Author's Notes:
This story is erotic fantasy, set in a world of magic. I reserve the right to be listed as the author of this work wherever it is posted. If found anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, this story is posted without my permission. © Darkniciad 2007
The villains in this story are truly evil, and their actions prove it. Some scenes may be disturbing for some readers.
I make use of modern weights and measures quite often in my work, because those are the weights and measures of my fantasy world. I know many fantasy readers prefer more archaic terms, and I hope those readers can overlook my use of miles, feet, and other such measures.
Please note that the form of witchcraft in my world is not meant to be true Wicca. Nor is it supposed to follow "Charmed" exactly. No offence or confusion is intended.
You should read the preceding chapters of this story in order to know the characters and what is going on. You will find that reading Book I of this story,
Danica
, will give you a lot of insight into the characters and the continuing storyline. For those who've already read Danica, welcome back to my world.
{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}
Relaxing next to the Pharaoh, trying to keep from dripping on the bed after enticing him to fill her upon awakening, Danica sat up and said, "I wanted to warn you about something."
The Pharaoh let out a questioning grunt, still too wrapped up in the aftermath of his climax to do more than that.
Danica continued, "The man you entered with last night, before my dance -- I know him. You shouldn't trust him. He works for someone who is trying to embroil the world in war, to distract them from some mad scheme of his own. He'll surely try to subvert people in your government, and likely already has."
That snapped Pharaoh out of his ecstatic fog. Sitting up, he asked, "What leads you to believe this?"
Danica sighed. "I can't explain, for my own safety and that of people I care about. Just be wary, and I'm sure you'll see things you've been missing. If you know what he's up to, things will likely stand out. That's why I came here, thinking to pass word through your sons to you."
Pharaoh's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps there is some truth in your words. Many of Clentamos' actions and suggestions are strange."
Danica smiled. "Just keep an eye on him -- that's all I ask. Anything that can interfere with whatever Zoraster was planning will help. I don't know what his actual goal was -- but knowing the man -- I know it had to be something that would be bad for anyone who didn't bow before him."
Sitting up and stretching, Danica said, "I should really be getting back. Your sons certainly inherited their skills from their father. It was wonderful."
A slight grin spread across Pharaoh's face, but it faded a moment later. "You have given me much to consider, and I shall do so." He once again smiled when he added, "I would be most pleased to have you dance for me again -- and share my bed."
Running her finger down the man's chest, Danica responded, "I have friends here in the city now. I'll probably be back for a visit or two."
"We shall await your return."
Danica kissed the Pharaoh's forehead, and then climbed out of bed in preparation to return to Harkhuf's house.
{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}
With everyone fed the morning meal, Andrea took her turn watching the girls for the morning. Celes and Marlena washed the dishes, with a lot of magical cheating on Celes' part, and then retired to the study.
Celes looked up from her mother's tome, shaking her head to clear it. For some reason, she couldn't get her mind to wrap around demons and rhymes today. Thinking she might need to take a break -- or perhaps find something in the Art to study instead, she glanced around and noticed Marlena absorbed in a spell book.
Walking over, Celes looked over Marlena's shoulder, seeing that the woman was studying the Permanency spell. When Marlena raised her head with a frustrated growl, Celes said, "Permanency? That's a difficult spell, and not something I'd expect you to be studying."
"I've been trying ever since I had my first dream here. I could cast this spell in it, and I hoped it might be prophetic. I'm not doing so well, though," Marlena explained, tugging at her red hair in irritation.
"You never mentioned that," Celes said. "Come to think of it -- that could be a perfect spell for you. A permanent illusion would be a useful thing sometimes, and yours would surely be magnificent."
"Flatterer," Marlena said sarcastically, but she blushed at the same time. She knew full well that Celes' praise of her ability to wield illusion magic was quite genuine.
Closing the book in front of Marlena, Celes said, "I need to take a break from witchery, and I think you need a break from this spell. How are you doing with learning some offensive spells? Have you managed the lightning bolt, yet?"
"Is
witchery
even a word?" Marlena asked with a cheeky smile.
"Don't change the subject," Celes scolded, slapping the woman playfully.
Marlena sighed, "Not yet. I feel like I'm so close, but I just can't get it."
Celes held up a finger to indicate that Marlena should wait, and then walked over to the bookshelf. Pulling down a volume she knew contained the lightning bolt spell, she brought it over to the table. Opening the book to the appropriate page, she sat it down in front of Marlena. "Okay, let me hear you say the words, and we'll see if that's it. There are a couple of inflections in this spell I've never heard you use in your magic."
Marlena spoke the words of the spell, making all the appropriate gestures, and Celes caught the mistake near the end of the spell immediately.
"It's that final syllable in the next to the last word," Celes said, pointing at the word in the book. "You're saying it a little too sharp. It should be more drawn out, almost like a little gasp -- with a little hissing quality to it." She then said the word with the proper inflection.
Marlena repeated it, and Celes said the word again. They continued in this fashion until Celes was satisfied that Marlena had the word pronounced perfectly. "Okay, now try the whole spell again."
Once again, Marlena spoke the words of the spell. When she reached the troublesome word this time, it glided from her lips perfectly. The redhead lurched, her eyes widening as she felt the tingle running through her body, signaling that the spell was hers.
Chuckling, Celes asked, "You have it, don't you?"
Marlena nodded, too excited about learning some truly offensive magic to give voice to her feelings.
Opening a nearby drawer, Celes withdrew a small amber rod and a patch of rabbit fur. Handing them to Marlena, she said, "Well, let's go outside then. I'm sure you want to try it out. We'll go over to the other side of the manor and I'll conjure up a spell siphon shield. That should handle a lightning bolt well enough, when I know what's coming. That way, Andrea can watch from the window. You'll probably have to do it again for Danica, though."
Standing up, Marlena paused before heading toward the door. She opened the first book, flipping back to the Permanency spell again. Pointing at one of the words, she asked Celes, "Is this the same inflection?"
Glancing down, Celes smiled and said, "Yes, it is."
"One step closer," Marlena announced, and closed the book.
A few minutes later, Marlena danced in the grass outside, having just cast her first lightning bolt. From behind her shield, Celes applauded, as did Andrea from a window of the manor.
{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}
In a nondescript grotto, deep within a windswept isle, the old Guardian repeated Marlena's earlier words as he watched Marlena dance in his mind's eye.
"One step closer."
Vellana looked up from her studies, saying, "Master?"
"Nothing, Vellana," Tam answered. "Where are you in your history lesson, my dear?"
"The fall of Brightwall, now known as Nightmare Castle," Vellana answered. "I still don't understand why it is important for me to read all this. Shouldn't I be spending more time learning magic, if I am to assist you in defending the stone?"
"Magic is powerful, but knowledge is the greatest weapon of all. Pay close attention to this part of your history lesson, as Nightmare Castle is a focal point of the here and now," Tam instructed.
"The Demon Lord?"
Nodding gravely, Tam said, "Yes, Meckataur. The stone will speak to you in your studies, as well. The knowledge may be locked away, revealed to you when the time is right, but everything you learn in the presence of the stone carries more weight than you know at the time."
"We will take time to study new spells today though, won't we?" Vellana looked up at the old man with a wistful expression.
Laughing, Tam patted her on the shoulder. "Yes, my dear, we will take time to study magic -- after you have finished reading your history."
Vellana smiled and returned to her reading. Tam closed his eyes, slipping back into his mental exploration of the world -- and the events rapidly unfolding.
{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}
Danica was nearly skipping as she walked from the litter into Harkhuf's home. She was sexually satisfied, and with Clexis' memory erased, Tari and Rekhmire were safe.
When she opened the door, Harkhuf turned to look at her and immediately chuckled. "You appear to be in high spirits."
Now, Danica did skip. When she reached Harkhuf, she kissed him on the cheek and said, "Well, I accomplished everything I set out to do. The Pharaoh has been warned -- personally -- and I got the opportunity to make sure that Tari and Rekhmire will go unnoticed here."
