Practicing with his sword, the demon looked quite impressive as Ka-Ron's male half. She had forgotten how tall she used to be. How muscular. She squinted. Was her hair indeed that long once?
"There is a danger here, knight," the dwarf warned. With utmost concern, Dorian placed a caring hand upon Ka-Ron. "Baphomet is known for his ways with women. Once he takes you, there is nothing we can do until he is finished."
"Great, god-like male ego," Molly huffed.
Everyone paused and looked at the redhead.
"Hey, how come no one has asked me to strip?"
"Your job is to take care of En-Don," Keeth stated.
"All right, I'll do it." Ka-Ron agreed. "Wizard, please, mind Jatel. He will not understand."
"Right you are, miss."
As if they were all playing some sort of game, the tiny circle broke.
Ka-Ron started unbuttoning her dress. She found herself laughing at the entire situation.
"What's so funny?" Molly asked.
"If someone would have told me that I'd be taking off my clothes to seduce myself I would have called them insane."
Molly couldn't get the joke. For Molly, there was nothing there for her to see. Her only concern was En-Don.
Unlike everyone else, En-Don stood as far away from Baphomet as he could. The man found himself sweating and having a bad case of the shakes. He was terrified of the huge spider-creature which stared down at him with fireball eyes. A scary mouth with tiny little claws snapped at him, dripping green saliva.
"En-Don?" Molly asked, her hands barely touching the man's shoulders.
En-Don had discovered, quite by chance, that he was terrified of spiders.
"Molly, I don't want to be here anymore. Please, let us head back to the ship."
The genuine fear En-Don had projected confused Molly even more. She had been listening when Dorian had explained Baphomet's powers, but how could the demon be so right about everyone's weaknesses?
Why was she not affected?
"Baby, we have to stay until you drink from the fountain."
"Please!" the man pleaded. "I need to leave."
"Your mother is readying herself for battle. She will have need of your aid."
That fact seemed to help, some.
En-Don withdrew his sword.
"I shall try, my dear," was all En-Don could make himself say.
Upon the raised platform, where Molly saw nothing, and Ka-Ron saw her former self, En-Don saw the terrifying spider lashing out at him with long, powerful, and hairy appendages - all able to rip a man open without effort.
"Mother, hurry!" was all En-Don could say.
Ka-Ron, hearing the plea from her son, wondered what horror could exist to cause such a fear. Her son wasn't even old enough to know his likes, let alone his dislikes. Still, some fears were instinctive.
The knight placed the last of her clothing in a neat pile at her feet. To help with her tactics, she had kept her back turned away from Baphomet. For the first time, since her curse had been applied, she hoped that Kai's work was worthy enough for a god.
It did bring some satisfaction, seeing Jatel so concerned.
"Wish me luck," said Ka-Ron as she turned around.
"Victory, dear lady," Keeth wished.
"Baphomet!" Ka-Ron called out, trying her best to control her shivering. The room was remarkably cold, to which her erect nipples could attest. "I call to thee."
"Woman, know thy place," Baphomet threatened. He extended his sword, which was an exact copy of her own. The male version of herself began to adore her nakedness. The plan was working. "What is it you wish to ask?"
"I was wondering&" The knight tried her best to think of a way to attack. But this was her male self she was facing. He would know of her advances. He would know of her ways of war. He would be able to block, blow by blow, any tactic she would try, or be able to use. How could one defeat their own self?
"Wondering what, woman?" The demon looked rather bored.
One thing, above all, kept Ka-Ron going.
The demon was no longer paying close attention towards Rohan or Dorian.
If the elf were left alone, all would become successful!
"Are you&lonely?"
At first, Baphomet appeared confused. He stood there for several beats, a statue of frozen puzzlement. He moved his head around, up, and down. Could it have been he did not understand the simplicity of the question?
"Are you lonely?" Ka-Ron started moving closer towards the beast. She dropped her feet hard, hoping that the simple bouncing of her breasts would distract him&one of many new feminine weapons she had learned how to use over the course of time.
Baphomet's hungry eyes slowly scanned her.
"I am the giver and taker of life," the demon bragged. Picking up his sword, he spun it around in both hands. Tossing the weapon into the air, Baphomet whirled around, purely for showmanship, and caught the hilt of the weapon on its way back down. He intentionally pointed its razor-sharp edge at Ka-Ron's naked breasts. "Of course, I am lonely!"
Ka-Ron tried to remain calm. If Baphomet's sword was a copy of hers, then it was able to kill with a simple flick of the demon's wrist. The knight winced in pain, soon realizing that the sword was, innocently enough, cutting some of her flesh.
"Then&enjoy." the knight said, projecting her most sincere smile.
In the course of her life, Ka-Ron had encountered other females while in battle - females who would do questionable deeds just to stay alive. As a man, she couldn't wrap her mind around the way these women had made their choices. How could one sell herself so cheaply, just for one more day of breathing? How could it be possible to look at your reflection, knowing how sinfully you had sold your soul, without feeling a little twinge of regret?
Ka-Ron took a deep breath and allowed her mind to drift. With each step closer, she escaped into her thoughts, hoping above hope that Rohan and Dorian knew what they were doing.
Baphomet started to touch her.
Ka-Ron soon understood how "those other women" had felt.
It was not pleasant.
It was not sinful.
It just was.
Both Rohan and Dorian knew what they had to do.
"Grab En-Don," the dwarf ordered.
The elf, never questioning, turned towards En-Don. The confused man was still up against a faraway wall, doing his best to battle his deepest and darkest fears.
"En-Don," Rohan stated, offering the man his hand. "It is time."
En-Don would not respond.
"Molly, what is wrong with him?"
The redhead shook her head with confusion. "He has been this way since entering."
"It is Baphomet." The elf paused. "We will carry him."
Both Dorian and Rohan took the shaking man in their arms, carrying him as if he were a brother wounded in combat - which, in reality, was not far from the mark.
Both elf and dwarf focused on The Fountain of Cures.
The gigantic bowl of magical water grew nearer and nearer. The demon had been too busy with Ka-Ron to pay attention toward the fact that he was being cheated out of his leverage.
En-Don's feet took hold of the ground, stopping both Rohan and Dorian short of their goal.
"En-Don we must continue," Dorian pleaded, whispering.
Ka-Ron's son started to shake uncontrollably. He appeared to be under some kind of seizure. Whatever the ailment, both Rohan and Dorian could see the man was going through incredible pains.
En-Don collapsed.
Rohan tried to help the man recover. Upon doing so, he backed away, horrified.
En-Don, within the blink of an eye, advanced his appearance to that of a man in his final seasons. He looked like a man in his nineties.
"Rohan," En-Don meekly said. "I feel&strange."
Both Dorian and Rohan knew why. It would not be long before death knocked upon the brave lad's door.
"We must continue!" Dorian stated, picking the ailing man up. "Rohan, proceed towa
rds the fountain."
Rohan nodded his head, understanding.
Behind them all, Baphomet was enjoying his conquest.
Rohan forged ahead, greatly admiring the knight's bravery. He accepted the fact that he had now become their only hope of success.
***
Baphomet wrapped his strong arms around Ka-Ron's tiny waist. His musky scent permeated the woman's nostrils, filling her with the instincts needed to mate. The woman had forgotten how powerful she had been as a man. The whole thing was extremely exciting, and, on a higher level, absolutely sick.
How could one be so excited to have sex with their opposite?
"I will have thee, woman," Baphomet stated, his face twisted into a sneer.
It was difficult not to think about all the women she had conquered over the course of time, with the arms that were now engulfing her. Ka-Ron found that she could not combat him. His sheer bulk made her feel tiny and insignificant.
"Yes," Baphomet laughed, kissing the side of the knight's sleek and sweating neck. "You will do!"
Ka-Ron found her world spinning as the demon hurled her down upon the marble floor. His hands, copied right down to the cut marks, cupped her breasts, making the woman moan in ecstasy. Deep in the center of her mind, she thought she heard Jatel screaming out her name, and that flint of hope gave her strength. She knew that somewhere in the fountain's chamber, her squire was going through several layers of personal hell, having to watch her go through so much just to help save their son. The knight swallowed hard, as Baphomet licked and took in one of her nipples.
Jatel would have to understand.
"So lonely&" Ka-Ron whispered.
Baphomet's attack upon Ka-Ron was all too familiar to the knight. These were the tactics she had used as a man. These were the exact "moves" he had used to take Kym.
The demon forced his knees between hers.
"Woman, prepare!"
Ka-Ron screamed in agony as the beast entered her.
***
"All this pain&all this sorrow&just for a cup of water."
With great stealth, Rohan approached The Fountain of Cures.
Baphomet had his back turned as he ravaged Ka-Ron.
There would be no better time.
The huge copper bowl shined brightly, as the candle light and fire from their torches sprinkled across the sacred water. Rohan could appreciate why the dwarfs worshiped the fountain. Being an elemental creature himself, he could sense that the fountain's bowl was natural. The copper lining her insides had been placed there by the ancient dwarfs as a means of respect, since copper was the rarest of metals. The copper had been crafted into thin sheets by hand&polished to perfection, treated, and made so that corrosion and the hint of green could never tarnish its glory.
All this, just for a fountain.
"Almost there," Rohan whispered to himself.
In the distance, the elf spotted Dorian comforting En-Don, who truly was taking his curse with courage. Ka-Ron's screams started to fill the room, and Rohan noticed Keeth having his hands full with the squire. Jatel's voice was as loud and full of pain as his master's. In all his life, he had never seen such pain for the caring of another. It raised his hopes for the mortal beings of this world.
Rohan pulled out a simple bone cup.
He leaned over, prepared to take some of the water.
"Holy&" Rohan whispered.
The elf froze.
Never had he seen such a horror.
Deep within the bowl of the fountain lay thousands upon thousands of bodies. Elf, Dwarf, Male, Female, and even a few Xows. All appeared as intact as the day that they had been slain. Drifting in the cool water. Alone. Damned.
Then, as if sensing a little water leaving the giant bowl, they all opened their eyes. Each, in turn, concentrated their focus upon Rohan.
LET US DIE! LET US DIE!
"To the gods!" the elf whispered, backing away in horror. "They live!"
The truth came to the elf.
The reason that no one knew of the fountain or the sunken dwarf city was that Baphomet never allowed anyone to leave. They were all still here, trapped within the giant copper bowl. Always aware, but never allowed to know. Forever alive, but never really allowed to live.
Rohan found his eyes filling with tears. How could any god allow such a thing?
One particular specter caught Rohan's eye.
She appeared to be a female dwarf. Unlike Dorian, in her true form, this female had short red hair and was dressed quite beautifully. At one far-distant time, she must have been quite the woman.
She seemed to plead to the elf. Her hands rose, floating with the others. In her misery, she thought it best to bribe. In her hands she held a brick of pure copper. To take the bar, the elf could know comfort and a trouble-free life. For one brief moment, Rohan connected with her mind. She wanted death.
"How can I offer that over which I have no control?" Rohan stated.
With the deepest respect, the elf closed his eyes, prayed, and then bowed his goodbyes.
It was the most difficult thing he had ever done.
The lost souls in the bowl closed their eyes, waiting.
ANOTHER WILL COME! IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.
Rohan wept, openly.
"Dorian!" he shouted. "I have the water."
***
The demon pulled off of Ka-Ron with a satisfying grunt. As he grabbed a rag to wipe himself off with, he glanced at the knight with a curious nod. Ka-Ron only paid attention because the beast laughed.
"What's so damn funny?" Ka-Ron asked, wrapping her arms around her breasts.
"You were once a male," Baphomet said, laughing. It was quite odd to watch her male self standing over her, cleaning himself dry. The man's keen eyes once more scanned the body he so enjoyed conquering.
"Yes, I was," Ka-Ron confessed. "The way you have chosen to appear before me, now."
"No, knight," Baphomet corrected. "You chose this form for me. It was not I."
"Why would I want you to look like me?"
"Who am I to know the mind of mortals?" He started strapping some of his armor on again. He looked so much the way Ka-Ron remembered leaving Kym that fateful day.
Ka-Ron felt so cheap.
"Perhaps I did slight Kym, just a little."
Baphomet turned, only half-hearing what his prey had said.
"What was that you said, woman?"
"Nothing."
Looking over her shoulder, the knight noticed Rohan darting back toward the main hall, leading back towards the Argo. Molly, En-Don, and Dorian pulled back as well. Ka-Ron saw the dwarf giving her an "all-clear" signal.
"Then, we are done?" Ka-Ron asked.
Baphomet returned to his throne. He appeared to be asleep.
Ka-Ron thought it best to leave.
"Not so fast," the demon whispered.
The knight's body began to shake uncontrollably. She turned, facing Baphomet.
"There's just one more thing we need to speak about."
Try as she might, Ka-Ron could not call after her friends. She felt like a puppet being controlled by its master. There was nothing she could do but climb the stairs, join Baphomet, and sit upon his lap like a good little girl.
"You will stay here," Baphomet ordered, slightly tapping Ka-Ron upon her ass. "I have need of a creature such as yourself."
"But, my son&"
"Will die. Of that I am sure."
Baphomet started picking at his teeth. He did not care one bit for the pain or torment Ka-Ron and her friends had just gone through. All he cared about were his own pleasures.
"I will fight you."
Baphomet rolled his eyes, giving the woman a tired laugh. "And how do you plan on doing that?"
Ka-Ron's features turned green.
Before the knight knew what she was doing, she puked all over the demon.
"Well," Baphomet said, vomit dripping off his brow, "I'll give you points for originality."
Ka-Ron fell from B
aphomet's lap and landed upon the marble floor. She had no control of her body, as before, but this time, the knight knew what was happening to her. And, as before, she was just as terrified.
"Oh, no!" Ka-Ron cried, grabbing her breasts.
The knights breasts started to grow in size. Then, subtly, milk dripped from each nipple. Again, the woman vomited upon the floor.
"This is just delicious!" Baphomet started to laugh, understanding what was happening. "Superb entertainment."
"Help me, please!" Ka-Ron screamed, her stomach started to swell outward, becoming incredibly huge in size.
Ka-Ron was pregnant.
Again.
***
Rohan gave Keeth the cup of water.
"What do we do now?" Molly asked.
Keeth discovered that his hands shook. His battles with Jatel as he tried his best to keep the squire's concerns from messing up their goals had formed a challenging and exhausting task. Jatel had managed to keep his cool, and was now quietly waiting near the Argo. The wizard hoped that he would never again have to match wills with him.
"We let the man drink." Keeth handed the cup over to Molly.
Molly, taking the cup, gave it to her love.
Upon drinking the substance, En-Don's countenance began to revert. Over a period of perhaps ten heartbeats, his old and tired exterior faded. No longer was he an old man in his nineties. Again, the brave young man was a handsome lad in his mid-thirties. He would never know the joys of childhood, so much the tragedy, but he would not be rushed to the grave either.
"Wizard, we have done it!" Dorian laughed.
"Yes, we have. Now, let's go rescue our dear friend."
All eyes turned back to the chamber room.
Upon entering the hall, everyone was quite surprised to spot Ka-Ron on the floor, and Baphomet laughing at the woman from his chair. All except Molly, who still saw nothing.
En-Don withdrew his sword.
"Hey! That's my mother you're laughing at."
Baphomet, the giant spider in En-Don's mind, turned. Its bulky hairy body dominated most of the room. Toxic saliva dripped from its mouth. An unholy hiss came forth as it challenged the lad.
"Do not stop what I am doing here." the spider said.
Baphomet took its front legs, shiny and as sharp as a sword, and started to attack. Blow by blow, En-Don matched the demon's skill. Watching the evil spirit in the shapes projected to them in their minds, all were nothing if not amazed at the young man's skill.
The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight Page 36
