by Eden Redd
Nia slowed down so Trystan could catch up. "I think we both need a bath."
Birds chirped in the distance as the two mages felt closer to the end of their quest and the beginning of a new one. Looking over at Nia, Trystan's heart felt lighter. Never before had he felt so free and ready to take on any trials and quests. Leaving his home town behind to study in one of the greatest mage colleges was a dream come true. To have his best friend with him to share the experience only showed the mage how lucky he really was.
A large tree stood further up the road. Even from the distance, it looked ancient with long sturdy limbs swaying in the light breeze. It cast a long shadow across the road. Trystan squinted as something stood in the middle of the road. It was dark and small. The mage stopped in his tracks as purple energy arced.
"Freya." Trystan said calmly as he grabbed Nia's arm.
The fire mage stopped in her tracks and un-slung her back pack. "I don't have a lot of mana. I never had a chance to recharge Red Fang. I might be able to create a fire sword but it won't last long."
"We are low on water too. I doubt I could make something bigger than a dagger." Trystan stood his ground, slowly taking off his back pack.
"What do we do?" Nia said with a hint of alarm creeping into her voice.
Trystan mentally went over his options. He only knew simple spells and defensive spells. There were no elements he could manipulate except for air, which he never studied. Sylk and Bella were brimming with mana but Trystan had no idea how to focus it into something useful. Nia pulled her spell book from her back pack and flipped through pages. The shadow in the road stayed still, almost like it was observing them.
"I have enough mana to cast one fireball spell. I haven't had a lot of practice with it so it might fizzle." Nia said as she hurriedly tried to memorize the spell.
"We can't use that spell. If it works, it could kill her."
Nia looked up at him with desperation in her eyes. "She has hunted us and hurt us. Maybe this is our only option left."
"There has to be another way." Trystan was running out of ideas.
The cloaked shadow in the middle of the road melted away. Freya stood up and began walking toward the two mages, purple energy pulsating around her.
"She is using shadow magic. It will be weaker in the sunlight. As long as we stay away from any shadows we should be okay." Nia said with concern.
Trystan looked around and his heart sank. The road was lined with trees, shadows nearly reaching out to them from either side. Looking up, the blue sky had many puffy clouds and one big one was moving closer to the sun.
"I think we have some bad luck. That cloud is going to block out the sun."
Nia looked up and let out a sigh. "I'm going to use the fireball spell. Keep her occupied until I'm ready. I'll signal you when I'm ready to use it."
Trystan's hands tightened into fists. "No."
Nia eyed him in shock. "Trystan?"
The mage dropped his pack to the ground. "This has gone on long enough. Freya will not make me go with her. I don't care how psycho she is, I have to be the one to stop it or she will continue to hunt me down or worse, hurt you."
"Trystan, I don't want her to take you away." Nia's eyes began to water.
Trystan shrugged off his jacket and dropped it on the back pack. "She won't. Stay here. I will make sure she never tries to hurt us again."
"What are you going to do?"
"Stand up for myself. Stand up for us." Trystan said with determination in his eyes.
The mage started walking; fear making his heart beat like a drum. Anxiety whipped at his mind as he tried to remember spells. Each one ticked off in his head and each one couldn't be used. Freya walked with a sly smile on her lips and half closed eyes. Purple energy rippled around her tiny frame.
Trystan felt the air cool as a large shadow rolled over him. The cloud touched the sun and blanketed the area with diffused light. When the shadow reached Freya, her energy flared. The petite shadow mage held out a delicate hand. Shadows leaped up and swirled into her open palm, forming into an oversized war hammer. Freya let the hammer lean on her shoulder, her smile growing bigger with each step.
Trystan knew he had to stop her. Mind racing, every spell felt like a dead end. The mage thought of Sylk and Bella and how they could help. He worried they might get hurt and wasn't sure if they should be involved. If only he had enough water so, he could end this toxic relationship. Trystan's eyes widened as an idea formed. The mage stopped walking when Freya was about fifteen feet away.
The shadow mage stopped and stared at Trystan with a smug expression. "How pathetic, what's the matter, girlfriend doesn't want to fight for you anymore? Maybe she realized what a waste it was to be with you."
"No Freya. I told her to stay back. This is our fight."
Freya laughed. "This isn't a fight! It is merely me claiming what is mine."
"I was never yours. You're a sick bully and I'm going to end it, right now."
Freya continued to laugh. "It's like seeing a puppy trying to be a dog. You are cute! Now come with me to Stukarr. We can spend the night and take the train tomorrow out of here. I may even let you pleasure me all night."
Fire burned in Trystan's eyes. "We are done! I'm staying and you will leave me alone!"
Freya stopped laughing and let out a heavy sigh. "I really didn't want to drag you back but it seems you leave me little choice." Freya heaved up her black hammer. "You brought this upon yourself."
Shadows from either side of the road sprouted up and shot out toward the mage. Trystan managed to step back as they collided and tangled into each other. From the mass off writhing tentacles, they shot forward, blunting at the tips and slamming into Trystan. The mage flew backwards and hit the road. Rolling, he was back on his feet and wiping away a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth.
Shadows folded back and disappeared. Freya took a few steps closer. "You really are a loser. I have had so many real men. They laugh on how pathetic you are and always question me on why I stay with you. I tell them because if I don't take care of you, who will?"
Freya looked past Trystan and winked at Nia. "Even your best friend isn't running to your rescue. Maybe she finally understands that you're not worth the trouble." Mist floated up from between Freya's thighs and the dark elf appeared.
"I asked her not to fight you. She respects me and is doing the right thing." Trystan eyed Loc. "Send him away. This is between us."
"HA! Why should I listen to anything you have to say? You're confused and need a good session on being obedient. Loc, bring him to his knees."
Trystan smiled as the dark elf stalked toward him, whip in hand. "Bad move, Loc. You should have stayed on your mistress's thigh."
Two streams of mist burst from Trystan's arms. Sylk appeared; knees bent and ready to pounce. Bella appeared next to her master, eyes filled with determination. Loc continued to step forward, whip twirling in his hand.
"Stop him, Sylk!" Trystan commanded.
The siren nodded and leaped high into the air. The dark elf yawned as he lashed out the leather whip. Sylk saw it coming and was counting on it. She had seen him use the same maneuver before and knew just what to do. The whip curled around the siren's waist, wrapping tight. Sylk spun her body, curling length of whip around her waist and spinning at the dark elf. Loc side stepped just as the siren was about to crash into him. Webbed hands spun out and took hold of the dark elf. Loc's eyes widened as Sylk was now on his back, her mouth next to his ear.
"Let me sing you a song." Sylk whispered and then screamed.
The vibrations struck at the familiar and his whole body trembled. Loc tried to pull off the siren but Sylk dug her fingers into him and curled her legs around his waist. The two familiars spun as Sylk made sure to make her voice louder and louder. The dark elf fell to his knees. Sylk uncurled her limbs as the dark elf tried to shake off her song. Loc took an unsteady lurch up but the siren smashed her webbed fist into his jaw. The dark elf hit th
e ground and dust flew up around him. Loc groaned as he lay face down.
"Stay down. Master needs to work some things out with your mistress." Sylk crossed her arms and planted a webbed foot on his back.
Freya's eye twitched. "I have to do everything!"
The shadow mage launched her body forward, a blur barreling toward Trystan and Bella. The water mage made a quick hand signal. Bella's slime body shifted and swirled. The slime familiar smiled as her body thinned into a long blue rod with a spear point. Freya brought her hammer down and it clanged. The shadow mage stared and gritted her teeth as Trystan smiled back, his spear blocking her hammer.
"You turned your familiar into a weapon! How?"
"She is a slime, not that much different from water." Trystan pushed back.
Freya slid backwards on the dirt road before spinning her hammer and charging. The mage met Freya and the sound of weapons clashing filled the area. Freya rode her madness as she tried to strike harder and harder. Trystan spun and knocked away her blows to keep her off balance. The shadow mage growled as she tried to sweep him but instead, Trystan slammed the butt of the spear into the ground, blocking her hammer. Freya winced as she struck and vibrations ran up her arm.
"Freya, stop this and walk away. Live your life and I will live mine!"
"Never!" Freya screamed.
The shadow mage swung again and again. Trystan blocked each blow as magical sparks flew in every direction. Nia watched as Trystan kept the crazy shadow mage at bay. Freya wasn't used to working so hard in battle. Arms started to quiver as she poured all her strength in trying to beat down the water mage. Trystan knew she was going to tire herself out soon.
Freya screamed as she brought her hammer down again. Trystan blocked but then the hammer faded from view. Freya jumped onto Trystan, shadows reforming into claws as she went for his eyes. The mage managed to block her by slamming the shaft into her stomach. The shadow mage bent in half, eyes wide and mouth stuck in a silent scream.
Trystan's eyes widened. "Freya!"
Freya slid to the ground, gasping for breath. The shadows on her finger tips melting away.
"Freya, I'm sorry." Trystan managed.
"You....fucking....fool.....you’re...." Freya said through strained breaths. Shadows pooled into her hand to form a dagger. "You're.....MINE!"
Freya launched forward, tears in her eyes. Trystan couldn't move fast enough as the shadow dagger sliced his thigh. Pain bloomed as blood rose to the surface. Without thinking, Trystan spun around and slammed the butt of the spear against Freya's head. The shadow mage grunted in pain as she fell to the ground, shadow dagger melting away.
Trystan spun the spear and put the point to Freya's neck. "It's over! I never want to see you again!"
A bruise bloomed on Freya's cheek. "Took you long enough to grow a pair of balls." Freya spit out some blood. "I will never let you go. I will become stronger and come back for you. You just wait. Go to your fucking elemental college. With time I will make you pay for leaving me."
Trystan dug the point of the spear a little deeper into Freya's neck, not breaking skin but with tears in his own eyes. "Stay away." Trystan whispered.
Shadows pooled around Freya and slowly oozed up her body. "Watch yourself, mage. Once I'm done with you, your girlfriend is next." Freya laughed as shadows covered her body.
"Don't you dare!" Trystan yelled.
Freya continued to laugh as darkness covered her body and she sank into the ground. Once she was gone, the shadows disbursed, fleeing in all directions. Trystan fell to one knee and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, bright light flooding the area once again.
Nia ran forward, throwing herself to her knees and hugging Trystan close. "I'm so proud of you." She said with tears in her own eyes.
The mages held each other. The spear in Trystan's hand flowed away to reform into Bella. Sylk walked over and stood by the blue slime.
"We have to take care of them." Sylk said, feeling the terrible sadness from her master.
"We will." Bella whispered as they watched their master fight back his own tears.
Trystan used his forearm to wipe away his tears and looked to Nia. "She won't stop until she feels I have paid for leaving her."
Nia kissed him. The fire mage pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Then we will stop her together."
Trystan nodded and they both held each other close. After a long moment, the two mages were back on their feet. Sylk and Bella moved closer, carrying their master's back pack and jacket. Trystan smiled as he took the items from them. A quick glance at Bella caused the mage to wonder about her imprisonment. What further secrets can be hiding in her mysterious past?
"Don't worry master; we will make sure to keep you safe." Sylk said with a small smile.
"Thank you, all of you." Trystan took a breath and regained his composure.
Trystan and Nia began walking down the road toward Stukarr. Sylk and Bella stayed back a few feet and watched their master lovingly as he reached out and took Nia's hand. The two friends, now lovers, glanced at each other and walked in comforting silence. The walls and towers lit up in the late afternoon sun. Their journey was nearly at an end. Trystan squeezed Nia's hand and she squeezed his back. Hope and excitement filled their hearts as they embarked on their next adventure, together as family.
~Fin~
Blue Mage: The Dead Heart
One
A hateful suffocating heat wrapped around the naked figure. Maddening pulses of emotion beat like a fevered drum against bare skin. Eyes fluttered in the abyss and dark tendrils reached out. A small gasp echoed as black tentacles caressed the mage's cheek. Time and knowledge had no meaning in this realm. The young mage could feel the world slip away like blood from an open wound. Foul ichor replaced the fleeing blood and the mage weakly tried to will his own life back into his body.
Barely lifting his head, eyes watched as tentacles dug into skin and veins. They pulled his very life from him in silent gulps. Horror gripped him as he tried to breathe. It was so hot; the very air burned his lungs with every breath. Cruel passions replaced good nature with bloody precision. The young man fought but his body betrayed him. It welcomed the darkness.
A robed figure emerged from the shadows. The mage turned his head to see the figure moving closer. A hand touched his wet skin and glided along his defined lines. Sweat glistened on the robed figure's finger tips. The young mage watched helplessly as a tongue emerged from the darkness of the hood and licked each finger in turn.
"Stay....away..." The young man managed just barely.
The robed figure was silent as it glided to the man's feet. Tentacles pulled at thighs, separating each leg. Hands took hold of loose robes and began peeling the fabric away. Despite the heat pressing down, a cold chill ran up his spine. Every bit of movement felt like dead weight pulling him down. The young man raised his head once more to see the robed figure between his naked legs, fingers gently caressing his thighs. Darkness masked the being's face but hands moved further up along hot skin.
Trystan tried to keep his head up as the hands moved to his hardening manhood. Just as fingers were mere inches away, strength gave out and his head fell back like a stone. Guilty pleasure swelled as fingers glided along his member, caressing every inch until touching the tip. The more the stranger touched him, the more strength seemed to return to his body. Trystan's hands clenched as the figure stroked him playfully.
The young mage found himself sitting up, elbows under him, watching as the robed figure stroked every inch up and down. Trystan wanted to reach up and touch the figure but he wasn't sure what would happen next. Part of him wanted to push the figure away while another part wanted to keep them close.
"Freya.....go away.....I don't love you..." Trystan whispered.
The shrouded figure tilted its head slightly while continuing to stroke him. "Freya? Who is Freya" The figure whispered.
Confusion rained down on the naked mage. With a shaky hand, he reached up and t
ook hold of the dark hood. Mad terror gripped him as he pulled it back. Darkness fell away to a twisted and sewn face. A vice gripped Trystan's throat as he tried to pull away. The hand around his manhood kept him in place as mismatched eyes blinked and one half of a mouth smirked. Trystan stopped struggling and stared at the abomination between his legs. Its face had half of the raven haired Freya while the other half had the flame red hair of Nia. Black stitches ran along the middle of their combined faces, eyes moving in different directions.
"You belong to us. You are our slave." The thing said with one side smirking and the other side frowning.
Trystan sat frozen as the thing stroked him faster and faster. Pleasure bloomed and the twisted creature laughed. Trystan was silent as jets of come erupted from his manhood splattering the thing's robes. The creature continued to stroke his still hard member. Trystan felt his life drain away with each stroke.
"We own every drop of you." The thing laughed and laughed and laughed.
***
Trystan woke with a start. Gloom filled his vision and he tried to blink it away. A warm body was pressed against his. Without thinking, his hand ran along the arm to their hip. Vague images swirled through his waking mind. The gentle heart beat calmed him down but only slightly. Nia's scent drifted up from her neck. Trystan buried his face in her hair, hand still on her hip. Nia's naked back pressed into Trystan's chest. Thoughts began to fall back into place as he hugged Nia closer.
The small bed could barely contain both of them. Trystan stared at nothing for long moments before noticing he was rock hard. The young man's cock was firmly pressed against Nia's round bottom. Her scent and her body being so close were beginning to shift his mind toward heated desire.
A hunger bubbled up and Trystan held Nia closer. The young woman did not stir as fingers ran along her firm breasts touching her nipples. Trystan let his hands smooth over creamy plump mounds down to her stomach. Face still buried in her hair, fingers touched her womanhood. Gently he pressed along her line, feeling her valley. Nia let out a small gasp as if she was wakening from a deep dream.
