The Devil Take the Hindmost

[Vagrant]

~ This thread is closed for myself and Miss Shy Newcastle ~

The towncar broke through the dense fog that had settled on the English countryside. It moved slowly due to poor visibility, and because the occupant was not in a rush to reach his destination. Things hadn't been as he had expected when he had arrived here a year ago, but he had made the most of what had been presented.

The untimely death of one of the Landed Gentry shortly after his arrival marked his ascension into that role, posing as Lord Wmffre's Nephew, Markus Wmffre, he had taken over his lands and had spent the interim establishing himself among his peers. But that wasn't all. You see, he was there for a young woman. A special young woman, with great power. He had expected to not need this subterfuge, but where he had expected to find a girl versed in black magicks, he found a girl as pure as freshly driven snow. But he could still sense the power within her. It had been generations since her family had last practiced the dark arts, but it mark lingered.

He had to have her, but that would prove difficult if he did not play the game shrewdly. She was beautiful but didn't show it, and someone of his stature could hardly be seen pursueing someone of her's, the daughter of one of his tenants. So there had to be another way. Over the last year, he had been manipulating events, blighting crops so that her father would earn less money, seeing to it that he was cheated and robbed to make matters worse. Before long he was in debt to the point that he would most likely never recover. For a month he let them fret and worry, scraping whatever coin together they could to make ends meet and still keep the bill collector's at bay, but it became harder and harder each passing day.

And that brought him there, arriving at their home, and stepping outside of his car. The engine kept on and the driver waiting for his return, he walked up to the door and knocked.

When the door opened he greeted them, they had met him once or twice since he had arrived, and knew who he was. He told them that he had heard of their troubles and would like to help. The problem being, he said, that he couldn't simply give them the money. If he did that, then all of his other tenants would be thinking they were entitled to the same should they be in debt. That wouldn't do. But he could help if he were their son-in-law. That would be entirely within reason. He looked over to their daughter and smiled at her. He told them that their daughter was very beautiful, and that he had admired her from afar since he had first laid eyes on her. If they would but grant their blessing and allow him to take her hand in marriage, he would pay their debts and they would be able to continue living thier lives without the constant fear of losing everything. As expected, they agreed. They rationalised selling their daughter with the fact that he had been nothing but a gentleman to any of the other tenants, and had treated the matter with respect.

After letting her pack a bag, he took her away from her home that night, and brought her to her new home, his nearby estate. But it seemed that seeming good luck that had come to them after months of bad was not the turning point they believed it to be in the end. Not two days after that meeting, the house was consumed by fire as they slept. Neither parent lived to see the dawn, or their daughter's wedding.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

Lord Markus swept into our home as if he owned the place. Which, technically he did. I’d known he’d taken over the estate after the death of his Uncle, but I’d never met him. I also knew my father was in a lot of trouble, and with his arrival, this could be the end for us. Without a word, I sneaked off to my room while my parents talked business.

I wasn’t thrilled with the plan when I first found out about it. However, he seemed charming and kind, he was very handsome, and I would never need anything. The most difficult part was saying goodbye to my folks. But everything was in place, and I knew I’d see them again soon.

I settled quickly into my new lifestyle. The maids were polite and helpful, and whilst I missed my family, I quickly adjusted to life without work.

It was the eve of the wedding that I was told the devastating news of the untimely demise of my own family. I was not left with much time to grieve, as one of the conditions had been that we married on this particular date.

I walked down the aisle alone, where my husband to be greeted me.

 

[Vagrant]

He watched her walk down the aisle and smiled as she neared him. She looked absolutely radiant. In more ways than one. He was going to have to break her of one such way, and in the process, enhance the other. He stood beside her as the priest performed the ceremony, and held her hand gently. They exchanged vows, and rings, and then finally kissed.

The reception was full of people, though neither of them had family in attendance. He had told her that he had also recently lost his parents, and that his uncle was the last member of his family left. They were kindred spirits, alone no longer.

As they sat at the head table watching the festivities, he leaned over to kiss her softly and whisper in her ear. "This is for them, tonight, I have something planned just for the two of us. Celia, Astarte, and Viola are preparing everything right now. No two will be joined more firmly than we. I will know your very soul, and you will know mine. This I promise."

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I felt numb throughout the ceremony. I was alone, and never more had I felt it than this particular day. I knew I looked good, but I wanted my parents to be there. The ceremony itself passed in a blur, the reception a little better. I now knew Markus was alone in the world as well. We’d agreed on just the reception – no evening celebrations – as we wanted to get to know one another after the festivities. I also wanted to ensure the funeral plans were going smoothly – as the Lady of the manor I no longer even needed to worry about organising that.

As we eventually said goodbye to the last guest, I gladly settled beside the fireplace.

“You said you had plans for this evening? Do you need me in my wedding outfit or can I change into something more comfortable?” I asked.

 

[Vagrant]

Markus smiled at his new wife Anna, and leaned over to kiss her lips softly. "You may wear whatever you wish, my dear. If you would like to get changed, I will wait for you here.

If she did indeed go to get changed, Viola followed her to assist and to put away her gorgeous wedding gown.

Once Anna was ready, Markus took her hand and walked with her through the house slowly. He wasn't in any proticular hurry to get to his destination, because there was much he wanted to talk to her about prior to that. "What do you know of your family line, Anna? As a nobleman, for all that it means in this day and age, my family always prided itself on knowing about our family tree. What do you know about yours? Like your great grandparents for instance. Who were they?" He didn't know what had happened between then and now to produce such an insipidly pure of heart young woman, so he wondered if she knew any more than he did. Or if she knew less.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I changed out of my wedding outfit into something much more simple. A pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. I still felt uncomfortable in some of the outfits he insisted I wear - they just felt so formal and stuffy.

I gladly took his hand, but shrugged at his question.

"I don't really know. I barely even knew my grandparents. My fathers side died before I was born, and my mother didn't get on with her parents. I know it had something to do with them disapproving of my father, but that's all I know. And before that neither of them have talked about. No photos, no nothing. I really don't like talking about it - makes me even more depressed" I sighed.

 

[Vagrant]

He put his arm around her waist and held her close as they walked. "You shouldn't get depressed when thinking about your family, my love. We bring our family with us no matter where we go, they are in our memories, and if not there, in our blood. That should bring comfort, not sorrow."

Content that he wasn't going to get anything else that he didn't already know, he sterred them towards the stairs leading to the basement. Once there, with a wave of his hand, an arc of candles lit all on their own, illuminating the altar and black leather bound spell book. Demonic runes cared into the surface of the altar shone in the candle light as it played over the otherwise smooth obsidian.

"There is power in blood, my dear Anna. Some more than others, and in yours especially. I did not arrive here by chance. I came looking for you. Also, I am not Markus Wmffre. Or at least, there is no Markus Wmffre. I will tell you who I am in due time. But for now, just know that I am your husband, and all you have."

If she tried to run, the door would swing shut and not budge no matter how hard she tried to force it open.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I stared at him, trying to take in what had just been said.

"You killed him - and my parents? How could anyone do that? How could you be so cruel? They were all I had"

My legs wavered and for one awful moment I thought I was going to pass out.

"But you couldn't - you were with me.... none of your staff would do that. They wouldn't take a new Master without question. I don't understand...."

I started to take in the new surroundings, and began to make sense of what was going on.

"You've just sat through a wedding ceremony - and you practice dark arts. You're powerful enough that you can kill people without being there. You claim I have power in my blood. You wish to corrupt that power. Well, you can't. I have the right to say it was a mistake and have the marriage annulled."

I went to storm out but the door swung shut.

"This isn't funny" I yelled, tugging on the door. "Let me out of here right now!"

 

[Vagrant]

"Actually no, I didn't kill Markus Wmffre, or his uncle the previous Lord of this Manor. He did simply die of old age. Markus is my own creation, he never existed prior to my arrival here last year." He turned to watch her run towards the stairs. "But I won't deny that I killed your parents. I couldn't afford to have them as a loose end, considering the type of people they were. If your family had been as I was expecting, then they would still be alive. They would have raised you to be the woman you were meant to be, the woman I want you to be, and all would have been fine. But they didn't. I'm not sure where in your history your family broke away from the Old Ways, but I can still sense the power in your blood."

He chuckled about her assuming he wanted to corrupt her power. "No my dear Anna, I don't want to corrupt your power. That would be impossible. You have magic in you. Black Magic. There is no need to corrupt you at all. It comes from me in the first place, after all. One thousand years ago, one of your ancestors, I'm not going to bother listing how many greats this grandmother would be, entered into a bargain with me. A bargain to elevate her stature and give her power, in exchange for serving me when I wished, and teaching her children to follow in her footsteps. She lived up to her end of the pact, I mine. Every so often I would return to find her grand children and great grandchildren still honouring their Matriarch, and still willing to serve."

"After so many years, I was expecting more of the same, but sadly, you are not who you were meant to be. What all those many women raised their daughters to be. But you will be."

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I gave up tugging on the door. It clearly wouldn't budge. But I could be stubborn too.

"That's ridiculous. You may not be Markus Wmffre, but there's no way you can be over a thousand years old. You're only human. And as for this "power" in my blood, I didn't ask for it, I don't want it. By all means take it away from me. I'd sooner go back to my old life than serve something that my mother has brought me up against. Or to the life I was meant to have" I snapped, crossing my arms and glaring at him.

 

[Vagrant]

"Only human... if only for your sake that was the case." He grinned menacingly as he strode towards her. "I told you that I would tell you the truth of who I am, and now I will do so. I am Adramelech, the King of Fire, Lord of the Burning Wastes and Despoiler of Rome. I am so much more than merely human, my Wife."

He stepped closer and reached up to caress her face. "You misunderstand me, The power you have comes from me, but I did not give it to you. It was because of no pact with me that you acquired it. I cannot revoke it. But as it comes from me, I do not seek to corrupt it. Only set it free within you."

Without waiting for her response, he picked her up and carried her back to the altar. Laying her atop it, he used his power to bind her arms and legs so that she could not free herself.Behind the altar, showing her body bound and vulnerable, was a mirror.

"Now, my dear wife, we are to be bound to each other in a very real way. Not like the worthless ceremony that we had to endure earlier. But for that, you need to be dressed properly." With a wicked smile, flames began to consume her clothing. Her skin was untouched, but before long every stitch of cloth was turned to ash around her body. "Much better."

The mirror next to the altar showed something different however. Even thgouh Anna was bound, her reflection was not, though she remained in the same general position. Her breasts were larger and more firm, and her waist was trimmer. While Anna herself may struggle, her reflection moved in a much more sensual manner, as if she was welcoming what was to come.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

"I don't want it setting free. Just let me free" I yelped, struggling and squirming as some unseen force held me still.

The fires terrified me, but for some reason I was left untouched.

"Please" I whimpered "No-ones seen me naked before. Just let me go - I didn't enter into any pact and I really don't want to be here"

I watched the woman in the mirror. She looked almost like me. Almost. Except for her perfect figure and her breasts.

"Don't hurt me" I yelled, and closed my eyes, terrified.

 

[Vagrant]

"This is our wedding night, my love. Of course I'm going to see you naked."

He rand his hands over her naked body, enjoying the feel of her soft smooth skin. "I'm not going to set your power free, Anna. Nobody can do that but you. That isn't what this is about."

He stepped back and started to shift into his true form. He grew to half again his height, to over 9 feet tall, and his body thickened as his frame widened and his muscles grew more defined. He skin turned a deep reddish brown and two large horns sprouted from his forehead.

"This is about binding you to me, just like I promised. After tonight we will share a bond stronger than any other." His voice as deep and rumbled in his chest. He grabbed hold of her breasts with his hands, his fingers now tipped with razor sharp claws. He started to chant something in his native tongue, the words sounding alien to anyone who didn't know Demonic, and as he did so, he used one taloned finger to scratch a symbol into Anna's skin. One over each breast, and than another just above her pussy. When he was done the symbols were easily seen because scratched her enough to draw blood.

Still chanting, he held up a chalice above his head and then tipped it slowly, a thick red liquid, his blood, poured out and slowly covered her body, much more than the chalice could possibly hold, and yet it did not run out. The symbols that he drew into her flesh started to glow, illuminating the blood that now covered her, and slowly absorbed it all into her body, leaving deep red lines over the now fully healed wounds that he carved into her, and even they too started to fade.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I screamed in terror as he turned into a monstrous creature before my eyes. This couldn't be happening. I didn't really believe in all that Heaven and Hell stuff, but here was living proof it was real.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see what he would do to me. I hoped if I did that then it would all become dream like and not reality.

I cried out in pain as he ripped into my flesh. I could feel the sticky blood dribbling down me.

"Please don't - I don't want to be bound to you" I protested, as he began pouring something cold and damp over my body.

Within moments, it was like nothing had happened. Everything went calm again. I was no longer scared, and I slowly opened my eyes again.

 

[Vagrant]

When she opened her eyes, she was no longer bound, and he was back in his human form. He smiled at her warmly and caressed her cheek with his hand lightly. "There, all done. Now we truly are husband and wife." He helped her off the altar and held her close to him. "You've had a long day, are you ready for bed?"

In the mirror, her image was pressing her body against his and placing soft kisses on his face and neck, clearly aroused.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

"Did... did that whole thing really just happen?" I asked. I was still confused and scared. I was also still naked, and shivered violently. His touch was cold.

"Yes... I'd like to go to bed. I don't understand - who's that there?" I pointed at the mirror, very confused.

 

[Vagrant]

"Yes my love, that really just happened. And that is you. Or rather, who you were supposed to be. I've used my power to create windows into an alternate reality. One in which your family never went astray, where you were raised to be who you were supposed to be. Any mirror within the manor will show you this reality rather than our own. Learn what you can from her."

He helped her up and into bed, covering her with the lavish blankets that the master bedroom was made up with.

Over night, as she slept the symbols he drew upon her flesh once again ignited, arousing her and giving her pleasure though not letting her wake. Her dreams would be very interesting that night.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I allowed him to help me to bed, but secretly I was repulsed. The idea of being married to that creature was foul. He climbed into bed with me but made no move on me. Relief washed over me. I would find a way to escape him, of that I had no doubt.

Sleep came gradually.

I saw the woman from the mirror. She lay sprawled out on the bed, chained to the four posts. A man entered, although I couldn't make out his features.

He spoke.

"It is almost time, my precious slut. We must prepare your body for the next generation."

With a wave of his hand, he was naked, and knelt between her legs.

"It is a pleasure to serve You, My Lord and Master. What You will can and must be done" she murmered as he began licking at her pussy.

I felt her pleasure. Slightly confused, I tried to will myself awake, but could not. I was frozen, unable to move until I felt her pleasure coarse over me.

The dream faded out again.

 

[Vagrant]

Even though he could have, he didn't influence her dreams. He wanted to see what she would dream about on her own considering what she had learned and what he was doing to her body. Though he did notice that the other reality that he had tapped into seemed to be coming through in her dreams as well as in mirrors, and he wasn't exactly upset about that.

When she awoke int he morning, she was alone, and her three maids were in the room with her. Viola was bringing her breakfast in bed, and the other two were getting ready for her to wake up by drawing a bath and laying out her clothes.

"My Lady... there is something we must tell you. Like your Husband, we are not human. None of the staff in the manor is human. However we are under strict orders from our Master to only serve you, and nothing more. If you are worried that we will try to make you do something you do not wish to do, I promise we will not."

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

"All I want is to go back to the normal life I led before - is that too much to ask?" I snapped at Viola. "Get out - all of you - I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself thank you" I yelled.

The three of them fled, and I was left to eat my breakfaast in peace. Once eaten, I deliberately showered, ignoring the bath, and the dress, in favour of jeans and a jumper. I slipped into my coat and walked into the grounds. I planned not coming back.

 

[Vagrant]

Unfortunately for Anna, she was not going to make it off the grounds without Markus' permission. He let her walk wherever she wanted to go, but the moment that she tried to leave the manor grounds, his power over her would flare, causing the until now invisible markings on her body to glow, though invisible through her clothes, and prevent her from taking another step that would lead her further from him.

Each time she was stopped by his power, she would feel a tingle of pleasure centered on her breasts and pussy, growing stronger the longer she tried, and each time she made another attempt.

Markus smiled to himself as he watched her futile attempts to flee from the house, he wondered how long she would last before returning.

 

[Miss_Shy_Newcastle]

I was intent on heading out across to the farm where he'd killed my parents. Of course I knew no-one would believe me - why would they? A lowly serving girl, suddenly finding herself as Lady of the Manor? Everyone would just assume it was all a bit much for me, and that I just needed rest.

I strode out over the lawns towards the gates at the end of the grounds. I was surprised by how easy it was. I'd expected one of the staff to chase me but no-one came.

I soon discovered why. Upon reaching the gates, I found out my feet would carry me no further. Some strange feelings came over me - the need to be touched, to be held.

I stomped a little way back from the gate, sat down and disolved into tears.