The Forsaken Hero

*A/N: The contents of this Chapter touch upon dark themes that might disturb some readers. You have been warned.*

Normally, waking up was a slow, gradual process. I’d always found sleep to be thick and heavy, like being dipped in honey, and it took time to shake the cobwebs off my brain and rub my eyes open.

But not today. The deep evenness of my lethargic breathing turned short mid-breath, and my eyes shot open. The banquet! Dread settled in my heart as I looked around wildly, expecting the sting of the slave crest to appear at any moment.

It never did. Instead, I found myself in an unfamiliar room, far away from any sort of commotion. It was as large as any of the royal suites I’d seen, even Soltair’s. White, plush carpet, four oak wardrobes, a massive bed, and several chairs scattered around a table. Light came from a small crystal chandelier fixed to the ceiling, bathing the room in a soft, warm glow.

I lay on a velvety couch in the corner, the cushions so soft they seemed to swallow me whole. It was so warm, and comforting, I nearly drifted off to sleep again, but an unsettling movement in my mana jolted me awake once more.

Before I could question the unfamiliar circumstances further, the muffled sound of voices floated through the door. It was a large, heavy piece of workmanship, secured with a heavy bolt and protected by multiple powerful enchantments. I instinctively reached for the Eyes of Fate, only to find my current mana too weak to draw on their power.

The bolt shifted and the door opened, revealing Alex. His handsome face was split with a grin, and he was looking deep into the eyes of a beautiful, buxom woman, the same beside him at the banquet. She wore a gem-encrusted tiara and several ruby rings, along with a beautiful, revealing silk dress. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me sitting up, prompting Alex to turn.

”Ah, Xiviyah. You’re awake!” he said, his smile widening. ”How are you feeling? When I saw you passed out at the banquet, I just knew you’d need some proper rest.”

I nodded mutely, my eyes not leaving his companion. Was this the princess of the Flame Kingdom he’d mentioned to Soltair? They were obviously close, but what was with that jealous look? She glared at me, clinging to his arm in such a way her breasts pressed suspiciously tight against his arm. The Fire Hero’s expression remained unchanged, without so much as a blush. Was he ignoring her, or was he just completely used to it? His promiscuity was no secret, but the thought he would be that comfortable with such proximity to women was unsettling.

”Oh, I don’t think you’ve met yet. This is Jill, princess of the Flame Kingdom. And this,” he said, gesturing to me, ”is-”

”The traitorous slave,” she finished flatly. ”I know. I was at the banquet.”

He hesitated a moment before nodding. ”Yeah, I guess. Her name’s Xiviyah though.”

She snorted and pulled away, folding her arms crossly. ”It seems you two have business to attend to. I’ll be outside.”

She shot me a final glare and slipped away, closing the door behind her. The magical wards released a faint hum, sending waves of mana along the walls of the entire room, completely sealing us in. It was a protective measure meant to protect diplomats and nobles from assassination, but the glowing walls felt more like bars to a cage, trapping me.

”Why am I here?” I asked softly, my voice barely more than a strained whisper.

He settled into a seat at the table, kicking his feet up. ”You collapsed at the banquet, and I volunteered to take care of you. The Inquisitor was all too happy to agree, and even gave me this nifty little ring,” he said, spreading his hand to reveal the slave ring banded around his middle finger. My chest tightened the moment I laid eyes on the ring, my breath coming short and fast.

”Of course,” he continued, ”I hadn’t expected you to sleep through half the festival. You’ve really missed out on some extraordinary things, you know. The church had a big event where they unveiled all types of new magic they’d been working on in preparation for the Demon Invasion. With how obsessed you are with magic, I bet you would have loved it.”

I nodded, my voice stolen by a rising sense of nausea. There had been no progress in magic for hundreds of years, inside or outside of the church. It was almost impressive, though, how quickly they managed to plagiarize my discoveries and get them ready to display to the public. Many of my techniques were extremely dangerous to use without proper skill or training, and the process of mastering them couldn’t be rushed.

”Now then,” Alex said abruptly, ”How about we drink!”

He flashed me a smile, the same, cocky, flirtatious smile I’d grown used to, and reached into a nearby spatial bag, withdrawing an expensive-looking wine bottle. Although this type normally required a special tool to open, he casually flicked the cap with his thumb, utilizing his supernatural strength to send it flying across the room.

I clasped my hands in my lap, my tail curling around my feet apprehensively. He procured two fluted glass cups and skillfully filled them to an inch below the brim. He took one by the stem and handed it to me, before raising the other.

”Now, let’s drink!” he cried enthusiastically.

I resisted at first, but the slave crest trembled, forcing my hand to my lips. Even as he sipped from his own, Alex’s eyes never left me, fastened on the glass until the wine trickled down my throat. I’d had wine only once before, some cheap stuff I managed to steal from a drunkard after he dragged me home, forced himself on me, and then fell unconscious. It was watery and bland, but it’d taken the edge off my pain. That was another life, though, and was wholly transcended by this experience.

My eyes widened the moment the liquid touched my tongue. It was hot, but velvety, an unbelievable combination of sweet and spices, with bitter aftertones. I’d originally planned on taking a mere sip, but I couldn’t stop myself from raising the glass higher, basking in the warmth flowing over my tongue and into my stomach. After weeks of starvation and torture, it was practically irresistible. And it was only after several long droughts that I lowered the glass, remembering to breathe. A gentle heat settled in my stomach, radiating throughout my entire body and washing my worries away.

Alex watched me closely, lips slowly curving into a smile as I drained half the glass. ”Well?” he asked, quickly emptying his own glass, ”How was it?”

”Incredible,” I whispered, taking another sip. ”I’ve never had anything like it.”

The flavor was so complex I couldn’t describe it, drawing me until I found myself with an empty glass. Alex poured us another round, which I found myself unable to refuse. A faint tingle raced through my veins, suffusing my body with warmth. My horns began to itch, and I started panting, feeling hot. My vision took on a slight red tint, but I was too enamored with the wine to notice.

I looked up, startled, as Alex abruptly rose, sending his chair skating back. His pupils were dilated so wide his irises disappeared, and his face was bright red. It wasn’t a drunken flush, something I’d seen many times, but a stain of pure arousal. My heart rate accelerated, my tail twisting, but the rising heat flooded my mind, smoothing over any anxious protests. My vision wavered, taking on a deeper hue of red, and I stared at my fingers, unable to fully concentrate on their lines and form.

I froze as Alex’s fingers landed on my shoulders, lightly playing across my soft skin and up my neck. I bit my lip, holding back a moan as he tangled through my hair, caressing my horns. His every touch sent countless shivers through me, awakening a growing flame in my core.

A small jolt ran through me, and I tried to pull away. What was wrong with me? Why was I so unbelievably sensitive? Even as the questions raced through my mind, I could feel my will eroding, lost in the endless sea of tantalizing pleasure. His hands dropped, sliding beneath my arms and onto my stomach. I shivered, desperately resisting the cravings assaulting my sense of reasoning, a desperate desire for him to go lower. My gaze fell on the half-empty bottle of wine. But even as I realized the truth, I lacked the strength to resist.

”I’ve wanted you for too long,” he whispered, his breath hot against my neck, ”And now there’s no one who’s going to stop me.”

I shivered, moaning softly as he nibbled the fluted tip of my pointed ear. His hands rose higher, cupping my modest curves, groping them roughly. My breath caught in my throat, my heart palpitating in panic, but I secretly yearned for him to continue, to touch me more.

”Please...no...” I groaned, fighting the invading sensations with every fiber of my being.

Ignoring me, his hands slid beneath my dress. His hard, calloused fingers were rough against my skin, sending waves of titillations throughout my body, blurring my thoughts. Knowing I was mere moments from breaking, I tried to struggle, to slip free of his grip, but he whispered commands in my ear, bidding me to be still and enjoy it.

Tears welled up in my eyes, dripping unchecked down my cheeks. I thought this world had taken everything from me, hurt me in every way possible. But I had been wrong.

The power of the wine overshadowed my senses, making it appear as though the entire room was trembling. Alex’s hands stopped their assault, resting motionless against my skin, and he peered around, seeming disoriented.

No, that wasn’t right. The room actually was shaking. The chairs rattled, the crystal chandelier shook, and, most shockingly, the gently glowing barrier trembled. An earthquake? Even with my clouded mind, I knew that was impossible. No earthquake could threaten the stability of the Divine Throne, or the magic of this room, which had been built to withstand sixth-circle spells.

Suddenly, the barrier shattered, breaking into thousands of fragments that then disintegrated into particles of light. The door blasted open, hanging loosely from one hinge, revealing a solitary, black-haired woman. I stared dully at the figure, unable to make them out through the rosy haze of the wine, but her voice rang in my ears clear and true.

”That’s quite enough, Alex,” Korra said, leveling her staff at the Fire Hero. ”Let her go.”