needed all the same? She shifted uncomfortably, cleared her throat, and tried to give a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. The movement came off jerky and stiff. Perhaps she needed that massage more than she was letting on…

I’ll walk with you, she said, her body angling toward the door. I doubt you honestly need my help but tell me anyway. I don’t have anything else planned for the night.​

 

"Nothing else planned for the night?" The devious witch said with a roll of her creamy shoulder. The smile that was so condescending was now a more sultry, plump curve. Vivian was still the Goddess of Lust, or at least she had claimed to be within her own mind. None of that has changed for the witch, the appearance might have changed but her mind had not slackened.

"Does that mean you have more time for me tonight then? For us to...get along?" the word play made her smile and laugh. She got up dainty from her seat and brushed the long gown down from her thighs and smoothed out the upper wrinkles. As she moved with one leg after the other, the sultry movements made their way to the door. Only to flash her head back, with her fingers to her lips and blowing a hot searing kiss in the direction of Jonas ending it all with a wink.

The Dark Witch chuckled as the door opened. Night air greeted the two as she stretched her arms out in front of her and yawned lightly, "You might be wondering how much use you might be to me. Well, as you know, I have bit of a temper yet you are able to calm me down a little. I might need a buffer when I do some questioning." Vivian left out some details but that was not important yet.

She swept a hand over the long straight tresses of purple hair from her shoulder. It fell neatly over her bosom as she squared her shoulders and folded her arms under her chest looking at Savannah in the moonlit night. Her skin was radiant and glowing, though she adored the size of the mousy girl from before, she couldn't help but look at Miss Reed with new eyes. The simple curves of her body, the gentle silvery gaze that melted with the fire in her voice. She had become an exquisite female object and one that Vivian would love to get her naughty fingers on.

Of course there was a matter of importance to deal with. Should she want to bed the woman, she would have to play the cool game and not look like a predator to the woman as she was now. With a tug of her lip from the row of upper teeth, Vivian's lips curved into that saucy grin, "I have heard rumors of a particular object I wish to get my hands on. It's an obsidian ring that has been cursed and would like to add the artifact to my collection. Unfortunately, I have only gathered rumors, yet there is room for it to be a true item indeed. I have found information that someone in Astorea might known of the whereabouts. I was gonna have myself a nice drink of wine and warm myself up before venturing out, but that was spoiled..."

She gestured with her head to the shabby looking bar they just came out of. Her eyes rolled and she inhaled the crips cool air of Astorea around her before wrinkling her nose at the Death Knight, "But it's fortunate we were able to cross paths again. So let's go make a visit to this information broker, shall we?" Vivian had noticed her earlier body language from within the bar, Savannah was keeping her guard but she was anxious and she knew it would put a weight on her shoulders and neck. The tension would eat at her if it wasn't relieved.

"Despite not wanting my hands on you, I am a professional masseuse in the real world. You should let me rub you down when we are through, I promise not to do anything lewd or suspicious. On my word to Mistress Lucia, herself." She said crossing her bosom with her dainty sharp fingers.

 

Get along? Vivian was obviously taunting her again which meant that she needed to be the bigger person and not respond to the jab. Even though it was underhanded, even though Savannah was, generally, the type that did just that: got along with basically everyone and avoided those that she didn’t see eye-to-eye with. Why couldn’t she do that with this woman? Why did they keep running into one another?

She remained quiet, only rolling her eyes at the comment. The Death Knight couldn’t see a world in which Princess Vivian and Savannah Reed were on the same team, fighting for the same principles, and protecting each other in battle.

Still, her interested had been piqued and she had spoken truthfully about not having anything else to occupy her time for the rest of the night. So she followed Vivian out into the street, her grey eyes glancing up and down the alleyway. The moon was out tonight, so the night looked more like pre-dawn than nearing midnight. It was nights like this that Savannah enjoyed. She inhaled the crisp air and smiled to herself.

TerraSphere had so much more going for it than the real world did…

At hearing the description of Vivian’s conquest, the woman couldn’t help the cough of surprise that parted her dark blue lips.

Wait a second. You want a ring that is known to be cursed and harbor countless souls INSIDE it? You aren’t worried about what that might do you…like physically or mentally? She waited a beat, not really expecting an answer, before shaking her head. Of course you’re not, she grumbled to herself, already seeing that wherever they went tonight was surely going to give her a headache.

And she had already agreed to go along so backing out and nigh impossible at this point. Plus, if she did and something happened to the witchy woman, she’d never forgive herself. So, like a good doggy, she followed behind her, allowing Vivian to lead the way.

How do you know that your information broker will speak honestly? A ring like that would probably sell well on the black market. Plus, they’re more likely to give you false information so they can still get others coming and asking their questions and paying for the answers. She was moreso thinking out loud than trying to carry on a conversation with Vivian, but the question still stood.

Hearing Vivian release that bit of information about her life outside of TerraSphere had Savannah glancing at her. She rolled her shoulders experimentally and winced, trying to hide it from the other woman. She had never had a massage before, so the experience alone was enough to make her want to take up her offer…she just didn’t trust Vivian, even she swore her oaths by the Dark Lady.

How…how do you know Lucia, anyway?​

 

The Dark Witch almost cackled from the question. Her haughty laughter coming in like a blitz in the air as she spun around to face Savannah, "Oh they will tell me truths and only truths. I have my ways of slinking my darkness into a person's mind and having their tongue wag about freely. You leave that to me..."

Vivian's arms swung at her side as she moved with fluid grace. As if a model walking down to show herself off to the world, one hand delicately at her hips as they swayed back and forth in her feministic charm. She would lead them but stop when she was asked about Lucia. She gave a rather smug smile before turning back towards Savannah, placing a finger on her lips as if wondering how to say this without crushing the girl's world.

"Lucia and I have a certain sexual relationship, I suppose you can say. We are open lovers. Has she not spoken about me to you? That girl..." Vivian laughed lightly, her thick wonderful purple hair shaking lightly along with the rest of her body as she chortled to herself.

"In a way, we are all kinda connected, huh?" Vivian said, a flash of smile and a wink of her eyes. Though she was known as the Dark Witch, she was still as playful as ever to other people. And knowing that she was a protector of Mistress Lucia, that made things all the more interesting. She wondered how thick the bond was between Lucia and Savannah as well. Did they share a special relationship as well?

"I know you are a protector of the Lady Lucia, but how far does that protection go and how far does that bond between you two are shared? I mean, have you fooled around with each other yet or...has she not come to you in that respect?" Vivian with her flirty eyes dug a little deep to see where they were in the relationship. If nothing had yet to pass, perhaps she could steal this new lovely creature away.

Vivian continued her mild walk towards their destination. Her azure eyes on the door as she looked left and right and seemed to pear through the dark by some kind of magical means. But she was nearly looking about to make sure everything was secure. She took a step forward and turned to the woman, "Are you sure you want to go through with this? Once we are inside, there will be no turning back..."

 

For a moment, Savannah wondered if the person they were going to meet was a player character or an NPC. It didn’t matter either way, she guessed; Vivian would get her information out of them one way or another. The Death Knight hoped they were players instead of NPCs considering her soft spot for the people who actually made this world their home. The others probably didn’t understand, nor probably did they care, but Savannah did what she could to keep up the façade, so to speak, which, no doubt, made the lives of said NPCs easier.

The lithe knight’s feet ground to a sudden stop alongside Vivian. She cautiously looked around and, seeing no one in the vicinity, turned her attention to the Witch Woman at her side. Preparing to open her mouth and speak, the Princess cut her to the chase, her words flying in one of Savannah’s ears and directly out the other. She was so surprised by what she heard that she visibly shook her head, rubbed her forehead, and frowned. Perplexed wasn’t a good enough word to describe her utter sense of…confusion.

I…no, she didn’t say anything to me about you…or your relationship. Her words tumbled from her lips slowly, like sticky sap that would rather cling to the roof of her mouth rather than dance upon her tongue. She clicked that tongue, trying to get it moving and working with the dexterity that she knew it possessed. It’s…it’s none of my business anyway, she followed up, these words whispered and muttered under her breath.

She just couldn’t understand it, frankly. Lucia was a beautiful woman, Savannah could see that with her own two eyes. She could also see that Vivian was beautiful, in her own dark and mysterious way, but where Lucia was warmth and comfort and reassurance, Vivian was everything but. She was…anti-Lucia; harsh and cutting, smug and…and…

Savannah shook her head, disbelieving what she was told. She had no reason to think that Vivian was lying to her, but what purpose would that serve other than the pleasure of torturing her. Granted, if it amused Vivian, Savannah wouldn’t put it past her.

I’m sorry, what? Fooled around? No, no…no! Exasperated, she scrapped her palm downwards over her face and looked Vivian square in the eye. Look, Lady Lucia is…beautiful. Anyone with two eyes and common sense can see that, but she’s my Lady. That’s…so…inappropriate. Besides, I’m…I’m not…I’mnotgay. She flushed as the words left her mouth, her eyes darting down a different street, the shadows that played there mocking her with jeering grins. I mean, that’s fine if you are and if she is, like, I don’t care, be happy. But, I…I don’t…that isn’t to say you both aren’t beautiful, you are, but I’m not…like…that…

Most of her explanation crashed into Vivian’s back as they were walking again. When the svelte figure turned to her again, this time to make sure that she was mentally prepared for whatever the hell they were about to do, she would find Savannah flushed and antsy, her hands twisting in front of her, knuckles cracking, while her features were drawn into a tight frown. Vivian’s voice snapped her out of it…a little.

Yeah, sure. Just…don’t go killing everyone here if they don’t have what you’re looking for. ​

 

"Tut, tut. I haven't killed anything that hasn't deserved to be killed." She said with one hand on the door and then thrusting it open. The house or meeting place as it was, was dark and rich with the smell of something odd yet sweet in the air. Hard to make reference to such an exotic scent, Vivian scrunched her nose from the smell and walked slowly in the dark foyer. People were lined up and stationed in rows like guards leading up to a king in a majestic hall. But this was far from being majestic, it looked more like a ragged down crack house or something.

Being born in New York and seeing some of the slums, this was nothing new for the Bronx born female. Her eyes traveled left and right as the hooded guards kept watchful eyes on her and her friend as they sank in and out of light from the moon. Moving still they made it to a rather large room where a man was sitting at a table, hands folded and his eyes weary on the imposing, busty female.

"You said you were going to be alone tonight." The man said, Vivian took off her hat, hands went for their sword handles as the anxiety in the room was full as if they had seen ghosts before the two ladies had shown up.

Vivian chuckled and placed her hat down on the table, taking a seat with one leg over the other as she placed her hands upon her laps and looked the man in the eyes. "I am here alone. That is what we agreed on, she is but a bodyguard for me. See her as my shadow and nothing more. Don't worry, your secret hidey hole is still...secret."

"Damn Witch. Fine." the man snapped his fingers, a hooded roguelike player shot from the darkness and set upon the table a crooked looking dagger and stabbed it into the wood. Vivian sighed and shook her head, "Blood is it? That makes me question what kind of Sorceress you have on your side. An Alchemist perhaps or--"

"Enough of your talking. The price as we agreed!" The man was very short with his words, curt and clear cutting. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead as he swallowed hard. Vivian took notice of it alright, there was something unsettled in this house, in this domain. It made even her stomach churn somewhat.

But payment was as payment is. Blood for information. The woman took upon the dagger and fluidly cut deeply into the palm of her hand, she made a fist as the blood dripped freely from the wound and into a small bowl next to her. Her eyes flickered that azure haze and she looked at the man, her fingers and hand bloody as she released the fist.

"Now the information...." she said with those antagonizing eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. So the ring you are looking for, the rumored artifact. It lies with another player. He is tall, deep pale white skin. He has red eyes that seem to glow like a monster as well. His normal places to visit are cemeteries and temples, but he is a Fallen Paladin they say. He likes...some pretty dark shit from what I was told about him. But my scouts, they say he wears a ring on his finger that is made of deep ebony. People who get close to him say they hear screams in their mind before they are mowed down by his large two handed sword. The dude is straight up crazy. But the temples are gonna be your best bet."

"Oh? A fallen paladin, huh? Sounds interesting. Surely enough a little blood for that information was well worth it. But that blood you have there is mine and I am a Dark Witch, if you use it--"

"Lady! I don't care what the blood is for. All I was told was to give you this information if you bled from the dagger. That is all! Now, leave!" The man stood up, took the bowl of blood and his fellow rogues circled around him as he disappeared into the hallway. Vivian stood up and looked over her shoulder, "I believe it's time we leave," she said not using the woman's name.

They were more or less escorted out of the raggedy home and back into the fresh air of the open world. Vivian felt the door behind her snap shut with a loud bang. She stroked her chin while she kept one hand under her bosom, "Quite interesting don't you think? Alchemists with my blood can be a very bad thing though. Witch's blood can be used for many different things. I wonder though...who is pulling that boy's strings. Another mystery, huh?"

Vivian shaped her witchy hat over her head and moved towards Savannah, "What do you think? Shall we go pay the Fallen Paladin a visit now? It might take some time to track him down. I know of several Temples in Terra. This can take some time..."

 

The Death Knight said nothing during the entirety of Vivian’s meeting. Truth be told, she didn’t know what she could say as she had nothing to contribute to the conversation. She knew that TerraSphere had some criminal undergrown and the likelihood of there being a black market wasn’t too far fetched either, but she didn’t know the movers and shakers of that world nor did she want to.

The fact that Vivian did know said movers and shakers, or at least people who knew things about things they shouldn’t, had Savannah viewing her in another light, a more dangerous hue than the one she already painted the Witch Woman in. It was a good thing that this svelt dark magic user was on Lucia’s side after all.

Exiting the building behind her, Savannah said and cast a glance over her shoulder before shaking her head. You didn’t need me at all, she told Vivian, a light chuckle bubbling from her lips after her statement. She crossed her arms over her breastplate and gave Vivian an arched eyebrow in question. No way you were afraid of those jokers. You’re just flaunting your connections, obviously. Well, consider me impressed.

There wasn’t much that Vivian did that didn’t impress Savannah Reed, as much as she might have been loathe to admit. There were people who were good at this game and then there were people who were great at this game. Vivian, obviously, was part of the latter of those two groups.

Still, they had a problem on their hands…at least, Savannah saw it as a problem. I don’t know if you know much about anti-paladins, but they’re really bad news. They forsake the tenants of their old deity and twist them into something corrupt and vile and…evil. If they haven’t fucked up too much, they can atone for all their wrongdoing, but it’s a long process. Dropping her hands to rest on her hips, she wet her lips in thought.

So, again, dunno if you know, but Tyl is the god most paladins pay their vows to. If you wanna start there, we can. We will probably have to fight him if you wanna get that ring from him… Savannah’s words tumbled into silence as she gazed at Vivian, her eyes roving up and down the well-formed woman in front of her. Or you could seduce him. He’d probably go for it, all things considered. ​

 

"On the contrary my Death Knight." Vivian would say in response to her not being needed and going as far as claiming the woman as her own. Vivian found her arms crossed over her chest as she looked to the woman as they stood at the side of the building they were just in. "If things got bad in there, no amount of magic would have saved me. But I was also putting you at risk as well. But then again, you are much more hardy than I am when it comes to that stuff. Such a hard and beautiful body you have..."

Vivian could not help but get close to the Death Knight as she reached out with one arm and brushed the nails of her fingers against the skin of the former 'mouse girl.' Vivian gave that sultry like laugh as she leaned into the female as she explained about the Fallen Paladin. The Dark Witch was pretty much on base with the same mindset as the girl, but she had not thought about actually seducing the player.

"Yes, Tyl would be something of a troublesome aspect in this plot." She said circling a sharp nail on Savannah's shoulder, as Vivian would always do, get close and personal with her new toys. She smiled, those mauve lips stretched ear to ear, she played with the idea of seduction and having Savannah give her that idea made her lips curl even more.

"Such a wicked thought, to seduce a Fallen Paladin right in the Temple of Tyl itself... Such defilement, don't you think? And while we are in the throes of passion, in I slip over his finger and take what should be rightfully mine, and then you come in to finish the job...with a wound he could not recover from." Vivian's hot mouth was wet and moist as the honey, sultry words came out like hot lava. Her hands and nails were sinking into Savannah's body, latched onto her like a leech as if she were able to drain the woman dry with her nails in her skin.

The Dark Witch's laugh was so low, it was hard to make out at first. But the laugh was that of an impure soul, as if she enjoyed such a thought of defiling the temple of a God. Vivian slowly removed her hands from the woman's body, and she turned to face her, eyes hooded in examination of the girl as she bit her bottom lip, the studded piercing showing a light glisten in the moonlight as she curved her mauve lips into a smile.

"Would the Death Knight help me seduce such a warrior? Or maybe...he is the type that likes to watch instead of taking part in. Maybe the two of us...on the altar...pleasing, one another. A single, hot night between two women who barely know each other, but willing to sacrifice what she had for the greater...evil~?"

Vivian laughed with a clap of her hands, her hooded gaze remained on the Death Knight as she got close once more, "You did call me beautiful...isn't there more you'd like to see?"

However, these words that Vivian spun so vividly with her mouth were they truths or lies? Had she just been teasing the woman to see what got under her skin, or were they words of a genuine person? But all thoughts and nonsense, if even it was, Vivian was a Dark Witch...and she was the purest form of carnal desire, however and whenever it was to satisfy those needs. Those urges.