Liana awoke to sound of rain beating on the leaded glass of her bedroom window. Carmen was gone. She had been there when Liana had fallen asleep. She was still aching from last night - not the Duke's crude fumblings, but Carmen's unrelenting attentions. Carmen had spent herself inside her again and again. Liana had lost count how many times. After the third, it had become a blur, an endless pulsing wave of orgasm that never let up. As one began to fade, another took its place. Dawn was creeping across the sky when Carmen finally collapsed sweating onto the bed. They had both fallen asleep almost immediately; the last thing Liana recalled was Carmen's seed running down her thigh and soaking into the sheets.
She pulled the covers aside and seated herself, unclothed, on the side of the bed. Looking down she could the redness and was glad for the alchemists 'teleios' cream. If it was anything like the one she made back at home, she would be feeling good as new in a few hours. Taking the lid off the clay jar she saw the ointment was similar in colour but a little thicker. She took some out with her finger and it was felt much smoother and more luxurious than her own blend. She carefully applied the salve to her tender area massaging it in with circular motions. When all the redness was moistened she coated her forefinger with more cream and biting her bottom lip, slid a finger inside herself, sliding it back and forth until every surface was covered. She could still feel the slipperiness from Carmen's multiple releases. Her pulse quickened as she recalled hazy images from the night before - Carmen's weight upon her, teeth biting into her neck; her hips driving with powerful deep thrusts. Just like she'd imagine, her wide swollen head had delivered bursts of intense, painful ecstasy each time it pulled out and plunged back in.
She blinked hard, willing herself back to moment.
The latch clunked on the door and Carmen entered. She was dressed in a simple cotton dress and her hair was loose about her shoulders. For the first time though, Liana was not struck by her beauty, rather she was horrified by the mess of bruises and cuts that seemed to cover every inch of her. Dried blood stained her top lip and one eye was swollen shut. Liana lept up, ran across the room and without thinking wrapped Carmen in her arms. Carmen flinched and Liana let go, stammering apologies.
"What happened? Oh, gods. What happened?"
"It's alright," said Carmen limping toward the bed. "He does it now and then. It's all part of the...cycle."
Liana helped Carmen to sit. "Did we do something wrong?"
"No, we were perfect. He said so."
"So why...'this'?"
"He said I needed to remember my place. When I dominate him like I did last night, he wants to me understand it's just an act. He says I'm not to get ideas."
"That's insane. You were doing exactly what he wanted."
Carmen took Liana's hand. "Don't dwell on it my sweet. It happens. It will happen to you too. It's not so bad. It not a regular thing. I'll visit the alchemist later and get some restorative from him. I'll be fine in a few days."
Liana knelt down in front of Carmen and cast her eyes over the girls battered body. "No, this is not going to happen again. Not to you and not to me."
"There is nothing you can do. It's better to accept it and move on. Be thankful he doesn't do this every day - some master's do."
Liana stood up. "Rest my darling. Take all the time you need. I will visit the alchemist and get what you need. I will attend to the Duke this evening so you don't have to face him. Just look after yourself and I'll handle everything."
Carmen nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Liana. You are blessing in every way. I don't know how I coped without you."
Liana quickly pulled on a black lace shift that barely fitted around her breasts and strode out of the door. She walked like a woman on a mission. On her way to the laboratory, she passed a number of leering guards but paid them no heed. She didn't knock on the laboratory door, just twisted the latch and entered.
The goblin was hunched over his desk, dripping a clear yellow fluid into a flask.
He looked up, irritation was written across his face, but when he saw Liana in a small amount of lace his expression changed markedly.
"Hello there. You've dressed up for me. What a nice surprise."
Liana centred herself, she needed this creature on her side. A plan was forming in her mind and the alchemist played an important part in it.
