by John Evans
"Who are you calling?" Lorilei asked Phartom.
Phartom did not answer right away, but finished the circle first and then laid out the twine in a pentagram inside the inner circle. She bent over to dig out the straight lines.
"Zalasta's correct," explained Phartom as she dug with the stake. "No one will cross Herza. Zaius could, but he has nothing to gain by doing so, even if you hadn't given him the ring. You could ask Ashtar, but that would mean giving up the faith you were raised on, which is almost impossible to do. The only solution I see is that you, Karina, can't ask anyone. Neither can Helga or Lorilei. So that leaves me."
"Who are you going to ask?' questioned Karina, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
Phartom ignored her. "Helga, those bags contain salt. Take one and pour the salt in the large circle. Lorilei, you do the inner circle in the opposite direction of Helga."
"I know how it's done," said Lorilei. "Helga, don't leave any gaps. When we're done, I'll inspect your circle and you will inspect mine. Are you doing the pentagram, Phartom?"
"Yes, when you have completed that, I want the three of you to stand over by that tree."
The two circles and the pentagram were soon completed. Karina, Helga, and Lorilei walked over and stood by the tree Phartom had pointed out. Phartom inspected her pentagram and both circles again. Satisfied, she began to make shapes with the salt in the dirt between the two circles. Lorilei kept straining to see what the shapes were and once was told to back away by Phartom when she edged too close. Phartom transformed back into her succubus form and walked over to the three women.
"Who are you summoning?" asked Karina again, trying not to stare at Phartom's large, swaying breasts.
"Someone you don't want to meet in a dark alley," chided Phartom with a smile. She turned serious as she said, "He's someone who can contact the person we need. Lorilei, stay back or I'll kiss you and throw you into the circle."
"Be that way, dearie," harrumphed Lorilei sourly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm sure there are secrets in your craft you don't want me to find out about either, dearie," said Phartom sweetly.
Lorilei's face lit up with a cunning grin. "How about we trade information?"
"When Shades jams a gem in your forehead, we'll talk about it."
"That's what I thought," muttered Lorilei.
Phartom walked back to the circle and began to chant. Her arms made curious patterns in the air. Karina could not see all of the pattern because Phartom had her back to them. By Lorilei's snort of disgust, she could not see it either. Suddenly, a bluish-green light shot up into the air from where the salt had been poured out on the ground. The light collapsed back down, leaving glowing rings and symbols on the ground.
"Impressive," murmured Lorilei.
Black smoke boiled out of the ground in the center of the pentagram, but did not float out past the outer circle of Phartom's ward. The smoke filled the area and then immediate dissipated to reveal an immense creature standing there. It easily had to be sixteen feet tall with huge bat-like wings on its back. Its head was triangular shaped with sharp teeth jutting out of its mouth. Its feet were cloven hooves and the fingers ended in long, black talons. A black mist obscured the black body of the creature. The creature looked down at Phartom and then over at the three women.
"What is that thing?" asked Helga, recoiling in horror.
"A pit fiend," replied Lorilei, clearly not liking this development.
"Elzot!" boomed the fiend in a deep, rumbling voice. He raised a taloned forefinger and tapped his claw against the invisible barrier. Blue, green, and red sparks flickered briefly when the two made contact. "Very good. And getting two witches to help you make the circle. You know it's not necessary. We've had good times before with nothing between us."
"Maybe so, Faroose, but I'm sure word of my meeting with Shades has made the rounds down below," replied Phartom. "And call me Phartom."
"As you wish. Are you going to introduce me to the gentleman and the two lovely ladies?"
"No, I don't think so," said Phartom.
"C'mon, Phartom, the young one looks positively delicious," slavered Faroose, licking his chops. "Break the circle and we'll have that bauble out of your forehead in no time flat."
Phartom laughed. "That is if I could trust you to remove it. You might just leave it in. Hmm, I wonder what a 'good' succubus would be forced to do in the Hells?"
"Humph!" grunted Faroose, annoyed that she would be thinking that far ahead. "Fine, then. What do you want?"
"I need to talk to your master," said Phartom. "I think I have something he wants."
"And what do I get out of being a messenger boy?" asked Faroose, irked by so menial a task.
"I'm sure your master will reward you when he sees what I have."
"You're the one that first mentioned trust," snorted Faroose. "Let me see, I'm supposed to take your message to my master on the possibility that he may reward me, right?"
"What do you want, Faroose?" asked Phartom.
"How about half-an-hour with the young one?"
"That's not going to happen and you know it," replied Phartom calmly. "She'd hurt you badly."
Faroose threw back his head and roared in howls of fiendish delight. His wings opened and brushed the barrier, causing it to shimmer in multi-colored light as he laughed and laughed. "I must say that for you, Phartom, you were always good for a laugh. I tell you what - you name the price."
Phartom arched an eyebrow. "If your master does not reward you, I'll spend that half-hour with you. That includes no trying to escape, no taking the gem from my forehead, no taking me to the Hells, and you have to swear by the River Tethyx."
"Anything else goes?' asked Faroose, his eyes almost gleaming in suppressed anticipation.
"Of course."
"Done! I swear by the River Tethyx!" With that, Faroose disappeared.
"What have you done?" exclaimed Karina, rushing forward. "I need you."
"I made a bargain to get his help," replied Phartom nonplused.
"And an interesting bargain it was too," said a deep voice from behind.
Karina spun around. There standing behind them was a man. He was about six feet tall and dressed in red velvet robes that trailed all the way to the ground. His hair was jet-black and slicked back away from his forehead. He sported a spiked goatee. What set him apart from humanity, though, were the short horns on his forehead and the reddish tinge to his skin.
"You're you're not in the circle!" stammered Helga in fright.
"Smart girl," commented the man. He leaned forward conspiratorially. "A word of advice - your incantations will work better if you don't stutter." He looked at Lorilei and his expression hardened. "Don't even try it."
Lorilei's fingers froze in the middle of their movement. She grimaced and lowered her hands to her side.
The man turned to face Phartom and his genial manner returned. "That gem in your forehead almost improves you, Phartom," he said to her. "It will be interesting to see what happens if it is ever removed. What is it you wanted to see me about?"
"This is Karina," said Phartom. "He was a woman and put on a cursed girdle."
"Ooh, kinky," said the man. "I'm sure he's a bit more fun for you this way. Well, Karina, what did you do to piss someone off like that?"
"I had a ring that I was supposed to give to a priest of Zaius," replied Karina. "Herza took exception and sent one of her priestesses after me."
"Herza," mused the man. "That would be powerful magic. Why should I help you?"
"Phartom said you may be the only one who can," said Karina. He hesitated a second. "May I ask who you are?"
"Phartom also said she has something that may interest me," said the man. "However, manners first - I am Asmodeus, Ruler of the Nine Hells."
Karina's mouth dropped open, Helga recoiled in terror. Lorilei's eyes glittered and considered the possibilities. Phartom looked bored and crossed her arms over her ample bosom.
/> "I do so enjoy watching these humans," chuckled Asmodeus. "Oh, stop that!"
Helga was muttering incantations of protection. Asmodeus pursed his lips together and blew at her. Karina saw the faint sheen of a bubble form around Helga. It quivered for a second or two before it dissolved into a mist.
"Impressive," commented Asmodeus, raising an eyebrow. "With some training and experience, she'll be nigh unstoppable." He quickly glanced at Lorilei. "Don't even think about it. What ever you get from me won't be worth the price. Speaking of price - Phartom, what do you have that would interest me enough to change Karina back? Are you going to fulfill your bargain with Faroose?"
"I will have to if you don't reward him for what I am about to show you," replied Phartom as she reached into her pouch and pulled out a small white worm.
Karina wondered why Phartom had a worm in her pouch and then his eyes widened in horror. The head of the worm was human and looked just like Beckdom. It writhed and squiggled between Phartom's fingers as if it was trying to escape, but Phartom held onto it firmly.
"Why would this soul interest me enough to remove the curse from Karina?" asked Asmodeus, sounding a little bored.
"Maybe because the night hag Vaughn has marked it for her own?" asked Phartom sweetly.
"I see," said Asmodeus very quietly. "Are you sure?"
"You know her," said Phartom. "She is very, very particular about who she helps and why. I could have bargained with her, but I'm not sure she has enough power to remove the curse. What do you think? Is it enough to remove the curse and pay Faroose for delivering my message?"
"Why should I pay Faroose?" asked Asmodeus with a smile. "You're the one who entered into an agreement with him."
"Faroose is full of himself and it is about time for you to take him down a peg or two again," replied Phartom. "He did not specify the amount, except for my time with him. Anything you pay him will fulfill my contract with him for being a messenger boy."
Asmodeus threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"Faroose will not be happy," he said. "I'd avoid him for a century or so, if I were you. I agree to your terms. I will remove the curse, which should piss Herza off to no end, and pay Faroose what I think his time is worth. It definitely won't be worth what a half-hour with you would be worth."
"Phartom, you can't do this," said Karina.
"Karina, this isn't about good or evil," said Asmodeus. "It's a simple barter."
"But it's for a soul," argued Karina.
"One destined for the Hells because of his wickedness and the damnable bargain he made with an infernal creature," countered Asmodeus with a smile. "It will go to the Hells no matter what Phartom does. She is simply trying to do good by it."
"But..."
"No buts," said Asmodeus firmly. "No one here, including myself, can save this soul. While this bargain we have struck involves you, it is not a concern of yours nor do you have a say in the matter."
Karina took in a breath, but changed his mind. He realized that there was nothing he could say which would change anything.
"I was worried about Phartom," said Karina. "Isn't dealing in souls inherently evil?"
"So is killing," said Asmodeus. "However, I don't think her alignment was damaged when she obtained this soul. She could set it free, whereupon it would continue to grow into a Mane. It will be over six feet long and will attack anything that crosses its path. Would it be evil to let an evil thing go knowing it will do evil? She could take it to one of your priests or priestesses. They would banish it back to the Hells, but then you would have some difficult questions to answer. How did you get it? Why are you with a succubus? How evil are you? It could get very nasty very quickly taking that route."
"Yes, it could, but will this bargain harm Phartom?" asked Karina.
"No," replied Asmodeus smiling. "She's not bargaining for her own soul and it is for someone else's good. Now, if the soul had not been destined for the Hells, that would be a different matter."
"I still don't like it," said Karina.
"Luckily, your likes and dislikes don't really matter," said Asmodeus. "Unless, of course, you want to bargain your soul to remove the curse."
"No, she doesn't," interrupted Phartom. "We have a deal, Lord Asmodeus."
"Only seeing if I can sweeten the deal," said Asmodeus. He stepped towards Phartom with his arm outstretched and his palm upward. Phartom took a step forward and dropped the wriggling Mane, which had doubled in size in Asmodeus's palm. He inspected it, looking at it from all angles, before closing his fingers around it. With a quick shake of his hand, the Mane disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
"Now, let's see about lifting this curse," said Asmodeus, turning to stare evilly at Karina. The night suddenly became very dark and much colder to Karina. "Oh, by the way, even if this doesn't work, it's going to hurt a lot."
Book 2: The Ritual Of Neccar
Chapter 1: Fathers
The farmhouse was just as Per remembered it. It had been a five day ride from the Capitol and now he was finally home. He smiled as Rolph, Dagmar, and Dorthea came out to great him. His face then grew surprised as they were joined by two ten foot tall giantesses.
"Electana and Diti," said Per excitedly to Karina as they hitched their horses.
"Oh, thank the Gods!" said Karina gratefully. It seemed like maybe her quest was finally at its end. "I don't see Tenan or Gar, though."
"They're probably off with Oraag somewhere to keep the tensions down," said Per. "She can be a handful."
Karina nodded and thought that their group was probably as unusual to the people at the farm as they were to them. Two troops of royal guards rode all around them to ensure the safety of the royal personages. Helga, Melinar, and Nyrandurril, who were forced into servitude under Baron Cedric, were there along with two of Melinar's friends, Dareen and Vail. Six of Per's original companions had come with a High Priest and five priestesses of Adelpha. Karina looked behind her. Contico, Nesbra, Lorilei, and Phartom were all laughing about something. Celine and Iona were bringing up the rear with Holina and Leekya. All in all, their party, not counting the troops, numbered thirty.
The troops split off as the party rode up to the farmhouse. Karina dismounted and, after nodding to Rolph, Dagmar, and Dorthea, she turned to face the giantesses.
"Thank you for coming," she said to them. "I am Karina, Per's mother."
"It is nice to meet you," replied Electana, kneeling down to be closer to Karina's height. "We submitted ourselves to your son. You sent your request in his name, so it was our duty to come."
"My request?" queried Karina.
"I forged your signature," whispered Octavia.
"Oh, yes, my request," stammered Karina. "I did explain what the ritual was about, didn't I?"
Electana and Diti both smiled. "Your letter was very explicit," said Electana, emphasizing the final word. "We will do our duty, unless Per has become too weak."
"Care to try me now, Electana?" asked Per.
Electana looked at him for several seconds. "No, I am not assured victory. In any event, the humans would not understand and would interfere."
"Let me know when you are ready," said Per, who looked over to see Morning Mist and Golden Sunlight running up. "I'm so glad you're safe! Where is Tenan?"
Per was not ready for the tears that sprang from the two girls' eyes. Dorthea was also crying while Rolph and Dagmar could not look him in the eye.
"Oh, Per, he's, he's..." Dagmar choked on his words.
"He's dying, Per," came a beautiful voice from behind them. Per turned to see Adelpha standing there.
"Where is he?" asked Karina frantically.
"He is in the tent," said Nanago who had now joined them. He grabbed Karina by the shoulders when she started towards the teepees. "He's asleep and needs the rest."
"What happened to him?"
"We found Morning Mist was being held by a group of witches in the swamp," said Golden Sunlight as Nanago released Karina's sh
oulders. "They had a small group of lizardmen working for them. Tenan devised a plan to get the lizardmen away and rescue Morning Mist. We killed all the witches, but before their leader fell, she cast some sort of spell on Tenan."
"What did it look like?" asked Lorilei. "What did she say?"
"It was sort of like a green flame that went into Tenan, but did not burn him," replied Golden Sunlight. "I heard the witch say something like, 'Nechro'."
Karina and Per both saw the resignation that came to Lorilei's face. Per turned to face Adelpha. "You can cure him, can't you?" he asked her.
"I can't," replied Adelpha sadly. "My agreement with Ahhspah is that I can not interfere or participate in the ritual. All the events here have to unfold in ogre fashion. Ahhspah may heal him, but it would be against his nature."
"The curse is rarely used and particularly vicious since it poisons every part of person's body," said Lorilei. "It is used only as a last resort since it takes a lot of the caster's strength. Karina, let me see Tenan alone to confirm it. I won't lie - the outcome doesn't look good, dearie."
"Do what you can for him," said Karina. "I'm going to see Gar and have a little chat with that god of his."
"Not without me," said Per.
"I'm in," added Octavia and several other people nodded.
"No," said Karina firmly. "Per can come, but no one else."
Karina led Per towards the clearing, guessing that Gar was probably there. As they left, they heard Dagmar giving out room assignments and laughing when he accidentally put the Overlord and Octavia in the same room.
Per heard a noise behind them and turned to see Adelpha following them. "Karina, wait a second," she said.
Karina stopped and turned around. She waited for Adelpha to say something, but was totally surprised when Adelpha cupped Karina's face in her hands and soundly kissed her. Per's mouth dropped open and he gaped in shock at the two of them. Karina's eyes widened in amazement before they rolled back in her head as pleasure from the kiss overloaded her mind and a huge orgasm exploded inside her. Her knees buckled as her juices gushed out, drenching her undergarments. Only Adelpha's hands on her face kept Karina on her feet. As it was, when Adelpha broke the kiss and let go of her face, Karina did fall down onto her hands and knees.
