Chained - 4

Flavius storms out of his chamber and the guards leave close on his heels, making me wonder how they feel about being downwind of his sweat. Analysis on the other man gives me nothing at all, not even his name. Still, he shouldn’t have the contract in his possession or been able to sign it, if he isn’t the one who summoned me. I wait till their footsteps fade away before I speak again, my summoner looking so uncertain.

“You are Gaius Januarius Domitius. Where are these northlands from here?”

The question in infernal sounds like a threat with the naturally edged tone in my voice.

Gaius just nods as my question prompts him into action. With quick motions, he hurriedly packs a bizarre looking sextant and the scroll into a pouch that’s too small to hold either. The way they both vanish before getting into the pouch properly entices my curiosity.

Analysis

[Pouch of Amoenitas:

The spatial enchantment of this item allows it to be bound to a specific location. After which time the person selecting the binding point may use the bag to store or retrieve items from there. They may place an object into any storage container in the room that will fit it or retrieve an object if they know where it’s kept. The pouch being removed from the user’s possessor for longer than one day per year of the link existing breaks the link. No other person may use the pouch to access the created link or set a new one within that time period. ]

“Over a thousand miles away we’ll use a Portal when the rest of the expedition gathers tomorrow. Come with me, I’ll show you the equipment we need taken with us.”

With the brazier still burning, I follow him from the room, enjoying a last taste of the clean Fire Mana crackling within it.

I follow behind him to enjoy the view rather than from any intention of deference, caring nothing about what anyone thinks. His tight arse under his tunic reminds me of old memories, and I ponder what score Julia would give his butt. I’ve not thought of her in years, and wonder if the memories Mother’s forge invoked are to blame for thinking of her again. Still high marks from her or not, I like the solid breadth of his shoulders that draw my gaze. As I stalk behind him, Gaius suddenly stops in his tracks, spinning back to face me; the sudden motion making me realise I’d let the chains go silent from one moment to the next.

“What is wrong?”

He hadn’t even finished spinning when he starts back from the sound of my voice, bumping into the wall of the corridor as he does so. It’s all very amusing, but unfortunately, he doesn’t land on his prime rump, denying me a reason to ask if he wants it rubbed better.

“How do you do that?” Gaius flustered question makes me smile in delight, but he flinches like I’m threatening him when my teeth show. “Do you have runes on them for silence or something else?”

“Which question do you want answered first?”

The huskiness of my voice speaking his native Latin makes him blink in surprise. The fluid syllables more pleasant than the razor-sharp tones of Infernal. It’s only through an ability of Devils that I can speak his native tongue, it sounds like Latin and I learnt very little of it in life.

“You don’t just understand the words. You speak Latin as well?”

The surprise in his voice is amusing, though why he’s surprised by it since I don’t know.

“I can speak whatever language I need to speak, and you’re still needing to pick a question.”

“This work will take years, and it’s costing me my Soul. I’d at least like to leave writings behind to make it worth something.”

“Years? What exactly do you have planned?”

“Now who’s asking the questions?”

“I answered your last one. Though I’m not worried about questions being asked; I said you needed to pick one for me to answer first. Are you often defensive about questions?”

“Oh right, you’re more sociable than I had expected from a Kyton in that case? How do you make your chains move silently?”

When I smile and lift all my chains high at once, so they move like silent swaying vines, I see his nervous swallow. The direction of his gaze seems to be split between my chains and the suddenly exposed skin beneath. Making me wonder if he’s more interested in my Power or the fact, I’ve nothing under the chains.

“I thought a Kyton can only control four of their chains at a time.”

“For many you wouldn’t be wrong. I however, am the Mother’s daughter what chains I wear I can control and more besides. The chains only make noise when I leave them free to sway on their own. I make sure they’re silent when I wish to stalk someone or have fun. Are you fascinated by chains?”

The flicker of my tongue attracts his attention and I taste the scent of interest spiced with fear. This could be fun indeed.

“They made yours of the rarest of metals. But which were you doing just then?”

“I was enjoying watching you walk. Weren’t you going to show me the equipment you wanted cared for?”

The words spoken in my husky voice practically overflow with insinuation far more playful than any Devil’s word game, those were always dangerous and never this light-hearted.

“It’s in the workshops,” replies Gaius, and hurries on his way again.

As I follow behind Gaius he guides the way through hundreds of metres of corridors. When he turns out into a courtyard something I hadn’t seen in so long confronts me.

Sunlight.

Immune as I am to both Cold and Fire by my rebirth, I can’t tell the season by the day’s warmth or the lack. Still the sky is so blue and clear that I don’t care either way, and inhale deeply the natural odours of the place. The scents far from what I’d experienced in my past life and certainly at least would have caused me to cry foul. But now I didn’t care that the air was ripe with manure, burning wood, and offal, and I could taste that and more besides. No, the glorious element was rather an absence of what I’d grown used to within this new life: hellfire and sulphur.

The lack of it made me want to scream for joy as I realised something else. Mother’s forge room had given me a bizarre sense of home, yet here I recognise that sense was greater but somehow still not truly home. Though whatever sense of recognition I’d gained from arriving in Hell, this place it was stronger still. I hadn’t tried to escape Hell because of that sense of Order making it feel so right, no matter how disturbing it had been. Yet now I finally wanted to be free of it.

Not knowing how they’d react if I screamed with joy, I hold myself with tightening will; the intensity of that experience a pleasurable pain all its own.

“What are you looking at?” asked Gaius, his voice puzzled. When I glance down, I find he’s nearly within arm’s reach. I’d never have let a Devil get that close, but my instincts for danger hadn’t warned me about him. I didn’t know if he truly meant no harm, or as with Analysis something kept his intention concealed. Yet most Devils I’d meet had that knack, so I looked at him now with suspicion.

“You’re vulnerable to aerial attacks.”

It wasn’t what I’d intended to say, but instincts had gotten their bid in first it seemed.

“There are wards around the Temple Compound to discourage assaults.”

Gaius’ words carry a weight of reassurance and pride, and I simply nod as I reply.

“Good.”

At my simple response Gaius looks taken aback, and turning leads the way again, and so I follow in silent reflection.

He leads me through a narrow alleyway into a courtyard, and I see through wide doors an elaborate forge. Deeply carved runes form a magnificent inlay on every tool present, and as we approach hot chilli races across my tongue at the clean Power they hold.

The forge is cold, but I see marks of extensive use: the unavoidable wear on tools and stonework. The meticulously organised workshop even has its scrap pile neatly maintained. If this is Gaius’ usual workshop: he’s clearly very intent on perfect order, or he’s got issues other than his family’s debt to deal with. As my gaze lingers over all the objects, I must have spent more time than he expected as Gaius speaks up hesitantly.

“Will you be able to transport it all?” asked Gaius. “You look as if you’re tallying the weight down to the last copper bar.”

“Should I prepare to move it now or in the morning?”

Gaius sighs in relief, clearly reassured by my answer despite its lack of commitment. I’m not sure how he got involved with Summoning a Devil, but with such a meticulously kept forge I’d have expected him to require more precision.

“I won’t be looking to use it today, and it’s all equipment for the expedition.”

Regret laces his voice, but whatever caused him to be roped into this was no doing of mine. Still, something about the openness of his tone makes me ask all the same.

“With equipment like this, why did you summon me to repay a debt?”

After years of living in Hell, apparently my skills in small talk have suffered. Either that or the Power that lets me speak to him is going off direct intent.

“Pardon?”

“Surely you could have repaid your family debt by constructing items?”

“The family that brought up my family debt wants repayment differently. It was in the contract if my-”

Gaius’ teeth grind as he bit off whatever he was about to say, and I’m quite sure from his expression it wouldn’t have been polite.

“How did your family accumulate the debt?”

Questions, a lifetime ago I’d used them to help someone help themselves, instead I’m poking obvious wounds. Heat rises in my groin as pleasure drifts along my spine letting me know how broken I’ve become. Excited by the pain that I’m causing and no longer sure I’ve kept my sanity at all. The distortion of sensation has indeed bled through beyond the physical, now reversing even emotional context.

“Does it matter? It’s done and paid!”

The rage and pain wash the regret away. I taste the emotions I’ve stirred, and my heat tickles across my tongue as I lick the air again. The scent of arousal as if knives were kissing along skin, faint but growing as despair twists its blades within us both.

“What does Flavius get out of this?”

The huskiness of my voice sounds excited, even to me. While the question is simple, I know the razors I’ve hidden in the simple words, ready for his discomfort. The pain that beckons in its answer shows in his gaze as he stammers before he finally gets out his simple response.

“What?”

“Flavius, the fucker that was trying to push you around?”

The words come out angry, harsh and their violence snaps him from the moment. The anger was at myself, for having seen his pain and found yet more pleasure. I’d ruined the moment with my anger, yet even now his distant gaze is heavy with loathing. The emotions twist his lips even before he sneers his response, and the emotions fill the air as I lap up his contempt.

“We’re making the sword for his family’s glory.”

The news that I’m here to help with an enchanted object is strange given the Divine power that a God’s followers should be able to command.

“So why you?”

“I’m the Temple’s youngest Master Artificer, and I perfected runes that have stood as a challenge for centuries to prove my rank.”

“You perfected them before or after your family got into debt?”

“Before of course I’ve been a Master Artificer for three years now,” Giaus states, and I can see his pride fighting for position amongst the regret, anger, and fear.

The whole thing makes me suddenly suspicious, reeking of the games that Hell always loves Mortals dabbling in.

“Since we’ve time, how does an Artificer make runes?”

“What do you mean? You’re a direct daughter of the Kyton Mother! It’s in the contract! You’re all legendary Artificers!”

Giaus’ voice grows shrill with fear, and I glance at him for a moment as I consider telling him the truth. The fragile state of his calm beckons me like a cold brew to an alcoholic after a stressful hot day. I can feel the excitement of his pain, the taste of it growing and quickening, and I take an emotional step back from it for both of us.

“I am the youngest daughter of the Kyton’s Mother and I’ve never seen a Mortal Artificer crafting anything.”

The truth. But for his fears they’re just meaningless information to befuddling himself with, a lie by another name. Still, he takes it as reassurance. Excitement catches in my chest as I wonder how close to the edge I can lead him before he’ll break on his own. This isn’t right, but it makes excitement burn through me. After so hating and fearing their games, why am I playing them with Giaus?

“Should I wait here? Do you have preparations to make?”

My question distracts him further, and I wonder how much stress he’s been under. What pressures besides family wealth lost did they apply to make him Summon me? Did the stress temper him, or did it just set him close to breaking?

“My arrangements are all completed now till the others arrive.”

As he speaks I put my hand on the rune wreathed forge and take it into my Inventory. One moment it had filled significant portion of the workshop and the next it’s gone, only a faintness weight present when I focus on my strange space. The way his eyes bulge out it clearly isn’t what he was expecting.

“You can carry the forge as well?” gasped Giaus, his astonishment clear as his voice rises in surprise.

“If you didn’t expect me to carry the forge, why did you call me?”

“All the tools and material to keep them safer than any dimensional space we possess,” Gaius replies. He pauses only a moment before gesturing towards tools and stacks of materials. With a smile I walk through the place, trailing fingers along items to avoid damaging them via the icy touch of my chains. When I’m done, the areas are empty, and the forge is still within my Inventory.

“Is that all you desire?”

The question rumbles as I push it in husky sensual tones; swaying towards him with motions that emphasis my hidden figure and smile as his eyes widen. I can see him trying to form a response even as I hear voices in the alley.

“Father.”

The word is low and barely breathed, yet its weight hits the stillness my tone had set in him like a boulder from a cliff.

Oh, so his dad is here to collect the scroll. From the pain in his voice, I can tell who signed the debt contract.

“Would you like him dead?”

My growling question hints at an offer, and his eyes widen in dismay, laced with longing. Perhaps he thinks it’s a trap, but it’s more that I really want someone to pay for what’s become of us both.

“No, you can’t?”

The reply is still low but fluttering and desperate, temptation and revulsion fighting in his gaze, and I push the fight on.

“There is nothing in my contract about your family, just the expedition members, and parties involved in the Summoning.”

I whisper the temptation in a sultry heated tone, yet even in his anger he steps away.

“Wait here, please.”

With that request not even making it an order, he walks away. Though I saw him hesitate, it was only for an instant before he pushed himself to move on. The voices echoing down the alley rise in celebration as he turns the corner and walks out of my sight to greet them.

With the looks he gave me, blue skin and all, I wonder if he’ll be interested in sex or if he just finds the scars appealing.

With time to kill, I indulge another curiosity. Since I’m no longer in Hell, Mother’s restrictions about the classes I can take no longer apply. Hopefully, I can find something appealing before I complete this contract.

I’d seen Class options offered before, and Mother’s oaths had forced me to reject them. Focusing Analysis on the remember Class section of my Profile get me the complete list again. Then I quickly select something to help me learn what they expected, and another from personal preference.

[Class Options:

• Alchemist
• Artificer
• Artillerist
• Crafter
• Hunter
• Interrogator
• Mage
• Scout
• Slaver
• Torturer
• Prison Warden]

Select Artificer

[Artificer Class selected.

Artificer Class added level 1.

+1 Intelligence

Power: Embed Mana Unlocked!

Skill: Rune Lore Unlocked!

Rune Lore (1)

Kyton Synergy detected!

Rune Lore (1 -> 11)

Skill: Arcane Lore Unlocked!

Arcane Lore (1)

Kyton Synergy detected!

Arcane Lore (1->11)

Mana Pool Unlocked!

Magic (107->108)

Initial Runes Learnt – Empower (Minor)

Additional Runes Learnt due to Intelligence and Racial Synergy:

• Cold
• Hold Spell (Minor)
• Flame
• Wound (Minor)

Rune Lore (11) -> [B] (1)]

Select Hunter

[Hunter Class selected.

[Please select Source of Blessings

• Concept
• Elven Pantheon
• Human Pantheon
• Infernal Power

]

Hunters need to believe in stuff what the heck? I’d thought it was a version of Army Rangers!

Concept

[Concept options:

• Evil
• Order
• Pleasure
• Pain
• Other

]

Order.

[Choose Primary Stat for Class levels:

• Strength
• Quickness
• Endurance

]

Quickness is a given considering its lagging behind the others I’ve developed almost as badly as Intelligence.

[Faith - Concept: Order Selected!

Primary Stat: Quickness Selected!

Hunter Class Added Level 1

Faith (10 -> 15)

Access to Blessing for Hunter Unlocked!

Power: Traceless Walk Unlocked

Traceless Walk (1)

Power: Blood Scent Unlocked

Blood Scent (1)

Power: Unerring Navigation Unlocked

Power synergy with Hidden State

Power: Unerring Navigation evolved into Eternal Map

Eternal Map (1)

Skill: Tracking Unlocked

Tracking (1)

Skill synergy with Perception Detected.

Tracking (1) -> Tracking [Ad] (1)

Stealth

Combat Style Dual Wielding auto-selected due to existing melee skill ranks.

Select preferred foe category

• Material Plane
• Elemental Planes
• Outer Planes

]

Though I might be here a while, I doubt I’m ever getting out of Hell for good.

Outer Planes

[Common Outer Plane Options:

• Celestials
• Devils
• Demons
• Slaadi
• Other

]

Demons.

[Preferred Foe Set: Demon – Bonus applying

• Bonus Melee Attack Power vs Demons
• Bonus Critical Chance vs Demons
• Bonus to Skills vs Demons

- Domination
- Intimidate
- Stealth
- Torture
- Tracking
- Weapon Skills

• Demon Lore already present and exceeds Adept Rank – adding ten levels
• Demon Lore [Ad] (18->28)

]

With the conversation still sounding far from over I pick up a flat rock and used a claw to a rune that’s been impressed into my mind. As I focus on shaping it perfectly, I follow the pattern of my new Power and pushed Mana into the essence of its intent. When its complete the rune tastes of Mana and flares orange before settling back to appear mere complex squiggles cut into rock.

[Embed Mana (1 -> 2)

Artificer: + 20 Experience]

As tempting as it is to turn that notification off permanently as well it might be best to know it’s increasing as I practice.