7 comments/ 11634 views/ 21 favorites One Night for Peace By: delilahkrayn The door to the tavern swung closed. A pair of bulky men locked in a test of strength watched the stranger leave before returning their attention to their competition. A serving girl squeezed behind them, and jumped in startled fright as a man pinched her ass hard. The girl, Maya, said nothing and simply tried to hurry away to deliver the ale on her tray. She was stopped by a grip around her arm. One of the men, eyes glassy from more than just liquor, smiled lewdly at her. "Where ya running to, pretty little thing?" Maya muttered something quietly and yelped as he tugged her back against him. "What's yer rush? I just want some company." His hands strayed toward the apex of her legs. She squirmed trying to get away but his grip on her arm kept her close. Another man noticed her plight and strolled over. "Can't ya see she's not interested in you? And I don't blame her, look at the warts on you! Let her go. I'll take her." Maya was cast aside as the two men faced off defiantly. The tension in the room raised and the friendly competitions came to an end. Men watched as the two friends began brawling for the right to have the unwilling serving girl. Fueled by the heady atmosphere more men joined in until the entire room erupted into brutal chaos. A chair smashed against the wall, massive wooden splinters spraying across the room as the lone orc bellowed a war-cry. The sound was cut short as a fist slammed into his pale green cheek, spraying teeth and blood across the filthy dirt floor. The orc howled in pain and launched himself at the attacking barbarian. They fell back onto a table, beating each other senseless. The serving wench they had been fighting over cowered against a wall, all but forgotten. She screamed as the table collapsed and the men fell to the floor, still locked in a brutal brawl. Around the tavern girls trembled in similar situations as groups of men pummeled each other half to death supposedly for the right to bed them. Behind the counter the barkeeper hid, having given up a long time ago on pleading for the brutes to cease. The normally peaceful inn had erupted into chaos that night, spurred by gods knew what. The men had all been flirting with the girls more aggressively than usual, and when the two had locked in on Maya all hell broke loose. Outnumbered nearly four to one the girls could only watch as men bashed one another's heads in. They prayed to the gods that whichever man won would be equally battered and unable to lay with them. "Goddess, please," Maya whispered, the petite girl hiding under a table. "Please protect us." She trembled as one of the men looked down at her, smirking. He spoke, spitting out a mouthful of blood. "Oy, Renard! What say you and I call it a draw? Let's just share the whore." Maya wailed as he reached for her, capturing her thin waist in his beefy grip. "No need for us to fight over more than which hole ya want, eh?" Both men turned on her, eyes wild with lust. These were hardly more than animals at this point, slaves to their own carnal needs. The girl fought against them, kicking and clawing, desperately trying to escape their grips. "Goddess, please!" she cried. "Don't fret mah pretty lil' thing." He crooned, pulling her tight against him. She whimpered as she felt his swollen erection grind up against her ass. "We'll take care of ya." Around the room, other men saw the logic in this, and quickly began to divvy up the girls into groups of two or three men. The bartender hid behind the counter, horrified at what was happening, but helpless to stop it. He only hoped that the girls could forgive him for this. The first pair reached the door with Maya, and were about to push through the rough wooden slab. "Stop." A voice, solid and stern; but sliding through the air as smooth as silk, rang out over the ruckus. Surprisingly, everyone stopped and for a moment no one moved. It was as if they were held spellbound by the single word. Then, slowly, all eyes turned toward the figure that had suddenly appeared in the center of the room. The woman was tall and lithe, her slender form wrapped in a pure white gown. Her golden hair seemed to shimmer and glow in the dim candlelight and her pale skin shone as if it radiated from within. Slowly, she stepped forward until she was surrounded by the surging crowd of men and their captives. Crystalline eyes met with each of the girls, and they relaxed visibly. "It's going to be alright now," she said gently. They all nodded, overcome with an inescapable sense of calm. Maya sagged in the now slack grip of her harassers. Everyone in the room had become incredibly pliable, the woman giving off an aura that was as effective as a sleeping draught. All except the orc. He laughed. It was a nervous and uncomfortable sound. "Have ya come to join in?" When she didn't retaliate, he grew bolder. "We could use another bitch!" He strode up to her and grabbed her arm roughly with his calloused hand. She said nothing. Instead she ran her hand across his pale green skin, almost in a caress. "Peace," she whispered. Slowly his beady eyes started to droop, his muscles all going limp. His knees gave out from under him, and in a moment the orc fell to the ground. His chest moved in the slow rhythm of a deep slumber. Shaking her head sadly the woman looked at the room around her. Soaking in the sight of all the terror they had inflicted in their blind desire, she felt as though her heart might break. "There's been enough violence tonight." Her commanding voice reached into the souls of each man and they quaked in shame. "Ladies," she said gently, "please go to the kitchens. I will speak with you in a few minutes, but you will not be needed here again tonight." Warmth washed over them, and each girl easily slipped from the men's limp grasps. The sight of their former entertainment filing out of the room seemed to slowly rouse the men. Whatever magic the woman cast was wearing thin and they began to move, slowly as if through a thick bog, making gradual progress. "Hey," the one called Renard accused dully, "them was our girls. Ya can't do that." "Yeah," another man added. "'Unless ya want to take their place?" They began clamoring louder and louder. Their energy spiraled upwards as they surrounded the lone, unarmored woman. The barkeeper turned away, unable to watch as the girl's savior was about to be torn apart, or worse. She stood calmly as the men surged around her, pinching her small breasts and smacking at her ass. She ignored their foul groping and closed her eyes. Her chest swelled in a deep breath, slow as if in meditation. A man grabbed a fistful of her hair. Another began to lift up her skirts. She simply exhaled in response. Power ripped through her, imbuing her with all the majesty of a goddess. The energy emanated from her and the men collapsed to the ground as if slammed by a concussive force. Kneeling before her no man could bear to bring his gaze to meet her. She shone freely now, her skin shining brighter than the candles along the walls. "You have been tainted by darkness," she accused. She walked between the men and pressed her palm to their foreheads. "Evil has corrupted you and your town. Your lust will devour all. I will tolerate no more." When she lifted her hand from each man the spot glowed for a moment before fading into his skin. She left a seed of her power within each man, it would grow and spread through him, marking him as a servant of Peace. These men would no longer be susceptible to the demonic auras that swelled through their city. "You are all born of the light. You do not belong to the shadows. You do not belong to Redraak." She hissed out the name of the foul dark god whose influence had begun to consume them. "From this day on, walk with Peace in your hearts." They nodded sluggishly, unable to escape the goddess's aura of peace. "Good, now go home. Leave coin to pay for your damages and then go. Sleep in your beds and when you wake, prove that you are worth more than this." There was the soft rattling of coin purses as men dropped bits of silver onto the bar. Two of them shared the weight of the fallen orc and dragged his useless mass behind them. The rest filed meekly out the door behind them. The barkeeper bowed in thanks. "Milady, Goddess Leianna. How can I ever repay you for this?" He fell to his knees, groveling before the deity. "Give the girls their share of coin to help console them for their troubles. You may leave an offering in my temple, and live your life in peace." She patted his cheek gently, feeling a drop of her power flow into him with her mark. Nodding he backed out of the room, tripping over himself as he waddled, still bent half over in reverence. The room was empty but for the goddess, and she sighed in relief. She had been hunting throughout the city of Meadhall for the demon that she knew was causing trouble and the girl's prayers had reached out to her. It seemed she had arrived just in time; if she'd been a little later the peace she could offer them would have been poor comfort. "Oh aren't you just sickeningly sweet?" a husky voice rang out loudly behind her. Leianna whirled around, bursting with power and ready to strike, only to see the nude form of the goddess Onaria lounging on one of the few remaining tables. She was the Goddess of passion and pleasure, and the curvaceous deity never wore clothing, something which made Leianna very uncomfortable. "Sister!" she scolded. "Announce yourself. It's very rude to just materialize like that." Onaria stood, her bronzed skin glowing with muted power. There were very few people in a human city who worshiped the rather promiscuous goddess; she would not have the luxury of faith and prayers to draw extra power from. Here in Meadhall Leianna had an abundance, worshipped as one of their primary gods. "Leianna, darling. You know how I hate it when you call me that... Sister is just so familial." She shuddered as if the word had slithered from her throat. "We do not even have blood to be related by. Please, call me dear, or lover, or-" "That's enough, please," Leianna interrupted, an exasperated pout stretched across her petite features. "I have work to do, and I don't appreciate your frivolous interruptions." The other woman shrugged languidly, "I could have helped too, you know." Leianna scoffed. "How?" her voice dropped to a whisper, "By fucking everyone into submission?" Onaria laughed, her full breasts shaking with the movement. "Well, at least with me around everyone would have enjoyed themselves." She grinned slyly toward the prim goddess. "Even you could have had some fun for once." "Don't be absurd," Leianna growled, rattled as always by her sister's presence. Onaria was... assertive. Not evil! She was a goddess of the light, and where this demon had spread violent, selfish lust, Onaria radiated pleasure. Just as Leianna had an aura of peace and warmth, her sister filled everyone's head with a heady passion and heat within their loins. This, combined with her constant nudity and tendency to touch everyone around her, made a proper conversation difficult. "Sister, I am certain that there is a demon of Redraak here," Leianna said. Onaria spat at the sound of the god's name. "Nothing good can come of you coming into contact with him. It's not safe." Lust and passion were opposites, just as wrath opposed peace. Fights between deities or servants of those paired gods never ended well, and it was determined that others would intercede instead. "Bastard," Onaria snarled. "Rip him apart for me." "Of course." Leianna patted the other woman's arm. "This town worships me. I have plenty of power here. No mere demon could pose a threat to me. I can handle myself here, but I must begin now, his trail grows cold and he's surely spreading turmoil elsewhere even as we speak." Reluctantly, Onaria nodded and gripped her fellow goddess' hand. "Be safe," she said sincerely. "Redraak's demons are nasty, devious creatures. Don't let them into your head. Their aura can be distracting, even for a goddess." Leianna nodded, but really wasn't worried about it. She was one of the most powerful gods in existence, what could a demon possibly do to her? Consoled by her serious expression, Onaria faded away as if she had been nothing more than an illusion, leaving Leianna to face the town alone. ***** Leianna pushed through the kitchen doors and found the girls huddled around a coarse wooden table. The distance from the goddess had given her aura's effects time to fade, and they jumped as she entered. It would be some time before they got over the trauma of what nearly happened to them. She opened her arms in a peaceful greeting, her power burning a little brighter to ease their minds. "Please, there's nothing more for you to worry about. The men are gone and will not harm you again. It is safe for you now." Maya smiled shyly behind the sheltering arms of the head server. The goddess had come in answer to their prayers. She did not have time to voice her thanks however, as Saelie's voice echoed out from over her head. "Thank you, my lady. I don't know how we could ever repay you for what you did for us today. I can't begin to imagine what came over those men, but they wouldn't take no for an answer. If you had been a few minutes later..." She trailed off, unwilling to expound further. Taking the silence as her opening, Maya chirped in. "Some of us have taken coin for... it before. But it's always been our choice. This time, it wasn't." The goddess nodded solemnly. "Of course. There is no shame in your own decisions. But like you have said, those men were impossible to reason with. I believe it is because there is a demon here within your city." Her audience gasped, one girl shrieked and nearly fainted. "It is why I am here: to hunt him down and cast him out," Leianna added, easing the girls further with her aura. "This is the closest I have come to finding him so far, with so many men out of control he must have been here in the tavern tonight. If any of you could help me identify him it would be of great use." Some of the girls nodded hesitantly. Saelie spoke, "Of course, my lady. But I do not remember seeing anyone out of place. What sort of man would he have been?" This was the tricky part. Greater demons, such as this, were shapechangers, able to shift and blur their forms at will to mask their appearances. He could have looked like anyone. But lust demons were a haughty sort and she could guess some basics of his behavior. "He would have been tall and muscular. Very attractive in a generic sort of way." The goddess knew he wouldn't have wanted to stand out in their memories, for this very reason. But no demon could refuse to look his very best when around the succulent young women that tended the tavern. She continued. "He would have been here earlier in the evening, leaving just before the chaos. Probably very friendly, making conversation with as many people as possible. And he would have been touching people, casually of course, but making skin on skin contact with as many men as possible." The room was quiet as they all thought, then Maya jumped excitedly. "Oh yes! I think I do remember him." She elbowed Saelie rather roughly. "Don't you remember? He was doing those idiotic strength tests with some of the men." She referred to a sort of game where men gripped each other's hands as firmly as possible in an attempt to either break their opponent's fingers or get them to forfeit. Maya didn't wait for the older woman to answer before pushing forward. "He was tall, and while he was definitely quite strong, I don't think he lost a single match. He was sort of lean. Graceful, not like the lugs we get around here." She tittered, cut off by an elbow to the ribs. "Don't be rude, Maya. And be concise. It seems that you're the only one who remembers this devil." Saelie made the god's sign over her face, a sort of half circle under her eyes. Leianna held back a chuckle. It was a silly tradition; one that people had forgotten began by spreading scented oils under their noses before slaughtering animals for sacrifice. Over the centuries it had simply become a sign meant to ward off evil. It was useless of course. The girl had slumped in shame, nodding meekly. "Of course. I'm sorry. Please, my lady, what exactly do you need to know?" "Well, did he say anything? Anything about his plans or where he was headed next? Anything you can remember at all?" It had been weeks, and this was her greatest lead on the demon, faint as it was. But it seemed that his warm up was over and he was really beginning to torment Meadhall. Before this there had only been one or two stray men, and one woman, riling up trouble. This mob would have quickly gotten out of hand without her. She needed to know where she could find him next before anything worse could happen. Leianna had all the power of a god but unfortunately even gods were not all powerful. She had her limits like everything else. She gained power from the prayers of her worshipers, and her priests and priestesses ensured she had power all across the land. But she could only be in one place at a time; she could not simply mystically locate the demon. So she had been forced to hunt through the streets like anyone else, seeking out cold trails and dead ends. Now she feared another lead had been lost, cruelly dangled before her and now leading to yet another dead end. "Well," Maya's voice was thoughtful, "I think he said he was going to pay his respects to our goddess." She paused, frowning. Leianna was their goddess. "Which means he was probably going to your temple-" She was cut off by another girl's shriek of terror as the goddess vanished with a flash. ***** Leianna stood before her grand temple, trembling with suppressed fury. Her body shone with light, her power close at hand this near to the source of her prayers. She would have needed to focus to suppress this much power, but furious as she was it all bubbled to the surface. The bastard had been toying with her all this time. He had dragged her through the streets, leaving little bits of bait for her to follow. And she had. Leianna had clung to every tiny scrap of information he left behind like a starved dog. The torment he had put those poor girls through back at the tavern had been a mere distraction. She would make him suffer for this humiliation. She would make him pay tenfold for whatever he had done to her priestesses in her absence. The demon would die before the night was out. Her body seemed to float as she ascended the great marble stairs leading up to the statuesque columns that framed her temple. This was her home, a palace worthy of a goddess. And a filthy demon dared to defile it with his presence? She would tear the place to the ground before she allowed him to escape. As she passed over the threshold, entering the space halfway between the mortal and spiritual realms, her body seemed to dissipate. She was a god. No physical form could hold her. And no demon was a match for her. With each breath she drew in more and more power, calling on the reserves that centuries of prayer had readied for her. Her priestesses rose from their places of prayer, dropping bowls of scented water and running to her side, falling to their knees before her. "Goddess! You have come to save our town! Thank you, my lady, thank you!" "Where is he?" Her voice echoed through the hall like thunder. She ignored her groveling followers. These women were safe at the moment, they didn't need her attention. "He?" a priest asked timidly. One Night for Peace Stupid mortals couldn't tell a demon when it was right in front of their faces. Leianna ignored them, drifting past. The marble blistered and burned in her wake, her anger manifested and spilling free. Her followers trailed behind her mutely, faces twisted in horrified wonder. Leianna was the goddess of peace. But until this day they had not realized that did not mean she was a peaceful god. Around her there were townsfolk, prayers hung from their lips, swelling in their air as they surged through the temple. Her chest expanded, drinking in their faith. Every prayer mattered. She would use it all and smite the bastard who dared make a fool of her. As her power expanded, Leianna shone brighter until she was a near blinding figure burning in the center of her temple. Her followers shied away in fear, shielding their faces from her glory. She stopped, standing before the massive statue of herself erected in the center of her dwelling. It was near. She could sense it. She could feel him. "Show yourself," she commanded. The room pulsed. Her words were powered by centuries of prayers; with this power she could have altered reality. A demon stood no chance. The air burned, steam rising from the stone ground. The marble alter around her statue shattered like glass and a woman shrieked in terror. The demon appeared. He was reclined back against the feet of her statue. As she had expected he was tall and imposing, even relaxed as he was now. While largely human in appearance there was no mistaking what he was when exposed in his true form. Massive ram's horns spiraled over his head, peeking through obsidian hair. Dusky gray flesh stretched over his lean muscles, and dressed in only loose silk pants there was a lot of that gray skin to see. Glowing red eyes locked with hers, and his wide lips stretched into a twisted grin. "It's an honor to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you, Leianna." She snarled, and the ground cracked beneath him as if to swallow him up. "You dare to speak my name?" "It's hardly a dare," he purred, unfazed by her power. "My name is Antiel. You are welcome to use it whenever, and however, you wish." The goddess was taken aback by his forwardness. His behavior reminded her of her sister, Onaria. She never knew how to deal with such sultry familiarity. She had been expecting terror, groveling, pleas for mercy. His cavalier greeting made her uncomfortable and she felt her power almost waver. "Leave this place!" she demanded, bearing down on her resolve. "Leave the city or suffer unimaginable punishments." She felt more like a petulant child than an all powerful god and it seemed the demon could sense that. His grin spread wider, wicked fangs glinting in the light of her power. "We'll see. I have a pretty thorough imagination." His eyes raked up her body, leaving her feeling violated and exposed. Shaking in rage, she roared, "Be gone!" Unfiltered power erupted from her, engulfing and consuming him. The room exploded with light and her priestesses screamed. The massive statue cracked and shattered, toppling to the ground with a crash of dust. When the air cleared, the demon was gone. The goddess collapsed, and several of her priests rushed forward to catch her. She had never before held that much power at one time, and certainly never expelled so much. The bastard had worked his way under her skin, and she had lost her temper. She could have used much more restraint, and disposed of him with more finesse. But he was gone now and that was what mattered. She hadn't liked the way he'd been looking at her, and she couldn't believe that he dared speak to her the way he had. She was a goddess, worthy of admiration and praise. She had never been treated in such a crude manner by someone who knew who she was. Leianna struggled to her feet, feeling frail and extremely human. The heady musk of the demon still lingered in the air, mixed together with the thick dust of her shattered marble visage. The goddess shook her head, trying to rid herself of the fog that crept up from the back of her mind. Thank the stars the demon was gone, dead or at least seriously incapacitated. Human as she felt, she would have very little strength to resist his magical aura. ***** She rested for a while in the temple, enjoying the attention as her priests and priestesses doted on her. Leianna basked in the power of their prayers of gratitude, feeling their faith slowly trickle into her now empty stores. When she felt strong enough that her skin had begun to glow faintly again she bid them farewell and left to see if her people would need any aid in restoring the damages that had been done. Her intentions were twofold. She genuinely cared for them, and wanted to ensure their safety. But she desperately needed them to see her, to know it was she that saved them from the demon and to inspire them to pour out gratitude. If she hadn't actually killed Antiel she would need the power to face him when he returned someday. The goddess passed through the streets, stopping to smile and speak to anyone who approached her. She told frightened girls they had nothing to worry about, and offered forgiveness to men who crumpled at her feet, begging for mercy. She couldn't right everything, there wasn't enough prayer for that, but she would do everything that she could. "Goddess, please! Please save me! Oh mother, please goddess, please! I need you! Leianna, I beg you, please!" A woman's sobs rang through her mind, clearly as if screamed directly into her ear. Leianna winced, feeling the terror fueling the girl's desperate plea. She could feel the woman's location pulling her, an intangible string leading her to the source. Leianna focused on the words ringing through her head and drew on her depleted pool of strength. With a breath she appeared beside the sobbing redheaded woman. She was curled up in the corner of an alley, desperately trying to make herself disappear into the stone and escape the attention of the four bulky men that were closing in around her. At the sight of the materialized goddess the men shrank back, cursing in fright. She summoned every ounce of will, forcing herself to stand upright and look bold. They would not know her weakness. She was a goddess. She was their god. "That's enough." Her voice resonated and echoed through the filthy alley. They eyed her cautiously, as if trying to decide if they could take on a goddess. The thought shouldn't have even occurred to them. They shouldn't have been capable of it. One of them stepped forward, as if testing to see what she would do. "Leave, now." The last push of power slipped from her lips like a whisper. Peace wrapped itself deep inside the men, and obediently they turned and slunk away. Leianna's knees gave out from under her, and she fell. The girl caught her, cradling her in her arms and weeping in relief. "Oh thank you, goddess. Thank you." Behind her the girl radiated heat, warm and inviting as she relaxed into her grasp. She had never been so human, and wanted nothing more than to discard her physical form and retreat to the spiritual realm until her strength returned. But it felt so nice to be held, to be cared for. Her head felt fuzzy, and her body was burning hot. She felt flushed and breathless. The girl gasped behind her, and weak as she was, Leianna looked up. The demon, Antiel, stood towering over them. He seemed perfectly unscathed from their previous encounter. "Well isn't this sweet?" His voice cracked through the air, harsh and mocking. "Safe and sound, rescued from certain danger by your ever present goddess." "How?" Leianna whimpered weakly. He should have been dead! He shouldn't be here. The town was supposed to be safe; she had nearly burned through this body trying to make sure of that! Antiel tutted, shaking his head. "You have a temper that you might want to keep in check. I had all the time in the world to dodge that reckless waste of magic. Barely a scratch on me." He knelt down beside the two women. The girl shrunk in, trying to hide behind Leianna. He reached out with a clawed hand and caressed both women's faces. "Don't worry," he was quiet, searching for a word. "Sweet Addie, isn't it? I'm not here to hurt either of you." The demon pulled back, but his scent hung in the air, musky like heavy rain and rich like spiced wine. "I just want to make sure that you haven't forgotten your manners." It was hard to breathe. The air felt too thick, heavy in her lungs. Her skin burned and her clothes felt scratchy and constraining. There was a heat between her thighs, pulsing and making it hard to think. Leianna willed herself to move, to escape, or even to shed her physical form. But her body was unresponsive, worked up in the magic of Antiel's aura. Addie wiggled behind her, rolling her hips and Leianna felt the girl's breasts press against her back. She was not the only one affected by the demon. "My manners?" The girl's voice was distant, spoken as if she were in a deep sleep. "Of course, my pet. Your goddess saved you from unspeakable horrors. Don't you know what those men would have done to you if they caught you?" When she shook her head, he continued. "Well, I do. They were going to fuck you, all four of them, right here in this alley. Rip your clothes off and stuff you full of cock. Pound you into submission until you couldn't move and then leave you here, dripping full of cum for anyone to find you, to use you." The girl wailed and wrapped her arms tighter around the goddess. Her nipples were like pebbles against the goddess's back. Leianna could scarcely think. The girl's hands had settled around her own breasts. Her skin ached, and she could only think of how good it would be to have the girl's cool hands caress her bare skin. She shook her head. No. She couldn't think this way. It was the demon, his foul magic. She had to fight against it. Weakly, she snapped, "Leave her alone. I told you to leave this city, demon." His face split into a wicked grin. "You did. But why should I? What could you possibly do about it now? You blazed through centuries of power in that little outburst of yours. It feels silly now, doesn't it? Wasted all that energy and for nothing." Leianna's face fell. He was right. She couldn't do anything about him now. He had won. Her heart sunk as he continued, his words directed at the girl behind her again. "Sweet Addie, you should thank her. Think of what she saved you from. She deserves your thanks, don't you think? More than just your words." His aura was overpowering. Both women were practically panting for air, Addie's hands had moved in closer around Leianna's breasts. "Be a good girl," he purred, stroking the girl's freckled cheek. "Thank her properly." "Yes..." she whispered. Leianna felt her hands press tighter, intentionally holding her close. "I'll thank her." The girl's soft lips pressed against the goddess's neck, tenderly kissing her sensitive flesh. Her lips parted and her tongue, warm and rough, trailed up her skin. As Addie nibbled and kissed, the goddess could not form the words to resist. This was wrong. She had to stop it. Antiel was using the girl to make a fool of her, manipulating them both. She needed... something. She wanted... something else. She didn't know, she couldn't think. Moaning into her neck, Addie's hands worked their way under the thin white silk of her gown. Her hands were hot against the goddess's needy flesh, and both women gasped in pleasure as Addie's hands cupped her bare breasts. The girl ran her fingers in circles in a slow closing spiral. Antiel, who was standing back, his burning red eyes drinking in the sight, stepped forward. Deftly, he slipped open the clasps that held the goddess's dress, and smiled as the soft fabric slid down her form. Leianna shuddered as the cool night air spread across her body. Her nipples peaked and she moaned as Addie's fingers finally made their way to the sensitive pink nubs. Her hips rocked back against the girl, grinding at the air as both breasts were stimulated, her nipples being gently rolled and pinched. Leianna's head fell back in bliss, her eyes closed in rapture as she soaked in the attention. She whimpered as one hand left her breasts, and then trembled as it made a slow descent downward. Addie's soft fingertips trailed over her smooth stomach, dipping beneath the gown pooled around her waist. She traced past her hip bones, pausing to stroke the soft blond curls between the goddess's legs. Her teeth sunk into her neck, a thick bite that drew more pleasure than pain. Leianna's mouth fell open, her chest trembling with anticipation. She was burning from the inside out, this time with desire rather than power. The girl was drawing it out, though, taking her time to slowly pass a little further down. Her other hand still played at the goddess's breasts, toying between alternating nipples. When her fingers reached the top cleft of her slit a lewd moan slipped from the goddess's lips. Her hips bucked upward, desperately trying to get her to go just a little lower. She just needed a little more stimulation. Just another moment and it would be enough to- "That's enough." Antiel's cold laughter cut through the air. Addie stopped, pulling her hand from beneath Leianna's gown. Leianna whimpered, a pathetic pleading sound as the fingers withdrew. Her mind was on fire, she felt as though she would shatter into a thousand pieces at the slightest touch. She wanted to beg, to plead for just another moment. But she could not demean herself that way. "I think you've thanked her properly. Sweet Addie, run home. Go find that baker's boy and offer yourself to him tonight. Understand?" Leianna winced as the girl pushed her from her lap, abandoning her in the alley with the demon. She collapsed back against the wall, her breasts still exposed to Antiel's predatory gaze. Her body quaked and shivered as she slowly started to come down from the sexual high, but the pulsing need between her legs was the strongest it had ever been. "Well, that was unexpected," he purred, dropping to the ground to kneel beside the breathless woman. "I expected you to put up a fight. Tell her off, try to escape. Beg me to let you go." His breath was hot in her ear, and despite her revulsion her body responded, eager to pick up where it had been left. "But, no. You enjoyed every moment of that didn't you?" When she slowly shook her head no, he laughed. "Don't lie to me. I can smell it, you're dripping like a cheap whore. I'd expected you to fight it, but you're as much a slut as your sister, aren't you?" Breathless, Leianna glared back, trying to pull her dress back up around her. "I-I am not. You tricked me into this, it wasn't my choice." He laughed. "I hardly did anything. Your decisions brought you here. You lost your temper. You let that girl nearly fuck you. And now you can watch as I claim this city as my own. And there's not a thing you can do to stop me." She called out as he turned to leave. "Wait! Please." Antiel spun around, glaring at her, "Stop wasting my time, bitch." "Please." She reached forward, her posture reminiscent of a servant on their knees. "Please leave these people alone, they trust me, they count on me to protect them." "Then it's a shame you'll be such a disappointment," he shrugged. "There must be something I can do!" she begged. "Please, Antiel!" The demon's eyes ran down her form. Despite her attempts to close her dress, her perky breasts were still exposing a lot of flesh, a hint of one of her pink areola visible. Her hair was wild, and she stank of sex and lust. Leianna looked nothing like the composed goddess that had stood before him at the temple. A smirk spread over his face, his head cocked to one side. "Maybe there is one thing." Her face lit up at the flicker of hope. "Please, anything!" Antiel laughed. "Anything. Good. I've never been with a god." He crossed back over to her, smiling at the sight of her on the ground before him. "Be mine for a night. Offer yourself to me. An even exchange, you for the town." Hope fell crashing around her, and her shoulders dropped, her face twisted in horror. "Never! You're a demon." "You said anything. And you have nothing else you could offer me. You have nothing," he mocked. Leianna scowled. "I'd rather die." "Pity. I suppose you can tell that to your subjects when they start begging you for your aid. 'I could have helped you, ended it all, but I'd rather die!' I'm sure they'll understand. No matter, I can find a girl, or two, or eight, who'll pass the night just fine." He dipped in a mockery of a bow. "Until next time, Leianna." He disappeared in a flash of black smoke, almost certainly reappearing somewhere else in Meadhall to terrify and torment her people. She fell onto the cold, dirty ground. She felt useless, her spirit shattered. Her body still ached with need, but the shock of the demon's offer had dulled it slightly. To lie with a demon, she could not imagine a greater shame; it was unthinkable. It broke her heart to think of the suffering her people would have to face until she regained her power, but there was little that she could do. She would try to appeal to her brothers and sisters, hope that one of her fellow gods would take pity on her and come to her aid. It was unlikely, but it was the only choice she had left. She breathed in, her chest expanding as her lungs filled. When she exhaled, her physical body disappeared, shimmering into nothing. ***** Leianna opened her eyes to see the paradise of the spiritual realm; each god had the power to warp and create their own personal sanctuary. For her it was a quiet oasis: a clear natural spring surrounded by exotic plants and palm trees. She had modeled it from a glimpse of one from far off in the east. There was nothing like that here in the western lands, and it had inspired her to create one of her own. Moments after arriving, Onaria appeared. Her presence could have been felt by any of her fellow gods resting idle here at home. Leianna couldn't say if Onaria was the only one there, or just the only one who cared to come see her. The nude goddess rushed forward to embrace the still shaking Leianna, who shivered uncomfortably at her body's response to the intimate touch. Not enough time had passed to completely quell the storm of desire that so recently burned within her. The heavy weight of Onaria's breasts pressed against her own threatened to inspire less than pure thoughts. Fortunately the goddess of passion did not recognize her discomfort as anything other than her typical prudishness. "Darling, Leianna! You look absolutely frightful. What's happened to you?" Her hands cupped the goddess's grimy face and gently wiped her clean. "Was it the demon?" She couldn't bring herself to meet Onaria's eyes. "I'm afraid things did not go well." "What happened?" she insisted. "I may have lost my temper. He violated my temple and was mocking me. I overextended myself and blew through my power stores. I thought I had killed him, but..." Leianna hung her head. "I was wrong. I don't know what to do. I have almost no power left in that city, and I don't see any way to stop him. I came to petition you and the others for aid." Onaria tutted. "Poor thing. But I really don't know what any of us could do. It is your city. The rest of us don't have much power there to begin with. I know I certainly don't." The pleasure goddess was not widely worshiped throughout the human world. Her followers tended to be dryads, nymphs, and other more free spirited creatures. Human cities would have a shrine so as not to spite her, but Leianna knew her power would be laughable. She couldn't give up though. One Night for Peace "Where's Taera?" She searched across the room for the goddess of purity. Surely she would listen to her plight. Onaria scoffed. "She's back in the east again. Stupid woman won't accept that we gods are simply not welcome there. She seems to think that she can single handedly convert the entire continent to us." Leianna believed it was more likely that Taera was trying to rescue girls caught up in the many slave rings; but it was not the time to correct her sister. "Oh, and I don't suppose she'll be back any time soon?" "It's unlikely." "And our brothers?" She thought of the more aggressive, war oriented gods. Unfortunately, her question was met with laughter. "Unlikely. Orin and Dorlain don't have time for us silly little girls," Onaria growled, rolling her eyes. "Maybe if Ellia backed us up..." Neither woman had any doubt that the rather violent goddess would not even listen to their petition. "But they are simply too busy to pay heed to one little city. Maethil might be persuaded to get the entire town drunk, but I doubt that would solve much. "I know it must pain you to see Meadhall so corrupted, but it really is your responsibility. You'll just have to leave them to the demon for a while until you have enough strength to fight him. It's regrettable, but we can't do everything." Onaria gave her sister one last, rather sad, embrace before shimmering away to return to her own slice of paradise. Leianna stood alone, confliction tearing her apart. She knew a way to save the town now, to end their suffering and give them the peace that they expected from her. But she could not bear to sacrifice herself for their sakes. ***** A week passed. Leianna drifted through Meadhall remaining hidden from the mortal world and her heart broke a little more each day. What had once been a peaceful town, a commerce town thriving on the production of its namesake, had unraveled into chaos. Antiel's aura of lust had overwhelmed the town. If he had worked as Onaria did, spreading equally between men and women so all mixed together in a passionate orgy it would not have been so bad. However, Antiel infected only the men and left the women trying to escape in terror. He fed on the energies of their fear and the animalistic desires of the men. He wanted it this way. Leianna wished she could close her ears to the pleading prayers, but she would not allow herself to be blind to their suffering. This was her punishment. If they could not have peace, neither would she. Antiel's demons rioted through the town. Some were able to mask themselves as human as their master had, others were simply invisible like she was. These smaller demons, able to see her presence even when invisible to mortal eyes, took great pleasure in tormenting her. They mocked and spat at her, ripping her dress and knocking her to the ground. And she let them. She had no other choice. Well, she had one other choice but it wasn't really a choice at all. "In the name of the sun, what are you doing?" Onaria's voice snapped out beside her. Several demons shrieked in fear and vanished. Humans still walked through the street, but none could see either goddess; leaving them effectively alone. "Sulking like a petulant child and wallowing in your own misery will do no one good." Leianna turned dully to look at her. "It's what I deserve." "Deserve? You're a goddess. You decide what you deserve. You've done everything that you can for these people. Sitting around in this hell won't change that. Leave your priests to their work, gather your power, and return when you can do something." "And what if I could do something now?" Leianna asked quietly. "What if there was a way to end it?" Onaria frowned. "Then you must be a fool not to have done it." She sighed. "What if saving them, what if it cost me everything? What if the price was worse than their torment?" Her sister looked at her confused. "If it saves your followers, than it is worth everything. We are gods. It is our responsibility to care for those who follow us. We offer our lives to them, every day. We cannot die. We do not really even have bodies to be harmed. We are immune to everything that torments humanity. If there is a way to save them, you should take it." Leianna crumpled into herself. Her sister couldn't understand. She didn't know what was asked of her. "But-" "No!" Onaria exploded with light. "Enough of your excuses. You are a god. Stop behaving like a sniveling child. You were perfectly willing to come and beg me to use my power to save your people, and now you are not willing to do the same? If there is a way to end this, end it. If there isn't, move on. Other people need you. You will live forever. Whatever price you must pay will be forgotten in time. Humans only have so much time to live; it is our task to make it as pleasurable as possible." The goddess listened meekly, nodding. Her sister was right. "I understand." She whispered, offering a faint smile. "And I will, no matter the cost." Onaria smiled, no idea of what she had just convinced Leianna to do. "Good. Give the town peace, and set the matter to rest. I expect to see you back home soon, all this nonsense behind you." She pressed a kiss to her cheek and gave her hand a quick squeeze before shimmering out of sight. Leianna slowly dropped to her knees, sitting in the mud on the side of the street. People walked past her, oblivious to their shattered god. Slowly demons began to reappear as they sensed Onaria's disappearance. As they had before they mocked her, poking and kicking her, pulling at her hair. Something snapped within her. "Enough!" A feeble light shone through her skin. "Take me to Antiel. Now." Startled, they obeyed. Chittering to each other in a demonic tongue they deliberated for a time. Eventually one of them turned toward her and ran off, beckoning her to follow. The goddess ran behind it, following through winding streets and dingy alleys. The path was so convoluted she wasn't sure if she could find her way back out. Eventually they stopped before an abandoned inn, dark paint chipped off the walls and weeds sprouting through the collapsed deck. The little demon bowed mockingly as it opened the door for her. Carefully she stepped up the rotting steps, her form shimmering and becoming more substantial. Her clothing was once again an immaculate white, her golden tresses clean and smooth. She would appear before the demon looking, and feeling, like the god she was. As she passed through the threshold reality tilted. Like her own temple this place was not entirely of the mortal world. The demon had made his nest here, so he made it suitable for his tastes. Structurally it matched the exterior, but the floors were covered in thick plush rugs and pillows. Her eyes were assaulted with deep reds and oranges and vivid blacks. If it weren't for the many women trussed up, bound to hooks on the walls and floors, it might have been considered cozy. Demons played with their captured toys, licking and fucking as they pleased. And at the center of it all, in a large cushioned chair, Antiel reclined as if in a throne. His lips spread wide in a cruel grin, red eyes locked on the goddess. The entertainment around him could no longer hold his interest. He slinked forward, standing with his arms wide in greeting. His movements were graceful, but were fueled with terrible power. "Lady Leianna. What a pleasure to have you here in my humble home." He crossed the room to her, his scent threatening to fill her mind with fog. "I must say, I've never had a goddess in my temple before. It's exciting." His smile split wider. "So," He gestured his head toward the girls on the ground, "have you come to save them, or perhaps to join them?" "I've come to talk." Her cold blue eyes bored into his, her voice suppressed. "Privately." Antiel only had to jerk his head before his demons scurried out of the room, carrying their human toys with them. She forced herself to ignore their cries. They would be released soon. She would save them. The door swung shut behind the last demon leaving the two alone. Antiel looked down at her. "You have my attention." "I want you gone," she said firmly, ignoring the buzzing that had migrated from her head to her lower belly. "You, and all your demons, and any who follow you. I want you to go to ground and never to return to Meadhall." He laughed, tossing his horned head back in amusement. "I've told you my price for peace, and even then it wouldn't be forever." "Then let's negotiate," she growled. He paused, staring intently at her. "You wish to barter yourself for the town?" "If that's what this takes." "Well, how interesting." He smiled a slow greedy grin. "I could be the first demon to ever fuck a god. The idea has its merits." She scowled at his crudeness. "Well then, let's discuss terms. I want you gone. Off the face of the earth, neither you, nor any of your follows causing trouble for anyone, anywhere." He paused, thoughtful. "For one year." Leianna laughed coldly. "What do you take me for? An idiot? A year is little more than a breath. You could sleep through it and more without a second thought. A millennia." He scoffed. "Not even a goddess is worth that much. Nice try, sweetheart. You'd have to come to ground with me to even consider that." Her face twisted in disgust. Even with the dull throbbing growing between her legs the idea repulsed her. "That's what I thought," Antiel said. "So then a century. One hundred years of silence and peace from me and all of my servants, human and demon alike. In exchange, you are mine. Anything I want for one night." She hesitated. It wasn't the worst thing that could happen. She could survive one night in exchange for one hundred years of peace. "But only you. None of your demons watching or joining in. Just the two of us. No one else ever needs to know." Antiel chuckled. "Pity. But I could live with it. One night, just you and me, for one hundred years of peace." He extended a clawed hand to her. "Agreed?" "And what assurance do I have that you'll keep your word?" He shrugged. "I am a demon of lust, not of lies. I have no reason to deceive you." Her nasty glare cut him short. "Well, less reason than some." "Swear a blood oath. Otherwise I have no reason to believe you won't just accept your payment and do as you please," she insisted. With a sigh Antiel ran a sharp claw through the meat of his palm and used it to trace a runic symbol on his chest over his heart. When the symbol was complete, it sank into his flesh, disappearing. "Happy? Now, do we have a deal?" Leianna stalled . "I suppose the night would begin...?" "Now." He nodded, and pushed his hand out a little farther. "Make your choice, now or never." She sighed, and placed her pale hand in his dark gray one. "We have a deal." ***** As Leianna gave herself in offering, she felt Antiel's power swell and grow. Colors seemed to become more vivid and the blacks and shadows in the room darkened. The mind lulling scent that surrounded him began to work its way into her lungs until her thoughts were sluggish and difficult to form. She had passed wholly into his sanctuary, she was his to use as he pleased. Antiel removed his hand from hers and began circling her as if to decide which part he would devour first. His voice called out from behind her, "Undress." She hesitated. Knowing what she would have to do and actually doing it were two very different things. In her hesitation Antiel wrapped a large hand around her throat, slamming her back against his hard chest. She could feel the heat radiating from behind her, feel the outline of his hardness as it pressed into her backside. His fingers tightened, locking her head back in a submissive pose as he hissed into her ear. "For your sake do not make me repeat myself." A whimper escaped her constricted throat and she obeyed. She pulled each dress strap from her shoulders. Without their support, the thin fabric hung to her small breasts for a moment before pooling to the ground at her feet. No longer sustained by her manifested form, the dress evaporated a moment later. Leianna gasped, breathing in fully as Antiel released her, and stood meekly by when he resumed his inspection of her. His lips stretched into that awful grin as he drank in the sight. "A goddess, naked. And you're all mine," he said softly. She shivered as he trailed the back of his claws across her skin. It was a long, slow caress that traced down the length of her jaw line, down her neck and between her breasts. His movements were languid, as if he didn't really care much either way about touching her. If it had been anyone else Leianna would have been insulted. She was accustomed to being worshipped, especially if she chose to couple with someone. Never had she been so coolly assessed. Stopping between her breasts Antiel split his attentions to each, slowly spiraling in with each hand until he was tracing the outline of her soft pink areola. She repressed a shudder, willing herself not to express any pleasure. However, her body betrayed her and her nipples swelled, the soft flesh around them pebbling with arousal. Leianna couldn't bring herself to look at the demon before her. She kept her eyes locked on a cushion across the room. She did not need to look to guess that his face would be split in that damned grin as he watched pieces of her composure slowly crack away. Her back arched as he claws gently raked down the sides of her ribs, pausing at her hips before dipping down. And then down further. The air caught in her lungs as she felt his fingers dipping into the soft blond curls of her mound. She willed herself to breathe normally, but every moment she lost a bit more of her mind to his aphrodisiatic aura. The past week she had been plagued with thoughts of this night, tormented by the ideas of what would happen to her if she agreed. It had left her in a perpetual state of arousal as her mind concocted terrible scenarios of perverse acts done to her, or that she was forced to do. No matter how hard she fought against it, her body craved release. The pulsing need between her thighs did not care if it was satisfied by a demon, as long as it was satisfied. His fingers moved down through her curls until he circled her outer lips. She knew he could feel her heat. Feel the trace of dampness caused by her desire. Leianna nearly moaned as his fingers passed over her clit. Antiel stood abruptly, pulling away from her. A soft whine escaped through her throat. That wasn't enough! "Lay on your back," Antiel instructed, helping her to the ground. She did as instructed, lowering herself back so she was propped up on her elbows, knees closed demurely together as she watched him with wide eyes. Her stomach fluttered, or perhaps churned. Whether it was from fear or something else she couldn't really say. He purred, lowering himself so he knelt on the ground beside her. "Good girl. Now," His hands wrapped around her thin wrists and guided them to her breasts, "I want you to play with your nipples." Her face twisted in confusion but obeyed his instruction. She gently rolled the sensitive buds atop her breasts between her fingers, feeling her desire peak with every moment. Why was he doing this? Shouldn't he just use her? Why try to make her pleasure herself? It made no sense. Leianna's train of thought began to fade as he parted her knees, opening her legs to reveal her pink flower. She looked away, unwilling to see his face as he looked upon the wet proof of her arousal. She did not see him lean closer, but she felt it as his breath burned warm against her sensitive skin and she shivered as his mouth met with the inside of her thigh. She squealed as his sharp fangs nipped and moaned when the pain was eased with a warm soft kiss. He worked his way inwards, nibbling and kissing and licking until he had reached her patch of soft curls. Leianna could hardly suppress a pout as he bypassed her center, switching to devote the same attention to her other leg. Her mind was nearly gone, her existence was completely wrapped up in the sensations. Her fingers still played with her hard nipples, but her focus was only on the heat of his breath, the coarse wetness of his tongue, the bliss that was just out of reach. He pulled away from her, and whimpering, she looked up at him. As she watched his grin seemed to shimmer as he remodeled his form. His smile was no less demonic without his fangs, especially when a long serpentine tongue, split into two flickering prongs, slipped out to dart up the outer edge of her outer labia. Antiel wrapped an arm around her thigh pulling her closer to his mouth. Her head rolled back and her back arched forward. She still had the presence of mind not to press her hips toward him as she so desperately wanted to. But she did not need to, for he plunged forward, tongue slipping into her dripping flower. He growled from between her legs, delighting in the delicate musk and taste of the goddess's pussy. Leianna's hand flew to her mouth, muffling the overwhelming wave of pleasure that the demon's tongue brought her. The rough texture flickered over her inner lips, each half of the reptilian tongue moving independently and stimulating a different spot. Her hips rocked forward, legs spreading wider to offer him more, to give him all of her. His tongue swirled around her hard little clit; rolling it, pressing and flickering and rubbing up and down against it. She had given up on keeping still, her body was no longer under her control as she desperately ground against his face. She only barely managed keep herself silent. She bit down hard onto her hand, refusing to verbalize her ecstasy. Antiel plunged his tongue deep into her tight little pussy, wiggling it as he pressed it into her, stimulating every bit of her insides. She bit back sobs, her other hand abandoning her breast to grip his hair. She tried to pull him closer, deeper. With a fierce snarl he pulled away from her, growling in displeasure. She whimpered, panting with blind need as he left her right on the verge of climax. "I warned you not to make me repeat myself." His eyes burned with displeasure, and she quickly returned her hands to her breasts. "I'm sorry!" She gasped, eager to please him and bring him back to where he had been. She wanted that horrid demon tongue back inside her again. She wanted him to finish what he had started. She needed him to finish her. "Too late," he growled as he crossed the room to retrieve a long silk cord from his throne. His eyes devoured her naked form spread across the floor for him, and his face split back into his malicious grin. "If you cannot do as you are told you will not do anything at all." Leianna gasped as he wound the cord around her wrists, binding them together before securing her to a hook on the floor. Her arms pulled tight over her head, her breasts jutted obscenely upward in offering to him. "Please, I'm sorry, I'll-" "You have one chance to do as I ask. Fail and I will make certain you regret it." His voice shook through her like gravel and she shuddered, though it would be lying to say it was from fear. The desire burning through her drowned out any other thoughts she might have had. Antiel must have interpreted her trembling for fear because he paused in mock concern. "Of course, if you decide you want to stop we can. Just say the word and everything can go back to before. I'll stay here in town and you'll do... whatever pathetic little slut goddesses do." "No! I-" She choked the next words out, "I don't want to stop."