This story is copyright of Lisa X Lopez and Tori Hamlin
Author's Note & Acknowledgement:
I want to thank my awesome co-author, Hamlin, for lending his dark noncon/reluctance twist to this story, as well as some awesome magical battle scenes. I hope you'll enjoy this first part. This installment covers chapters seven and eight of ten. The complete story of The Demon Chain is a 28K word novella that follows the story of Jalissa, as she is forced to serve the dark desires and will of the demon, Succubi.
Synopsis:
Thousands of years ago, seven ancient demons of incredible power were sealed away within seven magical artifacts. The demon chains were forged to contain their evil powers, but even the greatest of magic couldn't harness them fully. In time, the chains passed into legend and were forgotten by most.
In the ruins of Dar'Kasha, Jalissa hunts for lost treasures. She's a pilferer, a scavenger, wandering the world in search of artifacts to sell. When she uncovers a hidden chamber, the treasure she finds within is one that will exact a terrible price on her, instead.
Within this forgotten room, in the dusty fingers of a desiccated skeleton, is a gem-laden chain that glows with its own magical light. The thing seems to sing to her, to call to her, urging her to bear it from the darkness. What Jalissa doesn't realize, is that she's just carried forth an ancient evil. And it's one that's begun to consume her soul from the moment she touched it.
Now, she's in a race against time, fighting the demon's compulsions and her own temptation. She finds herself in the company of a less-than-competent mage, with the demon's power growing as it uses her body to feed. Before it can consume her, she'll need to find a way to free herself from its vile hold or perish in the attempt.
Chapter Seven: Nightly Temptation
They pushed the horse hard to make up for lost time, in order to reach Bainbridge before dark. Night fell before they made it. They rode the last few miles with a conjured ball of blue light leading the way.
"I understand now," Bandric said, "your recent interest in the histories of demons. Neesa's cunt!"
He immediately looked embarrassed at the curse and apologized.
"I feel the same way," Jalissa said, waving away any offense.
"You can feel it, even now?" he asked, his voice both frightened and curious.
"I always feel it," she said. "Right now, it's... asleep, I guess. It's the best way I can think of to describe what happens after it feeds."
"I have to say that, before that happened, I'd have never guessed that you were... possessed," he said.
"I told you there were things you didn't know about me."
"Well, most people have secrets," he said, shrugging. "Most aren't as poignant as yours."
"Do you think I'll find something at the College that can help?" she asked.
Bandric drove the cart on, the lamplights of the town now in view ahead.
"I suppose if there's anywhere that would, it would be the College. I have a colleague that may have some ideas. Most think he's bat shit, but he's quite convinced that the demons were a real thing. Getting a look at an actual demon chain would likely be the high point of his life."
"What if something... happens. You know, like what happened back there. I don't want to hurt anyone," Jalissa said.
"There are more wards on the College than anywhere in the world. The mages are manipulating so many different magics that it's probably the most well-protected place on the planet. If that little ward of yours," he nodded to the coin tucked beneath her shirt, the chain having been repaired with a flick of his finger, "can keep it at bay, then I'm sure you'll be fine."
Jalissa shook her head and said, "It does to an extent, but if it really wants to make me do something, this thing won't stop it. I've seen it happen. When it wakes up, it will be stronger now."
Bandric shuddered next to her, likely recalling the horror of watching her punch through a man's chest with her fist and crush his heart.
"We'll rest tonight and press on more quickly in the morning. There's a mage's guild in Bainbridge that can shelter us. I'll leave the books with them. In the morning, we'll take fresh horses and make haste for the College. Fear not, lady. No demon shall take you from me."
Jalissa slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gratefully. He looked at it, not with terror, but with surprise. He did not recoil from her touch, even knowing what she was.
***
Just before crossing into the town, Bandric stopped the wagon.
"The necklace was a fine idea," he said, looking between her breasts. "If it's all that's keeping the thing in, though, it might be better to have it more permanently attached."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I have a simple binding spell. It will keep it in place against your skin. That way, it won't come off. The binding is a trivial thing. Even the lowliest mage will be able to remove it if you need."
Jalissa nodded and said, "Do it."
"I'll... need to see your chest," he said bashfully.
Jalissa grinned and asked, "Do you use that line with all the ladies?"
"What? No! I didn't mean... I'm sorry. It's just how it works."
She tugged down the front of her blouse, showing him the coin and her cleavage. It might have been a simple spell, but it took him two attempts to focus his concentration enough to cast it. When he was finished, the coin adhered to her skin like it was burnt into her flesh.
"Thank you," she said and kissed his cheek.
He spurred the horse on.
The guild provided rooms for the two of them. Jalissa found hers to be more lavish than anything she'd slept in for years. Apparently, mages valued a good night's rest. And a comfortable one. The bed had a down-filled mattress and even the pillows were feathered, rather than straw. As exhausted as she was, she didn't look forward to sleep. If the last two nights had told her anything about how her remaining time in this world would be, it was that those nights would be filled with temptation and terror. Soon after she'd closed her eyes, this one was.
