The Creators Ch. 06

"Mistress doesn't love who I am," Astrid whimpered, tears filming her eyes. "I need to be someone else."

"Do you love Mistress, or Willowbud?" I asked pointedly. "Because they are not the same."

Astrid worked her mouth, her lip trembling, a single tear staining her flushed cheek. She wiped it away, and smiled up at me. "Willowbud," Astrid whispered, the name seemingly reverent on her tongue, "I love Willowbud."

"And she loves you," I said consolingly, rubbing my hand along her thigh, keeping my seduction from my touch. "She's still in there, somewhere, waiting to come out. Don't lose hope, Astrid. If you lose hope, then you'll lose her; you're the only one who can save her."

Astrid nodded, her expression brightening, her posture straightening. She wiped the remnants of grief from her face, and went back to sharpening her blade, grinding stone to metal with renewed vigor.

"I hope you're date's going just great, Brandon," I thought to the Life Giver. "Because of you, I have to play therapist before a fucking gladiatorial match."

Brandon didn't respond; he'd pulled out his earring.

WILLOWBUD

I guessed Brandon was handsome. He was blond-haired, pale-skinned, freckled, had good bone structure, muscle in the right places, oddly-familiar blue eyes, but there wasn't anything specific that I could point to and say, "that's why I'm dating him." I was just... drawn to him, or rather, Corruption was. It was an intriguing mystery, but I wasn't one to question my desires. Corruption's meld meant that I did as I pleased without worrying about consequences, so I had stopped questioning them after my moment of crisis. I wanted Brandon, so I'd taken him. It was obvious that he wanted me, and why wouldn't he? I'd made myself all nice and pretty for him, and my white-sheened lipstick screamed 'I suck dick.'

"There they are," I smiled as Astrid and Tera climbed from the dugout to the roar of the crowd. Astrid marched across the field like a woman on a mission, Tera barely keeping up behind her. Across the arena, seven heavily-armed and armored orcs stood in an inverted crescent, undoubtedly trying to mitigate Astrid's ability to hit them one at a time. Behind the crescent, stood a massive twelve-foot troll. The bigger they are...

"Have you ever killed a man?" I asked Brandon, my head resting on his shoulder, my hand resting on his thigh.

"That's an interesting conversation-starter," Brandon smirked down at me.

"I think it is," I smiled back.

"No," Brandon said, pulling me closer into the crook of his arm, "but I guess that makes one of us."

"Does it bother you that I'm a murderer?" I asked him, not sure why I liked the feeling of his protective arm around me; I never needed, nor wanted a protector before.

"If it did, then I wouldn't have come here," Brandon replied, his blue eyes staring affectionately down at me. There was an innocence behind those eyes, but not a vulnerability. He wasn't a part of the violent ruthless world I was, but he wasn't weak. What is it about him?

"Who are you, really?" I asked, unable to keep myself from staring up at him with puppy-eyes. It would have been embarrassing, if I could feel embarrassment.

"What do you mean?" he asked, smiling a clueless smile. It was adorable.

"I can usually read people like a book," I said. "I can take one look at them, and see everything I need to know; what they want, where they're from, where they're going, but you're a mystery to me."

"You're quite perceptive," Brandon chuckled, his thumb caressing me gently on the shoulder, "what can you tell me about him?" Brandon inclined his head to a man sitting in the luxury box next to us. I glanced at him, and Corruption's eyes saw all they needed to see.

"He's a rich man with a bad marriage," I said, snuggling my head onto Brandon's chest. "His kids use him for money, his wife sleeps around, and that woman on his arm is an escort. His desires border on the mundane; power, women, wealth. He's a bore."

"What about her?" Brandon asked, pointing to the woman in the box on our other side.

"Hmm," I said, eyes running over the elderly, statuesque high-elf, "she's a self-made woman with ruthless ambition."

"Like you?" Brandon asked.

"No," I smiled up at him, "she's a mogul dead-set on carving a legacy for herself, with her name plastered on buildings across Drastin. I don't give a shit about my legacy; it's my reputation I care about."

The starting horn sounded, and Astrid charged across the arena with Tera on her back. She bolted right into the middle of the inverted crescent, took off the middle-orc's head, and launched Tera at the troll. The naked succubus flipped through the air, dove head-first between the troll's clasping hands, and drove both of her daggers into the beast's eyes. The blinded behemoth reeled back, swiping desperately at his face, but the nimble succubus was too quick. She caught one of the troll's bullhorns, swung precariously from a mighty swipe, caught the other horn, and then reeled back like an acrobat on a trapeze, swung feet-first, and drove her heels into the butts of her daggers, sending the blades deep into the monster's skull. The troll lolled forward, droning a deep, guttural tone, and then collapsed onto its back in an earth-shaking impact.

Astrid moved with sweeping, continuous motions, each strike flowing into the next, a relentless dance of death. The orcs surrounded her, attacked her on all sides, and she parried them with ease, dodged as though the fight were choreographed, and even toyed with a few of them. She ducked beneath a swing, sliced off a leg, rolled backward, impaled a chin, landed in a crouch, and then shot forward, her wings unfurling, her body corkscrewing through the air in a vortex of feathers and steel. She sheared through two orcs, sliced another in half, caught an attack behind her back without looking, kicked the orc in front of her, spun around, disemboweled the beast who had attempted the backstab, and then decapitated the final opponent with a spinning slice. The screams of the de-legged orc were barely audible over the roar of the crowd, and the ending horn sounded fifty seconds after the starting horn had blared.

Astrid raised her sword aloft, prompting sixty-thousand fists to raise with her, punctuated by the chants for 'Angel.' Beneath her, the surviving orc she'd dismembered clawed at the sand, squirming to get away, and the chants for 'kill' began to rumble. Astrid didn't hesitate. She moved above the wounded creature and dispatched it without mercy or passion, watching me coldly as she did it. The execution was accompanied by a roar of approval, but I felt she could've done it with a bit more flare. It wasn't just death that the crowd loved, but the way it was delivered. Showmanship was as important as lethality, but Astrid didn't enjoy murder enough to make a spectacle of it; not yet. She did, however, know exactly how to work a crowd in other ways. When Tera came to join her victorious partner, Astrid didn't raise their hands in triumphant unity as she did before. No, Astrid grabbed the succubus by the waist, and embraced her into a passionate kiss; dipping Tera almost to the ground and pulling her bronze leg into a lecherous bend. The crowd screamed their delight, and I grinned; that would make the papers tomorrow. My brothel would be spilling onto the streets with new patrons and eager fans trying to catch a glimpse of the depravity whilst trying to get an autograph. Well done, Astrid.

"Did you enjoy the show?" I asked Brandon, an odd sense of... worry? Was I worried that he didn't like it? Why did I give a shit?

"It was a bit gruesome," Brandon grimaced, and then looked down with a quirked smile, "but it certainly was entertaining."

"Good," I grinned, feeling a pathetic wave of relief and joy. He pulled me closer into his arms, and I found myself nestling deeper to his body, not looking for lust, but for comfort; physically and emotionally. Something was wrong with Corruption; I wasn't supposed to feel like this. I wasn't supposed to want this. I wasn't supposed to care.

"What are you?" I whispered into his chest, enjoying the thumping of his heart against my cheek.

"What was that?" Brandon asked, his calloused hand running softly through my white hair.

"Tell me truthfully, Brandon," I said, looking up into his eyes, his disconcertingly-familiar eyes, "did you come on this date with me because you were afraid of what I'd do if you didn't?"

"That was half the reason," Brandon smiled, his thumb brushing white bangs from my face, and pulling the strands behind my horn.

"And what's the other reason?" I asked, feeling anxiety tugging at my chest; anxiety I shouldn't have been feeling.

"I like you," Brandon said, his hand trailing over my cheek, "you excite me."

"You excite me too," I giggled girlishly (holy shit, I'm fawning over him), "but I don't know why; you don't seem very interesting."

"I'm not sure how to take that," Brandon grinned his stupid, adorable, grin. I felt my heart flutter with exhilaration and my stomach grow light with primitive happiness. This is getting out of hand, I thought. I should just kill him before this goes further.

"Do you want to come back to my place?" I asked instead, eyes brimming up at him, full of promise. "You can meet Death Kiss and Angel. Would you like that?"

"I don't know..." Brandon frowned, "...celebrities are never as cool as they seem in the papers."

"By 'meet' I meant 'fuck,'" I whispered into his mouth, my hand running up his thigh, my grip widening as it moved over what I wanted, "do you want to fuck Death Kiss and Angel?"

"I want you," Brandon grinned, pulling me atop him by the ass, my ascension accompanied by a chorus of pathetic giggles, "but I suppose we can make it a foursome."

TERA

"Gloria," I said mentally as I sat next to Astrid in the carriage, trying to keep her calm as she watched Brandon and Willowbud sloppily making out across from us, "we've got a problem."

"Let me guess," Gloria sighed, "it involves Brandon thinking with the head between his legs."

"You are as wise as you are beautiful," I replied grimly. "I really don't like the look of this."

"Why isn't Brandon responding?" Gloria growled on the other end.

"He took the gemstone out of his ear."

"He what?!"

"He told me, and I quote, 'Angela used to talk over my shoulder during dates, and it always ended with a drink getting thrown in my face. I don't need any more crazy bitches giving me romantic advice.'"

"He does know that he isn't trying to be in a relationship with Willowbud, right?!" Gloria said, clearly exasperated.

"I'm not so sure," I frowned, watching the two gods staring longingly into each other's eyes, "I don't think he is either."

"Oh, shit," Gloria groaned. "What are you doing now?"

"Well," I said, squeezing Astrid's hand tighter as I felt her seething next to me, "we're about to have an orgy."

"Great," Gloria sighed, "maybe you can fuck some sense into him."

"I don't know," I replied grimly, "I think Willowbud and Corruption might be fucking all the sense out of him."

Gloria said her reluctant goodbyes, and then the line went dead. I looked up at Astrid, frowning at her worsening rage. Her honor was dwindling by the day, and with it, her rationality. There were times when I liked her unpredictability, but gambling with Brandon's life wasn't one of them. The two of them would have to find common ground if the Life Giver and the Earth Former were going to continue this disastrous courtship.

ASTRID

"Anything that boy tries to stick in me, I am snapping off!" I growled as I washed off grime, dirt and blood in the shower with Tera.

"I'm sure Willowbud will appreciate that," Tera sighed, drying her bronze body off. "You know she can hear you, right?"

"I hope she's listening," I said darkly as I turned the shower off, ringing out my braids onto the tiled floor, "then maybe she'll think twice about letting that idiot touch me."

"You let half the city fuck you publicly," Tera said, tossing her wavy onyx hair in the mirror and checking-over her beautiful form, "but one man in private is too much for you?"

"It's not the same!" I cried, stomping over to the mirror and vainly making sure everything was in order. "When Mistress is punishing me, she's doing it for me, not for the men taking me. Here, she's giving me away like a gift!"

"If you try to hurt him," Tera said calmly, taking out earrings I hadn't seen her wearing before. "I'll have to enslave you, and then you'll be doing everything Brandon wants anyway."

"You wouldn't dare!" I hissed.

"I would," Tera smiled, turning around and leaning back on the sink, displaying her body to me, "and you know it."

I seethed for a second longer, and then sighed, and smiled ruefully back.

"The best you can do," Tera said, taking my hand, and guiding me out of the bathroom, "is fuck Brandon with a scowl on your face. You know," Tera smirked back at me, "that expression you always have."

WILLOWBUD

I pulled from Brandon, breath blowing heavily into each other's mouths, hearts beating passionately against each other's chests. I leaned back, and let my dress fall from my body, exposing my slender caramel nakedness to him. I didn't know why, but I felt bashful before him. It was strange, and uncomfortable, and absolutely exhilarating. I almost covered my breasts with my forearm, but he stopped me, peering curiously into my black eyes.

"You are so different than I expected," Brandon smiled, running his wonderful hands over my naked form.

"You make me feel different," I gulped, hating and loving how I was feeling. "This isn't usually how I am."

"No," Brandon whispered, pulling the folded drape of my dress from my pelvis, exposing my clean-shaven crotch, "when I first saw you, you were quite different."

"Does it bother you?" I asked, fingers twisting nervously around the fabric of my dress, the urge to pull it back up almost overwhelming me.

"I wasn't talking about your dick, Night Eyes," Brandon laughed. "I was talking about you."

"Oh," I laughed awkwardly with him, "so... my, uh..." Goddamn it, what is wrong with me?!, "my... um..."

"No," Brandon chuckled, sliding his hand down the subtle lines of my abdomen, "your cock doesn't bother me. Actually, since the ratio for our little lovefest is kind of skewed, I was wondering if you'd whip it out."

"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling a lump in my throat. What the fuck is going on, Corruption?!

"Yes, Night Eyes," Brandon grinned his wonderful, stupid grin, "I'm sure."

"Don't call me that," I whispered, pushing my dress past my ankles.

"What?" Brandon asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"Night Eyes; that's not my name," I said, feeling myself changing, "my name is Willowbud."

I watched Brandon as my masculinity grew from my femininity, engorging with readiness, throbbing vulgarly. He stared at it with fascination, and then smiled a crooked smile at me, and clasped his hand around it. The gasp that came from me was weak and girlish, the way my body bent was seeped in female languidness, but the tool of my lust was a man's weapon, and my new lover didn't seem to care what kind of heat I was packing.

"This is, without a doubt," Brandon chuckled to himself as he stroked me, "the gayest thing I've ever done."

"What?" I laughed through a breathy moan. "You never experimented in summer camp?"

"I never went to summer camp," Brandon smiled, his other hand pulling me back onto his body, squishing my throbbing heat between the warmth of our abdomens, "but I did let a woman stick her fingers up my ass once."

"You want to try something bigger?" I smiled into his eyes as our lips brushed.

"I don't think we're at that stage in our relationship," Brandon whispered, his hand soft, but firm as it stroked me to new levels of arousal. "Willowbud," he smiled, "that's a pretty name; does it come with a last one?"

"I don't think we're at that stage in our relationship," I chuckled, eyes half-lidded with lust, my voice seeped in seduction. "Maybe you can tell me what you know about Sentients, Brandon; then I'll tell you my last name."

"Sentients?" Brandon smirked, eyes teasing me. "I don't believe in fairy tales."

"You know a lot more than you're saying," I whispered, my fingers touching his face gently. "I'm beginning to suspect you might be a very dangerous person."

"That's high praise coming from you," Brandon whispered back, rolling me over to the side as Astrid and Tera strutted into the room, "but I'm afraid you've got the wrong idea about me."

"I'm not fucking stupid, Brandon!" I hissed, my heart thrumming with lust and longing, brimming with Corruption's desire for me to be with this man. "I know you know something."

"I know all kinds of things," Brandon smiled, and then took my face in his hand, and kissed me. God, it was good. I felt myself bending to him, molding to him, tilting my head back and sinking into the depths of his lust. His tongue placated my worries, his lips sucked away my doubt, and his hand readied me for the women that approached us, his breath promising nothing but pleasure.

BRANDON

I pulled from the sweet taste of Willowbud's lips, and smirked at Tera as she approached me; her gait sultry and slow, her tail trailing in an arc behind her, her violet eyes smirking back, an unspoken joke lingering between us.

"So," Tera smiled, her voice soft and seductive, her fingers wrapping around me as she crouched straight-backed between my legs, "what can Death Kiss do for you, young man?"

"Is there anything Death Kiss won't do for me?" I asked teasingly, caressing her from cheek to chin.

"No," Tera whispered, her snake-like tongue flicking from her purple lips, her violet eyes continuing the conversation (how freaky do you want this to get?).

"Both of them will do anything I ask," Willowbud said beside me as Astrid crouched between her mistress's legs, giving me a look dripping with contempt, "how do you want them?"

"I don't think Angel likes me very much," I said, smirking into Astrid's wrathful eyes. Tera gave me a small flick on the balls, not enough to hurt, but enough to get my attention. She leveled me with a purposeful stare, and shook her head subtly. 'Don't fuck with her, Brandon,' was the unspoken message. I nodded with equal subtlety, but I'd already said all Willowbud needed to hear.

"No, she doesn't," Willowbud chuckled, tousling Astrid's braids playfully, "she's being so rude to my guest. Astrid, switch places with Tera."

Tera gave me an annoyed look, pressed something into my hand, and then crawled past Astrid as the winged beauty crawled to me. Astrid was laced with soft muscle, stacked with the biggest tits I'd ever seen, blessed with a backside of supple perfection, and painted with a face of stoic exquisiteness. She grabbed my cock like she was trying to yank it from my pelvis, and sneered from behind my shaft.

"What can Angel do for you, Brandon?" Astrid spat.

"Not rip my cock off!" I squeaked. This was the second time in two days a strong woman had threatened to dismember me, and it was starting to get old.

"Astrid," Willowbud chuckled next to me as Tera wrapped her tongue three times around the nymph's shaft, "play nice."

"Yes, Mistress," Astrid said, looking affectionately at Willowbud, and then narrowing her eyes at me. "Brandon and I will get along just fine; won't we, Brandon?"