Blood Magic's Bond

Ch 17: The Demon's Puzzle

Excruciating pain. That was all Astasha had felt.

She knew Cal had sworn to save her, knew he would do everything he could to keep his word, but as the cell door closed behind her in the Prisoner’s Tower, guarded by men and magic alike, she knew there was no escape.

It was pointless to fight her fate, no matter how much her soul ached knowing what it would do to Cal. And so, when they came to collect her before the sun rose, she went willingly. Not even when they stripped her of her clothing and restrained her on the cold stone table, did she struggle. Her love was safe, free to live his life as it would have been had they never met that day in the market, and that was all that mattered at that point.

She had resigned herself to simply lay there, eyes closed, until death took her. But when she heard his voice, her heart broke into a million pieces. She didn't want him to see her like this, to watch what was about to happen.

But he was there, flanked by guards, no doubt too stubborn to be stopped.

She tried to focus on his eyes; she wanted them to be the last thing she would see. But she couldn’t help to look at the blade as it was brought to her chest. He had called out to her, tried to comfort her, and realizing this was the end, she had tried to tell him she loved him. But then pain erupted within her and it was all she knew.

She prayed to the Gods she would lose consciousness and it would be over, but the darkness never came, only insurmountable anguish. Through her suffering, however, she realized something else was happening. There were worried voices around her, and a scrambled chaos. Cal's voice in particular broke through it all, and although she couldn't tell what he was saying, she could feel his presence, and then his hand on hers. The sensation that came over her was nothing she had ever felt before, like a string being tied to her very core, pulling towards him.

And then the darkness finally took her.

And darkness was all there was; darkness, and a sinister presence. She didn't know what it was or where it was coming from, but it was there.

When it spoke, though, fear consumed her.

"At last. I've been dying to have a word with you, my precious Tasha."

The demon.

This had to be death.

As if reading her thoughts, the voice responded. “You aren't dead if that's what you're wondering. Which is good, because I have so much more in store for you."

No, she thought to herself. Death would have been better.

What was happening?

The only thing that made sense, was that when she had lost consciousness, her mind slipped into the trap that held the demon within her. But she needed to know for sure.

“That doesn’t seem like much of a threat if you’re trapped in here with me, you piece of shit.”

“Oh believe me, Fire Witch, it’s only a matter of time before I’m free of your bounds, and then, the real fun can begin. I have so much darkness to repay you for after all.”

So that was in fact where she was. She tried desperately not to panic, to stay level-headed.

"I luckily haven't encountered many demons in my life, but I can imagine you're somewhat sore losers."

It cackled, a horrid sound she longed to never hear again.

"Oh, you sweet sorceress. Do you think I've lost? No, no. This is only the beginning. But not before I’ve gotten my chance to show you all the deliciously tantalizing thoughts that have kept me entertained in here. Perhaps I’ll start by making you watch as I peel the flesh piece by piece off your f**k boy’s body. Never enough to kill him, no, that would defeat the purpose, just enough to make him suffer, and to watch you writhe in helplessness."

If she could have, she would have turned the thing to ash in a blazing inferno.

"I'd like to see you try to lay even a finger on him.”

A growl responded. “And I’d like to see you try to stop me from finishing what we started in the woods, only this time, I'll be the one riding you while you're covered in blood."

The images its words conjured were enough to terrify even the bravest person, but Astasha forced herself not to focus on them.

"I don't think you'll be doing either demon. You made a pact, and I fulfilled my end of it.”

There was a tsking sound and worry immediately washed over Astasha. “Oh you silly girl, just as you found a loophole in our bargain, I did as well. You never specified an allotted time that I was to leave you in peace, and since you have trapped me here, you inadvertently fulfilled my end as well.”

She had known when she made the pact that the demon would surely find a way out, but knowing there was nothing to protect her and Calder should it escape was truly horrifying in its reality. “I outsmarted you once, I can do it again. You f****d up when you showed me how to harness power like that. And with Calder free, I won't be repulsed by doing it. In fact, I know I’ll enjoy the hell out of destroying you."

The demon snickered. “You know nothing about power. I gave you a taste. The things I could teach you would make you a Goddess amongst men. Just think, being able to control someone’s very will, bending men to your bidding, there would be nothing to stop you, no one to control your wants or desires but you."

“I’d rather f*****g kill myself than let you do anything else."

Another cackle. "Oh I would love to watch you die, especially after trapping me in here, but we aren’t done with you yet. Just know though, once your part to play is over, I will be the one to snuff out the fire in those pretty little eyes of yours."

It had to be messing with her, like a cat playing with a mouse. But she was done being a play thing to this monster. “So long as you’re trapped in here, there’s nothing more you can do, to me or anyone else. So whatever sick fantasies you have about you and whatever other vile beings you’re in league with f*****g with me, they end here.”

“Oh make no mistake, darling Tasha, I will find someone to release me, and then you’ll really see what I fantasize about doing to you. It’s a pity she needs you in one piece, though. ”

What was it talking about? It was as if it was laying out pieces to a puzzle she was never meant to solve, only meant to drive her mad. Her momentary silence seemed to fuel something in the demon, though, and she could hear it snickering again.

“Oh Tasha, love, you're just too much fun to play with. All in good time, dear, and when the time has come, I’ll be there to watch as blood and darkness and death consume you.”

It was trying to scare her, to rattle the bars in her mind until they loosened enough to escape.

“Your mind games won’t work, demon. That would require me to be afraid, and you don’t scare me. There is nothing you can do from here, and I will find a way to destroy you before you can even begin to find a way out.”

“I’ve always liked a challenge. But trust me, sorceress, you will feel fear before I’m done with you.”

Enough, she had had enough. It was taking everything in her not to panic, not to feed into the demon's games and lose herself.

She searched for the power within to draw herself back out, to pull herself from the cage, but there was nothing there for her to grasp.

Just when she was about to give into the helplessness, though, a tugging began, somewhere within her soul. It was familiar, and she concentrated on remembering it. That feeling, she had felt it before. Yes. Just before she had lost consciousness. It was like a string, a string that had been pulling her towards Calder.

This was what she had been searching for. A way out.

She grabbed hold of the feeling and pulled back with everything in her.

A whisper rushed through her ear, a simple word, 'Tasha'. It was faint and distant, but she knew where it came from.

"Cal."

She heard the demon cackling and tugged harder on whatever it was, tying her to her love.

Calder's voice became clearer, and the darkness began to fade. "Come back to me, my love. Please."

The cackling dissipated, but not before the demon’s voice drifted after her. “Enjoy your time with your precious Prince, Tasha. I'll be seeing you soon, and then it’ll be my turn to enjoy you.”