Thriae's Apprentice

Tabbi whimpered and moaned.

The Thriae flashed Elka a sly grin, then sauntered out of the distillery.

Elka stared after her, watching that swaying ass.

Her heart was pounding as the door swung open and the Thriae walked through.

And it leaped into her throat when, just as the door was about to slam behind her, Elka raced forward and caught it, hurrying after the intruder.

~ ~ ~ ~

"Wait!" she cried. "Wait for me!"

The Thriae turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Pardon me, sweetie?"

Elka ran up, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her head was spinning not with intoxication—though maybe she was feeling a bit affected by all these smells and spells and nectars, come to think of it—but with terror and confusion. What was she doing? "You..." She swallowed. "You're Aposta, aren't you? The Rogue Thriae."

Aposta stopped and turned all the way back, placing a hand on her hip and swinging it sharply to the side to examine Elka. "The one and only."

"You betrayed your Hive. They... they tore—"

"Hey, sweetie, we both know who I am." Aposta smiled slightly, though it was a false smile. She was clearly impatient to be off, and Elka felt pangs not just of her fear but of social anxiety. This woman looked a lot like the village girls who loved to tease Elka years ago—she even had the slightly mocking, plasticky tone of voice. "And it's super nice that you know me! So are you gonna stop me, then?" Her eyes glimmered. "Do you think a Hive will give you a nnnniiice, sweet reward for it?"

"No!" Elka shook her head frantically. "No, I don't—I just wanted to—"

"Go on, babe." Aposta smirked, leaning back to strike an imperious pose. "Use your words. Unless you need me to, like, drip them out of you?"

Elka took a deep breath, trying not to think too much about how sweet and honeyed everything suddenly smelled around the cottage.

"I want a job!" Elka burst out.

Aposta blinked.

"What?"

"I... I want a job!" Elka bit her lip, her courage quickly failing her as she stared into those surprised golden eyes. "I mean... you are a mage, aren't you?"

"Alchemist, sugarbowl." Aposta smiled slightly. "It's only as magical as a dream."

"Um, right." Elka swallowed. "But you could teach me that, couldn't you?"

Aposta struck another pose, stretching above her head. "And... like, don't get me wrong, this is super cute and not what I'm used to from kitties like you—" Elka shivered at the way she said kitties "—but why would I need an apprentice, sweetie? And why wouldn't I just... take one?"

She licked her lips and grinned.

"Because," Elka said, swallowing, "you need me."

"Hm?"

"You need someone willing," she went on, barely trusting herself to think about her words before she said them. "You need someone you don't have to... have to dumb down, or sweeten up. Someone who serves you because she wants to serve you. Because otherwise, she'll betray you as soon as someone sets her free, and then the Thriae will know everything about you."

"Interesting point. But what..." Aposta's voice fell to a purr as she leaned in, and Elka whimpered as the honey smell grew stronger. "... what makes you think that I would ever let a pretty kitty like you... get free?"

Elka stared into those shining suns. Don't answer the question, she told herself. Focus. Focus on the pitch, like you did with Jyrulea. "You need a servant," she said aloud. "Someone who can warn you about danger. Someone who could never threaten you, wh-who could never—" she squeaked as Aposta's fingers grazed her cheek "—never even pose a threat." "But who could go into towns and act normal and get you supplies." She tried to straighten a little, making her voice firm. "So you d-don't have to break into witch cottages to get cooking utensils."

Aposta drew back. She blinked, cocking her head to the side. Lost in those eyes, Elka felt like her whole world tilted with them. "Clever kitty," she murmured. Long fingernails danced on Elka's neck. "You're much, much smarter than you look."

Elka's cheeks burned, even as she shivered at the sensation, feeling her tail bristling at the tiny touches. "You... thank you?"

"Never even pose a threat," Aposta mused, licking her lips. "Very true. But tell me, sweetie..." She beamed, leaning in even closer. "Why shouldn't I just brainwash you anyway? What's in this for you?"

"You're infamous," Elka whispered, "for your metamental magic. You were behind the... inoculation they practiced in Enterprise."

"That city did borrow some of my research, yes." Aposta's gaze soured slightly. "Though they took it a bit further than I would have done."

"You can protect me from mind control." Elka took another deep breath, ignoring the waves of sugary bliss that hung around the edges of her mind with every breath of Aposta she took. "That's the deal. I serve you, willingly, loyally. I'm a very good assistant! I can cook, clean, identify herbs, buy supplies..." She bit her lip. "I, um. I only ask that you not addict me to your honey, and you not brainwash me. You can keep me safe."

"Oh, can I?"

"You... you can even use me to distract fey," Elka squeaked reluctantly. "As long as you save me before they go too far. And keep my mind from being affected. I'm..." She ran her hands over her body. "... really good at attracting fey."

"Hee. Don't have to tell me." Aposta grinned. "So I keep your mind safe, teach you my alchemy, and you take care of me while I work. What a lovely idea."

"Hey!!" burst out an enraged voice. Elka turned, her heart stopping, as she saw Jyrulea storming out of her cottage. The witch already had several spells in her hands ready to cast as she advanced. "Elka, who in the gods' names thinks she can just—"

Aposta raised the lollipop wand, winked at Elka, and gave it a twitch.

The wand's red bud opened like a blooming blossom, and a puff of pollen burst out right in Jyrulea's face.

Jyrulea blinked, coughing. She waved her arms to disperse the pollen, reeling back, the spells spinning out of control in her hands. "What did you just mew! Mew! Mew!"

Her eyes widened.

Two fluffy cat ears were poking up from the top of her head.

"Um," the witch stammered, "y—mew!" Squirming in discomfort, she wrenched her skirt down, allowing her twitching tail to escape. She stared at Aposta with wide eyes.

"Be a good kitty," Aposta said sweetly, "and give yourself a bath."

The new catgirl only had time to look at her hands in dawning horror as all four of her own spells cascaded upon her, swirling pink and orange magic as pink spectral vines yanked her up into the air, as scarlet lipstick marks started to appear with wet smooching sounds all over her face, as her eyes dissolved into brilliant spirals and her clothes were stripped away by phantom hands.

"What..." Elka stared in shock. "What did..."

"Witches." Aposta giggled. "First lesson, new apprentice: A witch should never come after an alchemist. Alchemy works on how you think reality works, and witches are full of spirits with all kinds of delicious dreams." She patted Elka on the head as they watched the witch thrash and squirm and mewl, as her face melted into pure bliss, drowned in kisses and caresses and those pretty spirals. "The second lesson is to never go for four spells when one will do the trick. C'mon, sweetie." She patted Elka's ass. "Let's get moving."

Elka stared a moment longer than she should have. She hoped Aposta hadn't noticed her slack-jawed expression, or the way her eyes were fixated on Jyrulea's.

She hurried after, blushing.

A deal was a deal. But it wouldn't do to tempt her new Mistress.

~ ~ ~ ~

"And here we are—my home away from home!" Aposta gestured grandly to the dome-like structure. It was sort of like a classical Thriae hive, Elka was pretty sure, though her only experience with Thriae hives was from the drawings in the copper books you could buy at the back of the store. It shimmered in the morning light, seemingly made out of solid gold—or, more likely, petrified Thriae honey.

"It's... lovely," Elka said, blinking wide eyes. So this was how a rogue Thriae lived.

"Mm, it is, isn't it?" Aposta smirked, sauntering into the little cottage structure. Elka hurried after, biting her lip.

Elka initially thought the small dome would contain one large room, but the interior astounded her. It was surprisingly spacious, with thin walls and silk curtains artfully dividing the space. The light reflected through the hardened honey, bathing everything in golden-tinted sunlight. It was like walking on a sunbeam, a sunbeam made out of honey.

Several devices were at work in here. A large metal hook worked in a cauldron to the side, pulling what appeared to be toffee. There was no hand manipulating the hook—it moved of its own accord. That had to be magic, right? That couldn't just be alchemy. Nearby, a trio of kettles occupied a stove, bubbling away, full of what looked like cinnamon sticks. A fourth kettle roiled with the smell of caramelizing sugar.

On the opposite side of the room, an array of incredibly detailed and ornate lollipops hung from the wall—like swords might hang on the wall of a former adventurer, now retired but ready to pick up the blade at a moment's notice. The lollipops ranged from little spheres the size of the one Aposta had fed to Tabbi to great spiraling circles the diameter of Aposta's shapely hips. You could club someone to death with a lollipop that big, or kill your brain with a sugar overdose.

"Try not to touch anything," Aposta said airily, dumping the pouch onto a desk—clearing away everything else in the process, much of it right onto the golden tile floor.

"It's... a mess," Elka stammered, despite her nerves about this new arrangement. "What happened here?"

"Oh..." Aposta sucked the tip of her thumb, looking around the room as if she'd never noticed before how absolutely ramshackle it was. Tools and discarded candy wrappers covered the floor. Half-used ingredients, old herbs past their expiration date, two sacks of sugar—one of which had spilled onto the floor. "I guess it has gotten a bit out of control. I'm very busy, Elka."

"It's not about business, it's about—" Elka bit off her words. "Okay. I can help with this."

"I know you can," Aposta purred. Elka's breath caught as she felt fingers under her chin, tilting Elka's head to face her new Mistress. "I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job!"

Elka blinked. She felt such a strong urge to just give in and melt into that hand, dissolve into Aposta's arms. Her lower lip quivered. "W-Wonderful..."

Aposta blinked, too. She pulled back. "Whoops." She giggled. "Gosh, you're certainly... "

"I know," Elka said, feeling her cheeks flushing. She took a step back.

"... certainly very vulnerable, aren't you?"

"I know," Elka repeated, gritting her teeth. "Look, how about I just start, um, cleaning? And you can go get some sleep."

Aposta's face lit up. "Ooh, sleep? Really?" She looked up at the ceiling. "Wow. I... I don't think I've actually really slept in a while."

"... really?"

Aposta smiled. "No time to sleep," she murmured, brushing by Elka. "And it's not safe. Anyone could get in here. Take advantage of me."

Elka bit her lip. "Like who?"

She felt Aposta nuzzling her neck, and squirmed. She knew that this was going to be the new normal. All fey were affectionate, and Thriae were... social creatures, by nature. Aposta had been alone for a long time. Elka had to get used to Aposta wanting to touch her.

It wasn't that she minded. Aposta had asked her on the way if she did—if she liked being touched like that, if it bothered her. Elka had been a blushing, stammering mess as she'd answered.

She didn't mind being touched. She wasn't even that horny, as these things went. The problem was how dominant those touches could be. She just didn't want to slip. Or to show Aposta how easily it could be done.

She had to get used to a more physically affectionate Mistress. She couldn't let it send her head into such a haze, such a scattered, distractible...

"Don't you think?" Aposta whispered in her ear. And Elka realized Aposta had been talking to her. Answering the question.

"Um." Elka swallowed. "Yes? But, um." She searched for a question that wouldn't make it obvious she hadn't been paying attention at all. "If someone comes in, what if they... what if they spell me? I won't be able to warn you." Vaguely, she realized she was arguing with her own suggestion, but at least she was saying something.

"Only my spells work in here," Aposta murmured, still resting her chin on Elka's shoulder. "I told you I'd keep you safe, Elka. You just need to be sure to wake me up if trouble comes. Until then, feel free to play my catgirl maid for a bit." She kissed Elka's neck. "Sound okay?"

"Yes, Aposta." Elka nodded, barely trusting her own tongue. "Okay."

Aposta giggled right in her ear, then pulled back. Elka sighed with relief as she was freed. Oh, thank goodness.

Then she realized she'd sighed aloud, and her cheeks burned as she heard Aposta laughing, practically skipping to the bedroom. "Remember," she sang, "don't touch anything important!"

Elka sighed.

The idea that no mind control was allowed in this building was a comfort, but gods, it just felt so good to imagine...

She banished the thought and set to work.

~ ~ ~ ~

Elka took some pleasure in the simple work of cleaning, actually. It felt nice to just... clean. To work without any fear of mind control.

Aposta actually seemed to be keeping her word. Elka couldn't believe that, even though it matched what she'd heard. Aposta's reputation was for being fairly ambivalent towards mortals—sometimes toying with them, sometimes helping them out, especially where Hives were concerned.

Unfortunately, what the rumors had neglected to mention was how incredibly messy Aposta could be. Elka grimaced, looking at the fallen bags of sugar. Did she ever clean? This was unacceptable, even for a fey! Maybe especially for a fey!

I thought Thriae were supposed to be efficient, she groused as she got a rag wet from the washbasin and set about cleaning off the desk. Bits of candy and caramel were stuck to it, some splotches looking years-old.

Once she was done with the desk, she took a step back, considering the work she'd done. The room looked a lot better.

She decided to take a brief break. A little break couldn't hurt, could it? Surely it'd be okay to take a look around.

Just a little glance at that strange magical toffee hook, for instance. She sucked on one finger as she examined the curious device.

Initially, she'd assumed the hook was just levitating on its own. Now, though, she could see that it wasn't actually doing anything.

The toffee was moving the hook, pulling around it. The hook was almost a pliant participant, attached to the wall by a flexible rubber attachment. The toffee itself was alive. It was pulling itself. So what did it need the hook for? Was the hook a part of the spell?

Alchemy works on how you think reality works. The phrase rang in her head. She blinked down at the swirling toffee. It's powered by... by belief. Like a placebo. Maybe the hook makes the toffee work.

It looked oddly delicious, considering Elka wasn't much of a toffee person. She stared into the twisting concoction, watching swirling red and gold candy pull and twist and swirl and fold.

She bit her lip. She felt exhausted after all that work, and this was as soothing as anything. She looked around, then grabbed a stool and sat down, watching the candy pull itself.

Would it work if no one was around to believe in it? Did the toffee itself have a belief? Elka had heard some Tower Mages argued that even objects had spirits, as if they were connected to the World Base the druids spoke of.

Swirl, swirl, twist. Fold. Twist. Pull. Swirl, swirl, twist. Fold.

Elka watched it placidly, enjoying the simple repetition. After all these hours of stress, fear, and hard work, it felt so nice to just... sink into something soothing. She was almost getting tingles from the sight. It felt good to watch. Good to relax.

Even her theories about the magic faded from her mind as she watched it swirl. Swirl. Swirl.

Unconsciously, her head was bobbing, following the motions of the hook. She wondered how the toffee would taste. It looked so soft, and yet so firm, like silken cords. It could probably taste wonderful. Alchemist treats always tasted delicious. Like cotton candy, like raspberries and honey, judging by the color.

Twist. Twist. Swirl. Elka felt her head sinking, lolling downwards. It felt so... so soothing to watch. Her head was tingling from the sight. It radiated a gentle heat, too, making it so very comfortable to just... lean over the edge for a bit.

She was inches from the toffee, she realized numbly. Swirl. Swirl. Swirl. Twist. Inches from the twisting, swirling candy. It smelled sweet. Like honey. Like raspberries. Like cotton candy.

Vaguely, she sensed that something was off about this. But it just looked so soft and yet so firm. It felt so warm. It wouldn't be so bad to lie in a bed of this, especially when she was so tired.

It wouldn't be so bad to just... drop. It was like the toffee was wrapping around her, so soft and gentle as it twisted, twisted, pulled her in, deeper and deeper...

Her eyelids fluttered, but her eyes remained fixed in the swirling candy batter. She swayed forward, whimpering softly as she felt warm, soft, firm, sticky loops wrapping around her neck. It felt so good to just... to just...

She heard faint giggling, and almost swore she could feel hands caressing her arms, pulling her deeper. The hook was gone. She felt so sleepy. So dizzy. It felt so wonderfully easy to just... to just slip deep, deep, just let these ropes of toffee drag her into the vat. She could swear she could feel someone nuzzling her neck, feel impossibly supple bodies wrapping around her, dragging her down...

"Oh, my." The silken, honeyed voice of Aposta trickled into her ears, along with a sense of alarm as she realized she was halfway inside the vat, staring at a mass of warm, swirling candy. And it was covering her face, her neck, her hanging breasts, sticky and sweet and—"Elka, what happened to you?"

Elka squirmed, trying to pull out. She managed to lift her head above the vat's edge to stare miserably at Aposta. "Um. I. Um."

She had no idea what to say.

Aposta raised an eyebrow, and appeared to take pity on her. Marginally. "Did you get hypnotized by that toffee, Elka?"

Elka whimpered and nodded.

Aposta giggled, leaned forward, and snapped her fingers.

The toffee released Elka with a sticking sound, plopping back into the bowl. The hook fell in, and the toffee resumed its efforts.

"It's not supposed to do that," the Thriae said, sounding almost impressed. "What were you thinking about?"

Elka clasped her hands behind her back. "I... um... nothing?"

She realized after the fact that this didn't sound much better than the truth.

Aposta smirked. "Okay, then. Stay away from the toffee puller, okay? It's sensitive alchemy. Very sensitive to empty heads like yours, I guess."

"Mm." Elka nodded meekly. "It felt like it was... pulling me in."

"Did you... believe it would pull you in?"

Elka chewed her upper lip.

Aposta reached over and plucked a little stray toffee from Elka's hair. Elka found herself shivering against the touch, leaning into Aposta's hand.

She'd given in again. Already. She'd already gotten mind controlled by something, and it was a candy machine. If Aposta hadn't been here to save her, she would have been... well, a sticky mess.