TITLE    : Demonic Submission Ch. 32
STORYID  : demonic-submission-ch-32
SUMMARY  : Lavanna pushes, and awakens the beast...
AUTHOR   : TheLastChaosLord@lit
DATE     : 2013-11-21
CATEGORY : erotic-horror
FLAGS    : 
TAGS     : |incubus|demon|red head|birthing|pregnant|


<i>Hello all again.</i>



<i>I'd like to thank everyone who's made for all the positive comments I've received recently and to those who have shared how they feel the story is progressing and how they suspect it will turn out. It's always interesting to hear how people think things will turn out, and I hope that future chapters will continue to entertain. </i>



<i>This chapter largely deals with Lavanna pseudo interrogating Celestine as well as Tristan speaking with Nefas about the offspring of his newest Hell Spawn 'breeder' and how she had been progressing. Markus is also informed of how Arzal's death could have fatal implications for others, and is forced to choose between shackling those he considers allies, or letting them die. </i>



<i>As always, I'm open to comments, and I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. </i>



<i>P.S. I plan on submitting chapter 33 tomorrow as well, so you folks should be getting two chapters relatively close to one another!</i>



~~~~~



Celestine returned to the main floor of Tristan's home and headed to the Atrium. Thankfully, by the time she got there, Claude was already waiting patiently for Lavanna's arrival. "Seems I made it on time." Celestine announced as she approached. 



"Indeed. Though Lavanna and some of her aides are just pulling through the main gate now, so you are just on time. But I must say this is... abnormal for Lavanna. She is usually quite formal and usually would have called well ahead of herself." Claude confirmed simply, even as the sounds of vehicles approaching could be heard. 



"Tristan suggested it may be because of how important the info she has is. Think she figured out who is gunning for him?" Celestine asked. 



"Likely. If all goes well, she'll share the information with us and she can be on her way." Claude replied. 



"You don't sound optimistic." Celestine commented simply. 



"You are growing more astute my dear. No I don't believe Lavanna will tell you or I anything. Instead she'll insist that she only tell Lord Durial, and no one else. Which means, once she realizes he isn't immediately available, she'll try and snoop around and learn whatever she can." Claude explained dryly.



"Funny, Tristan said more or less the same thing." Celestine replied, smirking lightly at his response.



"My Lord knows Lavanna well. She served him for a number of years, as you are well aware. Though I must say I do not believe she was ever completely loyal to him. To her, he was always a means to an end, rather than a true ally. Something to keep in mind I think." Claude suggested lightly.



"Believe me, I will." Celestine replied, even as she heard the cars pulling up outside. A few moments later the front doors opened and Claude bowed his head lightly to Lavanna out of pure formality as she entered along with her aides. To Celestine, the female demon looked exactly as she did during court and exactly as she did when Celestine first saw her in her home. It only took a moment more to recognize the aura that Celestine got from Lavanna. However beyond that, the aide that followed up behind Lavanna looked concerned, and seemed convinced that there might be an assassin hidden in every shadow.



Lavanna only seemed to afford Celestine with a glance before looking to Claude. "Claude, I see you are well as always. I know my dropping in like this is not by any means the norm, but I assure you the situate-..." Lavanna's head cocked lightly as she paused suddenly to look Claude over more closely. "It seems I was mistaken..." She continued slowly. "You are better than usual... You must have feasted upon a demon recently. I suspect he had a moderate level of power, given the level of change in you. Tell me, did I know the poor fool who decided to end up on your dinner plate?" Lavanna asked calmly as she continued to approach Claude slowly. 



Though Celestine noticed that while Lavanna seemed to humanoid in shape, she couldn't see Lavanna's legs moving behind the royal blue long habit she wore. In fact, the clothes that Lavanna seemed to bear covered every inch of her skin, all save for her face, which was covered by the silvered mask that obscured any view of her features. It was curiously eerie, seeing someone move like that, where they seemed almost to glide without truly moving their legs. Still, their conversation drew Celestine's attention.



"No one you know I'm sure." Claude replied easily. "It was a gift to reward my loyal service to my Lord Durial. But speaking of which, my Lord is occupied at the moment, but will be meeting you shortly. If you would be so kind, please follow me, and I'll lead you to the chambers where you can wait for Lord Durial." Claude elaborated, holding out a hand towards one of the nearby halls. 



However it seemed as if something was distracting her, as Lavanna was looking at Celestine again, face completely hidden behind her mask. Celestine meanwhile held Lavanna's gaze, unwilling to avert her eyes like a good little slave... Yet nothing came from her small defiance, as Lavanna looked back to Claude. "I think I would rather take a walk around the grounds. It has been some time since I've been here, and I would like to see how things have changed. Given that Lord Durial is occupied, I think I have an adequate amount of time for such an indulgence. You," Lavanna said directly to Celestine, "I take it you are supposed to be my watchdog for the day?" Lavanna asked bluntly.



Celestine blinked once at her openness, and considered trying to make her job seem less like they suspected Lavanna of anything. But a moment later she pushed the notion aside, and simply stated the truth. "Yes, that is the case Lady Lavanna. I'm supposed to keep you occupied." 



Claude frowned slightly at Celestine's response, but seemed to relax a little when Lavanna nodded, as if she were not offended at all. "Very well. I assume you know the grounds to at least some extent. Act as my guide until lord Durial calls for me." Lavanna ordered bluntly.



Celestine bit back the urge to snap at Lavanna for her condescending tone, but instead nodded lightly at her demands. A few moments later Celestine found herself outside, leading Lavanna along the various paths and walkways that surrounded Tristan's home. Celestine could still sense Claude a ways behind them, keeping pace while at the same time keeping enough distance to not intrude and to avoid being asked any questions. 



Even though she knew she was supposed to watch over Lavanna, Celestine couldn't help but enjoy the scenery around them. The grounds that surrounded Tristan's home were obviously cared for, and held numerous gardens, small ponds, tree groves and similar features that all made Celestine smile lightly at their surroundings. Having spent most of her life in the city, it wasn't often that she got to enjoy such things while she was growing up. The closest she came to were the simple parks that dotted the city landscape of concrete and steel. Yet for all the beauty of the landscape around them, the statues that dotted the grounds still tugged at Celestine's gaze. Just looking at them in the multitude of positions and carnal acts made Celestine wonder what each situation would be like to experience herself... 



Yet even as her mind wandered towards the erotic, a sense of something pulled Celestine back from such arousing thoughts, and she realized someone was taking special note of her. Glancing around, Celestine began to wonder if someone was spying on her and Lavanna. The notion that someone would want to kill Lavanna before sharing her information with Tristan wasn't beyond the realm of possibility. Yet even as she stretched her senses, Celestine couldn't detect anyone beyond Lavanna and Claude, and Claude was just at the edge of her perception. 



Celestine paused to voice her concerns to Lavanna, only to turn back and find that the demonic noble was not in fact looking at anything around them, but instead had the empty eyes of her mask were directed straight at Celestine. Celestine's confusion and concern must have been written on her face, as Lavanna slowly cocked her head, having stopped with Celestine. "Curious..." She began. "Did you sense me scrutinizing you?" Lavanna asked cautiously. 



Celestine realized she didn't really have an answer for that that wouldn't make Lavanna suspicious. She was so concerned with safety that she realized that she had forgotten a warning that Tristan had once given her: to never tell Lavanna any of her secrets. Still, Celestine knew she was a horrific lair, and she knew that Lavanna would see right through whatever excuse or lie she came up with. "In a way I suppose." Celestine began hesitantly. "I just felt like someone was watching me..." Celestine allowed, giving just enough truth while keeping back the fact that it was her extraordinary senses that detected Lavanna's scrutiny.



Lavanna's head cocked a little further at Celestine's words, as if she were pondering whether or not to tell Celestine something. Eventually though Lavanna spoke up again, her voice clearly curious but not exactly aggressively so. "You are not lying to me, but I can tell you're holding something back too." She paused just long enough to glance in Claude's direction before turning back to the path and continuing to walk. "If you are to be my guide, then continue guiding. There is no point in dawdling here is there?" Lavanna posed, though Celestine got the distinct feeling she wasn't asking so much as she was trying to make Celestine feel stupid for stopping at all. 



Not being inclined to piss off a noble, Celestine continued to walk again as well, though at this point she was more focused on Lavanna eyes boring into her back rather than anything else. Silence reigned over the two of them for another ten minuets until Lavanna eventually spoke up again, her tone perhaps a tad more urgent then before. "During Court, Odeon tried to kill you. I'm curious as to why." 



Celestine glanced back to Lavanna before shrugging lightly. "I don't know exactly. My guess is it was because I burned him in your home, thereby exposing a weakness for Lord Durial to exploit." Celestine supposed, even as she tried to keep her voice level and calm. Lavanna's question hadn't exactly eased her worries that she was being put under the microscope. 



"Speaking of when you first encountered Odeon, do you recall feeling envious or angry with anyone beyond him?" Lavanna posed bluntly. 



It was at that point that Celestine realized that Lavanna never really wanted to see the grounds at all. What the demoness was really interested in was her. Still, her question was a curious one. "I'm... not entirely sure what you mean Lady Lavanna."



"I wish to know if you were envious or jealous of anyone during your brief stay at my estates; anyone at all, from the lowest of servants to the succubus that was the prize to my champion and his men. It is a simple enough question, now answer it." Lavanna ordered bluntly. 



Celestine's heart skipped a little faster as she recalled the cluster fuck that happened right in front of her back in Lavanna's home. The sight had been more than a little arousing, though Celestine couldn't say that she envied the succubus such a position at the time, even if seeing it aroused her. Now though? Now that Lavanna had brought it up, a niggling curiosity began to tease Celestine, making her wish she knew what it was like to experience something like that. The succubus clearly enjoyed it after all, having every hole stuffed with a hard cock only to be showered in cum shortly after... Celestine mentally slapped herself and cleared her thoughts her thoughts before she replied, fighting to keep her voice level and even. "At the time when I met Odeon in the hall, I can't say I recall envying anyone of anything. All I wanted was to be away from him, that's all." 



Yet for all the effort she put into keeping her tone clear and calm, Lavanna's awareness seemed to cut right through and detect Celestine's minor deceptions. "And again you keep things from me. Amusing, how you think you can keep secrets from me." Lavanna replied, her voice becoming more focused. 



Celestine looked to Lavanna cool gaze, realizing that things would just continue to go downhill if she just let this questioning continue. "Perhaps I am Lady Lavanna, but then I was never the subject of you're research now was I? My understanding of the situation is that you were supposed to piece together Odeon's memories and find out who is gunning for Lord Durial. Your investigation has nothing to do with me." Celestine finished coolly, if not a bit forcefully. 



The sound that came from inside Lavanna's robes was like nothing Celestine had ever heard before. The closest comparison was to the sound of a cricket chirping, but this was lower in tone, and sounded like a hundred different parts grinding against each other instead of a single leg... Yet despite that Celestine didn't back down, even when Lavanna spoke up, voice annoyed and excited at the same time. "Intriguing... A mortal thinks herself above my scrutiny. Unfortunately for you, this does have bearing on my investigation, so you will answer all my questions completely and fully. Do you understand <i>human</i>?" Lavanna's last words fell of her tongue like venom, but Celestine didn't seem phased by them at all.



"I understand that I will answer any questions I deem won't risk Lord Durial's interests. Beyond those, I won't answer anything." Celestine retorted frankly. 



"And who are you to make such a judgment? You are but a mortal, fragile and weak." Lavanna reminded harshly, even as the strange creaking inside her robes sounded again. 



"I am more than mortal Lady Lavanna. I bear two of Lord Durial's marks, and while that might not put me amongst the demons in standing, if you raise your hand against me, you only risk his anger for damaging his property." Celestine warned. She had fully expected to feel sick at the very idea that she was his property or that he had any control over her whatsoever, but when the nausea or disgust didn't come like she expected, Celestine found herself slightly startled. Thinking about it for a moment, the idea of being his didn't seem to infuriate or anger her as it once did... If anything it drew memories of him stripping her self-control away from her and dominating her; memories that she found herself savoring... 



Yet she didn't have time to focus on such things, as she saw Lavanna seem to shake in anger at her words, as if insulted a mortal would speak to her like that. However a moment later, she seemed to realize something and pulled away slightly from Celestine, before continuing to walk along the path set ahead of them in quiet contemplation. Eventually though Lavanna spoke up again, looking right to Celestine. "You may be able to deny me answers, but even saying you 'can't answer', is an answer unto itself... Now, let's discuss Odeon once more, shall we?" 



Celestine felt a ripple of worry run over her. An angry and frustrated Lavanna was easy to deal with, but this calm and utterly relaxed side of her was going to be hard to read, and harder still to keep info from. Even if Lavanna was forced to guess what the truth was, Celestine was fully aware that such guesses could end up being just as damning as the truth...



~~~~~



"I think this will work." Markus allowed simply as he looked around the workshop. Unlike the tunnel before it, this chamber seemed to be brightly lit, dry, and most importantly, properly stocked with a good workbench and the mundane tools he would need for his work.



"I am sure it will." Tristan replied, still standing only a few feet in from the door. "I am still surprised that you and Celestine expected me to force you to work in that simple bedroom." 



"Hey, how were we supposed to know? You could have shown us this place yesterday but you didn't, so how is it our fault exactly?" Markus asked, clearly still annoyed with Tristan, even as he began to arrange things in the workshop to meet his needs. 



"Well, I was going to show you yesterday, but then someone pissed off our resident psychopath and got his ass kicked." Tristan retorted, clearly amused.



Markus grunted. "You say that, but I'm still half convinced that you sent Rena to attack me like that. Not that I have any real proof." 



"Not that it would matter, even if you did." Tristan replied slyly. "Your situation would remain the same and we would still be here." 



Markus looked at Tristan, clearly annoyed. "Didn't you say you had to go talk with someone named 'Nefas' or something like that? I'm going to be here for a bit sorting this place out and I can find my way back without you." Markus explained, hoping to shoo Durial away. 



"I could leave, but I wanted to talk to you about something before I did. That librarian Arzal mentioned, you are going to have to go and collect her for me." Tristan explained with perfect ease. 



"You mean Ella? Why... what do you want with her?" Markus asked firmly, suddenly very worried about her fate in all this.



"Well, frankly speaking, I don't see any reason to dispose of her, given that she seems to have been the caretaker of Arzal's library for some time now. I think Arzal mentioned that she had been around for several decades or so, so it's fairly important you collect her as soon as possible and bring her to me." Tristan explained idly. 



"If she doesn't need to be disposed of, why not just let her go? She isn't a threat to you or anyone else." Markus posed, clearly not wanting Durial to get his hooks into Ella. 



"It's quite noble of you, trying to protect her from me." Tristan mocked, grinning all the way. "But what you don't seem to understand is that by keeping her from me, you're actually risking her life. The Demonic Mark staves off aging, and keeps the bearer of the mark at the same age as when they were marked. However, if the demon in question should die, the energies that feed the mark begin to fade and eventually gutter out, meaning the mark will disappear." Tristan explained frankly. 



"I'm still not hearing the downside here." Markus began. "No mark means she can't be tracked by demons either, which means she can live her life out in peace."



"Quite true." Tristan allowed. "Though that'll only be for twenty four hours at best." 



Markus glared at Tristan. "What? I thought you wanted her for something, why would you attack her?" 



"Who said I was going to attack her? I won't kill her, nor would any of those loyal to me. Instead it would be the unstoppable march of time that kills her. See, the problem with a demonic mark disappearing from its host is that all that aging that the bearer should have been doing throughout the years suddenly comes crashing down like a load of bricks. Is there a chance she'll survive going from twenty some odd years old to seventy plus years old over the course of several seconds? Maybe, but probably not." 



Markus stood a bit stunned for a moment. "Wait... She's going to die if we don't do anything?" 



"Of course. Demons are not so considerate to allow mortals who serve them to outlive them for very long. If we have to die, then we are sure as shit are not going to die alone." Tristan explained with a cruel smile. 



"Everything about your kind is evil." Markus replied coldly. 



"Why thank you. But I don't believe you have time for flattery... Be on your way. Claude has already arranged a car to be waiting for you in the garages, along with a cell phone in case you need to contact us or us you. Assuming of course you know how to drive. While you're gone, I'll speak with Nefas about leaving you alone to conduct your work in peace when you're down here." 



Markus snorted and set his tools aside before hobbling out of the workshop as quickly as he could, silently cursing Durial every step of the way. Once he was gone, Tristan began to head down the tunnel that he had warded Markus away from earlier, fully aware of what he was going to find there. 

<hr pg="2" />As Tristan passed, the Hell Spawn that nested there shrunk back in fear and deference. Yet even as he walked, he could hear the sounds of a woman's voice panting and grunting in pleasure, only for her voice to turn a moment later into desperate pleas for the monsters violating her to stop... Yet what made Tristan truly smile, was how quickly her disgust turned back into rampant ecstasy as something was forced into her mouth and she wantonly moaned around it... Cameron was nearly completely gone now...



She was still far out of sight when Nefas slipped through one of the many holes that dotted the walls and roof of the tunnel. "Lord Durial." Nefas greeted simply, even as he hung from the roof. 



"Nefas, it is good to see you, as always." Tristan replied calmly.



A low groan of disagreement came from Nefas. "I cannot say the same about your guests, unfortunately. Did I hear correctly in that the male was not to be experimented upon?" 



Tristan sighed lightly, not exactly pleased with how their conversation was already going. "Correct Nefas. He is doing work for me, and the workshop I set him up in is the only place that is readily available and far from prying eyes. I know you don't like it but this is the way it has to be." Tristan explained. 



Another more agitated groan came from Nefas before he replied. "I do not mean to second guess, but why? Why must the mortal Arcanist be down here? His presence rouses the Spawn, and prolonged exposure to his scent will cause irregularities to develop in their behaviors, making them more volatile." 



"I'm sure you'll be able to manage Nefas, and believe me, I'd love nothing more then to watch you inflict every sort of pain possible upon him, but he has skills that I need to forge me a new weapon, and his immediate death would only serve to drive Celestine away from me." Tristan explained. 



Nefas tried to cock his head at Tristan's words, but given that his head was more or less part of his torso, the whole of his body shifted. Still, Tristan knew Nefas longer than any other creature in existence, so he knew how to read such movements. "I am confused by why you simply don't give female mortal to me like you did with the other female. I could modify her; make her desire you more." 



Tristan shook his head and replied quickly. "No, that would defeat the whole purpose of corrupting her. It only means something if she gives into her own desires. Besides, half the fun of it is making her want me more without using your skills or my powers." Tristan said smiling lightly. "Besides, I suspect Markus's presence serves to push her closer to me, even if neither of them realize it yet." 



"Curious... What is more important to you, the weapon or the female mortal?" Nefas asked bluntly. 



Tristan's eyes narrowed lightly at the question. "Both are important to me, and I'll have both of them." Tristan shook his head, unhappy with where this conversation was going. "Regardless, she wasn't the reason I came down here to talk to you. I wanted to check in and see how the new breeder was doing." 



Nefas's body quivered lightly as his mass turned to look down the tunnel. "Results have been... inconclusive. The breeder has been capable of producing at an accelerated rate, just as predicted, though almost all of the offspring have proven to be... problematic." 



Tristan frowned and began to walk down the hall towards where he suspected Nefas kept Cameron. "Problematic how Nefas? I know you hate explaining how your work might be failing, but I need to know." 



Nefas followed Tristan easily, but seemed to become annoyed when Tristan proposed that he had failed. "I have not failed. Not yet anyway. The majority of the offspring tend towards the small and weak side, often resulting in death shortly after birth as other new born Hell Spawn feed off one another. However, very occasionally, perhaps one in ten litters, a drastically different event occurs." Nefas began to explain, and while his voice seemed analytical and blunt, Tristan could begin to sense growing excitement underlining his alien voice. "Instead of birthing a litter of spawn, this particular breeder births only one Hell Spawn during these unique events."



"One?" Tristan asked a bit surprised. "I thought you said Cameron had all the traits needed to be perfectly capable of giving birth to full litters... If the spawn are coming out of Cameron one at a time, then perhaps you made an error somewhere along the line, especially if they are coming out small and feeble." Tristan proposed, clearly concerned. 



"Negative. My work was accurate based off the information I had. The error lies with the mortal, not my modifications." Nefas began, clearly confident in his work. "However, that is beside the point. Normally, the breeder does in fact produce a full litter, but it is in those cases that they come out weak and small and are easy prey for the others. However, when she gives birth to only one Hell Spawn, it comes out larger than I've ever seen before, with an unnaturally high level of a strength and speed, far above the norm for new born Hell Spawn." Nefas explained firmly. 



Tristan paused and looked to his companion, frowning lightly. "If she is capable of giving birth too many, how is it possible for only one to ever come out? Hell Spawn wouldn't stop impregnating her until she could bear no more offspring in a single litter." 



Nefas nodded lightly. "This was a source of confusion at first. However, after this occurred more then once, I took one of the larger offspring and studied it via vivisection. Apparently, it consumed its siblings while inside the womb, hence why only one would come out." Nefas explained. "However, what instigates this behavior has yet to be determined. If I can find the cause, I might be able to produce more of the stronger offspring. Normally, the offspring don't really interact within the womb, and only become aggressive after they are born, but this flies in the face of that norm." 



Tristan continued to walk as he pondered what could have caused such a strange behavior. Yet no answer was immediately apparent, even as they came upon Cameron, laying back upon the ground as her body shook and shivered in ecstatic pleasure... The hell spawn that surrounded her all withdrew of as Tristan approached, and he could see the confused uncertain look upon her features as they withdrew from her. Tristan didn't miss the swollen belly, likely full of four or five young Hell Spawn. Nor did he miss the fact that the fleshy mat under their feet had many small filaments growing into Cameron's flesh, feeding her with nutrients and similar sustenance in order to fuel her birthing.



It took her a moment to realize Tristan was there, and he couldn't help but feel a sick amusement as her face lit up in desire. "F-...Finally you've come for me! I've... I've been waiting for you..." Cameron numbly said as she began to push herself up into a sitting position, clearly having a hard time of it with her swollen stomach. "You... you've come to your senses right? That bitch Celestine couldn't satisfy you, could she?" Cameron continued through quick breaths. 



Nefas rumbled lowly as he observed her. "She appears to be in the earliest stages of labor. However, she seems ready to give birth to a litter, rather then a stronger single Hell Spawn." 



Tristan only half heard him, as he continued to look down at the breeder that was once a human being. To say that she was disheveled would be an understatement, but at the same time, she wasn't overly filthy. The symbiotic mat that kept her well fed and alive also seemed to keep her relatively clean, and her repeated pregnancies had not taken away from some of her attractive features. Then again, several of the Hell Spawn had just finished using her to pleasure themselves, and there were thick white streaks covering her body from their excesses. Yet despite that, and despite her words, Tristan smiled down to her as he knelt over her. Cameron, still intoxicated with pleasure and lust, began reaching for Tristan and the belt he wore, even as her body began to heave and shudder at her impending birthing. Nefas's modifications to her made it impossible for her to do anything else but give into her own desires, even as her body was occupied with something else entirely.



Yet she seemed stunned when Tristan caught her reaching hands firmly, not letting her undo his belt or even really touch him. A moment later a painful desperation crossed her face and Cameron began to babble. "P-Please! I know I can serve you! Don't worry about the big belly! It-It'll be gone soon!" Cameron's voice only grew more desperate, even as some lucidity began to return to her mind. "Please!! I can't take it down here for much longer! Every time they touch me it only gets worse and worse!" 



"What gets worse Cameron?" Tristan began, his voice low and calm. "Is it that your disgust with yourself and the horrors that come to fuck you dwindle away faster and faster each time they take you? Are the periods of lucidity and rational thought growing shorter and shorter, leaving you less and less of a human being every day? Does is scare you that even the prospect of them violating and defiling you with their inhuman cocks excites you? Does it terrify you when you start thinking that spending the rest of your life as a fuck toy and incubator for monsters might be the best way for you to spend your miserable life?" Tristan asked smoothly, even as Cameron's desperation began to melt away into one of reluctant erotic joy as his questions reminded her of everything she hated about her existence, while at the same time reminding her of how good it all felt after she stopped caring that it was inhuman beasts ravaging her on an almost constant basis...



"P...<i>unhg...</i>Please!" She began again desperately, as her mind was clearly beginning to crack. "I can't take it anymore! I know I'm better then her! I know I a-"



"No, you aren't." Tristan said bluntly, cutting her off mercilessly. "No matter how good you think you are, or even how good you may actually be, you'll never even begin to compare with Celestine." Tristan paused, letting his words sink in. "And no matter how hard you try, or how long you have to get better, you'll never be good enough to ever even come close to her." Each word made Cameron flinch as if he were hitting her. "All you've ever known is envy, and to me, that makes you uglier than any of the monsters down here. Unlike Celestine, who is quiet possibly the most beautiful woman I've ever met." 



Tears began to run down Cameron's cheeks, mixing with the filth and cum that stained her face as Tristan's words sank in and hit home. Yet either through denial or simple psychological failure, Cameron's features twisted into hateful jealousy. "You're wrong!" She spat. "And she's nothing! Nothing compared to me! Noth<i>-UHNG!"</i> Cameron's angry words turned into painful moaning as labor began to begin in earnest. 



Tristan only smiled at her emotional and physical agony. "I don't know why you keep telling yourself that... we both know you're lying..." Tristan chuckled and then rose to his feet while turning to Nefas. "I'd like to see one of her successful offspring if possible." 



Nefas nodded lightly, completely ignoring the painful moans and weeping that came from Cameron. "I must warn my Lord. Thus far I have been unable to truly tame one of her successful offspring. They are inherently wild, even for Hell Spawn." 



"That's fine. I just want to look at it and see how we could end up using i-" Tristan's words were cut off when he and Nefas heard what could only be thought of as the sound of tearing flesh and breaking bone, quickly followed by Cameron's cries growing louder and more pained. "I can't claim to be an expert, but that doesn't sound normal... Or is that sound a common occurrence with her?" 



"Negative... Sounds as if labor is breaking bones, tearing flesh inside her... Chance of survival high, but time of regeneration will delay further birth cycles if harm is occurring to her..." Nefas hung himself over Cameron, looking her over like she was nothing more than a lab rat... "Will have to enter womb to determine source of concerning sounds." Nefas explained for Tristan's benefit, even as a long tendril began to extend from Nefas's body and start moving towards Cameron's vagina. Just at a glance, Tristan knew that the tendril was more then just an appendage, but instead a sensitive imaging tool. Sort of like an ultrasound wand, but hooked directly into Nefas's very complex brain...



Cameron of course saw it and began to freak out, swatting at Nefas with all the strength she could muster, which of course only resulted in Nefas taking her arms and legs with his powerful limbs and pinning her down before slowly impaling the tendril inside her. Tristan watched Nefas's eyes as he focused on the image forming in his mind. Yet even as Nefas explored Cameron's insides, the sound of crunching bone and tearing flesh could be heard. A few moments later and Nefas's eyes alit with surprise, only for him to snap back a faction of a second later and snarl in pain. When the appendage pulled free of Cameron, both Tristan and Nefas saw the end of the tendril had been bitten off. "One of the spawn within her has begun to grow rapidly, feeding its growth by eating its siblings." Nefas explained, clearly fascinated. 



"And your tendril apparently..." Tristan replied curiously. Yet Nefas's point was made all the more clear as Cameron's howling came to a crescendo, and from between her legs they could see one of the infant Hell Spawn beginning to be pushed out of her body by her contractions. It was an ugly little creature, feeble looking and misshapen. Yet even more unsettling was the fact that just as its head and shoulders began to become visible, something seemed to stop it from coming out any further despite Cameron clearly trying to force it out... A moment later it took its first breath and used that fresh air to scream in pain, before it was pulled back into Cameron, quickly followed by more sounds of tearing flesh and grinding bone...



Tristan watched as Cameron's body bucked and twisted, and her swollen belly writhed and stretched painfully. By this point Cameron was frothing at the mouth, and her eyes were nearly white they were so far rolled back. Yet even in the middle of labor and what Tristan guessed was excruciating pain, Cameron's face still showed envious hate. Tristan guessed that Cameron blamed Celestine for all of what was happening to her, even as her offspring ate each other inside her.



When the sounds of breaking bone and torn flesh finally subsided, the remaining Hell Spawn was born. Though using the term 'born' might have been misleading, as it seemed to pull itself out of Cameron as much as be pushed out by the birth canal... Along with it came a deluge of fluids, as one would expect to see when someone gives birth. But mixed in with it, were half eaten chunks of flesh and bone, all stained red with blood and gore. 



Yet even as Cameron passed out from pain, the creature she gave birth was already rising to its feet... It was humanoid in shape and easily had several pounds on even the largest infant Hell Spawn that Tristan had ever seen. "Well... that ranks up there amongst some of the most abhorrent things I've ever seen." Tristan said dryly, even as the small monster stood upright. Even when so small, Tristan saw it had wicked talons, with sharp black edges. "That black on its claws... what is that? Some sort of toxin?" Tristan asked, as the small abomination began to sniff around and start skittering around already. 



"Unclear. I have yet to be able to identify what it is with its larger kin... It does however seem perfectly capable of destroying flesh, bone, and even stone. It almost seems to burn like flames or acid, even though it leaves no ashes or residue..." Nefas explained. 



Tristan frowned, as what had been unrelated subjects began to connect. "Black and burns like flame without ash?" He muttered to himself, trying to put the missing pieces. "Something about that..." He paused as he heard a commotion over in one of the other large pens. Looking over, he saw a Hell Spawn several days old and two or three times larger then the new born flee from its pen, before the newborn raced after it and tackled it to the earth and began to eat its prey alive, apparently tearing it apart with surprising ease... 



Nefas grumbled and lumbered over before snatching the newborn up, even as its cousin died. "Frustrating... As I said before, her spawn seem incredibly aggressive, detrimentally so in fact." Nefas explained, even as the creature gobbled down the flesh it still had a hold of. "However, something curious occurs after her spawn conduct a kill and feast on demonically tainted flesh, like those of other Hell Spawn..." Nefas elaborated, holding the small creature up for Tristan to see. A few moments later, Tristan saw the creature begin to glow... No... That wasn't quite right. Tristan could see its bones glowing in a strong light blue, as if its flesh had become transparent for a moment.



Tristan stood stunned as the missing piece fell into place for him. "By the pit..." He mumbled to himself, looking at the little abomination with wonder and confusion. Soon enough the glow faded, but it was enough for Tristan to realize that these things had some similarity to the creature that Siegfried had turned into... 



Nefas looked to Tristan, as if about to reply to his surprise, only for him to gasp in pain again as the small Hell Spawn started trying to eat Nefas. In reply, Nefas swung the small creature with frightening power against a nearby wall, sending cracks spidering out from impact site and resonating with a disgusting wet sounding thud... Yet despite the blow, the creature still seemed to live, even if it was heavily stunned and bleeding badly. 



"Nefas..." Tristan began, his voice dire and firm. "I want you to begin testing with Cameron. Have her inseminated again and then once the new Hell Spawn inside her begin to grow, I want you to show her pictures of Celestine that I'll provide you. I think it is her envy of Celestine that is instigating the behavior we just witnessed. There are other factors I think, but that is all you'll need for now. Once we have a few more of these new Hell Spawn, we'll try allowing one of the new generation try and impregnate Cameron again as well as a natural Hell Spawn and a natural fertile human and see what the results are." Tristan ordered calmly. 



Nefas frowned lightly. "Other factors my Lord? It would be best if I had all available information to eliminate as many variables as possible." It wasn't so much that Nefas was complaining, as it was that he was trying to make sure Tristan understood. 



"I know Nefas... I know. But for now, Trust me. Alright?" Tristan asked now, instead of ordering. 



Nefas pondered for a moment but eventually nodded. "Of course, my Lord Durial." 



"Thank you." Tristan responded. "But with that in mind, I wish to see the oldest of this new breed." 



"Very well My Lord. We will visit the oldest after I cage this young one." Nefas agreed as he began to slither away towards the private cells. "However, given this is indeed a new breed, it has yet to be named... Given that using the mortal breeder was your idea, I feel it appropriate that they be named by you, my Lord." 



"Fell Spawn." Tristan replied without hesitation, though he seemed less enthused than Nefas thought he would be. 



"A curious name... Their claws are somewhat reminiscent of the black flames that the Fell Born could supposedly summon up in the old myths and legends..." Nefas frowned. "If I recall, you were particularly curious of those myths, even in your earliest days. Perhaps that is why you have chosen such a name?" 

<hr pg="3" />"Something like that..." Tristan replied coolly, even as he thought of ways to make sure Celestine never learned of these new abominations...



~~~~



Tristan looked at the horror in front of him pull at its chains. It was easily a head taller than him, and packed with muscle and covered with a thick armored hide. From its back sprouted two scythe like arms, the whole of their cutting edge smoldering with that same blackness that seemed to be able to cut flesh and stone with equal ability. Even its bear trap like jaw and teeth seemed to bear the searing stain... The oldest of three surviving Fell Spawn was heavily bound and shackled, and Tristan could see why. The walls of its cell were scorched and torn, probably from when it was allowed to roam about in the cell freely. 



"Have you made any progress at all in taming them?" Tristan asked, fully expecting the answer that followed. 



"No... They seem to hate everything around them with an unquenchable fervor... If I were to unbind it, I sincerely suspect that it would attack us without hesitation, even if it meant its death... In terms of strength and durability, it easily outclasses lesser demons, including wrath demons. In pairs I suspect they would be a threat even to a minor noble..." Nefas explained simply. 



"If they should ever break free, I want to have a fail safe, and that means we need a way of killing them without fighting them... I want you to rig each of them with one of your parasites and encourage it to spread it's tendrils to every part of the Fell Spawn's bodies. I want said parasite to be able to go off with enough power to kill the Fell Spawn several times over." Tristan replied coolly. 



"A reasonable precaution. I'd recommend an acidic parasite, one that will convert the Fell Spawn's own fluids into a highly caustic and reactive acid, in order to destroy as much of it as possible." Nefas replied. 



"That will work fine." Tristan replied. "I'll get you everything you need for your experiments on Cameron by evening's end. For now though, I really should get back topside... You know how Lavanna can be." Tristan finished as he began to take his leave. 



"My condolences, my Lord." Nefas replied bluntly, having always disliked Lavanna...



~~~~



"I keep telling you, I had nothing to do with whatever happened to Odeon." Celestine replied. "I didn't even realize he had gone crazy!" Celestine explained as she and Lavanna continued to stroll through the grounds that surrounded Tristan's home.



"I think you're lying." Lavanna replied bluntly. "I saw his memories. I saw everything he did to you... Somehow you drove him mad. Somehow you have some power over demons, and you made him want you so desperately that he would risk insulting Durial and foiling his own mission! Do not think me blind mortal... I will learn your secrets and expose you..." Lavanna threatened, glaring at Celestine from behind her mask. "Now tell me how you were able to resist his influence!"



Celestine bit back the venomous reply she wanted to hurl at Lavanna. Instead she tried to speak as calmly as possible. "I honestly don't know what drove Odeon crazy. But it certainly wasn't because of a conscience effort on my part." Celestine replied, fully aware that if what Lavanna was saying was true and that Odeon had indeed tried to turn his powers on her, then her Fell Born nature may well have lashed out at him, and in all likelihood, driven him crazy... 



"Perhaps you do not know for sure... but I know you have an inclination as to what could have caused such a sudden mental breakdown." Lavanna proposed, the shuddering creaking noise sounding under her robes again, even louder this time making it hard for Celestine to think as it triggered a low ache in her skull.



Rubbing her temples to try and ease the frustration that was building up in her head, Celestine replied. "Odeon going crazy doesn't have anything to do with who he was working for, does it? No? Than how is it important?" 



"That isn't an answer." Lavanna replied coldly, quickly followed by more of the low rumbling creaking that came from under her robes. "It is an evasion!" She hissed, quickly followed by another longer creaking chirp that made Celestine's head throb. "Now..." Lavanna continued as she stepped towards Celestine, quickly forcing her to back into a nearby tree. "You're going to tell me everything I want to know..." Lavanna reached out and cupped Celestine's head in her hands, holding her firmly. "You're going to share all your dirty little secrets..." Lavanna finished almost manically, only to have her words followed by another set of heavy long chirps that made Celestine feel like someone was hammering nails into her skull. Yet even despite the pain in her head, Celestine still felt the sensation of something moving inside Lavanna's gloves... Like there were thousands of hard shelled bugs crawling inside the form fitting gloves...



"What is that noise!" Celestine almost screamed, trying to be heard over the wretched chirping. Yet as she opened her eyes to look at Lavanna, Celestine saw something that made her blood run cold... behind the eyes of the mask, Celestine saw dozens of small individual eyes, of all shades of color, no two actually matching... yet all of them were wide with surprise.



"H-how can you... how can you hear my chirp? A human shouldn't be able to hear it... Even powerful demons should be deaf to it! How? ... Tell me <b>HOW!</b>" Lavanna demanded as her grip upon Celestine grew tighter. 



"What are you doing Lavanna?!" Claude's heavy voice resonated over her manic demands. "How <i>dare</i> you raise your hand to our lord's property! Release her immediately, or I will see to her release by relieving you of your arms." Claude threatened darkly, his hands closing into fists as he closed upon the two of them...



Lavanna looked to Claude, apparently confused by why he was interfering. "She... She has them... secrets... I... I have to know!" 



"And why do you have to know Lavanna? Her secrets are of no import to you. I'll warn you one last time. Release her, now." Claude demanded, his voice hard as stone...



"Why? Why do I need to know? Because I envy them... I envy her secrets and their answers!" Lavanna began, almost hysterically. "And I can't let her secrets die with her now can I?!" 



Celestine went still as she looked at Lavanna, her worry suddenly growing. "Wait... die? I'm... I'm not dying." 



Lavanna's attention snapped back to Celestine. "Can't you hear it? How can you not?! It is your own soul that sings! And it sings to me to snuff it out." Lavanna almost howled at Celestine. 



"Enough!" Claude bellowed as he began to reach for Lavanna. Celestine looked to him and for a moment, honestly believing he would make it in time. Or at least she did, until she felt some force tug her out of her world, and through some invisible barrier before spitting her back out again. In the blink of an eye, Celestine's world changed completely. Where once she was on a path, she now lay amongst the grass and surrounded by trees in what she was hoping was one of the groves on Tristan's estate. 



Trying to push herself up hastily proved to be a very bad idea, as a sense of vertigo struck her like brick and knocked her onto her ass again. "The hell was that?!" Celestine asked aloud, even as the vertigo made her nearly throw up. 



"A result of spatial distortion." Lavanna's voice came loosely from above Celestine. "I'm sure you remember... It was a power that belonged to Odeon. I'm not terribly good at it just yet... But I think we're far enough from Claude to continue our little discussion, don't you?" Lavanna asked, though she didn't wait for an answer. The demonic noble reached down and took hold of Celestine's clothes before flinging her a dozen feet and into a thick tree, slamming the air out of Celestine's lungs. "Now... where were we? Oh yes! How did you drive Odeon mad? You kept dancing around the subject, but if I were you, I wouldn't want to die slowly... So it would be wise to answer me..."



Celestine was in the middle of a coughing fit as Lavanna spoke to her, but she could still hear the demoness approaching lazily as if she had all the time in the world. Not that Celestine could really argue the fact that she wasn't in any situation to fight back against Lavanna... Still, Celestine got to her feet and glared at the demonic noble, eyes defiant in the face of a demon who clearly wanted to kill her. If nothing else though, Celestine had one thing going for her: Lavanna wanted to know Celestine's secrets. If she kept her trap shut she might survive this...



"Playing the tight lipped game?" Lavanna asked cruelly. "That's okay... I'll get it out of you. I always do... See, it's my nature to learn other others secrets. I'm always envious of everyone's secrets after all, so you'll excuse me as I begin to pry yours out of you..." She chuckled lightly, but it was quickly overpowered by the grinding chirp that sent an invisible nail hammering into Celestine's skull. 



Yet despite that, Celestine managed to stay on her feet, even as her vision blurred, and her mind began to buckle. "Y-...You want me... to tell you everything?" Celestine managed to mumble out, getting Lavanna's attention quickly. 



"Yes!" She hissed as Lavanna scurried up to Celestine, putting herself mask to face with the mortal woman and forcing Celestine as far back into the tree as possible. "Tell me everything! And don't you dare lie to me!"



"You really want to know?" Celestine rasped, even as her mind began to clear again. "You sure?"



"YES! Yes yes yes YES! Tell me already!" Lavanna almost screamed, even as her gloved hands began to crush the bark and wood of the tree that Celestine leaned on. 



"Well... I suppose you're in for disappointment, Because I'm not telling you a da-<i>AHH!!</i>" Celestine didn't even get to finish as Lavanna inflicted upon her a series of rapid chirps, leaving Celestine writhing on the ground amongst the grass. 



"Tell me... Now." Lavanna said with sudden coldness. Yet to Celestine's ear, it sounded like her voice was becoming skewed and off somehow... When she looked up through blurred eyes she realized something was slithering around Lavanna's mask... No less than a dozen small hard plated insect like legs were twitching and grasping around Lavanna's mask, along with another dozen softer looking tendrils of flesh, all looking slick to the touch and dripping with some foul ooze. Celestine was stunned into silence for a moment, making Lavanna think she was still defiant. The hem of her habit flared out and caught Celestine across the body, aggravating the wounds she had received yesterday from Saul and driving the air out of her lungs again. "TELL ME!" Lavanna howled before inflicting Celestine with more of the head-splitting chirps... 



As her vision cleared again, Celestine risked looking up to Lavanna again, only to see more of the hard crab like legs reaching through one of the eyes of the mask, while a half dozen small eyes were pressed up against the opposite eyehole. Simply put, Lavanna was disgusting to behold... and Celestine knew she was only seeing a fraction of her. 



Never before had Celestine ever been even minutely thankful that she had laid eyes upon Vestiem's true form, but at this exact moment, that's exactly what she was... Thankful. She was solidly convinced that even if she should live eons, she still wouldn't find something has horrifying as him. Lavanna's disgusting body was only a personification of ugliness, not the sheer overwhelming evil that Vestiem was... "Damn... you are every sort of ugly, aren't you?" Celestine mocked with a cruel mocking grin. 



Lavanna's response was explosive. In one second, her habit and mask held her in a roughly humanoid form. The next second, the habit was shredded into confetti and her mask exploded into shrapnel as Lavanna revealed her true shape by tearing away the garments that kept her hidden. Instead of having a solid body, Lavanna seemed to be a mass of crab and lobster like limbs and snail like tendrils all twisted together into an incoherent endlessly writhing form. Many pieces of her bore eyes and mouths and other less savory orifices in what Celestine could only perceive as complete chaos. Yet as Lavanna snarled her anger, her voice broke up into thousands of smaller voices, all clamoring at once. "Damn you! What are you?! <b><i>How</i></b> do you resist my power?! <b><i>HOW?</i></b>!" 



Celestine cocked her head and coughed once to clear her throat... "I'll really tell you my secret this time. But you got to answer one of my questions first." Celestine proposed, voice still daring if not strained and hurt.



That seemed to make the seething mass of Lavanna pause for a moment, until eventually spoke up. "Perhaps... I do not share secrets lightly..."



"Do you have any demonic marks with your servants or what have you?" Celestine asked groggily.



"No, of course not. How could I ever risk someone overhearing my thoughts and secrets? Now tell me the truth! How do you resist my power?! How did you drive Odeon in-in-insane?!" Lavanna asked, her thousand voices beginning to become more and more incoherent...



Celestine smiled lightly and looked up to Lavanna's ugly form. "Good, if you don't have any marks, you can't share my secrets with anyone else. But because you answered me, I'll actually share two secrets with you... First... Durial is on his way. I can sense him approaching and I can feel his rage... Heh... you should hear him and what he plans to do to you..." Celestine shook her head, even as Lavanna began to look about worriedly. "But the second part? The part you really want to know? Here it is... here's the secret... Are you sure you're ready?" Celestine teased spitefully.



Lavanna's mass tore at the dirt all around her while shredding the tree that stood over Celestine into a mangled mess of twigs. "<i>YES</i>!" She howled with a thousand different voices. 



"Fine... The reason why Odeon went crazy, and the reason you're losing your mind right now, is because I, am a Fell Born..." Celestine answered, a shit eating grin plastered on her face. "And congratulations... You're my most recent victim. See, my abilities kick in when demons try and use their powers on me... Like when Odeon had supposedly tried to influence me, and just like you have been. So congratulations again. Even if Durial doesn't murder your ass, you're still gonna die horribly you ugly bitch..." Celestine spat at Lavanna, fully aware that her words were probably going to get her killed. It didn't matter though; the knowledge that she could send a demon off to hell was comfort enough. 



However, Lavanna didn't seem to understand Celestine's words. If anything, the multitude of eyes seemed to only look confused and lost... After a moment or two her whole mass seemed to be wracked with shuddering before it settled out and she rasped out with a thousand echoing voices. "Y-your l-l-lying..." Yet despite Lavanna's words, Celestine could hear the uncertainty in each and every voice she bore, and it only made her smile grow.



When Celestine replied, her voice came out dripping with contempt. "You know I'm not Lavanna. After all, you can tell when people are lying... can't you? That is one of your powers isn't it?!" 



Lavanna almost seemed to stagger back as if struck, though it was hard to be sure given her odd form. Every eye was looking around desperately, as she tried to think or find some solution. "I... I can fix this... I know I can...I can figure it out..." Lavanna's voices mumbled to themselves. Yet even as she spoke Celestine began to hear something else coming from the demoness...



"Are you... humming?" Celestine asked in disbelief, wondering how crazy Lavanna was already. 



However the demoness's response was strange. "I'm not humming! Why does everyone keep asking that?!" She snapped angrily, even as more of the many mouths that littered her form began to hum along with the tune that Lavanna apparently couldn't hear. However, it didn't seem like she was going to wait for an answer, as several dozen tendrils and chitin covered limbs rose to wipe Celestine from existence. Yet before the blow fell, Lavanna saw Celestine smiling calmly. 



"Wanna know another secret?" Celestine asked cockily, forcing Lavanna to pause suddenly, her inherent nature shackling her to seek out secrets, even if she had no time and her life hung in the balance. 



"Ye-...Yess... Tell me..." Lavanna's voice came out broken and fractured. 



"He's here." Celestine almost whispered to her in an easy calm. Lavanna didn't understand at first, but when the dark shadow fell behind her, Celestine's words suddenly made a lot of sense. Half a moment later, Lavanna felt and saw Durial's hand sweep across her form, glowing with red golden power, carving away dozen's of her chaotic limbs from her main body. 



Lavanna screamed in agony, yet the tune she hummed didn't seem to pause as she pulled away from Durial as best she could. Yet even as she tried to slip away, using Odeon's abilities, Durial connected again, ripping another bloody crater out of her disgusting form. Yet despite the pain, Lavanna managed to put a few dozen feet between herself and Durial. 



It was at that point that Celestine realized that Tristan was in his true demonic form, and found very quickly that she had trouble focusing on anything else... Tristan knelt over her, using his wings to shield her some. <i>("Are you alright?")</i> He asked, his thoughts controlled and level. Yet despite that, Celestine could feel his almost desperate concern through the Demonic Mark, as he apparently had forgotten to close it off to keep such things from her. 



<i>("I'm fine. But we can't let her escape. I had to tell her the truth to buy time."</i>) Celestine explained, fighting to stay focused on the matter at hand and not be distracted by the urge to just marvel at his demonically handsome form. 



Tristan frowned but nodded before standing up and facing Lavanna, who was on the ground shuddering badly, her body wracked with pain. "Enough Lavanna." He began, his voice dominating and powerful. "You never were a front line combatant, and you're already injured. Give up now and we'll try and work something out."



A dozen of the maws seemed to snicker at Tristan's words, while another dozen seemed to whimper in fear. "I know the truth! Y-you would only kill me!" Lavanna began as she tried to start scuttling away. She even managed to make another limited slip, putting even more distance between her and Durial. Not that it mattered, the effort and strain left her exhausted and helpless. "But I can't Die! Can't! I know the secret now! I know it! And I know you want it!" Lavanna wailed, weakly thrashing in the dirt...



Tristan cursed inwardly... He needed to know what Lavanna knew about who had hired Odeon. "Than I propose a trade. You tell me everything you know about who hired Odeon, and I'll show you what you've wanted more than anything else in the world, but have never been able to gain." Tristan proposed. 



Lavanna stilled and dozens of eyes turned to Tristan, clearly not believing him, but her envy of a human form plagued her mind, driving her to make terrible decisions... "Wh-...What do you know about what I really want?" 



"I know you envy other demons for their human forms. I know you envy those of us who don't have to hide behind a mask and veil..." Tristan explained slowly... "I know you've never been able to take human form, and that your own demonic visage disgusts you... probably more than anyone else who is unfortunate enough to look upon it." 



Lavanna lurched into some semblance of being upright... Reason and logic would have told her to deny Tristan, that the deal was meaningless if it didn't guarantee her life. But demons were not logical or reasonable creatures... No, they were creatures of uncontrolled and unrepentant sin and vice, who could rarely resist their own whims and desires for long, let alone resist when offered their greatest dreams. "A-... Agreed. Now s-sh-show me..." 

<hr pg="4" />"Information first Lavanna." Tristan demanded bluntly. 



Lavanna shuddered badly, as the last few threads that held her mind together began to fray. "Barathax... Barathax hired Odeon..." She eventually managed to reply, even as her mind began to come apart at the seams. 



"Barathax? Don't give me that shit Lavanna. Barathax wouldn't do things so subtly. Hell, he doesn't even understand the concept of subtly." Tristan replied sharply.



"Yet that is what Odeon remembers... Now give me what I want!" Lavanna pleaded, even as the tune she hummed grew more insistent. 



Tristan snorted, but nodded lightly before pressing his power to conjure a simple illusion... In a moment, Lavanna's eyes fell upon the wispy form of a human woman. "This is you, if you could take human form. Pity for all of us that you can't." Tristan's voice came out dry and annoyed more than anything else, Even as Lavanna's eyes went wide at the sight she beheld. 



If Tristan was being honest, her human form was far from perfect. It bore shoulder length brunette hair, with only a modicum of fitness to it with slightly attractive features. It wasn't the body of a beauty or anything like that, and ultimately wasn't something that would have normally caught his attention. But to Lavanna, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen... 



A moment after the image came to life, her broken form lurched closer, it's dozens of tendrils reaching out to wrap around the image and try and take it into herself. Yet it was useless as it was pointless, as it was nothing more than a conjured image. Still Lavanna tried to take it into herself, even as her rational mind began to come apart ...



Tristan watched for a moment in disgust... Lavanna must have hit Celestine with all the power she had to be turned into such a mad creature so quickly... With Odeon, it had taken days... But Lavanna seemed to go mad in mere hours... Perhaps Lavanna having contact with Odeon's soul had done this to her, or just as likely, Celestine's powers were growing... Sighing to himself, Tristan turned to Celestine, content to let Lavanna try and become his illusion for now. Yet what he saw when he looked upon Celestine confused and startled him...



Celestine was standing there watching Lavanna try and consume the illusion with a focus that defied the situation. To Tristan, it seemed like there was nothing else in Celestine's world but the scene that was playing out in front of her. Little did he know that Celestine wasn't entirely herself.



Celestine saw Lavanna's aura as the demoness's mind finally broke down completely, and that break down triggered something dark deep within her. A cool numbness washed over her mind and soon her conscience mind was not completely in control of her body. Yet despite that, Celestine began to sense the energies that made up Lavanna's soul with almost crystal clarity. So clear was her view that the real world almost became little more than a dull undefined backdrop. More specifically, Celestine found herself focused on Lavanna's aura, and saw that it was marred by black blotches, that seemed to smolder like cooling embers... 



She knew they had already consumed Lavanna's mind, but to a part of Celestine, that wasn't nearly enough. That same part of her saw the small embers quickly deemed them to be burning far too slowly. That dark part of her, deep under the surface of her conscious mind began to press against her waking thoughts, and Celestine reached out, almost as if cupping Lavanna's demonic soul in her hands. She looked at it curiously for a moment, before she leaned in and began to blow upon the cooling embers, as if trying to ignite them again...



Tristan watched as Celestine held out her hands and seemed to pull something beyond his sight to her lips and blow upon it. At first nothing seemed to happen, but after a few more heavy breaths, Tristan heard several of Lavanna's voices crackle and die off. Looking back, Tristan's blood turned to ice in his veins, as he watched Lavanna's flesh begin to be consumed by the black flames that were beginning to pour from her body... At first she seemed confused by what was happening to her, but when Tristan heard Celestine blow again, harder this time, Lavanna's confusion turned to agonizing fear as the flames seemed to wash over every inch of her body... 



Only a few seconds ticked past as Tristan watched Lavanna thrash desperately on the ground, still trying to grasp his illusion and pull it into herself. But she burned faster than she could reach, and it only took a few moments for Lavanna reaching limbs to be utterly devoured by the ravenous black blaze. Looking back to Celestine, Tristan found himself backing away from her, as a content smile crossed her lips, and the irises of her eyes shone in a beautiful emerald glow... Soon the panicked screams of Lavanna died out, and Tristan saw the last of her form be obliterated by the all consuming flames. Not even ashes remained of her, and Tristan found himself growing all the more concerned. He needed a way to bring Celestine back to herself, or else it was very likely that he was about to suffer a similar fate. 



It was then that Tristan realized that the song that Lavanna had been humming hadn't stopped... The tune and hymn continued to sound, though instead of coming from Lavanna's thousand voices, it sounded from only one, but was somehow infinitely more alluring and beautiful... and it was coming from right behind him...



Snapping around Tristan found Celestine had gotten behind him without his notice, which should have been utterly impossible for a mortal. Yet the moment he met her eyes, he felt frozen in place. Her beautiful gaze captured his, locking him in place. Yet she continued to hum the song that Tristan somehow had heard before, and he felt it pulling him in... Without conscious thought, Tristan felt his hands reaching for her and pulling Celestine in closely, even as a terrible hunger began to claw at him from the depths of his demonic soul. A hunger that howled at him to consume her soul right there...



As if understanding the primal urge that lashed at him, Celestine seemed to nod to him, and even press her warm body against him, as if to tempt him. Without words or thought, Celestine's eyes screamed at him to do it, to rip her soul out and consume her. And despite himself, and all his plans for her, Tristan found himself failing to resist against that most basic demonic impulse, even as his rational mind snarled in protest. 



It was only at the last moment that some part of Tristan, a part that he himself didn't fully understand and didn't even fully recognize, reached out with his senses and through the Demonic Mark and searched for Celestine's thoughts and emotions, desperate to know if this was truly what she wanted. Yet even with her standing pressed against him, he could find nothing. None of her lust, none of her desire, none of her real emotions. It was like the woman standing in front of him, wasn't really her...



It was that realization that allowed Tristan the presence of mind to even think about tearing himself away from her. It made him realize that he didn't want this emotionless being in front of him, he wanted <i>his</i> Celestine: full of life and joy, desire and noble strength, and nothing else could replace her. He would not accept a consolation prize or anything else, it was only the Celestine he knew and cared for that he truly longed for. And so Tristan pulled himself away from this being that was both Celestine and not Celestine. He struggled to move his powerful wings to try and put some distance between them, and maybe buy some time to think. But it felt like he was trying to move away when there were meat hooks buried in his flesh, dragging him down and giving him nothing but agony for every inch he tried to move. Every note of her song only made it harder and harder... 



It was at that point he realized it... the song she was humming was the same siren call that her soul seemed to resonate with. That same soul that robbed him of so much control and threatened to drive him to consume her without regard or thought... 



Yet the same part of Tristan that reached out for Celestine initially, fought against the song, forcing Tristan to tear himself away, no matter how horrifically painful it was to resist his own primal instincts and hungers. But despite the pain, and how much of who he was desperately wanted to slake the thirst Celestine ignited in him, Tristan somehow managed to break away. 



He didn't recall falling to the ground as his eyes opened again, and he realized that he must have blacked out at some point as he pulled away from Celestine. Yet looking around, he found himself a dozen feet from Celestine, his mind becoming clearer with each passing moment as the hunger inside waned and was finally stamped out by his longing for his Celestine. 



Looking up to her, Tristan found a slightly confused look upon her features, as if whatever was guiding Celestine's body was perplexed by Tristan's actions. Without even thinking, Tristan spoke up, voice firm and unyielding. "Let her go." His words drew its attention again, as if it was even more surprised that Tristan spoke at all. "I said let her go!" He roared. "I don't want you! I only want <i>her! My Celestine!</i> I know she is still in there, and you <i>will</i> give her back to me!" Tristan's voice resonated powerfully, seeming to stun the thing that controlled her body. Yet as he finished, he saw something that sparked hope within him... A faint blush came to Celestine's cheeks, not triggered by the emotionless thing that held sway over her body, but perhaps by Celestine herself, kept asleep inside. 



"I know you're still in there Celestine, so wake up! Come back to me, so that I might know the joy of feeling your flesh pressed against mine again. Return to me, so that I might hear your sultry voice purr at me once more, and make me desperate to bury myself in you! Do not deprive me the chance to taste your sweet pussy again, or savor the music of your panting breath in my ear or the feel of your nails digging into my back as you hold onto me tightly and scream my name. Wake up Celestine... Show me your defiance, and make my desire for you grow so hot that it burns! Come on, Wake UP!" Tristan thundered out, making the thing that puppeted Celestine stumble again as her blush grew at his lewd demands. 



Tristan took a deep breath to begin a new rant, yet as he began to speak, lengthy words alluded him, and only one thing came to mind... "Celestine... Come back to me... please... I want you... only you..." Tristan's voice came out clear, but unsure, as if such words were foreign and strange to him. Yet for all his uncertainty, it was clear he meant every syllable.



By the end of his plea, Celestine was leaning against the ruins of the tree Lavanna had pinned her against, and the green glow of her eyes began to fade and disappear, leaving Celestine standing there, growing more confused by the second. "Wha...What just... happened?" She asked herself more than him. Her voice was groggy and thick, and to Tristan, it seemed as if she had just returned from blacking out or something of that nature. Yet even if she didn't remember what had just happened to her, the vulnerable hopeful blush that crossed her features declared that she still felt the emotions his words incited, even if she didn't remember what caused them. 



It was those emotions that urged Celestine to go to him, but even as she took her first step, Celestine's world turned sideways, as she began to fall, her legs not able to support her anymore. Yet to her surprise, Celestine never hit the ground. Instead she found herself in Tristan's arms once again, held gently and closely. She was about to thank him, but he cut her off "Hush..." Tristan assured. "For now, let's just get you back inside. Hum?" 



Celestine looked to him confused, unsure of what was going on or what had happened, while still gripped with emotions who's cause she didn't know. And so all she could do was nod, and wrap her arms around his neck as he lifted her up. Yet the manner in which he carried her reminded her of how a groom carried his new bride, making Celestine blush all the harder, though she was too weak to didn't resist it. "I... I think that's for the best. I'm... suddenly very tired for some reason." Celestine admitted, her head feeling heavy. Heavy enough that she didn't realize that Tristan was already flying with her in his arms until several moments later, when she could feel the wind blowing lightly across her face and making her hair swirl. Yet in his arms, she didn't feel afraid, even if they were a couple dozen feet off the ground. If anything, being in his arms felt like one of the safest places in the world right now...



~~~~~



Rena hurried into Celestine's room as Tristan was just pulling the covers over her. just looking at her friend unconscious and so terribly pale triggered a pained angry sound from Rena as she rushed to the bed and fell to her knees along side Celestine. "Celestine? Celestine are you okay?!" Rena asked, about to reach out for her friend to try and shake her awake. 



Yet Tristan's hands fell upon Rena's, gently stopping her from trying to force Celestine awake. "Let her rest Rena... She's been through a lot." 



"Is she going to be okay?" Rena asked, confused by her own desperation. 



"I think so. But for now we'll just let her rest." Tristan explained, still looking to Celestine. Rena could see his gaze was angry and confused. Clearly vexed by how this happened at all. 



"Where is Lavanna?" Rena asked coldly. "Did she do this?" 



"No. Lavanna is dead Rena. Not even ashes remain of her." Tristan replied coolly. "And from what I can tell, she is only partially responsible. 



"I am quite certain that she is wholly responsible my Lord." Claude sounded from the doorway, standing just out in the hall. "For whatever reason, she felt that Celestine had information that she needed to have. I was following them in order to keep watch over Celestine, though for whatever reason Lavanna was able to confuse my senses, which bought her some time to begin interrogating Celestine in earnest. Why she was so aggressive though, is beyond me." 



"You were guarding her?" Rena asked sharply. "If you were guarding her then why did this fucking happen!?" Rena snarled while pointing towards Celestine, still motionless and pale. "You should have been right beside her, shielding her from Lavanna! Not far away like a coward!" Rena accused harshly.



Claude's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Rena. "I was following in order to keep Celestine from divulging anything she shouldn't have. The idea that Lavanna would have risked her life and everything she had worked for up to today on some secret that Celestine supposedly had is absurd! Lavanna shouldn't have acted as she did. Yes, it is in her nature to ferret out secrets, but that is going too far, even for her." 



Rena's voice only grew louder as she replied. "And how exactly do you know that?! HUH!? You're all talk Claude! Full of hot air and shi-" 



"That's <i>enough</i>, both of you." Tristan's voice came out cold and harsh like the bitter tundra and silenced Rena. Both of the demons looked to their lord, suddenly very aware that his power was waxing around him angrily as he glanced back to both of them from over his shoulder. Instinctively Rena backed away, and Claude found himself thankful that he was in the hallway. After a few moments Tristan's voice leveled off as he spoke again. "Lavanna's aid's don't know what's going on, and as far as they are aware, she is still out walking with Celestine. I want both of you to surround them and wipe them out before they get to suspicious. Gather as many demons as you need from the house to get it done quickly and cleanly. Claude, when you're finished, contact Gaulaf and Seeress, and get them to muster their forces to raid Lavanna's estate with the two of you and as many demons as you need from here at the estate. I want her home raised to the ground and all her servants and sworn demons dead by nightfall. Now go." Tristan ordered with a cold ruthless efficiency. 



Rena and Claude nodded as one and quickly left the room without a word, knowing saying anything in his presence would only make this worse...



~~~~~



"He's really pissed at us." Rena lamented as she walked with Claude. 



"No Rena... he isn't angry with us." Claude corrected even as he began pondering who to contact first. Scouts and saboteurs would be needed to cut off communications in Lavanna's estates, but that would be worked out later. Right now, they were moving to surround the six demons that had come with Lavanna and were still waiting in the atrium. No less then twenty of Tristan's house demons were converging even as he and Rena spoke. 



"Then... he's angry with Lavanna?" Rena guessed. "I mean she is the cause of all this... And that's why we're doing what we're doing right?"



Claude shook his head. "If only it were that Rena. No, our Lord is angry with himself. I suspect he sent Celestine to stall for him specifically because he believed Lavanna to be harmless, or at least not suicidal enough to try something like this. But it did happen, and now he blames himself. It isn't something he's used to, finding meaningful fault in his own actions. He isn't above admitting to himself that he can make a mistake, but this error nearly cost him Celestine, and that only stokes his rage all the more."



Rena nodded slowly. "Damn it... So I guess me pointing blame and all that only made him feel worse huh?" She asked quietly.



"It is quite possible yes." Claude replied simply. "Though I suspect he was already at a level of frustration where nothing either of us could have said could have made it worse." 



Rena sighed but continued. "I suppose... I'll try and cheer him up later. But right now we got to focus on our orders, as odd as they may be for Master... I mean I get wiping out the aides and stuff, but it isn't like Master to raze Lavanna's whole household. I mean hell, we're nearly going into all out war here... I'm not complaining but it isn't like Master to do something like this." 



"Very perceptive of you Rena. Normally I would agree, but this is a special case." Claude replied as he checked his pocket watch. A few more moments and they could spring their ambush... some of their elements would already be in place...



"What makes this a special case?" Rena asked curiously. 



"I believe Lavanna learned of Celestine's true nature." Claude informed bluntly. 



"WHAT?" Rena asked exasperated. "Fuck! If it gets out we're all screwed!" 



"Exactly why our lord is acting as he is. The fallout in court over what will appear to be an unprovoked attack will be insignificant compared to the hell that would be unleashed upon us if it was found out we are harboring a Fell Born. Lavanna may have not told anyone about what she learned, but better safe than risk everything." 



"Huh, well that actually makes perfect sense." Rena shook her head as she grasped the extent of what was going on. "But how did she find out?"



"Celestine was likely forced to share the information, either to protect herself, or to stall for time. Regardless of what she might have told Lavanna, our Lord's words worry me. I only managed to reach where Lavanna slipped away too with Celestine by the time Lord Durial was already heading back to the house, and what he said is true: there are not even ashes left of Lavanna." Claude paused, wondering if Rena would put two and two together.



"Alright... I get it. She's dead. Why does the absence of ashes matter?" Rena asked, the connection still eluding her. 



"Because my dear Rena... the only flame I've ever heard of that leaves no ash are black flames... The flames ignited by the Fell Born." Claude explained.

<hr pg="5" />"Hold on... Are you saying Celestine killed Lavanna?!" Rena asked frowning. 



"I certainly suspect that is the case..." Claude replied dourly. 



"Huh... well fuck me." Rena replied, not really sure how she should reply to that. Yet for all her uncertainty, Rena merely shrugged and looked to Claude. "It doesn't matter to me if she did or didn't. All that matters is Lavanna is dead, and that she won't hurt Celestine any more. But now it's our turn, so let's get to work." Rena declared, a fierce grin crossing her lips as she pushed past the last set of doors and entered the atrium where their prey sat unsuspecting. 



~~~~~ 

