by Eden Redd
"You can't, Cyn. I broke it off with her. She doesn't need to know I'm here. She will destroy this place."
"I must tell her." Cyn floated a foot off the floor.
"Cyn, please don't tell her. At least give me some time so I can get Nia and leave."
Cyn looked away. "I felt mistress mistreated you. She was much too harsh. I treasured our time when she let me have you."
"I know it's difficult right now but give me ten minutes so I can leave."
"Mistress is close. There is nowhere to run." Cyn said and the room grew colder.
Trystan was on his feet and grabbing his pack. Cyn watched as the mage frantically put his boots on and darted for the door. Trystan slammed open Nia's door and went to her bed. The mage sat up slightly confused. Trystan grabbed what few items were lying about and put them in Nia's backpack.
"What's happening?" Nia said as she was already on her feet.
"Freya is here! We have to get out, now!" Trystan said tossing Nia's clothes at her.
Nia instantly began getting dressed. A short time later, they were out and running down the corridor. Mist flowed from behind Nia and Red Fang appeared. The wolfish familiar took lead as they barreled into the main room. Trystan sensed Sylk was still sleeping when he gave her a mental jab. Smoke flowed up his collar and the siren appeared in a flash of mist.
"I was having the best dream." Sylk yawned.
The siren's eyes widened as her master kept running without slowing down. The siren quickly began running, following her master into the main hall.
The main hall was quiet until the front door opened. Shadows grew longer and thicker in the twisting hearth light. Freya stepped in with sardonic rage in her brow and a black hammer in her tiny hands. Loc stepped in behind her, naked save for his metal loin cup and whip in his hands. The dark elf smiled evilly as he gave the whip a playful flick. Cyn floated in behind them, head tilted forward.
"I'm not going to argue. Come with me now and we can pretend none of this happened." Freya said and the shadows spilled further into the room.
"It's over, Freya. I'm going to the elemental college." Trystan said while trying to keep the fear from his voice.
Freya turned her attention to Nia. "You are making him do this! I knew you would try and steal him away from me."
"He left you on his own. You can't own his heart." Nia said with determination in her voice.
"The Hell I can't!" Freya screeched.
"Freya, we don't have to...."
Freya cut him off. "Loc, take him. I'll deal with the bitch."
Nia made a hand signal. Fire leaped from the hearth, shifting and changing into a fire sword. The mage grabbed it out of the air and charged. The dark elf leaped up and ran along the wall, eyes on Trystan. Red Fang jumped up to intercept the dark elf. Loc made an impossible twist of his body and the wolf familiar crashed into the wall, splintering wood in several directions. The dark elf slipped off the wall, lashing out with his whip. Trystan tried to duck but something blue flash in front of him. The whip curled around a scaly arm.
"Stay away from my master!" Sylk screeched and pulled.
Trystan watched as Loc was pulled from the air and slammed down feet first to the floor, cracking wood. The dark elf licked his lips as he leaped up, twisting his body into a spin. Sylk leaned away but the force of the spin was too great. The siren was launched past the spinning elf and crashed into a table.
Nia raced toward Freya. The shadow mage stood her ground with the oversized hammer in her hands. At the last second, she parried Nia's sword and the two mages stared eye to eye, muscles straining and weapons sparking. Freya pushed, knocking Nia back. The fire mage took a swordsman's stance and waited. The shadow mage raised her hammer and charged, screaming loud enough to wake the dead. Nia spun away just as the hammer came down, destroying the floor where she was a second ago.
Chaos erupted into a full melee. Trystan backed off as Loc stalked forward, whip in hand. The mage looked over at the bar. A quick hand signal and several bottles burst. Alcohol streamed upward and landed next to the mage, forming into a blue staff.
"Have you finally grown a spine?" Loc laughed.
"I have no quarrel with you. Back off!" Trystan said while holding his staff at the ready.
The dark elf stopped laughing and let out a tired sigh. A flick of the wrist and the whip coiled around Trystan's staff. Purple energy flowed along the black whip and struck the staff with a flash of light. The staff broke in two and Trystan took a few steps back. He knew Loc was skilled but he didn't know he was that skilled.
"She will make it worse the more you fight." Loc said with half closed eyes.
Trystan touched the two halves of his staff together and they fused. "It's over. Tell Freya that it is done."
Loc lifted his arm, whip snaking into the air when Sylk leaped onto his back. The dark elf tried to grab the siren until she put her mouth to his ear and screamed. Sonic vibrations filled the room. Loc's red eyes widened and he screamed as pain stabbed into him. Sylk kept it up, holding him close and screeching with direct power. The dark elf collapsed, whip falling from his hand. Sylk was on her feet and smiling at her master when something appeared behind her.
"Sylk!" Trystan screamed.
Cyn reached out and touched the siren on the back. Sylk screamed, shattering windows. The ghost familiar drained energy from the siren with a sad expression on her face. Trystan ran forward and swiped at the ghost. The blue staff passed through with no effect. Trystan tried again and nothing happened. Sylk sank to her knees, her screams turning into tortured moans. Trystan's mind raced for a spell that would affect the undead.
Red Fang stood up, shaking off pieces of wood in his fur. The wolf familiar looked over to Sylk and the ghost draining her energy. Red fang opened his maw and spit out a fireball. The fireball streaked across the room and struck the ghost full on. Cyn's dour face twisted into a scream as fire burned her ghostly body. The ghost pulled her hand away and Sylk fell to the floor.
Weapons clashed as Nia and Freya continued to exchange blows. The innkeeper stepped out from the back with an old sword in a shaky hand. He watched as Nia and Freya attempted to hit each other but cut and smashed everything around them. He quickly backed out when Freya spun impossibly fast and knocked Nia's feet out from under her. The fire mage landed on her back. Freya lifted her hammer with a maddening gaze and brought it down hard. Nia rolled away just enough for the hammer to crash into the floor and send splinters into the air. Nia sliced upward but Freya used the handle of her hammer to block the blow.
"He's mine! I will make sure you never take him from me again!" Freya screamed.
"Crazy bitch!" Nia shouted as she rolled back onto her feet.
Freya stalked forward. Nia readied herself when a shadow leaped up and sliced into her arm. The mage grunted as she stepped back, a trickle of blood soaking into her shirt. Freya smiled as shadows grew into points. Without thinking, Trystan threw his staff like a javelin. The blunted end struck Freya in the arm and sent the shadow mage crashing into a nearby table. Freya glared at Trystan with a mixture of shock and rage. Shadows grew thicker as the room turned into a maelstrom of darkness.
Nia's gaze fell on the hearth fire, keeping the shadows at bay. Hands turned into a blur as she made signal after signal. The hearth fire spiraled upward into a column of fire and raw energy. Shadows danced as they moved and poised at the fire mage. The fire streaked outward, snaking in the air, ready to burn the darkness.
Trystan kneeled down to pick up Sylk as she lay unconscious. In his arms, he turned to Nia who was standing at the ready with streams of fire hovering in the air. They both exchanged a desperate glance. The moment was barely a second but they both knew what was going to happen next. Trystan turned away with Sylk in his arms and started to run. Freya caught sight of Trystan running away.
"NO ONE LEAVES ME!" Freya screamed.
Freya charged Nia, shadows reaching out, slicing all in their path. Nia shouted and charged Frey
a, fire caressing and burning anything within reach. The darkness clashed with fire and their power exploded. Darkness and fire split into all directions, lancing outward. Trystan held Sylk close as he ran toward a small window. Red Fang leaped into the fray, barreling toward Freya. Vibrations from the magical energy whipped about like a monster in full rage.
A fireball struck the window and it exploded outward just as Trystan jumped. The mage went flying through the air, glass floating with him. The mage crashed into the ground and rolled as walls burst into flames and shadows cut charred wood. Trystan was quickly on his feet, running toward the nearby forest. Sylk moaned in his arms. A glance back and Trystan let out a painful gasp. The inn was burning, lighting up the night sky with fury and fire. Explosions filled the area and Trystan continued on toward the forest.
Thoughts of Nia stormed his heart. She had to be okay. There seemed to be more fire then shadows. She must have survived. Trystan continued to worry as he made it to the edge of the forest and stepped into its deep foreboding darkness.
Eight
Wild branches reached out and clawed at Trystan's face as he pushed through the thick woods. The night was dark. No moon glowed to light Trystan's way so he stumbled on into the thick forest. Sylk's breathing was labored and Trystan held her close to his chest. Exhaustion began to set in as Trystan's legs wobbled. Onward he pushed until he reached a small clearing and there he fell to his knees.
Muscles burned with acidic pain. The mage tried to control his breathing as he continued to clutch Sylk to him. The soft glow of her blue hair helped adjust his eyes to the darkness, what little light from the stars did the rest. Trystan gently laid Sylk down and un-slung his backpack. Quickly he pulled the tent out and started to set it up. The night was cold and getting colder the longer they were out there. Trystan had no idea how much time actually passed. Hands moved automatically as he set up the tent. He couldn't risk lighting a fire. If Freya was hunting him then a fire would make him easy to find.
The mage picked up Sylk and carried her into the tent. She lay, shivering. Trystan quickly lay next to her and covered them both in blankets. The mage found himself shivering as well. Trystan held his familiar as they tried to warm each other up.
"...master..." Sylk whispered.
"Save your strength. You will be warm soon." Trystan said reassuringly.
"....I...need you..." Sylk whispered weakly.
Trystan looked into Sylk's half closed eyes. He knew that Cyn could drain energy with her touch. There were a number of times the ghost fed off Trystan and nearly put him into a coma. The mage could see that Sylk was very weak and the light in her eyes was getting dimmer.
The mage was silent for a long moment. Sylk begged with her eyes. She needed to feed. She needed her master energy, his mana. Trystan knew what had to be done but cursed himself for his hang ups. The siren put herself in harm's way to protect her master and now it was the master's turn to take care of his familiar.
Trystan started to undress. Webbed hands touched his bare skin as clothes peeled away. Trystan's heart raced and that in turn further warmed their bodies. The glow in Sylk's big eyes returned slowly. Under the blankets, Trystan pressed his warm body against the sirens. A webbed hand glided down and touched his hardening manhood. The siren was quiet as she stroked him, tapping into his spirit energy and drinking it in. It was a small amount but it was enough to return a tiny bit of her strength. The siren's eyes turned nearly animalistic as she stroked along her master's shaft. At first Trystan was quiet but even he succumbed to pleasure as it ignited deep within him. Master and familiar continued, slow at first but building with each stroke and moan. Trystan let his fingers glide along the siren's fit body. First he touched scales along her arms but soon touched warm flesh past her elbow and along her side. The siren pressed her body close, clinging to her master while squeezing and stroking him until he was fully hard. Pointed nipples were snug against Trystan's chest as the siren grinded her entire body on him.
The heat between them went from a slow burn to a blazing fire. The mage let his fingers glide along her hip to her thighs. The siren spread her legs just enough for the mage to run fingers along her inner thigh. Trystan's heart thudded in his chest, fingers touching her sex and coming away glistening. The siren moaned her approval. Staying on her side, she pushed her hips as close to her master's as possible. The master's hard cock was squeezed between them but the siren hungrily took hold, moving the tip to her wet line. Trystan held the familiar close as she pressed her womanhood on his member. Master and familiar let out a deep, sultry breath as inches spread her opening.
Energy welled up between mage and familiar. Sylk pressed against Trystan's chest hard and he was on his back. The blue haired siren allowed herself to be impaled as she slid down his manhood, inch by inch. The siren dug claws into her master's chest and whimpered when she reached his hilt. Spirit energy danced and the two were locked in a frenzy of lust and hunger. Sylk moved up and down while her master held her thin waist. The siren's body siphoned energy from her master, at first a trickle and then it turning into a flood. Breasts bounced as she continued to feed and ride her master. Trystan let go of his inhibitions. Health began to return to the siren's face and this drove his own lust further. The mage held her waist and controlled the tempo. The siren squeezed and moaned, ecstasy blooming.
"Yes master...yes....feed me more. Feed me more!" The siren moaned.
Trystan could feel the pull of her energy as it latched on and teased him. The mage couldn't hold back anymore as Sylk moved her hips faster and faster on her master's manhood. Trystan's hand squeezed tight as he held her down on his cock. Spurts of molten come ejected into the siren's tight opening. The burst of energy was too much for the siren as she let out a deep soul wrenching moan, her own orgasm exploding with blinding light. Together their bodies continued of their own accord. The siren's eyes rolled into her head, squeezing every last drop of come from her master. Trystan gasped as Sylk rode him on and on.
When the bliss subsided, the siren collapsed onto her master. Mage and familiar fell into sleep's embrace in each other's arms.
***
Trystan stepped out of the tent to the morning light. The forest was still dark and holding much of the light at bay, but the little clear patch Trystan set up his tent had shafts of warm sunlight breaking through. Sylk was next to crawl out, a silly smile on her face and a little extra jump in her webbed step.
"What do we do now, master?" Sylk asked as she bounced up and down.
"Let's fold up camp and see if we can figure out where we are."
"I'm on it!" Sylk said and started to break down the tent.
Trystan pulled out the map from his jacket and unfolded it. Tracing a finger along the road and where the inn was possibly closest he made a rough determination where they were. Since they stumbled in the dark for a long time, he didn't know exactly. He hoped they weren't too far off their course. Sylk folded up the tent and shoved it into his backpack before running to her master.
"All done!" The siren said cheerfully.
Trystan continued to look at the map. "Good. I think we are here in the woods of Scular. If we make sure the sun is on our left, we should hit the road soon."
"Do you think it is safe to be on the road?"
Trystan shook his head. "No, I don't. If Freya survived last night, then she may still be hunting us. I think we need to continue through the forest until we reach the northward turn of the road. It may slow us down but I don't think we have much choice."
Thoughts of Nia slipped into Trystan's mind and his hand clenched. Sylk noticed it and her eyes saddened.
"I'm sure Nia will be fine. I saw you two practice when we were by the lake. She is very skilled."
"I hope so. Freya is cruel and a dirty mage. She will use any trick to win. If Nia is okay, then we will meet up at Stukarr." The thought of leaving Nia hurt more than Trystan wanted to let on.
The mage picked up his backpack and slung it over his
shoulder. The siren followed her master as they started walking into the dark forest, leaving the warm sunlight behind. Trystan wanted to be brave as they moved further in. Remembering what the innkeeper said about sightings of arachnixs made his skin crawl. They were half human and half spider, monsters with a hunger for anything with a pulse. Trystan remembered the stories about them from school. He had no love for any insect or arachnid but monster sized ones were at the top of his list of fears. The mage pressed on, trying to focus and not alarm his familiar, who seemed ready to do cartwheels.
The sun moved through the sky at an even pace. Birds chirped in the distance as the mage and his familiar continued on their journey. Sylk began complaining about her webbed feet on the rocky ground. Trystan tried to tell her to put some clothes on and some footwear. The siren was put off. When she snapped her fingers, a tiny bikini appeared and sandals on her webbed feet. Trystan let out a curse as he was instantly hard from her snap and tried his best to hide it. There was no way Sylk could know the power it had over him, thanks to Freya's conditioning and he was too embarrassed to explain.
"You’re acting weird." Sylk said walking along.
"Do you have to snap your fingers every time you put on clothes?" Trystan tried to keep the edge from his voice.
"What's wrong with snapping my fingers? It's better than saying the words."
Trystan turned slightly so his bulge faced away. "Words are fine. Use the words, please."
"I will try, master." Sylk huffed.
"Why do you only wear that bikini? It barely covers you."
"I don't like clothes. It feels better without them."
"How is anyone going to take you seriously if you’re naked all the time?"
Sylk frowned. "I only need you to take me seriously."
"You have a warped sense of priorities." Trystan said with relief as his hard on began to soften.
"I live to serve you. Is that warped?" Sylk smiled.
Trystan was quiet for a moment. "Can't argue with that logic."
