The Creators Ch. 11

"We can stay here all night, and I'll show you," Sara's grin broadened. "Or you can pull out that sword, and we can make it a gangbang right now."

"I'd rather do each of you one at a time, right here in this doorway," I replied, testing the weapon's weight.

"You don't have the stamina for that," Sara's bangs dropped below her deepening brow, and she put her hand on her hilt. "Or the balls."

"I'm not the one who's pulling out like its prom night," I dragged the sword into view, and got into a stance. "Why is Lucilla bailing?"

"The princess isn't satisfied with your progress; she's decided to go a different route. Now, put the sword down, and I won't have to poke holes in you."

"Julia wouldn't be too happy if you did that."

"Her Holiness's safety is my only concern. Besides, Brandon can fix any mess I make."

"He won't fix you; I'll make sure of that," I hissed, and all ten elves drew their swords. They didn't advance, but stayed in defensive stances outside of the door. I doubted Lucilla wanted me hurt, but it was clear she didn't want me to leave. I understood; I'd wanted to kill Willowbud for a month, but why was Lucilla bailing at the last second when she herself told us that Willowbud was getting better? She's been playing both angles until she could no longer, then she made a choice. Can you blame her for not taking the risk? No, but it hurts that she has such little faith in me after I'd proven myself yesterday. I looked to the sky, sighed, and dropped my sword.

"Let me have a chance, Sara. Please."

"Sorry, Angela," Sara said, stepping forward as I stepped backward into the house, "but I don't take any chances." If Sara had chanced a look upward, she would've seen Bianca plummeting toward her like a golden missile, but Sara didn't see Bianca until the valkyrie crashed into the middle of Sara's squad, the wind of her wings sending all ten of them sprawling. Bianca drew her sword as I picked up mine, and when the elves got to their feet, I had my blade against Sara's throat.

"Stop!" I barked before Bianca turned the lot of them into meat. I pressed myself against Sara, feeling the sashes and belts she had beneath her cloak. And I thought Tera had a ridiculous number of knives. This woman was a walking cutlery set. "Keep your hands in front of you Sara, or I'll show you your voice-box!" I hissed.

"Did you practice that line in the mirror?" Sara hissed back.

"I practice all my lines in the mirror, that's why they're so fucking good!" I growled.

"Your Eminence, what is going on?" Bianca asked, eyeing the elves surrounding her.

"Me and Sara just had a little disagreement, but we've worked it out, haven't we Sara?"

"No," Sara replied flatly.

"Yes, we have," I whispered against her pointed ear. "I'm going to try my way, and if it doesn't work, then we're going to try Lucilla's way."

"I don't fucking believe you!" Sara hissed back.

"We could always try Death Kiss's way," I licked Sara's ear. "Look at Bianca. Do you honestly think ten of you have a chance against her? If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't bother lying to you first. All I want is my brother to be safe. If I can't help Willowbud, then she can't be helped, you get me?"

Sara slowly nodded.

"Now, I'm going to let you go, and you're going to babysit Justina for me and make sure she doesn't blow this whole thing up. Can you do that?"

Again, Sara nodded.

"Be nice to her Sara; she might be losing a cousin tonight." And I pulled my sword away from Sara's throat. She stepped a safe distance from me, then nodded to her troops. They sheathed their swords, and followed their captain into Tera's safehouse.

"'A little disagreement?'" Bianca looked down at me. "I would hate to see how you deal with normal disagreements, Your Eminence."

"Why are you here?" I asked Bianca.

"His Holiness requested your presence," Bianca said offering me her hand. "He said you were supposed to meet with him during the match, but since you've changed your plans, he'd like to meet with you now."

"Ah, shit," I hissed. That's right; as Diamond, I was supposed to be looking for Angela. Brandon had been waiting for two days, and I hadn't even given him a plausible lie. Mostly because I was avoiding him. I had the unfortunate compulsion to jump on his crotch every time I saw him.

"Alright," I sighed, "let's get this over with."

I managed to concoct a half-decent lie for Brandon as Bianca flew me to the arboretum. In the distance, the lights of the Pit shined a blazing circle at the center of Drastin.

LUCILLA

I didn't know how Sara knew I'd changed my mind. I sure as shit hadn't told her; I wasn't that stupid. Had she just gleaned it somehow, or was she always planning on locking me in a closet just in case? When it came to bondage, the elves didn't fuck around. The ropes that bound me wrapped thirty times around my body from ankle to shoulder, and the gag that silenced me was held in place by a belt cinched tight enough to make my jaw ache. I flopped like a fish on the ground, screaming muffled wrath that no one would ever hear. If I hadn't gotten in that argument with Julia, none of this would have happened. I didn't know why she didn't want me to come with her to the fight, but it didn't really matter now, did it? Freydis was going to kill Willowbud, and I wouldn't be there to stop it. All of Julia's sacrifices would go to waste because I didn't have faith in her. I only believed her when I saw Willowbud change with my own two eyes, but it was too late. Too late. Were there a sadder couple of words than 'too late?' I thrashed and screamed, writhed and heaved on the floor, trying to fight 'too late' trying to deny it, but I couldn't. 'Too late' was now. I screeched, tears running down my cheeks, and I drove my forehead into the floor in frustration. Then I screeched it pain. Something sharp had imbedded itself into my brow. It tinkled against the metal floor like a tiny bell, then glinted in the crack of light that beamed from the closed door. My lost astral communicator. I yelped in glee, my heart racing high in my chest. Fuck 'too late.' It was never too late.

WILLOWBUD

I'd put in cosmetic astral melds to make my eyes black. I was going out in public, and I had an image to protect. Oddly, the desire to protect that image wasn't very strong anymore. I guessed it wasn't that odd. Corruption was breaking away for some reason. I hadn't done anything, but it was happening nonetheless. It terrified me, but I didn't let that terror show. I had an image to protect.

"Good Mother, you are beautiful, Astrid," Sister Julia proclaimed, looking over the winged-warrior. I'd gotten her special armor for tonight's occasion. It was white leather, and it molded perfectly to her every curve, exposed her at the midriff and thighs, and highlighted her assets with gilded plates. A circlet shined from her stoic brow, and golden earrings dangled from her ears. It wasn't practical armor, but then again, Astrid could've fought the whole tournament naked without even a scrape.

"Yes," I said quietly, inspecting the woman, "you are."

"Thank you, Mistress," Astrid replied, staring fixedly ahead, not seeming to see the reflection staring back. We were in the preparation room, and the rumble of the stands above us was growing louder with each passing minute. It wouldn't be long until it was that familiar roar, but it didn't excite me like it should have. All of Drastin would see my champion crowned today, yet I didn't really care.

"The way these straps hug your ass," Sister Julia said covetously as she squeezed Astrid's exposed cheeks. "Good Mother, Astrid, it makes me want to push my face in it." Something about the way Sister Julia treated Astrid bothered me. Like Astrid was a possession that could be turned on at her leisure. Of course Astrid was visibly aroused by Sister Julia's touch, but that wasn't the point. Astrid was a champion, a celebrity, a warrior of the highest renowned; she deserved respect. Holy shit, what is wrong with me?

"Sister Julia, could you leave us?" I asked her. "I need a minute alone with my champion."

"I can leave..." Sister Julia pouted her lips, "...if you give me a taste first."

"Never again, Sister," I said, but not with the playfulness I had before. I meant it, but Sister Julia seemed to think we were still playing the game. Anger flashed across her face, then she reassembled her smile.

"I'll go see if Death Kiss needs any... assistance," Sister Julia giggled with a wink, then left, her steps exaggerated in their confidence. Holy shit, what is wrong with her? But I knew the answers to both questions.

"Do you like it?" I asked Astrid.

"Yes, Mistress," Astrid said softly. I walked around her, reaching compulsively to squeeze her leather-strapped ass, then pulling my hand away before I did.

"Are you ready?" I asked. I was sure I should be saying inspiring words, but I couldn't find them.

"Yes, Mistress," Astrid said again. The rumble of the Pit became a steady growl, and I could see the light beginning to burn behind Astrid's eyes.

"Does it excite you?" I asked her.

"It's more than excitement," Astrid breathed. "Words don't describe what I'm feeling, Mistress." Astrid's knuckles cracked into fists. "It's like life, elevated. It's better than the greatest ecstasy, it's more exhilarating than flying through a hurricane, it's..." Astrid looked down at me, her eyes shining, "...thank you, Mistress. Thank you for this moment."

Why would you ever thank me, Astrid Skyborne? I've destroyed you. "You're welcome," I mumbled. Astrid looked inquisitively at me, and I had to forcibly keep myself from cringing away. I knew Corruption was probably writhing inside me, and I knew if I didn't have my melds in, Astrid would've seen the change. I didn't know why I didn't just show her. Because Willowbud is a coward, and you are becoming Willowbud. "I'll uh... I'll be rooting for you," I said, and began to shuffle for the door.

"Is that how you will leave me, Mistress?" Astrid called. I turned on my heel, and saw her hopeful smile, and it almost killed me. Don't give me that look. I don't deserve it. She strutted over me, as Astrid only walked with a strut now, and she knelt until she was beneath me. She reached for my pants, "Just for good luck," she whispered, licking her lips. I couldn't let her do it. I took her face in my hands, and I kissed her. I poured my regret, my self-hatred, and my guilt into her mouth, then I stormed out of the room, leaving her wide-eyed and touching her lips.

BRANDON

Bianca's neckline was lower than it had been this morning, I noticed, and she noticed that I noticed, but she didn't abruptly turn around and walk stiffly away. No, she just blushed a little, and smiled with a set of sparkling whites that seemed to shine from her. Well, that was weird. Speaking of weird, here was Diamond, the limitless-libido hermaphrodite who seemed always on the verge of jumping on my crotch. Bianca closed my office door behind her, leaving me alone with the Heat Bringer's daughter.

"I take it you didn't find Angela?" I asked.

"She's in the astral plane," Diamond shrugged, not looking at me.

"So... you did find her?"

"She's in her realm. She has a realm, you know. It's pretty sweet. It's got rivers and houses and... shit," Diamond mumbled.

"I don't really know what a 'realm' is, Diamond," I said, gesturing for her to sit down. I'd made sure to keep a desk between us, just in case Diamond's lascivious nature got the better of her.

"You know that the astral plane is where thoughts are made real, right?" Diamond asked. I nodded, "Well, things tied to the astral plane, like Sentients, Tethered Ones, and Untethered Ones have realms in the astral plane. They sort of... make homes of a single thought. Passion, Wrath, Sorrow, Corruption; get it?"

"And you're untethered," I said. Diamond nodded. "So, Diamond, if you don't mind me asking, what the fuck have you been doing in Corruption's realm?" Diamond straightened like she'd just had a rod shoved up her ass.

"How did you...?" Diamond squinted at me, "Have you been talking to Corruption, Brandon?"

"Yes."

"You know, the only way to talk to her is if part of you is inside Willowbud." Diamond's eyes narrowed even more, "Did you enjoy your conversation with her? Was she just a wonderful... conversationalist?"

"Holy shit, was that jealousy?" I laughed. "Diamond, you have got the wrong idea. You and me," I gestured to her, then me, "it ain't gonna happen. Mama bear does not fuck around, and I've got enough psychotic bitches to deal with."

"Funny how all the women around you seem to be psychos, huh?" Diamond sneered. "But I guess it's just your bad luck; there's certainly not a common denominator."

"I've noticed you're avoiding the question," I said, leaning back in my chair and folding my hands behind my head. "What are you doing in Corruption's realm?"

"Trying to break up her and Willowbud, of course," Diamond kept her sneer. "But I'm sure you'll make an excellent rebound meld for the most ancient one, you slut."

"What did I ever do to you?" I snapped at her. "One second you want to fuck me, the next you're trying to roast me? Goddamn, you're batshit!"

"Oh, you have no idea," Diamond purred, licking her red lips.

"OK, you know what?" I threw up my hands. "I'm sorry I asked. You, Corruption, Willowbud and Julia can all hatefuck each other until the world ends. I just want to know about my sister." I leveled my gaze on Diamond like I was looking through her, and her sneer faded.

"She's fine," Diamond answered, her voice soft. "She's just waiting for things to settle down here before she sees you again."

"And when will that be?"

"Soon," Diamond shrugged. Goddamn this woman.

"Can you talk to her right now?" I asked. "Like, can we communicate through you?"

"I can only visit the astral plane if a succubus enslaves me," Diamond replied, "but she can see my memories, so if you have a message for her, just say it."

I paused, and studied Diamond. Yeah, she was a rage-inducing lunatic, but for whatever reason, I trusted her. "Can she see the things you see?" I asked her.

Diamond nodded.

I stood up, and walked to the tree. "Come on," I said, "I've got to show you something."

JUSTINA

When Mom's lust had faded from me, I became dimly aware that there were more people in her safehouse than there were supposed to be. Then I became very aware of it. Ten high-elves were lounging around in various stages of undress. There was a bulletin board full of groundbreaking research, unique books older than empires, and theological studies that would turn a priest's head inside-out, but the women seemed much more interested in Mom's dildo collection than any of that. I didn't blame them.

"Justina," Sara asked me beside the bed, "how does this work?" She held up one of my own inventions. I noticed the woman had forsaken her cloak, and was naked save for crisscrossing sashes and belts that held enough knives to arm a battalion. Mom would approve.

"You press the button, and twist the knob," I replied. They hadn't even chained me up. I guessed they thought I wasn't enough of a threat, and it hurt to realize that they were right. The worst I could have done was tag two or three of them before the others had blades inside me, and even if there were only two or three of them, I doubted I would've tried anyway. I was a coward, plain and simple. I had none of my mother's courage or skill to fight my way out of a situation, nor did I have her cunning and silver tongue to talk my way out of it. I was the situation's bitch. Sara pressed the button and twisted the knob, and a double-ended contraption sprang outward, and began revving to rotate the penetrating and lubed lengths. Sara looked like I just showed her the cure for cancer (and I had to admit a certain amount of pride) and she squatted to immediately test the device.

"So, Lucilla betrayed us," I muttered.

"Don't feel too bad," Sara gasped as she violated herself. "It's a soft betrayal at worst. We did most of the work. God this thing is great! Have you patented this yet?"

"It's pending," I grumbled. Some of the women had gotten into my personal collection, which I wasn't too happy about. They fucked each other with my strap-ons, filled themselves with my plugs, and doused themselves with my lube. I'd have to wash every single one of those insertions in boiling water just to clean the bitch off them. Who was I kidding? I was going to suck them spotless.

"Where's Mom and Diamond?" I asked.

"You mean 'Mom and Angela?'" Sara offered a shit-eating grinned. I sighed and nodded. I was not amused. "Tera's getting ready to fight in The Pit, I'm sure, and Angela's off trying to save Willowbud." Sara answered.

"What?"

"'Trying' is the operative word here," Sara chuckled breathily. "Once she's out of Ofanian eyeshot, we're bagging her and dragging her back here."

"Why?" I was even more insulted that Sara thought me so unthreatening she could reveal her treacherous plans.

"That's on a need-to-know basis, Your Eminence," Sara groaned. "I hope you understand."

I nodded, and rolled over on the bed. Nothing I could do. Angela would at least fight, but I couldn't. Or wouldn't. You fucking pussy. Everyone else is risking something, and you're just lying down and taking it. I wanted to just pull a pillow over my head and pretend it wasn't happening. So, I did, and when I did, an astral gemstone rolled right onto my chin. My heart suddenly rose. If Mom had the other one, then... no, there was the other one too. Shit. But, why was it signaling? Who was... Lucilla! That fucking bitch! Maybe I'd roll over and take it, but I wouldn't do it without complaint! I. WOULD. COMPLAIN! I actually smiled as I put the gemstone in my ear.

"You listen here, you worthless sack of shit! I'll have you know that—"

"Shut the fuck up and put Tera on the line!"

"Yes ma'am." I replied immediately, and actually looked for my Mom before I remembered the situation. If I had a knife, I would've slit my wrists in pure self-disappointment. I managed to numbly replied to Lucilla with, "Mom's not here, but Sara is. Do you want to talk to her?"

"Shit," Lucilla sighed. There was a long pause in which I thought I heard the sound of weeping, before Lucilla came back with, "Is Tera OK?"

"If by 'OK' you mean 'fighting in a gladiatorial match.'"

"But Sara doesn't have her?"

"You would know."

"I wouldn't, actually, but I can see why you'd think that." Now I could clearly hear the weeping. "I'm sorry, Justina. This wasn't supposed to happen. I just wanted to... it doesn't matter. It's too late. Too late. Too, fucking, late. I let fear control me, and now I'm bound and gagged like a fucking bdsm piñata. I should've been brave like you."

The irony wasn't lost on me, and neither was the implication. "Lucilla, what's happening?" And Lucilla tearfully ran through everything she'd planned. When she was done, I laid in silence, trying to process it.

"I'm sorry, Justina. I'm so fucking sorry."

"You just did what you thought was best." I didn't know why I was consoling her; this was all her fault.

"I guess we just have to hope Angela makes it."

"No!" I said so firmly I surprised myself. "No more waiting for someone else to rescue me! I will not be the victim again! I am sick of being someone's coddled daughter, or someone's slave, or someone's fucking captive!"