Sounds of the City-of-Thorns blur as Moonsong goes deeper. The heels of her boots produce echoes along the narrow corridor. The stairs are lighted by fires on the flanks. During all her trips to The Master's lair, Moonsong never saw minions working to keep the torches lit, she deduces that some kind of magic is involved behind it.
After fifteen minutes of zigzagging downhill, a white door stands in her way. Looks like ivory, but is actually bone. Moonsong opens and enters another corridor, short in length but wide enough to allow three carts to pass together. Four full armors stand at the corners, a cursory glance would lead one to believe they are decorative, but after getting closer it's possible to glimpse the sockets of skulls protected within the iron helmets, and the red dots of light composing the usual spectral gaze of the undead. Each sentry possesses a different weapon: One a mandoble; Another a war hammer: Another a halberd: And the last a three-headed flail with spikes.
Moonsong thinks that perhaps, making an effort and having a chance to play the flute, could defeat those four undead. The problem is that she is certain that The Master can use necromancy to summon many more soldiers. Maybe even an army. She gulps at the thought that no other elf knows the latent danger that dwells beneath the tower.
The elf walks with her back straight and her forehead held high, towards the threshold at the bottom, space protected by heavy stone double doors. As soon as the woman stands in front the doors, the undead in the nearby corners mobilize and use their tireless forces to push open the entrance to the meeting room.
Moonsong walks to the center of the meeting room, plants one knee on the floor and lowers her head. Ten paces ahead stands a woman with blue eyes, long amethyst-colored hair, white skin, and a gentle smile with a slight maternal tinge. She looks human, or perhaps a goddess, but the white horns protruding from her head and curling up near her ears are an obvious clue to a demonic nature, the same with her membranous wings protruding from bare back. The woman's dress is black and red, with a generous neckline and a long skirt, with a trail of net lace running up the contours of her thighs.
Dominus is a sucubus. In any other situation, Moonsong would treat her with contempt, considering her a filthy creature good for only one thing: the amusement of men or women degenerate enough to enjoy the taste of their fellows. But in this case Moonsong is careful and respectful even in her thinks, for behind Dominus stands a wall with a giant skull carved in stone, from whose eyes seeps an intense scarlet glow that when it touches you feels like a maggot horde.
Whatever it is behind the wall, the elf understands that it is an entity of awesome power.
"Moonsong, welcome," Dominus speaks in a tone of voice that unintentionally always sounds seductive and pleading. "We heard about your performance on the surface. Needless to say, I was deeply disappointed with the outcome"
"I know, and I apologize. I beg the master to be merciful and give me a second chance" Moonsong replies without raising her head.
A sound like wind blowing inside a cavern sounds from the skull. Dominus observes the red light and nods. A twinge of envy grows in Moonsong's heart at the idea of such a filthy creature as a succubus being one of the chosen few to communicate with a higher being.
"Second chances are the refuge of fools and incompetents, Moonsong. If it were up to me, I would execute you and find a more reliable piece for our purposes... But I am not the one who makes the decisions, the master is. And he insists on letting you live. In fact, he comments that what happened was very enlightening"
"Enlightening?" Moonsong asks as she resists the urge to look up.
Dominus nods and smiles.
"The Master says that to win, you have to know your enemy as well as yourself. Perhaps if you had understood that, the outcome of the invasion would have been different. From your reports, it's clear that you didn't even suspect that humans had the power to change the walls"
Moonsong bites her lip. Pride prompts a response and a defense, but her preservationist sense compels her to keep quiet. Dominus continues speaking as, with blushing cheeks and eyes glowing with adoration, she gazes at the skull on the wall.
"Now with these new details, it's obvious what we must do... Moonsong, you go convince the elves to prepare another invasion, a major one, one where the blood will turn the earth red forever. Right, master?"
"After what happened, I will need time and resources to convince the leaders?"
"We will give you what you need, and maybe more than before," Dominus' countenance cools as she returns to the elf. "Try hard as you can. There won't be a third chance, you can count on it"
"And what about the power that changed the walls?"
"Isn't it obvious? The human behind that power will have to be destroyed. But you focus on your own, Moonsong. Our piece in the castle will take care of this little obstacle"
Dominus' beautiful face shows a cruel smile.