by Cat Wilder
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I almost fell off the ceiling. "Your timing sucks!"
I also didn't have access to the online manual since being trapped in the game. Idiots. It's as if they'd forgotten about all of the players trapped in the game.
Raax bellowed as he leapt up towards me. The game alert made me forget my predicament for a moment. Panic froze me in place, and his massive left hand wrapped around my left wrist.
The orc king yanked me back down to the floor. My eyes locked on the enchanted silver collar in his left hand. King Raax leered at me and my heart sank.
Chapter 4
I rolled to the right. His foot stomped down to stop me, but I proved faster. In a flash I escaped his looming threat. But I was far from safe.
I heard both Taks and Izzy cry out. The sound of running feet spurred me to action. I couldn't allow them to catch me so easily again. I levitated straight up to the ceiling and looked around. Izzy jumped up to snatch me down. That was one brave girl.
Spinning around in midair, I lashed out with a foot and connected with her face. Kicked her right out of the air. A message flashed, startling me again.
-4
That number floated up and away, fading away as it went.
The beautiful drow hit the floor with a pained grunt, and -1 appeared and floated away. I noticed a Health bar flash above Izzy as she writhed in pain, showing her health down by 5 percent. Part of me liked that new feature, but another didn't like the distraction in the middle of a fight at all.
"I'll get you for that," Izzy growled.
Regret and shame filled me as I stared down at her. My love for her welled up within.
"Oh my god, what have I done?"
My heart ached to go to her, apologize and comfort. I loved her so much. And then I spotted all of the orcs closing on me. I remembered my dire predicament, and what Izzy did to me. Still, my heart ached despite the anger that welled up.
Raax leapt at me, so I flipped over and called up Climb Like a Spider to scamper across the ceiling toward the exit. No collar meant I could leave that house of ill repute. Orc warriors moved to block the door.
"Are you really willing to risk your lives to keep me enslaved?"
An orc grinned at me. "You don't scare me, wench."
He was a mob. What a shame. I dropped back to the floor, opened my inventory, and pulled out my enchanted Bracers. The left bracer called up a shield, while the right gave me a sword on command. In no time at all my sword and shield appeared.
I attacked, hitting him with both the sword and the shield's edge. Numbers streamed up as I battered his defenses, and his health bar slowly dropped.
"Do I scare you now?"
My sword finally went through the arrogant orc's heart. His health bar flashed red, and vanished. The stupid orc died before he had the luxury of fear. His companions scattered when I spun around to throw a fireball first at Raax, and then at Taks. They both dodged, but it kept them busy. Others busied themselves putting out the fires my magic had started. I noticed Izzy sitting up and staring incredulously at me, so I saluted her with my sword.
My heart welled up with love and desire again. Her glossy, kissable lips called to my soul, and my sex ached. I wanted her more than life itself. Then her eyes narrowed, and a cruel smirk spread across her face. She looked so pleased with my reaction.
Bitch.
Yeah, that drow bitch messed up my head big time. Maybe I could find a wizard to counter it. Later. I'd check into it once far away from Got. Distance from her would help. "Fare thee well, my beloved princess," I called. "I still love you, but I'm not crazy. Bye-bye."
That stupid compulsion had to wear off sooner or later. I hoped. Besides, out of sight, out of my heart seemed to apply. But Izzy didn't want to give me up so easily.
The enslaved drow princess scrambled to her feet and charged me. I froze as Raax, Taks, and too many to count orc warriors also charged toward me. Turning to the door, I only got two steps before Izzy slammed into me, her arms encircling my waist.
The force of her impact pushed me through the door. Izzy still wore her collar, so magic exploded to knock her back inside. But I didn't want to lose her, so wrapped my arms around her. I literally dragged her through the magic barrier and outside.
Izzy froze, eyes huge. She clutched at the collar, making a gurgling sound. It took a second, but I realized the collar intended to choke her to death since it failed to keep her inside. Within seconds her eyes rolled up and she went limp.
"No. I'm sorry, Izzy!" I cried, fumbling with her collar.
She sucked in a deep breath when I got it open, but remained unconscious. So I threw her over my shoulder and took off running.
The midafternoon sun bore down upon me. The docks bustled with activity, ships coming and going. The brothel behind me sounded like utter chaos ruled, and it started to attract unwanted attention.
I opened my inventory as I trotted up the street, struggling under her weight. I took out my Bow Rings and Dagger Ring, slipping them onto the proper finger before pulling the Gloves of Strength over them. The gloves' magic flowed through me, and then Izzy's weight became as nothing. I pulled out the Fire Whip and hung it on my right hip.
Then I pulled up my HUD, to look at my stats:
Sex (Lvl 96).
Swordfighter (Lvl 31).
Spellcasting (Lvl 24).
Pillage & Plunder (Lvl 20).
Tactician (Lvl 17).
Spear fighting (Lvl 16).
Archery (Lvl 14).
Horseback riding (Lvl 12).
Cooking (Lvl 10).
Haggling (Lvl 10).
Ruler (Lvl 8).
Shield fighting (Lvl 7).
Foraging (Lvl 6).
Robbery (Lvl 5).
Whip (Lvl 2).
An earlier update changed it so my highest Skill level couldn't exceed my avatar's level. I just wished Spellcasting ranked at 96 instead of Sex. I would mop the streets with them if so. But then I noticed my Health had slipped down to 96 percent, with Stamina at 98. Mana had dropped down to 454.
"Look out world, I'm back."
A company of orcs flooded around the corner and blocked the way. Their leader pointed at me and shouted in their crude language. Every damned one of them charged me with blood in their eyes.
"Are they planning to take me alive?"
I didn't wait to find out. More angry orcs shouted behind me, led by Raax. I found myself caught between a rock and a hard place. Or so they thought. The docks were a dead end, and the end of me. So I turned to the buildings lining Shore Street. I stood in front of a three-story half-timbered building. The sign out front said "Port Authority."
"Probably not the best place for an escaped brothel slave to enter." I patted Izzy's sweet round butt. "Make that two escapees."
Levitating up to the roof, I ran along the peak to the back, and leapt off. Once again I called up Levitate. That allowed me to glide over above the crowded street to the next building's roof. I ate up 15 mana each time I used Levitate, so my mana began ticking down quickly. I would've done it again at the next street over, but I slipped on the weathered wood shingles and went sliding down at breakneck speed. I just managed to quell my panic in time to levitate, which stopped my fall barely seven feet off the street. Izzy had slipped off my shoulder, and I held her by the wrist.
"Oh, that hurt," Izzy groaned. "What's happening? Where am I?"
"You're escaping slavery with me," I said, slowly dropping to the street. That little bit of magic used up too much mana, so I took her by the hand and took off running. "Hundreds of men and orcs are after us."
"Only you could cause so much trouble," she said, yanking her hand free.
"You are fre
e to go back to Taks and your beautiful life as his top whore."
She continued to follow me. I smiled, glad she chose correctly.
The sound of our pursuit slowly got closer and closer. I continued moving uphill and northward, heading for the closest city gate. Rounding a corner, I found myself on familiar ground.
"Wizard's Row," I blurted.
"Yes it is, young elfmaid," an elderly man sitting on a hovering carpet said.
I recognized him as the same mage I'd met before when I visited that street. He sold flying carpets. I notice his curious looks back and forth between Izzy and me. One didn't see an elf and drow together often in that world, except when fighting each other.
"How much for that flying carpet you're on?"
"Twenty gold."
I had no money, but he didn't know that. Before Raax murdered me, I wore a fortune in jewelry. All dropped, along with the Key to the Castle. I did have two small cases of jewelry in my inventory, but I didn't have enough time to haggle over the value of my gemstones and jewelry. Moving closer, I pretended interest in buying it. He slid off with an ingratiating smile.
The flying carpet looked to be perfect for a pair of young women to fly around upon. It had a lovely forest gold base color, with elaborate red and blue designs woven in.
"How does it work? Do you have to be a mage with lots of mana to fly it?"
I checked it out using my HUD.
Flying carpet. Djinn-powered.
"No, it's Djinn-powered," he said. "You just sit on it, wait to feel the connection, and speak clearly. The carpet will obey."
The sound of armored men running reached us. The mage turned toward the sound and frowned. I crawled onto the carpet and Izzy knelt behind me, her arms wrapping around me tightly. The wizard cried out.
"I'll take it," I said. The carpet's magic seeped into me through my knees until I felt the connection in my head. A smile spread across my face. "Send King Raax the bill. Go straight and up."
The flying carpet started moving as angry orcs charged around the corner. I shouted for it to go faster, higher. The carpet responded beautifully, but then a lightning bolt missed me by inches. I failed to factor in the carpet's rightful owner's magic.
"Hard right!"
The carpet banked hard, and flew over the houses. Just like that we passed out of the mage's line of sight, safe from his magical attacks. I felt pretty damned good. That flying carpet could be my golden ticket home.
A message flashed at the bottom of my vision saying I earned the Skill of Carpet Flying level 1. That brought a smile to my face. I'd probably be a level 20 by the time I reached Laavik. I checked my Skills to see if I'd leveled up on anything else. Nope. Bummer. Though, I wondered if flying a magic carpet would give me experience points toward my Spellcasting skill.
I looked northward. Everyone I'd spoken to recommended I go to the port city of Laavik to book passage across the ocean. If I wanted to go back to the city of Ankor, where I started my virtual reality adventure, I'd have to make a long ocean voyage. If the distance across the ocean proved too far to take upon the carpet, I could sell it for the passage fee.
"Where are we headed?" Izzy asked. "Have you even given it any thought?"
"I'll fly up to Laavik, sell the carpet, and have more than enough to book passage home," I said. I settled in cross-legged and looked around and down at the city of Got. "It's actually a pretty cool looking city from up here."
"What about me?"
Izzy pressed up close behind me. We were both scantily clad, so I silently rejoiced in the feel of her soft, hot skin against mine. Her arms encircled me just below my breasts. She held onto me so wonderfully tight.
Shrugging, "I guess I could drop you off in some city, if you don't want to come with me." I slanted a sultry look over my shoulders, catching her eyes, and then wagged my brows. "I'd be a fun travelling companion, baby."
"I bet you would," she said rather coolly.
We slowly flew upward toward the top of the hill. Gotar Castle loomed above. I wished Raax waited in the castle to see me escaping on that flying carpet. Shame, because I looked quite daring flying that carpet.
When it occurred to me that one of the king's wizards could blast me out of the sky, I veered away to the northeast. As I gained height over the city, I looked left and far out to sea. I spotted a cluster of mountainous islands just on the horizon. To the east stood a wall of mountains so far away they appeared just a purple haze. If I didn't already know about the Wyvern Mountains, I would've considered it an optical illusion.
Passing over the city's massive curtain walls, I turned for a last look at Got. Good-bye and good riddance. And then I saw them.
"Are they after us?"
Izzy looked back and stiffen. "I knew it. You're going to get me killed."
Four flying carpets flew in a V-formation behind us, also flying northward. Seeing them didn't worry me too much, since they weren't flying straight at us. Then I realized they had us on an intercept course. And they appeared to be flying a lot faster, too.
"Slowly veer eastward," I commanded the flying carpet.
The flying carpet continued on, but began to turn to my right in a nice casual turn that someone out on a joy ride might do. I watched the other carpets like a hawk. Once it became obvious I had changed course, they turned a lot sharper to take up another intercept course.
"Well screw me blind," I muttered. "Will this game ever go easy on me?"
"Stop saying that! It's not a stupid game, you crazy elfmaid!"
It wasn't a game for Izzy. A cold lump formed in my chest when I thought of her dying. And I had something to live for: my lovely Izzy.
"Don't worry, babe. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Squinting, I could just make out the passengers on the four other carpets. Mostly I saw orc warriors bristling with weapons. I also spotted mages in brightly colored robes – two humans, one goblin, and a drow necromancer. I didn't see Raax among them. Was he afraid of flying?
One of the humans was a player.
Human. Battle-mage (Lvl 22).
"Stupid wizards," I said, eyes narrowing. The other three came up as mob wizards. "But I can trade fireballs with the best of them. Catch me if you can, boys."
Chapter 5
The battle had to be fought with fireballs. Carpets would burn. My enemies had it easy. They didn’t have to capture me; they merely had to kill me. King Raax wanted me back in his harem, and being a player, what mobs called a renner, or reincarnater, meant I made it easy for them. They just had to post men at my respawn site, and send others out to kill me.
Easy catch.
"Well, I'm not going to make it that easy," I said. The forest east of the city drew my eyes. A big, old-growth forest. I headed for it. "Izzy, let's try to vanish into those woods."
Elfmaids and drows had natural forest skills. We could run through the woods effortlessly for hours. If we couldn't escape them there, then where?
Our pursuers must've had the same thought. Their speed increased dramatically. They came at us full tilt after losing the element of surprise. I tried to make my carpet fly faster, but they still gained on us at a scary rate.
"This is totally unfair," I grumbled. "They have five people per carpet, and there's just the two of us on this one."
"Do you know nothing?" Izzy asked. "Their carpets are twice as big as ours."
"Size matters?"
"Of course! When does it not matter? Larger flying carpets can go faster. Everyone knows that."
"Okay, bigger means faster," I grumbled. "We'll still make the woods before them."
A moment later I spotted the Topecca River winding its way through the forest, a huge river from the east that flowed just to the south of Got. They couldn't build the city next to it due to frequent flooding. A mist cloud rose over the river due to the many rapids and waterfalls. The river dropped dramatically over those falls for the last fifty miles of its length.
A lightning bolt thundered past,
missing me by just feet. Then another and another, each one getting closer than the last. That forced me to begin evasive maneuvers which slowed us down further. They continued to fly straight as an arrow, so gained on us a lot faster.
"Screw you!" I screamed, turned half-around and threw one, two, three fireballs at my tightly packed pursuit. The third fireball hit one of the human mage drivers, sending that unlucky group nose-diving into the streets below. "Got him!"
My hit, and their crash, caused multiple strings of hit points to scroll, slowly fading away. I tried to ignore them, but I was starting to warm to that new feature. The developers were adding features to make it more like an old school RPG.
"Ha! Take that, you stinking goat lickers!" Izzy cried joyfully.
The other three carpets split up, which allowed me to pick up a greater lead. It didn't last long. Once spread out behind us, they came at us on intercept courses as we passed over the woods. Nothing but hilly, mountainous forest lay ahead. The wide silvery ribbon of the Topecca River lay to my right. I veered a little more towards it. If I got shot out of the sky it would be nice to have water to land in instead of crashing into hard earth.
I'd already emptied my inventory. I wanted every weapon available to me, even though I didn't see how to use most of them against the other carpets. The Bow Rings worked well, though. I sent endless arrows at them, smirking at the HPs strolling away, and struck down a couple orcs. Seeing them tumble off the other carpets warmed my inner warrior's heart.
After the third orc fell to the earth, the mages gave up some mana and conjured up shields. I turned my full attention on escape maneuvers after that. Dropping down to the treetops, I flew nape of the earth all the way to the river, and then dipped down close to the water.
My mana bar flashed, showing I had only 382 points left. I scowled as it faded away.
The necromancer's carpet zipped in close, and we exchanged fireballs. I noticed us approaching a waterfall, so I veered over and above them. Then I forced them downward as I barely passed over the roaring falls. I never saw that flying carpet again.
