Descent

"It will be many months. Time passes normally for me when I am bound within the vessel of the stone. But the child will not be bound by the same stone. Even if I am not solid, it will be summoned forth, and become yours to raise as well."

Once I bore a child of my own, it would be like rearing twins. I tried to grasp this concept, and then let it pass, too much to sustain at that moment.

Blossom's fingers wound in my hair. The demon drew me up until I knelt at the end of its cock. The tip quivered before my eyes, a bead of pearly liquid at the tip. I licked it off, feeling the searing warmth in my throat as I swallowed it down and took the head into my mouth.

This creature and I were the same. Perhaps that was why I had sacrificed so much for Blossom. Like me, it was hated and misunderstood. Like me, it craved the forbidden.

Like me, it was alone.

My lips stretched over the shaft, as the demon thrust deeper into my mouth. I struggled to take more and more of it in. I eased back, taking a breath, and then dove in again. I spotted the line of gleaming wetness halfway down the stalk, marking the point of my achievement, and pushed forward until the tip breached the entrance to my throat. I looked up at Blossom. The demon bared its teeth.

I gagged, wanting desperately to become one with this infernal beast.

Blossom lifted me off the floor like a doll. Its cock fell from my lips with a wet sound. I wrapped my legs around its waist as it carried me. The creature kissed me, its tongue curling in my drooling mouth, and tossed me on the bed.

"Make me yours," I said, mewling. I spread my legs wide.

Blossom speared me in one tortuous stroke, its cock sinking into my sodden sheath and hitting bottom. I thrust a hand into my mouth to muffle my screams, close to coming already. The demon pushed my legs back, until my heels pointed at the ceiling and drove into me with powerful, toe-curling strokes.

"I feared planting a child in you the first time we met," Blossom whispered. "I wanted to savor this breeding."

I felt the pressure building deep in my core. The infernal set my ankles on its shoulders, drawing almost entirely out of me and then driving back in, spreading my insides to accommodate. Blossom rode me like that until tears watered my eyes. I came like the thunderclap of a storm on its cock, and the demon never slowed a bit.

"This night is only the beginning, Lady Keya. Your life as you know it is over."

This is my path.

"You are mine. Mine to rut. Mine to breed." Blossom reached out, its fingers curling around my throat as it continued to pound my clutching cunt.

My sight grew dim as I gasped, but incredibly, I felt the pressure mounting again, even as I recovered from the first orgasm.

The demon's grip relaxed, and I heaved. "You. Need. Me. Say it."

The creature tugged at my aching nipples. Blossom bent its head. Its long tongue twisted around my heaving breasts.

I sputtered. "I need... you... by the Seven Fathers...!" Again the waves of a climax came crashing over me. As I jerked and shuddered beneath Blossom, its black body stiffened. It grunted, continuing to pump its hips as infernal seed poured into my womb.

I still trembled from aftershocks as Blossom drew its shaft from inside me. The demon turned me over on my hands and knees and spread the plush cheeks of my ass. Its seed rolled down the insides of my thighs.

I was peeled fruit, ripe and exposed to the creature's appetite. I'd been cloistered, hidden from the outside world, but Blossom seemed to know every curve and crevice of me. The infernal slid a slick finger into my ass, ignoring my weak protests.

"Every part of you belongs to me," the demon continued, as its finger invaded my rear channel. I yelped as the weight of its cock slapped upwards against my little pearl. Then it pushed its thick shaft slowly back into my cunt.

"By the ancestors!" I moaned, laying my head on the mattress as Blossom took me again. I was filled completely. The creature's finger sawed in and out of my twitching ass as it rutted me. I balanced on a fine edge, between torment and bliss, until clear thought failed me entirely. Then I found myself driving my hips back against Blossom, urging the creature to stuff me. My entire being was reduced to those needy, clenching holes.

I came at least once more like that, with him plowing my fertile cunt, before Blossom seeded me again. My cunt was filled to overflowing. Dazedly, I looked between my legs to see more of the demon's seed cascading down my thighs, covering the whitish streaks that had already dried.

After that, the night was obscured in a fog of lust. Blossom laid me on my back with my head over the edge, its dripping cock probing my throat. As I gagged I felt its serpentine tongue curling inside the folds of my cunt, and even tasting the depths of my freshly opened ass.

At some point, the demon bore me out onto the terrace, its hands under my thighs, rutting me as it went. Blossom laid me down on the same furs where Jinai and I had often made love.

The infernal loomed over me, ebon flesh blending with the vault of the night sky. As I gazed up at the creature, I dreamed I was being rutted by the heavens themselves. I became a night-blooming orchid. I unfurled my petals and opened up to the stars.

A soft rain awakened me, wet on my cheeks. My belly, and my every orifice ached. My first thought was that I was feverish. I shivered in the wet predawn light. Then I recalled what had happened.

Blossom was nowhere to be seen, although in the dim light, it could have been very near. I staggered inside, through my chambers, looking for Lila.

A scrubbing and a scraping with hibiscus oil did much to wash layers of seed, sweat and filth from my bruising skin. But I was still weary and sore. Lila returned while I was finishing my bath, carrying a tunic and a plain, cowled cloak.

"Sembi left during the night," Lila said. "She told the guard she had your leave to go to the palace."

I nodded, expecting the other servant to desert. I was fortunate if none of the men left during the night.

"Musa asks that you wear her clothing, and that I wear one of your gowns and the mask."

Eyebrows raised, I gestured for Lila to put the other servant's garb on my bed. I pointed to where she could find my clothes and mask. She rifled through my belongings, looking nervously about for Blossom. Then she took what she needed and left.

When I was done, I gingerly stepped out of the tub and dressed. Musa awaited me in the yard, along with Lila and two of my warriors. The sun had not yet risen, and a drizzle continued to fall.

"When I returned last night," the hunter told me, "I spotted men trying to hide in the woods. They were watching who comes and leaves. I suggest you send Lila into the city with an escort, while we go over the wall."

"Whose men were they?" I asked. They must have been San or Oko.

Musa shrugged. "Does it matter? By the time they realize it isn't you, we'll be away."

One of the men watched me closely, his arms hugging his chest. "Is it true, my Lady? Did you bring the demon back?"

I bit my lip. He had been enslaved by Blossom, along with my brother.

"It is true," I said, pulling the chain of my amulet out from under my cowl so that he could see. "But the creature is under my control."

I looked up towards the top of the tower, where my bedchamber was. Blossom was free, somewhere. I wondered if it was still in the villa. But I had no doubt after last night. The demon would return for me.

"If Oko people come for me, do not fight them," I said. "This is my responsibility, and I do not want any of you to shed blood for me. Do not allow them into the villa, but if they force their way in, lay down your arms. Is that understood?"

Lila and the men nodded. She put on my mask, now fully covered with a caftan and headdress. She headed for the front gate with the two guards. I followed Musa around to the rear of the yard, where another guard crouched atop the inner wall with a length of jute. He tossed an end down to us.

I groaned inwardly, as I took hold of the rope. I was ungainly at the best of times. My body throbbed with soreness and fatigue. The brown stone of the wall was already slick with rain.

Shouldering my satchel, I began to climb.

*

We walked north, descending the wooded hill and then crossing land cleared for fields, venturing into a part of Namu I had rarely visited. We were far beyond the walled part of the city. Mwiri was an agricultural district, dotted with farms and open markets, dominated by several minor Houses that controlled the trade in grains, hides and timber.

Once we were out of the woods and past the ancestral pylons that marked the edge of Coral Sands, Musa relaxed. Instead of trailing me to watch if we were being followed, he walked easily alongside me. He drew a mango from his pack and peeled it as we walked, sharing it with me.

I kept my face, legs and arms covered with the cloak, especially when we passed clusters of grass huts where farmers lived.

Although clouds choked the sky, the sun had risen. In the distance, groups of girls sang as they carried jugs to collect water. Herder boys led goats and cattle out to pasture.

"I do not know what to expect from these forest people," Musa said. "I will protect you as I can, but these are not the best circumstances."

"Leave the negotiation to me," I said. "If this is an ambush, I do not expect you to risk yourself for me."

Musa nodded. He carried his bow, but it remained unstrung, as he preferred in wet surroundings.

"How can I thank you," I asked, "for everything you have done for me?"

Musa eyed me as we walked. What did he think of me, behind his mask of servitude? The men must have heard my cries while I was with Blossom. I wondered why all of them hadn't abandoned me.

"In the swamp, you risked yourself to save your men. Men that had just tried to kill you while they were under the demon's spell," he said. "You already had your brother safe. You could have given up then. But instead you went into that tomb."

Rain rolled off his rich brown skin as he pointed to a rise ahead. A circle of crumbling warding stones surrounded a copse of trees.

"I'll never forget that. Those men that guard you will never forget it either. To hells with the rest of them.

"If you ever leave House Oko and have need of me, just post one of your scrolls in this place I'm taking you now. I'll find it, and get someone who can read it for me. I'll gladly follow you, Lady Keya. House or no House."

I stopped in shock, watching him continue on. The foliage steamed around us as rain continued to fall. Every vile thing I'd done could be traced back to that single moment, when I gave myself to Blossom.

And yet, it was the one act I was loved for.

I still hurt, but somehow the day seemed a bit brighter.

Tuliptrees and waterpears populated the little grove, the delicate cream-colored flowers of the latter blanketing the underbrush with a sickly sweet fragrance. Leaves and boughs sheltered us from most of the rain as we pushed towards the center, where I caught glimpses of strange reddish shapes.

As we reached the heart of the grove, I could see them clearly. A ring of sculpted elephants marched in a perpetual circle, trunks linked to tails. The clay was cracked and pockmarked with birds' nests. One elephant's terracotta head lay on the ground, green moss covering its ear.

"This is an old Kut shrine that my grandfather used to visit." Musa led me to a break between two elephants, and stepped through into the ring.

I hesitated when I saw the two women within.

A woman with short braids stood in the fore. She had a melancholy grace to her full, downturned lips and sad eyes. Under her open cloak a pair of mambeles hung from her belt. The barbed throwing axes were favored by some Oko warriors.

Behind and beside her was a darker-complexioned woman with wide-set eyes and plaited hair that hung to her back. Her clothing was almost scandalous. A brown halter covered her breasts, and a short patterned skirt bared her thigh almost to the hip.

By their plain, revealing garb, it was obvious that neither was from Namu. But even more uncommon was their apparent profession. I had seen few women warriors in my lifetime -- Jinai being the glaring exception. But from the steel shod staves the women carried and the toned muscles of their shoulders, it was clear that these were both capable fighters.

"I am Lady Keya Oko," I said, entering into the circle. "Which of you is Zhura?"

"I am Zhura," the darker woman said. "This is Bayati."

"Thank you, for agreeing to meet me. I've been searching for you for three months. I am a taxonomist of infernals." I winced inwardly. Kan was not their first language, and these were not scholars. "I first learned of you when I heard of Ranthaman San's demon encounter at Kichinka. I tried to find you, but House San prevented it."

Zhura glanced at her companion, still appearing confused. "You brought me here to talk about Kichinka?"

"No. There is much more-"

"You don't look like the daughter of a Great House," said Bayati.

"Don't you nobles all wear masks?" Zhura said.

"I wanted to keep your identity secret. I am in disguise to prevent my being followed."

"Lady Keya, I do not care for the nobles of Namu. You have unimaginable wealth, but hoard it all to yourself. I've found the people of the Hazard to be far more honorable and kind.

"You're in some sort of trouble. This man Musa came to my friends asking to meet you as soon as we could. House San already knows how to find me. So you are not protecting me from them. I want no part of your intrigues."

"You came to Namu seeking infernals, didn't you?" I said quickly. "I know more about demons than anyone. And I will share that knowledge with you."

"I've heard of you." Zhura's eyes narrowed. "The upstart scholar of Oko."

In a glance, I took in their body language. Bayati looked impatient, eager to leave. Zhura was at least willing to listen.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Our interests are the same, Zhura. Let me join you in your quest to learn about demons."

"Who are you really hiding from?" Bayati asked. "Isn't Oko one of the most powerful Houses?"

I swallowed, glancing at Musa. I would have to tell them eventually. "I brought a summoning stone back from an expedition one month ago."

Zhura gasped.

"To my knowledge, yours and mine are the only ones in the city. If my House has not already learned that I have it, they will within days. Then they will destroy it, and the demon linked to it.

"I believe that the stones were originally crafted by Thandi witches," I said. "I also know that you were pursued by witches, and that they hold the secrets to controlling demons."

Bayati scoffed, shaking her head.

"I know everything that has ever been written about the Thandi. I have studied the stories of Ayanda the Bezi, and Anathe, called Demon Queen. I know these clans still survive, scattered throughout the Hill Kingdoms."

When I mentioned Anathe, Zhura's eyes flickered. There was something there, some connection.

"She wants us to protect her from a Great House," Bayati said. "Impossible."

"No. I can escape them. But what comes next? I am not a warrior, like my brother, or either of you. I cannot travel and continue my studies alone. So I propose this trade with you." I spoke only to Zhura now. She was the leader, and she was intrigued, if skeptical. "I will be your chronicler."

Bayati shook her head again.

"I am also a priestess adept." I pointed at their charms. "I can give you more powerful wards than those hedge-blessed trinkets you wear."

"When they come after her -- and they will -- they will start with your friends," Bayati said to Zhura.

Zhura's jaw set, hardening the soft lines on her face.

The one thing I can do is help prevent them from hunting you in the first place. Your life as you know it is over.

Blossom had been feared and stalked by humans for a long time. I had thought about his words from last night, and come to one conclusion about what they meant.

"They won't come after me if they believe I am dead."

That had to be it. Zahar, my mother, Barasa... they would never let me walk away. They had the power to follow me anywhere, to hurt anyone who knew my whereabouts.

Zhura gave me an appraising look. She turned to the others. "Leave us for a moment. Please."

I nodded to Musa. In turn, he and Bayati stepped outside of the circle, leaving me alone with Zhura.

The rain had stopped, leaving only the gentle whisper of trickling leaves and unfurling blades of grass. In the silence, I could feel the old spirits of this place. The ghosts of the hunters and the hunted danced together in a great wheel of remembrance.

"This city is much different than where I once lived," Zhura said. "And yet, it is much the same. We are the children of our ancestors, a thread within the weave that defines who we are, and who we can become."

Zhura sat on the grass, setting her staff beside her. She smiled. It was a gentle expression.

This woman was not like Jinai, not at all. She lacked the hard edges. She was not what I expected.

"I was raised as an orphan. I have no family, no children, no birthright to fulfill. I am a healer, not a warrior. The people I gather around me are my legacy. My only loyalty is to them." Her smile faded. "You are a priestess, which means you commune with your ancestors. Yet you pretend you are ready to walk away from them.

"Is there no one you love? No one you won't abandon in your quest for knowledge?" Zhura cocked her head. "Or is there something else that is precious to you?"

When I thought of Jinai and my brother, the questions struck like blows. But those questions were also traps. If I was willing to leave behind all who loved me, I was a monster. If I wasn't, I could never be trusted.

I sat down facing her, even though I could feel the dampness of the ground soaking through the cloak. "The demon Blossom carries my brother's offspring." I had that feeling of being naked, exposed. "I may already be pregnant by it as well. That shall be my legacy."

This time, the other woman's jaw did drop. "This was by choice?"

"For my brother, it was not."

"Do you," Zhura hesitated, "love Blossom?"

"I..." I needed to be desired. I craved what Blossom did to me. I wanted the creature's knowledge and power. "No." I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

"How will you escape?"

"I don't know, exactly. The demon has a plan, I think. It will happen soon."

Zhura nodded as she studied me more closely. "In the Sung villages there were albino children. I prepared balms for their sunburns. The villagers called them boneskins." She gave a rueful smile. "My people can be cruel, too. It can't have been easy for you, even considering the House you were born to."

"Will you help me, Zhura? I must return home. It may already be too late."

The forest woman was silent for a while, regarding the grove, where Bayati and Musa waited.

"You trust this man, Musa." It was not a question.

"Completely."

"I will follow, alone," she said. "I will help, if I can without making my presence known. If you should 'die'," she said with a wry glance, "I will gladly accept you as my chronicler."

*

Musa led the way back. Zhura trailed behind, though she was too distant for me to spot. Despite her companion's misgivings, I had no doubt that she would come. There was that sincerity about her.

Once we reached the ancestral stones, we left the track and climbed into the brush. Wet leaves brushed the hood of my cloak, and bare roots threatened to trip me up. As the walls of the villa came into view, Musa motioned for me to stop.