4: Old Friends, Old Enemies
Trisha frowned as she looked alternately at the luggage, the box, and Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey… I mean, it's wonderful that you brought me my things and this dust collector from my sister, but where the hell is Rilliana?”
“Lady Celine just gave me your luggage, with instructions to take good care of it, and this letter.”
He handed her a letter, bowed, and left Trisha's apartment. Trisha opened the paper and read two words: Have fun! A small key was attached to it.
“What does that mean, Celine?” Trisha asked aloud, turning to the box. Only now did she notice a console on the side of the box, like the one she had in her training room.
“More pressure, less pressure? Celine, what is this?” she asked and began to open the three locks that made the contents of the box inaccessible. When the last lock opened, the lid of the box popped open on its own, revealing a female figure squashed by the padding who looked suspiciously like Rilliana.
Trisha's eyes widened and she immediately turned the console to reduce the pressure in the box. Trisha heard her friend groan with relief as her body was released from the pressure of the padding. She carefully lifted Rilliana's head and removed the mask. Beneath it, she found an elf squinting in the light.
“There's my sweetheart… Well, how was the trip?” Trisha asked, loosening Rilliana's gag.
“Tight,” was all the elf could say as she tried to close her jaw.
“You must be thirsty.
Wait a moment,“ said Trisha, disappearing into her kitchen, where she poured Rilliana a glass of water and brought it to her lips. The elf carefully sipped the water.
”I'll get Celine back for this,“ she muttered.
”Hey, watch what you say. She's still my sister!" said Trisha, laughing and helping her up.
“And if not?”
“Rilliana, are you serious? How long were you trapped in that box? You're still tied up in a straitjacket and you're risking getting yourself into trouble by trying to provoke me?” asked Trisha.
"What do you want from me, Trish? Like you said, I'm a bondage-addicted elf and Celine's little bondage princess. So put me back in that box before I get the chance to put you and Celine in it!“
”That might take a while, sweetie," Trisha said, lifting Rilliana out of the box to free her from the straitjacket.
“We probably won't see Celine again for a while. But that means we have a few days to ourselves until my next mission.”
“Can I come with you this time? Or do I have to stay at home again?” asked Rilliana, sensing something bad was coming.
“I think I can actually take you with me, but all in good time. How about you relax your muscles a little and take a nice bath?” Trisha asked when she had finally managed to free Rilliana from her restraints and peel the catsuit off her skin.
“It feels kind of weird without the suit,” Rilliana murmured, stroking her bare skin.
“How long have you been wearing it?”
“… Since our trip to the clearing …” Rilliana whispered meekly. Trisha looked at her in horror.
“It's a good thing Celine put a cleaning spell on the catsuits, otherwise the whole of Leon's Keep would have smelled your arrival. Now off to the tub! Celine's magic is all well and good, but too much is too much!” she said, shooing the elf into the hallway so she could go to the bathroom.
“I can't believe she still hasn't had enough,” Trisha muttered to herself after stowing the straitjacket in Celine's box and sitting down in her study, where she had spread various plans out on her desk.
“What's the best way to sneak in there?” she asked herself, studying a blueprint showing her next assignment location. She glanced around her study as if looking for something and blinked in confusion when she saw her chest of bondage equipment.
“Didn't I close you?” she asked, standing up and walking over to the chest.
“And weren't there more ropes…”
She groaned in annoyance.
“RILLIANA?” she called, storming into the bathroom with a red face. The elf was just tying the last knot of her harness and flinched guiltily.
“That's enough!” Trisha said, grabbing a few of the remaining ropes and storming toward her friend, who had put on a frightened face but was grinning broadly inside.
“Do you remember this thing, Rilli?” Trisha asked the elf crouching on the floor. Rilliana tried to look up to see what Trisha was holding in her hand, but the ropes that bound her in a tight hogtie and fixed her head in place prevented her from moving a single muscle. Trisha had even pulled ropes through Rilliana's mouth, using them as a gag.
“Hoooon” was all Rilliana could manage.
“This is your little friend that kept you awake all night after you tried to cheat on our Hands of Fate night. However, it has a few other very fun functions. Pay close attention.”
She inserted the crystal into Rilliana's crotch and secured it with another crotch rope. Then she filled the tub with cold water and brought a bucket of ice from the kitchen, which she simply poured into the bathtub. Trisha attached more ropes to Rilliana and, with their help and a pulley, hoisted her up so that she dangled directly above the bathtub.
“I'm turning on the crystal now,” she announced, and immediately it began to vibrate inside Rilliana. The elf began to wriggle happily in the ropes. Why was Trisha suddenly giving her exactly what she wanted? She wondered. Until she felt that she was close to the threshold of orgasm and the crystal suddenly stopped. Disappointed, she groaned and tried to rub herself to climax with the help of the crotch rope, but suddenly she felt the ropes stop holding her up. She splashed unchecked into the ice-cold water when Trisha let go of the rope. Panicked, she tried to kick her way to the surface to gasp for air. But she couldn't move because of the restraints. After a few seconds, Trisha pulled on the ropes and Rilliana rose from the ice-cold bathtub, coughing and shivering. Immediately, her mood plummeted, but the crystal came back to life and began to stimulate her again. Rilliana's wet hair stuck to her face and she glared at Trisha angrily as the shifter took her chin and turned her toward her. Trisha looked into her eyes and said, “Ready for round two?”
“pfooo?!” Rilliana said in horror.
“The second of many, until you've learned your lesson.”
Rilliana's eyes widened as she felt the crystal pushing her to her limit again, and she looked at Trisha pleadingly. She tried to concentrate and think of something else, but her own body betrayed her. She squeezed her eyes shut, her breathing quickened, and then… the crystal stopped again, just before she was finished. She opened her eyes again and just caught a glimpse of Trisha smiling at her. The next moment, her friend let go of the rope and Rilliana landed in the water again, screaming.
“So? Can we restrain ourselves a little now?” Trisha asked her friend, who was hanging exhausted and trembling from the ropes. Rilliana didn’t move, and Trisha took that as a yes. She let Rilliana drip over the bathtub while she replaced the cold water with warm water.
Then she lowered Rilliana back into the tub, but more slowly this time, securing the rope so that her body was underwater but her head remained above the surface. Trisha undressed and climbed into the tub with her to wash her. She loosened the rope gag, holding Rilliana's head up as she did so.
“Are you okay?” Trisha asked worriedly. Rilliana looked up at her weakly, nodded slightly, and said, “Thank you… for the lesson, Mistress.”
She smiled at Trisha with her eyes closed.
“Good girl,” Trisha praised her. She took a deep breath and dove underwater to finish what the crystal had started.
Rilliana thought she would melt away when she finally got permission from her friend and was pushed over the edge by her personally.
Rilliana glowed after Trisha was done with her. The shifter climbed out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself. She untied the rope that was keeping Rilliana afloat and lifted her friend out of the tub onto another towel on the floor.
“Should I get you out of there or do you want to lie there a little longer?” Trisha asked the elf, who was still tied up in a hogtie.
“Please let me lie here a little longer,” whispered Rilliana, “but could you loosen the restraints a little?”
Trisha gladly complied with the request and placed a rolled-up towel under her friend's head as a pillow and another on top of her as a blanket.
Rilliana whispered a quiet “thank you.” Trisha turned off the light in the bathroom, but left the door open and went to her and Rilliana's luggage, which Jeffrey had brought her. Rilliana was now breathing calmly and regularly. She enjoyed the restraints while she still could, because she knew Trisha was right: she had to pull herself together now, no?
“Trisha?” the elf called.
“That's my name,” the shifter called back.
“Haha… Do you really think I should restrain myself? I got a few different signals from you in the tub.”
She heard the shifter sigh loudly.
“Rilli… I love you and I love that you love bondage… I just don't want you to get hurt… and I just feel like if we keep going like this, we could get into trouble. Do you understand?” said Trisha.
“I understand, Trish… I'm sorry, I'll tone it down a little.”
“A little?”
“One step at a time, Trish.”
”Very funny, Rilli. Hey, did my sister give you some perfume? Does it smell good?“
Rilliana wondered what Trisha meant at first, then it suddenly dawned on her.
”DON'T TOUCH THIS, TRISHA!“ Rilliana screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing throughout the apartment. Rilliana heard glass shatter and then Trisha's voice: “Oh, shit! Do you have to scare me like that? Now I have to… I have to…?”
Trisha fell silent, and Rilliana feared the worst when she caught the sweet smell she had last smelled in the clearing with the carnivorous plants.
“Trish? Are you okay?” Rilliana asked, trying in vain to loosen her bonds. However, she couldn't find any knots and sat there, sitting ducks for whatever was to come. Rilliana heard soft footsteps approaching. Loud, deep breathing mingled with the sound, and Rilliana saw a hand clawing at the doorframe. The elf blinked as Trisha's head appeared in the doorway, and she could have sworn she saw hearts in her eyes for a moment.
“Trisha?…”
“Mhm?” she said, leaning against the doorframe. She took off her towel and fumbled for the light switch.
"Could you untie me? I'd like to go to bed soon,“ Rilliana asked hopefully.
”I don't think I'm going to do that, Rilli…" Trisha said, turning on the bathroom light. Rilliana hissed in a breath. Trisha's cheeks were flushed and she was breathing heavily through her mouth, as if she had a fever. Her wild eyes were fixed on Rilliana.
“I think Rilliana was a bad elf and needs to be punished by me,” Trisha said, stumbling into the room. “She always has all the fun to herself, and that’s so unfair!”
“Trisha, dear, maybe you should lie down, you’re not thinking straight!” Rilliana said desperately.
“I'm not Trisha!” Trisha said seductively, dropping to the floor and crawling toward Rilliana on all fours. Her hands left deep scratches in the stone, making a scraping sound as if she were dragging knives across it.
"I am a beast! I am your mistress! And I will fulfill your wildest dreams," said Trisha, her face now so close to the elf's that she could feel her hot breath. She pulled Rilliana toward her and kissed her, taking her breath away. Fireworks exploded in the elf's head, and she craved Trisha's tongue when she broke the kiss.
“And nightmares!”
Trisha stood up, took a rope, and attached it to Rilliana's crotch rope.
“Come, and I don't want to hear a word from you!”
She started walking and pulled on the rope. The pulling caused the elf to spin across the floor with the towel beneath her and slide after Trisha. The crotch rope pressed deep into her and she moaned loudly.
“Didn't I just say I don't want to hear from you?”
“Forgive me, mistress, but the rope…”
Trisha interrupted her: “And now you're talking too! Just wait, I have just the thing for a cheeky and naughty slave like you!”
She dragged Rilliana into her study, who clenched her teeth tightly as the rope sank deeper and deeper into her, causing more and more pain. Once in the study, the elf breathed a sigh of relief when Trisha stopped dragging her across the floor.
“Don't worry, we'll continue in a moment!”
She pulled a chair over and climbed onto it. Trisha stretched until she found a hook in the ceiling and threaded the rope through it. She pulled hard until Rilliana groaned in agony again and her buttocks hovered a hand's breadth above the floor.
“And that was three! Wait here until I've gathered everything, and in the meantime, have some fun with your old friend!” Trisha said, pressing the vibrating crystal into Rilliana. Rilliana bit her tongue to keep from making a sound. Trisha disappeared from the room and began taking various items out of her closets, while the crystal drove Rilliana to fury as it pushed her to her limit, only to switch off as before, above the bathtub, leaving her frustrated.
How could it be that Celine enchanted EVERYTHING except this damn glass bottle! Rilliana thought as she heard footsteps in high-heeled boots. Rilliana flinched in fright when a pile of bondage equipment landed next to her. Trisha appeared in her field of vision and Rilliana tried hard to look up at her friend, but standing in front of her was a dark goddess of love. She was wearing her catsuit again, which clung to her body like a second skin. The boots she wore were smooth and shiny black, as if they had been polished to a high gloss. Her chest was constricted by a corset that lifted her breasts. Finally, her hair was tied back in a tight braid and hung over her shoulder.
“Apologize, slave, and then I might be able to overlook some of your missteps,” Trisha demanded, standing in front of her.
“Forgive me, Mistress… this slave does not deserve to bathe in your glory.”
Trisha sighed in annoyance.
“Talking again…” she said, tapping her boot impatiently on the floor in front of Rilliana's nose. The elf immediately understood what Trisha wanted, pursed her lips, and leaned forward.
However, her lips met only air as Trisha withdrew her boot.
“Too late, slave,” she said. Without warning, Trisha cut the rope that held Rilliana suspended from the ceiling. The elf cried out in surprise as her hips slammed into the floor.
“Ouch! Was that really necessary …” She fell silent when she saw the expression on her mistress's face.
“Well, let's get started, shall we?” Trisha asked, freeing Rilliana from her hogtie.
“Even though I love admiring your naked body, I have to say that your catsuit looks very good on you,” said Trisha, and under her watchful eyes, Rilliana slowly and carefully stood up.
The shifter pressed the catsuit into the elf's hand, and she wasted no time in putting it on.
Thanks to the perfume, she didn't want to find out what other punishments Trisha had in store. “So, what are we going to do with you?” Trisha asked, circling her prey. She ran her hands over Rilliana's body, and a shiver ran down the elf's spine as she felt her friend's hands. Rilliana didn't know exactly why, but for the first time, she didn't feel safe.
Like a piece of meat. Trisha put a collar on her, which had a D-ring at the front. Her hands got caught in the ring of the collar and she pulled gently on it so that Rilliana had to look her in the eyes. The crystal came back to life and Rilliana flinched at the unexpected movement in her abdomen.
“I think I know what I'm going to do with you,” Trisha said with an evil grin, “now it's my turn to have some fun!”
She took a pair of handcuffs and locked them around Rilliana's wrists. Next, she tied a rope around her restraints and attached it to the ceiling.
Trisha pulled on it until Rilliana had to stand on tiptoe to avoid putting all her weight on her wrists. “Trisha, I don't think I can hold this for long!” Rilliana said desperately. There was a loud smack as Trisha slapped her butt with her flat hand and full force. Rilliana's breath caught in her throat.
Trisha had only struck her with her hand, but the pain surpassed anything she had ever experienced in their games. Whether it was from Celine's riding crop or Trisha's fifty lashes. It pierced her like a spear and the handcuffs cut deep into her joints as she lost her balance.
“FUCK, TRISHA!” Rilliana screamed, trying to hold back her tears. Trisha's hand crashed down on her butt again, and this time she began to sob.
“TRISHA, THIS ISN'T FUN ANYMORE! LET ME GO!”
Trisha leaned her head close to Rilliana's ear and whispered, “But I'm having fun.”
Rilliana could hear the madness in her voice. Trisha swung again and…
“ DAYTHIEF!”
Rilliana began to cry. Tears rolled down her face and fell onto her catsuit and the floor.
Trisha's hand was only a hair's breadth away from Rilliana. She blinked several times, as if she had just realized something. Without wasting another second, she cut the rope holding Rilliana to the ceiling and caught her before her legs gave way beneath her. She carried her back to the bedroom, unlocked the handcuffs, and threw them carelessly into the corner. Through her swollen eyes, Rilliana could see Trisha's worried face and saw that all traces of the poison's madness had disappeared.
“I'm so sorry, Rilliana! I don't know what came over me. Everything in my head was just so…”
Rilliana interrupted her with a hug. Hesitantly, Trisha returned it and held her close.
“Welcome back,” Rilliana whispered exhaustedly.
Trisha hadn't slept a wink after Rilliana had started meditating, or had probably fallen asleep after such an experience. She had only wanted to teach her friend a little lesson and then continue brooding over the blueprints, but after the perfume fiasco, lustful thoughts and now feelings of guilt were still swirling through her head. She had gone too far. Under the influence of drugs or not. Trisha heard a yawn behind her and turned to her friend, who was rubbing her eyes and stumbling toward her. A shirt hung loosely on her shoulders, threatening to slip down with every step.
“Rilli, lie back down, I'll be right there,” Trisha murmured softly and turned back to her plans. The elf hugged her from behind and kissed her on the temple.
“Trish, it's already morning… Haven't you slept a wink all night?”
The shifter rubbed her forehead and squinted her eyes.
“Shit. That damn poison!”
“I’m sorry, Trish, I completely forgot, and Celine said it was safe.”
“You don’t have to apologize, darling… Celine and you are not to blame. I was just too curious… But I have to solve this problem before our mission starts, and there’s so much going on in my head that I can’t concentrate!
I have to tell Father that I can't get in there and we have to find another day. This mansion is even better protected than the castle of Leon's Keep!" said Trisha, squeezing Rilliana's arm.
“What kind of fortress is it, and why on that particular day?” asked Rilliana, looking at the plans.
"The lord of Leon's Keep is inviting his business partners to his villa in the mountains. My father wants me to get him information about him and their business dealings, but I can't find a way in. There are no gaps in the defenses! He's just too paranoid. Too many guards, too many bows and swords…“
”I might know someone who could help us and who is just as interested in this information as you are," Rilliana murmured, grinning from ear to ear.
A few hours later, Rilliana and Trisha were sitting on a comfortable sofa. Both had a hot cup of tea in front of them on a small table. On the other side sat a tall, black-haired beauty. Her long legs were casually crossed, and she smiled playfully at Rilliana and Trisha.
“It's nice that you could stop by, Rilliana, and even bring your pretty friend,” said Terra, studying Trisha from head to toe. “No wonder you didn't want to have fun with me.”
Trisha glanced at Rilliana.
“What? Nothing happened, she said.”
“Mmhmmmmm.”
“Nothing happened, sweetie, don’t worry,” Terra confirmed again.
“How reassuring,” Trisha muttered, and Terra and Rilliana shook their heads.
“So, to what do I owe the honor of my favorite elf and her friend’s visit?” Terra asked, resting her head on her hands.
“We have a business…” Trisha began, but was interrupted when Terra groaned loudly.
“It's always about business,” she said irritably, standing up and pouring herself a glass of something other than tea.
“I hope you can make me a decent proposal. I'm more than tired of these kinds of conversations.”
“We're sorry to hear that, Terra… but there might be something in it for all of us. We're looking for a way to get into the upcoming meeting of the Lords. The invitations are a little hard to come by. Rilliana thought you might be able to help us,” Trisha said, sipping her tea. Terra swirled her glass and watched the liquid move back and forth inside it.
“I did receive an invitation to said ball, and your request sounds interesting enough that I'm willing to hear you out, provided you can also get me some of that… information. But I'm not yet convinced to help you. What can you offer me in return?”
“The information?” Trisha asked hopefully. Terra laughed out loud.
“Hahaha, cute, Shifter. There's just a lot at stake. I'm sure you understand that I need a little more,” said Terra, looking at the two of them amused.
“How can we convince you? Do you need gold or something else?” Trisha asked nervously.
“Gold is boring, but I think Rilliana has a much more exciting idea,” said Terra, looking at the elf.
“You want us to work for you, right?” asked Rilliana. Terra grinned as if she had just been handed the gift of a lifetime.
“You got it,” said Terra, sitting back down.
“Wait, you want us to work in your pleasure palace? But you've noticed that Rilliana and I are a couple. Besides, I'm not eager to let your customers touch me,” Trisha barked angrily and stood up.
“I think you have the wrong impression of me. I have plenty of girls who cater to my clientele, but only the twins want to try bondage. The others only do it when they absolutely have to. But here's the deal: if you want me to help you, then make bondage appealing to my employees. Show them how beautiful it can be,” Terra explained. Trisha seemed to think about it and finally sat down.
“Unfortunately, we don't have any equipment with us,” she said, folding her arms.
“Leave that to me. Since my encounter with Rilliana, I've done a little research. Besides, your friend looks like that statement isn't entirely true.”
Trisha looked at Rilliana, who had turned bright red.
“What did you bring?” Trisha asked, closing her eyes to brace herself for the answer.
“I think it would be quicker if I listed what I didn't bring, darling…”
“So, where are your girls?” Trisha asked impatiently after getting dressed in her catsuit and looking around the basement of Terra's establishment.
“They'll be here soon,” Terra said uncertainly, “but we could start already.”
“Haven't we already?” asked Rilliana, dangling upside down from the ceiling after Trisha had opened the elf's bag and the ropes inside had fallen out. The suits Celine had given them weren't far away either.
“Of course not! That's part of your punishment!” said Trisha, slapping her friend's catsuit-clad butt. Rilliana groaned and bit her lower lip. Terra smiled contentedly.
“Glad to see you two are already in the right mood.”
“Rilliana is always in the right mood,” Trisha said, rolling her eyes and turning to Terra with her arms crossed. “So, you said you already got some stuff, Terra? Then show us what you let them sell you. I bet you got ripped off.”
“I'll tell you what, Trisha. I'll tie you up with it and you try to free yourself. If you can't, you'll stay in my shop a little longer as my personal slaves,” Terra said with an evil smile.
“What if I get out?”
“Then I'll come with you and be your slave for… let's say a week?”
“Sounds like a good deal, Trisha… OW!”
The elf received another slap on her butt, which made her sway back and forth.
"Fine… Try your best. But I won't hold back,“ Trisha said with a frown. Terra smiled and said, ”I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.“
She went to a closet and took out a long leather bag.
”This is a sleeping bag that was made especially to my specifications. I hope it meets your high standards," Terra said, placing it on a table in front of them. Trisha wrinkled her nose and stroked the smooth leather. She could see at a glance that the sleeping bag was much too large. Probably more suited to Terra's customers.
“I wasn't actually planning on taking a nap right now. But never mind, you can start undressing already.”
Terra bowed politely to Trisha and opened the enormous mouth of the sleeping bag. Trisha climbed onto the table and put her legs into the opening Terra offered her. Her hostess helped Trisha put her hands into the side pockets and slide deeper and deeper into the mouth of the bag. Terra closed the sack up to Trisha's neck with strings, and the shifter was now completely enclosed in leather.
“Is that all?” Trisha asked boredly, “I still have so much room here that Rilliana could fit in.”
“Don't worry. It'll get a little cozier in a minute,” Terra said, running her hands over the leather. Immediately, the sleeping bag began to shrink, and Trisha's eyes widened in horror.
"YOU CAN DO MAGIC? “
”Didn't Rilliana tell you?“ Terra asked, licking her lips.
”I must have forgotten. Sorry, Trish," Rilliana said, sticking her tongue out at her. Suddenly, Trisha could hardly move as the leather wrapped tightly around her, robbing her of any hope of quickly freeing herself.
“Don't worry, it gets even better!” said Terra when she saw Trisha's desperate face. She took straps, which she pulled through loops in the sleeping bag, further restraining Trisha. Finally, she attached a small padlock to each strap so that no one but her could free the shifter.
“Well, what do you think?” Terra asked her friends, tapping on the prison Trisha was trapped in.
“Looks like we’ll have to extend our stay in your web,” said Rilliana, and Terra’s eyebrow twitched. But she quickly cleared her throat and regained her composure.
“It seems so…” said Trisha, less than enthusiastic, after realizing that she no longer had control over her body.
“Well, now that I've won the bet, I'm going to see where my girls are, and maybe I should get you down, Rilliana. Would you like to try a sleeping bag?”
Rilliana nodded eagerly.
Within minutes, Rilliana was lying next to Trisha on the table, and while the elf grinned from ear to ear, the shifter stared grimly at the ceiling.
“Damn mages,” she muttered.
“Your sister can use magic too, can't she?”
“Why do you think I didn't mean my sister too?” Trisha asked sharply. Rilliana turned her head toward her friend, who was stubbornly looking up, gritting her teeth.
“Trisha, what's really going on? You've seemed very annoyed since we got here,” Rilliana said. The shifter seemed to consider her next words carefully before opening her mouth and turning to her friend.
“This mission is incredibly urgent for my father, and he's counting on me… but right now we're lying helpless on a table in the basement of a pleasure palace whose owner doesn't exactly have the best reputation. She's not called Spider for no reason. Besides, Terra…” Trisha fell silent. She seemed uncomfortable completing the sentence.
“…slept next to me?” Rilliana finished the sentence and looked deeply into her friend's eyes. Trisha just nodded, tears dripping onto the table.
"Trish, I don't know what I could say to excuse my behavior back then, but I want you to know that I love you. I have since our first kiss. Terra is a friend… but she's not my girlfriend, you are the only one,“ said Rilliana, taking a shaky breath. ”I was hurt and confused after we broke up, and I know I should have told Terra that I wanted my own bed, but as I was lying there… I felt abandoned by everything good in the world and just wanted someone to be with me and listen to me,“ Rilliana finished, turning away from her friend. Now tears were running down her face too, and she clenched her teeth to keep from making a sound.
”… Rilli, forgive me, that wasn't fair of me … I was jealous and took it out on Terra and you,“ said Trisha, also looking up at the ceiling.
”I wish I had come with you back then. Terra seems like a great woman,“ said Trisha after a while, sniffing loudly.
”Not as great as you… but I think she'll be a great mom," muttered Rilliana.
Terra stood at the stairs and tried not to choke on her own saliva when she heard what Rilliana had said. She tried to cough silently while her girls patted her on the back. Finally, Terra waved them away and said in a hoarse voice, "I think we should give the two of them some peace and quiet. By the gods, that brat… Me? A mother? Can you imagine that, girls?"
She was met with quiet laughter.
On the day of the big mission, Rilliana and Trisha sat in Terra's apartment and stared at her with their mouths open after Terra had explained her plan to them. Even Rilliana couldn't believe her ears, so crazy was Terra's idea.
“Let me get this straight,” Trisha said, a vein visible in her temple, “you want to turn Rilliana and me into statues and sneak us into the party? As giveaways?”
“Well, turning isn’t quite right. I mean, I know the spell for that, but that would be overkill. No, I want to do it by hand. Of course, I'll make sure nothing happens to you, and I'll free you as soon as we're inside. After that, you can simply gather your information and leave the party with me, as they won't ask anyone who wants to leave the villa for their invitation," said Terra, pointing to a tub of water and several sacks of clay.
“Is there really no other way in?” Rilliana asked nervously, glancing alternately at her two friends.
“Apparently not,” Trisha said, standing up. “So shall we get started?”
“As soon as you've undressed,” Terra said, standing up to fetch the remaining materials for their plan.
“How is it that ever since we've been together, everything I do ends up like this?” Trisha asked, examining the lower half of her body, which was already covered in clay.
“I think I'm just your bondage lucky charm, honey,” Rilliana said. Terra had placed them both on a marble pedestal and told them to kneel facing each other.
“Next, I want you to place your left hand on your darling’s hip and stretch your right hand upward so you can hold this sphere,” Terra explained, placing a stone blue ball in their hands.
“What's that for?” asked Rilliana curiously, wondering about its light weight.
“I think it gives your statue that certain something. It also contains ball gowns that you can put on once I've freed you,” replied Terra, beginning to cover their upper bodies with clay.
“I hope this works, Terra,” Trisha said nervously.
“It will, Trisha. I had already thought of this before you asked me, but none of my girls wanted to be persuaded to let me turn them to stone. Luckily, you came along!” Terra laughed and massaged Trisha and Rilliana's breasts with the damp earth. Both of them blushed instantly.
Rilliana was the first to find her words again and cleared her throat.
“Terra, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your artistic skills could use a little practice,” Rilliana said, frowning as she looked at the uneven clay skin on herself and Trisha. Terra rolled her eyes.
“Of course I'm going to use magic to make you a little prettier. Besides, they'll kick me out of the party if I show up with clay statues. Now shut up before I shovel dirt in your mouth,” Terra said, slapping clay over Rilliana's face.
Terra stood with her arms crossed in front of her finished creation.
“Rilliana, you were right. You look like you just crawled out of a mud puddle,” Terra muttered, hearing a grumble from both statues.
“But nothing I can't fix!”
She raised her hands toward the statues and let her magic work. Slowly, the clay began to change color, starting at the bottom of the pedestal. It took on the color of marble and became just as hard. In addition, the stone became smooth and all unevenness was removed. Terra heard Rilliana inhale loudly through her nose as the stone pulled over her face.
“Much better,” said Terra, admiring the alabaster skin of her statues, “I'd love to keep you and display you in my house… maybe after the mission?”
She took a few steps back and looked at her masterpiece. Two women made of marble, kneeling in front of a blue sphere and lifting it up as if it were their sacred creation.
“Erotic yet tasteful, just the way I like and appreciate it! You two will outshine all the other gifts!” Terra said contentedly, stroking Trisha's petrified buttocks and fondling Rilliana's breasts. The two friends felt none of this. They were trapped in a stone prison, and if Terra hadn't made their eye areas transparent from the inside, they would have been enclosed in complete darkness, but as it was, they could see nothing but the perfect features of their beloved person.
Terra threw a white cloth over her work and loaded it into Jeffrey's carriage. They still had a long drive ahead of them, leading to the mountains outside Leon's Keep. From here, you could see the entire fortress complex, the river, and the long bridge over it. But Terra had no time to enjoy the view and immediately walked through the massive gate in the wall with her invitation to the equally massive estate of the Lord of Leon's Keep. She was allowed to pass without delay and entered the masked ball. No sooner had she stepped through a large double door than she was surrounded by a crowd of people who recognized her immediately, despite her veiled face. Terra wore an elegant, dark red silk dress that definitely made her stand out from the crowd. She wore long gloves that fit snugly around her skin to match. Her feet were encased in impossibly high heels that accentuated her long legs, and more than one man craned his neck to catch a glimpse of her, much to the displeasure of their wives. At the same time, the statue was taken to a room away from the celebration and the cloth was removed.
“Wow, I didn't know Lady Terra was artistically gifted,” said one of the porters as he examined the bodies of the two girls.
“I think she used her magic for it. But yes, she has truly created a noble work of art,” said another, grinning. They left the room and left the statue standing among the other gifts.
It took half an eternity before Terra could excuse herself to slip away and sneak into the gift room. Her magic freed Trisha and Rilliana and put the statue back together as if no women had ever been trapped inside it.
“Thank you, Terra,” said Trisha as she slipped on the evening gown Terra had hidden for her and Rilliana in the orb. The shifter chose the white dress, which fit snugly around her upper body and had a wide skirt that flowed gently around her ankles. Rilliana had a black version of the dress, which made her blue eyes and blonde hair shine beneath the mask. “We'll join you as soon as we're ready.”
“Bring me something nice,” said the mage, waving goodbye to the two of them.
“Ready?” Trisha asked the elf, who nodded. They sneaked through the villa, dodging the occasional guard.
“It's a good thing that guarding the premises is a top priority, otherwise we would probably have gotten into trouble in here, right?” said Rilliana with a broad grin.
“Thank Terra. I would never have made it in here on my own,” said Trisha, glancing out the window where she could see dozens of guards patrolling the grounds.
“What are we looking for, anyway?” asked Rilliana, peeking around a corner while Trisha fiddled with a door. It clicked softly as it opened.
“This,” she said, looking around a huge study lined with bookshelves. Rilliana followed her and propped the door open so she could peek outside. Trisha went to the desk, which was covered with papers and a large bottle of liquor, and began searching through its drawers.
“This is all useless,” Trisha muttered as she leafed through the papers.
“Maybe there's a secret compartment in the desk?” Rilliana asked without looking away from the hallway.
“I already checked. There's nothing here! I'm a little disappointed, even I have a secret compartment in my desk!”
Trisha replied, slamming the drawers shut in annoyance.
“Let me see,” Rilliana said, starting to walk toward her friend when she paused.
“Call me crazy, but something's not right here,” the elf muttered, frowning as she surveyed the room.
“What do you mean? Please don't tell me ropes are about to spring out of the walls.”
“Hehehe, no, unfortunately not,” Rilliana muttered and walked over to a bust that caught her eye. She pushed it down and there was a brief rumbling as a hidden door in the bookcase next to her opened, revealing a staircase.
“How did you see that?” Trisha asked, walking over to her.
“Coincidence… I noticed that this bust was taller than all the others,” she said, looking down the stairs.
“That wasn't a coincidence, Rilli. Your eyes are just doing a good job. I'd say you go back to the door and I'll see what's down there.”
Trisha quickly hurried down the stairs while Rilliana took up her position again.
“Hurry,” whispered Rilliana, looking out into the hallway just as she heard voices. Her veins froze to ice when she realized they were getting closer and closer.
“… Don't worry! I know where the good booze is,” said a guard, and Rilliana turned in panic to the desk where a bottle stood. Her pulse began to race and she stepped outside. She had to buy time for Trisha and only had one chance. Rilliana stumbled toward the voice and began to walk unsteadily, as if she were drunk. She turned the corner and bumped into a guard, who knocked her to the ground.
“Oh, excuse me, young lady, are you lost? You're not supposed to be here,” he said immediately, offering her his hand to help her up.
“Thank the gods you found me! … Hic,” Rilliana mumbled, standing up unsteadily.
“I was looking for the… the washrooms and seem to have gotten lost… hic,” said Rilliana, leaning heavily against him, “I'm terribly afraid of the dark. The gods must have sent you to help me!” she said, clinging to him while her large blue eyes twinkled seductively beneath the black mask.
“Right away, miss. I just need to go to my master's study, could you wait here and I'll be right back,” he said, trying to free himself from her embrace.
"NO, PLEASE! Don't leave me alone! I feel the darkness calling me… hiccup, only your courage can push it back into the shadows! Please, I beg you!" Rilliana said, sobbing and clinging to him even tighter. The guard rolled his eyes and dragged her behind him as he gave in. After their footsteps faded away, Trisha slipped out from behind the door with a stack of papers under her arms and walked in the other direction. A broad grin spread across her face after she found what she was looking for, and hopefully a few things that Terra would like.
After Trisha and Rilliana had completed their mission, they immediately returned with Terra to the carriage, which set off at once. While Terra immediately leafed through the papers, Rilliana and Trisha basked in the glory of their success.
“It's really unbelievable that he bought that from you, Rilli! For a moment, I thought, ‘Now we're busted,’ but I guess you just can't resist those eyes,” said Trisha, gently stroking Rilliana's face, which was still hidden under the ball mask.
“You say that as if you're surprised,” said Rilliana with feigned indignation, turning away in outrage, only to turn back to her friend a moment later and burst out laughing. Trisha joined in, but they both slowly fell silent when they realized that Terra was not amused at all.
"Terra, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost,“ the shifter asked worriedly, sitting down next to her to look at the papers as well.
”We… we have to get back to the city… as soon as possible,“ Terra said, knocking on the wooden wall to Jeffrey, who immediately understood and urged the horses on.
”What's going on?" Rilliana asked.
“Faluden. He made a deal with the lord and sucked up to the other powerful people from Leon’s Keep right under my nose. He intends to take over my business and my networks. I have to get to my girls right away and get them to safety, damn it… I knew something was wrong.”
“What do you mean?” Trisha asked just as an arrow pierced the carriage next to Rilliana's head. Pale-faced, all the occupants turned to the shiny tip, and the elf swallowed.
“JEFFREY! FASTER!” Trisha barked, and they heard a bang and the horses' hooves pounding. Rilliana and Terra were almost thrown from their seats by the rumbling of the carriage, but the shifter didn't seem to mind and opened a flap above the elf. Her two catsuits and weapons fell out. Trisha immediately slashed her dress open and tore it from her body, while Rilliana could only watch. Her face was pale and she was trembling slightly. She heard something hitting the carriage. She couldn't tell if it was more arrows or dirt kicked up by the horses.
“Rilliana? Hey, Rilliana!” Trisha, now dressed in the slime catsuit, called out and shook the elf. Rilliana looked up at her friend, blinking. “I said, get changed! I'm going to need you if we want to survive this!”
“Yes… yes, of course!” Rilliana exclaimed quickly and slipped the dress off her body while Trisha climbed out of the carriage to help Jeffrey.
“The narrow road is convenient for us, but it won't stay that way forever. Can the horses handle it?” Trisha asked, and Jeffrey nodded.
"You don't have to worry about my horses, Miss Trisha. They can keep up the speed, but once we leave the mountain path and ride out into the open…" Jeffrey said, glancing back with concern. He could barely make anything out in the dark, but Trisha could see the attackers. Six hooded figures with swords and bows were chasing them on horseback.
“Rilliana! I hope you've practiced a lot with your bow!” Trisha shouted, pushing Jeffrey down. An arrow whizzed over their heads.
“Thanks… I hope you packed a shield?” Jeffrey asked.
“Next time,” Trisha replied as Rilliana climbed out of the carriage and knelt on the roof. Her legs were shaking, and it wasn't just because of the rattling of the carriage.
“Rilliana, shoot those guys! I know it's difficult, but if we don't get rid of them…”
“I… I know!” stammered Rilliana, nocking the first arrow. She drew her bow and took aim at one of the riders. Her hand was shaking. The tip of her arrow jerked back and forth. She was about to release it when her pursuers fired first. The tip grazed Rilliana's cheek and she flinched aside. Her arrow flew into nothingness and she almost fell off the carriage. Rilliana caught herself in time and felt a burning pain. She raised her hand to her cheek. The pain grew stronger and she grimaced.
“Rilliana!”
The elf did not look at her friend, but instead stood up.
“I must act,” Rilliana said to herself, remembering the wise advice she had received.
Stable stance. Rilliana did not move on the rattling carriage. She stood like a rock and looked at her attackers.
Shooting sequence. Her hand slid into her quiver as if by itself and pulled out an arrow. It drew back as if by itself.
Aiming. Rilliana's breathing became shallower. Her heart seemed to beat more quietly. She blocked out the world around her. Only her, the rider in front of her, and the arrow.
Ziiiiischhhh.
The arrow left her hand and hit its target a moment later. The rider didn't even have time to scream. He collapsed on his horse and rammed into one of his comrades. His horse lost its balance and both fell down the mountainside screaming. The voice pierced Rilliana's head, but before she knew it, she had already drawn another arrow.
Before they had even left the mountain path, all their attackers were dead. Rilliana climbed back into the carriage without a word. Terra said something, but Rilliana didn't hear her. Her heart was pounding in her throat, but her body was still calm. She had to be calm. She had to be ready for whatever might come next. She looked outside. The trees turned into a green veil, and as the sun rose, they could see the city.
“Rilliana? ”Hey, Rilliana!" Trisha said, shaking the elf, who had been staring out the window like a statue.
“Mmm?”
“Come on, Rilli, stay focused,” Trisha said sharply, “I said pack your things. We're taking Terra to my sister's for a while. We'll meet at the south gate in two hours. Here's some money. Get us breakfast.”
“Sure,” Rilliana said curtly, pulling a coat over her catsuit and climbing out of the carriage. Trisha had dropped her off right in front of her hideout, so Rilliana knew exactly where to go to get breakfast.
“Well, look who it is! If it isn't my favorite elf!” said Olaf the baker, greeting Rilliana warmly.
“Hello, Olaf. Could I have a little bit of everything?” she said, forcing a smile. But she quickly dropped it and preferred to stare at the goods in front of her.
“Haven't seen you in a long time! What are you up to these days?” he asked curiously, grabbing a bag full of bread and sweet pastries.
“Oh, this and that. I'm not here for long,” she evaded the question, “Here's your money,” she said curtly and gave him a few coins.
“Take care, Rilliana,” he said and began to serve the next customer.
Rilliana wanted to rest a little longer in her hiding place and turned to leave. But as she turned around, she was bumped into by a woman.
“Watch where you're going!” Rilliana snapped at her and left the woman and Olaf standing there, who watched her go with his head tilted to one side.
Rilliana let herself fall onto her bed. But not even her own four walls could lift the weight from her shoulders. She felt a restlessness that seemed to cling to her. This restlessness made her sit up again and pick up her bow. She ran her fingers over the decorations. The leaves and vines carved into it now seemed like mockery to her. But was the beautiful object mocking the elf, or the dead? She closed her eyes and held her head. She felt a pain in her throat and tears wanted to roll down her face, but she swallowed them and cleared her throat.
“No time to cry,” she muttered in a raspy voice and shook her head. At that moment, there was a knock at her door.
Rilliana jumped up immediately and aimed a taut arrow at the door in a split second. It opened and her oldest friend, Arissa, appeared. “Careful, elf, before you poke someone's eye out,” she said, closing the door behind her. It took Rilliana a moment to comply and lower her weapon.
Rilliana fell back onto the bed and took a deep breath.
“Olaf said you're back in town, even if only for a short time,” Arissa said, sitting down next to her friend.
“He did?” she asked absently, stroking her bow again.
“Is everything okay with you, Rilliana?” she asked cautiously, putting an arm around her.
“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?” replied the elf.
“I heard from Olaf that you snapped at a woman over something trivial.”
“That was a mistake. Lately…”
Rilliana fell silent and stood up.
“I'm sorry, Arissa, I have to go. Trisha is waiting for me,” she said curtly and left her home.
The gaze of a concerned friend followed her.
Rilliana looked around nervously. It wasn't like Trisha to be late, and Rilliana had already been waiting for half an hour. But just then, the carriage appeared and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“There you are at last,” said Rilliana, climbing into the carriage to stow the supplies. Terra was still sitting in her corner, but there was no sign of Trisha.
“Where's Trisha?” asked Rilliana. Terra looked at her in confusion.
“I thought she was with you. She said she needed a little more time and that we should go ahead to the gate,” said Terra, now visibly concerned. Rilliana frowned and got out of the carriage. She looked around briefly before turning to the coachman.
“Jeffrey, take Terra to the bridge and wait for us there. If I don't come back, take her to Celine and explain what happened,” said Rilliana.
“Very well. Please bring the young lady back safely,” said the coachman and urged the horses on. Rilliana watched the carriage until it disappeared behind the houses on the outskirts of the city. She turned away and ran to Trisha's home. Rilliana prayed to all the gods that nothing had happened to her friend.
Trisha groaned in pain. Her whole body seemed to be on fire when she woke up. But she couldn't express her discomfort because a large ball gag sealed her mouth. Her eyes were blindfolded and her arms were stuck in the straitjacket that Celine had given Rilliana. It was so tightly stretched around her body that it seemed to crush Trisha. Her legs were bent at the knees and screamed in pain after kneeling on the hard floor for who knows how long. She couldn't change her position because she was pulled up by the jacket and her calves were chained to the floor. She tried in vain to break her bonds or move into a better position. But this only seemed to make her pain worse. Her claws slid uselessly over the fabric of the jacket, seemingly unable to even scratch it. Trisha briefly considered assuming her shifter form to fight against the jacket with more strength, but she was afraid of crushing herself. Discouraged, she lowered her head. Saliva collected on her lips and dripped past the gag onto the straitjacket. She heard a door open and a person step in front of her. Her gag was removed roughly.
“Are you finally awake?” asked a malicious voice, sending a chill down Trisha's spine.
“Faluden?” she asked in horror, swallowing hard.
“Hello, Trisha. Long time no see,” Faluden said, taking her chin in his hand and shaking it slightly. “To be honest, I thought you and that stupid elf had burned to death together, but of course you somehow managed to escape. Did someone help you?”
Trisha kept her mouth shut. She would be damned if she told him anything.
"I've heard rumors, you know? That the Spider is going to the grand ball with an extraordinary statue as a gift. From an elf and a shifter, of all people. That's when I knew you had survived and made new friends. Friends I like even less than you. Friends who stand in the way of my plans. Of course, I can't allow that. This city belongs to me, and it's only a matter of time before I control everything and everyone…“
Faluden walked around her. His footsteps echoed in the cramped space that barely had room for him.
”But your journey doesn't have to end here, Trisha. As luck would have it, I have another job offer for you. But this time, you don't have to worry about it expiring. You can accept it anytime. In the meantime, you can stay here and think it over. I'm in no hurry. It'll be open as long as you stay here. When you've made up your mind, I'll come back and we'll discuss the details.“
”I hate to repeat myself, but I'll make an exception for you! I'll never work for scum like you!“ Trisha hissed, spitting in the hope of hitting Faluden.
”Very amusing, then prepare yourself for a long stay here," Faluden said with a laugh and walked out. Behind the metal door, Trisha heard a heavy bolt being slid into place. The loud noise echoed in Trisha's ears.
At least he forgot to put the gag back in my mouth. Rilli, I really hope you don't do anything stupid and bring Terra safely to Celine. She thought and let her head sink back onto her chest.
Rilliana cautiously opened the door to her friend's apartment and froze when she saw the chaos inside. Trisha's bed had been smashed and pieces of wood were scattered all over the floor. Her cabinets had been knocked over. The clothes and knives that were now scattered around became deadly trip hazards. Traces of blood covered the floor and destroyed furniture. Rilliana hoped it wasn't Trisha's.
“This is bad,” Rilliana muttered as she found one of Trisha's daggers with a broken blade, “but… this isn't her black dagger… Where is it?” she wondered, looking around the room. The signs of a struggle led to Trisha's study. She followed them and saw that the door had also been destroyed after Trisha had pushed a bookcase in front of it and the intruders had broken it open. She immediately noticed that Trisha's desk was unusually tidy and all the scrolls that usually lay on it were missing. Her black dagger was stuck in it and dried blood was on the blade and on the table.
Rilliana went over to it and pulled it out with a jerk. She remembered what Trisha had said to her at the masquerade ball. “I'm a little disappointed, even my desk has a secret compartment!” She repeated Trisha's words and began to examine the desk. She quickly found what she was looking for.
A small slot in the side of the desk that Trisha's dagger fit perfectly into. She inserted it and turned it. The table clicked softly and a compartment opened that would otherwise have remained invisible. Inside were a few files and a piece of paper addressed to her.
Rilli
If you're reading this, I've been caught. Don't look for me and get yourself and Terra to Celine safely. My sister knows what to do.
With love
Trisha
Rilliana folded the letter and put it in her pocket.
“Sorry Trish, but I'm not leaving you behind…” Rilliana muttered, pausing when she heard two voices.
“… Unbelievable, that's what I call a hideout.“
”Yeah, right? It's a real shame that Faluden doesn't want to leave any evidence behind. I'd love to turn this into my love nest.“
”You can ask him.“
”Don't be ridiculous, if we don't burn the hut down, he'll send the next ones and use us as kindling."
Rilliana heard the two men pouring a liquid on the floor and picked up her bow. She crept around the corner and quietly nocked an arrow. Through the door, Rilliana could see two men spreading oil over the floor and furniture. Fortunately, neither of them had lit a torch yet. She released the string and one of the intruders immediately fell to the floor. With lightning speed, she drew another arrow and took aim at the other.
“Hey, we can talk about everything!” said the man, raising his hands.
“Where did you take the shifter?” Rilliana hissed in a cold voice.
“Shifter? What shifter?” he asked, freezing when Rilliana aimed at his head and pulled the bowstring a little tighter.
“Oh, THIS shifter,” he said, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
“Yes… THIS shifter! WHERE!?”
“She came towards me when I had just left one of the boss's hideouts!” he said, swallowing loudly.
“I asked: WHERE!?”
“I can't say…”
Rilliana exhaled irritably.
“I suppose that means you'd rather die right now than help me and then walk out of here a free man?”
“Um… if you put it that way! The hideout is in Sewer Keep, but it's really hard to find and you need an entire army to get in there!”
“Leave that to me!” said Rilliana, who was already formulating a plan in her head. It wasn't a particularly good one, but she hoped it would suffice. She lowered her bow to shoulder it.
“One more thing!” said the man, and Rilliana could see something flash in his hand.
Just in time, she managed to dodge a thrown dagger that narrowly missed her head, drew Trisha's knife, and threw it at the attacker. The black steel hit its target perfectly, and the man slumped to the ground next to the other intruder. Rilliana shook her head almost imperceptibly and went over to him to remove the dagger from his skull.
“Idiot,” she muttered and left the apartment to go south of Leon's Keep to rescue her friend.
“Guards? Hey, you idiots, I'm talking to you!” Trisha shouted.
“What?” one of her guards asked irritably and opened a flap in the door to see what she wanted.
“I'm thirsty, give me something to drink! Besides, my knees are killing me! If you don't want Faluden to throw you to the wolves, I'd advise you to untie me from the floor!” Trisha demanded.
“She's right,” said a voice behind the door, "the boss wouldn't be thrilled if her legs gave out. Tie her up with the other stuff that was in the box."
The steel door opened and one of the guards pushed his way into the cell. He roughly pressed a cup to Trisha's mouth and half the water rolled down her face as she drank greedily. Then her legs were untied and pulled up by the chains so that she was hanging in her straitjacket.
“Do it properly! I've heard she's an escape artist.”
“Don't worry, I've been playing around with her stuff a bit,” said the other guard, putting a gag back in Trisha's mouth, “she's not going anywhere.”
Trisha almost regretted talking to the guards. In addition to being suspended in the air, her legs were tied with ropes at her ankles and above and below her knees. A leg binder had been placed over them and connected to the straitjacket. Finally, the sack was attached to the floor so that she was stretched out.
"I hope this is better, Shifter. Tomorrow we'll try something else. But rest assured: as long as you don't agree with our boss, any thought of escape is pointless and futile. Have a good night."
The guard laughed maliciously and slammed the cell door loudly.
Just wait until Celine gets here, Trisha thought, laying her head on her chest.
“Do you think the Shifter will crack?” asked one of the two guards. The other laughed contemptuously.
“Probably not. At least not like that,” he said, pointing his thumb at Trisha's cell, "the stuff found in her apartment is the best I've ever seen.
You have to be a real enthusiast to spend that much money on bondage gear. I bet she even gets off on it… did you see that?"
The first guard turned around to see what his comrade meant. He looked into the dark hallway, but saw nothing.
“Don't get paranoid. How would anyone know where we…?”
He was interrupted when an arrow pierced his neck, and he spat blood.
“Carwel!” cried the other guard, jumping up with his sword raised, as another arrow shot out of the darkness and struck him down.
Rilliana stepped out of the shadows and bent over the man, who was gasping for breath. She drew her black, blood-covered dagger and ended his life with a quick cut. She sheathed the dagger and grabbed the keys on the table. She stepped over the dead bodies without a glance and unlocked the door. The cell door creaked open and the elf rushed to her friend, who was floating helplessly in the air.
“Are you okay, Trisha?” Rilliana asked as she removed the gag and blindfold.
“I'm fine, considering the circumstances… But why are you here? Didn't you get my message?” Trisha asked as she was lowered to the floor.
“Yes, but I couldn't leave you behind.”
“Rilli… thank you, but what about Terra?”
"She's fine. She's waiting for us with Jeffrey at the Great Bridge. We should hurry before they leave for Celine without us!" said Rilliana, cutting Trisha's bonds that weren't reinforced by Celine's magic. She removed the straitjacket with her hands and threw it aside to embrace Trisha. Trisha returned the embrace but flinched when she touched something wet on Rilliana's side. She looked at her hand and saw blood.
“Rilli, you're bleeding!” said the shifter, breaking the embrace. The elf shook her head.
“Not mine,” she muttered, standing up and helping Trisha up. “Come on, we have to get out of here and to the carriage before Faluden notices what I've done.”