[https://i.imgur.com/GqnKN8x.jpg]

I must continue. She opens a large door, pushing it with all her strength, till it's open just enough for her to fit through. Her potion starts to wear off and she drinks another one. If you drink it before it completely dissipates, you don't have to throw up and feel ill.

There's 4 large pillars, covered in runic death symbols, and a small girl sitting on an altar in the center. However she doesn't wear any symbols of death. Beside her are two guards carrying magic staves with black crystals at the top. Their faces covered with masks.

Greetings follower, what may I assist you with? The girl says.

I'm looking for a scroll to remove my entrapment seal.

You don't need a scroll for that, I can do it for you she replies. All we need are some empty magic crystals.

One of the guards walks away.

Step forward.

Misa steps forward.

You're a half demon? That's odd. I thought we didn't have any of those.

Where are you from?

I better just tell the truth, I don't know what to say otherwise. I'm from the burial grounds originally.

Hmm. Interesting.

What is your name?

Misanthria.

My name is Hekate, I don't think we've met before.

Who are your parents?

I don't know, Misa says. I was raised as a slave, I've never met them.

As you probably already know most people don't think highly of half-demons. Can't say I disagree. If it was up to me they'd just be executed, then fed to dogs. It's better to remove them outright, that way they can't become a liability in the future.

I was adopted by a noble family so I never had to be a slave. They trained me in magic. I'm very talented in blood magic and won several combat tournaments, although I am banned from participating for the next 5 years. Hekate rests her head on her hand as she sits, then stares angrily into the distance.

Then she continues, but look at me now, I'm a high priestess, in fact I'm the youngest high priestess this temple has ever seen.

Why are you in the temple of death if you're a blood mage then? Misa asks her.

You don't want me here? I'm just kidding. The sect of blood is quite small at the moment and they didn't want me there so they arranged this for me instead.

Isn't it boring to work as a priestess when you like combat so much then? Misa asks. Hekate seems to like to talk about herself. It's clear she's a high status-type who has never faced any real negative consequences for her actions, she's so used to ass kissing from lower status people that it's inflated her sense of self-worth, at least that's how it comes across to Misa.

No, it's not so bad, we get to sacrifice people and kill intruders. Besides, I'm not allowed in the army. I failed the test of the spirit.

What's a test of spirit?

It's an idiotic test where they interview you and ask you questions about the past to determine if your character is fit for the army. Hekate's replies with a frustrated tone of voice.

Whatever, though, following orders would be horrible anyway. I rather do what I want.

The guard returns carrying a small white crystal.

Can you help me get away from Satharak? I don't like it here, I want to go somewhere else.

First you have to show me your allegiance. Kneel for me, then crawl over here and kiss my feet.

Misa does as she says, it's rather degrading, but it's not like she has any choice at this point.

Oh impressive. Your lips are very soft.

She turns to her guard. Give me your weapon. He hands his staff to Hekate.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Now, kill this guard, stab him in his heart to prove your loyalty.

The other guard interrupts, lady Hekate, this is highly inappropriate behaviour, I will have to inform the head priests if you don't cease this at once.

Hekate snaps. Don't tell me what I can and can't do you imbecile! You're supposed to obey me no matter what! Disloyal dog! Hekate raises her staff and its three red crystals start to glow, as she recites a spell. The guard tries to run away but starts bleeding from his eyes. He screams and falls to the floor, then he starts convulsing as blood leaks from his nose and ears. He twitches for about 15 seconds before he stops moving. Hekate laughs and calms down a little.

Misa's heart starts pumping faster, this isn't looking good, she's clearly deranged. The other guard doesn't look very comfortable anymore either, even behind his mask.

Hekate continues to speak. Now, kill this guard. He's unarmed, it should be easy. The guard kneels before Misa and pushes his chest forward. Make it quick, I don't want to suffer, he says. I am prepared to die for our god Zernebog.

Misa grabs her knife and prepares to stab him in the heart but at the last moment Hekate pushes the guard aside so that Misa misses and stabs him in his lung instead. Ah god, the pain. It hurts. Hekate starts to laugh. Hahaha, look at him. How pathetic. Come on Misa, stab him again.

Misa aims for his heart again, but Hekate kicks the man so he reflexively constricts his body and the knife ends in his face instead. Hekate bursts out laughing. It's so funny to her that she has tears in her eyes.

He'll bleed to death. See, being a high priestess isn't so bad. We get all sorts of entertainment. They don't let you do this in the military, well unless you invade foreign lands.

Misa can tell where this is going. Hekate isn't going to help her. She's just going to kill her too.

You made my day a little better. Plus it's cool that I got to meet another half-demon.

Misa interrupts her, look, I know you're just going to kill me after this, is there anything I can do so that you will just let me go or help me instead?

Hekate looks angrily. Kill you? What do you think? That I'm some sort of sadist? Okay, I am a sadist. It's why I'm here. It's so much fun. You get to torture people and watch them die. No matter how many times I do it it never gets boring. They don't even care what I do as long as I don't kill anyone that's important. There's so many people, they can be replaced. Satharak is overpopulated anyway.

Okay, honestly yes, I'm going to kill you. But now that you expected it, it ruins all the surprise.

You were funny though so I'll give you a painless death. Before Misa can speak, Hekate summons a black orb on Misa's head which instantly kills her.

Misa awakens in the altar room. She drinks another Sanguine potion and re-enters the room.

What the hell Misa? I just killed you? What did you.. YOU'VE BEEN SACRIFICING TO THE DEATH ALTARS

ARE YOU INSANE! Demons should never make a blood sacrifice to the death altars! You don't even know how much trouble we could get in if you do that!

Who told you to do that?! Who gave you an amulet?

I'm not going to tell you anything! Misa says. Just remove my seal!

No, never! I don't care if I have to kill you a 100 times. In fact, I'd enjoy it. Hekate summons a large red bubble around her as a protective shield.

Misa rushes forward and attempts to stab Hekate, but she summons a darkness orb to retaliate and kills Misa.

The next attempt Misa manages to run forward again to attack Hekate. However Hekate tries to use the blood spell control flesh to hinder Misa's movement so she can possibly remove the amulet from her. But the spell is unreliable and Misa is so enhanced by her Sanguine's potions effects that she can overpower it's effects easily. As Misa draws close Hekate is forced to kill her again in self defense by using her blood burst, forcefully ejecting the blood from Misa's body.

If I keep attacking her I will either overpower her eventually or she runs out of mana and has to give up.

On the 16th attempt Misa manages to stab Hekate in her chest. She falls to the floor.

Goddamnit! How could I lose to such a weakling. I'm running out of mana, my spells are becoming weak.. Okay Misa, you got me, I give up. Don't kill me. If you kill me you'll be just as bad of a person as I am, remember that. Give me one of those sanguine potions so I can recover my health and remove that seal from your back.

Okay Hekate, I'll give you the potion but don't do anything stupid. If you do anything besides removing my spell I'll just kill you.

Hekate takes a sip from her sanguine potion. Okay turn around so I can remove your seal.

As Misa turns around she senses that Hekate tries to snatch her amulet in a last ditch effort to defeat her, however she is prepared this time and she quickly turns around and stabs Hekate in her hand as it is grasping forward.

Aaaah that fucking hurts! Hekate cries in pain.

Then Misa stabs her in her chest again. Hekate struggles and tries to push Misa away.

Okay stop, STOP! I'll remove it already. Don't kill me, I'm too young to die. Tears form in Hekate's eyes which she wipes away with her non wounded arm. I'm sorry okay, she sobs. I hate losing. You only won because you cheated by using one of those amulets, AND you used potions, it's unfair!

Without her mana she is quite pathetic.

Stop talking and remove the wretched seal already! Misa commands her in anger.

Okay... Turn around.

Misa turns her back to Hekate who places her non-wounded hand above the seal whilst holding the crystal as she starts reciting a very long spell. Misa understands none of it. The seal starts to glow then gradually fades away.

Okay it's removed now. I did my part. Bye.

Misa turns around and stabs Hekate in her stomach.

Aaah! What the hell are you doing! I helped you! Are you screwing me over? Hekate tries to fight back by blocking with her staff but she's already so weakened she stands no chance at this point.

If you didn't kill your guards or if you just removed the spell when I asked you to, it wouldn't have come to this, Hekate.

How was I supposed to know that you had immortality? Hekate retaliates, frustrated.

Then Misa stabs her again in her throat. Hekate reflexively places her hand on her neck as blood sprays everywhere.

Goddamnit, wretched spawn, you rotten pest... betraying me...

Then she collapses in a puddle of her own blood and stops moving.