Shadowheart could feel her heartbeat pounding in her lithe neck, her vision narrowing, darkness consuming her periphery until the only thing left was the scarred Aasimar before her. She tightened her grip on the Spear of Night, sweat slicking her palms and nerves causing an irrepressible tremor to course its way down her arms. Her head echoed loudly with Lady Shar's urging, willing her to kill the Selunite and claim her rightful place as Shar's Chosen, as a Dark Justiciar... as the Dark Justiciar. The time for conversation was over, her traveling companions watching her with bated breath. The cold fury of the Nightsong burned in her eyes, and for a moment the shadows abated, a soft melody swelled in her ears like birdsong, as captivating as the shimmering of the full moon over a glittering ocean.
She blinked and it was over. Suddenly standing right in front of the Nightsong, a heavy weight dragging her to the ground. She looked down at the spear jutting from the lifeless body of the Nightsong, at her hands clasping it tight in a death grip. Finally willing herself to let go, she could hear Lady Shar's praise. A single glorious desire welling up inside her:
Dominate
The spear tumbled from her grasp and melted into wisps of shadow before it even hit the ground. As she turned to face her companions she could feel the shadows swelling around her, wrapping tight around her body and embracing her like the welcoming arms of a mother.
Go now, my Chosen. Go forth and conquer, bring the world under my heel and rule them as my Champion. Dominate, enslave, subjugate. None are your equal, and all your playthings to use as you see fit. Go.
A sensuous thrill ran down her spine, and as she looked down she saw the shadows twist and curl around her, reshaping her armor into the familiar dark steel of Shar's chosen, of the Dark Justiciars. More glorious and beautiful than any she had seen before, her gauntleted hand turned over, fingers flexing and pulling wisps of shadow from the air around her. Experimentally she clenched her fist and felt the world warp to her will. Shadow stretching from the base of the stone pillar beside her and meeting her own shadow at her feet. With barely a thought she melted into the shadow, reappearing beside her companion, Tav.
"Let's go, we're done here."
Tav, still shell-shocked at the murder of the Nightsong, blinked and then nodded, turning to follow Shadowheart back to camp and out of the Shadowfell.
*****
Isobel chanted a few words, imploring her deity for a tiny mote of divine power to add to the shell of moonlight that protected Last Light's Inn from the encroaching shadow curse. A tiny spark leapt from her palm and flitted out towards a growing crack in the shell, bolstering it. She coughed into her hand, fatigued by the constant need to reinforce the protective dome. Turning from her balcony she gasped in surprise as the shadows at the foot of her bed swelled and morphed, rising into the familiar shape of Shadowheart.
"That's a new trick... or has Shar always blessed you so?"
A smirk split her face as Shadowheart replied.
"Lady Shar offers her most devoted followers incredible power. Perhaps you'd like a demonstration."
Isobel's eyes narrowed, there was no love lost between the opposing clerics, their deities' long-standing feud fueling her skepticism.
"I think I'll pass, thank you," she sneered.
"I wasn't asking."
A mask of confusion covered Isobel's face, fading rapidly to alarm as she watched Shadowheart reach out towards her and twist her hand into a fist. Suddenly her muscles seized, shadowy tendrils reaching towards her from all corners of the room as she felt the spell take hold of her body. She tried to scream but only strangled grunts leave her unmoving lips.
Slowly, agonizingly, Shadowheart stepped forward, crossing the room in measured steps while her armor shimmered, darkening and turning into inky mist before dissipating, leaving her clothed only in nebulous shadow before warping into an elaborate dress, black as a starless night. Each delicate step she takes exposes milky white thigh through slits up to her waist, the front of the dress plunging between her breasts, threatening to drip from her body altogether.
"Lady Shar has blessed me beyond your wildest imagination. You will be the first to witness my power, but most certainly not the last."
Her words come out as a whisper in Isobel's ear, Shadowheart's lips not moving, but rather translated directly into her mind.
"Hold Person is a marvelous spell, don't you think? Such a simple trick, but limitless in its potential uses."
Isobel strained with every fiber of her being, imploring to her goddess, Selune, to aid her. A silvery beam of moonlight streamed through the open balcony, scattering the shadowy tendrils and freeing the moonlight cleric. Gasping and reeling, she inhaled to scream a warning to the rest of the Inn.
Stop.
A single hushed word tumbled from Shadowheart's lips and Isobel felt the shadowy power sink into her mind, her jaw falling slack and eyes unfocusing for a brief moment.
"As is the spell Command. Now stop struggling pet, and
Obey.
"
Isobel's will railed ineffectually against the second casting of the spell, her eyes glazing over once more and her arms falling limp to her sides.
"I will obey..." she droned, in a listless monotone.
Shadowheart reached out and brushed a strand of hair from Isobel's face, tucking it behind her ear.
"Your beauty is wasted on Selune, let me reshape you in Lady Shar's image."
Even through the power of the spell, Isobel's body shuddered, fear coursing through her veins, helpless to resist her tormentor. Still, she could feel her pulse quickening, and a telltale warmth spreading through her body, centering itself below her belly and an unwelcome itch between her thighs blooming in response. Sheer panic set in, entreaties to the moon goddess scattering against the shadowy prison around her mind, inwardly flailing, Isobel's outward appearance betrayed none of her turmoil. Her eyes stared forward, unseeing. Her lips parted slightly, slack and unmoving. Her arms hanging limp at her sides, not even a twitch of the fingertip to be seen.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. There were a few muffled voices outside, and a moment later another knock.
Shadowheart cursed quietly then narrowed her eyes.
"Well, it looks like you're saved... for now. I'm afraid I can't let you off the leash quite yet though," and with a flick of her fingers and a few words of power, she cast Geas on the trapped Selunite.