03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

All around them were a ring of pale Balam and behind them watched near every Transcendent female Demon who originally came as word spread the First Mistress was searching for new mates. Now they watched trembling assassins. Worst of all nearly all trembled with almost physical hatred.

  Finally Kanade’s lips parted and the bubble of silence got pricked. Her soft, dainty voice traveled far and wide. “Ya’ll have made a fatal error tryin’ to kill me. You thought me weak, pathetic fragile just because I’m soft-spoken and not very powerful in a killin’ way. We’ll ya’ll put together didn’t do shit to my spell and never could. Every Siren and long range spell ya’ll got can’t put a scratch on me. Let this be a lesson to the rest of ya’ll.” Kanade’s golden eyes turned to the mass of nearly all naked women. “I am the First Mistress. Fuck with me and ya’ll will be reminded of why I’m first and none of ya’ll are.” Back to the prisoners. “Ya’ll forget your place. It seems souls affected your judgment and thought to unseat me. Wrong move. You should be smart enough bein’ so old and powerful. Apparently bein’ wise isn’t in your vocabulary. Now never forget the first rule all demons live by. Be the predator, not prey.

  “Guards!” Her voice raised. “Hunt!”

  Anger turned to fear.

  One Kitsune managed to secretly pick her locks without anyone aware and she went to jump and attack Kanade.

  But before even one Balam could react a bright blue shaft appeared to stick out of her forehead. She fell dead in an instant. All nine tails lay limp.

  Stunned eyes looked up to find a twelve foot tall Nymph beside the winged mistress holding a spectral bow already drawn with another arrow aimed and ready to loose. Despite the weapon ban, Nell conjured it. Part of her and therefore not against the rules.

  Sixty Balam guards began painfully tearing into all the assassins who screamed loudly even through their gags. Biting, clawing, dismembering all contributed to the violent execution punishment. And it wasn’t fast either. The Balam were mad that the First Mistress had to defend herself. Their honor was sullied and they wanted to never see it happen again. They made sure to make an example of these traitors who didn’t listen to her command.

  It would be a very long time before anyone would dare attempt to harm the highest matron of Demon World.

  More than a half hour of screams and feasting on flesh continued before it was silent again. It took two Shaman to magically clean the courtyard again till it was spotless. Soon nothing was remained.

  Kanade’s voice again carried “Dragewetes’ from yesterday, stand before me till I must leave.”

  Things settled down and in no time at all the spacious room was chattering away as if nothing happened. Sad part was, beatings and executions were common. The point had been made though.

  After a few hours Nell left on her own to go flirting among the most sexy women on the palace without much care. Her swift attack earlier impressed everyone so she was relatively safe since no one could conjure a weapon out of thin air quite like she could. Besides, she wore her leathers and was plenty of protection. Kanade did though keep an eye of her, even as she made out with a Succubus after a few short minutes of conversation.

  Minutes before the palace shook with the Fire King’s unparalleled hunger to speak of evening in all of Demon World’s fire territories Kanade had narrowed down her selection to four Dragewetes’. She then dropped the marriage bomb and got a surprised reaction out of the usually impassive reptiles. She then made sure they clearly knew Kyoko had chosen the loving devotion and was very happy.

  When the stomach roar finally dimmed she got up to say “Take the night to think it over. I…”

  “I will do it.” Flajeen didn’t need to think it over as the shock of the ultimatum wore off. It was already clear she loved Kyoko and respected Kanade’s talents, status and beauty of body and mind. If bonding mystically meant being together forever as the price, she’d do it without needing to contemplate.

  The other three remained quiet and wouldn’t reveal their thoughts.

  “No.” Kyoko said pointedly, but not unkindly. “Kanade is correct, Flajeen. Our master is in no condition to please you this evening. Take the night to decide. If the answer remains the same, I will be glad. But if your sisters here also agree, we must spend more time deciding.”

  “Understood. I will abide by your wishes, Mistress.” She bowed to Love foremost.

  The four scaly women left and transformed just as Nell leapt up back onto the balcony with controlled strength no other Nymph had ever before experienced, her alabaster skin radiant and flushed. “That sound is a serious libido chiller.”

  “What? Couldn’t pick one in that orgy you started?” Kira teased.

  “Damn shame too.” Nell scratched her forearm before adjusting her top back down. “Some of them girls have wicked skills to get my rocks off. I’m really going to like it here!”

  “So will Magnus if you ever select someone for more than a booty call.” Reevy hissed with shaking shoulders to suppress a belly laugh.

  “Yes, he will.” Nell skipped over with bouncing breasts beneath her top.

  “Amandale, send us back to our rooms.” Kyoko ordered and they vanished from the area.

  Inside the royal bedchambers the former Spirit Guide and Yuki-onna flew straight for their new home upon the mountain to ready for their man’s arrival. Kanade grabbed the silk bed sheet of the bed and stripped it away while Kyoko held her hands towards each other with about a foot of space between them. In that space the air plummeted so fast fog filled the room.

  Blind, Kanade was glad her first female lover left the sliding glass doors open so she unfurled her wing and beat them to create a tempest inside and blew the chilly fog out. When she could see again she noticed Kyoko had created a large two ton block of clear ice. Sheet in hand, Kanade covered the ice and managed to gather it into a giant icepack seconds before a slight thunderclap indicate enormous wings slowing a heavy creatures descent.

  “Agh” Painfully grunted Ethan as he landed on the balcony and stepped inside, left hand holding the right shoulder while hunched over. Before flying in he had already left his leather jacket, pants and belt with the seamstresses so all he wore was a pair of boxers and a backless long sleeved shirt slick with sweat. “Sweetheart, get him in bed.”

  Kyoko was already on it and guided him to lay facedown. She made her hands ice cold as he removed his hand so she could lay her hands on an inflamed and swollen shoulder.

  Boulder size icepack in hand, Kanade kicked off her high heels and grimaced as she took in his wings and bare back it was an angry red. She put the ice on and gently bent his wings backwards to further feel the ice’s healing effects, standing on the bed.

  “Ah… that feels nice.”

  “You barely didn’t survive the pollen pods.” Soothed Kyoko, using one hand to tuck his long crimson hair behind an ear with a loving caress.

  “No shit. The illusion made it out to be a harmless everyday tree. My back took the brunt of the pod’s attack. It felt and still feels like acid. My wings managed to clear the air before I breathed too much in. Thanks by the way for not letting me dive into that lake.”

  “It would have reacted badly.” Kyoko ministered. “Only cold can ease the pain. Water makes it worse.”

  “Good thing I’ve got a coldblooded wife.”

  “Yes. Yes, you do. Just lay still, Ethan-sama. The pollen in your skin will die soon.”

  “Don’t need to tell me twice.” He relaxed as the two tended his needs. “That wily old fox sure likes his tricks.”

  “Like all Kitsune.” Hummed Kyoko.

  Eyes remained closed to revel in the cold seeping in and easing the pollen’s inflaming properties. “It’s so unlike the illusions I make. They are so damn real. Only the sense of touch lets me know what is real or not.”

  “Darlin’, you’ll find out the chink in the armor so you can catch him. I know it. All illusions have a weakness. Like fingerprints, a master illusionist always relies on one thing to
keep them grounded so they don’t fall to their own illusions.”

  “Yeah, I remember Merlin’s lecture on illusions. It’s just it is so difficult finding that variance. I see why Zagan spoke of Cucillop’s ability as a master. Finding that tiny ripple is eluding me. It must be smaller than a mustard seed.”

  “Perhaps Uncle wishes for you to do more than chase the fox.” Kyoko said softly and Ethan opened his eyes to look at her still impeccably attired beauty with an unspoken question so obvious it didn’t need to be asked. “You have great power, Ethan-sama. In that there is no doubt, but you lack the finer aspects on the male side of magic in illusions. Perhaps Uncle needs you to learn from a master trickster so that you can think differently and apply what you learn in the Kitsune hunt into your own spells.”

  It was as if a supernova size light bulb was switched on and he fought not to move, but his voice was full of renewed hope. “Use an illusion to negate an illusion? Kyoko, you’re a genius!”

  She made a breathtaking smile, snowflake eyes sparkling with humor and pleasure. “I’ve been at this longer, Ethan-sama. You will repay me later this evening.”

  “Oh I will, will I?” He smiled roguishly.

  She touched his nose playfully. “And every evening for eternity.”

  “He better.” Snorted Kanade. “If he doesn’t I’ll spell an erection on his cock and we’ll have our way with him willingly or not.”

  “Hey! I’m not into bondage!” He laughed along with them.

  “You never know till you try.” Wistfully quipped Kyoko.

  “Be nice or I’ll make sure you really can’t walk next time.”

  “Oh, please do it anyway.” The Yuki-onna purred in his ear and he growled in response.

  “Knock it off you two.” Kanade said and gently kicked Kyoko’s shoulder. “No funny business till the pollen is dead and he finishes workin’.”

  An hour and a half later Ethan stood in his forge wearing a set of regular custom made jeans and another long sleeved shirt along with earplugs and safety glasses. Villiken was in a pair of pants and a black shirt, but wore a leather apron along with glasses and earplugs too.

  Molds were set, spelled and ready as he opened the mouth of the furnace and lifted the large crucible out barehanded and used a rod to stir the white hot molten mix of metals and saw the mix of ancient wood and Dragon bone coal had done beautifully infusing carbon and other trace benefits into the metal. Villiken merely sat as an observer so as to know what his master would need in the future when asked.

  He took the molds by the long tail and angled it some as he poured the precisely measured metals down the funnel and into the empty cavity. Sparks and flame filled the hole as it filled completely.

  The next mold was just as ready and filled.

  Setting them down side by side he touched an identical spell of his own design on the molds and subsonic vibrations flowed through it, shaking out each and every air bubble that may have gotten in… which Ethan knew to be true as his ability to detect all manner of great heat informed him mentally that the molten maces had tiny pockets smaller than a pea in six places with smaller ones in other, but the vibrations and pattern made sure bubbles rose and escaped before cooling.

  When he no longer felt any bubbles he lifted the molds and placed them underneath the basin’s tap and let the water flow to cool. As it did Ethan worked on Kyoko’s observation and practiced illusions over and over, even having his Elf aid teach the Chaos side since his foundation in Order was well established.

  Real progress was made.

  Before long two off golden maces were withdrawn from the molds and looked badass. And as expected they were too light and even the gentlest pressure warped the bare shaft’s end where he’d later make a grip and wrist leash.

  Taking the two weapons to the anvil Ethan’s tail struck out and picked up a specialized boring instrument. He turned several small knobs to widen the mouth. Four sections parted and fit around one of the mace pegs before heating the round ball beneath the peg. Gently Ethan turned another lever around and around as it screwed its way down at an angle till the peg looked more of a partial screw.

  Forty nine more pegs were removed in the same manner, taking just over a full hour of careful work. The pieces were set aside in a small bucket. Last to be cut out were the handles, also put in the bucket.

  Taking a round-headed hammer along with a half sphere, ladle looking object off the wall along with the two ball heads riddled with deep holes over to the anvil, work began.

  Falling back on a trade that gave great satisfaction Ethan’s mighty blows made quick work in flattening the balls into the empty half sphere usually reserved for making Centaur breastplates, but couple the extreme strength along with his affinity for fire meant he was born to become a Forgemaster.

  Ting, ta, ta, Ting! Rang out over and over again at speeds where it sounded like a single note. Metal folded, was struck and folded again. Ethan’s tail turned and folded while his right hand hammered and the left began working spells only he could ever create.

  After a fold he would quench in water to harden the composite then reheated and worked.

  At the second hundredth fold in just five minutes Ethan crafted a spell which made a violet series of spikes identical to the pegs he cut out inside the ladle used to fold a round object and very carefully the mace’s head was put cleanly back to what it had been, but was dirty looking. Heating it carefully to a slight cherry red, just hot enough for the next step without melting all the reinforced folds in white hot heat, he dropped the ball into the vat of oil to soak.

  As it did he did exactly as he had upon the second large head.

  Dropping the second into the oil he stuck an arm down in the black oil and retrieved the first, wiped much of the excess off with a work rag and then tossed it into the furnace’s many racks to absorb more carbon than what was lost in hammering and to also gradually reheat.

  Putting the round hammer and ladle back on the wall, Ethan exchanged it for a flat headed hammer and gathered the two handles and began heating them to a bright cherry to hammer them flat all the way down its length. Add a spell. Fold it in half, hammer it out, quench, heat, hammer, fold, quench, heat, hammer, spell fold. Over and over.

  Rhythm returned till the process was smooth as silk.

  The handles were quickly finished and soon joined the original ball in the furnace.

  The fifty pegs were easier, requiring only one hit to flatten, but meant Ethan had fifty times more work to do since each one had to be made individually.

  As he hammered on them he remembered working with Celestia on his first mace and asked why not to use just one long bar and work it to then cut the pieces later rather than making dozens and dozens of smaller pieces and folding them separately. It earned a peck on the head and an irritated sigh. She explained each piece needed to be made properly. By cutting from a single larger, the parts lose some strength. It might not be noticeable for decades, but eventually being lazy would wear the weapon out much sooner. All pieces must work as a single entity, breaking pieces off weakens it.

  Taking her word for it since she was the Forgemaster, he followed. Only now with his new mind able to process and understand so much more, he now realized how right she had been.

  Villiken was dismissed after seeing it all in action. He too began to understand how his master measured and needed things.

  Afterwards Ethan scooped all the pointed pegs out of the oil, let them drip clean and then added them to the forge for curing.

  But before calling it a night and making fierce love to his women he saw Celestia’s plate and could now read Phoenix writing so he knew the tasks she’d leave him. It was to be a cutlass. He knew how much the customer needed and filled the crucible by memory of what was required.

  In the morning Ethan was sent back to the Forest of the Fox, but wore new leather armor done with fine stitching rivaling even Dressor’s handiwork. Rather than black it was brown with elaborate embroidery.


  Unlike yesterday’s stumbling debacle, Ethan thanked Kyoko over and over again since this time he fell for only a hundred or so pitfalls, much better than the day before when near every half mile held some new unforeseen threat. Ethan kept using spells, refining them after each danger. Over the hours he began to recognize the Kitsune’s pattern of illusion making, spotting the near unnoticeable mirage haze with increasing frequency. Villiken followed silently a rather great distance behind, but never once lost his master in the wild, dangerous forest filled with death and danger around every corner.

  Back in the palace’s highest tier for making mistress Kanade wasn’t surprised Flajeen hadn’t changed her mind. What was unexpected is two others were willing to do the binding with her.

  Six hours later Flajeen turned out to be the prime choice without any bias.

  Kanade smiled and stood to take both of Flajeen’s unexpectedly soft scaly hands in hers. “Ready, Sweetheart?”

  “I am.” The Dragewete confirmed.

  “I will be the speaker.” Kyoko said as she ducked under their arms and stood in the space between. “Dallare, Kira, like before when you did it for me on the island.”

  “I would rather do it for my mistress.” Amandale spoke up.

  “Very well.”

  Down below many started going silent as red and blue light began being written. Kyoko’s voice traveled down, making a verbal contract much like what Floa had done and was just as skilled to leave no openings. The room watched on, most to witness for the first time the binding spell. Many were confused, but soon or later realized that the First Mistress took only the most devoted into her embrace. Only a lifelong commitment would allow entrance to get what they desire.

  Quite a few of the more selfish Demonesses would never give up everything to commit to that unbreakable level. Some were curious. Others found it difficult to comprehend changing.

  A glowing blue marble appeared before Kanade’s teeth thanks to Kira who didn’t struggle at all compared to her first time and Amandale’s spell placed a pulsating red sphere over Flajeen’s full rosebud brown lips.