Chereads / Before the Night / Chapter 2 - Chapter One

Chapter 2 - Chapter One

Chapter One

Anecetus woke to the slanted rays of the sun shining through her shuttered windows. She hated the way mornings made her feel. She always felt as though she needed hours to prepare herself for the day. She would spend the better part of each morning on making herself presentable. She focused a large portion of her morning routine on her hair and accentuating her high yet delicate cheek bones giving her an air of royalty despite her meager home and families poor life style.

She had never come to accept her role as a farmers daughter. She often shirked her chores to go to the castle and spend the day in the market. She wanted nothing more than to have the best for herself. This selfish nature often led her to theft of fine silks and perfumes. She had rarely gotten caught in her crimes and in those few times she had her wiles had gotten her out of trouble.

Her parents were constantly disappointed with her. They had arranged a marriage with the son of a very respected farmer from a near by hamlet but she would hear nothing of it and intended to find her self a rich merchant husband who could provide her with the lavish life style she sought.

She was going into the castle again that very morning but her parents had other plans for her. She was to be off to meet her husband to be. The coach was to arrive by midday and would take her to the home of her future husbands family. She planned on leaving for the castle before her father returned from the field for his morning meal. she had skipped out on her chores every day that week as her father worked the fields. This day she was not going top be so lucky.

Her parents had decided that they would prevent her from leaving by staying home from the fields until the coach arrived and she was safely on her way. This delay would cost them a great deal of the day and much work would have to go unfinished but it would be worth the cost once they knew she was gone from their home and no longer their worry.

She woke early, before the dawn. She knew her father would be in the fields preparing the plow and her mother would be in the barn milking the sheep. She planned on slipping out the front and heading straightaway from the house for about a mile before turning west towards the castle. She gathered up her pack and quickly dressed. She peeked out from behind the heavy curtain that served as a door to her room. The main area was dark as always at this time of day.

She slid the curtain back and crept into the main room of the house her parents sat silently in the darkness of predawn. She moved silently to the front door of the cottage and eased it open. She slipped out and quietly closed it behind her. She did not bother to check for her parents and was thus startled by the voice that sounded directly behind her.

"Going some where young lady?" her fathers voice was strong and stern she stood up straight with fear. She turned her head slowly top look over her shoulder. She cracked a smile as she tried to think of a lie that would get her out of this when she was surprised once more by a voice now in front of her.

"Your father asked you a question and I believe you were about to answer him." the cold determination in her mothers voice stole the lie from her lips. She snapped her head back front and was staring into the cold eyes of her mother. She felt ashamed by her actions and lowered her head as she spoke truthfully to her mother.

"I was going to the castle." her mothers' stare did not diminish as she stood waiting for more. Anecetus did not disappoint her. "I was going to find a husband of my own. A merchant husband who could give me the life I deserve. I do not want to be the wife of a farmer." she raised her head with a fire in her eyes as she continued. "I deserve better than that, better than what you have become."

Anecetus mothers face flushed red with anger. She had never been spoken to in such a manner by anyone and she would not have it from her own daughter. She raised her hand and grasped Anecetus chin holding it firmly.

"you will do as you are told and you will marry whom you are told. If it is not to your liking that is simply too bad young lady. You will be the wife of a farmer or you will be treated like a slave by your husband. The choice is yours." there was no emotion in her mothers voice as she spoke those words. Anecetus could see the hate in her mothers eyes. She had crossed the line and she knew she could not go back. There would be no escape for her now she was going to be wed to a farmer whether she desired it or not.

Anecetus stormed off to her room and threw herself upon her bed. She was distraught at having been caught and now being held like a prisoner in her home waiting for her soon to be husbands arrival. She thought about simply climbing out the window but she knew her father would be waiting. She truly had no choice now. She was stuck and she could not escape.

Deep within the lower planes the demon Olikianasis sat watching Anecetus in her room sobbing into her pillow. He found amusement in her situation. He had been in the market place posing as a merchant when he fist saw her. He was a lower planes demon and did not have much power. He knew the best way to gain more power was to find a mortal to gain it for him. He would seek out the right mortal to use in his plans.

He saw Anecetus in the market on that fateful day. She was smiling at all the young merchants and their sons. It was quite obvious what she was searching for. He wanted to be the one she chose and the one she would come back to see. She came to his booth of fine linens and silks. She was admiring some of his finer silks and he knew that would be the key to getting her attention focused on him.

"Welcome to my shop feel free to peruse my goods and don't hesitate to let me know if you see anything you like." Olikianasis smiled a wide grin showing his bright white teeth. She was awed by his smile and the smooth tones of his voice. She couldn't stop her own smile from creeping onto her face. She shied away form him for a moment to admire some of the deep red silks that were folded neatly on the table before her.

"Ah, I see you like the silks. Allow me to choose the one that would best accent your eyes."

"oh no I can't afford any of this." Anecetus replied sheepishly. She felt childish for not sounding stronger. She knew that she should be more forceful with her voice, but there was something about this young merchant that made her feel like a little girl. Olikianasis smiled at her with that wide showy grin and made her an even better offer.

"then let me give you a gift to remember me by, in case I don't see you again before I leave." Anecetus smiled and shied away once again but she could not refuse so generous an offer. He reached his hand out across the table to her. She placed her small hand in his large and strong one. He led her back behind the table and into his booth. He selected a light green silk with emerald accents that brought out the natural sparkle of her eyes. He pulled several feet of the material off of the fabric bolt and held it up for approval. She blushed and smiled once again as a low giggle escaped from her lips. He knew that he had her now.

He cut several feet of the material from the bolt and draped it across her shoulders and down her back. He would have it crafted into a dress before the days end. He smiled at her girlish charm. This was the one and he would have her no matter what it took. Anecetus mind was on much the same track as Olikianasis. She wanted him to take her away from her life as a farmers daughter and give her all the wealth and power she felt she deserved.

She had been gone to long and knew she was going to be in trouble when she arrived home but she had made up her mind and there was nothing they were going to do to stop her. Or so she had thought.

She waited for what seemed hours in her room sobbing, hating her life and her parents. Outside her parents sat and awaited the carriage. They watched as a finely crafted and highly decorated carriage rolled up and stopped in front of the cottage. The driver sat almost motionless not even moving to open the door for the lone passenger. The door swung open and a well dressed young man stepped out of the carriage carrying a large package. He was clearly a wealthy man and he was here for a reason.

He smiled at the couple sitting in front of the cottage and greeted them warmly.

"Hello sir and madam I am Olikianasis the silk merchant." they were unimpressed and made no move to acknowledge his greeting. They simply sat and eyed him and the large package he was carrying. He stood for another awkward moment before Anecetus mother spoke.

"can we help you merchant?" she asked with only a slight hint of annoyance in her voice. Olikianasis knew that the annoyance was directed at him and thus took it in stride.

"as a matter of fact I came to drop off this dress for your daughter, it is my understanding that she will be getting married in the next few days and I have made her a very special wedding dress to wear on the most important day of her life."

"as you can see good merchant we are poor farm folk and could not hope to be able to pay for such a dress." he smiled that wide toothy smile and he could tell they were becoming uncomfortable. He gave it another second before he spoke.

"this dress is a gift for your daughter there is no charge." his words carried a small amount of power with them he could see that they were having the desired effect when both the man and woman began to slouch and slowly drift of to sleep. He kept on talking not really saying anything just letting the power of his words place them into a spell bound sleep. When he was satisfied that they were out he entered the cottage and called out to Anecetus.

"Anecetus my dear your dress has arrived as promised." she heard his voice but could not believe that it was really him. She climbed off her bed and hurried out into the main room to see if it was true. Olikianasis was standing in the middle of the main room holding the most elegant dress she had ever seen. He was smiling and holding it out to her. She was dumbfounded by the whole situation but she was drawn to the dress and quickly rushed over to snatch it out of his hands. He was not offended by this, in fact it was just the opposite, it was exactly what he had hoped for. As soon as she grabbed hold of the dress the spells placed upon it began to work.

She felt a sense of pure adoration towards the kind young man who stood before her. She would do anything for him, anything.

Several hours passed before an old rickety cart driven by a young man who had clearly worked hard most of his life came rolling up to the cottage that Anecetus shared with her parents. Sitting next to the young man was a well mannered and well dressed young woman. She had her hair pulled back away from her ears and tied neatly behind her head. She had an air of confidence about her that belied her young years. She seemed to have no care for where she was and she was fully aware of her surroundings. They pulled up to the cottage and noticed the couple sitting in the same places that they had been sitting since morning.

Young Sean had been by earlier in the morning to confirm that Anecetus would be ready when he came back with his sister to get her. He wanted the marriage performed at that time and his sister was the only one he trusted to perform the ceremony. She had been selected by the local church at a very young age to become a priestess and she had excelled in every one of her studies accelerating her to the level of high priestess in a only a few years. She had a natural ability for the priest hood. She had a innate ability that only a few in the priest hood had ever been known to posses.

Sean knew something was very wrong. The couple was sitting motionless and staring blankly out into the fields. Sean hopped down from the cart and walked over to them. He leaned down and looked closer at the inanimate man sitting there. There was no light and no life in his eyes. He quickly checked the wife and found the same thing. They were dead, but by what means. He could see no marks on them and no blood anywhere around where they sat. he called out to his sister.

"Katia, could you come here for a moment?" Katia climbed down form the kart and stared at her brother for a moment. She was seeing something that he could not. There was a deep red aura around both the man and the woman. But it was not like any other demon aura she had seen this one seemed to be slowly draining the life out of the couple. She watched in awe and reverence as the aura seemed to gain strength on the woman. She cocked her head to one side as the aura grew brighter and a tentacle of energy slowly wound its way off of the near lifeless woman and snaked out towards her brother. She opened her mouth to scream out a warning but it was to late the energy tentacle touched her brothers arm and engulfed him.

Sean collapsed on the ground a moment later. His eyes became a fixed stare into the sky he was completely motionless. Katia ran over and dropped to her knees next to her brother she placed her hands on his chest and could feel his heart beating strong within his chest. She watched as the energy slowly climbed up her arm, she could tell it was trying to sap her energy the same as her brother and the unfortunate couple but it seemed unable to take hold. The energy climbed higher up her arm and slowly began to change from the deep red to a soft light green the energy seemed to gain strength and increase in speed.

She could feel a new strength a new power coming from the green aura that now enveloped her body. She removed her hands form her brothers chest and watched as the green aura surrounding her began to snake out towards the deep red aura surrounding her brother. When it contacted the demon aura it was, at firs repelled by it. Katia sensed that she need to help her brother and she felt as though she knew how. She reached out one hand and placed it on his chest she placed the other on his head and closed her eyes.

The green aura flowed from her hands onto her brother quickly over taking the demon aura. She felt the energy drain from her body as her brothers life was restored. She broke the connection just before she passed out. She was sitting on the ground feeling dizzy when her brothers eyes fluttered and he coughed violently. He inhaled sharply and took several more deep breaths before he felt strong enough to pull him self up into a sitting position.

Katia was still a little dizzy but she was quickly regaining her strength. She reached out to her brother and took his hand. The green aura was still around her and was faintly around him as well. He was feeling strong once again. He could not understand what had happened to him and he knew better than to ask. Katia watched as the aura faded completely from around his body.

Sean stood and dusted himself off before helping Katia up from the ground. They stood and watched as the couple began to age rapidly before their very eyes. In a matter of moments their bodies were gone leaving on their bare skeletons sitting in the chairs they had been in all morning. Katia watched as the aura faded from their bones and disappeared completely. It was now safe to bury the bones out of respect. Katia had not said a word during any of it. She was silent as they buried the couple in a communal grave and placed a simple marker.

The ride home was quite and uneventful. They had taken many things from the cottage to be sold at a later time. They arrived home late in the evening. Katia went inside to prepare a simple meal while Sean put the horses in the barn for the evening.

Katia was still very quiet when Sean cam into their simple two room home. She had prepared a simple meal of breads and cheeses. Neither one was really very hungry and they ate very little. Sean excused himself and went to bed. Katia was not tired and she did not think she would be for some time. She had a renewed strength that she had only ever felt after communing with the higher powers. She felt more a live than she had ever felt in her life.

She waited until she knew her brother was fast asleep and then slipped out side to the barn. She had purchased a small hand mirror a couple months back when money was tight and the crops were slim. She knew her brother would be furious with her for spending the money in what he would have considered a frivolous manner. She enjoyed looking into the mirror when ever she had the chance. She knew it was petty but she liked to look at herself none the less.

She quietly padded out to the barn and slipped inside. The horse was fast asleep and she was sure not to disturb him. She had hidden the mirror in the back of the barn between the hay stacks. She pulled it out and removed the thin cloth wrapped around it. She cleaned the dust off and held it up to the light for a quick inspection.

She caught a glimpse of herself in it and saw something that made her take a closer look. She was not sure what it was at first, it was just a flash caught out of the corner of her eye. She looked for several minutes, studying her face but she could not find it again. She did notice that her once brown eyes were now a deep green. She had always been so proud of her eyes. She had the only brown eyes in her family her brother and both of their parents had gray eyes. Now here beautiful brown eyes were green.

She sat just staring at her eyes, mesmerized by their new color when she saw it again clearly this time and not for just a second but constantly. It was in her eyes. There was a dancing to her green eyes that did not look natural. They seemed to be swirling and flowing like a fire in a field of dry wheat. She watched as the green flames swirled around and seemed to jump from the bottom her eyes to the top before swirling around again.

She knew instinctively that it had to do with what had happened earlier in the day. The green aura that had surrounded her body was still with her only now it was in her eyes. She felt different, more confident that she had ever felt in her life.

Anecetus rode in silence next to Oliki. She felt nothing but love for the young man. She had no way of knowing that the love she felt was a spell cast upon the gown she now wore working its magic. Anecetus would have gone with him even without the magic but Oliki knew that where they were going he would need the magic to keep her calm. He needed time to bring her over fully to his way before he could reveal the truth to her. Anecetus knew something was not right but she could not figure out what it was and when she tried to think about her mind would be over come with new feelings of joy and love keeping her from being able to concentrate on her feeling of uneasiness.

They traveled for what seemed like hours but it had in fact been only minutes since they left. Time was no longer relevant to Anecetus. Oliki had not been traveling down the familiar dirt road that Anecetus saw before her. She could not see the murky mist that seemed to cling to everything in the land. The gray murk was everywhere and no where all at the same time. Oliki had brought her into the abyss, he was at home here. He knew he had to be careful until he reached his domain. He was still a lesser demon and did not have to power to stop the larger demons from claiming Anecetus as their own. He had intended to use her to create half human offspring that he would send out into the world to build his army and take control of more territory.

Oliki had planned to eventually become powerful enough to rule the abyss, and he was going to use Anecetus to get what he wanted. They were near to his domain when a larger more powerful demon came into their path. The magic on the gown showed him as a larger warrior in the road. Anecetus felt a small tinge of fear pass through her. That fear suppressed the magic for just a brief moment and she saw the truth around her. The magic was strong though and the glimpse was to brief for her to be able to hold onto it.

The magic may have suppressed the true nature of the world around her but her mind was sharp and she had sensed the power within the gown. Her will was stronger than Oliki had ever imagined. She was fighting the power of the gown beginning to resist the magic within it.

Her will and the magic of the gown struggled for control through out the entire trip, at times she would win ut and the world would be revealed to her other times the gowns magic won out and the illusion held. She was always sure to keep her fear and trepidation well hidden. The more she saw of the world that Oliki called home the more she was able to fight off the effects of the magic. Time was not on her side and she knew it. She was not going to enter his home with out knowing what it really looked like. She was tired and growing weary from the battle against the gowns magic.

She knew that she would have to either suppress the magic once and for all or she would loose out to it forever. She closed her eyes and feigned sleep. She focused all of her will power on the gown reached within herself and sought the last of her energy. She felt the magic as it fought back against her. She had to win it was now or never. She slowed her breathing and focused. Time seemed to drag on as she fought the power in the gown. A bump in the road, whether real or imagined nearly broke her concentration. She quickly regained control and was finally able to feel the magic begin to slip.

Oliki watched as she sat there eyes closed and head back her breathing was slow and rhythmic. He could see the aura of the magic he had placed on the gown he had given her. He watched as it faded and then grew strong again he watched this back and forth display with a smile on his face and hope in his eyes. She was pushing down the magic of the gown and the gown was fighting back. He did not believe she would be able to defeat it but even if she did he was not worried. The magic was set to expire as soon as they entered his home in the abyss.

He watched as she fought and slowly began to win out over the magic. This did not please him. He willed the wagon to jerk sharply hoping to break her concentration. He watched as the aura grew strong once again but only for a moment. She regained her focus and quickly suppressed the power of the gown. Oliki watched as the gown grew less and less lustrous. The shimmer and shine faded with the magic.

Anecetus slowly raised her head and opened her eyes as if coming out of a light but restful sleep. She had defeated the power and the magic of the gown. She had won out and now saw the world around her for what it truly was, a dark and dismal place of gray shadows and swirling fog. The abyss was a completely unremarkable place indeed. Her mask of indifference slipped a little when she saw that the carriage was made from human bones and wrapped in demon skin. The horses pulling the grisly carriage were animated skeletons with eyes of fire. Oliki watched her face with awe as she took in the world around with out so much as a shriek or shock of fear. He knew right then that she was the right choice to be his bride.

They arrived moments later at a large mushroom grove. The mushroom stalks were as large as her home had been. She could not hide the awe that crossed her face at the enormity of it all. Oliki had managed to acquire the mushroom grove by defeating the demon that had claimed it. He had tricked a human mage into summoning the more powerful demon into the prime material plane it was there that Oliki under the summons of a less powerful mage had conned his way into a spell battle. He had tricked his human master into freeing him from the spell bondage claiming he would be able to make the wizard more powerful if he did.

Once released Oliki turned on the wizard and slew him stealing all of his magic in the process. The wizard died quickly but violently. Oliki laughed as the wizard died, he laughed as the poor fool faded a way with a look of shock frozen on his face. The new power had allowed Oliki to hunt down the summoned more powerful demon and destroy him. Once he had defeated him in the material world he would be weakened in the abyss but for only a short time. Oliki would have to act fast. He rode the astral line back to the abyss.

The demon was filled with anger and hatred for being tricked so. He was going to destroy that spiteful little demon the moment he found him. Oliki was ready for him he arrived mere moments afterwards and attacked the demon. The stronger demon was weakened by his banishment but he still would have been more powerful then Oliki.

Oliki used the power he had stolen from the wizard and was able to best the larger more powerful demon. Shock was the last expression the larger demon ever made. He could not believe he had been beat by such a low ranking demon. Oliki had beat him and thus he was entitled to the power and possessions of the defeated demon. He had increased in power and with that power came an increased size. Oliki had not expected this he became larger and stronger that he had ever been.

With his new found power and size he began hunting down and destroying the smaller demons who had once terrorized him. With each new kill came the increase of his power. He continued to grow in strength and power but not in size, in time he was able to rival the balzemut demons, dog headed creatures of enormous power. Oliki was never foolish enough to openly challenge the balzemut demons, he knew he would not stand a chance in open combat against one of them and they always fought in pairs, never giving their foe the advantage.

Oliki was very proud of all the power he had gained and all that he had acquired in his times of conquest, he had increased his holding in the abysmal realm to near unheard of proportions. He had lesser demons at his call and was just as cruel to them as those he had defeated were to him. The ways of demons were never kind and never true, but always, ruthless and vile.

Anecetus, was in total awe at all the fineries the powerful demon possessed he had made the dreary home as pleasant as any grand castle, and she knew it was all for her. She loved this man who was a demon, but she tempered that love with the knowledge of what he really was, and what she was really doing with him. She was going to use him to gain power and wealth. Anecetus never intended to allow Oliki to live past their first child, she would use their child to gain the power she sought, to gain the fortunes she so desired.

Oliki had similar ideas for his new bride, his human bride would bear him a son, a son that would be able to travel between the worlds of the prime and the abyss. He would use his son to gain in power, knowing her could be summoned by his half human son into the prime material plane at any time and be unleashed upon the world, without a wizards binding and thus be servant to no man.

He would have to teach her magic and help her to grow in its power if his son was to be strong in the art, hi would of course pass on his own innate abilities to the child but if the mother was a strong magic user than their child would be given a greater advantage. Stopping in front an exceptionally large mushroom stalk where a door had been carved from a smaller one and placed in the carved out door way. Oliki spoke one arcane word and the door swung inward revealing the extravagant interior, a dimensional pocket inside the mushroom made it a hundred times larger than it should have been.

There were shelves of books and magic tomes lining the walls, many were very old and well preserved and others were more recent works with the magic they held nearly visible to her, the demon loved being in his library of magic he could feel the souls of the lost trapped within the older books their magic nearly drained after centuries of being in his possession. With a sweeping bow he showed her that she most welcome to inspect any book in the room, he encouraged her to start with the lesser books and then work up to the older tomes, he warned her that she needed to be careful with the power they contained and to never read the words aloud.

She smiled and giggled like a giddy child on her birthday and ran into the room going for one of the oldest and most powerful books in his collection, he had thought to stop her but decided that she needed to learn her lesson the hard way, she could not be killed her, nothing could harm her here as long as she wore that dress.

Watching as she reached for the ancient tome and the guardian spirit of the book came forward, she snatched her hand back and jumped slightly with the appearance of the apparition. She stood staring dumbfounded for only a moment before reaching out for the book again, the guardian spirit spoke to her just before she made contact with its ghostly form.

"Risk your life for knowledge lost, a tome of power to be won. Seek you thy knowledge then prove thyself thusly, speak thy name fair maiden" startled by the clarity of speech from the ancient spirit she stood staring for another long moment insure of how to handle the situation. She turned and looked to Oliki with a questioning glance upon her face. He smiled at her spoke reassuringly to her, "speak your name to the keeper of the tome and he will determine if you are worthy of the book my love." hearing his words of encouragement she turned back to the expressionless wraith and spoke only one word. "Anecetus"

The wraith floated for a moment as it seemed to hear and contemplate the name she had spoken. It looked at her and through her, she felt a cold chill run up her spine as the wraith looked into her eyes, she tried to look away but found her gaze locked with it. She could not move, could not look away could not eve blink.

Oliki watched as the wraith looked into her soul and measured her worth as it had done to him so many times, not once had he ever managed to get to that tome, always the wraith looked into his soulless eyes and always it rejected him and took the book to another part of his vast library.

It was only recently that it had returned to its original resting place within the shelves. He had not dared to attempt to touch it again, he had learned his lesson well. Once the book had chosen a new master he would be able to stand above them and read the tome at his desire. With hope and hunger in his black heart for that book he watched as she was judged and watched as the expressionless face of the wraith went from that flat smile to a wide and toothy grin,

Anecetus felt her self go cold as if her body was lying naked in the deepest of snows in the coldest of winters, she felt the urge to shiver but she could not do even that much as the wraith weighed her worth and her soul was judged, slowly a thin smile began to form on the once before expressionless face of the spirit. The thin smile quickly turned into a wide and toothy grin. She felt her body begin to shiver and warm rapidly again as the wraith pulled back its judging gaze.

Feeling drained but still strong enough to stand she stood before the wraith as it spoke to her again this time in the more modern speak she was used to. "judged you have been, worthy you are. Of the line of old your blood is bold, seek you knowledge find you power. The tome is yours"

With those final words the spirit faded away into a mist and then was gone, she reached out without fear or trepidation and grasped the tome in her hands. The book felt light in spite of its huge size and thick leather bound cover, the brass hinges were still as shiny the day the book was bound, the pages contained within were not yellowed or crinkled. They were as pristine as the day they were penned. The ink had an almost wet look to it as if she had just finished writing the words herself.

She walked over to a table and set the tome down, she fingered the clasp and released the small latch. Opening the book to the very first page she sat and read for hours.

Oliki watched as she carried the tome over to the table and sat down, he watched in awe as she was able to quickly and deftly open the tomb, he knew that only the true owner of the book could have done so, he realized then what the wraith had meant, she was no ordinary girl, she and her family were direct descendants of the wizard who had bound and penned the tomb.

He knew then that her studies in magic would progress quickly. He watched as she began to read and the book took on a renewed life, it was adding her life essence to its pages, making her a part of the book, once it was complete he would have to convince her to give him permission to read it, it would not be easy but he still had many tricks yet unused.

Anecetus read and read for hours devouring the words of the tome as she sat at the table. She became aware of an awakening power inside of her, she felt the tome as it pulled at her soul, she could feel it as it took part of her soul but she could not tear herself away from it, like the wraith it had captured her and she could do nothing about it, she felt helpless as the book stole a part of her, but in exchange for the renewed life she had given it, the tome gave her power, and knowledge, just as the spirit had promised.

She felt that power as it grew within her, she read that tome for what felt like hours never tiring and never hungering for food or drink, only the power of the tome. Anecetus had no way of knowing that days had passed since she began reading, and she did not, could not stop, until she reached the end of the tome, spells and words of power danced in her head filled her with such power and such knowledge, but not the wisdom to use it or the skills to cast them, the words of power were easy, spoken commands and the spell was true.

The more powerful spells would require complex gestures and material components. She had no access to theses materials at this time nor did she know how to form the complex gestures to cast the more powerful spells, the cantrips and simple calling spells were mere words and thoughts, visualizing that which she wanted to happen.

Oliki tried several times over the days she spent reading the tome to look over her shoulder and read the knowledge contained within, the first attempt yielded blank pages. He was frustrated at this but he was persistent he waited a few hours and came back again this time she was several hundred pages into the tome, he was marveling at how quickly she was moving through the book. He leaned over her shoulder again and this time was rewarded with words of power and simple cantrips, he scanned the pages quickly trying to find the more powerful spells contained within and between the words.

He had found one and was beginning to commit to memory when she spoke a single word and he was thrown back into the book shelves behind him. Anecetus never once moved even when he crashed into the shelves of books. He stood and straightened his clothing. He stomped back over to her and was rewarded once a gain with words of power and simple cantrips, the same words of power and simple cantrips he had seen before in spite of the fact that she was now several pages further into the book.

He heard her speak another word and he was once again thrown backwards and into his book shelves. Realizing the book was protecting itself and its owner he gave up and waited her out, figuring she would have to stop due to exhaustion and hunger if not thirst, he would look then and read all he could, but she did not stop, she did not so much as blink in the time she sat at the table.

Anecetus sat motionless and unspeaking as Oliki paced and cursed at her and the tome. He was angry at not being able to read the words of the book without being thrown back, he was sore and a little bruised in his human form. He decided he would have to wait her out. Four days she read that tome, on the morning of the fifth day she reached the end of the tome, she read the final page, closed the book and latched it, all without taking her eyes of off the book.

Once it was securely closed again she sat back and rubbed her tired eyes, she felt such power and such knowledge as she had never known before. She looked over at Oliki and saw him in a new light, she saw his true demon aura surrounding him, she saw the one weak spot near his heart, the spot she would plunge the dagger she concealed on her into his heart one day.

There was nothing that the demon could hide from her now, she had been given all the power and all the knowledge of the tome, she needed him to teach her how to wield this new power, and so for now she would be his lover and his wife, she would use him as he had used her to gain access to the tome,

Smiling she looked at him and willed her self to see his human persona. Instead of a great winged demon she saw the charming young merchant. The silk seller she had seen in the market place all those weeks ago. She stood and stretched and went to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked deep into his soulless eyes, she saw anger and hatred there, desire burned within her own eyes as she looked at him.

Oliki could see her desire as she looked into his eyes, he felt such anger and hatred for this human woman who looked at him so longingly, so lovingly, with a burning desire evident in her eyes. He felt a familiar stirring inside of him, he had been with human women before and he knew the pleasure of sex with them. He felt his anger and his hatred fade as she leaned forward and lightly brushed his lips with her teasing them with the hint of a kiss.

He grabbed her about the waist and pulled her close pressing his lips to hers in a deep and passionate kiss. He felt that stirring as it increased to a passion and desire he had not felt in some time. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom with ease. Once there they began undressing each other. He was worried that she would see him as he truly was once she was out of the dress, he was not sure he could maintain the illusion during the coupling with out the added power of the dress.

She ripped open his shirt and pushed it back off his shoulders letting it fall to the floor, he slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders and reached behind her using one sharp claw to slice the lacing holding the dress tight about her waist and chest. With the dress loose upon her it easily slipped to the floor, she was now standing before him fully nude.

She had never been naked in front of a man before and she felt a small amount of embarrassment, but it quickly passed as he began kissing her neck and working his way down her chest to her soft and supple breasts. He began to suck on the nipples making them pert and hard under his teasing. She moaned softly as he worked his way down her stomach to her virgin sex.

He worked his skilled tongue teasing her body into an excited state before standing and pulling her into another passionate kiss. She worked at his belt and pants releasing them. He let them fall to the floor and kicked them aside, never breaking the kiss he picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her back and holding himself above her.

Smiling at her as he sought permission to continue in her eyes, he was rewarded with fear and desire, she nodded slightly showing she was ready, he smiled and it was with genuine joy, he parted her legs gently and positioned himself at her entrance, he moved slowly at first easily slipping into her.

He had know how to make her body desire more and he was rewarded with an easy entrance, she gasped as he entered her taking her as no man had ever done before. She felt the weight of him on top of her and felt him inside of her. She had never known such pleasure and yet there was a small amount of pain, she shifted slightly to allow him better access and was rewarded with a new feeling a new pleasure as her body tensed and she wrapped her legs around him digging her nails into his shoulders.

She threw her head back and screamed as experienced her first orgasm. She was breathless from the experience but he continued to drive into her thrusting into her no longer virgin body, she screamed out with pleasure as he made love to her, her body responding to his touch and his movements. It seemed to last forever as she lay beneath him, he quickened his pace as he neared his own climax. Thrusting into her, driving as deeply into her as he could, he felt his body tense as he reached climax, he had never known such pure pleasure with a woman.

Throwing his head back and letting out a demon howl he came into her. Filling her with his vile seed. He had no way of knowing the book had imbued her with a new power, a new ability, as he came into her, her body absorbed the seed and the power contained within. She felt her body gain strength as he finished his last few thrusts into her. She would not tell him that he could not impregnate her as he had planned, she needed him to teach her.

She would take him to bed often in their time together, it was his one true weak time, in the moment of ecstasy was when he was weakest. She would learn what she needed to from him, gain as much power as she could from him and then when the time was right thrust the dagger into his heart and end his miserable existence.

He rolled off her and lay next to her not eve breathing hard but feeling very satisfied by the physical pleasure. They lay there on top of the covers nude but warm, she was covered in sweat from the exertion of her first sexual experience. She knew she should be cold but the place was not normal it was a constant temperature. She would never be cold as long as she was within this place.

She cuddled up to him and ran a delicate finger along his muscled chest, tracing delicate lines on the flesh, she allowed her nail to scratch his skin and watched as it healed quickly, she wanted to be sure that she knew this form was only an illusion, so she used her nail to bite into his skin and watched as he did not flinch or even bleed, she saw the skin close with no trace of the wound. Knowing for sure now that it was just an illusion and not real she knew she would have to rely on her new sight to find the place to strike, to thrust the dagger into his heart.

Oliki lay there feeling her nails bite into his skin and felt the pleasure of the piercing of his flesh, he knew he would not bleed and the pain was so minimal it was barely perceived. He did know of her new found sight but he had no fear of her betrayal. In his eyes she could do no wrong, she was the perfect partner, young and full of hope and dreams of glory.

He felt her nail trace the same delicate line back up his body, it was a pleasure he took much joy in. he allowed the minor pain to lure him into a deep and almost human sleep. He had found that the longer he maintained a human form the easier it was for him to behave as a human would behave.

Hunger, sleep, lust for the flesh of a woman, all of these things were new and wonderful experiences for him, he found that in this human form and shape, he experienced new and wonderful sensations. He would be with this woman for all time, or until he grew tired of her and devoured her, taking her power for his own.

Olikis particular race of demon kind gained power through the flesh of those they consumed. He had had to devour many smaller demons before he was confident enough to challenge the more powerful demons. These demons were much harder to consume as they tended to dissolve quickly, he had to eat as he fought, taking bites of their flesh at every opportunity.

This seemed to be the most effective method of defeating the more powerful demons as well, with each bite and swallowed chunk of flesh the demons grew weaker and he stronger. He had no fear of a mere mortal woman, and he had no reason to conceal his only weakness, his heart spot.

The demons of Olikis race were bred to be servant to a human mage, they turned on their master and creator, consuming his flesh and thus his power, some of them ate more that the others and grew to power quickly, the lesser demon were either destroyed and consumed or fled to the abyss.

Oliki was one of the few to survive that onslaught. He fled to the abyss and fed off the low creatures and the imps, he never gained much in power until he came across his first spell born imp. He consumed the imp, and gained all of the knowledge the imp had been imbued with. New spells and new abilities were opened up to him.

The wizard who had created the imp had given him the ability to take on the shape of a human child. After Oliki consumed the demon he felt the call of the demons master and creator, he had never felt the call of a human wizard with so much power. He assumed the shape of the child and answered the call of the wizard. He slowly walked through the open astral gate created by the wizard.

Once he had entered the prime material plane he felt his body convulse and twist as he reverted to his true form. He had not realized how long he had spent in the abyss, how much the world had changed and moved on, the wizard that stood before him was very young and smelled of pure power.

Olikis own creator and master had been an older and very powerful wizard, he had used his magic to increase his life but was still very old. This young wizard before Oliki smelled young. He could see the youth in his eyes, and as he reverted to his true form he saw the shock and awe as well. Oliki would use this against the wizard, he would force him to break his concentration and thus allow him to escape fully into the world.

The young wizard called out to the imp as the astral gate opened and the mist of the abyss filled the circle of power and containment. He called twice more before a small human boy timidly stepped through the gate and into the prime material plane. He immediately smelled something different about the boy, this was not his imp.

He cast a short but powerful spell under his breath and watched as the "boy" changed back to its true demon shape, he went wide eyed as he saw the little demon standing before him, the curved and finely pointed horns that flowed back from the top of its head, the rows of sharp pointed teeth, the deep red hue of its skin, the black talons nearly a half inch long, the strong but short legs. The wings as black as a starless night sky, wrapped and hung like a cloak about its shoulders. He tried his best hide his shock and awe at seeing this demon.

The wizard knew this was not the demon he had called and he knew why the demon had heard and answered his call. He had read about the little demon that now stood before him. He had thought all of this race of demons destroyed nearly five hundred years before his birth, he had never expected to encounter one, mush less have one standing before him under his power and control.

He knew the instant he saw its true form that his imp would never be returning to him. This demon had consumed it, and taken its power. In doing so the demon was now in servitude to the wizard. He knew if the demon has survived for so long that it must be a very cunning and powerful little demon, he would have to be very careful so as to not suffer the same fate as the demons creator.

A quickly whispered spell showed him the true power of the little demon, he nearly lost his focus as the spell back lash whipped through his mind and sent him into a dizzying effect. Never one to be effected so he was caught of guard, his concentration slipped and the containment spell failed. He stood and watched the demon smile a wide and toothy grin as it was freed from the containment of the binding circle.

Oliki felt the wizards fear and saw his mouth work a spell, he quickly assessed it was a detection spell and set the appropriate spell shields in place. The wizard finished his spell and sent the energies forth, he felt the spell as it was absorbed by the spell shield and sent back in a dark wave of energy. The wizard had no way of knowing of such things, in spite of his power he was still young, and did not know of all the demons magic and tricks.

Oliki watched as he reeled from the backlash and saw the wizards concentration break. The binding circles magic winked out and was gone in a flash, he smiled a wide and toothy grin revealing his rows of clear and pointed teeth. The very teeth that would rip through the wizards throat and drain his life essence and power from him.

He saw the fear in the wizards eyes, he lunged at the wizard and went straight for his throat, he extended his talons and reached for the wizards shoulders bringing his clawed feet to bear to rip open the wizards stomach. He sprang the short five foot distance in a matter of a second but was not rewarded with the sweet taste of flesh and screams of terror and pain, instead he found himself hurtling across the room and slamming into the wall. He had hit a powerful spell shield. On he had only encountered one other time in his long life. He felt a moment of awe and wonderment for this wizard. A young wizard to know of the daemon shield created by Olikis creator and one time master, this should have been impossible.

Oliki snarled as he picked himself up off the floor and spread his wings to their full seven foot length. The fourteen foot wingspan on the four foot demon was enough to impress most lowly wizards but this time it was not impress but to ready a powerful spell wind.

The wizards eyes grew wide as he saw the teeth and claws of the demon readied. He knew what was coming and was frozen in place by fear. He stood unable to move as the demon sprang from the floor and towards him, he watched as its mouth opened and bared those deadly teeth, he watched in horror as the talons of its hands and the claws of its feet reached out to grip and disembowel him.

The second it took for the demon to cover the short distance seemed like forever, the world seemed to move in slow motion as the demon came for him, he knew his life was at its end and he could not even do so much as utter a scream. He watched as the distance closed and as the demons snarled.

He watched as a bright red light flashed around his body and the demon was propelled back away from him and slammed into the wall on the opposite side of the room. He had forgotten about the small amulet he had found with the ancient tomes of power, the amulet designed and enchanted by the creator of the demon that stood before him.

He had read about the power of the amulet and how it could stop the great balzemut daemons. He had never expected to put it to the test but today it proved its worth by saving his life. He watched as the small demon stood and spread its great wingspan, he had never known that a demon of such small stature could have such a great wingspan. He felt his fear and shock slip away as he realized the demon could not harm him so long as he wore the amulet.

Oliki stood glaring at the foul wizard who had stopped his attack with the creators amulet, the only spell shield that could stop his attack. His former master and creator had crafted and enchanted the amulet with trace amounts of the all the demons blood, as long as the owner of the amulet wore it, they could not be harmed by any of the demons.

Oliki knew the one weakness of the amulet, he had watched as his brethren had combined their power by linking their wings together and calling upon a spell wind to lift the feather light amulet off of their master and creators neck opening him up to the attack from behind.

He used that knowledge now as he stood and spread his great wings, he had no brethren here to link his wings to and increase his power, he cast a quick and simple spell shield, to give him time to cast the more powerful spell. He knew if he did not, he would not be able to complete it before the wizard attacked.

He began a low and slow chant as he felt the spell power gather around him. He felt the winds as they began to swirl and stir in a concentrated area in front of him creating a small vortex of spell wind. As the spell grew in strength he felt his wings become heavy and start to list towards the floor, he would have to finish quickly, he could feel the power of the spell grow and he was having to put much of his new power into it.

The wizard, now fully recovered from shock, began a quick entrapment spell to hold the demon where he stood. He could hear a low hum of a wind as he watched the little demon begin to chant. He knew he had to be the faster one to stop the demon from casting whatever spell it was preparing. He hurried through his spell being sure to pronounce the words in precise fashion.

The wizard saw the little demon as its wings began to dip towards the floor, it looked as if the demon could no longer hold them up, he finished his spell and cast it forth upon the demon, thinking he had the little pest trapped and once again in his grasp. He had not seen the first few words of the demons chant and did not know of the spell shield.

The containment spell was reflected by the shield and once again sent back at the wizard. The spell did just as it was worded to do, it struck the wizard and immobilized him, unable to move anything more that his eyes, he watched as the demon smiled and finished his spell, he felt the amulet as ti was lifted off of his neck and was tossed across the room.

He know then just why the demons wings were seeming to dip towards the ground. The demon had called a spell wind, a powerful enchantment, and used it to remove the amulet and all the wizards protection. He could not eve scream as the demon stalked over to him and sunk his teeth into his leg. He felt the searing pain as the demon took a chuck of flesh out of his calf.

He did not bleed and thus was not rewarded with a quick death. He would live through the feasting of the demon until the foul creature finally ended his life. He felt every tooth as it sunk into his flesh time and time again tearing away flesh and bone. He heard the crunch as the demon devoured first one leg and then the other, he wanted to die, to pass out anything to escape the pain, but the spell he had cast would not allow him to.

He had crafted this most wonderful of spells to ensure that his victims would be aware of everything that was happening to them. He felt the demon pull his entrails out of his body and watched as he wrapped them on the floor, sneering at them apparently not liking the taste.

Oliki felt the spell of containment as it struck his shield and was sent back to the wizard. He finished his spell wind and watched as the amulet was lifted from the wizards neck and was hurled across the room. He slowly stalked over to the wizard and saw the fear in his eyes as he closed the distance. He opened his maw wide and sunk his teeth into the soft and yielding flesh of his calf muscle, he was not rewarded with screams of pain, nor was he able to watch the life blood of this wizard as it flowed from the gaping hole in his leg.

At that moment Oliki knew the nature of the spell and knew he was going to enjoy devouring this wizard who thought himself Olikis better. He ate away at the wizard and felt his power grow, he ate his way up, one leg then the other. The wizards spell kept him upright and in place. Oliki grew a little more, the more he ate. He worked his way up the wizards body, munching and chewing as he heard and felt the crunch of bones.

Oliki was never one to eat the intestines of those he killed, instead he slowly pulled them out and curled them up on the floor. He was smiling as he reached up and grabbed hold of the wizards shoulder and sunk him talons into it pulling him self up.

He willed his body to grow and become taller. He winced at the pain in his bones as he increased in size and grew to the wizards height, he looked into the wizards eyes and was finally rewarded with the pleasure of terror.

The wizard felt every thing as the demon reached up and sunk its talons into his shoulder, he tried to scream as the demon tore flesh and rendered muscle as it pulled itself up to stare into his eyes, he watched in shear terror as the demon began to grow, in a matter of moments he was as tall as the wizard had been, he felt the sweet relief of the talons being removed from his flesh.

He knew death would come quickly now and he relished it, the sweet relief of finally being allowed to die. He would welcome death at this point. He would have begged for it had he been able to speak. But he could not, he could breath and he could move his eyes, nothing more.

The smell of death was thick about the demon. He wanted to die, he prayed for death and knew in his heart it was soon to come.

Oliki, stood and stared at the wizard, he could see his eyes as they begged for the release of death. Oliki could have ended his life in one quick snap of his razor sharp talons. He had taken all the power he needed from this wizard, he had drained him of all but the trace amounts of natural ability that Oliki could not touch.

He considered letting the wizard have his release, of striking him dead and consuming the heart. He stood and stared at the wizard for what must have seemed like an eternity to the trapped wizard, he thought about letting him die, thought about it and rejected it.

Smiling that viscous tooth grin he closed his eyes and called upon the inner power of his race and sought the spell line of the containment spell. Once he had it, he combined his own power to it. Feeling the connection complete he cast a quick spell of permanence on the containment spell.

Oliki opened his eyes, and reached up with one talon and sliced open the area around the wizards freeing him to speak.

The wizard felt his mouth as it was freed from the bonds of the containment spell, a guttural scream escaped his lips as his mouth was again able to move. He screamed until his throat was raw and his voice a mere whisper. Oliki smiled and fed off of those screams, when the wizard could no longer scream and his voice was barely a whisper Oliki spoke to him in soft almost comforting tones.

"My dear foolish mortal wizard, did you think me so weak as to be contained by one the likes of you?" The wizard had a dumbfounded look upon his face, this thing of pure evil had a sweet almost seductive Human voice. He tried to speak but found his voice and his throat too far gone to be able to properly form words, every thing came out a hoarse croaking whisper.

Oliki smiled again and whispered a few words of healing, spells he had acquired when he was devouring the wizard. Feeling the healing magic as it flowed into him and repaired his ruined throat, he found his voice quickly returning. Thoughts of curses and demonic swears were the first things that came to bear.

Oliki smiled as he listened to the words spoken from the freshly repaired voice and throat. He wanted to here the wizard as he vented and he desired to have the wizard voice all of his thought. He craved these things the way a child craved sweet foods.