Gaia's Champion Ch. 37

Luke, Karla and Emalia arrived at the house excited beyond all means. They were finally going to make the Spellforge! Tonight! There was an air of excitement around them as they hurried in, wondering what would be going on right now. As they walked inside, the scene they found was very different from the one they had imagined. Everyone was quiet and solemn, almost like someone had just died.

"Yeesh! Why so glum?" Luke asked as he started at everyone there, more than a little spooked at the feel of the room.

"We found additional bits about what it means to become a Forgemaster, bud. It's... not what any of us have been expecting," Jason told his friend with a serious look.

"What do you mean?" Luke questioned, wondering what his friend was going on about.

"I could tell you, but I think that I'd rather just show you," Jason stated.

He then brought Luke over to where the Artificier's Tome was sitting on the living desk and stared at what lay on the page. What he saw both amazed and terrified the man, as he witnessed the behemoth that was a Forgemaster. It was almost like looking at a mystical cross between Hulk and Doomsday! While the benefits were many, transforming into such a thing was... scary, to say the least!

"That's... what you'd turn into?" Emalia yipped, blinking several times to be sure that she wasn't seeing things.

"You would be... something more than human but also... less," Karla said, turning to Luke with fear in her eyes. "Please tell me that you're not considering this anymore!"

"This change... it would be permanent?" Luke asked, still processing this new information.

"It would be, yes. Not only would the change be permanent, but you would not be able to shape change to maintain your regular human form, either. You would be, for all intents and purposes, a changed man," Aaliyah informed the man.

"I need to sit and think about this," Luke breathed, his head feeling a bit like a tilt-a-whirl at the moment. While he knew that what he'd be able to do would help his friends immensely, it would require a sacrifice on his part. A great sacrifice, if all of this was true, which it likely was. He knew that change was part of this, but just didn't think it would be that immense!

Not to mention changing in such a way that would change the relationship dynamic with his ladies. He huffed for a moment, as he mulled things over, when he noticed a portion of the page that Aaliyah hadn't pointed to, that for some reason, stood out to him. The man then got up and walked back to the book, staring at it quizzically.

"What about this portion right here? What does that say?" Luke asked.

"What portion? Where?" Aaliyah asked as she looked at the pages.

"This spot right here! You read everything else, but there was this spot that you missed," Luke told the woman and she blinked, staring at him, then the page.

"Luke, there's nothing there! It's just a small bit of blank paper," Aaliyah stated.

"I'm telling you, that there is writing right there! Can't you see it?" Luke asked, thinking the whole situation was beyond weird.

"Can you... write down what it is you see?" Phalmina asked, curious if he truly was seeing something that the rest of them could not.

"Sure! Anyone got a pen and paper?" Luke asked, and he had the items in his hand moments later. Luke then peered at the page and wrote down what he saw. After a minute's worth of writing, Aaliyah blinked as she was able to make out the words.

"What the... this is referencing something called Appendix A! But... there are no appendices in this book!" Aaliyah stated, looking at the writing, then back to Luke.

"Where are you from again?" Phalmina asked, curious as to how he could be able to see this while everyone else there could not.

"My parents are from Trinidad and Tobago originally, but my whole family bloodline is just one big mishmash," Luke told the fairy princess.

"Oh? Please, elaborate!" Phalmina enthused, as excitement lit her face.

"Well, even though I am a black man, my ancestry is all over the place. On my mom's side, it's a mix of Congolese, Chinese, and English. My dad's side is a mix of Congolese, East Indian, Irish and Scottish. Like I said, it's all a big mishmash," Luke said to her.

"Could it be...?" Emalia questioned, her eyes going wide as saucers.

"If he can see things we can't, then I believe he is!" Phalmina replied, a megawatt smile gracing her beautiful face.

"Believe he is what? What are you two going on about?" Sheena questioned.

"Luke being able to see writing that the rest of us can't, along with knowing his ancestry, leads us to one simple conclusion. That he is a direct descendant of the Artificier!" Emalia replied in an awe tinged voice, as though she could scarcely believe it.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!! Are you saying that because I can see that writing, that you believe I am the Artificier's heir??" Luke asked incredulously.

"We believe so, yes! That man lived long before either of our times, and we heard many stories about him. Each story centered on how crafty and clever he was, always staying one step ahead of his enemies. No one could defeat him or catch him unaware, as he was always planning for one contingency or another. Much like that comic character you've been telling me about. Man-bat?" Emalia asked.

"Batman. So, you are saying that this guy is my ancestor? The guy who was the proverbial and literal Batman of that age??" Luke asked again, still at a loss of whether to believe the fairies or not.

"You being able to see that writing when everyone else can't would explain it! The Artificier was a far-sighted man, according to the stories and legends. It would stand to reason that he would leave secrets that only his heir would be able to see!" Phalmina finished.

"I'm... holy... that is some really cool shit!" Luke crowed, feeling like he'd just won the lottery with this news.

"It is pretty damned cool! I mean, how often is it you discover you are of the bloodline of a legendary mage?" Darnell asked, smiling at his new friend with pride.

"I'd say that's a pretty rare occurrence! And... one hell of a turn on!" Karla purred, looking like she wanted to devour Luke on the spot.

"Ok, you two! Save it for the bedroom! Aaliyah, you said that thing refers to something called Appendix A?" Amy asked, looking at the writing.

"Yeah, but I don't know where Appendix A would be," the witch replied with a shrug.

"Hold on a second. I remember there being some blank pages at the end of the book! Could that be where Appendix A is?" Xaera questioned.

"Show me these pages!" Aaliyah begged, stepping away from the book to let Xaera show her.

The troll woman stepped up to the table and, using her magic, started turning the pages. She flipped through the pages rather quickly, and Xaera only slowed down when she got near the end of the book. The last ten or so pages were completely blank and often had Xaera wondering why they were there. But to Luke, the pages were anything but blank and he smiled when Xaera stopped at the first blank page.

"Right there! I see more of that writing!" Luke yelped in excitement. "Jay, I need more paper!"

Quick as a flash, Jason went and grabbed more paper for Luke to write on and brought a couple more pens as well. Luke then started copying everything he saw in the book, doing his best to mimic everything he saw.

"Remember, every pen stroke must be in the copy! This language is old and one that can mistranslate easy if there are any missing parts of the writing!" Aaliyah warned Luke.

"Don't worry! I know about making sure that you have every piece to the puzzle so you can solve it correctly," Luke reassured the woman. It took him some time, but Luke finally finished the first page and handed it to Aaliyah, while he got to work on copying the second page. The witch took the paper and scanned it, her eyes getting wider with each sentence she read!

"Babe? What is it?" Darnell asked his wife.

"If I'm reading this right, and I know I am, it's a damn good thing we didn't go through with the process to make Luke into a Forgemaster!" the witch told him.

"Aside from what we found on the hidden page, what is the appendix saying?" Karla asked.

"It's saying that Forgemasters. once created, gain a whole host of beneficial abilities. Enhanced strength, physical resiliency, and, of course, direct access to any and every type of magic the Spellforge is made with! The list goes on for a bit, but there are also some drawbacks to becoming a Forgemaster," Aaliyah told them.

"Like what?" Jason wondered.

"The forge at which they are made, they are also tied to, like an anchor of sorts. It's the only way they can live. They also become more than human, but at the same time, they lose much of what makes them human in the first place," the witch sighed as she read.

"Sounds like there is always a price to pay for such power," Luke huffed, not liking these limitations one bit.

"But... there are ways to circumvent these limitations!" Aaliyah told them excitedly.

"What??" Emalia asked.

"How?!?" Karla wondered, hoping that she and Emalia could have their cake and eat it too.

"That information is contained in other tomes that were also written by the Artificier! Seven others, to be precise," she told the group. "The list of these books is right here!"

"So, we have to go hunting for seven other tomes? Great!" Sheena said sarcastically.

"At least it's not all twenty-nine other books that we need!" Aaliyah stated as she kept reading more of the pages that Luke was writing down for her.

"Twenty-nine? That guy made twenty-nine other books aside from this one?!?" Sheena choked, thinking that finding such books was all but impossible.

"Yeah! Appendix A goes on to outline every book he ever wrote! Appendix B, which starts here, details each book and what we'll find in it!" Aaliyah said excitedly.

"Count on a guy like him to make the amount of books he made a Prime number," Luke said with a chuckle.

"So wait, there is also an Appendix B?? Damn, this guy was a bit paranoid!" Darren commented.

"Well, given the amount of raw power he commanded, and all the knowledge he had that was being coveted by the Dark, wouldn't you be?" Daelina asked her fiancé.

"I supposed I would be," Darren admitted, seeing the logic in keeping such things a secret.

"There isn't just an Appendix B, but an Appendix C as well!" Aaliyah yipped, getting more excited with each page she read and translated.

"What is in Appendix C?" Phalmina wondered, curious about everything this man had kept hidden.

"It is a list of every apprentice that he ever took! Who they were, what their talents were and whatever they created, from books to powerful magical artifacts! I mean, this guy wasn't only paranoid, but he was exceptionally thorough!" Aaliyah stated, still in shock over this new information!

"How big is the list of apprentices?" Jason wondered.

"Pretty big! The man took in and trained over thirty apprentices! Each one of them going on to become powerful wizards, sorcerers or witches in their own right!! Next to each name is a list of the things they did and any creations they made!" Aaliyah chatted as she wrote down the translations in English.

It took the better part of an hour to complete the list, but when it was done, everyone had a look at the writings and were awestruck. Merlin, the mythical wizard of Arthurian legend, was on there, but it was the only one that the group recognized. Every other name on there was one that no one knew, which saddened the group. The fact that these other spellcasters were lost to the annals of history was a tragedy.

"This would be a good thing, except for the fact that Carman found us and gave us an ultimatum with a clock attached to it! We only have three days!" Felicitae lamented, thinking they wouldn't find what they needed in time.

"Wait a minute... I recognize a couple of these titles!!" Valerie stated as she looked at the list, pointing to a couple of them.

"What?? Which ones?!?" Aaliyah asked, turning to look at the list.

"These titles, which were written by this woman, the sorceress, Shayara Ekatria! I have two of her books!!" Valerie said excitedly.

"Wait, where did you get these books? How come I didn't hear about them?" Dominique questioned, looking at her former mistress.

"That's because I didn't look at them until a few years ago! Remember those books that I have stored in that storeroom beneath the shop? The ones I told you could kill you if you tried opening them?" Valerie asked her onetime apprentice.

"Yeah! Wait, how do you know that Shayara Ekatria is the one who wrote them?" the dark-skinned woman wondered.

"Because I figured I was strong enough to at least glance inside at the first few pages and not die from the magical wards designed to keep the uninitiated out. It turned out that I was right! I was able to look at the contents and the foreword, but that's as far as I dared go. Any further, I'm not sure what would have happened," Valerie confessed.

"You said that you tried this when? Years ago?" Sheena asked, curious about how long it had been for the witch.

"At least four years ago. My power levels have progressed since then, so maybe I am able to take a gander at a few more pages!" the woman replied excitedly.

"It might be time to try again! Oh, and I'm curious if you would mind bringing those books here?" Jason wondered.

"Why do you want them here?" Valerie queried.

"Just so we are able to make copies of these books. While it is best to retain the originals, such knowledge shouldn't be lost or kept out of reach. If for nothing else, to keep it archived here, a place of complete safety," Jason told her.

"All right. I see the merit in doing that, as long as the originals wind up back in my hands," Valerie agreed.

"No issues there!" Jason smiled.

"There is also a list of bookstores, much like mine that do bear investigation! I'm pretty sure ones that I'm thinking of have at least one of these books we are looking for! Possibly even two!" Valerie told them as she grabbed a pen and paper, jotting down the names of these occult bookstores.

"Well, that would certainly be a big help!" Eva commented, thinking that such knowledge should always be in the proper hands.

"Is there anything else you can think of that could help us find such books faster?" Phalmina asked, remembering that they were on a timetable.

"Hmm. There is someone who might be able to find more books for us. Hell, he might even have a few of additional tomes of the Artificier! Even if he doesn't, he could certainly direct us to the places where they can be found!" Valerie said with a slight wince.

"Wait, wait, wait! Just who is it you are talking about Val?" Dominique questioned, looking over at her former mistress.

"You know the man. You've met him a few times and you know him well," Valerie told her onetime apprentice.

"Not him!" the Egyptian woman argued.

"It has to be him! He's the only contact I have that consistently delivers the items I need, and on time!" Valerie argued.

"Who is this... him you are referring to?" Amy asked, curious about what was going on.

"This him is a contact of mine who is a fence, and a damn good one at that! He procures special items, books, artifacts, and more, all across the spectrum. From the magical to the mundane, he has no issue getting his hands on them. Considering it's how he makes his living these days, it's not surprising that he's been consistent with delivering what he promises," Valerie stated.

"I would assume that what he delivers is the real McCoy?" Jason asked, making sure that Valerie wasn't just playing up the man's skills.

"That he does! I have no idea how he does it, but somehow, he finds a way to get his hands on what it is I'm looking for. I have yet to encounter a fake that he sold me, as everything I have is the original article," Valerie reassured Jason.

"But you're leaving out a few key facts, Val," Dominique sighed, shaking her head.

"Which is what?" Sheena queried.

"The fact that this fence is a warlock, and a rather powerful one at that!" Dominique told them, raising more than a few eyebrows at this news.

"A powerful warlock? Just how powerful is he?" Phalmina asked a little worriedly.

"Powerful enough to where he was the Dark Father of his own coven! Killed quite a few people during his heyday as well! Good people who would have been a big help to us today had they survived!" Dominique told them, hoping some of the others there would see that dealing with this man was a bad idea.

"Dealing with a Dark Father?? Are you insane?!?" Darnell questioned, knowing that warlocks who held such a title were no pushovers and more dangerous than they seemed.

"Normally, I would agree with you, but not since he swore the Oath of Neutrality and Defense," Valerie rebutted, which caused Dominique and Aaliyah to look at the woman in shock.

"Oath of Neutrality and Defense?" Hayley wondered, still new to everything to do with the hidden world of magic.

"An oath that is taken while standing upon a place of power, to take no sides and to stay out of the affairs of light and dark. The magic called to swear this oath is binding and holds them to neutrality for life. If they violate that oath, then their magic is stripped away and they then become normies, never to wield magic again," Aaliyah explained.

"Damn! Sounds like it's something that would be considered life changing!" Karla said out loud.

"It is. Those who swear such an oath must walk a fine line between light and dark. Effectively, they must have dealings in equal measure with both light and dark, or at least demand prices that fall along either line. Lots of rules that have to be followed if you're going to stay neutral like he does," Valerie told them.

"He's still a perv though, isn't he?" Dominique questioned, already certain of the answer.

"Yes, he's still quite the perv, but at least he's a predictable perv. That makes dealing with him a lot less of a hassle than it would be for someone who is unpredictable," Valerie stated, and Dominique nodded, seeing the merit of such a viewpoint.

"Can you get ahold of the man?" Sheena asked, eager to see what he had in his collection of wares.

"I can, but at this hour, it would be best for me to call him in the morning," Valerie replied.

"This list of bookstores, though, you are sure they have legit tomes and grimoires for sale?" Aaliyah asked, looking at Valerie.

"Some of the grimoires that have helped me jump in power came from those stores. So I'm pretty certain you will find a few things there of use," Valerie promised.

"Regardless, we should get ourselves some shuteye, so we can hit those bookstores first thing in the morning. As it stands, we only have two and a half days," Jason reminded them all, and they nodded at the sobering thought.

"Before we all get some rest, maybe we should get to crafting the Spellforge?" Aaliyah suggested.

"Shouldn't they both be crafted at the same time?" Phalmina asked.

"While it is ideal, it is not necessary! According to these notes in the appendices, the Forgemaster can be made separately from the Spellforge! There's also the fact that the notes do say that it should be crafted while under the light of the full moon! It will absorb the power and intent of our spellcraft much easier than on any other night!" Aaliyah informed them.

"And it is a full moon tonight! So, we should get to crafting the Spellforge ASAP then!" Sheena said as she looked outside.

"So, the Forgemaster can be made at the Spellforge at any time then?" Luke questioned.

"Yes! The thing about the Forgemaster, is that he or she is only as powerful as the Spellforge they were enhanced at. So, the more powerful the Spellforge..."

"... the more powerful the Forgemaster will be!" Karla finished.

While she was still not liking the idea, she wasn't going to stop Luke if this was what he wanted. Besides, she wanted to see what these workarounds would mean for Luke, if he was to go through with the process. Emalia was of the same mind, hoping and praying to Gaia that whatever the Artificier left behind would work out as they hoped.

Everyone then got to work, finishing their prep work of the spells they would need to create the Spellforge. While Luke wasn't becoming a Forgemaster that night, at least the night and the power of the full moon wouldn't be wasted. As everyone who could use magic was getting ready, everyone who couldn't, bustled about in the house.

The levels of magic needed to create the Spellforge were going to be high, and it would drain everyone significantly. Luke, Karla, Elizabeth and the others moved around the kitchen and the rest of the house, prepping food and places to rest. Once that was done, they headed out back to help with ensuring that everything was there.

After double checking and placing everything they could, the normies stepped back and let the Gaians and mages take center stage. The moon was nearing its apex, so they had to start soon and finish just as the full moon crested. From there, the blessings of the moon and Gaia would empower the forge even further, making it truly a one of a kind place of power.

Since it was their home and land sacred to Gaia, Jason and Sheena started the incantation. They began with simple runes of consecration, to purify the land further, so the magic of the Spellforge could take root. Phalmina then joined them, adding her magic to theirs. Then Xaera, Aaliyah, Felicitae, Amy and the rest of them also drew upon their own magics, adding it to the well of power.

Letting the spirit of Gaia guide them, Jason and Sheena etched runes of power on the ground, letting it seep into the soil. This gesture saturated every speck of dirt beneath their feet with their respective magics. Once this was done, they then pulled at the pile of stones that the ladies had procured, doing the same to them. After that, they then moved onto the metals that had been purchased, nearly drowning it all in magic.

With everything swimming in the magical energies of everyone present, Jason then reached out with his magic and started shaping everything. He began with the basic tools that every Forgemaster would need, such as hammers, chisels, tongs, awls, etc. Everyone assisted him in crafting these items, taking special care in their shaping and design, etching runes upon each tool to ensure the magic would hold fast.

They imparted their intent on each tool, making sure that these tools could only be used in service to Gaia and her allies. Slowly, bit by bit, the Spellforge began to take shape as the magic flowed around them. Workbenches made from magical wood, tables, chairs, a furnace, and even a roof to keep the rain and snow off it in bad weather.

The most important part, the anvil, came last, as such a thing would require the utmost confidence and focus to complete. Everyone poured out all that they had into the metal that would become the anvil, shaping it into what it needed to be. They purified the metal, removing any impurities, no matter how minute they were.

Once that was done, everyone then focused their magic upon the metal itself. They placed a multitude of runes within the metal, stamping each atom with their power. Soon after, the metal began to glow. It started in at red, then transitioned to orange, yellow, then finally, pure white. The moment it turned white was when the shaping began, and everyone moved in unison, following Jason's lead.

Much like a potter shaping clay, Jason shaped the metal of the anvil, letting his magic guide him. The image of what it should look like popped into his head and he followed that image, making the metal respond to his power. Slowly, the metal began to take shape, first as a large block, until Jason elongated the ends with his magic. Bit by bit, the white metal block started to take the shape of an anvil.

"I know everyone's tired, but we're nearly there! Keep going!" Jason said through gritted teeth, as he continued to direct the flow of magical power.

Luke chance a look over at everyone there and he could tell they were all teetering on the edge of exhaustion. Even the Fairies, who were normally so chipper and upbeat, looked about ready to pass out. Luke wanted to go over and help, but he knew that he'd more of a hinderance than a help.

They all dug down deep, knowing that they had to finish this now, or risk this whole thing being a total waste. The anvil was nearly complete, as it was slowly drifting down from its perch in the air, to the ground. Jason pulled out one final spell, calling forth the runes he needed and placed them on the underside of the anvil. With that done, the anvil finally took its final shape, as it touched the ground.

Jason huffed and puffed and looked on in disappointment, wondering if something had gone wrong. He then gasped, as though remembering something, and walked over to where the main hammer they had crafted and etched with magic, lay on the workbench. Jason carefully picked up the hammer and ever so gently tapped the anvil with it. A ring sounded on the air, clear as a bell and loud enough to be heard from a ways away.

Moments later, the ground lit up as sigils of power flared to life from the magic that empowered them. It wasn't just the ground that came to life, but also the tools, the bench, and every inch of what they had crafted and consecrated fairly glowed with magic. A grin replaced Jason's worried look, as he was now certain that the Spellforge was crafted as it should be.

"It's done," he said simply, and everyone there let go of the magic they were holding. A few of them wobbled and started to fall, but Luke, Karla and the rest of them were there to catch them and guide them to the ground gently.

"I didn't think that using magic could look so tiring!" Karla commented as she helped Luke in bringing Emalia to her feet.

"What we just did is about the equivalent of running the IronMan triathlon, in record time! While it may look flashy, fancy and cool, wielding magic does drain you," Jason told his friend, as he helped a few of the others back to their feet.

"How does that work? The magic I mean?" Luke asked.

"Imagine like... the magical power is like electricity from an outlet, with you being say... a lamp. The one drawing the magic can plug into this power, but when they do, they can only draw so much at any given time. Try drawing too much and you will burn yourself out," Jason replied.

"Ah! I think I get it!" Luke replied, nodding at how much sense it made.

"Yeah! So, while we still have access to this power, we need rest and food before we can use it again, and not suffer any negative effects from it," Jason finished.

"Sounds about right. Need some help there?" Elizabeth asked, noting that her friend looked about ready to fall over.

"Please! While I am able to stand, I'm running on fumes!" Jason told them. He wasn't the only one, as Sheena, Felicitae, and Valerie all managed to keep their feet to the spell's end, but only barely.

"Let's get everyone inside before we fall over ourselves!" Sheena half laughed, half yawned.

It was a bit of a chore to move everyone inside the house and out of the cold, but they managed it. There were a lot of comfy chairs and squashy loungers around the house, so it was easy enough to find a spot for everyone. Darnell and Aaliyah's children were another matter, as there was barely room for them by their parents.

Jason and Sheena fixed this by drawing on a small amount of magic, focusing on making a pair of small beds for them. They were both tired and drained, but they pushed out what they could, making a pair of beds grow out of the wood beneath them. The children were delighted as the beds were situated right next to their mom and dad and they crawled in, clonking out the moment they lay down.

"Whoa there, bud! C'mon! Let's get you two to bed!" Luke said as Jason nearly collapsed to the ground.

Luke caught him and held him up, doing what he could to keep his friend upright. He slung Jason's arm around his shoulder and half carried the man up the stairs to his room. Karla had done the same with Sheena, half carrying the ebony Shaman to her room with Jason. Once they were in bed, Luke and Karla headed down and brought Phalmina up, making sure to be careful, since she was pregnant.

The couple also made sure Emalia was comfortable before they headed out back to look at the Spellforge. There were so many questions on their minds, but they knew that these questions would have to wait until their friends were rested and awake.

"So, what sort of things do you think you'll be able to create from the Spellforge?" Karla asked.

"I don't know what I'll be able to create, but I do know that they are going to be seriously epic! I mean, being able to craft weapons such as Caladbolg? How cool is that??" Luke wondered as his eyes took on a faraway look.

"I can tell that you are beyond excited about the ability to do such things! Provided you can remain as you are!" Karla purred as she nuzzled into him.

"Damn straight! I really hope that we find those books that we need and soon! Gaia knows we'll need them!" Luke sighed as he stared at the glowing Spellforge. The man sighed as he wondered just how far his imagination would take him in crafting such wonders. With what they knew of Carman, she would be no pushover in a fight and Luke hoped that what he would soon craft would be enough.

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At the mansion, Carman walked out of the main doors wearing a sultry night dress. It wasn't anything super elegant, but it wasn't something simple either. She wore a pair of black heels and various bits of jewelry that made her look like a goddess reborn. The woman was flanked by both of her new apprentices, who were also dressed to the nines.

She had been advised to stay close to the grounds, but it was advice that was quickly discarded, as Carman did what she wanted. On top of having more than enough to power to effectively level the place and destroy anyone she faced, gave her a level of confidence that no one else possessed. Her apprentices, Finneas and Jana, flanked her, just as glitzed up as she was, looking like they were going to spend the night out.

Indeed, that was the plan, as Carman hadn't had a proper night of debauchery in a while. Sure, she had some pretty hardcore encounters with Jonas and his coven, along with her new followers, but it wasn't the same. She wanted a proper thrill, to hunt and chase her prey, before taking them as she pleased. Among followers and sycophants that did nothing but smile and nod, you didn't get that.

Finneas got the door to the backseat, which both Carman and Jana appreciated as they stepped into the luxury sedan. The boy, who was old enough to be a man, shut the door behind them and promptly hopped into the driver's seat. He then started the vehicle and left the estate, heading out towards the city. While they could have commanded any of the various servants to drive them, Carman insisted they do this on their own.

Carman was starting to become suspicious of the coven that was run by Jonas and often questioned his pace of things. Where she wanted things done now, Jonas advised caution and slowness. When she was decisive, he wanted to take a step back and weigh all options before deciding. Normally, this may have been something Carman appreciated, but there was something about his actions that rubbed her the wrong way.

She didn't share her thoughts with either of her apprentices. Not yet. Carman had to be sure of their allegiance and loyalty before she divulged any of her suspicions. But she had hopes for their autonomy in the past few days. The Dark Witch had seen the pair of them arguing with their peers and superiors while at the mansion. Many of those whom they had initially served tried to rein them in. But as her apprentices, such a thing was impossible now.

Because of their newly minted status, none of the Dark Fathers or Mothers, and not even Jonas himself, could override them. Carman had seen the both of them looking down their noses at the others in a smug fashion and she grinned. It was good that these two knew where they stood among the other practitioners of the Dark. But they still had to temper their enthusiasm, as those beneath them could still be useful.

It was a lesson for another day though, as Carman was looking forward to getting out there among other humans. While she may have been a spellcaster of immense power, Carman still liked to get out there and slum it up with the common folk. It was one of her guilty pleasures and it was one that needed to be fulfilled immediately!

"My lady? We are here!" Finneas said as he caught Carman's attention.

"Ah! I assume this place is one where we might have ourselves some... entertainment?" Carman questioned, as she viewed the lineup outside where they were idling.

"Indeed, it is! This place is the hardest nightclub to get into! No one gets in without a reservation and even if you do get in once, getting in a second time is a near impossibility! Unless you know someone important within the club!" Finneas told her, as Jana stared at the line that went around the block.

"Well, we shall see about that!" Carman smirked.

The Dark Witch then stepped out of the car, using her magic to open the door. The moment her foot hit the pavement, all eyes were on her, some staring, while others assessed her. They were all enraptured at the sight of her though, as those who looked at her in disdain only did so out of jealousy. Even the bouncers, whose job it was to mind the crowd and ensure no one pushed or cut the line, couldn't help themselves.

Jana stepped out behind her mistress, pulling some of the focus onto her for being so close to the woman. Carman scrutinized the crowd, as though she was searching for someone. She smiled as she found who it was she was looking for and crooked her finger. One of the men, who had been trying to impress his date, answered her call, unaware that he was drawn in by her magic.

"Young man, do me a favor and relieve the young man driving our... sedan of his duty. Find it a place of safety, where it will be looked after properly and when this is done, come back here. These... fine gentlemen will allow you to pass," Carman told him in her sexiest voice.

"Yes... mistress," the young man gulped, as he hustled to the driver's side and had Finneas get out. The apprentice was a bit bewildered at this, but grinned when he saw Carman was beckoning him over.

"Thank you, mistress! I appreciate being able to accompany you like this!" Finneas smiled.

"Don't thank me yet! The night has barely begun!" Carman told him as she giggled. She then turned to the bouncers and sauntered on up to them, keeping her magical aura present.

"Gentlemen, my... associates and I are new to this city and wish to see the delights it has to offer. Care to let us in?" Carman asked, using guile along with her magic to charm her way past these men. While it should have been easy, men like this were hard in the mind, much like the warriors of ages past. If nudged in the wrong direction, their minds could be like fortresses that even Carman would have a difficult time breaching.

"Of... course... dear lady!" the head bouncer said as he was pulled in by the magic. He then walked over and undid the rope that separated them from the club entry, allowing them through.

"Thank you, good sir! Be sure to allow that young man who left with our vehicle through as well!" Carman told him with a smile.

"It will be done," the man told her with a nod.

Some of the other bouncers wondered what was going on with their boss, but knew that he was prone to let gorgeous women in from time to time. None of them moved to stop them from entering, because they were easily as taken with Carman as he was. But how readily he had let her in, without demanding certain favors... it was unheard of.

None dared question him, though, as the man had a temper and was an accomplished fighter in his own right. Some of the people in line complained, but that was normal, and the rest of them went back to their job.

Carman and her apprentices walked inside and were assaulted by the heavy bass that thumped through the walls of the nightclub. She was taken aback at how much had changed over the centuries since her defeat! But what she saw, she liked it a lot! Women were dressed in skimpy and sexy little dresses like hers, and the men were dressed like Finneas was, all of them bumping and grinding on the dance floor.

She watched as some people exchanged wet and sloppy carnal kisses, while others contented themselves with watching. The general feel of the club was pure and unrequited lust, which everyone there was feeling. Everyone moved provocatively, each person hoping to pull in those they desired most with what they were. In some cases, it worked, in others, it didn't, but seeing this as it was, was enough to put a grin on Carman's face.

The sheer amount of flesh that was on display was enough to make even Carman's mouth water. Seeing humans moving and drinking as they were made her think she was truly going to enjoy herself in this age! Carman looked about, wondering if there was something a bit more secluded, as she had a lot planned for the people here.

"Mistress? Are you looking for something?" Finneas asked, noting her searching look.

"Somewhere that isn't so open. While I do enjoy a feast of flesh, starting that here in front of everyone isn't something I wish to do. Yet," she grinned.

"Ah! Well, there is a VIP section in this club, which I have heard rumors about," the apprentice told her.

"Rumors? What kind of rumors?" Jana asked, curious about what was being said.

"The... sexual kind. Where many things happen there, if people pay enough to make it happen," Finneas replied.

"I... see. This 'VIP', it is a place for those who are deemed important?" Carman questioned, letting the slight affront by Jana go for the moment.

"That's exactly what it is! A place for only the important people inside the club to go," Finneas said to her. He took a beat to further explain club etiquette, to make Carman blend in better. The Dark Witch smiled at what she was told and bade that Finneas take them there.

He guided Carman and Jana to the VIP section, which he knew of from people he knew who had been here. None had gained entry to the VIP, but each person he'd spoken to knew where it was. They reached the entry staircase to it, which was on the second floor of the club and guarded by two meaty bouncers. Carman employed her charms to allow them entry into the VIP.

They ascended the staircase and found themselves in a massive lounge of sorts that was nearly the size of the entire first floor. The people who were there were either extremely young or old. Some of the people there looked to be well into the sixties, and Carman huffed in disgust. While she knew the extremely old usually had a good deal of wealth, it still grated on her nerves that they had the audacity to try to woo and seduce the younger generations.

There were a few who were young enough that they still had their looks, which made them look... matured, which did appeal to her and her apprentices, but they were few. The lounge wasn't even that full, at maybe an eighth of its capacity, but Carman would change that quickly.

"Let us go back down to the other floors and see about filling this place with those who are... worthy of our attentions," Carman told her apprentices.

The pair of them smirked and followed her lead, eager to see how things would go this night! As they reached the second floor, Carman gifted them both with a mild amount of her magic, allowing their magic to bridge into hers for the night. The gift she gave them was the ability to tap into the subconscious minds of those around them and seduce them. With the power levels that Carman had, such a thing would be much easier now.

The three of them then spread out, looking to find only the most handsome or most beautiful of clubgoers. For Carman, this was child's play, as both men and women flocked to her like bees to honey. Because of the tap they had on Carman's magic, both Finneas and Jana were able to pull in a decent amount of people as well. Though they both pulled from the older crowd, there were more than enough young people to balance things out.

Carman then viewed the assembled crowd, sussing out those she deemed as unworthy or just posturing, dismissing them. Once the crowd had been thinned out a bit, Carman then grinned and made her way over to the VIP entrance again. As she neared it, she could see that the men who guarded it weren't prepared for such a crowd.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't allow this many people up there," the bouncer told her.

"Oh? Who says?" she asked.

"The owner. While we can have that many people up there legally, he sets the rules here. We either follow the rules, or we get fired," the other man stated.

"I see. Well, just tell the man that if he takes issue with this, then he can come and see me directly," Carman grinned, pushing her magical aura a bit to grant them all entry. Her push worked, as she saw the men's resolve break and bend to her will.

"All right. If you want to deal with him, fine! We'll let the man know to see you about this," the first bouncer said.

Grinning like a cheshire cat, Carman then led her entourage upstairs to the VIP, which surprised many of those who were currently there. As she glided in, flanked by her apprentices, she quickly dismissed those who were too old to partake in what she wanted to happen. Some of the people protested, stating that the owner wouldn't stand for this, but none had the will to resist Carman's magic.

They quickly departed and once the last of the unworthy had been expelled, did the party really start going. The bartenders and waitresses certainly weren't complaining, as some of the super attractive types that Carman had brought up were easy on the eyes. They were also being generous with their tips, which made them all smile, and some of the innuendo they received was also very welcome.

Carman was enjoying the attention of three men, all of whom were jockeying to allow her time with them. She quickly diffused the situation by telling them they could all impress her, simultaneously, if they were OK with sharing her. The guys were almost in disbelief at what they were hearing, but were super excited about it, regardless.

They all got a little handsy with her, as she did the same with them, grinning like an idiot at the sheer size of the tools these men were packing. Carman could also see that things were heading in a carnal direction, as everyone was getting themselves a handful or two of flesh. Finneas surprised her the most, as he had not one or two women hanging off him, but six total, all of whom were making doe eyes at the man.

Jana was in a similar situation, but was the center of attention of two men and two women, all of whom were tasting her exposed flesh. Much of what was going on was more along the lines of second or third base, but it was changing quickly. Many of the people there had their hands inside each other's pants, or up a skirt or two, all of them seeking pleasure and release. Until a man walked into the VIP, looking like a rampaging bull.

"Everyone, knock this off, right now!" the man commanded. No one listened to him, as his words were being ignored like dust in the wind. He blinked a few times, not liking the fact that no one was taking him seriously, and he became even redder, if such a thing was possible.

"I said CEASE!!!" he boomed and a few people looked up, staring at him curiously. Carman did much the same, as she sensed a level of magical power behind his words. Not enough to adversely affect her aura, much less dispel it, but enough to where he had her attention.

"Gentlemen, go to that man and restrain him, immediately!" Carman commanded and the three of them did as they were told.

The man, who was old, bald and fat, tried fighting them off. But against three men who were young and obviously honed themselves to physical perfection, it was a fruitless attempt. He tried using the same power as before to get them to back off, but with all three so deep in Carman's thrall, it was pointless. Once they had him restrained, Carman approached, curious about how he had such power in the first place.

"I don't know who the fuck you think you are, bitch, but I'm warning you--" he started before Carman enacted a cantrip, shutting the man up.

"That will be enough from you. Hold him still, I must see something," she told the men, and they nodded.

Carman reached into her magic and did a basic magic detection spell on him, to see what potential the man had. She found he had no innate power of his own, but detected two items of power on him and resonated with magic. One emanated from a ring he wore on his pinky, and the other was from a pendant that hung around his neck. Using her magical power, she removed them from the man and once she had them in hand, she could feel his power wink out.

"A mortal man, using items of power to get people to do what he wants? Let us see what it is you use these things for!" Carman scoffed as she put her hand to the man's face, her palm hovering just an inch away from it.

She then closed her eyes and focused, going through the man's memories. From there, she saw the old man many years ago, when he was younger, buying the ring and pendant from a fence he knew. Unknown to him or the fence, the items were in fact, stolen from their original owner, who had been looking for them for some years. When the original owner finally caught up to who had his possessions, it was too late.

The old man had figured out that these items were magical in nature and using them would make anyone he spoke to... pliable to his suggestions. With this power, the man had secured much in the manner of business deals and eventually the opening and success of this club. Of course, now that he had such power, he would do everything in his power to protect it.

When the original owner finally found him, the old man was more than willing to use this power on him and did so. He not only used it to make the man hand over everything he owned, but also his wife, his sister, and anything the old man deemed valuable. He then went a step further than was necessary and turned the man into the worst sort of incel possible, making it impossible for the man to get anything that belonged to him back.

To ensure his secret stayed safe, the old man poured considerable resources into finding the fence who sold him these items and tried to do the same to him. The fence proved a much harder challenge, as the man was a warlock of significant power. The old man's trinkets wouldn't work on such a being. Even then, he never had a clean shot at the warlock, as the warlock took every measure to ensure the old man never had one.

As she continued to sift through his mind, Carman could tell that this man wasn't only a thief, but greedy as fuck. He went and took everything from anyone and everyone he could, no matter who stood in his way. The old man was also an entitled prick, believing that since he now had such power, he could and should take everything he wanted. Money, fame and women, especially women, which disgusted Carman.

What truly made her sick to her stomach was the way he took these women, essentially raping them and making them his willing or unwilling sexual slaves. It didn't matter who they were or if they were straight, gay, bi, single, married, with someone, he took who he wanted. The old man was also of the belief that he was above any and all consequences of what could, and by law, should happen to him.

Carman withdrew her hand and schooled her face, despite the fact that she was livid with this man. While she was the Dark Witch and that mantle did come with some pretty evil and despicable things, she drew a line at rape. Having suffered such a thing herself, she hated all rapists with nuclear capacity and would happily end them all, if she could find them all.

She took a moment to calm down and think for a few moments, wondering what she would do with him. After a few minutes, a smile bloomed on her face as she had devised the perfect way to punish this man.

"Find some rope or something to bind this man with. Ensure that the bindings are secure," Carman said with a devilish grin. The old man moaned and squealed in alarm, thinking that he was going to die. She cackled evilly and got a good belly shaking laugh out, before she addressed him.

"Oh, worry not you miserable old fool! You are not going to die. I have a more devious punishment in mind," Carman grinned.

At this point, the old man was left in a small corner of the room to watch as the scene in the VIP slowly became more raunchy. People started to lose their clothing and soon dresses and suits littered the floor, as more and more people embraced their darker, carnal sides. Carman herself allowed the three men interested in her to manhandle her, as she did enjoy such a thing now and then.

Her eyes scanned the room, and she watched a busty ebony woman blowing a well endowed Asian man. She saw a pair of men kiss each other passionately, finally removing the masks they wore for so long. She even saw a pair of women cease their squabbling over another woman, and the three of them were quickly grinding on each other, each one of them losing themselves to the pleasure and bliss of the moment.

It was a veritable carnival of flesh, with everyone embracing desires they had kept pent up. She was especially excited when she watched a married couple seduce a young woman, with the wife encouraging the husband to take the girl any way he wanted. She contented herself to just sit there and watch as her husband fucked the girl with reckless abandon, making her scream like a whore.

A sigh of delight escaped Carman's lips as she too was naked and in the middle of being serviced by the well built black gentleman. His tongue was licking her nethers like there was no tomorrow and seeking out each sensitive spot to make her cum. This made Carman shiver in bliss as the other men stroked their cocks, waiting to their turn to service their mistress.

Licking her lips, Carman beckoned to the men, drawing them close enough to take their cocks, one in each hand. She then stroked them, gently at first, then she pumped them faster and faster, pushing them to their own peaks. Both men groaned as their balls boiled with all the pressure and friction her hands were causing. It wasn't long before they were both cumming, their seed blasting out of them like water from a firehose.

Carman quickly angled their dicks so their spray hit her large tits, covering them with their cum. Having a man spray her there was one thing she would always enjoy, no matter what. While both men seemed defeated that she had made them cum so quickly, she was far from done with them. Using her magic and her mouth, she sucked both men back to hardness, readying them for the pillaging they would soon do.

The Dark Witch moaned as she sucked the men off, while watching her apprentices have at other themselves. Jana was busy getting a double stuff from two brawny young men, while Finneas was balls deep in a gorgeous MILF, who was chanting the boy's name. Carman giggled to herself, as she was certain that keeping these two as apprentices would not only be beneficial, but also lots of fun.

"Um... excuse me? Mistress?" came a polite, but strong voice from behind her. She turned to see that it was one of the bouncers who was supposed to be guarding the doors to the VIP.

"Yes, what is it?" she huffed, as she so disliked interruptions while sucking cock.

"There is a young man down by the entry who is looking for you? Said that he parked your vehicle?" the bouncer told her.

"Ah! Yes! Send him up to partake with us!" she told him. The man nodded and left to do his duty, while looking at the scene around him longingly. Carman noted this and thought she might have to invite him and his friend up here once she had her initial fun.

Moments later, the young man came through the entry to the VIP and gaped at what he saw transpiring around him. With him stood the girl who was his date in the line, who was also astounded at what she was witnessing and blushed fiercely. Spotting them almost instantly, Carman beckoned them over and they walked to her, taking in the surrounding scene as they went.

"Liking what you are seeing... young man?" Carman questioned.

"Very much I do!" he replied in awe.

"And you, young lady? What do you think?" the Dark Witch asked, seeing that the girl was at a loss for words.

"I... I... I..." she stuttered while drinking in the massive orgy that was transpiring. Her eyes then locked onto another girl who was watching others while frigging herself. She was a pretty little brown girl, who had the body of a crossfitter and Carman saw that both the boy and girl who stood before her wanted that brown girl badly.

"Take her. She is yours," Carman told them, weaving her magic so no one else would go for the girl they were watching.

"Mistress?" the boy questioned.

"Consider her my... gift, for doing as you were commanded to do," Carman smiled in between mouthfuls of cock. Without any further prompting, the pair made their way over to the crossfitter and introduced themselves. It wasn't long before their clothes had joined the pile of others on the floor and all three were enjoying themselves a passionate threesome.

Carman smiled at this and felt the men around her shift as they all changed position, ready to do more than simply service her. Her attention focused back on the men in question and she smiled, motioning for two of them to move. One to get below her and the other to get behind them. The men smiled as they knew what she had in mind and positioned themselves accordingly.

The Asian man she was having moved to his back as she mounted him, taking his stiff cock and sliding it into her gooey pussy. The third man, a fit, yet endowed European, she had him take her in her ass. Carman motioned for him to take it slowly, as she didn't want to endure any sort of pain. He nodded and pushed his cock against her back door, slowly taking her.

Once his cockhead slipped in, she then motioned for the black man to come forward so he could fuck her mouth. Not one to argue with such an offer, he let his cock lead the way, letting Carman swallow every inch of his thick meat. She shuddered as she was taken, given a full triple stuffing, which she enjoyed so much.

Carman continued to grind on the men beneath and behind her, feeling the rise of an orgasm that flitted out of reach. She could feel the men were chasing their own peaks and were getting close. Huffing frustration, Carman dipped into her magic, forcing them to keep pushing and fucking her as hard as they could, until she came first. There was no way she was going to miss out on this one, as the pleasure it promised was too high to be ignored.

She shook and trembled, feeling like all three men were outright savaging her, trying to attain their own peaks. Carman could feel herself reaching the cusp of her orgasm, nearly reaching the edge of it. Just then, the man in her ass started slapping her rear as hard as he could, tanning her cheeks. Though she was not one for heavy spanking as a thing, somehow that did it and sent her over the edge.

Wailing like a trapped banshee, Carman came hard, every muscle in her body tensing as she was wracked with intense pleasure. Having gone over the precipice, the spell delaying the men's orgasm faded and all three of them came together, filling the Dark Witch with their seed. Carman shivered and jittered, enjoying the aftershocks of bliss as they rippled through her body.

All three men were then spent, for the moment at least, but Carman was far from done. While she wanted more, every man and woman was busy taking, or being taken by another. As she surveyed the room, Carman noticed that there was one type of person that was conspicuously absent. There were no futas in the room at all, which made Carman wonder why this was.

She could have tried searching for one out in the club downstairs or the city, but that would take too long and kill her mood. Instead, she focused her magic to search out those who had the potential to become futas, with a bit of magical assistance. Her magical search was somewhat fruitful, and the magic resonated with five individuals. Two of whom were men, while the other three were women.

Carman focused on these people, looking for the one who had the strongest bloodline amongst them. While all five were possible candidates to become futas, the one whom the magic resonated strongest with was a Latin woman. She watched as the woman pulled away from a quartet of other women, needing a brief breather and some water before diving in again.

Just then, Carman caught her attention, making the Latina forget about where she was for the moment. Drawn to the Dark Witch, the woman found herself being pulled to Carman by means unknown. As she reached her, Carman put her hands on the Latina, letting her magic go to work inside the woman.

"Hello," Carman greeted. "I don't believe I know your name."

"Salma. My name is Salma," the woman replied, as her chest rose and fell rapidly.

"Well, Salma, it looks like you are having lots of fun, aren't you?" Carman asked. When she didn't get a reply, Carman continued, "Would you like to know what real pleasure feels like?"

Salma nodded fervently, feeling her pussy moisten just by hearing Carman speak. Carman pulled her close and started licking her taut belly, sending jitters throughout Salma's body. Carman worked her way southwards, as her magic continued to work though the Latina's body.

Unknown to Salma, the magic that was moving through her was making fundamental changes to her body. It kept all the curves and femininity that she possessed, while seeking out and reigniting dead parts of her genetic code. These parts of her genes came back to life and slowly changed her anatomy, bringing the futa part of her bloodlines back to prominence.

Salma could feel this change, but it was manifested as nothing but pure pleasure, as Carman had migrated her way down to her pussy. She was shaking and trembling, feeling like it would never end, wanting Carman to keep making her feel this way. Salma placed her hands on Carman's head and pushed it deeper into her nethers, wanting more of what the Dark Witch was giving.

Carman giggled, as she could sense that this girl was a wise choice in affecting her change. It was always a toss up when it came to the transformation from one sex into a futa. Half the time, there was pain, distress and agony, while the rest of the time was filled by bliss, happiness and joy. This girl would see nothing but the latter as she transformed, and Carman was glad for this.

She could feel the woman's member pushing through her pelvis, just above her weeping quim. Carman shuddered as the magic continued to pulse and push through the Latina, furthering the transformation. Unlike other magic, which had granted the Gaians such appendages temporarily, this was going to be permanent.

The magic didn't just change Salma's body, but her mind as well, making her a willing servant of Carman's. Her mind was overwhelmed with pleasure and a honeyed voice whispered to Salma, asking for her loyalty in exchange for untold levels of such bliss. Salma answered a thousand times, yes, that Carman would have her loyalty and the Dark Witch knew that her enthrallment of the Latina was complete.

In a final move, Carman then started massaging the area where the cock would form, further saturating the area with her magic. Salma shuddered as she could feel an unexpected buildup there, like she was going to cum, but didn't know how it was possible. Throwing all logic and reason out the door, Salma gave herself to this pleasure, wanting it more than anything in her life.

Moments later, the cock that Carman had conjured, along with a heavy and large set of balls, erupted out of Salma, completing her transformation. The Latina had orgasmed with the change, and her chest heaved in delight as it coursed through her body. She then looked down and was shocked at what she saw!

Instead of her smooth belly, leading down to her well fucked pussy was a massive cock nearly eleven inches long and at least two inches thick! Salma could also feel a heavy set of balls hanging beneath her, but she had no idea if she was seeing things! Tentatively, she reached down to feel what she was seeing and pleasure raced through the appendage as she touched it.

"What... how... I'm... hunh..." Salma gasped, still trying to overcome her shock.

"Dearie, don't ask how or why it happened. Just know that it happened and that you have been blessed with a great gift," Carman said soothingly, trying to keep the new futa from freaking out.

"But... I have... I have a..." she stuttered, as she knew the word, but had trouble saying it.

"Cock? Yes, you do! And it is quite a lovely cock, isn't it?" Carman asked as she stood up and kneeled in front of Salma, taking the dick in both hands. Salma squealed in pleasure as the dick that she had was being stroked and damn if she didn't love it! She then sensed heat and wetness on it and looked down to see Carman taking it in her mouth!

"Wha... you're sucking... my... cock!" Salma breathed, still coming to terms with this change.

"Yes... I am! Do... you want... me to... stop?" Carman asked playfully, using every method she knew of to bring Salma pleasure.

In answer, Salma pushed her dick further into Carman's mouth, telling the Dark Witch everything she wanted to know. Giggling inwardly, Carman continued to suck that dick, until she had enough and wanted something else, something more. She then popped her mouth off Salma's massive dong and turned around, presenting her ass to the newly created futa.

"Do you want to fuck me with that cock of yours?" Carman questioned, looking over her shoulder, giving Salma a smoldering look. The look Salma gave back nearly made Carman shudder, as she knew she had pushed the Latina in the correct direction.

"I am going to fuck you with this cock until you scream like a whore," Salma rumbled, her voice taking on a tone that made Carman's pussy wetter just from hearing it.

Salma then kneeled right behind Carman, taking her massive tool in hand, making sure it was pressed up against her pussy lips. Then, in a single motion, Salma slammed her cock deep into Carman, stuffing the woman to the brim. Carman moaned in pain and delight, knowing that what she created in Salma at this moment was a sexual monster. There was only one way to tame such a monster; and that was to let her fuck the shit out of her.

Carman could feel Salma withdrawing her dick from her stuffed cunt, then ram it back into her again. She did this again and again, pushing her dick deeper and deeper into Carman, stretching her out with each thrust. It wasn't long until Salma increased her pace until she was laying into Carman like a jackhammer. Both women were panting, yelping and squeaking as they both could feel an orgasm just beyond sight.

With how much they had both already cum, they knew this one was going to be massive. Each woman could feel her insides build and build, the pressure becoming damn near unbearable! Salma felt a strange sensation in her new body parts, that almost felt like her balls were... growing hot. She knew it would come soon and though she was preparing herself for its arrival; she feared it would be too much for her contain.

Carman felt a similar pressure build up in her loins as she too, neared her tipping point. She shook and vibrated on the very cusp of release and could sense that Salma was on the edge as well. Every so slightly, she reached out with her magic and sent a small gust of wind that seized Salma's heavy balls and squeezed gently.

Salma howled like a she-wolf as she came, her balls churning and unloading a gargantuan amount of cum into Carman's waiting cunt. Carman felt the release coming as Salma's dick expanded, stretching her pussy out to its breaking point, forcing her over the edge. Carman too, screamed like a woman possessed, her orgasm claiming her just as the first load of cum blasted her inner walls and saturated her pussy with seed.

Both women continued to scream as they continued to cum, letting the pleasure claim their bodies and guide them to its end. Their minds were an utter and complete mess as they both spasmed and shook from the sheer bliss that overwhelmed them. They didn't know how long they stayed like that, as they lost track of time. But soon after, they both fell into blackness, the pleasure being far too much for even Carman to ride out.

"M-mistress?" came a weak and timid voice, which brought Carman out of her orgasm induced stupor.

"MmmmmmmMMMMM!" Carman growled happily, as she slowly came to, looking up at her new lover.

"Mistress... what... what happened? And how did I..." Salma sputtered, still trying to wrap her head around what had just transpired until Carman put a finger to her lips.

"Shhhhhhhh. Don't worry so much about it. I will explain everything to you, just not now. Come here," Carman said in a rare moment of tenderness. Salma hesitantly leaned in and Carman pulled her in close and stroked her hair gently. The Latina was a bit taken aback by this, but felt her nerves and mind being soothed by Carman's touch.

"Mmm! This is nice... mistress," Salma told her, enjoying the post coital tenderness.

"You need not call me mistress. You can call me... Carman," the Dark witch told the futa woman.

"Carman. A lovely name," Salma told her earnestly and Carman teared up slightly at hearing this.

She stayed there for an indeterminate amount of time, just enjoying the closeness of the moment. Salma slowly passed out, just enjoying the embrace of her new lover and finding some level of peace in it. Carman then heard someone sobbing and moaning nearby and craned her head. It was then that she spotted the old man sitting on the ground, obviously in a state where he wanted and needed release, but wouldn't get it.

"Oh! I had forgotten that you were still here!" Carman told him and she undid the spell that kept his mouth shut, to see if he had learned anything of contrition.

"Please, great... mistress, end this suffering!" the old man begged, crying as he knew his days of total control were over. "I will willingly serve you, I swear to God!"

"Normally, I would take such an oath of fealty. But, having seen what is inside your mind, and the things you have done, any service rendered to me would be suspect. Thus, I reject your offer of service and from now on, you are to be the thing that everyone laughs at! That everyone will look upon and know what an utter failure you are, as a man," Carman cackled, enjoying the horror that painted the old man's face.

"Please, no! You've tormented me enough! I have learned my lesson!" the old man almost demanded, trying to convince Carman of what he was saying.

"You have learned nothing! Demand all you want, as there is nothing you have that isn't already mine!" Carman chuckled evilly.

She then fixed him with a gaze that he knew all too well. It was the gaze of someone who was going to take everything you had and there would be nothing you could do to stop them. He blubbered miserably as he tried to banish what he was seeing, thinking it all some horrible dream, but he knew better than that. All of this was real, and his fear heightened even more when he heard the next words spill from Carman's lips.

"And your torment? It is only just beginning!!"

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Sunlight crested over the horizon, hitting the house with its life-giving rays. As the sunshine poured in through the windows, slowly, one by one, everyone inside started waking up. Everyone who had been part of the magical crafting of the Spellforge were insanely groggy, but there was still a spring to their step.

With the Spellforge fully crafted, the only thing left to do was to empower the one who decided to become the Forgemaster. Since Luke had been the one to volunteer, they also knew that they had a lot of searching ahead of them. It would be a long day, to be sure, but it was one where everyone had to be on point. As each person awoke, they came to wakefulness at the smell of something delicious cooking.

"Mommy, mommy, wake up!" came the voice of Aaliyah's son, the oldest of her children.

"What is it, baby?" Aaliyah murmured as she blinked awake, trying to power through the exhaustion.

"Auntie Xaera's making pancakes!!" her son exclaimed, clearly excited about the breakfast pastry.

Aaliyah sniffed the air and indeed could smell that familiar scent of pancakes on the grill. She smiled as she slowly woke up, as her baby boy toddled over to wake his father. She yawned and got her feet under her as a few others passed by the library, heading for the kitchen. Aaliyah went to check on Hayley and woke her up more forcefully than she would have liked.

Her new apprentice was quite the heavy sleeper and would clonk out so badly that several alarms were needed to wake her up in the mornings. Aaliyah wished that she could sleep that solidly, as she was a fairly light sleeper. She relished those rare times that she fell into a full REM sleep, as it was not easy for her. Hayley moaned and complained, but finally woke up a few minutes later.

"Is it morning already?" Hayley groaned as she stretched out her limbs.

"Yeah and I don't know about you, but I don't plan on missing out on breakfast! Xaera's apparently making pancakes!" Aaliyah told the girl.

"Pancakes?? Where?!?" Hayley questioned, going from half asleep to fully awake in a flash. Aaliyah giggled as she now knew of a way to wake Hayley up! Wasting no time, the pair of them moved along to the kitchen and found half the occupants of the house there, already eating breakfast. Xaera puttered around the kitchen, cranking out pancakes like she was a fry cook working in a diner.

"Well, this is a nice way to wake up after a night like that!" Aaliyah commented as they entered the kitchen.

"Smelled the food, did you?" Jason ribbed.

"Damn rights, we smelled the food! Not sure if my nose is fooling me, but I thought I also smelled... coffee?" Darnell asked, looking around the kitchen.

"You have a good nose! Just finished making a pot!" Luke told him as he walked over with several full mugs in his hands. Everyone took one gratefully, each of them needing the jumpstart after the drain on their bodies the night before. The Wilson family sat down to eat breakfast just as Valerie came in from the back door, hanging up her cell phone.

"I take it you got ahold of the fence?" Phalmina asked as she sipped at her java.

"Yup!! He's busy in the morning, but the man has agreed to a one PM meeting!" Valerie stated excitedly.

"You told him what we're looking for?" Dominique questioned, hoping Valerie hadn't been vague with her ask.

"The basics of it, yes, and he's agreed to let us have a look through what he has!" Valerie replied excitedly.

"What did that cost?" Aaliyah questioned, hoping that what he asked wasn't too much.

"I managed to finagle us a free look! Outside of that, we will have to discuss the price with him, should we find what we're looking for!" Valerie stated.

"Should we find what we're looking for? I thought you said that he had what were needed!" Darnell replied, thinking that Valerie had led them on.

"I said that he likely has what we're looking for. With any fence, even one as well connected as Dimitrius, there are no guarantees. But I have yet to find a fence as well connected as he is, or as resourceful as him," Valerie told them.

"Well, better a chance than none at all! Besides, we still have all these bookstores to cover before the day's end," Sheena told them, reminding everyone of the other avenues they could take.

"The lady is right. It's not just the fence we are looking into! Besides, with how old the city is? Not to mention the cultural hodgepodge that makes it what it is? We're bound to find at least a book or two here!" Karla told them and everyone nodded, knowing that the fence was just one route of many to find the books they needed.

"Well then, let's eat up! We have a long day ahead of us and it's one of three! Let's hustle people!" Xaera told them, reminding them they were on the clock. Nodding, everyone powered through their breakfasts, devouring everything that Xaera made before getting everything they needed to complete their search for the day.

Even though they were on a timer, everyone knew they stood some sort of chance in this situation. While Carman was a being of immeasurable power, she was still mortal and fallible, despite the legends making her out to be some sort of demigoddess. She had been beaten before and, with enough luck and hard work, she would be beaten again.

Everyone then quickly cleaned up and hopped to, getting to their respective vehicles and tearing out of the property. With what they faced, every second would count in the race to find what they needed. If they didn't, then not only were they doomed, but so too would be Gaia and the rest of the world.

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Cheryl sat down at her dining table, eager to speak with her new friend. This woman she had met was one who apparently had the same goals as she did, which was the end of these cursed Gaians! She had shared her own experiences, how certain people she had once known had gone and taken everything from her in a similar manner.

How these people would just throw away everything and everyone they knew, all in the service to a blasphemous goddess, was beyond Cheryl! But she had seen some people say things that were beyond heresy when exposed to the world at large. This was why their way had to be insular, solid, and cut off from outside influences. It had to be this way, for the good of all!

"So, please tell me again about how these... people had waylaid your village!" Cheryl implored, sipping her tea as she focused on the woman in front of her.

"I would, but I don't remember every detail that I spoke to you about," her guest stated with a slight smirk.

"And why is that?"

"That is because every word of what I told you was a lie," the woman said to her with a sly grin.

"What?? Why would you lie to me?? About something this important?!?" Cheryl fumed, angered at the deception.

"Simple. I needed to gain access to your house, so no one would suspect I was trying to get in here in the first place," the woman confessed.

"Why would you want to get in here?" Cheryl asked, her anger rising even higher.

"To get my hands on the things you know, which you conveniently keep in your notebooks! I have been watching you for some time now and know that you have the knowledge I seek," the woman laughed.

"What makes you think I'd just hand it over to you?" Cheryl questioned, thinking this woman was being colossally stupid in revealing her plans.

"Oh, you won't. I'm simply going to take it from you. Before you ask how I would do that, is simple. You will be dead in, oh, say... fifteen seconds," the woman laughed.

"What... how..." Cheryl gasped, as she could feel her muscles seizing up before she looked at her teacup. The tea... of course, that was how the woman had delivered this poison! But Cheryl could feel it overtaking her and her vision starting to go black.

"You and your... friends and your schemes to capture these Gaians, so you can make them pay for what happened to your little church? That is both clumsy and stupid, when they are worth more than that. So much more! A pity that you and your friends won't live to see it," the woman chuckled.

"My... friends..." Cheryl choked out, trying to force herself to breathe, but failing to do so.

"Both are dead by the same means. Unlike you, they suffered far more merciful deaths, since they were not the ones planning this... revenge of yours. You are the last to die and with it, so does your plan for vengeance," the woman scoffed as she stood up from the dining table.

Cheryl continued to choke and gasp until the poison finished its course, ending her life. The woman sighed, as she never truly enjoyed killing, but employed it when necessary. She quickly dusted the table and all possible surfaces for where she had put her hands, so there would be no way to find her via prints.

Once that was done, she headed upstairs to Cheryl's bedroom to search for the notebooks she kept. It took the better part of half an hour of careful searching, but eventually, she found them in a hidden cubby in her closet. The moment she located these books, she took them and stuffed them in her backpack. The woman then carefully placed everything back the way it was, so no one would be the wiser.

With the books in hand, she hurried down the stairs and donned her sandals, checking the street outside. The moment the coast was clear, she walked out and closed the door behind herself, making sure to not leave any prints behind by using a napkin she had in her purse. Once outside, she hurried to the sidewalk and leisurely made her way down the street, like she belonged in such a neighborhood.

Because the woman was so young, it was an easy sell to blend in, looking every inch a local uni student. She was glad that she had found those books as fast as she did, as she checked the time and knew that Cheryl's grown children would be back home soon. Like many young adults, they lived at home, as the rent in this day and age was more than untenable, and if they wanted to get ahead in life, sacrifices needed to be made.

She hurried as fast as she dared, not wanting to be in the neighborhood when the police were summoned. Not even a minute after she arrived at the nearby bus stop, did the bus then pull up, stopping to drop off riders, as well as pick up new ones. The woman got aboard and breathed a sigh of relief, happy to be out of immediate danger. The bus driver then rang the chimes to signal the doors were closing, then closed the doors and resumed the run.

While she was tempted to look at the notebooks she had recovered from Cheryl's home, the woman knew that was foolish. She might have been paranoid, but it was this paranoia that had led to her surviving for so long. The woman pushed down the temptation, knowing that when she got home, she'd have all the time in the world to read of what Cheryl knew about these Gaians.

She was giddy with anticipation at the knowledge that lie therein. She hoped that it not only contained the knowledge she needed for her ascension, but also for that of executing her own revenge. While Cheryl's sense of revenge might have had some merit, what happened to her made Cheryl's reasons seem childish in comparison. With the power she would take from the Gaians, her revenge would be assured!!

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Here is where chapter 37 ends, everyone! Yet more twists and turns in the saga of Life and Death! Plus some twists that even I didn't see coming until they came to me and I thought, 'Oh! That's good!! I need to write that down!' And here we are, with things getting desperate for our heroes and even more enemies lurking in the background that they know nothing about! More twists and turns to come in the future and of course, more hot encounters! Stay tuned for updates!

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my work and I hope that you've enjoyed it! I'm open to constructive criticism and will seriously consider any suggestions made about various story arcs. Please rate and comment on my work down below and ask me questions if you wish, as I love hearing from my fans! If you like what I write, don't be afraid to follow and share with your friends, though your views, ratings and comments are enough for me.

In the meantime, this is C. H. Darkstrider, signing off to grab a beer and some quality time with the wife! ;) You will attain whatever you most desire, as long as you believe in yourself. Cheers!