Peregrinus Flammae

A special thank you to Prestige Octopus for editing.

--

Despite the whirlwind of excitement during her first 48 hours officially on campus, things quickly settled down for Julia. She sat at her desk, clicking through her email, trying to check out what was important and what was junk. The thought of clerical work never dawned on her as she sat there, mindlessly clicking through the endless sea of spam. Honestly, teaching sucked. She just wanted to hole up in the library, reading and researching her way into happy oblivion. Reading about the construction of a new crosswalk across from the dining hall didn't quite fire her up.

More than anything, she could go for a drink with Jacob. They hadn't seen each other since the first day of class; things had just been too busy as she adjusted to the TA life. They had sent the occasional text back and forth, but their schedules never seemed to line up. When one had free time, the other would be tied up in departmental meetings or additional bureaucratic time sinks.

Tired of the tedium, she stopped clicking through the emails and took a deep breath. She allowed her mind to wander, which instantly took it back to her dinner date with Jacob--that night kept coming back to her a lot these past few days. She wasn't sure if it was technically a date, but it felt like one. It was everything one would want, and then there was the sex. It was like something out of porn; she had never let someone take control of her like that. But it felt so right. The moment he kissed her, something came over, and all she wanted to do was please him.

The ping of a new email brought Julia back to reality. It was a reminder that she had her weekly check-in with Dean McCullugh in a bit. She glanced at the timestamp, 3:13; she had about 30 minutes before her meeting. That didn't leave her that much time to start anything new. Guess back to emails it is. She sighed, thinking of the 30,000 other things she could do instead.

-

Julia sat in the lobby of Dean McCullugh's office with her hands in her lap, looking at the ground. Mrs. Perrum, Dean McCullugh's administrative assistant, sat at her desk humming a bright tune to herself. The difference between the dean and her assistant couldn't be more drastic. Mrs. Perrum wore a bright floral blouse and khaki slacks, the seams under constant strain and threatening to expose all parts of her to the world. She wasn't fat by any means but was definitely "thick." Her and Julia's body types were similar, except Mrs. Perrum won the boob contest.

Tired of sitting in the awkward silence, the assistant stopped her humming, "There ain't nothing to be scared of, hun."

Julia snapped out of her internal monologue after hearing a familiar tone, "Huh, what? Oh, I'm not scared. It was just thinking back to everything that's happened the past week."

"Oh, I'm sure it's a lot. Coming from the South out here to California. Don't worry; I had the same feeling." She smiled playfully, "You may not realize it, but I ain't from here either. I'm originally from Georgia."

Julia smiled upon learning she wasn't the only Southerner at the school. It felt weird; she had gone her whole life trying to escape the South and shed her "Southerner" title. But suddenly, it felt like a warm blanket enveloping her. For whatever reason, she felt like Mrs. Perrum would get her, no matter what.

But before the conversation could delve further into deep-fried goodness, Dean McCullugh opened the door to her office, waving Julia in. She gave Mrs. Perrum a slight nod, who returned it and zeroed back in on her computer.

Julia stood up and followed Dean McCullugh into her office. She wasn't sure what to think of it. The room itself was massive but relatively empty except for bookcases lining almost every inch of the walls. The only exceptions were two display cases behind her desk and a portrait of herself. Inside the cases were what looked to be the most mundane items. In one, leather bindings were adhered to a red velvet background. On the other lay what could only be described as a dowel whose material Julia couldn't figure out. It had the same background material as the straps.

The Dean led her through the room and gestured to an overstuffed accent chair as she sat behind her desk. She grabbed a crystal pitcher from the corner, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to Julia. "So, tell me. How has your first week been?" she asked, taking a polite sip of water.

"Oh, things have been wonderful. It's been a lot to process, but I'm finally getting into a groove." Julia replied, nervously sipping her water as well.

"Good, I'm glad to hear that. I hope Jacob was able to assist you the first few days. He had nothing but good things to say about you."

Julia blushed at the mention of Jacob and the praise. "He's been wonderful. I don't think I would have settled in as quickly if not for him. He also has been super helpful with my research."

Dean McCullugh smiled slightly, "Wonderful. Speaking of your research and being settled, I have a surprise for you. Effective as of this morning, your student ID will unlock the library at all times. I don't want time to be an issue with your studies. Juggling work, studies, and new social obligations is quite the commitment."

The way she emphasized "new social obligations" initially gave Julia pause, but then the realization set in of what the Dean just did. "Oh wow, I don't know what to say. Thank you so much!"

"Make nothing of it. I want to ensure you have the tools to succeed under my tutelage."

"Of course, Dean McCullugh!"

Their conversation continued for several minutes until Mrs. Perrum lightly wrapped on the door, interrupting them, "Excuse me, Dean McCullugh, but your next meeting is here."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Mrs. Perrum." Dean McCullugh smiled one last time at Julia. "Thank you so much for your time, Julia. I look forward to meeting with you next week."

-

Julia shut the door to her apartment and dropped her bag on the kitchen counter as she made her way to her bedroom. She fell face-first into the bed, using her pillow to mask her groans. Her brain was reeling from the meeting with Dean McCullugh. Just when she didn't think things could get better, Dean McCullugh would pull out another surprise. Despite her taciturn appearance, a nurturing soul existed under that shell.

And speaking of Dean McCullugh and her research, she never finished the book Jacob loaned her. She retrieved her bag from the kitchen and pulled it out. The moment her fingers touched the leather, she was pulled back into its fantastical hold.

Her conscious mind opened to where she had left off and continued to read under the pretense of sitting at her desk. In reality, she had placed the book on the floor and removed her clothes, folding them neatly in a pile on the bed. She proceeded to rummage through her nightstand, and within moments, she retrieved a small metal butt plug and a bottle of lube. She squeezed a small amount on her fingers and rubbed it over the bulb and her asshole. Slowly, she pressed into her, her body giving little resistance.

Once nestled inside her, she placed the book on the ground and crouched, replicating her position before Jacob interrupted her. But unlike last time, she needed no warm-up to get ready. Her pussy was on fire, and her fluids ran down her leg. She bunched her fingertips together and slowly pressed them inside her. She moaned loudly as her pussy enveloped her hand, her juices continuing to pool underneath.

Slowly, she started to rock her hips back and forth against her hand, grunting as her hand pushed against the butt plug with each forward motion. She was in heaven. Her body had never been filled like this before and needed more.

The gentle rocking soon developed into bouncing up and down, fucking herself with her hand. The moans and grunts were now screams of pleasure. She continued to bounce on her hand, pressing up to her wrist inside her.

Below, a small pool of her juices grew, soon encompassing a circle around her the size of a hula hoop, the bottom of the book at the top of the pool. She reached the last page, fell onto her face, and pummeled herself. The book lay a few inches in front of her, positioned so that she could continue to read. But it could have been a million miles away for all she cared. She just wanted to cum, but something told her to finish the last paragraph first.

The moment she finished the book, the most powerful orgasm of her life ripped through her. She screamed in ecstasy, every muscle in her body spasming. Overcome, she rolled on her back as her pussy sprayed her ejaculate everywhere. This went on for several moments, shooting torrent after torrent of juices through the air, leaving a massive puddle around her.

She lay there, catching her breath as the divide in her mind subsided. She sat up and looked around in disbelief that she just had the biggest orgasm of her life while doing research. While she sat there and came to grips with reality, the pool of her fluids slowly disappeared. When she picked the book up, the only remaining wet spot was under the spine. She looked it over, afraid she had damaged it with her activities. Instead of the liquid damaging the pages, it appeared to restore it, the leather had more color, and the crinkled corners of the pages smoothed out. It was like it came off the press earlier that day.

-

Julia stood at the side entrance to the library, praying the IT team followed through with the dean's promise. She could have come by earlier during normal hours but didn't want to fight for a table to spread out on. She pulled out her university ID and swiped it through the reader. It took a moment, but when the light on the lock turned green, Julia exhaled in relief. She didn't realize she had been holding her breath. It's not like it was finals, where not that getting in this weekend could be catastrophic. It was more of a test, but if it worked, she would gain a considerable advantage when it came to completing her program.

Despite the lights still being on, the library was a ghost town. It flirted with the line between comforting and creepy. Thinking the main floor would be better suited, Julia shut the door just to be safe and made her way to the nearest stairwell. The slapping of her sandals against her heels filled the stairwell, sending echoes throughout the building. Channeling her inner child momentarily, she began to yell nonsense into the stairwell, giggling as it echoed everywhere. Composing herself, just in case someone else was here, she proceeded to the main floor and plopped down at the nearest table.

She emptied the contents of her bag onto the table and set about creating a workspace. She placed her laptop to the far left of her and her notebook on the right, leaving ample space for two or three opened books between them. Next to the notebook was a thermos filled with lemon and honey tea since The Golden Roast was closed on the weekends. She surveyed the scene, which caused her to let out an excited giggle involuntarily. She covered her mouth instinctively but then remembered no one else was there. She could be a giddy schoolgirl all she wanted.

Once the excitement passed, she immediately got to work. Booting up her laptop, she logged into the library's network and began to look for leads. She occasionally glanced at her notebook, plugging in various keywords and jotting down book titles and locations. After about an hour of her preliminary search, she grabbed her notebook and a cart before leaving on a scavenger hunt. According to the system, all the books should be available, but she quickly learned how inaccurate that was. Of the 15 books she wanted to peruse, only three were where they should be.

Discouraged by the results and afraid her Saturday plans may be for naught, she grabbed the books from the cart and returned to her base of operations. When she returned to her spot, she saw that she had company this time. Even in the distance, Dean McCullugh's features were unmistakable, even if she wasn't wearing her usual attire. Instead, she wore a black robe with a silver clasp and silver threading along the hem. Julia wasn't sure since the robe completely enveloped her, but she suspected Dean McCullugh was completely naked underneath.

Dean McCullugh stood up as Julia approached the table. "Appears I made the right call by stopping in today. I had a feeling I would find you here."

Julia smiled at the compliment, "Of course. This is like a dream come true. I don't have to worry about finding a table or fighting over the only book copy."

Dean McCullugh gestured for Julia to take her seat and sat across the table from her as if the library were an extension of her office. "So, it looks like your first foray was fruitful." She commented on the three books in Julia's arms.

"I wish. Unfortunately, these were the biggest stretches in terms of usefulness." Julia set them down and spread them out. "We've got An Introduction to Medieval Puritanism, Origins on the Occult, and A Treatise on Early Christian Practices."

Dean McCullugh looked over the books, gently picked them up, and placed them next to her. "This won't do. I felt this would be the case and brought you something from my library. It's my understanding you already have one of my books."

"Oh yes. Jacob gave it to me after my first day of classes. I read it in one sitting; I couldn't put it down."

"Good, just see it returned to me when you are finished." Dean McCullugh leaned over to retrieve something from her messenger bag, the robe gaping under the clasp as she moved and confirming Julia's suspicions. Dean McCullugh was naked under there, and if her eyes weren't deceiving her, Julia was pretty sure her nipples were also pierced. Dean McCullugh dropped a sizeable brown book on the table between them, pulling Julia's attention back to why she was there. "This is another of his writings. De Origina Luxuriae, or Origins of Lust. He attempted to uncover the root of carnal sin but is another wonderful collection of what could best be described as heretical ravings."

"Oh really?! How many of these exist?" Julia asked, her body beginning to react at the mention of the anonymous author's writings.

"I'm not entirely sure. I have about 120 in my collection, but I know of at least 250 in existence. The remaining ones are in two separate collections. About 75 are at Vilnius University in Lithuania, and the remaining known works belong to a private collector in Nebraska. Let's not waste time and get right to the text."

"Of course!" Julia pulls her notebook closer and sips her tea, anxiously awaiting what just became a private lesson.

Dean McCullugh begins to thumb through the pages before stopping, "Ah, yes. I always found this to be interesting:

Early Jewish scholars believed the human was composed of two tugging forces: the Yetzer HaRah, the inclination to do evil, and the opposite Yetzer HaTov. Both must exist for humanity to thrive, for man and woman no longer lay with each other without the pull to do wickedness. But with only the power of wickedness, man becomes a selfish demon who only knows depravity and violence.

Dean McCullugh paused to catch her breath, but Julia interrupted before she could continue, "So that's why he kept going on and on about lust in the first one. He's operating under the presumption the Yetzer HaRah will win out." Turning the page to a fresh sheet in her notebook, Julia got philosophical, "What do you think? Do you think we'll stay in equilibrium forever, or will one side win?"

Dean McCullugh looked up from the book, their eyes meeting and sending a shiver of pleasure through Julia, "I believe selfishness will win out. Will it happen in my lifetime? I have no idea. But, for better or worse, we are quite short-sighted as a society, which tends to yield, as our author puts it 'wickedness and carnal cravings.'"

Julia squirmed in her chair, fully aware of the warmth emanating from her crotch. "Wo-would you excuse me, Dean McCullugh? I feel like we're about to get into the thick of things. I just want to get some fresh air."

"Absolutely, Julia. That sounds like a great idea. I'll be with you shortly; I will find a few other passages that should be fruitful for our study session."

"Thank you. I'll just need a couple of minutes."

While her face showed no emotion, Dean McCullugh could hardly contain her excitement. Jacob executed his portion of the plan, and now Dean McCullugh was moments away from completing the entire thing. Julia just needed one last push.

-

Julia stood outside the main library, staring blankly while her mind raced with what was happening. Anytime this author or his writings get brought up, all she wants to do is get fucked. She glanced around campus, and after deciding no one else was around, she slowly unbuttoned her jeans and slid a hand into them. Her panties were soaked. She bit her lower lip and began to massage her clit slowly through the thin material, and then stopped, realizing she was in the open.

She returned to her workstation, where Dean McCullugh sat, reading over the book she brought with her. "I think I'm going to head home; I didn't realize it was almost 11."

"Of course, would you like to take this with you?" The Dean asked.

Still unsure initially, Julia looked down at it but quickly caved and placed it in her bag. She needed to know more about Peregrinus Flammae and the author. "Thank you again. I'll return the other on Monday."

"Not a problem, take your time with it. Now, let me walk you out. I appreciated our time this evening."

Julia instinctively followed Dean McCullugh through the library, not realizing she was being led to a backdoor, not the main entrance or side door she used earlier. But by the time she realized it, they were standing on a patio overlooking a rear courtyard utterly secluded from the rest of campus. Julia wasn't sure exactly where she was, but she figured it wouldn't be hard once she could get her bearings with the surrounding buildings.

On the far side of the courtyard, Julia could make out the shapes of 12 individuals standing in a semi-circle. They seemed to be saying something, but it was hard to tell precisely from this distance. Julia looked up at Dean McCullugh, who placed a finger over her lips to shush Julia before she could speak.

"A group on campus gathers just before midnight on new moons. I have found it best not to interrupt or disturb them in any fashion." Dean McCullugh whispered to Julia before slowly descending the stairs and gesturing for Julia to follow.

Julia did as she was told, driven by curiosity and fear. She wanted to be next to Dean McCullugh if anything were to happen. As they approached, Julia slowly began to discern the chanting and then realized it was the closing line from the book Jacob loaned her. "Only through subjugation will we know salvation."

Before she could do anything else, Dean McCullugh had left her and reached the top of the semi-circle. Julia's mind was reeling. Not only was there a religious cult at her university, but the Dean of her department was also the leader.

Once at her place, the chanting stopped, and Dean McCullugh began to speak in English. Every fiber of her being told her to run, but some part of Julia told her she needed to be here and listen to Dean McCullugh. "Thank you all for gathering tonight. As you are aware, we are at the precipice of greatness. Because of the hard work and dedication of everyone here, we will finally usher in The New Age. But," she paused to take a breath and looked directly at Julia, "tonight's grand welcome will not be complete without my granddaughter, who has demonstrated why she will be the conduit."

Julia's heart and mind raced. What did that even mean? Would she be the conduit? Her granddaughter? That was impossible. She was told her mom's grandmother had passed away before she was born, and this woman looked nothing like the people she had known as her grandparents.