Sweat soaked Yayisha’s brow as she stood within the ten-foot radius summoning circle. The horned beast before her stood paralyzed with the smaller pentagram-filled circle directly in front of her, the lines of which were drawn in her own blood. The creature stood eye-level with Yayisha’s near six-feet, its bulbous red eyes the only part of its body that Yayisha allowed it to move.

Her mother stood on the outside of the circle, dressed in her usual white summoning pants and shirt, all of which seemed to cling to her mother’s figure. She said, “Impressive work. For once, your magic is both powerful and stable. Unlike your usual sloppiness.”

It had been hours since her last break, yet Yayisha felt fully refreshed. She hadn’t been able to detect Animus anywhere. She’d asked mother where he was, but Mother told him that he was sick and in bed. Mother lied to her so often. But this time, Yayisha knew she wasn’t being told the truth.

With Animus gone, she felt more powerful than ever before. I hope he never comes back. “I want to bind this one to me, mother.” Yayisha said. As she talked, she moved her arms and sealed the creature in a casing of summoned stone. The creature’s own magic would break the spell, but she only needed it to last while she spoke to mother.

After that was completed, Yayisha turned to meet her mother’s eyes. “I’m ready.”

“It’s your tenth binding of the day, daughter. Permanently binding this one to you will drain you. Are you certain?”

Yayisha nodded. She better say yes this time.

“Last time you failed.”

Of course she reminds me of that. “You hurled a bolt of energy at me while I was casting.”

Zelicia shrugged. “And if I do it again?”

Yayisha forced herself not to scowl, remembering the welts she’d often received for doing so. Instead, she turned back to her summoned demon, who had already cracked his stone prison, even though it was still paralyzed. Such power this creature has. I can’t wait until it is my pet. “I’m ready, mother.”

Very well. But daughter, I must ask—you suffer from none of your usual weakness. Did your loins finally stop aching for that boy? “

She’s trying to make me angry again, to get me to fail. Yayisha still loved Sterl, she also knew her mother would bring that up, so she had practiced answering that one in front of her mirror for an hour before bed last night. “He’s a cripple. I’ll find another to bed.”

Her mother never moved, yet a searing blade appeared and lashed her across the back. Yayisha grunted, refusing to scream. She was completely astounded. Mother didn’t even move her arms. How does she cast without somatics?

“You’re a poor liar, daughter. Yet your pain tolerance has grown. I’ll allow you to attempt to bind this creature.”

Another lash raked Yayisha’s back, this one more painful than any she had ever received. Though she tried to remain quiet, Yayisha shrieked and fell to her knees. Another lash followed, even more painful. Gods how I hate her.

“Stop it, mother. Please!”

The creature in front of her broke free from its stone prison. Because she wasn’t concentrating, its arms and torso lurched toward her. Gray-fingered claws, each longer than her entire hand, swiped at her.

Yayisha raised both hands and whispered, “Aiom” Air solidified in front of her as the claws descended. Sparks showered the air in front of her as first one, then the other set of claws bounced off the invisible barrier.

Another lash struck her back, his one wrapping around her side to the front of her stomach. Why is she attacking me! Yayisha willed herself to be quiet while she forced herself to concentrate. She extended her other hand sideways and yelled, “Formud!”

A surge of black force shot from her hand and struck the creature’s chest. It splattered and coated the creature in a black tar that coated its arms and legs in sludge. It slowed the creature’s every movement.

Quickly Yayisha stood, keeping both hands in front of her. She stepped toward the creature, the barrier in front of her moving forward, forcing the creature’s backward until it stood straight once more. All the while she kept the black sludge pouring onto the creature. With her foot she kicked he creature’s midsection. As soon as she touched the creature, she muttered the binding. “Bloomar OatAme."

The black force coming from her hand transformed to fire. The blood from the pentagram, which Yayisha had drawn with her own blood, shot onto the creature’s leg, chest, and arms, its mark replacing the creature’s gray skin where it marked the creature. The demon hissed and growled as it was bathed in black and red flames. Only seconds passed before the creature fell to its knees, head bowed and resting upon the floor.

Yayisha felt the creature cease its struggles. She stepped away from it and out of the outlying circle, careful to step over it and not to scrape it. All the while the creature never moved.

Once outside, Yayisha’s eyes found her mother, who stood on the opposite side of the summoning circle. She’s smiling. Does that mean she’s proud? Or angry that I succeeded? “I’ve done it, mother. The creature is bound to me so long as it walks this world.”

“A success for you. Finally,” Mother said.

Finally? Yayisha stood straighter then gasped. Her own white summoner’s shirt was soaked in her own blood across the stomach. She felt the stickiness of her own blood across her back. “Why did you punish me, mother? I’ve accomplished something I’ve never done before and—.”

Another lash caught her this time, this one right across her face. Yayisha tasted her own blood, which filled her own mouth. She spit it out, then felt the deep welt across her cheek. Yayisha whirled toward her mother and extended her hands toward her. Black fire rolled from her fingertips. I’ll kill her!

Yet Zelicia disappeared and the black fired did nothing but scorch the far wall.

She’s never disappeared before. Where is she?

Yayisha whirled toward the door. Standing there was mother who was talking to her latest Captain of the guards. Renee. That woman sneers at me as if I’m filth. I’ll destroy her, too. She shot another black line of fire at her mother.

With a simple backhanded motion, Zelicia deflected the attack to the far wall, only the fire ricocheted off of it and shot directly back at Yayisha.

How did she do that? Quickly Yayisha’s rose her own shield, which blocked the fire that would have seared her alive and knocked her across the room. Instead, her shield absorbed the energy, though the force still pushed her back several feet.

The young woman felt pride. It was rare when she could block her mother’s counterattack. Quickly Yayisha struck. She brought her hands over her head, willing herself to summon a bolt of force lightning, a spell that could bypass mother’s normal air defenses she always used against Yayisha’s attacks. A spell mother doesn’t know I’ve been practicing on my own. That she’s never taught me. It will stun her long enough so I can dominate the bitch. Then she’ll have to teach me everything I wish to learn on my terms.

As Yayisha drew her hand back, a huge hand encompass her hand, wrist, and forearm. Yayisha turned to see a monstrous demon towering over her. Its six leathery hands whirled her around before she could act, grabbing her by her arms, legs, chest and waist simultaneously. It drove her to the ground onto her back. Its eyes were in its shoulders, two red bulbs similar to her own summoned creature, only twice as enormous. Three separate mouths covered its torso, yellowed fangs jutting from each of them.

The lashes on her back soared in intensity as the demon skidded her across the ground. One of its mouths vomited green bile upon her. Where it hit her unbroken skin, it numbed Yayisha’s skin. When the saliva coated her stomach where mother had gashed her, the wound burned with such ferocity that Yayisha passed out from the pain.

Yet, before she did, she suddenly saw mother standing over her, the demon gone. Had I imagined it?

“You spilled blood within the summoning circle, which kept the path to the Nether opened. You’re recklessness let that creature loose. Luckily I was here to keep the creature in check.”

Yayisha wanted to yell, to curse her mother. Yet she couldn’t seem to move. You bitch! You made me bleed. And you dare blame me?

Above her, Zelicia smiled. “Foolish girl. You’re strong but reckless. You dare seek to attain power which I’m not ready to teach?”

Her mother reached down and turned Yayisha’s head toward the summoning circle. The Pit Demon was still within the circle. And it was feeding on her newly bound demon. Shredding it to non-existence.

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“This day you’ve forced me to bind a Pit Demon to me. A hungry Pit Demon. The only way to control them is to feed them. Or give them foolish young sorceresses. Do you know what Pit Demon’s do to those that use magic? They lay eggs in them that take years to hatch. Painful years. The eggs grow into you, sucking your magic dry. And you have a lot of magic daughter.”

She wouldn’t.

Above her, though she could no longer see her, Yayisha heard her mother laugh. How I hate you, mother. Once day, I’ll feed you to a demon. One more powerful that yours. One that I command.

The saliva reached the wounds on her back. Yayisha succumbed and eventually lost consciousness.

Yayisha awoke, not in the summoning chamber deep below the temple, but in her bedroom. She was laying on her uninjured side, uncovered and completely naked, feeling vulnerable. Was it a dream?

One look down at her body answered that question. The lash on her side was still angry and red.

Mother had beaten her often, sometimes leaving the wounds untreated for days, forcing Yayisha to deal with the discomfort. Once, Yayisha healed them herself without mother’s approval. That very night she awoke hung in an unfamiliar room, hanging by manacles cinched to her wrists, lashed from head to toe, covered in a light bed sheet. Once an hour, someone came in the room and doused her with salt water. Never have I felt so humiliated. After that night, Yayisha never dared heal herself again.

Images of the Pit Demon haunted her mind. She remembered the power of the creature, how helpless she felt. The creature dominated me. Overcame me with such ease. The power of it! If I could summon a creature such as that, I’d be able to do whatever I pleased.

Quickly Yayisha felt her cheek and sighed in relief. The lash on her face had been fully healed. Her back still burned, as did her side, yet not as badly as she feared it would.

“I’ve covered them in Alia cream,” a familiar woman’s voice said.

The servant woman Vara. “Where is mother?”

From behind her, Vara said, “I do not know. She said you’d been injured. That I was to treat your wounds. I am to meet your every need, and that I am not to leave your side until she returned.”

“She said those specific words?” Yayisha asked.

“Yes, my lady. She was very specific. Insistent.”

I can hear the fear in Vara’s voice. “What if I wish you to leave me alone?”

“I—I cannot.”

“If I bathe?”

“I must be in the room with you.”

Yayisha scowled. Mother knows I hate servants. “Come around here so I can see your face.”

“Yes, milady.” Vara walked around the bed to stand in front of her. Mother had dressed her in brown pants and a half-shirt, both garments tight enough to show the woman’s every curve. And she had nice curves. Yayisha saw men looking at Vara as she walked past them. She’d heard the guards muttering what they’d like to do to Vara, both the men and the women alike. The fat priest used to own her, but Mother owns her now.

Yayisha admired Vara’s looks for a moment. Mother said nothing about me not being able to get pleasure from a woman. Just men. Is that why mother sent Vara to me?

“Did mother tell you what happened to me?”

“N-No,” Vara said.

Yayisha made herself sit up in bed. Her wounds stung, yet were tolerable. She swung her legs over the bed and looked up at the blonde woman. “Do I frighten you, servant?”

Vara nodded.

Yayisha stood and gripped Vara’s chin. “Look at me.”

Vara raised her chin and met Yayisha’s stare.

“Answer me when I speak to you. Are you scared of me?”

“I’d be a fool not to be,” Vara said.

Yayisha grinned. Smart and pretty. Is that defiance in her eyes? That could be fun.

Suddenly, Yayisha felt for the shroud of detection mother usually blanketed her with. It was gone. But is mother really out of range? Or is it a test?

There was only one way to find out. She had to use her magic. If mother was still there, Yayisha knew she’d quickly appear to punish her.

Yayisha took a step toward Vara. She was surprised when Vara didn’t back up. Yayisha closed the space between then until she was barely a hands breathe from Vara. Still gripping the servant’s chin, Yayisha directed Vara’s gaze up to her own. “Do you find me attractive, servant?”

Vara quivered. Yayisha gripped Vara’s forearm and felt the woman’s goose bumps.

“Answer me, servant.”

Vara opened her mouth, “I—uh, y-yes.”

Is she lying? Oh, I guess not. Yayisha saw Vara’s nipple become hard and make themselves apparent through the half shirt. Feeling a sense of ownership, Yayisha hand when up Vara’s shirt and gripped her bare breast. She nestled the servant’s nipple between her fingers. Vara breathed heavily, a slight groan escaping her lips.

Yayisha leaned toward Vara and allowed her lips to touch her own. She kissed her briefly, then stood straight again, considering. I feel nothing for the woman. Perhaps this will help…

Yayisha summoned her magic and lifted Vara slightly off the ground. She mumbled, “Slicoclot” (Slice off her Clothes.) In an instant, all of Vara’s clothing was shredded. It fell to the floor, leaving Vara just as naked at Yayisha. For a moment, Yayisha admired the servant woman’s body, turning Vara in a circle in the air. Vara’s firm body and tight, rounded buttocks made it apparent that the clothes did not mask any flaws, for Yayisha could see none. Still, Yayisha felt little attraction.

Yayisha dropped Vara back to her feet. She put her hand to her lips and waited for mother to burst into the room. Yet, there was nothing. She must have really left Haver. Probably off to find Animus. I wonder for how she’ll be gone?

Yayisha’s mind rolled, thinking of what she could do in the woman’s absence. Pondering what she could get away with. She thought of exploring the depths of the temple, yet knew mother would have warded them against her curiosities.

Yayisha waived Vara to the door. “Are there guards outside the door?”

Vara shook her head. “No, not when I came in.”

“Go check.”

Vara did as she was bid while Yayisha walked over to her window, from which she could see Haver. Below, guards were stationed around the temple, every ten feet. Hmm. Mother will surely have told me to escort me if I went into town. They’ll report my every move.

Then the thought occurred to her. She turned around. “Any guards?”

Vara, still naked yet not even attempting to cover herself, said, “No guards at the door or down the hallway.”

Yayisha grinned. “Is Sterl still here in the temple?” But she already knew the answer. He was, for she walked by and peeked in his door every day.

“Yes, my lady. “He is. Doing much better. He’s up and walking and eating regular meals again.”

“You will go and get him for me,” Yayisha said. “Then meet me on the roof.”

Vara’s eyes widened. “But your mother said I must stay with you.”

“We’ll both go. But only you can go in his room and get him, not me.” Mother has warded that room against me. Doesn’t want me seeing Sterl. But she’s given me a way around that. “You will go in and get him for me and take him to the roof.”

“What if he asks why?”

“Tell him the fat priest said he needs some fresh air,” Yayisha said.

“But—.”

“Mother told you to do what I asked, did she not?”

Vara nodded.

Yayisha walked back over to Vara, gripped the woman by the back of her head and looked her in the eyes. “When we get to the rooftop, you’ll do whatever I ask. Is that understood?”

Vara nodded.

Yayisha put her hand between the servant’s breasts and listened to her rapidly beating heart. She whispered, “Do as I tell you without hesitation. And I’ll make certain you’re rewarded.”

Vara swallowed. “Y-yes, my lady.”

Yayisha released her and motioned toward the closet. “Get us some loose-fitting clothes. Dress yourself, then assist me. Then I’m going to ask you a favor.”

Vara’s eyes widened. “A favor of me?”

Yayisha nodded.

“What kind of favor?” Vara asked.

Yayisha, for the first time that night, felt aroused. “You’re going to teach me everything you know about pleasuring a man.”