Hunters Folly

Author's note: This is a side-story taking place around the time of The Dragon Bracelet -- Part 2. You don't need to have read The Dragon Bracelet, but it will provide some context.

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The hunter slowly let the smoke from his cigar fill his mouth, allowed it to linger and savored the taste of the tobacco. A slowly cooling half-full mug of cheap Earl Gray sat on the windowsill. It was a crappy apartment, but that was no excuse to not buy proper tea. Letting the smoke out with a long breath, the man refocused on his surveillance of the apartment building on the other side of the street.

He was a tall and quite skinny man, tanned skin with shaved hair to hide his early balding. He had given up on his hair in his mid-twenties, preferring to keep it shaved rather than desperately keeping hold of what was so obviously to everyone, already out the door and heading down the highway. Now he was in his late thirties, with a thick brown beard covering much of his face and dark brown eyes. Clad in a gray suit with the enchanted wolf-head lapel pin of his order. His name was Henry Wilton, Mage Hunter of the US Anti-Magic Division.

Down at the street level a 6'2 man was leaving his apartment building. Cleanshaven, well-dressed with everyone on the street around him, subconsciously stepping to the side for him. That was his suspect, Hakon Vidje. Resident of New York City, Founder and chief of the American branch of a Norwegian Software Company. Most likely he was the source of the arcane disturbance that had alerted the higher ups in Minnesota. Sighing, he took the half-burnt Cuban and gave it to the owner of the apartment, if he couldn't finish it someone should after all. The resident didn't think much of it as he accepted the cigar and started smoking it, continuing to read his newspaper.

The nature of one of Wilton's enchantments was that people without magic didn't pay attention to his presence and their minds made excuses for whatever happened. It was not a problem free enchantment, if a fight broke out and civilians got hurt, occasionally innocents would take the blame, their mind fabricating false pretenses in order to fit the event. But it was crucial in keeping the knowledge of magical powers hidden from the populace.

Out on the street he followed the Norwegian several yards behind, not wanting to get to close. If it was as he suspected that the man had bonded with a Dragon, Wilton was not interested in combating him. The sealers would deal with him soon enough, it was only a couple of hours until their debriefing at the Riverside Blvd sanctuary. Meanwhile, he followed and watched. The man stopped briefly in front of a pawn shop, Earnie Brothers, looking in through the window intently and then continuing towards his office.

Wilton could not sense anything magical from the pawn shop, but considering the man had stopped there every day he had been under surveillance meant that it could be significant. He had watched the office enough Wilton figured, if he was going to diverge from his suspect later in the day anyway, he may as well investigate the pawn shop. Crossing the street, he walked into the lit shop.

It only took one step into the building to sense the presence of magic everywhere in the room, the only shadow in the onslaught of all kinds of magical sources was a short and stocky man sitting behind the counter, reading what looked like one of those Japanese comics. The man looked up at him, placed a thumb between the pages and sighed.

"Now you've done it Mage Hunter, uncle had a more merciful plan in mind for you." Wilton was ready to turn and run, but the door had shut behind him. He felt around for the door handle, yet when he found it, he was unable to turn it. Turning around he threw his entire weight on it, yet nothing.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you, you are in our Realm now. The rules of this space will not allow you to leave." The man behind the counter said, reclining back on his chair and focusing on his comic once more. "That is also why Hakon can't find the shop, very nice guy though, I look forward to watching him grow."

"Realm-magic and you seem to know about the Dragon... Alright fucker, you are going to tell me how to get out of here." Forming the sign of the doe with his left hand and interlocking it with the squid in his right. Winston manifested silvery tendrils into the air, quickly surrounding the cashier, whom while seemingly unconcerned about the Soul-magic, this time at least stood up before closing the comic and putting it on the counter.

"Well, this is a pawn shop Mage Hunter. Buy or sell something."

"You have created a Realm in the heart of Manhattan to force people to buy or sell things!? That's like Oppenheimer creating the nuclear bomb and dropping it in a lake to get some fish." Winston looked around, he had summoned his Soul Tendrils without being hindered by the Realm-magic, but even with them he could feel sweat gather on his back as his heart pounded fast and loud.

"This Realm is a lot more than a place to just buy and sell things, but you wanted to know how to leave. That is the simplest way. I would highly suggest selling me your knowledge."

"My knowledge? My Arcane knowledge? I am Anti-Magic Division; you know I cannot do that."

"Your decision Mage Hunter, you can always buy something. As you can sense, this shop is home to all kind of magics. Whatever you buy, is bound to be life altering, that is the Earnie Brothers guarantee."

"I should impound all of this, arrest and have you purged." Heart still racing, he looked around the store. Eyes darting between the items and this unknown man without magical energy. Tendrils still looming in the air, ready to ensnare the man's soul. "Fine, I'll bite. How much for..." eyes darting around he saw a harmonica, an amber ring, a music box, a hand mirror and a black knight from a chessboard. "The music box."

It was strange eying the hundreds of items on display in the shop, every one of them magical and tugging at his inner self. Wanting to be bought, to be possessed and used. Freed from this realm and ready to make the world change around them. The music box, on the other hand, he could barely feel. It was like a memory of a thought he had forgotten the content of. It piqued his interest and also seemed by far the least dangerous items of the lot. It was simply adorned, cherrywood he was willing to guess, painted on its sides a pine forest half-hidden in fog. The inside covered in fog, with the shape of what might be a person vaguely outlined in the mist.

"Excellent choice Mage Hunter. You can put those away if you don't mind, I do not harm my customers or others in general... Anyway, that will be 50$, cash or card?"

Wilton released the tendrils as he took out his wallet and paid with his American Express, the man behind the counter gently took out the box, closing the lid, with a satisfying click. "Now this here is a very nifty little box, when you want to listen to it simply turn this key two turns to the right and it will start to play."

Taking the box in hand, Wilton quickly backed away towards the door and breathed out in relief as the handle turned and he was let out onto the street. Still sweating from the encounter his shirt had started to dampen and he hastily called a cab to take him to Riverside Blvd. Shuddering, he focused on the painted foggy woodland of the music box wondering just what artifact he had purchased.

Most Arcane artifacts had been sealed away by guardians or used by various institutions to study or to combat illegitimate magical usage. Yet in Manhattan, unknown to the AMD a Realm had been created where magics were bought and sold. It was illegal and highly dangerous. It made sense now how a Dragon had appeared in New York. The higher ups needed to be informed, the Realm sealed and the Dragon dealt with. Not to mention the Magi strong enough to utilize Realm-magic. The curly haired man was clearly not the Magi, Wilton had not felt an ounce of magic from the man, rather an absence.

Placing a palm against his sweaty forehead he leaned back towards the seat, other hand still on the music box. He was curious about it, artificing was not a skill he possessed and as such he had no real way of telling the object's purpose. Other than playing music, which he was willing to bet that it actually did. He knew he should not investigate it; it was outside of his area and the AMD was very strict in regards to what its agents were allowed to learn. Mage Hunters were given magical enchantments for stealth and protection against magic and non-magic, as well as powerful weapons to hunt down and subdue unlawful magic-users. But his enchantments should hold up if it proved dangerous, particularly in the sanctuary.

Combating these thoughts Wilton rode the elevator to the sub-basement that was the AMD Riverside Blvd sanctuary. It was a very spartan looking area, a lounge with a couple of leather sofas, small kitchen to the side and a dorm room with a number of bunkbeds for agents needing a place to crash. Woven into the walls were layers of protective spells that would overwrite any illusions and prevent magic cast from those without the mark of the Wolf.

With quick steps Wilton entered the sanctuary, he hadn't been in this one before, though most were very similar. Underground, smelling of burnt sage and nettles and often slightly to warm. Most of this was true for this place, one difference he did appreciate was the slight fragrance of elderflower as if to mask the sage and nettle, it was a good change from the other sanctuaries. The warmth on the other hand didn't help as he was reminded of the sweat soaked back of his shirt. Shrugging he took of his coat and shirt, letting the shirt air dry against one of the sofas. He sat down and with the music box in his knee, he ignored the voice telling him not to turn the key.

One... Two...

Letting go he waited with baited breath, as the music box began to play, it started with a soft tune. Slightly melodic and sad, Wilton could not help but be mesmerized as he saw the lid slowly open and a humanoid shape dancing to the tune. As the music built up to a crescendo, everything else in the room started to fade away and he found himself unable to let the dancing figure out of his sight. His heart beat in step with the melody, his hands firmly grasping the box, unwilling to let it move an inch.

Then the tune seemed to fade and a beautiful wordless song took its place. The fog began to dissipate and the shape was slowly made much clearer. Inside the box, he could see a bare-chested man, tall and skinny, bald and in his late thirties, dancing to the tune. He felt like he should recognize him, but he didn't. The man stopped dancing, fog fully cleared and the box now depicted a green and luscious pine forest in warm sunlight with the man standing in it.

He knew he should move; he should be worried there was something he needed to do. But what was it? He wasn't sure, so he remained seated eyes resting on the box.

"You know, I was itching to go face to face against a Soul mage, it would have been interesting to see who had the most endurance me or your tentacles." A petite woman with blond hair in a long ponytail sat down next to him. He looked questioningly at her, trying to ask something, but it slipped his mind as he let his eyes take her in. She had bloodred eyes and lips, with a pale cute face. Small breasts, barely hidden underneath a short white shirt and a low-cut red plaid skirt.

"I'll just take this." Red nailed fingers took the music box from his knees and now loose grip, as he tried to recall why he had had a box in his lap. "My cousin is a spoilsport; memory magic is no fun. But don't worry, I brought a friend for you, can't leave you alone in this state after all. Now take off your pants, big boy."

Deciding that he may as well do what the lady says, he unbuckled his pants and pulled them down, as the woman gestured for him to continue, he took off his underwear as well. Revealing a small dick, partly hidden by an untended dark bush.

"Good boy, guess I'm about to give you a blessing." She said as she playfully tugged his little member with one hand. He moaned as it starts to harden, he had never felt anything this nice before, of that he was certain. With her other hand, she closed the music box and placed it on the floor next to the couch, next to some kind of metal canister. "Turn around baby dick, on your knees, chest down and ass up. There we go."

The pleasure returned to his foggy mind as he feels the woman begin to tug his... baby dick it was called? She grasped it loosely, teased the head with each of her tiny fingers as she rubbed him up and down playfully. At the same time her other hand massaged his balls and gently squeezed them to make him squirm. It both hurt and filled him with lust. Relief and pleasure as she called him a good boy and eased her grasp. It was wrong, he thought. But it also felt so good. That feeling would soon triple as he felt her spit on his asshole. Only moments after her hand stopped massaging his balls and instead, she gently pushed a finger into his opening. At first it felt strange and unwelcome, yet as he started to relax, it slowly started to feel good. He closed his eyes, lost in the pleasure of having both his cock and ass played with by a master at the craft. He started to feel that he was close to something, he wasn't sure what, but he couldn't stop his body from instinctively moving against both the fingers and her hand. As if unsure of what was the true source of the pleasure. He was certain he was nearing the peak, when she suddenly stopped.

"Stay still, be a good boy. I am almost starting to think I brought the wrong present, you seem to really enjoy my attention to your rear. Makes me want to claim it myself, but I don't think we have the time for that." She picked up the canister, and started to unscrew the lid. He got the feeling that he should be terrified, but the woman with him had only been kind to him so far and made him feel good, so clearly that was the wrong feeling.

From the opening of the canister a large purple and black mottled worm started to rise slowly. It filled the 2-inch opening as it squeezed out of the container. Finally, out completely it revealed a 10-inch-long body and 3 inches wide.

"This is a Giant Purple Savannah Worm, I bought this of a transmuter many years ago and have altered and shaped it ever since. It is finally fully grown and ready to merge with its host, you. This has been your purpose in life, everything you've done has led to this moment. When you accept the worm into yourself, you will have a life of pleasure serving me, your Mistress. I will even bestow upon you a name. Will you be a good boy and accept?"

It was incredible, this wonderful woman wanted to give him purpose. He was so incredibly lost, unsure and unknowing of everything. No past or future. Not without her at least. All he had to do was accept her as his mistress. Yet, something in him was screaming, trying to pierce the lust that filled his mind. He was so close, to pleasure, to purpose and to her.

She moved around him, to his face still resting against the couch, ass high in the air and somewhere behind him the worm was slowly moving closer to him. She leaned in close to him, the scent of elderflower, stronger than before. An inch from his mouth, she whispered through her red lips.

"All you need to say is 'Yes' and we will be together. You will never lack for anything in my care and together we will corrupt this world." Her warm breath against his face, the lust still burning even though it felt like it was ages ago since she touched him. The scream of resistance finally went quiet as he whispered.

"Yes."

He didn't have to wait long, before he felt rather than saw the worm stretch out and climb up against his leg, nearing his rear. It was incredibly warm, several degrees hotter than him and it left a trail of cooling liquid where it crawled.

"You do not need to worry; it will not hurt... much." The woman was right, much like her finger the worm gently prodded at his rosebud, lubricating it well with the liquid it seemed to ooze. Then slowly but resolutely, it started to force its way in. The worm was unnaturally warm and a lot thicker than his mistress's finger had been. He could not help but to scream as his body tensed and tried to push the worm out. Yet it held on, its loose body adapting to the muscles and continuing inward. He rolled around on the couch moving his arm to try and grab hold of the thing and drag it out. But as he moved the worm found a point inside his rear and he felt jolts of ecstasy explode within him as the creature massaged the spot.

Collapsing on his back, unable to continue to put up a fight against the sudden pleasure he gasped for air as his baby dick hardened once more. Reminded of how close to the peak he had been at his mistress's administration, he moved his hand down and begun to tug at it in tandem with the worm's massage as it crawled deeper into him.

He was not as skilled as his Mistress, but he could once more feel the peak approaching. The warm sense of being filled by the worm, pushing at his pleasure button and pulsating through him, back and forth, together with his desperate and hard grip tugging on his baby dick was too much. He could sense it approaching and as his rectum closed around the worm, he reached the summit. A long and loud moan escaped him as he curled his back and bolts of lust shot through him as splatters of white juices landed on his torso and face. It was followed by a pleasant buzzing of contentment surging through him as he relaxed on the leather sofa, a warm numbness in his rear and his eyelids grew heavy.

"Rest now, when next you awake you will be everything you ever desired to be. Worry not, I will watch over you and be here to welcome your previous friends. You will not be needed for that, Zeke."

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The former Mage Hunter was still out when Jane's father stepped through the door to the sanctuary, behind him two black and white robed Sealers. They were led by leash and collar, their eyes blank and expressions empty. Thomas Earnie had little issues subjugating two AMD Sealers even without her. She smiled at him, still seated in the leather sofa with the head of the naked man resting upon her thighs.

"I see you finally made use of the worm sweetheart. I take it that the Memory Box worked then?"

Jane did not speak, instead she just nodded toward the box on the floor. She petted the man's head. He was coming along nicely. He had grown significantly during the hour or so she had waited for her father. He had already been quite tall, but it would not surprise her if he ended up exceeding 7 feet, his musculature was making a lot larger leaps. He now had the body of a well-trained man, but by the end of the transformation, he would look positively herculean. She glanced down to his exposed groin; he was making good progress there as well. Jane could not wait to break him in, just looking at the flaccid beast made her wet and stir against her cage.

"A fine specimen indeed, you've done well. He will be a valuable tool, especially to protect the Dragon and let its influence grow undisturbed." Her father bent down and picked up the box. Carefully, he opened the lid and plucked out the miniature of the man that had been Henry Wilton.

"Now let's see what knowledge the AMD has bestowed upon you Mage Hunter." He said as he crushed the miniature in his hands and it evaporated into blue energy being absorbed into the hawk-nosed man.