Perfect Seduction

The long walk back to her sleeping chambers was the most humiliating experience of her life. How many men had lusted after her, only to have her discard them at her slightest displeasure? And now, as she threw herself upon a man, practically raped him, he had turned her away. It was as if it were some sort of cosmic justice, divine retribution for some karmic debt she had.

“If you wish to serve me and gain the most powerful of forbidden magicks…” Star could see the handsome Highborne’s face burned into her memory. “…you will abstain tonight, girl. Head back to your chambers and retire for the night.” The way his devilish fingers raised her chin up to him, his sparkling eyes winking at her… “You will be given… further instructions.”
And that was that.
She had thrown her body at him, risked her own banishment and exile for just one night of ecstasy with him, and he had refused. Sent her packing like a school girl, alone, to walk back to her bed. Bitter tears dribbled down her cheek with each step she took. The sculpted marble pillars or exquisite gardens of flowers held no beauty for her anymore. In fact, the world seemed colorless in comparison to her serendipitous encounter. Everything seemed so dull, so lifeless… how she longed for that burst of passion, the incredible clarity, the unspeakable pleasures he provided with a mere touch…

Her sniffles slowly receded as she climbed underneath the satin covers, her lithe body still shuddering from the residual demonic power she had tasted. Star tousled back and forth in her sheets, her mind so utterly fascinated. “Who was he?” It dawned on her that she hadn’t even asked his name. She was spellbound by the incredible power that lay dormant inside of him, his potency shattering her mind.
“…and why was it getting so hot…” her body began sweating, even as she threw the sheets off. It was a cold night, the breeze blowing into her room. And yet, trickles of sweat dripped down her body, as if she had just run a marathon. She closed her eyes, trying to mentally block out the sudden heat wave she experienced. His instructions entered her mind, the same deep, commanding voice that haunted her every thought. “…Retire for the night. You will be given… further instructions.”
What seemed to be countless eons passed as her heated body stayed the inferno, until she felt the light-headedness slowly wrapping around her mind. Her consciousness slipped away even amid the scorching heat, feeling of weightlessness pervading her body. A sense of vertigo washed over her senses, her mind swirling with dizziness.
“What’s happening?” She wondered to herself, terrified. This was no normal dream, not even anything the most powerful elixir or potion could create. Her mind swam with nausea… she felt like vomiting…

And then it ended as soon as it began. The sickness passed, although the queasy feeling remained. Star opened her pale eyes, only to be seized in shock. The vaulted ceiling in her bedchamber was gone, replaced by an enormous dome comprised entirely of bones. Rib bones and femurs spiraled towards the center, where countless skulls stared with their empty eyes straight into her soul. Star screamed, her hands scrambling as she backed away from the monstrous sight, until her back slammed against the rough stone pillar. Gone were the elaborate gardens and magnificent sculptures that dotted the Queen’s Palace, now she was surrounded only be rough, unhewed crimson stone. It seemed like some sort of hellish citadel, constructed of bone and hellstone. What seemed to be obelisks were the only source of light, an unholy blood-red hue emanating from the entirety of the structure, demonic runes floating above them as if they were holographic. Star’s widened eyes watered as she curled up into a ball, her back against the jagged stone pillar. Suddenly she wished she had more covering, perhaps a robe. Anything to put in between her bare skin and the terror of this place.

It was then that she heard his voice. It seemed deeper, smoother, there was a mocking twist to it… but it was unmistakeable, it was his voice.
“Welcome to the world of dreams, my dear.” His voice held a sinister quality to it, no longer did it seem like Highborne speech. It seemed too… refined. It held such a commanding quality, such dominance and power. Star couldn’t help but surrender herself to the sound of his voice, she felt undeniably safer in his presence.
“I-Is that you? W-where am I?” Her speech quivered with fright. Star looked around, searching for the source of the voice, half eager to lay eyes on him again, half terrified of seeing what other horrors called this place home. “I-I’m scared, M-master…”

It was then that her eyes could see a figure in the long hallway. The flickering obelisk casted dancing shadows, an enormous pair of wings that spanned from one end of the room to the other. Vast, wicked looking horns sprouted from the shadow, its frame much larger than any mortal creature. It was easily twice the small Highborne girl’s size. Anetheron strode from the darkness into the blood-red light, his dreadlord form revealed in all its glory to Star. Her eyes bulged in disbelief as she studied his crimson eyes, his demonic face, so twisted with sheer evil, yet handsome at the same time. His massive leathery wings protruding from his muscled arms, his massive chest, his frightening size… it overwhelmed her thoughts, that this was the handsome young Highborne she offered herself to.
“Please tell me this is all a bad dream, please…” She covered her eyes as she began weeping.
The air visibly shook as the dreadlord approached Star, kneeling down to her.
“Don’t be afraid, my pet.” The dreadlord’s voice was reassuring, as reassuring as a demon lord could be. “I won’t harm you… as long as you obey me.” Anetheron stroked her wet cheek with a single claw, wiping away her tears. “The world of dreams will be the only way I will contact you… it is a dream, but it is far, far more real than you can ever imagine, my dear…”
Star choked as she sobbed, tears dribbling down her flawless face.
“You have tasted what I can bestow upon you, pet.” The dreadlord’s fiery aura shined with fervent intensity, transferring from his hand into her shuddering body. “And you want more… I know it in your heart. It feels good, doesn’t it, pet?”
Star nodded weakly, her watery eyes avoiding her Master’s.
Anetheron watched as her faint blue aura slowly began draining away into bloody crimson. “Now, pet…” Anetheron smirked as he watched. “How can you resist smiling…”
As if on command, Star’s sobs slowly turned into a creeping smile, her eyes shining with fervor, her tears drying, evaporating as the temperature of her body skyrocketed. The infusion of demon power was a thrill Star couldn’t get anywhere else, and she drank its potency hungrily. Her dainty arms wrapped around her demonic master, her arms not nearly reaching around him completely, but it felt so good to embrace him, to embrace the source of the addicting fuel that sparked life into her…
The dreadlord stroked her luxuriant lavender hair gingerly, taking care that his claws not slice his slave. “You will be rewarded tonight, pet, for your loyalty and devotion to me…”
His words sprang life into her heart, she was euphoric to hear the words “reward”. The power that coarsed through her veins was ample reward already, even if she had to slave away for her master for all eternity. Her eyes began tearing again, not out of fear, but out of love, out of sheer gratitude for her benevolent Master that treated her so kindly…