~Perversion of Sorcery~
Mage apprentice Lizette lay on her back in the small clearing watching the sun set, never expecting it to be the last she would enjoy. She let out a deep sigh as the last remnants of day faded into twilight. She counted the stars as they became visible in the sky, naming off the constellations as she waited. A shiver of anticipation ran up her spine as she heard soft footfalls approaching. She smiled as he stepped into a patch of moonlight, gazing at him longingly, enchanted as always by his features. She longed for him; the very sight of him set her burning with desire. His hair and eyes were of the darkest midnight black, making his skin seem pale by contrast. When she’d first lain eyes upon him she had thought his eyes seemed to have a reddish glow, but passed the sight off as a reflection of the torchlight. “Kaleb,” she whispered.
He held out his hand and when she took it helped her to stand. “Come, beloved, I have someone I would like you to meet.”
The dark-haired woman looked confused and disappointed, “We’re leaving? But I thought . . . well, I thought we’d be staying here.”
Kaleb smiled, “We can come back after, this won’t take long, and then we’ll have an eternity to spend here together.”
After a short walk, the pair reached a cave set into the side of a cliff wall, hidden by the growth of the trees and vines around it. “Not much further beloved, just inside.” He shoved the trailing plants aside and gestured her inside.
“Kaleb, what’s this you’ve brought home?”
The sudden voice in the darkness startled her and she stepped back into Kaleb’s comforting arms. “Master Tharsein, this is Lizette.”
“And why,” the voice said, coming closer, “have you brought this Lizette to our home?”
Kaleb frowned, but Lizette saw nothing, “To be Eternal Master.”
“Eternal? And what is this Lizette that she is deserving of joining our ranks?”
Kaleb stumbled over an answer, not expecting this questioning, “She is my chosen.”
“Your chosen?” Lizette could feel cool breath along her neck as he spoke, but could still make out nothing in the darkness. She thought of making a light, but was fearful and trusted Kaleb to protect her. “Being your chosen does not grant her the privilege of being Eternal. What else is she that makes her deserving?”
“She is a mage,” Kaleb suggested, trying to determine what type of answer his Master was seeking.
“A mage!” The voice sounded excited. “Well now that is a deserving point! Mages are very useful!”
“Master Tharsein, I mean no disrespect, but it was not my intent for her to be of use to you, she is my chosen.”
The voice growled, “You seek a reward when you have done nothing to deserve it?” A breeze slid past the apprentice’s neck and she heard a strangled gasp behind her from Kaleb. She screamed as warm liquid splattered her back and neck.
Lizette shook as she felt Kaleb fall to the ground behind her with a wet thud. She trembled in the silent darkness; hearing nothing, seeing nothing. She prayed that her beloved was still alive, but felt sure he was not. She thought of running, but was unsure of the way out, and feared tripping over the body at her feet. The warm liquid trickled down the side of her neck into her shirt.
She shrieked as something, Tharsein she assumed, grabbed her by the throat and shoved her into the rock wall, sending sparks in her vision as her head made contact with the solid surface. The hand wrapped tighter around her throat, lifting her feet off the ground. She flailed out at the hand, mouth gaping open as she struggled desperately for air. “Mages are very useful indeed,” she heard as teeth tore into her neck, “as long as you make sure you have full control of them.”