Luctus

[

Aisha giggled to her herself as she wrenched the door to home open, smiling uncontrollably as she rushed in to hug her mis-

.

"Freeze!" Lorian said cheerfully!

.

Aisha's face went surprised as all of a sudden, her entire body locked up, wincing as the unpleasant tingle of her slave mark itched at her skin. Lorian gasped at Aisha's reaction.

.

"Oh my god!" She cried. "Um- I'm sorry! I'm so sorry Aisha! Oh my god! Um - Um- uhhh… from now on-" Lorian extended her hand. "From now on the mark makes you feel good! Now um. Oh gosh, Aisha- you can move again!"

.

Aisha felt her limbs return their movement, and blushed slightly at the pleasant, light, soothing tingle that spread throughout her body, followed by a wash of heat. Aisha quickly took a deep breath of air, before Lorian rushed over to her, anguished look on her face, and arms wrapped around her little kitten.

.

"I'm so sorry!" She whimpered into Aisha's ears. "I'm so sorry, I'm such a bad girl- I just- I just wanted to play around a little bit, I didn't mean to- I didn't mean to hurt you! Oh my gosh please Aisha forgive me, forgive your dumb, dumb dumb mistress! Your stupid-stupid-"

"Mistress…" Aisha smiled. "It's fine."

"Oh my god, thank you…" Lorian sniffled. "I'll never use that damn mark again, it just tempted me, with promises of fun times- I-"

.

"Well…" Aisha blushed. "You can use it if you waaaaant…"

"What!?" Lorian said, shocked. "I mean- no no no! I can't…"

"Why not?"

.

Lorian bit her lip, as she looked up and down Aisha's face… that adorable, adorable face, shining with loving affection, innocence…

"I-I can't trust myself…" Lorian mumbled. "When I'm with you… Aisha, you don't understand, I-I… I'm not this pure maiden that you think I am. I… I have… I have urges, Aisha… I want… I want to do things to you that I can't take back. I'm a demon."

"What kind of things?" Aisha asked, still smiling softly.

.

Lorian blushed. "I… W-well… I… I want…" She licked her lips. "I-I can't say."

Aisha nuzzled Lorian's breast affectionately, as she hugged the tall woman close to her. "It's okay. You could never hurt me."

"But I just did!" Lorian cried, whimpering softly.

"No." Aisha shook her head. "There wasn't any pain. It pains me more to see you like this."

.

Lorian pouted sadly as she pulled Aisha away from her breast.

"You're so… corny… kitten…" She mumbled. "So romantic. I don't deserve someone as adorable as you."

"Noooo…" Aisha whined. "It's the other way around… Mistress, you're so beautiful, and kind, and-"

"Stooooop!" Lorian laughed. "Come oooon! You say that every day!"

"It's true." Aisha pouted, smiling still.

.

Lorian just let out an amused sigh as she picked up Aisha, carrying the mewling, entranced girl over to the couch, where she then laid her head in her lap, slowly stroking and caressing the girl. As always, Aisha was filled with submissive pleasure, as her lips widened into a goofy grin, and her eyes went half-lidded with loving adoration. Lorian blushed at the look. It was just so… adorable, but at the same time, it was a reminder of just how much Aisha adored and loved her. She almost preferred it when Aisha wasn't as obvious with her affections. It made it much less embarrassing when she did express them, but now, Lorian felt like Aisha was the one controlling her with sweet kisses, hugs, and compliments.

.

"Let's play with the mark." Aisha purred, closing her eyes and smiling at the warm feelings. "I want to."

Lorian's hands shook. "But…"

"Ahhh, come ooon!" Aisha smiled lopsidedly. "It'll be fun! We can start small!"

"...Do you really want to?" Lorian asked softly.

"Yeah!"

.

Lorian placed each of her trembling hands on one of Aisha's cheeks, rubbing and squishing the adorable little globes. The softness, as well as the little giggles and purrs, soothed Lorian's trembling hands, and unsure mind.

.

"Okay." Lorian muttered. "You have to tell me what you want me to do first, though."

"Why don't you try making me say something?" Aisha suggested.

"Sure." Lorian mumbled. "Um… tell me… what your favorite food is."

.

The mark on Aisha's neck glowed, and Aisha shuddered, gasping as a warm, pleasing sensation shot through her body.

"Ah-ah-mistress!" She squealed.

.

"Huh?" Lorian frowned. "Did it not work?"

"I-g-guess it didn't!" Aisha said, blushing scarlet, and stuttering out her words rapidly, in pure panic. "Let's move on to something else!"

.

"Hmmm…" Lorian grinned. "No… It did work… didn't it?"

"I-I-I-I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Tell me… am I your favorite food?" Lorian asked slyly.

"N-noOOUUUUHHHH YEEeEEeeeeSSS!!!" Aisha cried, her little body shaking in Lorian's lap. The tall woman smiled as she held onto Aisha a little tighter, preventing her from falling off the couch.

"What do you like about my taste, huh?" Lorian asked, before the pleasure from the previous question could subside.

"Every-EVERYTHIIIIINGGG!" Aisha squealed. "Y-youuuuuooooohhhh taste shooo goooodddd sssssoooo swwweeeet aaand dellliiiicious…"

.

Aisha panted as the flush in her cheeks, and the heat in her chest subsided. She could barely look at her mistress, who also looked quite flushed, but also was smiling mischievously above her. Aisha covered her face with her hands.

.

"I'm glad I taste so good." Lorian smiled. "Do you… want a taste right now?"

"...No?" Aisha whimpered.

"Tell the truth." Aisha's slave mark glew.

"Y-yeeessshhh…" Aisha slurred.

"From where?"

"F-from your boobs…" Aisha panted, powerless to even resist, pure heat suffusing all her senses.

.

Lorian blushed, petting and stroking Aisha aggressively, and hoping that the girl was too busy leaking her brain out of her ears to mention anything. Thankfully, she was- it seemed like she didn't even recognize that a question had been asked, and that she had responded.

.

After a while, Aisha regained her senses, blushing as she buried herself into Lorian's tummy, and stealing a lick from her exposed midriff.

.

"A-um, we can… we can stop if you want…" Lorian said shyly. "Kitten."

"N-no… it felt good." Aisha mumbled.

"...Okay." Lorian blushed. "Then what next?"

"Make me… do something…" Aisha said, taking a long, deep breath.

.

"O-okay then…" Lorian said, rubbing her bare thighs together. "Um… give me… give me a kiss. A long one, with lots of tongue. A-and rub me while you kiss me."

.

Aisha moaned as she took Lorian's head in her hands and locked her lips together with the surprised woman, moaning into the woman's mouth as their tongues danced, locking together in a slow, slow, intimate dance. Soon Lorian was moaning too, as she lost herself in the kiss- but her eyes widened as her moans increased in intensity, as Aisha began to rub herself against Lorian, grinding their bodies together.

.

"MMMMPH!" Lorian blushed, reluctantly pulling away from the kiss, her face bright red. "A-A-A-Aisha!"

"...Y-yes?"

"I-I meant rub my shoulders, o-or my back!" Lorian whispered.

"...Oops."

.

Lorian covered her face in her hands, so embarrassed that the moisture on her face began to steam off. The worst part was that she wanted Aisha to continue. She wanted Aisha to continue, so, so, sooo bad.

.

"Please just forget that…" Lorian squealed. "Oh, gods, that was- I… Oh Maruna…"

.

"That was what?" Aisha asked in a confused tone.

"Huh?"

"Is there something wrong?" Aisha asked, brows furrowed in concern. "You… you haven't given me any commands. A-are you okay?"

"Huh!?" Lorian asked again, dumbly.

.

Her eyes widened as she saw Aisha's slave mark dim. Did she… did she make Aisha forget?

.

"Aisha, forget Fen's face. A-and this command."

.

Aisha just sat there, still staring concerned.

"Aisha." Lorian said, slowly. "Do you… do you remember Fen? The tall girl?"

"...Um… yeah?" Aisha said, confused. "Why do you ask?"

"What did her face look like?"

Aisha's face scrunched up in concentration, but after a few seconds, she just looked at Lorian with an apologetic look. "I don't… I don't remember. What's wrong?"

.

"N-nothing." Lorian whispered. "Nothing."

"Then let's keep playing!" Aisha whined, smiling again. "Let's play! Play!"

.

"Okay, okay." Lorian relented, blushing and smiling. "Let's play. Um… you're going to… dance for me. Do a dance for me."

.

"W-what kind of dance?" Aisha shuddered.

"Just… whatever dance you know best." Lorian mumbled.

.

Aisha's eyes widened, as her body began to move without her control. "W-wait, mistress!"

"Huh?"

.

Lorian's eyes widened as Aisha began to strip down to… well, nothing, and Lorian's mouth went agape, as the girl began to run her hands up and down her body suggestively.

.

That was right. The girl… the girl used to be a slave, to owners… that weren't afraid to… take what they wanted.

.

"M-misstresssss…" Aisha blushed.

.

Lorian felt an unbelievable heat well up in her body, as she began to pant, squeezing her hands between her thighs. Her eyes were locked onto Aisha's small, flat chest, and her crotch.

.

Impure thoughts rushed through her mind in a torrent - she wanted to see Aisha writhe beneath her in pleasure - she wanted to see that blush, but… everywhere…

.

"Aisha." Lorian gulped, entranced, shame settling into her heart, as she stretched out a hand tentatively. "Undress me. Make love to me. Fuck me until we fall asleep together."

.

Aisha's eyes went wide as saucers. "Mistress! I-"

"Don't say anything." Lorian begged, sobbing, tears leaking out the corners of her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm a fucking terrible person - I deserve to be- I deserve to be killed- I just- I'm so sorry Aisha- I can't-I can't hold myself back anymore. I want you. I want you, so badly, can you see how wet I am for you? I-I-"

.

Internally, Aisha screamed out in anguish, even as she unclasped the buckle to her mistress's bra. She wanted so badly to scream out, scream that it was okay, that she wanted Lorian too, that she loved her - but nothing came out of her mouth. At Aisha's pained expression, Lorian looked away with guilt.

.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm sorry. Y-you're… You're going to forget about this tomorrow. You're going to forget- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't hate me- I just- I have to have this night, I'm sorry."

.

(NO!) Aisha screamed in her mind, powerless to move or speak. (NO! MISTRESS! I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU! PLEASE! MISTRESS! I LOVE YOU! DON'T CRY! DON'T CRY! DAMMIT! PLEASE!)

.

Lorian, for the life of her, couldn't figure out why Aisha was so loving, so tender that night. She should… she should hate her. And yet…

.

.

.

The next morning, Aisha couldn't figure out why her mistress looked so disgusted with herself.

]

.

.

.

"Where's my brother?" Kayle whispered.

"..."

"Where's Amir?" He demanded.

"He's dead." Aisha said quietly.

.

Aisha saw a storm of emotions rush across the boy's face - anger, sadness, regret… She pitied the kid. Aisha expected him to start screaming, or try to hit her, or start running, but all he did was hang his head, as he slumped back on his bench.

.

"I guess it really is true." He said quietly, voice cracking.

"I'm sorry." Aisha muttered. "He…"

"Don't worry about me." Kayle forced out, voice wavering, as the kid tried to put on a strong face. "I'll be-I'll be- I'll be fine!"

.

"You don't have to force yourself." Aisha said quietly. "Nobody's going to think less of you for cryi-"

"Real men don't cry!" Kayle hiccuped, looking up at Aisha with a tear-stained face. "That's what Amir told me! He told me that- that real men-"

.

Aisha could only sit down, putting a hand on the kid's back awkwardly, as Kayle started to cry, tears wetting a pool on his pants. Aisha didn't know what to do, so all she did was sit there, hand on his back, as the kid finished crying. The adventurers around them averted their gaze out of politeness, but some of them shot sympathetic looks at Kayle.

.

"Are you okay?" Aisha asked quietly, after Kayle's sobbing softened into sniffling.

"I'm fine." Kayle insisted, his voice coming out dry.

.

Aisha hesitated. "Do you need anything?" She asked awkwardly.

"No."

.

The boy was lying. Aisha didn't even have to look at his face, it was just obvious. But at the same time, she didn't know what to do. She was tempted to just leave the kid, but… if she didn't take care of him, nobody else would.

.

"... Come on." Aisha tried.

"I said- I didn't need any help, okay!" Kayle said petulantly. "Especially not from you."

.

Aisha furrowed her eyebrows, thinking, but after a few seconds, she just sighed, turning to the job board.

"Whatever." She muttered. Kayle wasn't a child. He could take care of himself, but at the same time…

.

Aisha took a few gold coins from her money pouch, fat with coins, before placing them gently on the table next to the teenager.

.

"What's this?" He demanded angrily. "I said I don't-"

"It's your brother's share of the contract we went on. The last one before- well…" Aisha paused. "It's yours rightfully. I don't feel like keeping it."

"I don't-"

"I don't care what your opinion is." Aisha snapped. "Let one of the bronze dregs take it, for all I care! Throw away his last gift to you! It makes no difference to me- as far as I'm concerned, that's the extent of the duty I have to you. If you say you can take care of yourself, I see no reason why I have to mother you around. Nor do I have any desire to!"

.

"...Fine." Kayle said, with a dry mouth, after a long silence. Aisha could tell that the boy wasn't used to getting yelled at, but Aisha couldn't, quite frankly, care less about the stupid kid.

.

However…

.

"Don't you think that was harsh, friend?" Sui asked from behind her shoulder. Aisha's eye twitched.

"No."

"He's still a child."

"He looks old enough to me, to take care of himself." Aisha muttered. "At his age I was hunting for myself."

"Humans don't reach peak maturity until age 25, friend." Sui chirped, as Aisha took a long look at the board. "...And you-"

.

"I don't want to!" Aisha said irritably, turning around. "I hate kids! They're annoying! I made no promise to him. I said I would take care of him, and if his care is spoken for, I don't see any reason for me to try to break through his stupid skull, just so I have more trouble!"

.

"Come on Aisha." Someone said from next to her. "Weren't you ever a kid? Sometimes if you really care about some-"

.

Aisha was instantly reminded of her mistress, flashes of memories, of her taking care of her even when Aisha refused it, cuddling her even when she said she didn't want to, making her feel better even though she insulted her to her face-

.

"Shut up!" Aisha snarled, shaking her head. "I don't care! I don't care about the kid!"

.

"..." Sui was silent, holding up her hands up inside her cloak in a defensive gesture. "Okay then. It's your decision."

"Good." Aisha muttered, returning her eyes to the job board.

.

"Pick this one!" Sui suggested, pointing to a platinum contract.

"Why that one?" Aisha squinted her eyes, staring at the contract. It was a crude drawing of a woman's face, short hair, stress lines… it was somewhat familiar to her.

.

"The reward is large." Sui said. "I have excellent tracking skills! We will be able to track her, and then we can capture her, and obtain plenty of reward money!"

"We?" Aisha muttered, even though she already knew what Sui was going to say.

"Yes!" She said cheerfully. "We are friends."

"MMMhhhh…" Aisha grumbled.

.

"Don't be like that, Missus Izec!" Sui laughed. "We have many things in common!"

.

Aisha felt a warm feeling blossom in her heart when Sui referred to her by her last name. Mrs. Izec… mistress's last name… it made her feel like she was married to her, and just the thought of it made Aisha want to smile. She liked the name.

.

"Whatever." Aisha sighed, shaking her head. "I'm not taking it. Pick a sapphire."

Sui raised an eyebrow. "You are not interested in the money?"

"No."

"But I determined that that was why you were chasing the ranks!" Sui said, looking at Aisha in disbelief.

"I do it for a different reason." Aisha mumbled. "Choose."

.

Sui pursed her lips. "Fine."

.

The slightly taller girl scanned the board for a few seconds, before her eyes locked onto a contract. After a second, the contract lit up blue, and floated down into Sui's hands, her fingers popping out of her cloak to pinch the contract between two fingers.

.

"Telekinesis?" Aisha observed.

"Mhm!"

.

Sui tilted the paper in her fingers, showing Aisha the contract.

.

"A demon?" Aisha said in a bored tone. "Sure."

"Excellent!" Sui smiled, before walking up to the new guild clerk, a brown-haired woman in glasses, and levitated the contract in front of her.

.

"Ah." The clerk said, words coming out nervous. "Um, miss Aisha. I'm terribly sorry about the actions of the previous guild worker, I assure you-"

"It's fine." Aisha said impatiently. "Just approve the contract."

.

The clerk nodded, before looking down at the contract. "Okay ma'am. I-Oh, you're not taking the bounty?"

"The platinum contract…?" Aisha muttered.

"Yes." The clerk nodded. "A bounty for a woman named Mao. So far, five teams have gone searching for her. And none of them have come back. Big parties, too."

.

"Probably overconfidence." Aisha mumbled.

.

.

Aisha was in the middle of opening the large, oaken guild doors, her palm outstretched, before her ears twitched, a battlecry sounding from behind her.

.

"FOR IFRIT!" Screamed a crazed civilian, holding a sword far too ornate for his status, blade glowing with sinister energies. Aisha moved her palm towards him, intending to blast him away with her magic, but was stopped short when the man was suddenly pierced in the chest.

.

A dozen thick metal cables shot out of an opening in Sui's cloak, each an inch wide, with spaded, sharp tips at the ends. The force of the attack sent the man flying, sword clattering out of his hand as the cables forced him into the ceiling. He was promptly knocked out, and some people quickly went over to him to apprehend the man.

.

Aisha went over to the dropped sword, and instantly narrowed her eyes in disdain. The sword pulsed with a heartbeat, with what looked to be an eye set in the hilt. It certainly looked cursed, but what made Aisha frown at it, was that she had seen it before.

.

The blade that Ifrit tried to pawn off on her when he first offered to convert her. As if Aisha had had a shred of doubt as to whether or not he was trying to kill her before, it was obvious now. She reached down to pick up the sword.

.

"Wait! Friend, no!" Sui cried, as Aisha's fingers closed around the hilt.

.

For a moment, the room went still, as Aisha froze, hand gripping the ornate sword, but after a few seconds, the dark energies in the blade flowed into Aisha, and the girl straightened her posture.

.

"Ugh." Aisha groaned. "Tasted awful."

.

(You aren't even the one who has to consume it.) Shadow-Aisha quipped.

.

Aisha rolled her eyes.

"Let's go." She mumbled.

.

.

.

[

"What was in the sword?" Aisha asked.

"It was an old soul." Shadow Aisha explained, sitting next to her host. "I think… I think it was a human. I saw a war… and then, I felt betrayal and anger… But a lot of the memories are degraded. It's been too long."

.

"Did it fight you?"

"I am far more stronger than a single hume soul." Shadow-Aisha said haughtily. "It stood no chance!"

.

Aisha giggled, as she pat the shadowy figure on the head, hugging it close to her chest. It squirmed, and tried to wriggle itself out of Aisha's hug, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

.

"Wh- Stop that!" Shadow-Aisha demanded childishly. "W-what are you doing!? D-dammit!"

"I'm glad I have such a great sister." Aisha purred. "And such a cute one too."

"I'm you!" The shadow squeaked.

"You react to hugs like Hana, or Mistress." Aisha hummed. "Like a demon. It's cute…"

.

"Augh!" The shadow yelped. Aisha could practically see the blush. "The base of my s-soul is a demon, so… L-let gooooo!"

"Nooo…" Aisha giggled, resting her head against the shadow's immaterial form. It wasn't exactly solid, but not entirely malleable either. It felt like she was hugging a cloud, nice and fluffy.

.

"Y-you're so much more a-a-affectionate in this space!" The shadow stuttered. "Why?"

.

.

"She's the emotions." A deep voice said.

"Ah!" Shadow Aisha jumped, startled. "You.. .you're the… you're her…"

"The logic." Sen sighed, resting his cheek on his hand. "The rational thinking. That one-"

.

He motioned to the overly-affectionate Aisha.

"She's just the emotions. She hugs what she likes, and has no self-control. Like an animal."

"Why is she so strong?" Shadow-Aisha asked, still trying to pull herself out of Aisha's hug.

.

"Aisha is a creature controlled by her emotions." Sen shrugged. "It's fascinating, isn't it?"

]

.

"Aisha, friend, what are you doing?" Sui asked.

"You've been talking the entire trip, can't you be quiet for a single second?" Aisha grumbled, as she tried to return to sleep, on the uncomfortable grass.

.

"We're only halfway there." Sui corrected.

"What?"

"Therefore, I haven't been talking the entire-"

"Be quiet!" Aisha said, exasperated.

.

[

"I wish there was a bed in here…" Aisha mumbled, as she propped up her head with a log, snuggling and enveloping herself in the shadow's cloud-like body. It wasn't warm, exactly, but the heat from the campfire, burning bright with warm memories from her time with mistress, was enough to create a sufficiently comfortable position.

.

"That one…" The shadow mumbled.

"The annoying girl?" Aisha's face curled into a frown. "...What about her."

.

"She feels… strange."

"What does that mean?"

"Her soul." Shadow Aisha mumbled. "It feels… off. It doesn't… smell right."

"What does it smell like?" Aisha asked, stroking down where Shadow-Aisha's ears would have been.

"Kind of like… you know those fake meats?" The shadow struggled out. "That you accidentally ate."

.

Aisha suddenly had a memory of strangling a waiter, angrily demanding what was wrong with her burger.

.

"Um." Aisha mumbled. "Kind of."

.

"Yeah." The shadow whispered. "It smells… like… someone took things that weren't a soul, and tried to make it into a soul."

"Artificial?"

"Yeah, that's the word. Fake."

"Mmmmhh."

]

.

Aisha looked over at Sui, who was just… humming to herself. Staring off into oblivion, swaying side to side…

.

[

"Whatever." Aisha muttered. "She has her secrets. We have ours. Right, little sister?"

.

Aisha smiled as she squeezed the shadow tight, rubbing her head against the top of its head. She finally got why people enjoyed doing that so much.

.

"You're so cute." Aisha laughed softly.

"Ack! Get out of here!"

]

.

That night, Aisha slept with a smile on her face.