The Long Road to Ruin Ch. 40-42

"Good Afternoon, my little one," the portly woman beamed brightly, correcting her.

Shiloh squawked unbelievingly, "Afternoon?!?!?!" The notion that it was already midday stunned her.

"You didn't answer your door this morning, no matter how hard I knocked, so I had Nathan send someone in to check on you. You were fast asleep, so we didn't disturb you. Obviously your recent ordeal wore you out more than we all imagined. Therefore, I've brought you the hardiest meal I could whip up. It'll restore your strength. Also Nathan sends you this," Chella handed her a scrap of paper.

Shiloh smirked at Chella's mention of 'her recent ordeal.' If she only knew, Shiloh thought wryly, recalling the incident with the werewolf. She then unfolded the scrap of paper, reading the contents.

Shiloh,

I believe it safe enough for you to leave your apartment. I would remind you to keep a low profile at all times and do nothing to attract attention. Also Alfons has a job he wishes you to complete for him.

NG

Shiloh tossed the note into the fire then sat down to eat her lunch. Excitement coursed through her. She was free again! Chella watched as Shiloh dug into the bowl of hearty chili, devouring it quickly.

"That was delicious," she beamed as she smacked her lips, patting her tummy.

"What has you so happy?" Chella cocked a curious eyebrow.

"I'm free!" She beamed joyfully.

"Just because he's allowing you out doesn't mean you're to run about all willy-nilly," Chella cautioned. "You're not to be attracting attention to yourself."

"I won't," Shiloh rolled her eyes ruefully. "Plus, Alfons has a job for me to do. That should keep me occupied and out of trouble for a while."

"I expect you to stay out of trouble, little one," Chella half-scolded while she loaded her tray.

"I promise I will. I don't wish to be caught, either," Shiloh stood up then hugged the robust woman. Chella responded to the hug warmly, embracing Shiloh in return.

"Will you need your dinner brought to you?"

"No, there's no need. I'll come over to the Bear Pit," Shiloh smiled. "I think I'm going to take a bath."

"Very well, my dear," Chella smiled before taking the tray then leaving the apartment, "Let me know if you need anything."

Shiloh danced around merrily before heading to her bathtub. As she lowered herself into the steamy depths, she felt a stinging sensation on her nether lips. Reaching down, she touched herself. Her folds felt raw. She puzzled over the anomaly. What had happened?

After a leisurely bath, she dried off then powdered her skin. She coifed her hair, buffed her nails, applied cosmetics then dressed in her ceremonial armor.

Leaving the apartment, she made her way to the ruined house then the hideout. Quickly she entered Alfons's office.

"I hear you have a job for me," she spoke up as she smiled at the bear of a man before her.

"Yes, I do," he nodded, "Pia is missing. I'd like you to find her or what has become of her. She was assigned a burglary job at the Academy, but we haven't heard from her in several days. I know deep in my gut she's stumbled into some sort of trouble. Do whatever it takes to bring her back."

"Pia," Shiloh sighed, "Very well Alfons. Consider it done. I'll begin my search at the Academy."

"Don't disappoint me, Shiloh," he cautioned. "And be careful. I'd hate to lose both of you."

Shiloh inclined her head before she walked away. She quickly left the sewers, heading back up through the ruined house. Once she crossed into the northern ward of the city, she headed in the direction of the Academy. As she passed through the Marketplace, she noticed a crowd had gathered before gallows that had been recently built in front of the castle gates.

Seven forlorn prisoners with obvious signs to the various stages of torture they endured were marched to the nooses, hanging from the gallows. Shiloh watched, almost mesmerized, as the nooses were placed around the prisoner's necks then tightened. Unceremoniously, the executioner pulled the lever, dropping the helpless men and women to their deaths.

Shiloh cringed then scurried away. Once she reached the Academy, which had been closed since the Dhorn sieged the city. She opened the heavy double doors then walked inside.

She crossed the large foyer, entering one of the public stores. She smiled at the shopkeeper warmly, her eyes flicking over his maroon and gold robes. A wizard, she thought. "Hello, my good sir, could you show me your wares?"

"Most certainly, lovely girl, I would be delighted to. We don't get much business anymore. I sell arcane scrolls. Are you of the wizardly persuasion?"

Shiloh bluffed him, using her beauty to distract him, "No, mine is more innate, so to speak."

"A sorceress or perhaps a bard," he replied, ogling her barely concealed breasts. "You're certainly beautiful enough to be a bard."

Shiloh beamed a bright smile at him, leaning over the counter, exposing the firm round tops of her breasts, "Thank you, that is so kind of you to say. Next time I perform, I'll have to send you an invitation."

The young shopkeeper's face glowed instantly, "I would like that."

"Now down to business, what kind of scrolls do you have that can help me to not be seen?"

"The most common spell scroll is invisibility. I happen to have a few of those in stock," he replied knowledgably.

"I'll take all of them," Shiloh stated, "And what about something that will make me more nimble? I am a dancer."

"A-ha, a talented lass, eh," he grinned. "Cat's grace is the one you'd need for that, I have two in stock."

"Add them to my order," Shiloh instructed. "Next, I need something that will perhaps enhance my endurance so I can perform longer."

"Bear's endurance will do the trick. It'll make you heartier and tougher, give you more staying power," he smirked.

"By the way, handsome, what's your name?" Shiloh winked at him.

The wizard blushed deeply, "Merik."

"Merik... what a wonderful name," she purred then leaned closer, "Sounds so masculine. I like it. I'll take your Bear's endurance scrolls, the cat's grace, the invisibility scrolls, Oh, do you have something for making things explode?"

Merik gulped, stifling a groan, "Explode?" He looked her up then down.

Shiloh nodded, "Yes, a fiery explosion, something that goes KA-BOOM!"

"Oh yes, I have two scrolls of fireball. I also have a scroll of lightning bolt and one of chain lightning as well."

"I'll take those as well," she grinned then delved into her armor to pull out the black scrap of cloth. She opened it, pulling out a heavy sack of coins that she knew held a few thousand coins. "Is there anything else, you can think of, that will help me?"

"Sound burst, silence, ghostly visage, and you might need some protection spells," Merik rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I'll take those," Shiloh smiled then handed him the sack of gold, "Keep the change."

"Oh thank you, M'lady," he beamed. "You are most generous."

Shiloh blew him a kiss, collected her scrolls, stowing them in a case he handed her. "How about you meet me after you close? I'll be waiting outside," she winked then exited the store, heading for the front door. Once outside, she searched for a place to hide while she studied the invisibility scroll. This would help her move around the Academy, unseen.

Shiloh deciphered the scroll then read it, casting the invisibility spell. Then she returned to the Academy doors, opening them. She strolled through the foyer. Guards stood before several doorways, weapons at the ready to strike down any intruder. Slipping between two of them standing before a doorway to the right rear of the foyer, she stopped before the closed door. Kneeling before it, she tried the handle, finding it locked. Then she whipped out her trusty lock picks. Though it took several minutes, she succeeded in opening the door. As she cracked it, she cringed as it creaked eerily. She gasped, pressing herself against the wall.

"What was that?" One of the guards asked. "Did you hear that noise?"

"Nope, didn't hear a thing. It's probably just the wind. The outer door is probably still cracked from the last patron of the magic store." The second guard shrugged his shoulders.

"Go close the door, I'll look back here," the first one ordered. "I thought I felt a breeze a few minutes ago."

"It was probably just you breaking wind," the second guard guffawed. "I thought I smelled something bad."

The first guard glared at the second, "Not as bad as you after a three day binge."

The second guard flashed a sneer at the first, "Asshole!" He grumbled then walked away to check the front doors.

"Yeah, don't dish it if you can't take it," the first retorted then headed toward the door Shiloh had unlocked. He tried the handle, finding it securely locked. He scratched his chin then walked down the corridor to the gate, trying it. It held fast, also securely locked.

He knew he'd heard something. It couldn't have just been the wind. Marching back to his post, he waited for the other guard to return.

"The front door was closed tight. I checked with Hante and Merik as well. Merik had a customer, though. He said she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He said she was a bard. She purchased some scrolls from him, but he didn't exactly see where she went after she left. He was too busy picking his jaw up off the ground. Though, he claims she propositioned him. I think he's lying," the second guard guffawed.

The first one smirked, "No doubt. What girl would be interested in him?"

The second nodded, "I don't know any."

"I suppose it was the wind I heard," the first guard muttered. "I wanted to catch something then make them feel my blade."

"Tough luck," the second snickered, eliciting a glare from his buddy before he resumed his guard duty.

O.O

Shiloh stifled a snicker then quietly negotiated the stairs to the second level, past two more guards. Despite the invisibility spell that cloaked her, she'd nearly gotten caught by one of the guards. Only their loud dispute gave her the opportunity to crack the door a second time then flit to the other side. Slipping past the other guards had been a breeze. She opened a second door, slipping into another foyer. A staircase to her left led to large double doors with a sign barring entrance, cautioning danger ahead.

Shiloh bypassed it then sneaked her way around the shadowy corridor. She made sure she made very little noise while creeping around. She noticed that several guards also patrolled this floor. As she moved to her right toward a brightly lit room, her eyes caught notice of a closed door. Sneaking to it, she stopped, glancing at the sign which identified the room as a library. She placed her hand on the door latch. Turning it, the door refused to open. Then she knelt before it, pulling her lock picks. Keeping watch for the guards, she nimbly attempted to pick the lock. After several minutes, the lock continued to refuse her attempts. Shiloh frowned, her brow furrowing with frustration. It was obvious she was not going to get into the room. Shiloh decided to move on, though keeping note that she would have to return and try again later.

Moving across the hall, she entered what appeared to be a common room, the room was brightly lit, taking a few moments, she scanned her surroundings. She noticed four smaller corridors branching off the common room. Choosing the first corridor to the left, she picked the lock on the door, opened it then peaked into what appeared to be a student dorm room.

Meticulously she searched each one of the dorm rooms at the end of the four small corridors. Her search turned up two scraps of paper that interested her. One listed an address for a former student while the other alluded to the same student and at least one other breaking into the teacher's quarters. Shiloh knew that information would be of use to her. She also knew she'd have to speak to the student named Dan that lived on River Road.

As she sneaked her way out of the Academy, she noticed twilight was approaching. It surprised her that she'd spent so much time searching the Academy. Before she realized it, her heightened senses kicked in, picking up the scent of sex. The uncontrollable lust gripped her; she followed the scent. It led her to the western ward of the city, to a house near one she'd been to before.

Shiloh picked the lock on the door of 1 Westside. As she stepped inside the tidy house, she could hear the moans and sighs of a woman. Shiloh groaned as she felt the need inside blossom. Quickly she made her way up the stairs, entering the upper level. As she stopped at the doorway, she watched two women in the room enjoy their romantic tryst. They were both naked, wrapped in the bonds of coital bliss.

Shiloh stripped off her armor then boots, placing them quietly on the floor beside the door. Then she crept in the room, kneeling at the edge of the bearskin rug. She listened to the women's lusty cries as each called out the other's name. From those she learned the redhead, with her hair in a bun on the top of her head, was named Raila; her lover, with wavy brown shoulder length hair and striking emerald eyes, was named Thea.

Driven by her need and lust, she moved closer, mesmerized by the passion between the two females. She watched as Raila, emboldened with desire, tugged at Thea, kissing her deeply, her tongue sliding to the back of Thea's throat while she pinched her pink peaks. Thea moaned throatily, feeling the wetness between her legs dribble down her thighs.

Thea released her kiss to take one of Raila's nipples into her mouth, nibbling lightly. Raila then responded with a sigh, but was cut off by the intrusion of Shiloh's forceful kiss. Shiloh attacked Raila's mouth, nearly bruising Raila's delicate lips. Shiloh then tested the moistness of Raila's pussy with her fingers.

"I sensed you, and couldn't help but come to you. Your sexual energy was too potent for me to resist. I hope you don't mind my intrusion, but I'd love to join you," Shiloh spoke up as she pulled back from Raila.

Thea grinned, looking Shiloh's naked form up then down, "The more, the merrier."

"I hoped you'd say that. It's been a while since I've known the gentleness of a woman's touch," Shiloh said as she glanced to Thea. The petite brunette reached for both Shiloh and Raila, drawing them to her perky breasts.

Both Shiloh and Raila suckled a nipple as Thea pressed their heads harder against her small breasts. She was near cumming; she wanted them to devour her pink peaks. Raila slid her fingers inside of Thea's channel spreading her wet walls wide as she pumped Thea closer and closer to climax. Shiloh sunk her teeth into Thea's nipple, sending Thea over the edge. Her body shuddered causing her to lose her balance, slumping backwards on the bearskin rug.

"Now, it's our turn," Raila said grabbing Shiloh's hand, pulling her close.

Thea sat up then planted a kiss on Raila's mouth, but Raila had other ideas. She took Thea by her hair, directing her mouth to her nether lips.

"Show me you know what a tongue is for," as Raila pressed Thea's face to her pussy.

Thea's tongue parted Raila's lower lips, sending her into the sweet agony of impending satisfaction as Thea located her lover's clit. Raila moved her hips in a circular motion over Thea's face, allowing her to lap the juices which flowed from her weeping slit.

"I want some, too," Shiloh pouted as she pushed Raila on her back straddling her, her pussy hovering over Raila's lips.

Raila grinned then pulled Shiloh's cunt to her mouth, greedily sucking her clit as she dug her nails into Shiloh's thighs. Shiloh moaned, slumping backwards. She steadied herself, placing her hand on Thea's head, thus pushing Thea's tongue further into Raila's pussy. Shiloh then used her free hand to tweak Raila's nipples. Raila found herself unable to control her body as she was overcome by the most intense orgasm of her life, flooding Thea's mouth and chin with her cum.

After she had licked up each drop of Raila's nectar, Thea sat up to press her body against Shiloh's back clasping her hands around Shiloh's firm mounds while Raila continued to suck on Shiloh's swollen clit.

"You have beautiful breasts," Thea moaned as she squeezed then tugged Shiloh's globes, pulling them in opposite directions.

"Oh gods," Shiloh moaned, grinding her pussy against Raila's lips. Thea's treatment of her breasts was bordering on painful, but the intensity ushered Shiloh closer to the climax she desperately needed.

"I want to watch you soak Raila's face," Thea whispered, pressing her breasts against Shiloh's back. Raila could sense Shiloh's impending orgasm as she sank her teeth into Shiloh's clit.

Pain then excruciating pleasure mingled in Shiloh's body. She exploded all over Raila's face. Raila gently licked the juices from Shiloh's pussy while Thea held Shiloh in a loving embrace.

The three women cuddled together on the bearskin rug, relaxing in the haze of sexual energy they had created. Raila and Thea were spent, sweaty, and euphoric, but Shiloh needed more. She lovingly kissed each of the women, promising to return again, before she slipped out of the room, donned her armor then left the small house. As she strolled past the Academy, she came to a halt when the blushing wizard from the scroll shop hailed her. He sprinted over to her, sounding almost winded. "You didn't forget, did you? About meeting me tonight," he asked, anxiously wringing his hands.

Shiloh grinned, licking her lips as she looked him up then down. Renewed lust flooded her senses. "No, I didn't forget, handsome. Do you have someplace we can go to be alone?" Merik nodded, gulping nervously, "Come with me. My apartment is on Summer Lane."

Taking her by the elbow, he led her past the gallows then the marketplace to Summer Lane and a small rundown building. He stopped before a door, muttered a word, tapping the shabby wooden door with a wand. Then he pushed it open, escorting her in.

Shiloh flashed a look of amazement at him, "Is your door magically sealed?"

Merik nodded as he closed the door behind them, "Oh... yes, yes it is. It keeps the thieves out. Come in. Can I get you something to drink?" "No, but thank you for offering," she glanced around the small apartment, noting that her living room was bigger, "Ooooo, what a nice big bed."

Merik cleared his throat then quickly moved to light a few more candles, further illuminating the room, "Make yourself comfortable. It's not much, but it is home."

"I'm not here for the scenery, Merik. You know what I want, why I'm here, so how about you not keep me waiting?" Shiloh then pinned him with her lustful gaze, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed against him, feeling the heat of his body, through his robe. Merik drew in a shaky breath then rested his hands on her hips.

He cleared his throat, "Undress for me." Then he gathered the courage to kiss Shiloh full on the lips. It was a clumsy effort, Shiloh quickly took control. She pushed him back on the bed, straddling his hips. Spurred on by the feel of his hardening member, Shiloh bent, passionately kissing Merik, letting her tongue slip between his lips. Merik groaned, bucking against her, thrusting his tongue to mingle with hers. Then Shiloh stood up, removed her armor, stripping herself down to her skin. Then she straddled his lap once more, grinding her hips against him. Shiloh lifted his hand, cupped it to her breast, allowing him to caress it softly. She drew in a heavy breath then arched her back. Merik lifted one to his mouth, kissed it, licking in circles around her nipple. She gave a slight moan then started to rub his cock through the folds of his robe. He suckled her nipple, while dragging his fingertips across the other. She purred at his touch, kissing him again with their tongues meeting in a lusty duel.