Ch 10: The Power of Seduction

Whatever happened now, there was no going back. She had sealed her fate, and with it, Cal’s. If she failed, they would both suffer greatly.

The demon clapped its hands together making her jump slightly. "Wonderful! Now, let's get me out of this body and your dear precious prince returned to you.” It turned and sauntered into the sitting area, plopping down into a chair. “I’m assuming you would like to know how.”

Astasha followed it, sitting in a chair across from it. “I’ve already figured out how to release you, there is a spell that uses blood magic, however, it requires an enormous amount of energy."

The demon put its fingertips together. “Such a clever girl. Blood magic is indeed the key. So it seems you would like for me to show you how to pull the kind of energy it requires then.”

She nodded.

"Well, there are a couple of options. The first, and easiest, would be a sacrifice. Blood for blood.”

"Absolutely not." As much as she wanted to free her prince she refused to harm another being to do it.

The demon raised its eyebrows. “Are you sure? It is the purest form of power, the very essence of life.” It leaned forward running its tongue over its teeth. “I know there's bound to be someone you wouldn't mind spilling their blood..."

"I said no. And if that's the only option you can think of then this conversation is over."

She stood as if to leave but the demon rose with her and held its hands out. "Calm down my sweet. There is another way. Though I doubt your dear prince will like it. Then again, perhaps he will." The smile on its lips made Astasha's stomach churn. Whatever it was it spoke of, she knew she wasn't going to like it.

“Stop fucking with me and tell me what it is.”

The demon approached her. “Ironic you should use that terminology.” It ran its finger down her cheek, onto her neck, and down her chest, brushing the top of her dress along the top of her breasts. She had changed quickly and was realizing now that the dress she wore was probably not the best in this scenario. It was low cut with slits up the sides. She had thought it would be easier to sneak around in, making walking quickly possible without catching on a tight skirt.

“The power you seek can be gained through sex magic." Said the demon as its finger continued to toy with the fabric.

She grit her teeth. She had never read about this before, never heard even a whisper of it mentioned in any learning she had done. The demon was indeed fucking with her.

She shoved its hand away. "You're despicable."

The demon shrugged. "Perhaps, but you can't tell me you didn't feel it when you and your dear prince shared that last night together." It stepped toward her again but didn't touch, just leaned down to whisper in her ear. "In the forest, his cock buried deep inside you, writhing in passion. Did you not feel the power like fire within you? Just begging for sweet release?"

Its mouth was almost touching her ear and goosebumps raised on her skin. She didn’t want to admit it, but she had indeed felt that during their last intimate moment; a surge of energy unlike anything she had felt before. How much she wished she hadn’t, that she could call the demon a liar and demand it tell her the truth. But a part of her knew, it was telling the truth.

She needed to know for sure though, know that it wasn't just messing with her head. She stepped back.

"If you insist on wasting my time, fine. They are planning on performing an extraction ritual altered to remove you instead of magic at next sunrise. You can help me or you can both die a very slow and painful death. The choice is yours but believe me when I say I will make damn sure you suffer greatly before you are destroyed.”

The smile faded from the demon's face. “Well played Fire Witch. But as much as I like to fuck with you, this is the only way. Unless of course, you'd rather sacrifice someone after all.”

She swallowed heavily. She had no choice but to believe it. “Fine. Tell me how this sex magic works.”

The demon sneered. "It would be much easier if I showed you."

She stepped back from it again as it advanced toward her. “There is no way in hell I will taint myself with you more than is necessary.”

It stopped and laughed. "As much as I would love nothing more than to feel the prince squirm while I fuck his precious darling right here and right now, the potential for you to lose control is too great until you have learned to control it."

Astasha was fighting to keep bile from rising in her throat, her hands shaking with anger. “As I said, we don’t have time to waste, so either tell me what to do or forget about your freedom."

It huffed a sigh and rolled its eyes. “Close your eyes."

She scoffed. "I've let my guard down enough with you already, do not think for a moment I trust you enough to leave you unguarded."

"Then watch your prince die. The choice is now yours Tasha.”

It was right. If she was going to save the man she loved she had to do things that she didn't want to. Starting with this.

“Fine. But if anything happens to me, they will destroy you.”

“So melodramatic. I promise not to hurt you. Just, close your damn eyes.”

She took a deep breath and did as requested.

“Good girl.” She could hear the sneer in its voice and it made her blood boil. "Clear your mind sorceress. Forget everything going on, everything that has happened. Breath. Focus on the energy within you."

As much as she resented having to listen to the demon, she knew the more important thing was to save Calder. So against all instincts, she took a deep breath and cleared her mind. She focused on the energy swirling within her, on her breaths, slowly in, and out. She let her mind relax, forgetting the chaos and fear, everything that was happening. She felt peace for the first time since the Prince had returned.

"Tasha." His voice came from right behind her, whispering into her hair. She could smell him, feel his breath on her neck. She knew it wasn't him, she knew it was trying to manipulate her to make her ok with this, but she couldn't help but feel her heart pull.

Its fingers gently ran through her hair, caressing her shoulder. Its other hand slipped onto her waist. She fought every instinct to push the demon away and forced herself to imagine it was him, her prince, her love.

"Relax." He whispered into her ear as his fingers trailed across her shoulders, down her back. Her heart raced but she tried to focus, focus on the energy inside her. Slowly, his hand drifted down, caressing her side, over her hip, trailing his fingers down her thigh. Gently, he took her hand in his, and guiding it, ran it up her leg, over her stomach, up to her breasts.

  The hand on her waist pulled her against the Prince's body and she could feel his bare chest against her back. His breath was on her neck and the energy inside her began to crackle like electricity.

Slowly his hand moved from her waist to the slit in her dress and slipped under the fabric touching the flesh on her thigh. Her breath caught. "Focus." He breathed into her ear.

While his one hand continued guiding hers into the top of her dress to feel her nipples hardening, his other moved up and gently caressed the sweet spot between her legs. A soft sigh escaped her and she felt the energy inside her swell.

"Good. Breath." His fingers starting moving, gently rubbing the little spot above her opening and a part of her hated that she could feel herself getting wet. She forced herself to remember why she was allowing this to happen and concentrated on the task at hand. "Focus on the energy building inside you." His lips brushed against her ear and she could feel warmth spreading inside her, the energy like flames gently growing.

As his fingers began to move faster, his other hand left hers to fondle her breasts along with her. Astasha moaned as he gently pinched the hard peak of one and the flames inside her leapt up.

Her breathing became heavy as his pace quickened, her juices now running down her legs. "Don't lose control. Focus on containing the energy like a ball of fire. Let it build, let it grow. The closer you get and the longer you hold yourself on the edge, the more powerful the release will be." Her legs were beginning to tremble as she felt herself getting closer and closer to the point of no return.

The flames inside her were growing and leaping, and she tried to contain them, but the intensity of his fingers, the feel of his lips on her neck, their hands on her chest, his body pressed against hers, she was losing control.

She was so close, she could feel it coming, the pressure building. She thought she was going to explode and her eyes shot open. The gold within them was replaced with a dancing fire and the dark hearth of the fireplace burst in flames, every candle in the room igniting at once.

Suddenly, the demon removed its hand and stepped away, leaving her on the brink. She gasped and stumbled slightly, catching herself on one of the chairs. Slowly she came back to herself, the flames in her eyes dissipating back into gold, as she looked up.

The demon was watching her, a smile on its lips as it licked its fingers. Her stomach turned at the sight. "Very good. I would have let you cum but I think the entire castle might have burst into flame. You'll need to learn to channel that power if you want to save your dear prince."

She glared toward him. "You're disgusting."

"Perhaps. But I'm also right, and you know it. Besides, you seemed to be enjoying yourself.”

“Fuck you.”

“That comes later darling. For now, you have a ritual to prepare for.”

She wanted to rip the demon out of him with her bare hands. But as horrid and dirty as she felt inside, it had given her the answers she had sought. The power she had felt was greater than any she had ever experienced and would be more than enough to perform the blood magic ritual she had devised, more than enough to free Calder from the demon smirking at her. And that was all that mattered.