Chapter 22: You're In
As my eyes flutter open, I become aware of an unusual sensation. Sufri's thumb is nestled between my lips, resting gently on my tongue. The taste of her skin is both foreign and oddly comforting, a reminder of our passionate night together.
I blink, trying to clear the fog of sleep from my mind. Sufri's amber eyes are already open, watching me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. Her steel-grey hair, usually so meticulously braided, falls in soft waves around her face, framing her strong features in a halo of silver.
"Good morning, Elwin," Sufri purrs, her voice husky with sleep and something more... primal. "You were insatiable last night."
I feel a blush creep up my neck, memories of our passionate encounter flooding back in a rush of sensations. The way her hands had mapped every inch of my body, the taste of her skin, the sound of her breathless moans... I try to smile, to convey the warmth and contentment I feel in this moment.
But before I can respond, Sufri's thumb swirls lazily in my mouth, effectively silencing me. The motion is both playful and possessive, a reminder of the power dynamic that had developed between us. Her eyes darken with hunger, a predatory gleam that makes my heart race.
"Elwin," she says, her voice low and serious despite the playful glint in her eyes, "do you want to be with me?"
The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with implication. Despite the minor reservations I have, I feel a relationship with Sufri would be a lot of fun, and I see the potential for a lot more to blossom from it. Without hesitation, I nod, my lips still parted around her thumb.
Sufri's expression softens for a moment, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"I have a bit of baggage, though," she says, her voice taking on a cautious tone.
Sufri's amber eyes darken, smoldering with an intensity that takes my breath away. Her gaze rakes over me like a starving wolf. They linger on my lips still parted around her thumb. The air between us grows thick and heavy with unspoken desire.
She leans in close, her breath hot against my ear.
"I'm just gonna put this out there," Sufri purrs. "You can take it or throw it right back."
She pulls back slightly, amber eyes locking onto mine. Her thumb traces my bottom lip slowly, teasingly.
"You have such a pretty mouth, Elwin," she breathes.
"Let me piss in it."
I barely process what she says. A minute passes while she looks at me, her eyes getting hotter.
"Wait, what?" I finally manage to croak out.
Sufri's lips curve into a predatory smile. She shifts, moving to straddle my chest. Her weight settles on me, warm and heavy. The morning light catches on the planes of her muscular body, highlighting every curve and scar.
"Let me pour my Golden Elixir down your throat," she purrs, her voice dripping with dark honey. "So I can watch you swallow hard for mommy."
My mind reels, trying to catch up with this sudden turn of events. The passionate night we shared flashes through my memory, a stark contrast to the unease now churning in my gut.
"Wait, no," I stammer, my voice rising in panic. "Stop, I don't want this!"
Sufri's hand tangles in my hair, gripping tightly. The gentle femdom from last night is gone, replaced by something wilder, more dangerous. Her amber eyes burn with an intensity that now scares me.
"It's the only way to be my lover," she growls, tugging my head back.
Fear and revulsion surge through me. I throw my arms up in an X, a physical barrier between us. "I do not consent to this!" I shout, my voice ringing with finality.
Sufri's expression softens immediately. She gently pets my head, her touch soothing rather than demanding now. With fluid grace, she shifts her weight off me, settling beside me on the bed.
"I'm sorry, Elwin," she says softly. "I didn't mean to scare you." Sufri sighs deeply.
"Elwin, you're a really great guy," she continues, her voice tinged with warmth and a hint of sadness. "But I really want to find someone who can accept all of me."
I frown, processing her words. The silk sheets rustle softly as I shift, propping myself up on one elbow to face her. "I get it," I say, my voice quiet but steady. "I don't want you to think I don't accept you, though. I just don't want you to piss in my mouth."
Sufri laughs then, filling the room with unexpected lightness.
"I guess I want someone to accept the piss, I mean." She quips, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
I can't help but laugh, too, for a moment. But then disappointment washes over me, and I sigh.
"I really think we coulda had something Sufri," I say, my voice tinged with regret. "This is a shame."
Sufri nods, her steel-grey hair catching the light as it falls in soft waves around her face. Her amber eyes hold a gentle warmth as they meet mine.
"Yeah, kid," she says, a hint of affection in her voice. "You're wild. You're going to make some woman very happy someday."
I can't help but laugh at that, the sound bubbling up from deep in my chest. It's a cathartic release, dispelling some of the tension that had built up between us.
As our laughter subsides, Sufri rises from the bed with fluid grace. The mattress shifts beneath me as her weight leaves it, and I watch as she begins to gather her clothes. Her movements are deliberate and efficient.
She pulls on her shirt, the crisp white fabric a stark contrast to her skin. As she buttons it up, her fingers moving with practiced ease, she glances back at me over her shoulder.
"You know," Sufri says, her voice taking on a playful tone, "as long as you're single, you can come see me anytime you want."
"Maybe," I say, my voice thoughtful.
As Sufri finishes getting dressed, her amber eyes drift across the room, taking in the details of my private quarters. Something ony my dresser catches her attention.
Her slender fingers reach out, gently touching a small object resting atop the ornate surface. It's the silver button I'd grabbed from the stranger's shirt during our first encounter. The delicate craftsmanship glows in the soft light, its design unmistakable. A crescent moon nestled within a perfect triangle.
Sufri's brow furrows slightly as she examines it, her expression a mixture of curiosity and something deeper, more complex. "Elwin," she says, her voice carrying a note of surprise, "why do you have a button with the Hero's crest on it?"
The question hits me like a 50-caliber bullet. My eyes widen, and I bolt upright in bed, the silk sheets pooling around my waist. "What?" I yell, my voice cracking with shock and disbelief.
Sufri turns to face me, the button now cradled in her palm. A bemused smile plays at the corners of her lips, softening the intensity of her gaze. "Yeah," she says, chuckling softly at my reaction. "How did you get this?"
I look at Sufri, my mind racing. My heart pounds in my chest, a drumbeat of anxiety and excitement.
"Oh, that?" I say, forcing a casual tone into my voice. "I just found it."
The lie slips from my lips with surprising ease, smooth as the silk sheets pooled around my waist. I watch Sufri's face carefully, searching for any sign that she's detected my deception. But her amber eyes remain warm and curious, her lips curved in that same bemused smile.
Sufri turns the button over in her palm, the silver catching the light and throwing tiny rainbows across her skin. "Interesting," she muses, her voice thoughtful. "You know, I guide one of the Hero's classes. Would you like me to give it back to her?"
"No," I say, my voice firmer now. "I'd like to give it back to her myself."
Sufri's eyebrow arches, a playful glint dancing in her amber eyes. She sets the button back on the dresser with a soft clink, then turns to face me fully.
"Oh?" she purrs, her voice low and teasing. "Is the Hero your next target?"
The question hangs in the air between us, laden with implication. I can feel a blush creeping up my neck, warming my cheeks. The memory of the stranger's touch, her mysterious presence, floods my senses for a moment. I take a deep breath, centering myself.
'Oh, I've got you now, bitch.'
"We'll see," I reply, trying to match Sufri's playful tone.
*****
[Octavia's POV] [The Night before]
The moonlight casts eerie shadows across the ancient gravestones as I carefully maneuver my shovel through the loose soil. A chill breeze rustles through the gnarled trees surrounding the cemetery, carrying with it the musty scent of decay.
I pause for a moment, wiping sweat from my brow despite the cool night air. The hole is nearly deep enough now.
A wry smile tugs at my lips as I consider the absurdity of my situation. Here I am, Octavia Darkmoon, digging up a grave in the dead of night like some common grave robber. But I know this is necessary. The items here are simply too good to pass up.
As I continue digging, my mind wanders to the reason I'm here in this eerie graveyard under the cover of darkness. A wry smile tugs at my lips. How strange that my extensive knowledge of an anime and its related media has led me to this moment.
'How To Capture The Prince!', the anime that captured my heart and imagination. I can still recall every detail of the show, from the vibrant characters to the intricate plotlines. But it's not just the anime that brought me here tonight. No, it's the often overlooked RPG Maker game that came bundled with the season 1 and 2 box set.
'We do not speak of season's 3 and 4.'
I chuckle softly to myself, the sound echoing faintly in the still night air. Despite being the worst game in the 'How To Capture The Prince!' franchise, it should bear the most fruit. Who would have thought that a game created by the original writer's niece as a bonus feature would hold such valuable information? But for those who took the time to explore every nook and cranny of that pixelated world, secrets were revealed, secrets that translate directly to this world I now inhabit.
Finally, my shovel strikes something solid. A hollow sound echoes through the night, sending a shiver of excitement down my spine. I drop to my knees, brushing away the remaining dirt with my bare hands. My fingers trace the edge of what appears to be a stone slab, ancient runes carved into its weathered surface.
With a grunt of effort, I wedge my shovel beneath the slab and push down. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, with a grinding screech that sets my teeth on edge, the stone begins to move. As it shifts, the ground beneath me suddenly gives way.
I let out a startled yelp as I plummeted downward, darkness engulfing me. The fall seems to last an eternity, my stomach lurching as I tumble through the void. Just as panic begins to set in, I land with a soft thud on a magic cushion, completely unharmed.
Dazed, I blink rapidly, trying to adjust to the gloom. As my eyes adapt, I gasp in wonder. The chamber I've fallen into is vast, its walls glittering with precious gems that catch what little light filters down from above. Piles of gold coins and jewel-encrusted artifacts surround me, their opulence beyond anything I could have imagined.
A burst of laughter escapes my lips, echoing off the cavernous walls.
"I did it! I actually found it! The secret treasure room that even the most dedicated players of that obscure RPG rarely discovered. I've just skipped hours of tedious dungeon-crawling, all thanks to what 5chan said was a 'mid piece of shit.'"
As I pick myself up, dusting off my clothes, my eyes are drawn to a pedestal at the far end of the chamber. Atop it rests a sword, its blade gleaming with an otherworldly light. My breath catches in my throat as I approach. This is it, the legendary Soul Sword.
With reverent hands, I lift the weapon from its resting place. The moment my fingers close around the hilt, I feel a surge of power course through my body. The sword seems to come alive in my grasp, humming with barely contained energy.
A wicked grin spreads across my face as I give the sword an experimental swing. It moves with impossible grace, cutting through the air with a will of its own. With this blade, imbued with the spirit of a legendary swordsman, I'll be unstoppable.
'It's not as strong as the sword I pulled from the stone, but it will literally do all the fighting for me.' I grin.
"This will get me through the first bunch of rivals, no problem."
Laughter bubbles up from deep within me, starting as a low chuckle and building to a maniacal crescendo that reverberates through the treasure-filled chamber. The sound is tinged with darkness, a reflection of the lengths I'm willing to go to claim what's rightfully mine.