Otonia stared after Lysisa as she hurried through the Main Entrance. She observed the Initiate pacing when first arriving to take over guard duty and then pleasantly surprised when Lysisa delivered a quick hug and glowing smile in greeting. The Initiate’s usual sombreness absent, perhaps her destruction of the fear or maybe her dalliance with Sweetears, sweeter now? Otonia chuckled at her thought.
---
Lysisa, because of great need, half-walked, half-ran to catch Alcmene as she swept through the Main Cavern at least a quarter of a bell before Otonia. She plans to discuss her virginity with both Alcmene and Alexa. Now an ideal opportunity as Alexa would be waiting like her for the shift changeover.
As Lysisa distanced herself from the flickering torchlight of the Main Entrance, the darkness enveloped her. She needed to chase forward, and yet the night blinded her.
“Mistress, allow me to grant a small boon,” crooned Melasia.
Shortly after Lysisa’s consent, her vision adjusted, and the night blindness rolled back, replaced by shades of grey, the path before her crystal clear, and she surged forward, glimpsing Alcmene in the distance.
Alcmene and Alexa conversed, Lysisa was certain as they moved their hands occasionally and nodded, yet neither spoke, although on more than one occasion, they held hands. Not in an affectionate way or even as a greeting, which confounded the Initiate and caused her to pause and observe instead of greeting them both as she planned.
When they hugged, she realised Alexa would soon leave at shift end. Lysisa sprang from her spying stupor in a mild panic blurting out the first words which came into her head.
“I am a virgin!”
Both Seer Sisters gazed at the interloper, neither realising someone lurked about, pleased they decided to Seer Link their conversation.
Alcmene was the first to question. “How can you be sure after being so certain you weren’t Sister?”
Lysisa halted her charge, stunned by the question. How could she? Did she need to tell them about Melasia? Course she did, having promised to tell Alexa and Thais. Why did she feel uncomfortable doing so? Both blank stare at her, waiting.
“My servant told me, erm … showed me …” Lysisa lost control of her breathing, wringing her hands. “The sapphire, in there. With the other in the other sapphire.”
As her eyes closed, a gentle hand cupped each cheek, the body warmth of Alcmene and Alexa a reassuring comfort.
In gentle whispers, their synchronised voices encouraged her to still her thoughts. “You are safe, pause and collect your thoughts and speak when you’re ready and start from the start.”
“We know of the Mage. The other is new. It seems the sapphires can capture or preserve souls. However, the explanation of how is beyond us,” sent Alexa to Alcmene. Their caressing of Lysisa’s cheek is comforting. It enables the Seer Sisters to discern emotions and ‘loud’ thoughts of any within touching distance of the flesh.
The two Seers deliberate in their positioning. Both face the distraught Initiate while secretly holding hands, the folds of Alcmene’s Seer Robe aiding the concealment while their other hands provide physical contact with their subject.
“Their presence I can sense, although both are confined, which means our Initiate has developed some skill to manage her guests, it would seem,” sent Alcmene.
“Perhaps a change of plan then, not the Mage but the other, clearly the stronger of the two.”
“While the Mage is opportunistic, there is an evil within the other, although if our Initiate can control the other, I would suspect a higher chance of success,” sent Alcmene.
“Should we wake Clymene or Niobe as we will need another for the Watch if nothing else,” sent Alexa, a hint of amusement echoing across their physical Seer Link.
“… pretended to be another of the Master’s servants and fed her a dream, the one… where I service the men in the barracks…”
“We could ask Lysisa to confess to Clymene and Niobe in the morning…”
“Coward! Who is afraid of their twin, I wonder?” Alexa teased Alcmene, knowing Clymene as Mistress of the House an authority figure, although if the Temple-trained Seer Twins held any jealousy, none openly manifested.
“No, I would enjoy the chance, except both of us are coping with the blessing pain.”
“… I witnessed, well, I saw you all naked, and although Jocasta tried to assure me, I couldn’t accept. I heard rumours, but …”
Alexa read some of the elder’s books, which clearly stated the order and ownership of certain known truths. “I thought Birth Season owned conception. How can your body do so in Death Season?”
“Alexis suffered blessing pain during the pursuit, so earlier than Clymene and me, a mystery for now. Although without further evidence, perhaps an indication evil is weakening across the land somehow.”
“I would cherish that explanation, however impossible! For now, you ask Clymene, and I will ask Niobe, and hopefully, one will accept?”
“… sort solace in the fear and darkness and confident I pretended to be one the Master’s servants again…”
“Agreed,” sent Alcmene, sighing.
“Sorry, Sister, I know I shouldn’t have, I needed to escape what I had seen, and well, I didn’t see the harm.” Lysisa sniffed.
Alcmene blinked and then realised Lysisa assumed, rightly although incorrectly, she sighed because of the Initiate’s action in the retelling.
Kissing Lysisa’s forehead, Alcmene whispered, “So brave and yet dangerous. You need to take care when exploring the unknown. Please continue.”
Alexa squeezed Alcmene’s hand, threw her a mental chuckle, and then tried to Seer Link to Niobe. “Niobe, sweet Niobe, can you wake for me?”
Alcmene squeezed back before Seer Linking to Clymene. “I know you suffer, Twin, although perhaps you should venture to the Southern Wall. Our newest Initiate believes she is a virgin still!”
“… I confess my foolishness, the evil proved my equal at least, perhaps stronger, and then the link to her Master faded. I assume the Mage as he gloats when he and Melasia are permitted freedom to speak and use magic. Without the link, Melasia’s body collapsed to dust and she sort survival, finding the sapphire probably due to the evilness of the previous owner.”
Seeing the need for rest, Alcmene led Lysisa by the hand to the makeshift guard’s camp, bedroll, waterskin and a modest store of dried meat. Alexa yawned and shook her head while following.
Lysisa leant against the wall and took a swig of the waterskin, then tore the offered portion of dried meat in half so she could place the entire piece in her mouth and begin the chewing. Alexa laid out upon the bedroll and drew the single blanket over her while Alcmene mentally tsked.
Once she finished the night snack, Lysisa continued to describe Melasia and the sharing of vampire powers, including the animating of a Walking Dead, healing and her night vision, to name a few. She occasionally interrupted Alcmene’s questioning when she remembered something else. Alcmene, for her part, established a Seer Circle with Clymene and Niobe as they both decided to join the discovery confession.
“The sapphire Item is still in position? Absorbing the blood from your blessing pain?” asked Alcmene. Her eyebrows and voice pitch high.
“Yes … yes, Sister, the virginal blood empowers Melasia…”
Alcmene wrinkled her nose. “Can she accumulate enough to overpower you?”
Lysisa looked down, noticing her fingers lacing and unlacing and laying them upon her thighs to still them. “She has sworn a blood bond with me. Nevertheless, I can deny her voice and magic, which imprisons her within the gem as she is now. She is not privy to my confession or our discussion.”
“How do you still see in the dark without her assistance?”
Her fingernails scratched the leather of her pants. “She explained. The vampiric power is granted for a duration based upon her blood empowerment.”
Clymene asked, “Do you wish to serve the Goddess Saph as a Seer again?”
Lysisa jumped. Instead of Alcmene holding one of her hands, the Initiate almost leapt into Alcmene’s lap. Nevertheless, both of Lysisa’s hands held onto Alcmene’s, and after her eyes rose to meet Alcmene’s for assurance, Lysisa climbed to her feet, back straight and chin up with one hand firmly grasping Alcmene’s.
“I would be honoured to serve the Goddess Saph as a Seer and will succeed at any training and tasks required.”
Clymene tried to hold her hand up, palm out to temper the Initiate’s words, failing. Some knew of her relationship with Sweetears and thought this might complicate … things.
“You know what you witnessed in the House will form most of your training. You will be required to have sex with your Seer Sisters. Can you accept this? Can Sweetears accept this?”
Would Sweetears accept? Lysisa’s life purpose before Twin Loss required service to Saph as a Seer. Nothing else would matter. Yet, Sweetears, in Lysisa’s darkest, weak moments, rescued her, unselfish, finding beauty where others found ugliness. Melasia’s debauchery held no meaning to her, a requirement to grow her power and serve her Master. Her servicing of the guards in the barracks had no meaning, a necessity to survive without torment. Then, of course, the Daughters themselves all participated in the orgy and yet clearly, particular Sisters hold affection for other Sisters above and beyond what is required as a Seer or non-Seer for that matter. Could Sweetears accept?
“It is well she deliberates, Sisters,” sent Niobe to the impromptu Seer Circle of Alcmene, Clymene and herself, with a napping Alexa semi-aware.
As doubt grew, a salacious inner voice spoke to Lysisa, take this opportunity and fulfil your purpose to serve Saph as a Seer. If Sweetears loves you, she will understand the difference between sexing and lovemaking…
Lysisa stepped forward and kissed Clymene hungrily on her rosebud lips. Clymene’s eyes flew wide open, her body unable to retreat as Lysisa’s warrior hands surrounded the Seer’s bald head, locking her in place. Clymene’s hands flailed about until they found some purchase on Lysisa’s body and gently pushed back.
“Your face Seer Sister, there aren’t enough coins in the Dukedom to pay me to forget!” sent Niobe.
“Why aren’t you helping?” sent Clymene. The plea such, Clymene shared her discomfort across their Seer Circle. Alexa waking with a start, fearing an attack or other calamity and laughing through sleepy eyes at the locked embrace.
Alcmene was more practical, jumping to her feet and placing a hand on each of Lysisa’s cheeks from behind her head. “Enough Initiate, Clymene needs to breathe.”
Like lightning, Lysisa released Clymene, apologising profusely while patting down the Seer’s shoulders and upper arms. Busy, she inadvertently swipes one of Clymene’s breasts as the Seer turns away slightly from the exuberant attention. The intimate contact causes Lysisa to raise her hands up and away as if stung, turning her head away.
Alcmene embraced Lysisa around her shoulders from behind, whispering, “Settle, Sister, calm. In fact, your first lesson begins now. Lay down and be still.”
Lysisa embraced the instruction and laid down upon the cold stone at her feet, arms by her sides, body almost stiff as a plank. Alcmene thought to instruct further when Clymene intervened.
“No, Sister, leave her be. We need to make some preparations.” Clymene shivered slightly as a chill breeze reached over the Southern Wall.
---
The Initiate Seer recognised the room instantly upon entering. The room Sweetears crafted for her, in the end for them and their first tryst in the Cavern Blind barracks. She wanted to run, almost anywhere else, she thought and yet, Clymene, Niobe and Alexa looked on expectantly. Oddly the ‘owners’ Dirce, Drosis, and Agape weren’t to be seen, while Alcmene remained on guard duty.
“Niobe and Alexa will remove your armour and clothes. When naked, you will lay upon the furs and blankets. You will first Seer Link to Niobe.” Lysisa opened her mouth, and Clymene waved her silent. “I will be the voice while Niobe introduces you to the techniques.”
Clymene waited, a slight smile on her lips as Niobe pranced around in anticipation, Lysisa’s warrior body perfect. Clymene’s eyes traced the wine stain, across one side of her face, down her neck and flowing over her collar bone and splashing the top curve of her breast. The contrast in complexion is dramatic. Clymene at once compared to Nysa’s, although hers being hidden presented a different issue upon being revealed. Lysisa’s known to all until covered up by disguise.
Niobe laid down naked and positioned the top of her head to touch the top of Lysisa’s.
“Lysisa, what I ask may seem hurtful. I apologise in advance, and please be assured I mean no harm. Reach out with your mind and form your Seer Link, like you would if about to contact your twin sister.”
“Why? My Sister is dead. This doesn’t seem respectful somehow,” she wavered.
“Niobe is trying to be your new Seer Sister. Imagine extending your Seer Link from your mind through the top of your head, reaching for the inside of Niobe’s mind,” whispered Clymene.
Lysisa blinked, unable to see anyone. They had faced her away from the entrance. She considered releasing Melasia to ask for advice and then discarded the thought. What did a vampire know about Seers?
“Try, be brave. What we say is either true or false, never hurtful.”
Lysisa formed her Seer Link within her mind and then, like a seeking tendril, explored beyond. She didn’t need to make the link thin with their heads in contact. Further reach required a thin tendril. The more accomplished Seers could thin their Seer Link and narrow again, enabling a distant connection, a sign of Seer Skill. Lysisa’s Seer Link tendril searched and found darkness. How could this work? With her twin, their ‘link ends’ sought each other out until joyous union, two halves seeking to be whole, needing to be complete. Doubt crept in. Did she somehow fail? Did the Goddess still curse her?
Niobe’s sweet voice whispered to her, “Keep searching, keep exploring. There is nothing to fear. We can try again and again.”
Lysisa’s tendril searched until the darkness ended, and once past the edge, realised a wrongness and hurried back into the dark. She then followed the edge around, discovering a wide circle of darkness. Could this be Niobe’s Seer Link tendril? Lysisa and her Seer Twin were an accomplished pair, yet Niobe’s Seer Link’ end’ suggested the capacity of her Seer Skill … Lysisa would be the pumpkin seed, while Niobe the entire pumpkin in comparison. How?
The darkness reached out, trying to grasp Lysisa’s offered presence. The touch of the other Seer Link tendril was unfamiliar and unnatural and yet the same in many ways, like forgotten friends reintroducing themselves after many years apart. When Lysisa accepted one of the offers, the Seer Link formed.
“Welcome, Seer Sister,” sent Niobe.
Lysisa placed her hands over her face in relief, and the interruption broke the Seer Link. Her head tossed from side to side as her hands bawled up into fists. Her eyes opened wide as Clymene quickly straddled her and held her fists.
“You can try again. One broken link attempt isn’t the end.” Clymene pressed her lips upon Lysisa’s and released them. “Concentrate, form your Seer Link and find Niobe.”
Lysisa closed her eyes as a realisation dawned upon her. As twins, each needed the seeking nature of their Seer Links, being thin. Blindly joining would be impossible or supremely frustrating, with many giving up the attempt. Being in contact, their minds as close as physically possible, when her thin Seer Link projected out blindly, Niobe’s colossal Seer Link would, without fail, ‘catch’ whatever reached her. The unanswered question teased her: How did Niobe grow her Seer Skill to such an impossible extent …
Clymene teased Lysisa’s nipples with her teeth, distracting her deliberations.
Lysisa’s eyes shot open, her mouth open wide, sucking in a deep breath.
Clymene smiled down upon her captive. “I am beginning the second lesson early.”
Lysisa gulped, her mind turning back to the orgy. Clymene and also Alcmene, for that matter, were particularly ‘busy’.
---
A sheen of sweat covered Lysisa’s naked body, her chest rising and falling rapidly, trying to suck in as many breaths as possible before Alcmene attended to her again. The Seer Twins share guard duty and pleasure duty. In desperation, Lysisa released Melasia, commanding her to consume a portion of her vampiric power to revitalise her Mistress’ tired body. The tiredness resulted from her selfishness, holding her orgasms to herself instead of sending them to Niobe. For the Single Seer, her orgasm was a worldly awakening from what she believed sexing, let alone lovemaking, capable of delivering. She simply didn’t know and couldn’t wait to educate Sweetears if they still shared a relationship.
Alcmene commenced again, a mischievous smile gracing her lips. With Melasia released, the servant took the initiative and utilised her vampiric power, engorging and enhancing the sensitive erogenous regions of her Mistress while subtly revitalising her. As a reward, her Mistress shared everything using their tether.
“Mistress, the one pleasuring you, bring me closer to her womanhood.”
Lysisa released to Niobe and panted. “Why?”
“I … sense … other blood …”
“My blood unsatisfactory then?”
“No, Mistress, never! Favoured I am when I absorb your virginal blood … your … your flow has faltered for now. I apologise, Mistress, for my voracious appetite …”
“Revitalise me, and I will throw my Seer Sister off, launch myself upon her, and tend to her body for a change.”
Lysisa enjoyed Melasia’s delight in the proposed conspiracy.
Alcmene worried one of Lysisa’s nipples with her teeth while a hand fondled her breast, and the other reached between the Initiate’s legs while precariously balanced. Lysisa’s core muscles bunched as she heaved Alcmene off and over. The Seer Sister froze, her eyes wide in disbelief. Lysisa climbed over her Seer Sister until gaining a straddle position.
The Seer Sister struggled to win her freedom, failing as Lysisa’s thighs clamped around protesting legs and Lysisa’s hands stretched out Alcmene’s arms above her head.
“No, Sister, I am bleeding through the blessing pain. After, and I am sure I would welcome your attentions.”
“I need a pause from your attentions, Sister, so just some teasing practice for the future …” moaned Lysisa.
Alcmene smiled and closed her eyes. “We are taking a break, Sister,” sent Alcmene to Niobe.
“I noticed your change of position and wondered. Our new Initiate has extended our Seer Link across the room and probably doesn’t realise. Not saying unusual Skill by any means, although very satisfactory wouldn’t you agree?”
“Mistress, reposition my gem to the folds of your womanhood and then adopt this position …”
An image reached Lysisa’s mind, and the naive Seer blanched for a moment. Alcmene did not miss the pause.
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“You tired, Lysisa?”
“No, just a moment and I will have a surprise for you …” To distract, she removed the Seer Twin’s breast wrap.
Lysisa repositioned the gem, not without discomfort and oddly pleasurable at specific locations, then lowered her groin to align with Alcmene’s.
“Mistress, I sense her blood but cannot drink my fill.” By declaring her frustration, Lysisa knew how she could tease her servant easily in the future.
Lysisa removed Alcmene’s loin cloth and ground her womanhood against Alcmene’s.
“Lysisa, my blood ...” whimpered Alcmene.
“Mistress, you tease me horribly, I am dedicated to your service, and I only taste drops.”
Concentrating, Lysisa moved her servant’s gem once last time. The pain was bearable due to the sharing of Melasia’s vampiric vitality.
“Mistress, I am drinking my fill. Are all here virgins, Mistress?” The question is one of awe and wonders as Lysisa sense’s her servant trying to imagine and understand what the answer could mean.
“What do you think?”
She felt Melasia shudder in delight.
Then Alcmene made an unusual comment. “Your lips are on mine or near. One hand is upon my scalp, and your other is teasing my breast. We are alone, so what or who is delightfully stroking my womanhood?”
“I am sorry, Mistress, your servant, lusts after more blood. Your womanly folds stretch, and I can intricately manipulate my gem in this search. My gem has occasionally stroked the sensitive nub of your current partner in this search.”
“Manipulate how?”
“Engorged with virgin blood, with a force of will … I can move the gem you permit me to inhabit. The gem is melded to your skin while the folds stretch, allowing some … movement.”
“We will talk about this later, but for now, be more deliberate about its movements when you sense the time is right.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Lysisa rolled Alcmene, so the Seer Twin straddled Lysisa’s hips.
“Look down, and you will see my attuned gem.”
Uncertain but wanting to know, Alcmene looked down, spying the blue gem in the folds of Lysisa’s womanhood, although proud.
“I can move it …”
“I understand. More please,” exhaled Alcmene as she ground her loins upon Lysisa’s.
Alcmene’s Seer Link dwarfed even Niobe’s, and Lysisa easily connected with the Seer Twin.
“Will you be in demand, Mistress, and therefore, will I be drinking the blood of virgins often?”
Lysisa could feel through their tether the anticipation within her servant. This grew into a pent-up frustration and a desperate need to know.
“Yes, my loyal servant.”
Then Alcmene released her orgasm. Lysisa knew this because Alcmene pushed her pleasure into Lysisa’s mind. She and her servant screamed in delight, Lysisa’s body bucking, ignoring Alcmene’s weight upon her loins. With Alcmene’s and Melasia’s help, Lysisa shortly after released her orgasm to Alcmene and sated, Lysisa rolled away.
“Most satisfying.” Alcmene sucked in a breath. “Although, where did the blood from my bleeding go?”
“I am hesitant to say ... my gem absorbs ...”
“Do you know what that means?”
“I have only just made the discovery, so I need to talk to Mistress and the twins before I speak of it again.”
As Alcmene inspected her clean loincloth, she glanced again at Lysisa and then continued to dress while in contact with her Seer Twin, who expressed her eagerness to sample the new experience.
“How do I share with you?” asked a timid female voice.
Lysisa raised her upper body, crunching her core muscles, then rested back on her elbows. Alexa was no longer present, and Alcmene went to swap with Clymene, which left Niobe dozing off in the corner. With her fatigue taken care of by Melasia, Lysisa eyed Niobe off as another partner.
Niobe released to Lysisa several times before exhaustion forced her to roll away. Grabbing the edge of a fur rug, she rolled and wrapped herself up to cover her naked body. Lysisa called upon Melasia to re-energise her Mistress.
“How do I share with you?” asked a timid female voice.
Alcmene and Clymene approached Lysisa together. Who guarded the Southern Wall, wondered the Initiate? This concern was quickly discarded as the unbridled desire radiating from the Seer Twins made Lysisa nervous. While Alexa and Thais were known as twins, Alcmene and Clymene were Temple-trained Seer twins, two who acted as one in all things. In appearance, both are bald, faces unblemished and near indistinguishable. Lysisa guessed Alcmene, the twin on the right, as she licked her lips when their eyes met.
Two mouths, four hands, four legs and two loins pleasured effectively together, which Lysisa appreciated and screamed her release to them. Lysisa satisfied Clymene first and then Alcmene, and after several repeats, she grinned inwardly and released to Melasia using their shared tether.
Thank you,” whispered a timid female voice.
“Are you able to release at a distance?” asked Clymene.
Oh, thought Lysisa, she forgot they were Adept Seers.
“I … I haven’t tried, Sister.”
“With practice, you will be able to, useful for delivering surprises,” said Clymene, a playful humour behind each word.
While Alcmene and Clymene dressed, Melasia kept her silence. When both Seers hurried to their duties, Clymene returned to the House and Alcmene to the Southern Wall, her servant still uncontactable.
Incapacitated by exhaustion, Lysisa began searching for her servant with her mind, starting with her gem!
“I am aware, Mistress … your pitiful servant is indisposed.” Then Lysisa felt Melasia scream in pleasure and almost screamed herself. The next release was less intense, racking her body, nevertheless.
“With a body, I would exhaust, but I don’t have one, and much virgin blood empowers me.”
Again, although the intensity is less than the previous release, Lysisa curls her toes in response.
“I am still enjoying your gift, Mistress, but have been able to divert a portion.”
“Explain and fix me.” There is a frustrated edge to Lysisa’s command.
“Sorry, Mistress.”
Lysisa felt invigorated again.
“When you released your passion to me, I also savoured the same, directly. I am separate but joined to you, the double intensity overwhelmed me, and I don’t occupy a body to dissipate the pleasure. Before I lost my mind, I did what you did and released as much of my passion as possible. Even so, I was still caught in absolute bliss.”
Lysisa could sense the tremors of pleasure still moving through Melasia. Then she realised she needed to ask a question.
“Who did you release to?”
“While I abhor the unworthy and disloyal worm, he was the only one I could contact, although he was asking as a she. Did you not hear him or her trying to get our attention? So, I don’t know of his or her present state, Mistress.”
Lysisa laughed.
“The disloyal cannot be rewarded, Mistress. They should be punished.”
Lysisa climbed the steps to the roof, unsealing the “door” first so she could catch the weak dawn sunshine upon her nakedness, brazen and uncaring. She fed the worm a trickle of magic and nudged his, or was it her mind?
“Speak.”
“I am trying to, but I am confused as to who I am.” The captor spoke in a mix of masculine and feminine voices.
“Why has your female past resurfaced?”
“My male past cannot interpret female pleasure, although he was in control until the final direct release.” The words were entirely spoken in a female voice.
“Will you be any more loyal than him?”
“I don’t see how I can or cannot be loyal. I am locked in this gem until I gain enough magic to overpower a weak mind or take control of a brain-dead body. I don’t have any purpose or skills beyond that. While I am here waiting, I would appreciate feeling anything beyond the void of the gem, though.”
“Disloyalty is not to be rewarded,” demanded Melasia.
Lysisa shut down the Mage, which mollified Melasia somewhat. Next, she closed off the stairs to the roof of the Stone Curtain Wall by stone melding and, once done, trudged off to the Inner Cavern in search of Sweetears, before her Goblin Sister could start on the Cavern Door.
---
The roughhewn stretchers served as beds for Charis, Helice and Raisa overnight as they kept the three Sisters off of the cold ground. The wagon was positioned to the North as a wind break, and blankets and furs were thrown over for warmth. The changing two Sisters on shift kept watch and dripped water into their mouths to ensure they didn’t dehydrate while unconscious. One shift change united the four Seer Assassins, Elpis and Rhea. They formed a Seer Circle with many in the House. They intended to try and wake the three or at least one. Failure! their efforts were thwarted by an unknown.
The dawn sun rose in the East and shone upon three breathing yet non-responsive bodies. Dione and Zoe broke their fast at first light. Dione began scouting far ahead on horseback while Zoe investigated on foot. Nysa and Kyra stood guard, chewing on tough dried meat, while Zosime, Alexis, Hagne and Korinna broke their fast and lined the wagon with as many furs, blankets and bedrolls as they could find. They hauled a stretcher at a time to the wagon and transferred each Sister with care, reusing the furs and blankets. Elpis and Rhea prepared the wagon, hitching the horses. Sisters rode one of the horses, sat in the wagon, or clung to the wagon’s tailgate as they made their way to the Lonely Keep.
With the Lonely Keep in sight, Elpis rode off ahead, parting company with the Daughters of the Duchess to return to her role as the Seer of the Lonely Keep. Approaching the village, several villagers peered out of their cottages in the late afternoon sunlight. The grim faces of the escort dissuaded any enquires, and they trundled to the Inn of the Scared Lady without any mob following behind. The Sisters stabled the horses and wagon, transferring their passengers quickly to one of the Inn’s larger rooms.
Rhea attended to her guests, ensuring they received water and tried to feed them soaked bread without much success. Before dusk, each Seer attuned to the Lonely Keep Shrine of Saph.
Zosime received orders from Astera informing the gathered Sisters they would all return except Dione and Zoe. None voiced any dissent, either too exhausted or eager to return. In the dead of night, the Sisters gathered around the Shrine of Saph, Zosime leading the prayer, ensuring she visualised the below-ground Shrine of Saph in Hillperch. In a wink, they disappeared.
---
Lysisa entered the Inner Cavern, Bluefingers and Prettynose passing by without a wave or greeting, both spending most of the night trying to console their Sister. Lysisa gulped and turned her eyes momentarily upwards before lifting her heavy feet towards their shared Stone Cabin. Sobbing greeted her before entering.
“I am sorry I didn’t return after my shift.”
Sweetears, head in her hands perched on the edge of their bed, looked up. “Prettyone busy all night sexing with Seers, Sweetears not know why. You, not Seer and you have Sweetears?”
Lysisa dropped to one knee before Sweetears reached for her hands, which withdrew.
“I am a Seer Sweetears. The Seers trained me last night. Those men didn’t have sex with me. I erm entertained them, I suppose you could say.”
“I am happy for you.” She burst into crying, recovering, and in a pained voice, adding, “What of Sweetears, you no need now!”
“I will always need Sweetears, the beautiful sweet girl who welcomed me when I felt the most rejected.”
Sweetears stopped crying for a moment and lent forward until eye to eye with Lysisa searching for insincerity. “You will need Sweetears, always?”
“Yes,” replied Lysisa, the single word never spoken with more sincerity.
Lysisa wiped away Sweetears’ tears with her thumbs and planted a light kiss on her lips. Lysisa then wiggled into bed with her Sweetears, wrapped in each other’s arms and promptly fell asleep.
Sweetears worried Prettyone never return to her, like Goblin. The male visits and does sexing, never seen again unless son is born. A strong Goblin is expected to mate with many to make the tribe strong. In the Daughters of the Duchess, the Seers needed to sex with many to make them strong. This Sweetears, Bluefingers and Prettynose understood after months of spying. Prettyone, not a Seer, so the Goblin Sisters couldn’t know until this morning. Being a Seer, Sweetears reasoned Prettyone would discard her as the Seers choose other Seers, not non-Seers, for mates.
Content Sweetears smiled and fell asleep. Mid-morning, Bluefingers woke her to help with the Cavern Door. Sweetears didn’t mind at all, as her Prettyone slept in their bed. Bluefingers shook her head and escorted Sweetears to the Main Cavern, listening to a happy Sweetears and an explanation.
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Melasia didn’t need to sleep when a vampire, especially if she never glimpsed daylight. She certainly didn’t need to sleep now. The power of the virgin blood, especially from Clymene and Alcmene, still throbbed throughout her consciousness while her Mistress kept a regular bloody supply washing against her gem. She lamented the loss of her glorious body and feeding with fangs, although not much else, especially the consequences of one mistake which could quickly dust her body and destroy her existence.
She skimmed her Mistress’ mind, and several Seer Links lay passively available. Each link seemingly protected her mind, impossible to even glimpse within now. With skin contact, Melasia thought the Goblin sleeping with her Mistress would be available for domination. Instead, the one named Sweetears seemed impenetrable for reasons Melasia couldn’t fathom. Although surely not … impossible … she mentally gagged at the thought; a possible explanation could be due to the Goblin’s utter love of Lysisa. If true, she needed to prey upon the lonely and needy to reclaim a body … if she ever wanted to.
Lysisa locked her voice and access to magic. Her Mistress didn’t lock or couldn’t discern the power she attained from Virgin Seer blood, and with this source, Melasia reached out with her mind beyond the confines of her gem. Two slept in the Cavern, the first Otonia, non-Seer. Upon close inspection, a purity burnt her, excruciating pain; how? No physical body, only an ethereal presence. What could hurt her? This time, she needed to consume more power to fortify her presence, and she analysed Otonia from a distance. Two sheathed knives lay upon her chest, crossed over between her mountainous breasts. The metal, Judge’s Bane, is a curse for all vampires. Why knives instead of swords? How can that be? Nevertheless, Melasia shuddered and understood why they could injure her. The others, Alcmene and Lysisa, fled from her mind, the number of Seer Links beyond quick count and latent Seer Skill pulsating even while asleep.
Melasia caught herself ‘walking’ down the passageway from the Inner cavern to the Main Cavern when she decided to ‘pass’ through the wall emerging on her former Master’s ‘side’ of the Cavern. His raw evil radiated from his temporary coffin. The fear washed over her like a warm welcome blanket, and for reasons unknown, she wished to return to him even as her former Master lay humbled. The cause was an accident, to be sure, trapped by a simple flow of water within a solid stone cavern and yet each Death Season day, he marked time. The approach of Birth Season, though, would weaken him.
Would she skim her Master’s mind? What would she gain or achieve? Melasia decided upon a light touch, content to detect strong emotions if any could be discerned. She withdrew immediately. Her Master was plainly terrified and fearful of destruction, possibly Birth Season, a paltry two days away heralding his doom. A waiting game then with only one winner. He would be destroyed like his other captured minion. She would escape, as her Mistress would be able to save her.
Once in her gem Melasia knew peace and security, returning to her Mistress as she rose and made ready to start her afternoon shift early. Duty bound to train Latona and Jocasta beforehand.
+++
The Daughters of the Duchess awoke in a hive of activity the following day. After sharing the night consoling and comforting one another, the Seer Assassins Zosime, Korinna, Hagne, and Alexis relieved the night shift; Northern Wall, Southern Wall, Main Cavern and Cavern Blind barracks. The Kitchen and Ground Floor Training Room hosted every other Sister called to order by their Mistress, Astera.
The Seers formed a Seer Circle to share the proceedings with the four Seers on guard duty and those in residence at the Lonely Keep, Bircharbor and the Inn of the Scared Lady. Astera asked Lysisa to tell her story firsthand, assuring her, the twins, and, if necessary, Astera would elaborate or explain any confusion if required. Her wine stain and Seer Temple upbringing didn’t prepare her well for public speaking, along with the added burden of her unusual relationship. She gained courage from Clymene, Alcmene and Niobe as they Seer Linked words of encouragement to her. Three Seer Sisters, her eyes moistened, the journey to serve the Goddess Saph as a Seer now begun.
Astera called the meeting to order and invited Lysisa to speak. Lysisa took Astera’s advice and asked Sweetears to stand with her. Sweetears was equally shy in front of a crowd, regardless of the familiar faces and able to remember many naked.
“Our Mistress has asked me to tell my story. Firstly I would like to introduce you to my friend, partner and … lover, Sweetears.”
Sweetears grabbed Lysisa’s hand and held on tight.
“Tell us something we don’t know!” yelled Jocasta, sitting cross-legged on the Kitchen table.
The room burst into applause and howls of supportive laughter. The odd couple, one pale yellow, the other wine-stained, hugged, eyes moistening.
With the ice broken, Lysisa continued, not leaving out any detail; after all, eventually, the Seer Circle would probably learn any secrets. The embarrassment of not knowing about her body, in particular, her virginity, gained a great deal of sympathy and educated many of the Seers present, who, unknown to themselves, were also ignorant of the facts given the common source of their knowledge on the subject. The admission of servicing the male guards of the Temple of Saph silenced the room, needing Astera to prompt Lysisa to change the subject.
Lysisa then explained the purpose of her Items to the best of her understanding. She Introduced the first blue gem, the sapphire, capable of holding and preserving a person’s existence. She explained that the current occupant was the Mage slain by Zoe, who initially identified as male and now, after Seer Training, identifies as female. Lysisa explained the circumstances earning many laughs as the impossible occurred; Clymene and Alcmene blushed a touch.
The second blue gem was also a sapphire capable of holding and preserving a person’s existence. After conferring with the twins, they concluded both gemstones were deliberately crafted. The second gem was somehow attuned to attract and accept an evil presence, probably due to being embedded inside an evil creature for years beyond measure. Trapped within the treasure is the female vampire who tried to assault the Main Cavern and, after capture, is imprisoned in the stone crypt and the source of the fear. Lysisa needed to assure her Sisters both of her guests could be controlled and denied free will.
The significance of the silver strips is still a mystery, although they held a significant reserve of magic.
Lysisa ended with a demonstration, commanding Melasia to skim everyone’s minds so they could identify her presence and detect any future attempts. She cut herself and commanded Melasia to heal her. Challenging Nysa to an arm wrestle, losing the first three rounds and then after Melasia strengthened her, easily winning the next three rounds.
Astera thanked Lysisa and then confirmed Charis, Helice and Raisa were found. They rested unconsciously in the Inn of the Scarred Lady, and apart from dripping water into their mouths, they waited for a miracle.
The Daughters of the Duchess filed out of the Kitchen. Dispersing to find sleep, attend training of one sort or another or enjoy their spare time in the company of their Sisters. Astera observed them quietly, contemplating her future role once Charis returned as Mistress, never doubting.
Clymene leant over the Kitchen table, her shoulder deliberately brushing against her brooding Mistress, who rested against the fixture, arms folded.
“Rhea contacted me, and we both think something must be done to revive Charis, Helice and Raisa if, for no other reason, this is their third day without food, surviving on dribbles of water.”
“What does she suggest?”
“The Seer Circle is denied contact. Perhaps Lysisa’s servant is different enough?”
Astera didn’t need to call Lysisa back as Clymene contacted her when Astera nodded in agreement.
Lysisa walked into the empty Kitchen, hesitant, only moments ago full of Sisters and now at one end beside the Kitchen table, Astera and Clymene. Her hands fidgeted a little as she approached.
Astera smiled in an attempt to relax the Initiate. “Rhea has suggested, after listening to you describe your servant, you need to go to the Lonely Keep and see if your servant can contact or at least check the minds of your three Sisters since the Seer Circle hasn’t been able to.”
“Yes, Mistress, it would be my honour. I am ready to fulfil my oath to serve and use my body and skills for that purpose. Please send me Mistress. I am sure I can help … I will certainly try.”
Astera assessed the bright, eager face of the animated Initiate bobbing about before her before taking a deep breath. “You must understand they could be vulnerable, so do you trust your servant?”
“Yes, Mistress, she is sworn to me.” Lysisa chewed her bottom lip absently. “Although … there is another perhaps … I need to remove.”
Unabashed, she unlaced the top of her leather pants, pulling them down below her belly button. Reaching into her loincloth and after flashing a slight grimace, a blue gem surfaced into her waiting hand.
“This is the blue mage gem.” Holding it up between thumb and finger. “It contains his or now, her soul. It can only escape the gem if it dominates another, so probably not wise to take it with me, Mistress.” As she handed the blue gem to Astera, the brightness dimmed, losing lustre and gaining a sort of sadness, thought Lysisa.
Closing her palm around the gem, Astera said, “Most wise, although I was going to ask for it in any case.”
Lysisa realised late that perhaps she overstepped, instructing her Mistress. She tried to swallow her stupidity. “Yes … Mistress. Sorry.”
“No harm, I prefer we all think as I am not as certain a Mistress as Charis and appreciate the support.”
A warm breath caressed her neck, and Astera knew Clymene wanted to speak yet couldn’t due to Lysisa’s presence.
Astera smiled, as much to herself as to Lysisa. “Clymene will form a Seer Circle as soon as you are ready to leave.” Holding up her hand as she sensed Lysisa about to speak. “Make sure you have everything you need. Would you like anyone to go with you?” Astera looked over her eyebrows, expecting a specific answer.
Lysisa thought about Sweetears, although uncertain if she could help and concerned if anyone saw her would put her life at risk. She considered no other Sister. The realisation made her sad.
“I am with you, my Mistress,” whispered her servant.
“I am ready, Mistress,” said Lysisa.
Then her hands rushed to her waist and, with haste, pulled her leather pants back up and retied them, finishing with a weak smile.
“It is always good to have your pants on before you go anywhere,” Jocasta said, from an innocuous corner of the Kitchen to the surprise of all.
“Join the Seer Circle Lysisa. It is ready. I will stand before you, given you are new to your Seer Skill, and when done, you will stand before Rhea,” said Clymene as she skirted around the Kitchen table.
Clymene felt Lysisa’s mind join the Seer Circle, nervousness to be sure, also trust, the better of the two. For a split moment, she sensed an inquisitive shadowy presence, Lysisa’s servant, although fading too quickly to be inspected. A mistake, of course, Lysisa assured her Seer Sisters the servant could not exercise independent action when her host was otherwise occupied. The Seer Circle joined as one and visualised Lysisa standing before Rhea. With an expenditure of magic from each, Lysisa vanished from the House and instantly appeared before Rhea, immediately receiving a hug.
The eagerness in Rhea’s voice was plain. “Let us free them from their sleep … erm, before we start, do you need anything?”
Glad Rhea couldn’t see her face, their heads side by side in the hug, Lysisa tried to downplay the apparent expectation. “No, not for now … the sooner we start, the sooner we will know if my servant can help.”
“You … aren’t sure?” Rhea released Lysisa and sat down on a nearby chair, placing her face in her hands. Lysisa heard sobbing and, not really knowing what to do, knelt before Rhea and rubbed her legs, trying to console the Seer.
Trying to peer past Rhea’s hands, Lysisa said, “We will know more soon. I just didn’t want to promise if I couldn’t be sure, I have met with disappointment before, and I didn’t like how it tasted. I am sorry.”
“Please do want you can. I don’t think I can be there, though.”
Lysisa kicked herself mentally; this wasn’t only about Mistress Charis for Rhea. Her twin Raisa was one of the three. Who worried for Helice, Lysisa suddenly thought?
Two doors led into the Common Room, one to the outside and the other to the guest rooms. Lysisa opened the interior door and ventured into the hallway. She released a breath seeing Dione wave to her, standing by an open door, one of several. Dione opened her hand in an invitation to enter. Lysisa leant into the room. Three bodies lay still as statues on three beds, looking comfortable and at rest.
“Melasia, reach out to them and see what contact you can make.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Dione stood there looking on, answering Lysisa’s question before she asked. “I am patient. I have been amongst Seers for a long time now.”
“Mistress, there is something there, but it could take some time. I suggest you get comfortable.”
“My servant has checked, and she needs to be careful, so this could take some time. Am I able to lie down in the next room, perhaps? I will be able to monitor what is being done and answer any questions she may have. I could also join the Seer Circle for advice, although I would need Rhea to join me as my Seer Skill is still new and my strength not fully developed.”
Dione nodded and pushed the room door across the hallway, revealing Zoe astride a chair, rocking on two of the chair’s legs, waving Lysisa in. Dione bid them both farewell, heading for the Common Room. Lysisa made herself comfortable lying down on the bed in the room, thankful for the constant company, somehow reassured.
“Can I see it?”
Lysisa looked at Zoe.
“The gem can do things. I have been told it moves by itself?” whispered Zoe, as if discussing a dark secret.
Lysisa smiled. It seems her talents or her servants’ talents are now common knowledge beyond Seers, even though she didn’t mention any specifics during the morning reveal. She untied her leather pants. Zoe was eager and helped pull them down and remove them entirely. Lysisa’s eyes were wide, nevertheless appreciating Zoe’s lustful smile. Without asking, the huntress squatted beside Lysisa on the bed and placed her hands on Lysisa’s loincloth, staring into her eyes. Lysisa nodded. Zoe licked her lips and gently removed Lysisa’s loincloth to reveal the unique blue gem. The gleaming sapphire nestled proudly within the folds of Lysisa’s womanhood.
“Mistress, we have time.”
Lysisa could sense the desire in her servant along the length of their shared tether. There would be time after. She needed to do her duty and fulfil her oath now. She studied Zoe’s face to recognise such desire in others to ensure no like opportunity in the future would be lost.
“No, my servant, we must prove ourselves first.”
Dreadfully disappointed, Melasia held those thoughts to herself as she smelt Zoe’s bleeding and craved the rewarding promise of virgin blood to acquire more power. Melasia would have to trust she held enough, although maybe she could suggest something.
“Mistress, have her straddle you as she is bleeding, and her virginal blood will assist in empowering me in my investigations.”
Lysisa blinked in acknowledgement without meaning to. “Zoe, perhaps you could assist, although I caution you not to distract with any forceful attentions. Your bleeding will assist my servant if you are willing to straddle me while naked.” The words flowed freely from Lysisa’s mouth, such a blatant request, uncertain if Zoe or anyone would readily agree. To her amazement, Zoe stripped from the waist down without protest or discussion, removing her blood-splotched loin cloth and climbing over Lysisa to grind her womanhood upon Lysisa’s, sighing heavily.
“Mistress, she is not a virgin, but her blood will still assist.”
“I am surprised, but only Seers are certain to be virgins.”
“I will reach out now, Mistress. I will find the one most likely to respond and then come back to you for instruction.”
Lysisa felt Melasia leave beyond the confines of the gem, the tether maintaining their connection and providing a path for Lysisa to follow her servant with her mind.