Effy And The Descending Darkness Ch. 11

"How is she?" Espin asked, surprising Isha. "Oh don't look too surprised sidekick. I actually like blondies." The tiny blonde nymph flicked her long golden hair out of her eyes. She was making different shapes out of a glowing orb of fire with her other hand. Her newest trick.

"You do have a heart after all," Isha said. She could feel the heat of the tiny ball across the room. "She's as good as she can be." They were talking about Amy, who had spent most of the day curled up on their sofa. She blamed herself for Dana's death, they all did, but Amy was the one who introduced her to the Hunter and Searcher team.

Amy was grieving and Effy was angry. So angry that Isha had been trying to calm her down all morning, to focus on the task at hand, which was finding The Master. The one responsible for all their troubles lately, and the one who was trying to destroy all life on earth.

"Another reason to find the asshole responsible," Espin said. She formed a dragon out of the flaming orb, flames billowed from its mouth.

"You're getting good at that," Isha said, genuinely impressed.

"Are we best buddies now are we?" Espin said, sarcasm heavily tainting her tone. "I'm not used to this kind of praise."

"I was just making a comment," Isha said. "Doesn't hurt to be civil right now. And are friends such a bad thing?"

"As soon as this fight is over I'm off," Espin said. "It's not worth trying to pretend you want me around."

"I don't think you really want that," Isha said. "I've started to think Effy and Deilla are right. That this 'Queen bitch' thing is all an act. You just don't want to lose anyone again. Frightened of getting close."

Espin didn't dare speak. She felt a mixture of anger and sadness envelope her. Isha's words hitting the spot. She took a deep breath.

They stared at each other for a bit. Neither wanting to add more.

"I'm going to check on the others," Isha said, breaking the silence. She watched a little longer as Espin started changing the shapes in her hand. Forming two women. "I'll leave you to pretend to be heartless."

"You're a good sidekick, sidekick. Very dutiful." Espin said. Using the nickname she had given Isha again. She knew it riled her, but she couldn't help it. One of the flame women started to bend over as an item formed in the other hand.

Isha ignored the jibe. There were more important things, and Amy or Effy didn't need them arguing today.

"Go do what you're good at," Espin said. The bent over women started getting whipped by the other. Isha knew full well Espin was trying to push her further.

"I really am impressed by how strong you're becoming," Isha said. She wanted to finish at least one talk with Espin on a good note. For Effy at least.

"Thank you." Espin said. They smiled at each other. "Look at us. We're bonding." Espin extinguished the flames and gave Isha her cutest smile. Isha found her bright blue eyes hard to hold. Her beauty was astounding. She felt heat rise in her body. "Soon I'll be gyrating on that excitable clit of yours." Espin added.

Isha went bright red, Espin finally hitting the mark, she mumbled something inaudible and walked out just as the other nymph in the household, Deilla, flew in. Espin's laugh echoed off the kitchen walls.

"Morning Espin," Deila said. "Keep your noise down please." Deilla didn't want Amy hearing her laughing.

"Morning Muscles," Espin replied. "Any more wet dreams about me?" She couldn't help but enjoy the shocked look on the blue haired nymphs face.

Della flushed pink. So Espin had heard her the other night. "I don't know what you mean," she mumbled. Espin laughed.

"Everything's a joke to you isn't it?" Deila said.

Espin made a chastised face. "Sorry ma'am," she said. "It's either that or I let my anger towards Serenity's killers devour me. Which would you prefer?"

Deilla sighed. "Sorry," she said. "I just worry about you. You hide your true feelings with humour until you let them out in a large burst. You burnt your way straight through someone yesterday. You need to control that anger."

Espin laughed. "I'm not a fucking jedi," she said. They had spent their spare time watching classic human films. "And I enjoyed burning my way through that asshole. I can be as angry as I like, and I like being angry. Anyway, this is my second lecture today and it's not even 9 o'clock, so if you don't mind?"

"Okay," Deilla said. "I won't go on." She sat near Espin. Not too close to feel uncomfortable, but close enough not to seem rude. They sat in silence for a bit till Espin broke it.

"I know you all keep having these conversations with me to make me feel wanted," Espin said. The cynic and trust issues in her didn't let her believe they really cared. "You're all worried I'm not going to be on the right side when the time comes."

"That's not true," Deilla said. "Believe or not Espin there's a side to you that people like, you just need to let it out more. Plus you're a Sun Nymph, people will adore you just for that." Deilla didn't add that the fact Espin was so beautiful was also a big factor in how others would love her. If she just let them.

"Great," Espin said sarcastically. They sat in silence for a bit again. This time it was broken by a smashing sound in the kitchen.

"FUCK!" They heard Effy scream.

"Effy's up," Espin said. "Thanks for the pep talk Muscles. Let's go see what's making Mistress a potty mouth this morning."

They flew to the kitchen to find Isha using her sorcery to stitch a broken mug back together. Effy stood looking angrily at her own bleeding hand.

"Sorry," she mumbled to Isha.

"Don't apologise," Isha said. She had never seen her girlfriend so angry before. Isha stood and put down the mug. She crossed to Effy and took her hand, immediately sending magic pulsing into it. Effy sighed as the magic soothed and started to heal the sore hand.

"I never should have let us put our guard down," Effy said quietly.

"Don't blame yourself," Isha said. "We all decided to go there. And Dana knew the risk she was taking."

"I said I'd protect her," Effy replied.

Isha slid her hands around Effy's bare waist. The crop top and jeans outfit she was wearing showed off her thin waist and flat stomach. She pulled the Hunter in for a hug.

"They're scared of us," Deilla said, hovering, from the doorway. Espin was beside her. Effy and Isha turned to look at her, Isha pulled away from the hug but kept an arm around Effy's waist.

"Scared?" Effy questioned.

"The Masters worried, definitely," Deilla said. "I know tactics, trust me. He sees us. Hunter, Searcher, and a Sun nymph. He's scared of us and he's trying to derail our group. Kill us, make us angry, or grieve. All of these things help his cause and not ours. We just need to keep it together."

"He knows all about us," Espin added. "This mole is telling him how good we are together. I'd bet my knickers on it."

"You don't wear knickers," Isha said. "We get an eyeful every time you move."

"You love it," Espin said. Giving Isha a wink. Isha kept quiet thinking of what she said about the mole. And not admitting, that yes, she had been known to enjoy the occasional look.

The group stood there thinking.

"Don't forget a sexy, wise, kick ass, blue haired nymph," Espin said, smiling at Deilla.

"Pardon," Deilla said.

"You left yourself out of our awesome group," Espin said.

"Sexy?" Deilla mumbled. Repeating the only word she really wanted to hear.

A loud ringing sound filled the room before Espin could answer. Effy flicked her hand and an ipad whizzed off the table into it.

"It's Gavin," she said. She answered and put it on speaker. His face filled the screen. He preferred modern technology rather than using the magical stones The Guild liked them to use.

"I have a lead," Gavin said, a smug grin pulled at his lips. "I know where he is."

"How?" Effy almost shouted. Isha jumped and Espin was soon in the air beside them.

"I've picked up a strange mystical signature," Gavin replied. "Based on current data I'm 97.34‰ sure it's him."

At any other time Effy would have laughed at his exact percentage figures, but she was too excited at the opportunity to get The Master back.

"If you weren't on a screen I'd sit on that face of yours," Espin said. "It's about time we kicked some ass."

"We have to be quick," Gavin said, ignoring Espin's comment. "If he breaks through the temporal barrier we'll lose him, and I'll have no way of finding him again.".

"We better get a move on then," Effy said.

Amy appeared in the doorway, her eyes blotchy from the crying, but a hard angry look in them.

"I'm coming," Amy said. She waved her hands over her body and a black leather catsuit appeared. The suit clung to every curve of her perfect body.

"I think I've just cum," Espin said, looking down at Amy's figure. She lifted her green skirt, exposing her shaved tight pussy. She ran a finger between her pussy lips and then licked her finger. The others stared in disbelief. "Oh no I just peed myself a little with excitement. Come on. Let's go." Espin flew out of the room.

The others stood in stunned silence before following her. Isha and Deilla shaking their heads in disgust, and shock. Plus trying to make a mental picture of Espin with her finger inside her.

..........

"Ah shit," Effy said. She stopped and Isha bumped into her. The others stopped close behind her. They had come to a fork in a cave system. The set of caves Gavin had sent them, in their search for The Master.

Effy moved the device in her hand, the signal strength stayed the same. They were all in their work gear. Effy in her Red leather Hunters gear, Isha in her dark blue. The Nymphs always dressed the same.

"What's up?" Amy asked. She had been biting at the bit since they had left. Effy had never seen her so desperate in her life. Her appetite for revenge nearly as strong as Espin's. She looked fierce in her black leather.

"Let's split up," Espin said. "We can't waste time. Muscles and I can go one way, you three, the other."

"Are sure you two will be...." Effy said.

"Stop right there Mistress," Espin said. "I'm a mother fucking Sun Nymph, and I've got this blue haired bag of muscles who can scoop up the mess I make." She slapped Deilla on the back and Deilla sighed.

"Okay," Effy said, reluctantly. "If you get to a dead end, come right back and follow this one. We'll do the same with your tunnel. Take care."

"Fuck you later," Espin said and flew off down the tunnel.

"Sorry," Deilla said, going red and then flying off after her.

Effy waited for Amy's laugh or comment, but the blonde just started hurrying down their tunnel. Effy took Isha's hand, squeezing it, and they followed her.

The three young women found their first sign that they were in the right tunnel only ten minutes later, and not in the way they would have liked.

"Did you feel that," Effy asked. They had passed through some kind of barrier and Effy knew they weren't quite on their world anymore.

They had seen light at the end of their tunnel a few minutes earlier and had crept forward so they didn't make their presence known. They carried on, knowing they had to stop The Master.

Effy noticed their second problem first. She was using a shield incantation at the front. She didn't want any nasty surprises, and had conjured the invisible wall just in case this was a trap. She sensed the shield disappear from existence and tried to warn the others, but it was too late.

They all passed the trap before Effy could do anything about it. Isha was the last and as she passed a certain point a blue wall of light shimmered and blocked the path behind them. Isha turned and immediately tried to destroy the spell blocking their route back, but no magic stirred within her.

"Effy....." Isha said, turning.

"I know," Effy interrupted. "I can feel it." This wasn't quite the truth. It was the not feeling that told Effy there was a problem. Her magic had gone. Nothing was there.

"We have to continue," Amy said. They all knew this was true, but none of them liked the fact they had no magic. At all.

They moved forward slowly. This time they had no choice. Effy moved in front with Isha behind her, and Amy at the rear. Effy wished she had put her foot down with Amy, she wasn't trained like them. She had strong magic, Effy's own help at college had made her stronger than the average sorcerer, but she couldn't live with losing anyone else.

"This is a trap. We've been betrayed," Isha said. "They knew we were coming."

Effy grunted in reply. They had been betrayed again, but by who.

They exited the tunnel into a large cave, torches were attached to the walls around the cavernous space. It was almost circular in shape with a few tunnels leading off on the far side. Between two of these tunnels stood a large demon. Effy heard Isha and Amy gasp.

The three young women looked him over. He looked massive compared to them.

At seven foot he was massive compared to the three young women. His body a solid mass of muscle. Effy's eyes traced over the red markings that covered his green reptilian scales.

"Fucking fuck fuck," Amy said. No other words managed to come out. She couldn't take her eyes off his face. The part human, part crocodile face was hideous. Sharp teeth gleamed as The Master smiled. The two ram horns on his head looked very out of place.

"At last I get to meet the great Hunter and her friend," he said. "So young, but already getting quite the names for themselves."

"Guess you know what will happen then if you don't give yourself over," Effy said. Sounding more confident than she felt. Without her powers this could be interesting.

"So young and overconfident," The Master growled. "I'm sure I can sort that out easily enough. How is that magic of yours anyway?"

Effy cursed their stupidity. They should have expected a trap at some point. Without their magic it wasn't looking good. Effy had decided her only plan of action was to bide their time until Espin and Deila arrived. Nymph magic was known to be different to their own, so Effy wasn't sure if the same spell that was stopping theirs would be the same for the two magical creatures. Isha would know but Effy couldn't exactly ask her.

"Let us help The Guild see that there's room for all of us in this world," Effy said.

The Master laughed hard. His voice echoed loudly round the cave.

"I don't care about your kind," he said. "I don't care about being accepted. This world is ours." The Master flicked his hand.

Suddenly the room went pitch black. Effy took a fighting stance, raising her hands and bending her knees slightly. She listened hard.

"Effy?" Isha said nervously beside her. She couldn't hide how scared she was. No magic and now a thick pitch black surrounded them.

Effy spun as Amy screamed behind them. "AMY!" she shouted. It echoed off the stone walls. She fumbled forward, her hands raised. Her foot caught a rock and she stumbled, counter acting quickly and just saving herself from falling.

"Amy?" she said, again. The lights reignited and Effy blinked as she tried to get her bearings. Amy was gone, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when she saw Isha was still beside her. She turned back to The Master, her eyes filled with anger.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Effy shouted, she grabbed the handles of her knife from the belt around her dark red leather shorts, flicking them out to release the magical blades. Nothing came out. "Fuck." She flicked them again.

Isha tried her staff beside her. Again nothing happened. It just stayed a short stick. "They're linked to our magic," she said. "They're useless."

The Master was laughing hard at they're disappointment.

"Oh I'm glad you humans are so easily manipulated," The Master said, between laughs. "So easily trusting in those around them."

"Give her back," Effy said. A range of emotions in her voice.

The Master laughed. "Maybe it's time you met your traitor," he said. "I'll be free soon anyway, and then I'm afraid I'll have to kill you. Well.....most of you anyway."

Effy's face dropped when the blonde hair of Amy appeared round the door, a sick feeling rose in her stomach. Amy's face was one of pure hatred. She heard Isha groan beside her.

It was then Effy noticed the knife against her throat. A hand gripping her arm. Then she saw Gavin pushing her through the entrance way. Amy's hands were bound magically behind her back, Gavin forcing her forward.

"GAVIN!" Isha gasped. "Why?"

Gavin laughed. "Oh the shock," he said. He pushed Amy further forward. Buying time for dramatic effect. "How can sweet, quiet Gavin be the traitor?" His face turned to one of pure hatred. He pressed the knife against Amy's throat and she gasped.

"Gavin," Effy whispered quietly. She knew it had to be someone who was working closely with them, but she never expected the nerdy mage.

"Nobody thinks about the problems I might have in my life," Gavin hissed. "Nobody even bothers asking me. It's taken me years to convince The Guild to use computers. Those old bastards are so stuck in the past that they can't see the benefits of modern technology and Sorcery together. And when I finally get them to see, they can't even be fucked to pay me what I deserve."

"No please," Isha groaned. "Not about money."

"No, not just money. That'll be a bonus of course, but I'll be rich and also get what I really want," Gavin continued. He sniffed Amy's hair and she shuddered in his arms. "All that flirting with me. Teasing me. I wonder how you'll feel by my side. You're my true promise, my sweet."

"Over my dead body shit bag," Amy spat. "I'll bite that cock off before it comes near me."

Gavin laughed. "Oh you'll be mine," he said. "You might not love me, but it's not really love that I'm after." Amy made a gagging sound.

"How did you know about Espin?" Effy asked.

"I've been transferring all The Guilds' dated paperwork to digital," Gavin said. "I have full access to every bit of information The Guild has to offer. How fucking stupid of them to put so much trust into someone they pay so badly. They'll realise they're mistaken soon enough."

"It's a good job I recognised his talents," The Master said. Isha noticed how Gavin smiled like a adoring child.

"We never treated you badly," Isha said.

"That's true," Gavin said. "But you didn't treat me as a friend either. Where was my invite on nights out."

Effy felt her anger rise. "Are you telling me you're going to help end the world as we know it because you've been treated slightly unfairly?" she asked. They were all interrupted by a voice behind them.

"Wow look at you," Espin said, her eyes firmly fixed on The Master. They all turned her way. "Did your mother got fucked by a lizard and a goat. That's some fucked up threesome." Espin had seen plenty of demons before, and this one wasn't much different to the majority.

"Ah here she is," The Master said. He smiled, but it made him look more terrifying than settling. "I've waited a long time to meet you."

"Likewise fuckface," Espin said. "Been waiting to drill a fiery hole in your forehead." Espin lifted her hand and fire started licking at her fingertips.

"Espin wait," Effy said. "They have Amy."

Espin looked around properly, her eyes had only been fixated on the one who had a hand in Serenity's death. She saw Gavin holding Amy, and the knife around her throat.

"Wow. You're more of a cunt than I thought you were," Espin said. She kept the fire burning steadily on her hand, her eyes flicking from The Master to Amy. She liked the blonde girl, and as much as she wanted revenge she didn't want someone else to die in the process.

"Please don't," Isha said to Espin. Espin let the fire die on her fingers. She glared at The Master, daring not to speak.

"We'll speak again my dear Espin," The Master said. "But for now I only need one thing." He turned his attention to Effy. He reached into his animal skin shorts and pulled out a small vial. "I need your blood Hunter."