The World of Strife

I needed to concentrate and focus if I wanted to get out of this situation. Something that was easier said than done in these circumstances. I closed my eyes, doing my best to close out everything distracting. I could feel my magic responding to my intent, I just needed to envision the way the ice needed to form.

A stiff hand with sharp nails locked around my neck, squeezing it harshly and cutting my air supply. My barely formed thoughts dispersed once again, as I instinctively struggled for air, for the second time in a short while.

The woman continued to squeeze my windpipe as she leaned right into my face. — "I don't know what you are planning, girl, but don't get ahead of yourself. You are mine now, the sooner you accept that, the better. Oh, and if you pull one more move like that headbutt thing before. Make sure it works, otherwise I will knock your brains out." — The woman laughed disgustingly as she whispered a few more words into my ears. — "We only need you to function below neck, of course, it would be easier if you were a good girl, but it's not entirely necessary, you know?"

My sight narrowed as the elf kept squeezing my throat. I couldn't breathe no-matter how I tried to push her off, it only worsened my thirst for air.

Am I… going to die again? L-like this… I don't want to die! Not yet, not again, and definitely not like this…

I was barely conscious when the woman's hand finally loosened up, allowing me to breathe. I desperately sucked in the cold air with a half crazed thirst. Every breath of fresh air was painful, but I didn't care, coughing and spitting between every desperate intake. It took some time for my frenzied mental state to stabilize. When it eventually happened, I came to realize that my body was rolled to its side, my left cheek being pressed against the ground. The distinct taste of dust was stuck to my lips, and some even got into my mouth.

When was I turned to my side? I wondered momentarily, then a spike of pain travelled through my strangely bent arms.

"What… what are you doing to me?" — I croaked, my voice dry and broken. I tried to move my arms for naught, a tight sensation holding them together behind my back and around my wrist. I also noticed that my belt was removed sometime ago, and my pants were partially unbuttoned, but thankfully still on me. Probing the leather like material around my wrists, I figured where my belt ended up.

The woman's face swam back into my vision as I was forcefully flopped to my back again. Her cruel red eyes glinting with interest. — "Oh, I suspected that you might know some of our tongue. Your reactions were too spot on to be a simple coincidence, but to hear you speak it so fluently." — The woman mused while absentmindedly groping my butt.

She leaned her head to the side, her thoughtful expression blossoming into a full-blown grin. — "I guess that will make training you a lot easier. I am curious, which type you are? The fast learner, or the stubborn fool…"

She pressed her thumb over my lips, scraping some of the dirt that stuck to them, before trying to push her finger into my mouth.

I obviously didn't let her do that, keeping my jaw shut tight, which seemed to humour the evil elf.

She leaned close to my face, her hand once again grasping my vulnerable neck, making my whole body stiffen up in panic. My throat tightened on its own in anticipation of her attack. I needed a few seconds to realize that she didn't even squeeze my throat that hard yet and I could breathe just fine. She was merely holding my head in place so I can't headbutt her again. My relief didn't last long since the woman's face pressed right against my own as she whispered into my ears conspiratorially. — "Listen carefully you little bitch, you are pretty, which makes me reluctant to beat you senseless. I will give you one last chance. If you do what I say obediently, I might even forget your previous disobedience." — Her voice grow colder as she continued. — "In case you continue this behavior..." — She let the threat hang loosely in the air, and I gulped from the images my mind provided voluntarily.

She smiled, breathing hot air against my face. — "I think we have a new understanding… let's see if you truly know your place." — I felt her finger once more pressed against my lips, trying to worm its way between my teeth. I considered opening my mouth, then bite the bastard as hard as I could, but remembering her threat, I didn't actually dare to do that. The next best thing I dared to do was to keep my mouth shut, someone will eventually come to my help, I merely needed a bit more time.

The elf woman once again sitting on top of me started to grow impatient.

"Suck on my finger!" — The woman demanded. — "Come now, do it like the little whore you are…" — Her eyes narrowed threateningly. — "Oh, but if you bite me, I will knock in your teeth, so you better behave." — I stubbornly kept my mouth shut, an icy shiver running down my spine, I was glad I didn't bite her on impulse.

My passive refusal to cooperate elicited an elongated sigh from the woman.

She roughly grasped my hair, rolling my ponytail around her left hand to get a better hold on it. I winced from the pain, but still kept my mouth shut tight.

She pulled my hair, turning my face in a way that forced me to look her in the eye. — "Look," — She began while licking her lips. — "if you are waiting for your friends to save you, I have bad news. The ones that didn't run away are dead or dying." — She snorted, seeing my horrified expression.

Her snort turned into an eery chuckle as she practically swam in the despair her words and actions elicited from me.

"Spellcasters…" — She let go of my head, letting it drop back into the dirt.

"Your kind are my favorite to break in." — She said almost nostalgically, once again beginning to grope me. My traitorous body, to my apparent shock, started to heat up, reacting to her humiliating treatment.

"All that power, all that knowledge you hold, amount to nothing, once I get my hands on you. Leaving you powerless, bare, and stricken by your own helplessness. The expression you make as the realization sinks in. The understanding that you cannot escape… Oh, it makes me want to abuse you all the more."

I bit down on my tongue, trying to concentrate my thoughts as a strange and alarming warmth built up in my body as the woman kept molesting me.

"Why are you doing this, aren't you a woman too?" — I asked, trying to wiggle out of my binds, and to subdue the heat that kept rising, filling me with strange thoughts.

The other elf snorted, her attention turning lax as she grew certain of her hold on me. — "You really can't tell? I enjoy it, why else? The weak can only hope to be spared by the strong. Power is the only truth in this world and today you are my bounty. Well, at least until I drag you back to camp. The masters will find any reason to take such a quality slave from me," — She snarled anger contorting her features. — "as I said, power is everything. For now, however, there is nobody here to interrupt us, we have all the time in the world. If the others were still alive, that would be different, even the masters wouldn't dare to offend so many."

Her frustrated red eyes focused on me once again, as she added. — "No matter, I will have the first taste of you and might even manage to make a bargain selling your ass to the masters. Maybe if I make the initiative… yes, that sounds like a good idea."

She reached for my pants, unbuttoning the last section that kept it up, then she started sliding it down my butt.

I went rigid, realizing her intentions. — "Y-y-you are…" — I stuttered, doing my best to press my hip against the ground to obstruct her hand that tried to get a better grip on my pants. — "What are you planning?"

The dark elf woman sighed, trying to get another angle on my pants to pull them off. A flicker of frustration leaking into her expression as she answered offhandedly. — "I am going to rape you if it wasn't obvious."

I gaped silently, several times, like a fish on the shore. Eventually I got back my voice and asked. — "But… you are a woman? How would you even…. do that…?"

The frustrated dark elf seemed to let go of my pants with an annoyed sigh. She only managed to pull it down a few more inches, essentially revealing the crack of my bum with all her effort.

Bless the gods for these tight ass leather pants! I murmured internally. I knew all too well what a pain it was to pull them off, especially after sweating all over on the inside from exercise.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The woman, too, seemed to decide to take a pause, breathing heavily from all the effort. I would have felt pity for her if she wasn't trying to rape me right now. Instead of that, I only prayed that she get an unexpected heart attack.

Still, since I didn't believe in my luck for that to happen. I mean, just look at my situation! I decided to try to help fate along. I believed that while the elf was struggling with my pants, it would be the perfect opportunity to create an ice lance that could once and for all remove her from the picture.

The very moment I started forming the spell, I felt a stinging pain in the shape of a palm striking my half bare butt. — "AAH!" — I shrieked involuntarily. — "No-no, NO!" — I shouted, bursting into tears of frustration as I realized my spell once again failed to manifest.

"Will you cut it already?" — The dark elf complained in an annoyed voice. — "Lesser mages would have realized by now that I can sense you forming spells! You won't take me by surprise, slave!" — The woman's annoyed voice echoed through the trench, leaving me completely speechless.

Somehow, her frustrated reaction set my blood on fire.

"Oh, yes?!" — I hissed at her. — "Well, I am sorry that I have been such an inconvenience to rape! Why don't you go and fuck yourself instead, and while you are at it, die in a corner!" — I spit in her general direction, not sure if I hit her, but the effects were instantaneous.

The woman whirled to action, jumping on my chest and pinning me to the ground with all her weight. She stared me in the eye with a manic expression that worked quite effectively paired with those red eyes.

"That wasn't very nice…" — She stated in a furious voice, that turned cruel and smug at the end. — "Come to think of it, you asked me about the way I am going to rape you, right?" — She hissed into my face, unbuckling a knife from her leg, holster included. She then turned around the knife, holding it by the blade holster and showing me the hilt, it was made from metal and had a slight curve to it. I felt confused for a second, then an ominous shiver went through my body.

My eyes bulged out with realization. I pulled my gaze away from the item to glance at the elf. I wanted to determine if she was serious and, by her expression, I got my answer immediately.

Another violent shiver went through my entire body. I started to squirm again, my mind completely taken by panic.

"Oh?" — The woman smiled from ear to ear. — "Haven't you gotten lively all of a sudden?" — Her face leaned to the side. — "Were you so certain that I can't harm you just because I am a woman? How foolish…"

I kicked wildly and tried to crawl backwards, but with her practically sitting on me, it didn't have any results. — "Get away from me, you freak!" — I cried out.

The elf sitting on me was clearly enjoying the show as she played with the dagger in her hands. — "Now, now, it won't be that bad, but since you stubbornly refuse to cooperate… I might have to be a bit rough about it, which might leave some damage... You might also need to consider that, unlike the real thing, this hilt is made from metal. Of course, it's not a perfect fit, but at least it never goes soft. That means we can have as much fun as we want."

She leaned into my face, her red eyes practically glowing with malice. — "Seeing how you treat your mistress, I think you are going to have a very long session… Perhaps until you faint. How does that sound, slave?"

I stopped struggling as I stared up at her, completely shocked for once.

For the first time, I looked at the elf towering over me with a pleading expression. Tears already glinting in my eyes, I begged. — "Please… you can't do this… I-I… I am a-a man…"

Her eyebrows shot upwards in a moment of confusion, then she broke out in wild laughter. — "A man? Come now, at least make up a better excuse." — She leaned closer, looking me in the eye one more time. — "Fine, since you made me laugh. I will ask again, will you be an obedient little bitch and suck like the piglet you are, or should I get serious with my little friend here?" — She stroked the hilt of the dagger, making her point very obvious.

"I…" — I gulped drily. — "F-f-fine… I will suck your finger… j-just don't… use that thing on me!"

The woman laughed at that, shaking her head in amusement.

"Oh, no! That deal you already rejected. It's not coming back…" — She snorted several times. — "Now," — She struggled to keep a straight face as she said the words. — "I want you to suck on this."

My eyes went cross as she shoved the hilt against my face. I turned to the side, already cursing the bastard. This was just too much! — "Come now," — The woman laughed. — "I only used it several times on a few bitches who, just like you, didn't know when to shut up and suck obediently. Really, I even cleaned it afterwards…"

I gagged, momentarily overtaken by my rising disgust, before screaming at the bitch in a shrill voice.

"I hope YOU suffer IN HELL for this!" — I screamed, trashing about with all my might as the elf laughed on top of me.

"Well, then, I guess I will have to get back to your-" — There was a snapping sound followed by a dull thud. The dark elf woman's eyes widened unnaturally as she added the last word, her voice distorted in pain. — "pants…"

I stared up at the heavily blinking woman and watched in confusion as she flopped to the side, her body shaking as it went into shock.

My eyes snapped forward, and I noticed the battered form of Alita, laying on the other side of the trench while pointing a one handed, currently empty crossbow in my general direction. I turned back to the elf, noticing a bolt half buried into her back where her heart ought to be.

"H-h-holy shit!" — I gasped, finally understanding what just happened. The realization that I was saved washing over my shaky body with a deep sense of relief.

I took a few quick breaths, then flopped back to my side like a dead seal. Seriously, that was way too close to even call it as a close call. I breathed another sigh of relief before catching my breath and peeling my body off the cold ground. First, I pulled myself into a sitting position. Sparing a last glance to the now dead woman beside me. I shook my head, then turned ahead and walked over to Alita's prone form.

No matter how much I just wanted to lay down and pretend to be dead, my mind screamed against the idea. The immediate danger might be over, but I was far from being safe.

When I neared Alita, I took in her battered and bloody shape with a hiss. Seeing her like that was not entirely unexpected, but it still took me by surprise. The very injured dwarf girl glanced up at me with a heavy gaze, allowing the smallest of smiles to appear on her face.

My hands still being tied behind my back, I couldn't do anything else, but lower myself next to her, sitting on my folded legs. Looking over her injuries with a deeply worried expression.

Alita, noticing my desperate gaze, closed her eyes momentarily willing herself into action, then with a painfully sounding grunt pulled herself into a sitting position as well. — "Sweet gods," — She started. — "I must look like shit, if you are making that face." — She chuckled then added hastily. — "Don't worry, most of this is probably not my blood."

My eyebrows shot upward with incredulity. — "Probably?" — I questioned her, then shook my head and added. — "I would tell you not to move with those injuries, alas I need you to untie my hands. Could you do that, please?" — I asked, with a sudden surge of urgency as several dribbles of blood flow down the other girl's face. The source originating from somewhere under her helmet.

Alita blinked with a dazed expression. She reached for her face, touching the red liquid then checking her fingers, noting the fresh red splotches on her fingertips, she shrugged her shoulders dismissively. — "What? I have had worse." — She said, then turned her attention back to me.

"What about you?" — Alita asked with a worried undertone. — "You do realize that one of your tits is hanging out, yes?" — She asked first seriously, but her expression soon morphed into a teasing one. For once, I didn't find it funny, not at all. Then again, at this point, I very much suspected that the other girl wasn't entirely herself in her current condition. The pain from several injuries and likely some sort of head injury must be too much for her to handle.

Still, I glared at her for several seconds, when she only giggled at my stare like an excited schoolgirl, I decided to take a deep breath and swallow my frustration.

"You do realize that I was almost raped, right?" — I asked with a deadpan expression. She nodded slowly, as if it was an incredible effort on her part to make this conclusion, before adding with a smile.

"I do, but you were not, all because of yours truly here. I am your knight in shining armor!" — She chuckled, then added. — "Let me tidy you up, this sight is quite distracting, I can't think straight like this…"

Her hands reached for my coat, my body instinctively freezing up at the sight. To my surprise, Alita seemed to notice my unnatural tension and started speaking in a gentle voice. — "Don't worry, it's just me, nobody is going to hurt you. I will only straighten your clothes out, so you won't catch a cold."

I gulped, my body once again listening to my commands. Feeling extremely uncomfortable in this situation, I looked aside with a light blush already forming on my face as I complained half heartedly. — "You could also just untie my hands and then I could do it on my own."

She snorted at that. — "Oh, and miss this opportunity? Nah, there is no way." — She said with mock seriousness, something that in this absurd scenario felt more comical than it had any right to be.

I glared at her once again, and this time it seemed to have an effect as she hastily raised her hands, saying. — "Okay, okay! I was just trying to loosen you up, girl… You are as tight as a bowstring. Anyway, we are both girls, so it's hardly an issue…" — She complained silently.

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. — "Did you perhaps miss the fact that I was just molested by a woman?"

She winced at that. — "Oh, uhm… That was not a woman…" — She started hesitantly. — "That was a… dark… elf, thing…" — I stared at her, to which she added, almost squirming in her place. — "Comparing that to a woman is an insult to all women."

I sighed, it would be hard to argue with that last statement.

Alita slowly straightened up my clothes, struggling with it here and there, but doing it none the less. When finally done, she seemed to be lost to what to do next. — "Ugh…" — She began. — "Sorry for dragging you into this mess… I saw that that woman really did a number on you… Your skin is all swollen and red… In such a sensitive place, that must have hurt, a lot." — Alita bemoaned my situation, with such a simple honesty that I couldn't feel angry at her for being so nosy. Still, I couldn't wait for the chance to unleash a healing spell on the stupid brat's head.

I stared at her for several seconds, when I was certain that I had her fickle attention, I turned sideways and said in a strenuous voice. — "My arms, please!"

Alita blinked, then nodded. — "Oh, o-of course!"

Thank the Gods! I mumbled silently.