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Xera and Her Companions #14: Shadows of the Past

by Sigma

I

“Fucking finally!” Gurka said, bursting into a fit of laughter as she fell to her knees at the edge of the town the four heroines walked into.

Ava stopped next to her and sat on the ground. “Yes, finally...civilization. People.”

Xera stopped next to them, carrying Minerva on her back. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she said, sighing happily.

“Two months on that fucking road,” Gurka groaned and stood up. “Two months of fighting monsters, bandits, and wizards. Two months of sleeping on the ground, finally over.”

“I’m just happy we don’t have to hunt for food tonight,” Ava said, standing up.

“Minerva,” Xera said, shaking the sorceress. “Wake up.”

“Huh, what?” Minerva looked up. “Oh, it’s a town,” she said before climbing off of Xera’s back.

Just then, the four were approached by a young man with a welcoming smile on his face. “Good morning, ladies, and welcome. I can see the road has left you all weary. Please...come and relax,” he said, motioning to the town. “I think you’ll find our humble town quite accommodating.”

And with that, the four followed him to the town, eager for some comfort and relaxation.

II

Some time later, Xera sighed and collapsed into a lounge chair. Her red hair was tied back and her athletic body was wrapped in a plush, white robe. Minerva sat in the seat next to her with a book open on her lap and a drink on a small table next to them.

“I never want to leave this place,” Xera said, stretching her legs. “I just had a man massage every ache out of my legs. I feel like a new person,” she said, wiggling her toes.

“Agreed,” Minerva said. “It’s curious, though. This place isn’t on any map I can find, and when I ask around, I’m told it has different names,” she said.

“You’re worrying too much,” Xera said, stretching her arms. “Relax and enjoy it. Gurka found a place to drink and gamble, Ava is off stuffing her face, everyone is happy. Just look, we aren’t the only travelers,” she pointed.

“I suppose…” Minerva said, glancing around the spa area that she and Xera had been resting in. She saw other travelers, people armed with packs, and weapons, resting as well. They happily took food and drink from smiling service staff, and among them, Minerva noticed a few magic users. Like her, they relaxed with books and keep their staves propped up nearby. She settled into her seat and continued her reading. She looked up when an attendant approached them. The woman had the same infectious smile so many other locals did.

“Ladies, if you’ll follow me, your room is ready.”

***

The bedroom was in the inn connected to the spa, and was more than enough for the two of them as well as Gurka and Ava, but for now Xera and Minerva had it to themselves. Xera walked around, exploring her surroundings and Minerva did the same, but watched Xera closely, her eyes on the Amazon’s generous curves beneath her robe. She looked away as Xera stripped her robe off and let it drop to the floor. Her curvy body was on full display, round hips, shapely ass, muscular thighs, well endowed chest. She plopped down on her back one of the room’s beds.

“Oh...there are only three beds,” Minerva said.

“Hmm, yes…” Xera said, looking around. “Well, no sense in being disturbed by Ava and Gurka fighting over who gets the last one.” She then patted the empty space in bed next to her. “Come lay next to me.”

Minerva froze and Xera sat up, propping her head up with an elbow. Minerva then walked over and climbed into the bed.

“See? Perfect size,” Xera smiled. Minerva smiled back and relaxed a little.

“You know…” Xera started, wrapping an arm around Minerva. “I feel as though I can say this now since it’s just the two of us, but I’m glad we met.”

“I...I am, too…” Minerva said, her face flush. She breathed in the pleasant scent given off by whatever perfume they had given Xera at the spa, and she felt herself gasp at the feeling of Xera’s bare tits on her back as the Amazon snuggled close to her.

“Do you remember just a few weeks ago when we got caught in that freak snowstorm and you and I had to cuddle by the fire under a single blanket?” Xera asked.

“I...I do...that storm came out of nowhere…”

Xera nuzzled against her. “That was a nice feeling…”

“It was…”

Minerva then gasped as Xera rolled her over and then climbed on top of her. Minerva looked away, holding her breath. She felt warm, she felt her nipples growing erect, and she felt herself growing wet when Xera’s naked leg pushed her own legs apart. Xera then grabbed Minerva’s jaw and made her look her in the eye. The Amazon then leaned in and kissed her.

Xera’s lips were warm, her touch was gentle, and Minerva couldn’t think of anything else as their bodies pressed together. She felt Xera’s hands sliding her robe off her body. She then felt Xera put a hand on her hip, while the other hand intertwined with Minerva’s. As she and Xera continued kissing, Minerva couldn’t help but think something was wrong, but everything felt so right.

She parted her legs, arched her back so she could sit up, and their naked chests pressed together as Minerva reached up and grasped one of Xera’s tits in her hand. She then slid the other hand down Xera’s tight stomach, teasing the lips of the Amazon’s pussy, grazing the clit with her thumb. Xera let out a light gasp and a chuckle while Minerva continued teasing her sensitive areas. Minerva then broke the kiss, planting light kisses down Xera’s chest before taking a tit into her mouth and sucking and biting the nipple.

The warmth drove the sorceress wild. The warmth of their bodies pressed together, the warmth of Xera’s flesh in her mouth, the warmth of her lover’s breath against her skin as she whimpered, begged, and encouraged. Those gasps then became barely suppressed screams when Minerva slid her fingers into Xera and began gently working them, playing with the walls and thumbing the clit gently.

Xera tightened her embrace around Minerva’s slim body, sliding her hand down her back while running the other through her hair. Xera then began rocking her shapely hips back again forth in time with Minerva’s thrusting, daring the sorceress to go deeper, harder, faster. Minerva obliged her, pushing her fingers in deeper and picking up speed. Xera grunted. She felt herself growing increasingly wetter as Minerva slid in and out of her.

The sorceress continued sucking on the Amazon’s tits, licking and biting the nipple and leaving light marks on the delicate flesh, and she simply heard Xera cry out and embrace her harder when she did. She felt Xera’s muscular legs wrap around her waist, and she felt Xera lean in and plant a kiss on the top of her head. At that, Minerva stuck a second finger into the Amazon, going up to her knuckles. She applied more pressure to the clit at the same time, and grunted when Xera curled her fingers out of reflex, and the Amazon’s nails dug into her back.

Minerva bit back the combination of pain and pleasure, and nipped at Xera’s tit in response. She felt the Amazon’s pussy tightening around her fingers. She felt it getting wetter. She felt Xera’s breathing getting faster and shallower, and she heard Xera whispering names under breath, names Minerva knew were deities that the Amazons worshiped and paid tribute to.

And then Xera let out a cry as she burst all over Minerva’s hand.

Her fingers were slicked with Xera’s juices, as were both women's’ thighs. Minerva pulled her hand free and sucked it clean while looking Xera in her glossed over eyes.

The Amazon then smiled at her, put a hand on her narrow chest, and pushed her onto her back. Xera then slid back on the bed, gripped Minerva’s thighs, put her legs over her shoulders, and put her face between her legs.

As Minerva whimpered when she felt the warmth of Xera’s tongue, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that, no matter how good this felt, something wasn’t right about any of it.

***

A light breeze floated in through the window and the moon hung in the night sky. Minerva lay awake with Xera’s arm around her. The Amazon was fast asleep and stirred lightly when Minerva moved some hair out of her face. She then carefully slipped out of bed and grabbed her robe and boots. Before long, Minerva was walking through the quiet city streets on a solitary trek that she found always helped when she had trouble sleeping.

The windows in the buildings were dark and silent. Streets that bustled with smiling people during the day where practically abandoned, and there was an unmistakable electricity in the air that Minerva knew all to well.

The unseen hand of magic at work.

She paused and pulled her robe around her, glancing at her surroundings. That’s when she noticed a tall figured in a hooded cloak watching her from a nearby alley. When Minerva moved on, so did the figure. She glanced back and saw them pick up pace, and so she ran. She darted around a corner, and then another, but could still hear footsteps. The sorceress then rounded another corner and spun on her heel. She knelt down and drew a circle in the dirt, connecting the edges with lines and symbols. She then uttered an arcane word and pressed both hands to the circle before she stepped back.

The tall figure came around the corner, approached her and then froze in place as her binding spell activated and the symbol glowed.

“Who are you?!” Minerva demanded, summoning a fireball on her palm.

She only saw a narrow chin under the cloak, but with the person’s build and height, she was sure it was a man.

“Oh, you’ll do nicely…” the man grinned by waving his arm. There was a burst of light and Minerva’s spell was broken. The wind kicked up by the magic he used tossed his hood back and Minerva saw a face with sharp features, blonde hair tied back, and two long, pointed ears on his head.

“An E...an elf?! That’s impossible!” Minerva said.

“Not impossible, child…” the elf said, snapping his fingers. When he did, the fireball on Minerva’s hand snuffed out. “You have some strong magical talent. It will sate me well, indeed.”

Minerva was frozen with fear as the elf approached. He walked calmly, smiling like the predator he was, and when he was close, he reached toward her with a gloved hand.

Then they both looked up when they heard two voices singing loudly and very off key coming down the street.

Minerva turned back to see two people with their arms across each other’s shoulders, swaying drunkenly. They each had mugs in hand as they carried on. Minerva turned back to the elf, but he was already gone. She then turned to the people behind her and her jaw dropped when they got close.

“Ohh...Minerva...hi,” Ava blinked, stopping when she realized Minerva was there.

“What are you doing out here, little one?” Gurka asked with her arm still over Ava’s shoulders.

Minerva gasped and hugged them both, completely unbothered by the smell of alcohol on them.

***

“An elf?” Gurka said. The four were in their bedroom, with Xera awake and sitting up in her and Minerva’s shared bed. “Are you crazy, girl? Elves have been extinct for centuries.”

“I know...but…”

“I think we’re all still somewhat exhausted,” Xera said. “Everyone get some rest.”

Ava and Gurka were more than happy to oblige, and Xera watched Minerva for a few seconds before lying back down. Minerva sighed and climbed back into bed.

***

The next morning, Minerva pushed food around on her breakfast plate while the others devoured their meals. She looked around the spa and noticed that, while the staff was still smiling and present, there were fewer travelers than the day before. Minerva specifically noticed that the magic users she saw the day before were nowhere to be seen.

“There’s a large pool not far from here,” Gurka said. “We should check it out.”

“Oh, that sounds fun,” Ava said.

“I will go too,” Xera said. “Minerva?”

“Hmm? What?” She looked up. “Oh...no, thank you. I want to explore the town a bit.”

“Hoping to see your elf again?” Gurka asked, teasingly.

“Leave her alone,” Ava punched Gurka in the arm.

“Well, you know where to find us,” Xera said to her.

***

Minerva had spent much of the morning walking around the town and in doing so, took note of the fact that was jarringly peaceful. Everyone smiled and greeted each other, there were abrupt interactions or rudeness among the people. She walked past many taverns and noticed not even as much as drunken disagreement, never mind an argument. As she walked, she made sure to stay among the crowds and never once saw the man who attacked her the night before.

After several hours, she sat down on a bench and sighed. “I must be losing my mind…” she said. “I think I’ll go join the others at the pool.”

***

At the pool, Minerva stood alone in a room where she took off her robe and let it drop to the floor. Almost on cue, a woman, dressed like one of the attendants, walked in holding fresh towels and an outfit appropriate for swimming.

“Thank you,” Minerva smiled at the woman, who nodded and stepped back.

“You are right,” the woman said.

Minerva looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

“All is not as it seems in this place. You and your friends are in danger.”

“Wh...what?”

The woman snapped her fingers and the image of a tall human woman faded away. Before Minerva stood another elf, this one a woman, white light blonde hair and the same sharp features as the man. “I can reveal everything, but not here. Come to the courtyard at the town hall tonight, after dark.”

“Wait...what’s happening here?”

“The man who attacked you was my brother, Jandar. He’s the one behind everything,” the elf woman said. She then put her hand to her mouth and coughed, and Minerva noticed that she was pale, almost sickly looking. Sweat beaded down her forehead and her green eyes had bags under them.

“Are you okay?” Minerva stepped toward her. She was then surprised when the elf grabbed her by the back of the head and kissed her on the lips, long and deep. When she broke the kiss, some color had returned to the elf’s skin and her features looked more healthy. She let out a deep sigh and stepped back. “Tonight...come alone,” the elf said before leaving.

***

Minerva walked out to the pool and found the others. Gurka and Ava were the water, hands locked and testing each other’s strength, with the orc overpowering the human. Xera watched then, laughing, when she noticed Minerva, who sat down next to her said nothing. Xera watched her with a look of concern on her face but said nothing otherwise.

***

The night, the moon hung high in the sky was Minerva entered the courtyard of the town hall. She stood in the center, watching the shadows for any signs of life. She looked back over her shoulder, the lingering sense that she was being watched hanging over her. When she looked, she nearly caught Xera, who quickly ducked back around a corner to avoid being seen.

“Sorceress,” a voice spoke.

Minerva turned to see the female elf step from the shadows. She wore top of sheer with a plunging neckline and her slim hips and legs were covered by leather pants. She wore a hooded cloak and had the classically beautiful features Minerva had always read elves were blessed with.

“Thank you for coming,” the elf said. Minerva realized the woman was even taller than Xera and Ava, and almost as tall as Gurka. She gave off a calming, disarming air that was complemented by her smile and her body, lean with visible muscle definition, distracted Minerva with its near perfection. The books Minerva had read about elves in the past often said they were alluring, and she couldn’t help but think about how none of that was exaggeration. “I realize I never introduced myself. My name is Arryn.”

“Minerva,” the sorceress replied.

“My apologies for the clandestine nature of our meeting, but time is of the essence,” Arryn said, leading Minerva to the building. “I imagine you have many questions.”

“Yes!” Minerva said. “Not the least of which is...how are you alive?”

Arryn nodded, as if expecting that, and opened a hidden door that led below. “What do you know about  the supposed extinction of my people?”

“Just that it was some sort of magical cataclysm that did it.”

“Yes...we call it The Decimation,” Arryn explained. “Our leaders, all proficient magic users, reached into untapped planes of existence and tried to subjugate the beings that lurked there. Those beings were far, far too powerful for them and sent out a wave of chaotic magic that killed not just them...but most of us…”

“Oh my…” Minerva gasped.

“Those of us who survived found we had a crippling addiction to magic that needed to be sated regularly if we were to continue living. We had to drain magical essence from other living beings, for it’s what carries one’s life force. So we took to the shadows as we fought among ourselves for mere survival. The Decimation...it took everything from us. Our cities collapsed, families turned against each other. It even took away our ability to reproduce...we had our long lives to stare down our inevitable end…” she said, choking back tears. “Those early days were dark...we leeched what we could from people we came across. Even those who don’t practice magic carry the innate potential...but drinking from them was like having a small sip. We had to take from actual practitioners of magic, for doing so was like being given a feast.”

“That’s why you kissed me,” Minerva realized. “You needed to feed.”

“Yes,” Arryn looked away as they walked down a flight of stairs that led below. “My apologies for that...I try to control the hunger, but willpower can only do so much against it. Jandar and I were seers of our people, skilled in foresight and illusion. We warned the elders against their actions but could not get them to stop...and so we had to rely on our skills to survive for as long as we did.”

“So...all of this…”

“It’s both of us…” Arryn was ashamed to say. “Jandar found this abandoned town and manipulated the minds of travelers to help rebuild it. We then tapped into their feelings of happiness and pleasure so they would stay. Then he...we...fed on them. We continued luring people in, feeding and renewing ourselves...but I cannot do this anymore…We’re alone in this world. Jandar and I haven’t seen another elf in almost a century.”

“I’ll help,” Minerva said. “There has to be something that can be done…”

“Perhaps...” Arryn said as she led her to a large set of doors that emptied into a circular stone chamber lined by candles. They walked through the space and Minerva looked around, feeling magic thick in the air. She stopped when she looked up and noticed, suspended from the ceiling, there were husks of human bodies in fine robes. She immediately recognized some of them as the magic users she saw at the spa the day before.

“They did not go without a fight,” a voice said.

Minerva turned to see Jandar appear in the center of the chamber just as glowing chains shot up from the ground grabbed her wrists. Another wrapped around her neck and then they pulled into the ground, forcing her to her knees. Jandar approached her, laughing, and Arryn stood behind her brother with her hand on his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry…” she apologized to Minerva.

“My, but you are a delicious one…” Jandar said, running his hand across Minerva’s chest while walking around her. “Did you enjoy my influence over your friend? The redhead?”

Minerva sat in stunned silence.

“I need your emotions at their most raw before my sister and I feast,” Jandar explained. “That’s why, before you die, you will relive that memory. No sense in dying with miserable thoughts in your head.”

Jandar put his hand on Minerva’s head and the sorceress felt a jolt and screamed as memories flooded her head. She saw Xera, as the night before, in her full nakedness, their warms bodies pressed together, their hands all over each other. She could feel Xera’s tongue between her legs, she could picture the towering Amazon’s head bobbing up and down as she ate. She could feel the pleasure running through every fiber of her body as all the sensations came rushing back.

She gasped, and her chained hand had just enough range for her to rub her own thigh and play with the sensitive skin as she moved it back toward her now damp pussy. The young sorceress slipped her hand into her robe, her eyes rolled back, and her mouth was wide open as she whimpered and whined at pleasuring herself.

“Jandar, please…” Arryn begged. “Don’t torment her, just...end this…”

“You be quiet!” he hissed. His hand lashed out, there was a sharp slap, and Arryn staggered back, holding her stinging jaw where her brother struck her. “I heard the pain in your voice when you explained our plight! For years we have lived in shadows, like rats, trying to feed this addiction while the other races have taken what belonged to us. We were the lords of this world. Not the humans, certainly not the damned orcs, and now we simply watch and whither while they replace us. I will not have my flesh and blood lower herself to these...usurpers.”

“That isn’t their fault! It’s ours!” She said to him. “We were arrogant. We thought we could bend the universe to our will and it fought back. This is our lot in life now. Whether we like it or not, we brought this on ourselves!”

Jandar growled at his sister. His hands trembled and his pale skin was drenched with sweat.

“How much longer do you think we can do this?” Arryn asked. “Look...you’re already getting worse. There was a time when just one sorcerer sustained you for weeks. You’ve fed on four in the past two days!”

“I will not be lectured by a softhearted fool!” Jandar said before holding out his hand.

Arryn felt herself frozen before a construct made of energy trapped her in place and then solidified, locking her in. She banged on the sides, but even her screams were silent.

Jandar exhaled and turned back to Minerva, who lay on her back on the floor, her fingers buried deep in herself as she continued crying out. The sorceress’ tits were bare, her nipples erect, and ecstasy ravaged every part of her slim body as she writhed and contorted with her own self pleasure. Jandar knelt down next to her and removed his gloves. He touched the sides of her face, moved down her chest, and took her tits in his hands, kneading the supple, vulnerable flesh and licking his lips. “You serve a great purpose that goes past your own life. You and many others will be instrumental in restoring the rightful lords of this world…” he said, laughing and playing with her tits. “This, I promise.” The elf then grinned and pressed his thumbs to Minerva’s temples. She screamed as she plunged her fingers deeper inside herself, and at the same time, Jandar began drawing her life force, sighing as he began to feel the orgasmic rush of his own being renewed.

“The only promise you will fulfill is one of a swift death, elf.”

Jandar turned to see Xera standing several feet away with sword in hand. The look on the Amazon’s face was one of fury and Jandar stood up and prepared a spell, but the minute he rose, his body jerked at a sharp pain in his gut. He looked down to see a dagger stuck in his flesh. He tried to grab the weapon, but Xera charged at him and jumped, kneeing him in the face and knocking him to his back. She then put the tip of her sword to his throat.

“Release my friend, now.”

Jandar froze and bared his teeth at her. His shaking was getting worse. He was sweating more. Suddenly, a burst of light filled the room and Xera turned to see Arryn rush past her and throw herself on top of her brother. She held out her hand.

“Stop!” Arryn cried. “You’ve won. It’s over.”

Jandar took his sister’s hand. “What are you doing…?” He then gasped as Arryn gripped the dagger and pushed it in deeper. Jandar spasmed and the light left his eyes before his head slumped to the side. Arryn’s body quivered with suppressed sobs.

“I’m doing what I should done years ago,” she answered. Just then, the chamber began to shake. Arryn looked at Xera with tears rolling down her cheeks. “Go. I’m destroying all of this. You don’t have much time.”

Xera stared at the elf, dumbfounded at what she was seeing.

“Go!” Arryn screamed at her.

Xera put her sword away and scooped Minerva up. The sorceress’ robes were practically hanging off of her as Xera threw her over her shoulder and ran out of the chamber just as it came crashing down behind her.

Arryn looked at her brother’s dead body and touched the side of his face. She then closed his eyes with her hands and waited by his side until the end.

III

The next morning found the four heroines sitting in the tavern, with Minerva hunched over a drink, staring down at the table. Xera was next to her, rubbing her shoulder and Gurka and Ava sat on the other side, their jaws agape.

“There were two elves?” Ava asked.

“Aye,” Xera nodded. “A brother and sister. They’re buried beneath the town hall now. Their influence over this place is broken.”

“Of course all this was too good to be true,” Gurka growled, finishing her drink. “Bah! I guess we’re back on the hard road, ladies,” she said before getting up and gathering her things.

Ava gathered up the bread from the table and put it in her bag. “I don’t want to go back to eating rabbit meat…” she whined before following Gurka.

Xera watched them go and then turned to Minerva. “Are you all right?”

“I wish I could have done something for them...maybe...found some way to reverse what happened to them…” she said, staring at her drink.

“I know,” Xera said, rubbing her shoulder. “It was a tragic tale, but this is how it ended for them. For what it’s worth...Arryn ultimately did the right thing, even at the cost of her life.”

Minerva simply nodded.

“We’ll be outside when you’re ready…” Xera said before getting up to leave.

Minerva sat alone and took another drink when someone slid into the seat across from her. She glanced up and her eyes went wide when she saw Arryn, her appearance sickly once again, but with a smile.

“A...Arryn?”

“Yes,” the elf nodded. “I just wanted to apologize for what happened...and to thank you.”

Minerva glanced around the tavern.

“This is an illusion, perhaps my last one. I escaped the building’s collapse after the two of you left.”

“Where are you?” Minerva asked.

“The hills to the north. Please don’t come looking for me. I’ve buried Jandar in a place no one is likely to find him. I plan on living out what little time I have left alongside him, until the hunger finally takes me…”

“I’m sorry, about all of this,” Minerva said.

“Don’t be. I had to do it. The man you saw, that wasn’t my brother...Jandar was kind, funny, and a loving brother before the Decimation. I had to live with the monster he turned into because I was too much of a coward to stop him. I’m just glad it’s finally over.” Arryn said, forming a smile that obviously took much of her strength. She looked Minerva in the eye and reached up to touch the side of her face before pulling back when they both realized she couldn’t. “You have your whole life ahead of you, Minerva. Don’t let it be one of regret…” Arryn said before her image faded away.

Minerva stared at the spot she had been sitting and let out a deep breath. She finished her drink and then got her things and stood up to leave. She heard shouting the minute she opened the door.

“No! You should have gotten your own bread!” Ava argued.

“Stop being a pig and give me some of that damn bread!” Gurka demanded, trying to wrestle Ava’s pack away from her.

“No!” Ava yanked it away and started running when Gurka came after her.

Xera sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. She then looked up when she saw Minerva. “Ah...there you are. Ready?”

Minerva watched Gurka chase after Ava and couldn’t help but smile. She then turned to Xera and nodded. “Off to the next adventure.”

The End