Author's note: The focus of this story is a battle for mental domination between two characters, so the sex scenes aren't as explicit or graphic as some of my other stories. If you find mind control erotic, this story is for you. If you find the physical aspects and measurements the most exciting part of a sex story, you probably want to look for something else.
*****
When I first became immortal, I knew that grief was in store for me eventually. My beloved was mortal; she would die, and I would have to learn to open my heart again. But knowing a thing is very different from experiencing it. She was a kindred spirit in many ways - we shared a love of music and dance, and a love of fighting and heroism. And more importantly, we were both powerful enchantresses. We understood each other where people without magical knowledge might have feared us. We built a prosperous life together due to our understanding of people and how to influence them. She admired my adventurous spirit; her knack for causing trouble never failed to make me laugh. And the potential to practice our powers on each other, often in intimate situations, didn't hurt.
When I lost her to Thanatos, the fate of all mortals, my life felt empty of all joy. I journeyed often to the gates of the underworld to grieve for her. I would pass the great, spacious caves in which Thanatos and his brother Hypnos dwelled each time, but I did not greet either of them. In fact, I spoke to hardly anyone while I was in mourning. Before my beloved died, I had relished my ability to win over anyone I wanted to with my words, but my desire to bond with others had died with her.
I couldn't imagine a meeting of the minds with anyone else, but I missed the games that my beloved and I had played with our magic. It was almost a year before my desire for pleasure won out, and I sought to distract myself in the arms of another. If there was anyone who could toy with the mind better than I could, it would be Hypnos. So once more I journeyed to the gates of the underworld. Throughout the past year, I had worn rags of mourning, but this time I was regally attired. My corset hugged my slim waist, accenting the taper of my torso. My skirt, made of expensive purple fiber, had once belonged to a foe whose will I had conquered. It looked much better on my taller, leggier frame than it ever had on her.
I leaned against the mouth of Hypnos's cave, prepared to use my charms, both magical and physical, on him. As always, he emerged from his cave at dusk. He took note of me immediately, wheeling around to face me.
"Ah, just the god I wanted to see," I said, "I've been preoccupied by a question, and I thought you might be of some help answering it."
I trailed a finger along the necklace of silver and diamonds that covered my pert breasts. I could see from the way he looked me up and down that I had caught his attention.
"I thought you might come to me," he said, "what do you need?"
"I was just wondering if men or women were more susceptible to magical influence on the mind. I thought if anyone would know, it would be you, the god who influences every mind."
I stepped closer as I spoke, and looked up at him through my eyelashes. Mortals had compared my eyes to emeralds, glinting in the light, irresistibly fascinating anyone who looked.
"That's an interesting line of reasoning, but if no man or woman is immune to my charms, how should I find out?" Hypnos tossed his head back, and his golden curls bounced. The way they shone in the light of dusk reminded me of my beloved's hair when she was young.
