Eldritch

- Tara -

I'm so stupid!
I shouldn't have followed this man.
Living in the slums of Ashenbrook should've taught me this much, but if you're starving, options are limited.
Maybe I should've started to sell my body, as so many others.
Yet I never took that step, as I saw where this leads to.
Once you see a woman succumbing to the Nether Rot, you rather opt for starvation as your go-to end.

Though, that's not quite true.
After all, I was ready to go that far.
Yet if I already made that jump, I wanted it at least to be with someone reasonably clean.
This old man wasn't quite my taste, but he fulfilled that criterion and seemed rather wealthy.
When he approached me in my street corner, I thought that maybe he would hire me as a servant.
I quickly realized he must be some kind of sorcerer.

As he lived quite far out of town, I thought he wanted a more permanent arrangement.
That would've solved all my problems.
Hah, even performing as his concubine wouldn't have been the worst.

At first, it was even looking great.
He fed me a fantastic meal, even with fresh fruits, and I got a bath with warm water!
There were even new clothes!

But then, suddenly, he mumbles something, and promptly, a wave of fatigue hits me cold, and I'm falling unconscious.
The next thing I know, I'm lying on some stone altar, unable to move the slightest bit.

Yeah, I couldn't blame anyone but my own stupidity.
Well, and the man who was about to stab my heart to commune with some dark goddess.
Of course, I pleaded for my life, cried, promised him everything, but when the blade sank into me, I realized there was no point.
At the very least, he apparently gave me something to numb the pain.
Not like this is much consolation if you're getting sacrificed, but it helps keep my mind clear.

At least I thought so.
Until my flowing blood was literally drained out of my body by some invisible force and gathered in the center of the hall.
There, it formed at first some strange form, and out of it an unfathomable being was conceived.
Strangest shapes, forming forms beyond my imagination, until it gathered into something new, something humanoid.
This was the last I saw before the darkness overwhelmed me.

I thought this was my end and that now Thanostra would claim my soul for the destiny that lies beyond what mortals are allowed to know.
And then I opened my eyes again.
To gaze at her.

"Hello. Please, stay calm. Let me help you." (I)

...

I want to scream, but am unable to do so.
Every part of my body is panicking at what is happening to me, but the control was ripped away from me.
One look at this thing that is handling my body suffices to tell it can't be from this world.
Claws blacker than the deepest nights, fur flowing like water, ripples running through its skin.
No, this thing is beyond my understanding.
I fear it won't just take my life.
No, a far more sinister fate awaits me.

I can feel it crawling inside me.
Pulling, twisting, taking all I am.

No.
No!
I can't let that happen!
At least my soul.
This man can't sacrifice even this from me!
Thanostra, if nothing else, please, save my soul!

I try to gather every last bit of fight I still have within me.
Just to put up one last struggle for what is left of me.

"I'd ask you to abstain from sudden movements. Wouldn't be good for you." (I)

Promptly, even that ceases.
All my motions somehow got locked, while calmness overcomes me.

I'm a prisoner within my own body.
Against this being even my will is nothing.

"What are you doing?! You, you can't! The contract!" (summoner)

Hah, as little consolation as this is, it seems like my tormentor is not quite as much in control as he'd wish to be.
Seems like he's intent on banishing again what he summoned.
This magic he conjures looks impressive.
Maybe he'll succeed.
In that case, my soul might be set free once my body perishes.

"Oh, shut up!" (I)

But then the unimaginable happens.
There suddenly erupts a current of darkest, twisted matter from this creature.
It grows and grows, encompassing all of the other side of the hall, until it goes down, right where the sorcerer stood a moment ago.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Where he isn't anymore when it recedes.
Only a lot of recess of this vile mass that went over him.

And this creature.

"Ehm, hi. My name is Iori." (I)

Hah, so there's no hope.
Just what did this man bring upon our world?
I fear it might end now.
But maybe this isn't so bad.
Those dark eyes.
I could get lost in those.
Maybe I will.
Forever at peace in sweet nothingness.

"Hey, stay with me!" (I)

Suddenly, there's a jolt and I'm wide awake again.

"Okay, I did what I could. First, let's get you out of these shackles." (I)

"Scrik"

"Scrak"

"Scrok"

She just broke my restraints with her bare hands.
They even had runic reinforcements on them.
I know, this shouldn't surprise me, but such strength.

"How's the wound? As I said, I did what I could, but you need to tell me if anything is off." (I)

It wants me to speak?
Is that it?
Can I act now by myself again?
Should I?
Could it get any worse for me if I do?

"O-off?" (T)

"Yes. After all, it's not every day that I revive someone. Uh, you died, by the way." (I)

I died?
So this being can just twist the laws of life and death as it pleases?
I'd call this impossible, but nothing I consider so seems to apply to this unimaginable existence.
It's so ridiculous, I almost have to chuckle.

"Brought me back? Thanostra won't like this." (T)

Oh, her gaze.
All my thoughts wash away in this void.

"That guy can screw himself! I'm making my own rules, not abide to his." (I)

Ridiculing a god.
From anyone else, this would sound like blasphemous ramblings, but if she says this, I believe her.

"Uh, you can stand up, by the way. I'm not going to harm you or something." (I)

I can?
I mean, I'm allowed to?

Once I gather my strength to do as I was told, I notice that aside from a slight pressure in my chest, I feel fine.
Actually, I feel as if I have more strength than a long time ago.

My body feels... good.

"Fine, ehm. First, clothes. Yours are a little... soaked." (I)

Does she mean the blood?
Is this being averse to it?

"Alright, uh, I can't see any here. Wait a moment. That could feel a little bit weird, ehm, it might be better if you close your eyes for the moment." (I)

What, my eyes?
No, I'm not going to debate anything with this existence that is so far beyond me.
Yet the moment I close them, I can feel something rush over me.
All around my body, I feel touched by a slithering, creepy something.
I don't dare to look, as I was told not to, but am still so afraid and can't help the tears.
It settles after the shortest time, but something around my body still lingers.

"Okay, you can open them again." (I)

I do, and stand overwhelmed.
I am wearing now a black shirt, with a black skirt, and some kind of pants that reach till my feet.
Also... what kind of undergarments are these?
My chest is covered by a form completely foreign to me, and some kind of fabric spreads around my nether regions.
They are comfortable, as if they were made just for me, even more precisely than by a master artisan.

"Yeah, that should cover it. Oh, I hope a skirt is fine. I could also do pants, if you prefer those?" (I)

I'm completely at a loss for words and unable to speak.

"Yeah, good... I just wanna say that I'm really sorry that you got caught up in my mess. This was quite unfortunate. I'll try to make it up to you. Seriously, human sacrifices." (I)

Make it up for me?
What is this creature intending to do?

"So how to proceed now? Wait, is there anything out there? Shit, this might take all night. And I could really need some rest. What am I gonna do? Hey... why not?" (I)

What is the being mumbling to itself?
What will happen now?

"Alright, I'm sorry, but I can't personally handle everything. However, I'll leave you in capable care." (I)

Before I can even contemplate the words, the being stretches out its hand to the center of the hall she came from.
A moment later, the very ground seems to rise there.
Shifting, rippling, twisting, growing until it builds some kind of ring, no, a portal!
And something passes through.

A woman.
Tall, gracious, in high heels and a dress.
She seems pale, but carries herself with such a confidence, such strength, that clearly shows it's by no means in weak condition.
Her features are otherworldly.
Is this a demon?
One which the being just summoned out from nothing?
Without any preparation?

And the first thing this new creature does is kneel to the demon at my side.

"My lady." (D)

"Alright, that worked. Ehm, meet Damina. Damina, would you please take care of her? You know my intentions, do you? So you know what I want. Just get her back to set her up somehow." (I)

"As you wish, my lady." (D)

"Great. This would really help me out. Thank you a lot." (I)

"Your wish is my command, master." (D)

"Yeah, you know I don't need that. If you can do that, I'll be grateful. Oh, but let me do this..." (I)

The being, no, the "master" of this new demon, touches the very same's chest.
The demon lady looks surprised, before it shifts into a very content expression.

"Here. Once you're done, this link will allow you to return by yourself." (I)

"You are blessing me too much, Master." (D)

"Damina, this is just the ground setup. No need to be thankful for that." (I)

Then the void eyes of the existence focus again on me.

"Alright, my associate will make sure that you'll get back home safely. I must now take my leave. I'm once again very sorry for what you had to go through. Something like this shouldn't happen." (I)

I can't even fathom understanding anything this creature says.
What else should've happened?
No, better not think about it.

"Alright, Damina. I trust you. There's no time limit on you, so return whenever you feel like it." (I)

"Thank you, Master." (D)

"Okay... Bye then." (I)

Then suddenly, the body of the being starts to shrivel, as if something is getting sucked out of it.
It crumbles in on itself, until only dust in the resemblance of a corpse remains.
All that still reminds of its existence is the demonic creature right next to me.

"Rejoice, mortal, for today is the most fortuitous moment of your existence, as my master has blessed you." (D)

Just what is going to happen now?