Babes in the Woods - a LiviYum tale

British Lechery Fantastique Fabliaux

Livi ♥ Yum

00 Babes in the woods

By 変 -エロHAG

Act1: Witch and Fairy in the Woods

First, you must let your mind sail, slowly across calm seas until you find yourself upon a shore of silver shingles. There you will find a pit- large enough to make a witch's cauldron blush, where an abyss looks up so you will look down with your heart, mind and eyes wide open to see.

Our story begins in pane. A dark pane. One that lies under the glare of nine moons once said to be eyes gouged out of ancient bygone beings now they hover above the luminous darkness that covets this pane. Twice, the dark grip loosens to flee at the solstices of Winter and Summer because only then could day truly triumph over the night.

So we traverse far to the west- but not too far, on a continent where in particular out of many islands there is a not so small one called the Isle of Bion. A vast forest where slithers and slices of thick arbours, coastal corners and tail-ends were tamed into civilisation.

Of the many woodlands there is one known as Lyd Gorge. If you were to go deep- very deep, you will reach one of two groves because all forests have such. The first of these are Mystic-Gates; a natural- or should I say supernatural, phenomenon of Wild-Magic charged into an enchantment to keep the profane away from venturing further to the secondary but aptly named True-Grove. There one will find themselves beholden to the heart of the forest beating and thrumming to the natural and harmonious flow of Wild-Magic.

Now the aforementioned is a vast and empowering force but unlike it's counterpart- unabashedly dubbed Refined-Magic, the sensitivity of Wild-Magic can render the simplest of spells difficult to control.

Upon arriving at the Mystic-Gate of Lyd Gorge; he, she- or perhaps you, would catch on to the shroud singing a mystical air for this was the work of Seelie fairies.

These are blithe creatures from the Fairyland layer- a pane far beyond this one our story takes place in. Their wings hum the Infinite-Frequency of their homeland and echoes in chiming Fairy-Dust that pours off their sheer ailerons. This magical frequency was crafted into the harmonious language of the Seelies known as Fairy-Rill that could only be spoken through song or music.

Once beyond the Mystic-Gate, you will delve deeper into the forest's dark stomach and in the midst of the thick pitch a trail of golden wisps can be spotted. Leading you further and further until it turns out the wisps have guided you to a glade glutted in golden cosmos flowers- brimming and gleaming a magic shine from the coating of Fairy-Dust.

There stood a cottage embraced by cosmos flowers whose gleam added a warmth to a shimmering Fairy-Garden where fairies, pixies and sprites alike snuggled up amongst flowers, shrubbery and lily pads floating upon the pond for their morning nap.

For sprites are newly born Seelies who appear as little bewinged sparkles of light. Incapable of comprehensible speech they communicate in winsome tones of whimsy; then nurtured by the innocence of play and harmony their laughter transforms them into pixies who are little winged forms of light. Now capable of speaking the Fairy-Rill, they can use their Fairy-Dust for more spells unlike the sprites who know enough to open a door or make a leaf more buoyant to bounce on. Now a pixie can use their spells to make themselves comprehensible to those who don't know Fairy-Rill, eventually after performing good deeds or cultivating a loving bond as a familiar they'll cocoon into a newly minted Seelie-Fairy.

Looming over the Fairy-Garden was a stately cottage that was the home of a very old and wise woman once upon a time. Her name was Cunégonde but most if not all referred to her as either Mother Cunny or Nanny Cunny; a hardy hedge-witch known for dispensing: divinations- by palm or card, casting outs, talismans, potions, lotions, charms and would even give out alms when she felt charitable. She had held the title of Lyd Gorge's Guardian-Witch; through a psychic bond to the spirits of the forest she was not only responsible for protecting the woodland from evils but was also its ambassador to outsiders. Alas, three years have past since the old girl passed away where she now rots under the Juniper tree embalmed well and good for a witch's burial.

The old witch had lost her daughter and she had taken to raising her granddaughter Yum who had grown into a petite, buxom woman standing solemnly before the tree. Her skin was a rich, warm bronze atypical of one who has holidayed well, long waves of strawberry-blonde bundled into an updo and her round fuchsia eyes were all traits atypical of her late mother and the old dame.

Yum pressed her hand against the trunk then withdrew her hand knowing she was all that remained of what was once her family. For her mum had died when she was young, her dad had died before she was born and she had never felt so alone since her nan died. She looked up at the dewy leaves sparkling away in the moonlights; no longer did crippling sadness force her back into her bed or run the bath for a long and lonely soak only a lingering reminder that nan was gone. It had taken her three long and gloomy years to accept. She glanced at the cottage which was one part of her inheritance along with the title of Lyd Gorge's Guardian-Witch. Then she would look at the Fairy-Garden she had nurtured and cultivated and inwardly reminded herself that she may feel alone but was far from being alone.

Gone were the days of minding the troop of fairies, pixies and sprites living in the Fairy-Garden along with the upkeep of the cottage. There were new duties and responsibilities as the Guardian-Witch such as: leading sacrifices along with blessings, finding lost treasures and even reading the cards- something she hadn't done in a bit but gave up on it so many times in the past. She wondered why she was so quick to accept the title but she knew it was because of the promise her grandmother made with her dying breath that her spirit would walk amongst the woodland and lurk the Juniper tree watching over her beloved granddaughter.

As her heart began to have more lift, she thought upon a truth that was so clear yet so difficult to hold on to that she truly wasn't alone, making her feel blessed to have her godmothers living here at Lyd Gorge. For these godmothers together formed the Lyd Gorge Coven once led by her grandmother.

Despite the pressure piled onto Yum as the new Guardian-Witch she couldn't ask for better confidantes; for there was Heart, the wise Elder-fairy cursed- along with her troop of fairies and sprites, to be displaced from the Fairyland layer and were provided with a home thanks to Yum's efforts with the Fairy-Garden. As thanks the old troop leader provided our strawberry-blonde with all that was to be known about Fairyland and Fairy-kind; thus inspiring a hope within our Guardian-Witch that one day she could help Heart and her troop return home and meet even more fairies.

Then there was Mrs. Hole, a saucy but wise and powerful relic of The Old Ways rivalling that of Nanny Cunny herself. She doted upon the Yum as though she were her own granddaughter; so the old doyenne would make so much clothes that our strawberry-blonde never had much need to go shopping and to this day Yum will still make time to spend afternoon tea with her. Mrs. Hole was formerly a housekeeper to a powerful wizard and she made sure to teach Yum how to keep home to ensure good flow and to cook with love from the heart.

Lest we forget Madame Hard-Wax, a no-nonsense witch who possessed searing power and knowledge. She was the last to join the coven and her arrival into Lyd Gorge was an enigma but Nanny Cunny respected Madame Hard-Wax's compliance to not pry into her business. In thanks, she took it upon herself to teach Yum about spells especially ones capable of burning along with the eloquence of casting a spell. She also taught the basics of grace and etiquette when mingling among those deemed to be our strawberry-blonde's betters.

Though Yum wanted nothing more than to spend the day hugging the juniper tree she had already spent an hour doing just that so she ought to get on with the rest of her day. She needed to pop down to the meadow to pick bitter flowers for Heart's seasonal medicine she would administer to the sprites, some Holy-grass for Mrs. Hole as her laundry fragrance needed a tune up and on the way wild mint in the forest for Madame Hard-Wax's tea.

With her updo bound by a sparkling pink ribbon tied into a style imitating rabbit ears;

our strawberry-blonde glanced at her reflection in the pond to see how her winsome overbite along with the ribbon made her look like an oversized rabbit. She rolled her eyes into a smile as she knew the naughtier sprites and pixies would be too eager to point that out. But she paid no mind to them as she liked how well the ribbon matched with the off-shoulder denim dress that just barely covered her bundas along with an earnest effort to keep her sumptuous breasts from spilling out overall finishing the look with red platform heels.

The glowing flora shone a magical radiance on Yum's warm bronze colour as she sang to wake up the fairies, the trees and flowers then suddenly screeched as a swarm of birds and critters scrambled past her. A bird fell on her head, "oof! Little one, you alrigh'?" She looked down at the bird cradled in her hands and gasped, "oh dear! Your wing!" Gently stroking the wounded wing a warmth emitted from her fingertips for she was channelling her Gift; an ability to do various feats without drawing upon magic but could be converged for powerful spells. In Yum's case her gift allowed her to conjure fire- the Gift of Yrosi, unseen hands held up her hair as she incanted:

Little bird

Whatever occurred

The damage is now undone

So fly along with the rest of everyone.

The bird flew off, "I wonder wot 'appened?" But something else flew into her face.

This something else was a diminutive, little woman in a pair of silver baggy trousers and a cornflower blue t-shirt, her wings radiated a powdered blue matching her hair- she was a fairy!

Yum tenderly peeled the frightened thing off her face to place in her palm, "you too Gazer? Wot's wrong?"

"It's too scary!" Gazer sniffled, "there's a monster at the meadow and some of us weren't able to escape-!"

Yum gasped, "a monster? As in a radge?"

Gazer quickly nodded, "it took the others!"

Yum frowned, "wot others?"

Gazer answered, "well there were five of us and some little animals"

Yum became pensive, "that's not good! Gazer, can you lead the way?"

Gazer sobbed, "no! No! I can't! It's scary! There was a stranger too! Please don't go!"

Yum stroked the fairy, "I'm sorry Gazer but our friends need 'elp". She picked some lavender to let the fairy hold on to, "once you feel better I want you to find Heart 'n' warn 'er about this radge".

Gazer trembled, "why can't I stay at the cottage? Our bond could just cast a barrier".

Yum cuddled the fairy, "yes we are bonded my precious! But you 'ave to think about everyone else at the Fairy-Garden, especially with the new sprites 'n' I'd feel much better if Heart came along to 'elp fortify the barrier or just keep you lot safe".

Gazer solemnly nodded.

Yum asked, "can you tell me where you saw the radge?"

Gazer answered, "the Gold Daisy Meadow".

Yum tilted her head with a patient smile, "which one, luv?"

Gazer added, "right next to the Shimmering Shrubs", she became crestfallen, "please be careful Yum..."

"I will, Gaze" Yum cuddled the fairy, then she formed a mudra to incant:

Fairy-Garden where innocence and fancy slumbers

I cast you under my spell

Let no danger come to pass

As long as you sleep well.

Flowering briar bloomed a ring around the cottage, large droplets of dew formed upon the petals that gave off a shimmering radiance. Our strawberry-blonde was pleased with her spell and conjured forth a besom of cherry blossoms and feathers of a peregrine falcon that levitated at a height for her to sit sideways- for her nan would insist that this was the only way a witch should mount her broom, "once you find Heart, be sure to stay with 'er alrigh'?"

Gazer pouted, "do I really have to stay with Heart?"

Yum crooked her finger for the fairy to come closer for a cuddle, "I'd feel mega better knowin' you were safe". She let the fairy float out of her palm, "before you know it, I'll be back then we can chill out with some warm yummy honey milk by the fireplace!" This of course was punctuated by her breasts jiggling.

Gazer loudly huffed, "fine! But PLEASE be careful!"

Yum winked, "You 'ave my word, Gaze!" She blew a kiss and soared off on her besom.

~*~

The Gold Daisy Meadow Right Next to the Shimmering Shrubs was one of many cloistered amongst the forest. Its namesake was due to the carpet of daisies glittering amongst the cosmos flowers making it look as though the daisies were painted gold by the cosmos' radiance.

Yum arrived but her besom jerked to a halt leaving her to behold with horror the meadow caked in a strange glowing spittle, "wot 'appened 'ere?" She shivered at the thought of what sort of radge could set foot here. Encountering a stranger did not seem so bad compared to a radge. She gulped upon realising that she never thought to ask her godmothers or even her nan if dealing with radges would be part of her responsibilities as a Guardian-Witch. She surrendered a sigh as she knew the answer would be of course.

She got off her besom and disappeared it to ponder on what to do next. Indubitably the creature could not be felled by get-well-soon charms or even acupuncture- she never really considered if meridians occurred in radges. She could use her Gift of Yrosi but what if she ended up burning the forest? She grounded herself with a deep breath. Firstly, was she not the Guardian-Witch? Then it was a simple matter of asking the forest spirits to pinpoint the presence of the unfortunate fairies and critters but she yelped all of a sudden.

Something had moved out of eye shot! Our strawberry-blonde looked around to conclude in a shaky voice, "shadows... must be it". Nevertheless she twitched her nose to conjure one of nan's grimoire she had taken earlier from the bookshelf back at the cottage. Hoping the tome had a chapter on encounters with radges she frantically pored over pages then huffed, "oh mega bother! I took nan's recipe book o' one pot meals!" She looked at the cover "volume 3?" She closed the book and conjured it into a ring that she slipped onto her finger. She saw a blur silently skittering out of the corner of her eye:

A bubble will put an end to you, trouble!

Drawing upon her Astral-element- being magically aligned to water by dint of being born three morns shy of Samhain, she unleashed a pink sparkling flock of bubbles out of her palm that combined into one large sparkling globule bouncing menacingly in search of prey. A cry heralded the unseen fiend being snared but Yum gawked to find Gazer trapped in the globular cell.

"Somebody help me!" Wept the fairy, flailing her hands in blind fear against her spherical cage.

"Wait! I'll undo the spell" Yum began to fumble out the mudra for such a feat.

But it was far too late as the bubble burst and soaked the fairy as she plummeted onto the ground with a wet splat!

Yum rushed over to pick up the soggy fairy, "Gaze! I told you to find Heart 'n' warn 'er!"

Gazer looked sheepish, "but I felt bad that you were going to be alone" she shivered, "I really want to help" then sneezed, "plus I sent Heart a message in a bubble".

"I suppose it's better than not tellin' 'er anythin'" Yum blew a kiss releasing a warm breeze that rejuvenated the little fairy, "oh Gazer, wot am I goin' to do with you?" She watched the fairy hover out of her hands, "can you please promise to listen to me in future? Heart thinks I'm constantly puttin' you in danger".

"Heart is a worry wart and it's not even like I roll with her troop anyway!" Gazer crossed her arms, "she still thinks I can't pick berries by myself".

Yum grinned "but you always ask me to come along cos the bugs scare you".

Gazer huffed, "but they're huuuge compared to me! Besides lately I've been picking berries all on my own!"

"Ooh! Tiny Gazer on 'er lonesome?" Yum teased.

Gazer lifted her chin up, "yeah! Expect to see less of me!" She looked around, "strange! What happened to the others?"

Yum shrugged, "that's wot I'm tryin' to get me head around, can't put me finger on where the radge could 'ave taken 'em"

Gazer floated up to her witch's face, "maybe we can converge for a Seeking spell".

Yum smiled, "far out! Of course Gaze!" She cuddled the fairy, "two heads are really better than one!"

Gazer squirmed out of Yum's grip, "come on Yum, let's get to it with the spelling!"

Yum winked, "alrigh' then!"

The blue fairy flew around her witch's head and showered upon her a halo of Fairy-Dust.

Yum closed her eyes to converge her will with the Fairy-Dust transmuting it into a glittering magic energy; soon her hair was suspended by unseen hands and drew upon the Gift of Yrosi to ignite the convergence into a wisp of blue fire:

Witch and fairy magic bound by trust

Seek High

Seek Low

Show us where we need to go!

We want to help our friends

Because they depend on us

Make it so and fly!

The wisp shot off ahead making Yum remark, "cor, didn't take long".

Gazer pointed out, "well they can't be too far and if I'm right the Shimmering Shrubs should be in that direction".

"Cor! Far out! Madame 'ard-Wax's lessons are really payin' off!" Yum looked at her hands then glanced aside to wink.

"What are you looking at?" Gazer flew ahead, "come on Yum!" She froze upon finding herself in front of a glaring mass of eyes, "AAAAAAAHHHH!! IT'S THAT RADGE!! OH HELP! HEEEELP!" She burst into a tiny blue sphere of light that took refuge in her witch's cleavage.

Yum gulped, "wot about me?"

The eyes belonged to a hulking radge caked in a wriggling murky slime and spittle flowing out of its slack jawed maw.

She cleared her throat and asked sweetly, "umm... you wouldn't 'appen to 'ave seen a bunch of adorable little fairies 'n' critters lurkin' about 'ere?"

The eyes blinked followed by a gurgling growl.

Our strawberry-blonde gulped, "alrigh' then, I'll look elsewhere". Remembering what her grandmother had taught her about the inevitable encounter with a radge or wild animal she started to back away slowly maintaining eye contact- even if it was difficult to keep up. So far she was making a fair bit of distance between her and it albeit step by little, tentative step.

"Somebody help! Please help!" Cried out Gazer's voice from Yum's cleavage.

"Sssh! Gazer! That's not very 'elpful!" Yum was about to give her bosom a sound telling off but swivelled her head upright to see the radge loping towards her! "So much for sudden movements!" She conjured her besom out of a flash that startled the radge as she fell back with a scream and dropped it. The radge resumed loping towards her so she quickly flexed a mudra to conjure up a Shield Spell, "then again Gaze, you 'ad the right idea!"

"Duh!" Pealed Gazer's little voice.

Yum winced as she saw cracks emerge from the radge striking her spell so she took a deep breath then screeched, "'ELP! SOMEBODY PLEASE 'ELP!"

In an instant a thick shadow descended to separate her and Gazer from the radge.

Our strawberry-blonde gawked at her hands "cor, did I do that?"

Gazer squirmed out of her cleavage, "who cares!? Let's get to the Shimmering Shrubs already! The sooner we can help the others the less I regret not staying with Heart!"

Yum shot up to her feet and gasped, "oh no! I dropped me besom!"

Gazer exclaimed "WHAT!?"

Yum looked around worriedly, "I must've dropped it when that radge attacked us..."

Gazer frowned, "but it's right there!"

Yum looked at her feet to see her besom, "far out, I could've sworn I dropped it". She pointed at the besom to levitate and sat sideways.

"Can we get going now?" Gazer warily eyed the shady overcast, "something tells me that is not going to hold!"

"Too right!" Yum nodded at her fairy. She looked to the darkness and blew a kiss, "thank you spirits o' the forest!" She tapped the besom and it zoomed off with Gazer following.

An umbral shape- wholly un-spiritual, flashed in the shadows before it dissolved.

~*~

Witch and fairy arrived at a neighbouring meadow aptly named the Shimmering Shrubs for the assortment of twinkling shrubs.

"I can feel Pendant's pulse!" Gazer zipped ahead.

Yum was close behind her, worriedly looking around to see even here was covered in the frightful spittle, "cor I 'ope I can do somethin' about this".

Gazer asked, "what!? You're not going to tell Mrs. Hole and Madame Hard-Wax?"

Yum stroked Gazer's head, "I'm the new Guardian-Witch o' this forest 'n' just like nan, it'll be up to me to put a stop to any wickedness that strikes our lovely 'ome". She winked, "plus I'm sure Heart will tell 'em".

Gazer fluttered up to Yum's face, "but you can't expect to do all of that alone!"

Yum smiled "well I'm always open to any 'elp especially the kind that comes in the littlest of packages- they're usually the bravest ones".

Gazer's wings bashfully fluttered.

Yum tickled the fairy, "besides thanks to our bond I'm never alone" Gazer suddenly squirmed out of her hands and flew off, "wot's wrong?"

"Tree!" Cried out Gazer.

"Three? Three o' wot?" She crashed her besom into a tree and fell right off! "Oh... tree", her eyes were spinning as she sloppily sat up.

Gazer flew over to Yum, "are you alright?" She sprinkled Fairy-Dust on her witch's head.

Yum got to her feet and picked up her besom; "I'm alrigh', luckily I put a Don't-Break enchantment on the 'andle when I woke up, I just 'ope it can 'old 'til I can give it a varnish". She saw her fairy had gone off ahead "'ow rude!" She hurried after Gazer then froze as she beheld fairies and critters gripped in an enchanted stupor limply struggling in their slimy prisons.

"Pendant! Can you hear me?" Gazer flittered between the slimy baubles, "Twinkle? Milk-blossom? Berry? Little cute animals who won't stop following us?" Their lack of response made the blue fairy turn around, "are we too late?"

Yum shook her head, "we must be able to do somethin'" she took off the ring and twitched her nose at it where it soon inflated back into the thick tome that she opened up to flick through the pages,"there 'as to be a spell in this book somewhere..."

Gazer inspected the book, "doesn't this look like your granny's recipe books?"

Yum sheepishly grinned, "oops! You're mega right!"

Gazer pouted, "unless you're going to be making biccies-!" A leathery clawed hand grasped the tiny fairy, "HEEEEEELP! IT'S THE RADGE! IT'S GOT ME!"

Yum screeched in horror.

The spindly radge tightened its grip on the blue fairy; out of its toothy, drooling maw rolled out the tongue and how those eyes glistened at the thought of its teeth tearing through this fairy's meat.

"Yum, not being pushy but eye, eye, eyes much?" Gazer struggled in the radge's grip.

Our strawberry-blonde had to think fast so closing the book she brought it down upon it's head with one hard squelchy thwack!

The radge immediately released Gazer who zipped away from the thing to be by her witch's side.

Still clutching the tome close to her Yum wobbled out "h...'ow'd you like those biscuits?"

Gazer exclaimed, "Yum! It could get up at any moment!"

Yum took a deep breath, "w... well... e... everythin' is better when you can 'ave a giggle", she took another deep breath for her hair to be held up by unseen hands and incanted:

Roots below

Let the heat of your passion

Hold in place our mutual foe!

The subterranean stems bloomed out of the earth to entwine the fallen radge into a vice grip. "Thank you", Yum curtsied then twitched her nose to make the cookbook float beside her, "alright Gazer, I'll need your fairy dust for this next spell!"

"Witch please! You are going to need more than just my Fairy-Dust!" Gazer conjured forth a blue jewel encased within an ornate cage connected to a chain- both were made of a metal gleaned from the Fairyland-layer. For this wasn't an ordinary jewel but a Fairy-Gem; a vessel of a Seelie's power allowing them to carry out great such as her body inflating into the form of a stately amazon towering over Yum. Her baggy trousers now became silver leggings that flexed her stunning pins and bundas whilst the t-shirt barely covered her breasts. Her hair grew longer, her wings bigger and fluttered up a glittering, tinkling cloud.

Yum absorbed the dust into a bubble and incanted:

Fairy-Dust, you must help us!

Turn this slime into brittle glass

For our captive friends to be freed at last!

The bubble dispersed into sparkling wisps to shatter the sludgy cells.

Gazer sprinkled Fairy-Dust that encased their freed friends into blue globules.

Yum blew a kiss to cast them into a peaceful snooze.

Gazer embraced Yum, "you did it! You saved them!"

Yum corrected, "we did it!" She cuddled the fairy, "we saved our friends together".

Gazer smiled, "that's right! We did it through teamwork!"

The pair shared a fist bump.

Yum winked, "cos that's 'ow all dreams work!" She suddenly became aware that "the monster 's'not there any more!"

The book dropped into a puddle of spit.

Gazer deflated into her little fairy form and dove into Yum's hair for cover, "I guess it was too early to celebrate..."

"Too right!" Yum realised the book had dropped and immediately picked it up but dropped it upon touching the gore-shed from when she hit the fiend and even worse it now had a coating of phlegm! "Ugh! Bloody yuck!" She bent down to pick it up with her thumb and forefinger...

"YUM!" Shrieked Gazer.

Our strawberry-blonde turned around to see the spindly creature towered over her! She fell upon the ground with a scream and frantically tried to gather her wits together.

The radge formed a mudra causing a murksome light to turn the roots against her constricting our strawbery-blonde's legs and arms leaving her helplessly spread-eagled.

"Gazer! Get 'elp-!" She saw the screeching fairy weighed down by sticky gunge, "or not". Our strawberry-blonde then yelled, "'ELP! SOMEBODY 'ELP!"

The radge's tongue snaked out of its mouth.

Almost at her wit's ends, Yum surrendered her hair to the psychic hold as she incanted:

Things are getting peak!

Things are getting bleak!

Dire burden burn by fire!

She felt a warmth blossom upon her wrists and ankles gasping as she watched her bondage shrink back into the earth as the murky light was burned away by the flames channelled by her Gift. Quickly Yum sprang to her feet, "ooh crumbs! Let's see..." she yelped at how close the radge had gotten and she frightfully incanted:

Vines declined by divine heat

umm... rewind threefold and hold.

Vines sprouted out from the ground and wriggled forward making her fall on her botty. She waved her hands and cried:

BACK UP! BACK UP! BY THE POWER OF A WITCH I ABJURE!

BE A WALL THAT TOWERS FOR SURE!

Bracing herself for the worst she calmed down upon seeing the vines had formed into a lofty wall separating her from the radge. She was immediately by Gazer's side who was having no luck with the glowing gunge, "Gaze! I'm goin' to try 'n' sort you out, so be still".

Gazer huffed, "not hard at all as I'm practically mucked in!"

Holding out her hands, Yum's hair shot up and incanted:

Fire o fire!

I call upon you once more!

Burn away my friend's bondage til it is nevermore!

The flames devoured the sludge covering the fairy, "Gaze! Get goin' 'n' tell Heart!"

Gazer asked, "but what about you!?"

Yum answered "I need to 'elp our friends 'n' the critters".

Gazer glowed, "then I'll help too!"

Yum frowned: I'm not arguing with you! She pointed at the fairy, channelling her intention into conjuring a bubble to whisk away her little friend but as soon as Gazer was encased the bubble suddenly burst into blue sparkles! "Shit! Wot 'ave I done?"

A tiny mew made her look down to see a black kitten with the bluest eyes glaring up at her.

"Gaze... is that you?" She picked up the kitten who made an attempt to bat her nose, "you're Gazer alrigh'". The kitten began to hiss as our strawberry-blonde shushed tenderly, "oh Gaze, you know I didn't mean to do this to you". The kitten showed no sign of easing up on the hisses so she turned around and her eyes widened to see the radge had ripped through the vine barrier, "cripes! Let's get the others 'n' book it!" She tossed her heels at the radge then dashed over to the fairies and critters still spelled in a peaceful slumber.

Still the effort was not enough as the radge reached out its hand teeming of sharp claws to snare the Guardian-Witch but instead caught her dress ripping most of it off.

"Oi!" Before Yum could serve any lip she tripped over and landed on her botty dropping Gazer too! She scrambled back to her feet finding herself backed up against the tree and horror!

The radge was lurking towards her.

Gazer leapt in front of Yum hissing and snarling intimidatingly as a kitten could.

The radge's tongue slithered out of its gob to lash at the little puss.

Yum screamed "GAZER!!" The dire helplessness of this moment was too much as she collapsed into the dark embrace of a faint.

~*~

Rabbit?

Excuse me miss rabbit?

W a K e u p

Yum shot up and screeched, "Gazer!" Her head made contact with something hard- and cold! She immediately slumped back into a faint.

~*~

She slowly opened her eyes to a pair of amber eyes looking at her. Which made her upright on the double with a gasp but her shock died down at the buff supernatural levels of gorgeousness dripping off this lofty man in front of her. She saw him holding something red and sparkling which soon made her realise he was holding her ribbon.

His long silver hair- curled up in princely sumptuous waves, complimented the deathly grey hue of his skin. From his entrancing and inviting pillow lips right down to his muscular body displayed by the black combo of a tight sheer shirt, leather trousers and bovver boots. He asked, "Are you alright?"

The gentle, posh croon of his voice made our hoe-struck strawberry-blonde witch moan.

Completely unaware of her lust or lack of a reply, he began to tie the ribbon back into her hair as he remarked in a plum tone, "here are your ears back, miss rabbit". He grinned revealing pointed teeth atypical of a... vampire! "So... do you have a name, little miss bunny?"

Yum ogled his handsomeness, the gentle amber of his piercing eyes and wondered if he was an adventurer... and single. She thought he had asked a question and was about to reply but instead she swooned head-first towards the ground.

The vampire swept up the witch in his solid embrace, "gracious!" He suddenly turned to face a branch of blossoming flowers, "excuse me, may I pick one please?" There was a moment of silence before he spoke once more, "thank you". He plucked a flower from the blossoms- it resembled a geranium but the petals had a dark undertone. He gently brushed the flower across her eyes and upon her lips, "how do you feel, rabbit?" He shook his head and tutted, "good grief pardon my rudeness I haven't even asked for your name".

Yum gulped, "umm... I'm used to bein' called... a rabbit" she shrugged, "cos of me overbite 'n' eyes innit?" She suddenly added, "but me name is Yum".

He grinned vampirically, "delicious!" Then became bashful, "sorry... I assume you must get that a lot as well".

Yum blushed, "not really to be 'onest... I just get called the witch cos I'm a Hedge-Witch innit?"

The vampire looked upon the delightful witch, "is that so?" There was an idea radiating out of his eyes that made the witch squirm.

Yum found herself soaking into a fantasy of sucking his dick and flustered, "umm 'ow did you find me?"

He quickly snapped out of his stupor hoping he wasn't too bait in wondering what her breasts between his penis would feel like, "right! Of course! Well you were about to be attacked by the radge so I intervened as breasts as I could- I mean best!"

Yum giggled at the vampire which brought an innocent smile out of him; then her face fell at the torn and very dead remains of the radge, "YOU saved me from that thingy!?"

The vampire nodded, "yes, I feared the worst but thankfully you and your little friends were unharmed". He picked up a thick book and placed it next to her, "oh and you dropped this too".

"Cheers..." Yum picked up the book and threw it over her shoulder- hoping the spell she mentally cast would have the book return to the cottage and not end up decimating a squirrel's hoard- again. Still thick in a hoe-struck haze she couldn't decide to ogle his eyes or his pillow-lips then made an attempt at composure as she shyly averted her eyes, "dunno why but it feels like we've met before".

He held her chin up and got her looking into his glowing eyes, "as in once upon a dream?"

Yum's eyes began to spin faster into a deeper hoe-struck stupor but immediately remembered her clothes were torn prior but gasped upon finding herself back in a pair of black heels but now she was wearing a red shimmering strapless dress with a saucy slit.

The vampire fumbled out an embarrassed wince, "oh right, I wanted to sort out your modesty" he turned away, "I'm not sure if I got it right though, some of my tricks just aren't up to scratch at times". He looked at his hands and puffed out a sigh, well actually it's just this one" he turned back to look at her, "what with being half and all..."

Yum asked, "so you're a 'alf-vampire as in a dhampir?"

The dhampir nodded, "exactly".

Yum's eyes sparkled with awe, "you can pull off tricks?"

The dhampir warily nodded, "I can..."

Yum asked with even more wonder, "like a lot?"

The dhampir nodded with a side-eye.

"Cor... mega far out..." Yum then asked, "so you're actually like a vampire then can you do Umbral Tricks?" She gave the dress a once-over before looking at him, "like this?"

The dhampir felt a bit at a loss as he answered, "yes I just-!"

Yum excitedly spoke over him, "can you turn into a wolf? Or a bat? 'ang on a sec! You are a vampire- but you're like 'alf innit cos of either your mum or dad, so wot? Can you turn into mist? Or like cast three fireballs at once? Wot about makin' storms 'n' fog too?"

He burst into laughter at her rapid-fire questions, "the three fireballs I suppose that's more likely a case of a simple spell rather than a trick" he shrugged, "but learning to control Umbral-fire was one of the first Tricks I learnt".

Yum grinned, "cor! Far out! I dunno 'ow I could go about casting three o' 'em at once it's 'ard enough makin' sure I don't burn everythin'". She added shyly, "wot with me Gift 'n' all".

The dhampir smiled, "don't worry, I too had trouble controlling the Umbral-fire but it does require the grace of patience". He pulled up his sleeve to reveal arcane circles of dark blessings upon his arm, "but regarding your other questions, I can turn into a wolf, a bat, mist and I can conjure fog and storm but my friends are much better at such feats".

She glanced down at the conjured dress, "well despite wot you think, I quite like this particular trick o' yours, it's really beautiful" she smiled at him, "I really love it". She held his hand feeling it up in awe as to how cold he felt to touch but she looked into his eyes and held on. It didn't matter how cold his touch was for she could feel his warmth radiate not only from the amber of his eyes but his... heart?

The dhampir blushed and his voice softened, "thank you".

Yum held his hand to her chest, "thank you for savin' us 'n' the meadow".

The dhampir was bashful, "I chased it through another meadow before it fled here", he helped her up, "allow me".

Yum was hoe-struck at the overwhelming combination of his heroically skrong embrace and his tall height, "cor, are you a prince?"

The dhampir smirked, "for you, I could be". He placed the flower into her hair, "leave that in there until you feel better".

Yum nodded slowly when suddenly her face dropped into shock, "little friends!?"

He motioned to the meadow now slime-free the way it was supposed to be.

Milk-blossom, Pendant, Twinkle and Berry dozed amongst a sparkling dewy flowerbed whilst the critters blissfully napped by one of the many ponds of luminescent waters.

The dhampir pointed to a branch of the blossom which he had plucked a flower from earlier, "there was another one..." suddenly a kitten leapt on his head making him laugh, "here's the little guardian!" He gently handed over the small feline to Yum "don't worry she's safe, just as I promised".

Yum saw his hands were peppered with scratches, "oh no your 'ands!"

"It's okay, she thought I was going to hurt you" he winked, "this will go in no time" he gave the kitten's head a gentle stroke "but let's see if I can undo this spell now that your friend is safe" he snapped his fingers causing the kitten to revert back to the blue fairy.

"Gazer, my brave protector!" Yum cuddled her little winged friend.

Suddenly a mobile phone went off making the dhampir kiss his teeth as he dug it out of his pocket and bashed it against a tree before answering it, "I'll call you back". He tersely ended the call, pocketed the mobile phone then immediately set to casting a Heal spell upon the tree he struck.

Gazer was gob-smacked, "did you see that?"

Yum's face was locked in a smiling hoe-struck stupor.

Gazer rolled her eyes, "of course not!"

The dhampir turned to face Yum, "I'm sorry, I have to go. But I'm happy to escort you and your friends".

Yum shook her head, "we'll be fine". She added shyly, "this is our 'ome anyway".

He smiled, "such a beautiful place, you must be blessed to live here".

Yum blushed, "cheers... maybe next time I can show you around 'ere plus me cottage too".

The dhampir kissed her hand, "without a shadow of a doubt, miss Yum".

Yum bit her bottom lip, "yeah so I mega 'ope we meet again..."

"Hopefully less in dreams too", the dhampir flexed a bodice ripping wink, "take care, rabbit". He dispersed into screeching evaporating bats.

Gazer hovered over Yum's shoulder, "that was the stranger I was telling you about!"

Yum sighed, "wot a stranger!" She fanned herself, "oh Gaze, 'e's just like those princes in nan's books!" She whirled in a lovelorn dervish, "wot if I just met the man of me dreams as in the bloke that use to pop up in me dreams nah 'n' then?" Her eyes sparkled with more loving fervour, "or even him?"

Gazer side-eyed Yum "all of that aside how come he knew your name? Did he tell you his?"

The sparkles in Yum's eyes died and she wailed in horror, "SHIT!! I FORGOT TO BLOODY ASK!"

~End of Act1~

Act2: Snakes and Oaken Ladders

Now we shall move on inwards away from the lush verdant forests of this isle; on and on following the river Thamis all the way down until we reach the Isle's capital- Londo. A sprawling metropolis charged by the Thamis' flow allowing for the most proficient Tele-port hubs transporting the likes of commuters, travellers and holidaymakers between isles, cities and countries across the pond and beyond. The adventuring sort- known as Questers, were whisked to dungeons and ruins bursting with experience and treasure earning the capital its title the Western Adventure Hub.

Londo also had its fair-share of Magic-Guilds where Casters could hone and align their craft once initiated. Mago and Umbral society alike flocked here to bask in the magic flowing from the Thamis and of course to enjoy the glitz and glamour the central city had to offer. By the north bank was the eyot of Thorn Island that was the abode of The Mysterium- the ruling and governing Guild of this isle and to whom all Casters and Magic Guilds must answer to as long as they are on this island.

However we need to go further down to the south bank of the Thamis where one would find the grounds of the Lilligan Guild.

A magic guild aligned to a doctrine of witches who worshipped the force emanating out of She who sits upon the Night-Throne from the deep layer of the Marine-Kingdom where the feminine and negative forces of Earth and Water flow united and She whose name Cherna-Boginya could only be invoked but never spoken.

Founded by the current Guild-Mistress, the succubus Millenia Astarte von Lilligan to ensure the knowledge of her late mother and the fallen Lilligan Queendom would forever live on.

For Salacia von Lilligan was a powerful and renowned succubus witch who not only gained the favour and patronage of the Witch-Queen of Nature but she was descended from the ancient succubus Lillith of the Volupti Coven. Now the ancestral succubus rests in peace within the Lilligan Tomb cloistered at the heart of a maze hidden behind a weeping willow's tears deep in the lush gardens.

And so too does the Guild-Mistress slumber in the depths of a pool at the Guild crypt where sitting beside was a woman forlornly letting roses float upon the water.

She was a nubile, buxom beauty which was no surprise as she was the Guild-Mistress' daughter and thus by proxy of legacy will one day inherit the title of Guild-Mistress making her the Lilligan Guild's scion whom her mother named: Delichoux Delivia von Lilligan or as her Witch-Name decreed- Livity or Livi for short.

For within Mago Society, Casters- be they witches, wizards or just casters, would undergo the formal ritual of the Naming Ceremony to be christened with a magical name be it a Witch-Name, Wizard-Name or in general Caster-Name. This christening thus becomes a means for the named to channel into their magic but also to embark on an inner quest to over-stand the name's purpose to guide them to their true potential.

Now like her mother- the Lilligan's Guild-Mistress, Livi was a succubus.

You may wonder what is exactly a succubus? These are creatures of carnal delights mutated from Fallen-angels; a rarity hearkening an ancient age where Angels hailing from the shining crater of Venus descended to spread the word of the Errant Sky Father only to be defiled to have a lubricious appetite that they now drew their power from glossed over by a rosy veneer of true love. However like the primeval succubus Volupta Prima the succubi drew their power from wanton lust. Collectively the lascivious succubi, the lustful Musk-damsels and the slutty romantic rarity that be the Fallen-angels were known as Venusians since these creatures could be traced to the sullied Venus-Angels.

Yet despite their allure that made them sought after by those wanting to bed, wife them, exploit their power for their own gain or all of the above; their alignment to the Night-Throne made them formidable wielders of the Negative Craft- Witchcraft. Their prowess once upon a time earned them the praise, patronage and respect of the Witch-Queens; a respect that is still observed by the fallen Queendoms' legacy: the Witch Sanctuary. With its Venusian membership it would be an understatement to point out that the Lilligan Guild had made a name for itself amongst other guilds and the likes of Mago and Umbral Society.

But resuming our focus back to the succubus who was still moping prettily. Her skin was a pale rosy complexion that exuded a delicateness reserved for porcelain dolls and with her small height she was often referred to as such. Long silken blue black hair was bound into a single plait. She blinked back tears revealing the hue of her eyes to be the most verdant jade within pleasing shapes evoking a phoenix' wings in flight.

For among succubi, green eyes are uncommon and it is said that those born with such a colour were blessed by the spring of light that was said to gush forth from the crater of Venus itself. A superstition claimed that those with the Eyes of Venus were purported to hold great power making such an aesthetic sought after by bachelors in the know and the occasional power-hungry sorcerer.

A sigh fluttered out of her full red lips as she placed another rose in the pool, "mummy, the roses in your garden are in bloom which means you will wake up..." she dipped her finger into the pool then stroked the petals of a nearby rose. "Oh mummy, I miss you so much and I know we'll soon be together again but I wish you were here now... with me..." Livi sighed once more as she picked up a pink rose to kiss it leaving a mark from her lipstick before letting it drift upon the pool's surface.

Upon her left wrist was a rather thick leather bangle which unfurled into a rattlesnake that now coiled around her forearm like a peculiar cuff. She stroked the rattlesnake's head, "Two-step misses you too" letting the snake peel itself away from her to lay beside the pool, "oh blessed, nothing can truly split you and mummy apart other than yourselves". She lightly tickled the snake's head, "am I right, Twos?"

Two-step simply flickered out his tongue.

Livi got to her feet, sheathed in a pair of black heels underlined with a bloody-hue dubbed red-bottoms- the sole of a Lilligan witch. Her drip was one of many formal guild attire consisting of a black dress whose long elegant gigot sleeves were embellished with lace ruffs at the cuffs. The lace collar was embroidered to shape a snake coiling around flowers to honour Melusine the serpentine elemental said to have once been the patron of Salacia von Lilligan and now served the slumbering Guild-Mistress. The skirt- that just about covered her round bundas, aped that of a ballerina's tutu evoking a feminine grace which upon the Venusian members of this Guild was ironically juxtaposed by their sinfully tasty bodies.

And so with a heavy heart the Lilligan scion exeunted the crypt, the clicks of her red-bottoms echoing as she ascended the stone stairs but upon the waters the roses sunk beneath and there was a glow radiating out of Two-step's eyes as he glared at the pool.

~*~

Under the stained glass depicting the triumphs of Salacia von Lilligan along with paintings of honoured witches who aligned themselves to her Queendom or the guild; Livi's red-bottoms clicked against the chequerboard marble floor as she made her way through the stained gallery where black onyx snakes coiled around stone pillars and the necks of bejewelled skeletons. It certainly wasn't odd for a Lilligan to be called a snake or told to hiss off.

Guild-sisters who flocked together into little huddles for gossiping dispersed to hail the scion some either returned to their errands or drifted off to ponder where they should be going to next. Soon the gallery was practically empty save for a pair of Lilligan witches who stood in the succubus' way.

One of the witches spoke up, "Livity, are you actually going to the Oaken Guild today?" Her booted red-bottoms matched her purple hair that had a gelatinous glisten indicating she was a Musk-damsel- specifically a Fruit-Damsel.

An orange-haired succubus spoke up, "and are you actually going to declare a duel on the Oaken's scion?" Her orange red-bottoms were garnished with diamonds.

Livi shook her head, "I'm simply going to visit their library, but if any of those Oaken brothers- especially the scion, try to stop me I will retaliate because I only answer to their Guild-Mistress".

The fruit-damsel became sheepish, "well that's good and all but if...-"

Livi drawled, "of course Jou-Jou, if I just happen to see that dishy Oaken-chap that you had to be pried off at the Imbolc mixer".

Jou-Jou side-eyed the orange succubus who was trying to hold back her titter, "him and I were in the middle of a really good conversation when you lot decided to pry me away from him!"

The orange succubus teased, "yes as if you didn't spend the entire service ogling him".

Jou-Jou frowned, "I did NOT!"

Livi spoke up, "teasing aside, I shall hand over whatever message you have for him so out with it or forever hold your peace!"

Jou-Jou perked up, "well I knitted a scarf for him..."

Livi scoffed, "but you just met him on Imbolc and today is Wednesday!"

The musk-damsel pouted, "so? He told me that he was recovering from the grippe".

Livi was dissuaded, "four days ago?"

The orange succubus dryly remarked, "Livity, you ought to consider if it's worth tossing a stone when you're in a glass house".

Livi side-eyed her succubus bredrina, "I'll keep that in mind Jaffa!" She looked to Jou-jou, "just hand over the scarf!"

Jou-Jou conjured a neatly folded purple scarf that she gave to Livi, "umm... so his name is...-!"

Livi spoke over the musk-damsel, "I know exactly who he is, his name and how he looks since you couldn't take your eyes off him!" She made the scarf vanish and looked at Jaffa, "I'll be sure to pass on a message to your man if I see him or any of his man dem about the Guild grounds".

Jaffa blushed, "just find out if he's coming to the Ostara mixer or not".

Livi grinned, "trouble in paradise?"

Jaffa drawled, "that will depend on his answer!" She swiftly changed the subject, "do any of the inner council know what you are getting up to?"

Livi shook her head, "what do they need to know? The Oaken's Guild-Mistress has granted us Lilligan witches access to the Guild grounds, so why am I hearing about our Lilligan sisters being turned away from the Oaken Guild?" She frowned, "as the scion I must represent for my Guild and sisters to right any wrongs done unto either".

Jaffa raised an eyebrow, "wra, you really are ready to ruck, even without your Shewstone?"

Livi shrugged, "why should that stop me from using my powers?" She rolled her eyes, "like I said I only answer to the Oaken's Guild-Mistress and certainly not to any of those loutish men who proclaim themselves to be wizards!"

Jaffa slyly remarked, "so does the Oaken's scion count too?"

Livi grimaced, "seriously?"

Jou-Jou sidled up next to the Lilligan scion, "did you not think anyone would notice how you conveniently moved out of the barracks to get your own place once he returned from his sabbatical?"

Livi crossed her arms, "well Mater Zelda insisted I should have a place of my own!"

Jaffa gave the Lilligan scion a bantering nudge, "at a close but not too bait proximity to his ends in Wic-dul?"

Livi blushed, "so?"

Jou-Jou teased, "then you disappeared for a week..."

Livi blushed even more, "so?"

Jaffa asked, "so what invisibility enchantment have you been using to avoid the press and bloggers? And secondly, why haven't you shared the incantation?"

Livi huffed, "oh it's just a simple convergence of advanced Invisibility and Levitation spells!"

Jou-Jou remarked, "really? It's just that?"

Jaffa knowingly winked at the musk-damsel, "obviously because Livity is drawing from the element of Light and Air via the Day Throne". She teased, "I wonder who would teach our Young Mistress that?" Both her and Jou-Jou shrieked as a wind lifted up their skirts.

Livi closed the mudra to stand akimbo, "you know my godfather taught me to wield the element of air?"

Jaffa mimicked the Lilligan scion, "out of how many?"

Livi kissed her teeth, "only six! Miss-I-have-ALL-the-god-fathers!"

Jaffa huffed, "oh my days! Seven hardly equates to ALL!"

Jou-Jou blinked slowly, "so who taught you how to use the element of Light?"

Jaffa was incredulous, "DUH! Who else?"

"I am on my way to the Oaken Guild and it has absolutely nothing to do with the Oaken scion!" Livi stormed off in a huff.

Jou-Jou asked, "do you think that was too much?"

Jaffa shook her head, "that's just her being too prideful as usual!"

Jou-Jou sighed, "I'm not sure about that, she's been like this since the Guild-Mistress went under her enchanted slumber..."

Jaffa rolled her eyes, "that's only the tip of the iceberg what with all of the other mad drama prior and her Circle-sisters' assisting those Oaken chaps on that dreadful SPARDA quest!"

Jou-Jou was surprised, "but the quest was a success and the last word we received was that they were making their way through the Wild-Magic Tunnels".

Jaffa explained, "but the moons are currently in the alignment of discord casting the Firmamental Wild-Magic Tunnels in constant high tide making it even more turbulent than it already is".

Jou-Jou held Jaffa's hand, "then let's go to the chapel and pray for our Guild-sisters and Young Mistress".

~*~

There may have been a conscience niggling in the back of Livi's mind that she could've conducted herself differently but she knew that if it were serious it would've been settled with blows if the words did not flow. She knew that it was just bants between her and the Juicy Jays- sans Jessica who was probably enjoying her home day, but our succubus wished she could've had that assurance that it was so between them. There was no point in witches fighting amongst each other especially when they needed to unite against wizards and their superstitious nonsense! Livi was eager to teach those pompous fops a lesson because how dare they manhandle witches into a teleport spell- the nerve!

She made her way outside to the gates and wondered how would she make her way to the Oaken Guild grounds? The Lilligan Inner Council would prefer I travel around Londo within the safety of the Mago-limo, however I am thirty three years too dyam old to be carted around in the bloody bratmobile! Livi then immediately knew how she was going to make her entrance.

The Lilligan scion was brought out of her thoughts by a pair of succubi Guild-sisters ensconced in a vortex of glittering petals where it soon dispersed into an eclipse of moths that flashed into gorgeous wings where shimmering pollen all but poured out of the pretty appendages.

Livi was in awe at how the pollen sounded off the sweetest chimes of little crystal bells and even more of the potent magic; for the pollen was in fact Dream-Dust a manifestation of a succubus' power channelled to work powerful entrancing enchantments and teleporting over great distances instantly. On each of the Guild-sisters' index finger were a ring displaying a fine jewel radiating great magic and these jewels were Shewstones.

The Shewstone is the source of a Venusian's essence; in the case of a succubus this would blossom into its base expression: the Dream-Egg, allowing her to sprout wings for flight within and out of the naked eye and as a source of magic and enchantments. Eventually the Shewstone would be able to shift into its purest expression the Venusian-Veil then the feats could be even more fantastical such as traversing beyond layers. The great magic worked upon by the Venusian-Veil had been so renowned in the ancient world that its ancient name for Venusians being Apsaras lived on to become a term for when a Venusian-Witch unlocked such a power. Of course the Lilligan Guild-Mistress' formal epithet is The Salt-water Apsara yet many referred to her as the Salt-water Witch instead.

Sadly this was not the case for our Lilligan scion and each time her heart would flutter at the thought of one day being renowned as an Apsara just like her mother, it would soon leave her crestfallen for her Shewstone had still not been found. She couldn't accept that her Shewstone's disappearance was due to misplacing it, which could only mean it was taken from her and where would she start from that conclusion? How her heart used to heave at the sight of Venusians spreading their wings to fly for she had yet to earn her wings as long as her Shewstone was missing and she wanted nothing more than to join them in flight.

However our succubus' heart now swelled with happiness for she had found other means to join her sisters in the sky and she knew better than to wallow in sorrow. For a Lilligan-Witch must be resourceful and to have eyes open to see possibilities, conjuring forth an astral moth to flutter around her turning her Spring Tack into the Spring-Summer variant.

The dress puffed into a two-piece formed of a corseted leotard and a layered tutu skirt that had even more trouble covering up her bundas. Even without the Shewstone- that which retains her Angelic-Name and the source of her essence, she could still draw upon its power for her mother taught her from an early age to know her Angelic-Name off by heart and in lieue to speak, read and write Enochian- the ancient language spoken by the Venus-Angels. Thus by calling upon this secret name granted her access to a fraction of her true Venusian power and the basic of her Succubus-Guises.

Conjuring a pair of black glittering gloves, she invoked a mudra to levitate and with another mudra she glided through the air; all the time she had put into nurturing the element of air and the Witch Flight spell were beginning to pay off.

Closing her eyes, Livi inwardly and silently spake her Angelic-Name before opening her eyes to reveal the colour was now pink. Livi incanted:

Dream Dust thou must hear

For I declare thee

That I must be lighter than Air

And Fairly Thin.

I beseech thee Wind

To make me unseen.

Raising her left palm to channel a magenta astral moth to shower her in glittering Dream-Dust making the succubus disperse into more of the astral moths until altogether an astral eclipse evaporated into dew.

~*~

Traversing deeper into the central area of Londo, was the Inner city of Londin- a ceremonial county dubbed the Sacred Square due to the numerological harmonics of the borough's metrics and its formation of twenty-five wards dubbed the Virtuous Quarter.

At the highest point stood Lid's gait Hill; formerly Lid's Gait located to the very west of the Lond Wall until a hell-mouth consumed it and after quite a palava involving heroes of virtuous glory battling against the infernal hordes of aphrodisiac demons- creatures of savage lust, the hell-mouth was closed for good causing the infernal swelling to petrify itself and all into a stone dead hill of coagulated necrosis. At the top of this hill was a cathedral, a striking architecture notable for the pronounced dome flanked by a pair of helical towers.

This cathedral was in fact the central grounds for the Oaken Guild. A guild of wizards sworn to He who sits upon the Day Throne with his holy daylight righteously emboldening the elements of Fire and Air to its utmost zenith and like his nocturnal counterpart his name Belobog could only be invoked.

Despite the assortment of wizards who had pledged to the guild, it is rooted in the ways of the Elves and so it is required for members to be fluent in High-Elvish or score a Level 1 on the CELPT. For the Guild was founded by a summoner who was a Dawn-elf; these are the descendants and archivers of their ancient precursor the High-elves. This elven maiden named Tildeed rallied forth her allies into the battle remembered in the annals of lore as the Equinox Campaign. The campaign was indeed victorious but at the grave cost of losing her mentor- an old Wizard-king presumed nameless, whom with his last breath bequeathed Tildeed his golden medallion along with his blessing. So the Oaken Guild was christened to honour the sacred communion with the Spirits of the Oak and Tildeed vowed that only those born out of her loins would inherit the claim to the Oaken Guild and therefore her medal. The current Guild-Mistress was her great, great, great, great, great granddaughter, Oui-Zadora a dawn-elf known and renowned for her mastery in retaining the ancient High-Elven craft of Summoning- calling forth forces from beyond.

Standing around in platonic huddles at the courtyard upon chequerboard tiles; wizards dripped in designer shoes and accessories donned black cassocks and saturnos, red ferraiolos or white Amices with an embroidery of the Oaken's insignia over a black suit.

A certain huddle formed around a particular someone. That particular someone was a dishy and swole man garbed in a black suit and a red clerical stole with an elven spell embroidered in gold thread and the sole of his black brogues were lined with gold. He was the Guild's scion and therefore the Guild-Mistress' grandson; obviously by dint of his ears he was of the elven but his pale complexion and platinum blonde hair- bound into a long ponytail, were the obvious hallmarks of the Dawn-elves. However upon removing his sunglasses he did not have the grey eyes that have fascinated many, for his eyes are red where once upon a time he had his mother's grey and father's blue atypical of a half-elf.

A ferraiolo brother shared a dap with the scion "as I live and breath, the man who shouted down the Salt-water Witch and lived to tell the tale!"

The scion feigned humility, "I was just laying down facts". He let down the veneer with a wide grin showing off his sharp, pointed teeth; a hallmark of an old and shunned Elven-kind whose name could not be spoken aloud for fear of invoking their presence and so the disgusted called them Blood-drinkers. They- the Blood-drinkers such as his long-gone maternal grandfather, sought Infernal knowledge and paid the price by being cursed to wrestle with a wild blood-lust brought upon by lunar phases and alignments.

A cassocked Ocean-elf teased, "then you fled into hiding for years until she calmed down".

The scion corrected with a smirk, "only three years for my training sabbatical AND what?"

A Desert-elf Oaken nudged the scion, "FOR what? To ensure you don't die from your tab of beatings from the Lilligan Inner Council?"

The scion chuckled, "nah those harpies had to dead that! But fool on nem! They should've just bled me dry then and there instead of siccing their purse pon me!"

"Fam, you lived through the Two-step?" Exclaimed a guild-brother.

An Oaken brother guffawed, "well of course that's what happens when the Namer calls you Ever-Blessed at your Naming Ceremony!"

The half-elf smugly grinned, "mans didn't need to invoke the Wizard-Name like that you know, because no harpies or some purse is going to stop me from getting what I want". He lit a joint, "let that stupid snake come at me with its bait venom!" He had a pull, "besides I made a solemn oath to the Lilligan Guild-Mistress that her daughter would marry an Ipsissimus and big man's a Magus now!"

A brother in a zuchetto asked, "bruv what happened with the Mysterium before you left?"

The scion feigned a shush, "that can only be discussed with those present at the hearings".

A forest-elf in a saturno pointed out, "weren't you supposed to be exiled from Bion?"

The half-elf waved away the question, "that's why lawyers are amazing. Big up to our lot for doin' the ting! The rest nah test cuz Oaken are the best!" He then asked, "now what's this I'm hearing about witches causing trouble?"

The zuchetto answered, "only the Lilligans".

The half-elf loudly huffed, "what fuckery have those snakes slithered our way now?"

A forest-elf in an Amice huffed, "they are clearly not good listeners despite their so-called prowess in magic".

The ferraiolo explained, "well it turns out a witch's corpse is haunting the Guild's catacombs and of course with the Lilligans showing up the dead bag draws upon their allegiance to the Night-Throne to empower her".

The scion nodded, "and if we raise the Spirit of Rowan, the snakes will whinge and then we get points deducted for casting climatic spells sans the blessing of the Mysterium- good bloody grief!" He proclaimed, "well I'm sure Frater Cronq will fill me in on the full scoop but that sounds like the menace needs a K. I. W. F.", that got the brotherly huddle laughing until the bell clanged so that some of the brothers cleared off to respond to its beckoning whilst some still milled about including the scion himself. He was christened with the name Lu- the half-elf slowly turned aside to glare; his red eyes boiled with such a blazing wrath to frighten the boiling seas into a chill!

And you know what? Everyone called him Lupo or else...

Lupo put his sunglasses back on to mumble darkly, "know so pussy-o". He was about to set off for Frater Cronq's office but stopped to see what everyone started looking at.

An eclipse of astral moths burst into the Lilligan scion in all of her voluptuous sexy glory.

Lupo straightened his sunglasses as he drank in the short-stack dolled up in the Lilligan tack. He wasn't sure which one of the many formal frocks she was wearing but soon recognised the tutu's flimsy effort to cover her lovely batty and how pronounced her breasts were in the fetching corset to be his favourite- or at least one of his favourites.

A Lake-elf nudged Lupo, "and here's the reason you holed yourself up at your yard for a week".

"No comment", Lupo made the joint disappear and lowered his sunglasses for a clearer look at his pretty doll; drinking in a hearty eyeful at her jiggling busty milkers and the sway of her hips primed for bearing children- his children.

Livi saw the stupid grin forming on the Oaken's scion face as she strutted towards him in her red-bottoms. She smirked at how his face fell- along with his sunglasses, when she immediately walked away from him towards someone else "this is from my Guild-sister", Livi conjured the purple scarf and handed it over to an Oaken brother.

"From Jou-Jou?" His face brightened, "please give her my thanks when you see her".

Livi tersely asked, "are you going to the Ostara mixer?"

The Oaken brother pondered, "I wasn't actually-"

Livi spoke over him, "you will and Jou-Jou will be there".

The Oaken brother smiled, "alright then, tell her I'm looking forward to the mixer".

Livi spotted an Ocean-elf in a surplice and went over to him, "what did you do to Jaffa?"

The surplice Ocean-elf scoffed, "that's none of your business!"

Livi crossed her arms, "well Jaffa is my Guild-sister and that so makes it my business if I know that a Lilligan is being messed around".

The surplice Ocean-elf further scoffed, "there is no messing around between me and Jaffa but is she coming to the Ostara Mixer?"

Livi shrugged, "depends on if you are coming or not?"

The surplice rolled his eyes, "of course! I need to square things off with her".

Livi felt a pulse from her heart. For something had set off her Gift- The Gift of Theia, a feat that allowed Venusians to see into hearts; to speak and understand its language of unspoken emotions to feel and reveal secrets both coveted and concealed.

The surplice grumbled, "I've seen that look far too many times to know when your kind are using that bloody Gift! Get away from me before you ruin everything!"

Livi clutched her heart, "oh my days... that is so-!"

"Do not tell anyone- especially Jaffa!" The surplice shooed Livi away from him, "now be on your way! You witches shouldn't even be setting foot here!"

Livi was affronted, "I beg your pardon-oof!" She was shoved into someone and looked up.

Lupo towered over the Lilligan scion; then lowered his sunglasses to sneak in an ogle before looking to his Oaken bredrin, "brother, is my woman giving you grief?"

Livi scoffed, "your woman?"

"Yes! That woman of yours, keep her out of here and place an anti-gossiping enchantment on her!" The surplice exeunted with a huff.

Lupo straightened his sunglasses with a smirk, "still getting into trouble despite your promise", he embraced the Lilligan scion and sprinkled bright glitter upon her eyes, "sorry babes, bro-code".

Livi clenched her eyes shut then opened them feeling rather dazed.

Lupo grinned at the Lilligan scion, "you heard the man, m'lady", he softly patted her cheek to keep her from going under, "you need to bounce your witchy ras out of here".

Livi weakly uttered, "what man?" She blinked, "and why should I listen to him?" She scowled, "Neither of you can tell me what to do! Now where is your Guild-Mistress?"

Lupo feigned hurt, "wow, using my sweet granny to get your way? Nothing really has changed with you". His face crinkled into a silly grin, "other than whatever you were doing last week cos D-!"

Livi stepped away from him and scoffed, "oh spare me, you horny creature! I have my reasons for wanting to see the Oaken's Guild-Mistress and it's none of your business!"

Lupo closed the distance to hold her hand, "I'll have you know m'lady, as the Oaken scion any business with the Guild-Mistress will indubitably be my business". He punctuated with a kiss on her middle finger.

Livi looked away with a loud huff, "oh really! Then explain to me what is going on with you Oaken lot manhandling-!"

Lupo spoke over her as he gripped her hand, "escorting you witches away from the premises because your presence is making a situation get worst!"

Livi tried to pull away but gave up and pouted, "surely there's something us Lilligans can do to help".

Lupo dismissively turned her around to face the exit, "keep your dyam witch ras out of the ends for a bit so me and my 'zards sort tings!"

Livi turned around to face him, "but why?"

Lupo quipped, "but why do you flourish in dumb-craft?"

"I do not!" Livi pettishly puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

Lupo kissed his teeth, "solid fact: you do. Strutting your bad, t'icc, lickle self all the way here to sweat my brothers over dumb demands from your Guild-sisters nem along with your dumb-ras questions!"

Livi swallowed her anger and exuded grace as she primly walked past him, "I actually arrived here to use the Guild's Library, I wish to borrow a book from your collection or at least place a reserve".

Within a step Lupo stood in Livi's way, "that's not happening".

Livi was affronted, "excuse me?"

Lupo shrugged, "I didn't say it in Elvish. I'm telling you witches to bounce out of ends so us wizards can deal with this ghost witch stupidness quickly!"

Livi raised her eyebrow, "so this stupidness can be solved quickly via wizardry?"

Lupo pushed down on her eyebrow, "duh! But when you sneks keep slithering about here ol' witchy-poo can just mek krasses for us by siphoning power from you lot!" He punctuated his lecture to the bratcubus by grabbing her nose.

Livi tried to slap his hand but he held it high above her reach so she raised her head, "well surely this witch you're up against can't have fully conquered the catacombs below". She started to walk past him, "if I see any remnants of this nasty witch, I will endeavour to scream".

Lupo had her by the waist and scooped her close to him, "what did I say?"

Livi thumped her fists against his torso, "you will let me go about my business!"

Lupo tutted, "and I told your ras that's not happening".

Livi puffed out her cheeks and glared serrated daggers at him.

From our half-elf's view he may as well have been staring at an enraged kitten which only got him laughing as he deflated the anger out of her face.

Upon realising her arms were too short to return the favour she exclaimed in shrill outrage, "let me go about my business NOW!"

Lupo clocked that the bratcubus brought in an audience. So he held her closer to him, "yeah after a lap-dance then I'll let you have whatever book you want". He grinned at her astonishment as she felt his dick-print.

Someone in the audience wolf-whistled.

Livi removed her glove and struck his face with it, "after I defeat you in a Magic Duel!"

The Oaken wizards ad-libbed with laughter and guffaws

Lupo sighed, "fine, you Lilligan trick-arse hoes are overdue for some humbling".

The Oakens cheered.

Livi slipped the glove back on, "I believe it's the other way around". Her face fell, "did I just-!"

Lupo snapped his finger and made her disappear. He lowered his sunglasses to look at his hand; he had expected the finger-snap to send her feisty ras flying back to the Lilligan grounds but instead she vanished out of thin air. He shrugged it off then straightened his sunglasses to inwardly conclude same ways her face favour ras will be back at the Lilligan Guild!

"Man dem dun gone up in levels!" An Oaken doled out a pat on the half-elf's back.

An Oaken shook his head with grave resolve, "see? That's why 'Zards dem can't be soft with these witches".

Lupo had to spud to that, "too right bro!"

An imposing presence swelled out of the sudden mist to unveil the guild's distinguished Ovate: Frater Cronq. The vampire was draped in a regal black ferrariolo lined with gold embroidery, "gentlemen, how convenient to find you convening in the courtyard instead of the War Room where you should be". Amidst the Oakens hastening orderly into the cathedral; the Ovate set his sights on Lupo, "ah welcome back Master Pollipi". He genuflected to the Oaken scion, "Sapientia ut Lux".

"Scientia sit Potentia", Lupo removed his sunglasses to bow, with a sleight of hand he disappeared them to share a handshake with the Ovate, "I'm glad I listened to your advice on having a hermit week once I touched down".

The vampire's mercurial smile did nothing to offset his unsettling piercing eyes- which would get vampiresses rubber-necking, "you look and exude one who has indulged in his peacetime down to the very last drop". He nodded slowly, "we'll have to find a time for you to tell me about your travels over a spot of tea"; he then beckoned to the Oaken scion, "but do follow me to the war room to be briefed on this unfortunate spot of bother".

~*~

Deep below the Oaken's guild grounds was a sprawling catacomb that was in fact the petrified remains of old Lid's Gait and exactly where Livi had ended up.

Silly Lupo, he should know better than to assume I am helpless against a mere spell. In the instant Livi had sensed Lupo casting the spell she quickly jacked the spell.

For such a term is grounded within the context of 'hijacking'; between duelling Magic Guilds rather than 'jacking' or even hijacking the word 'commandeering' was used instead to describe what happens when a spell that should have taken her back to the Lilligan Guild but instead she was transported here, covering the whole deed with the veneer of a vanishing spell.

Surely it can take a witch to sort a witch? Livi took a step back as the air suddenly thickened enough to press against her body, what? What is this? She stepped back but the density only seemed to increase even more. Letting the thick air constrict her body; she remembered a maxim of her guild: to fear is only when you believe you can't defend yourself. Livi knew she had the power to fight back; she quietly invoked her Angelic-Name mindfully then raised her left hand to incant:

Dream-Dust I ask of thee to shower me

In a field of magic that enlightens and make enemies yield and cower!

May my Casting-Field glower with Succubus Power!

A magenta astral moth bloomed forth to flutter around the Lilligan scion sprinkling her in Dream-Dust that cloaked her body in a glittering halo.

A Casting-Field allowed witches, wizards and casters alike to draw upon its glow to empower their spells, enchantments but physical attacks were reduced by a fraction- the price to pay for great power.

The density started to pull her further but Livi was able to stand her ground, "whatever this force is, it wants to take me further... as though it's..." she felt a pulse ripple out of her heart- it was her Gift of Theia giving voice to the pulse as Livi said, "follow... me..." She repeated what she had just said, "follow me". The Lilligan scion saw it was dark ahead, "you expect me to go there?" She scoffed, "you can't be much trouble if you can't even come up and say it to my face!"

The density stretched into a billowing wind to drag the succubus into the darkness which turned out to be a smog reeking of charred accused flesh:

What do we have here...

Light Pearl! A twinkle bloomed out of Livi's palm that exploded into a blinding light freeing her from the unseen clutches but there was no time for relief as she gasped in horror.

For the burnt smog solidified into a woman's silhouette- it was the witch's ghost:

So those wizards have failed to stop me from snaring a witch.

"Well you haven't succeeded yet!" Livi stood akimbo as her Casting-Field flared.

Glaring bloodshot eyes sprouted out of the phantom's barren face:

What makes you so confident? You're a succubus! Easy and sumptuous prey.

Livi conjured a magenta astral moth to fire out a glittering beam at the apparition making it implode to nothing.

Unseen hands latched onto the succubus to make her kneel.

Livi grunted, "do you think I'm easy?" She threw her head back to incant: LIGHT PEARLS! Rays of light scorched the unseen hands; now freed she silently invoked the Witch Flight spell to make distance between herself and the corpses emerging out of a bloodied schism frothing out of the ground. Without her Shewstone, the Dream-Dust wouldn't be so effective up above but that was far from the case, "you ought to see what I can do when I'm high!" Drawing upon a summer day's warmth, she raised her right hand to invoke: STRING OF LIGHT PEARLS! A fountain of light surged out of her fingertips unleashing a gleaming rainfall to tear apart the corpses and sear the schism shut.

A giggling frothed out of the mist:

And here I thought my familiar had brought back something...

I actually owe those meddling wizards my thanks!

Suddenly the witch's ghost materialised back into the smog now thick in necrosis and the imposing pair of bloodshot eyes emerged to blink at the succubus,

How much longer can you draw upon the light, witch?

Livi growled: Until you are done for! She threw a mudra with her right hand then with her left hand cast a gleaming magenta bolt to spear down the phantasmic smog.

The smog consumed her spell.

Our succubus' face fell upon realising she had not thought any of this through. At this point, the best course of action was to completely get out of dodge as she kicked her Witch Flight spell into full gear and soared off.

The bleeding eyes of the witch's ghost blinked,

Yes succubus whore! Do exactly that!

A gust of wind shoved the Lilligan scion upon the ground causing her Casting-Field to flicker as she winced into a foetal curl,

I suppose you will do! After all who would not pass up a witch capable of drawing from the Day and Night!

A pair of cruel and sharp hands emerged to start strangling the succubus;

GIVE YOURSELF TO I, WHITE ANNIS!

NO WOMAN SHALL EVER BRING HARM TO MYSELF!

AND THAT WILL BE SO BECAUSE I WILL EAT HER FIRST!

Livi channelled the element of light to torch the witch's ghostly face: GET AWAY FROM ME!

White Annis however had in fact absorbed the light into a ball of dwindling light:

Silly witch, you shouldn't have struggled! NOW YOU ARE MINE!

She turned it into a thick smog and threw it at the succubus to bind in sticky bondage.

In her sheer distress, Livi unleashed a piercing shriek that showed no sign of stopping as it shattered apart her sticky bonds and warped White Annis' form in wobbling ripples.

White Annis gasped with dread:

No... it can't be... not that!

That being the dreaded Venusian Gospels; powerful spells unlocked by sacred frequencies but for those who were fortunate to live and tell the tale it was just a bunch of birds screaming at the top of their lungs ensuring everything and anything could be shattered to utter destruction.

White Annis could feel herself coming apart recoiling away from her prey to gawk at her withering hands:

No... YOU WILL NOT BE VICTORIOUS!

Her decrepit mouth opened for blackened blood to spew forth.

Livi dove out of the way and used her Witch Flight spell to give herself some aerial distance and making that longitudinal as she flew off, I'm not even sure how deep the spell has taken me... Livi raised her left hand for a magenta astral moth to bloom forth and flutter around the succubus as she invoked:

Listen to me

I must flee.

Dream-Dust, I ask of thee

Find me a path home

Away from here where all is not known but unknown.

The moth flapped its wings showering the succubus in magenta glitter and before she knew it she was shrunken down to the size of a thumb. The moth started to fly ahead leaving behind a glittering trail of Dream-Dust to which our succubus followed hoping to exploit the witch's ignorance long enough for her to flee this dreadful place!

White Annis cackled:

You will not escape me so easily!

You will not leave here so easily!

Do you even know where you are, succubus?

Livi clenched her eyes shut before opening them to carry on following the trail, I can't focus on anything else but my spell! The cackle of the witch's ghost grew louder- no matter what!

~*~

The war room was a stone auditorium cast in the gloom of the marbled chequerboard floor. A quadrilateral row of oak pews was crowned by a dais veiled by a baladchin of red velvet embroidered with blessings of Ancient High Elvish in gold thread left to soak in the sun's rays at the peak and fall of the Summer Solstice. At the centre was a long table of petrified oak where before the middle seat was a bell of volcanic basalt whilst to the left end of the table was a golden triangle. On the other end a pale man of godly physique wrote in a large, leathered tome and occasionally stop to dip the quill into the ink pot.

The Oaken wizards silently took their seats, daring not to say anything as the sound of scrawling echoed.

The silence was soon interrupted by screeching bats converging into the imposing form of a vampire swathed in a dark cloak who took his seat at the centre as the pale writer sat to his right.

The pale-haired dhampir briskly walked past Frater Cronq and Lupo to stand beside the dais. He had changed from the dark outfit he sported earlier in the woods into an all-black two-piece suit with a red brassard emblazoned with the Oaken's insignia.

The Oaken scion gawked at the dhampir, bruv? Being late instead of me? Wra... must be some serious tings if he got held up like that. He noticed the dais was empty, "shouldn't gran be here?" He fronted his concern with a frown, "is she alright?"

Frater Cronq shook his head, "it would be most unwise to involve the Guild-Mistress and Mater Dominus or 'Sister Dominus' as our current Guild-Bard would insist. But rest assured your grandmother is fine, she believes it is high time you start taking on more responsibilities". The Oaken Ovate held Lupo's shoulder, "and we believe so too". He tentatively let go, "because you being here is evidence of a successful training sabbatical".

Lupo pointed to the cloaked figure, "but why is Frater Honorius at the stone table instead of his usual place?"

Frater Cronq answered, "Why? Because The Hand of the Oaken that be Frater Honorius is the retainer of the Guild-mistress". He pointed ahead, "The Master and The Hand take their place at the dais".

Lupo closed his eyes; in one way or another each of the three masters he trained with during his sabbatical asked him if he was ready and he answered yes. But since his return, he realised the question was not about his prowess in Wizardry but what made him embark on this sabbatical in the first place. Was he ready to walk away from exhuming the infernal knowledge that died with his parents to embrace his destiny in becoming a Guild-Master? Such a pursuit made him learn the hard way of being responsible for someone's livelihood and now he had to consider many more.

The Oaken scion opened his eyes and inwardly affirmed, yes. As if ascending the steps were not loud enough for his answer. But standing before the throne he knew that what a Wizard does was nothing without his word that could be heard.

The pale man stopped scribbling to look at the scion and he stood up from his seat.

Frater Honorius rose up from his seat along with the Oakens in the pews who followed suite.

The dhampir faced Lupo and genuflected.

Lupo turned around to face his brethren.

With a bow the Oaken greeted their scion, "Sapientia ut Lux".

One day you'll have my word but for now this will do and suffice, Lupo raised his right hand to hail his guild-brothers "Scientia sit Potentia" then took his seat upon the dais as the dhampir stood up.

The Ovate picked up the triangle to strike up a single chime, "I- Frater Cronq Ovate of the Oaken Guild, bid peace and good will to my brothers! May we hold these values in our hearts as we gather here in the war room for a grave conversation". He slightly bowed his head then struck the triangle once more, "please be seated gentlemen", everyone took their seat as did he after putting down the instrument.

The cloaked vampire stood up, "I- Frater Honorius The Hand of the Oaken, shall lead the meeting and Choirmaster Spartan will take today's minutes while Brother Guy recovers from his efforts in closing the Hell-mouth that had occurred at the Old Gayte". He bowed his head solemnly, "may his recovery be steady and well". He looked up to nod at his pale fellow Oaken, "and thank you Choirmaster Spartan, we are grateful for your company".

The Choirmaster grimly nodded as he turned a page to carry on writing.

Frater Honorius took his seat then rang the stone bell, "as you know there have been news of a witch's ghost haunting old Lid's Gait; now a ghost least of all- a Witch's Ghost, should hardly be a spot of bother for us Oakens or any wizard- especially a Novice".

That erupted small tides of chuckles and chortles.

Frater Cronq conjured a handkerchief to conveniently cover his smile under the guise of wiping away remnants of a hasty, non-existent lunch.

The dhampir concealed a smirk before hardening his stern expression.

Lupo held a poker-face hoping he looked as stoic as Choirmaster Spartan.

Frater Honorius raised his hand to bring order as the Oakens' laughter lowered into silence "sadly as we all know a mere anthill of a witch can become a mountain of trouble and this certainly applies to our current problem". He shook his head, "it has turned out that this witch's ghost has managed to demonstrate a knack for siege craft forcing us to annex the catacomb".

Choirmaster Spartan handed over a manila folder to Frater Honorius.

The Oaken's Hand opened up the folder to skim through the report.

Lupo wished he hadn't disappeared his sunglasses.

Frater Cronq explained, "a reconnaissance unit formed of Brother Luv, Brother Nardo, Brother Nero and Brother Cage were deployed to track down the ghost. They were ambushed leaving one of our brethren to pursue the assailant whilst the others placed talismans around the outer parameter to keep in the ghost". He spotted three of the recon unit in the front-most seats and nodded at them, "their efforts have proven most effective as our recent reading has shown that the ghost has retreated deeper which is good for us but not so good for our not-so friendly ghost meaning lesser likelihood of her siphoning more power". He added, "you can find out more about their endeavours within the reports that will be included in the Spring Publication".

Lupo inwardly cringed at the prospect of keeping up to date with reports and- worse yet, editing them for the quarterly publications.

The Hand closed the folder and stood up, "which leaves us with one report pending from the remaining member of the reconnaissance unit which is hardly expected given the immediacy of it all happening". He looked to the dhampir, "Brother Luv, step forward to regale us of your pursuit and what unfolded subsequently".

The dhampir approached the centre to genuflect before standing up, "Brother Ewe Luv, retainer to the Oaken scion and leader of the deployed reconnaissance". With composure he regaled, "if all of us were to fight back, the Witch's Ghost could easily do away with us and have us cornered- given the current alignment of the moons. Therefore it was unanimously agreed that hindering the target's efforts to gain more power was a priority leaving Brother Nardo, Brother Nero and Brother Cage to do what they did". He acknowledged his team-mates with a nod, "to ensure the plan's effectiveness, I gave pursuit to the ambusher which I had assumed it was the Witch's Ghost as the singing stone pealed moments prior". He shook his head, "however it was revealed that this ambusher carried some essence of the Witch's Ghost because it was a Familiar she had forged out of a lingering soul".

Frater Honorius asked, "and what of this Familiar, Brother Luv?"

Obviously Dudley Ewe-right beat down the Familiar and took back a sample for the lab, Lupo rolled his eyes then quickly composed himself.

Ewe answered, "initially I was able to hold my own against its attacks but I sensed that it was enchanted and indeed it was- with a portal".

There was a collective murmur amongst the Oaken.

A portal enchantment cast on a Familiar? What kind of magic were these witches brewing back then? Lupo shook his head thankful that the odds had favoured the Wizard-kings in their triumph over the Witch-Queens.

Frater Honorius rang the stone bell to bring silence to the war room. He motioned to Ewe, "proceed Brother..."

Ewe continued, "the portal led to a forest outside of Londo, I assume she had gained enough power to carry out such a plan; create a portal- ideally to a forest removed from civilisation, favourable if it were big enough to hold the odd number of hamlets and a fair scattering of cottages. All of this would create a source of sustenance by enchanting the portal to lure prey into walking to their doom and into the gain of the Witch's Ghost".

Well duh! Lupo slowly blinked in boredom but upon feeling the chill of Frater Cronq's side-eye and the pressure of Frater Honorius' admonishing glare he straightened up without looking at any of them.

Ewe's expression was solemn, "as we have yet to make contact we can only assume what this phantom menace hopes to gain from her actions. I believe that in her endeavours to be as covert as possible were it not for the incident occurring at the Imbolc service, she was hoping to gain enough power to revive the closed Hell-mouth otherwise she was looking to open up a new one taking full advantage of the catacomb's proximity to an Infernal-Leyline".

The auditorium doors swung open for a squat badger beastling to waddle in and hand over a test tube with a print out to the dhampir then he exeunted with the doors closing behind him.

Ewe glanced over at the print-out before handing over to Frater Honorius the test-tube and paper, "the Familiar had to be chased through two meadows where eventually it was cornered to be felled by my hand but not before I was able to obtain samples to be analysed by Brother Brock".

Lupo slowly blinked, Dudley Ewe-right at it again...

Ewe explained, "upon coming out of the portal, there was an instant where I had sensed the creature twice and the results from the lab confirm that a Duplication spell had been cast".

The collective murmur swelled but Frater Cronq struck at the triangle to call for silence.

Frater Honorius asked, "is there anything else to add, Brother Luv?"

Ewe shook his head, "only that I returned to the Guild grounds after a sweep of the parameter to track down the duplicate Familiar where I was able to lock onto a pulse but it faded. Coordinates of the aforementioned have been noted and will be included in the report".

Frater Honorius bowed his head, "thank you Brother Ewe, please ensure the report is completed in time".

Ewe bowed then returned to his place beside Lupo.

The Oaken scion was unimpressed; of course if Dudley Ewe-right leads the team the guarantee of over-exceeding objectives was going to be exponential, bruv was going to have the report ready within an hour and he was indubitably going to lead the search for the duplicate- without any shadow of a doubt. Lupo had hoped Ewe would've given himself some respite but he couldn't help wonder what on t'ree eart' had he gotten up to during his sabbatical? It was one thing cutting off the call- yet alone ignoring the calls, but completely blocking out his mind?

Ewe's vampiric half allowed him to enthral others via the Umbral feat of the Thrall Trick. For Umbral beings were able to perform incredible feats drawing upon the Dark-Force rather than magic. However Ewe had honed this ability to communicate mentally allowing him to interact with Lupo when using his Gift. But the Oaken Retainer paid no mind as he drifted his focus away to preoccupy himself on other matters to mull on.

The Oaken scion was bequeathed at birth the Gith of Path, allowing him to observe and speak to minds without the use of moving his mouth by channelling forth an inner voice, eyes to see within the mind and many more fantastic feats due to the time he had put in training.

Expecting to experience another blockage he all but fell into his retainer's mind and found himself conflated with images of a woman- a buff ting with an overbite whose hearty, round tits seemed to be all but falling out of her dress and blessed with serious batty going for days- nah months! Lilligan try-out standard! Her strawberry-blonde hair and fuchsia eyes were the hallmarks of Fallen-angels but he also knew that the colour of a Fallen-angel's hair and peepers have been the most sought after combo for all and every bird that has popped down to a Spelling-salon. Other than her hair and eyes there wasn't anything else extraordinary about her so she's just a human! Suddenly another image emerged of the same mysterious woman- this time she was naked, then another image of Ewe brushing a dark rose upon this woman's lips then he brought it d- are you dat, bruv? He hastily removed himself out of Ewe's mind hoping the dhampir hadn't noticed and knowing for himself there was a lot to process namely the question our half-elf inwardly asked ah wah di ras has Ewe been up to?

"Master Pollipi..."

Lupo's eyes widened upon realising bruv was lying? Bruv straight up lied in front of everyone? Over some human pum-pum deh? He gawked at Ewe, fuck you mean came straight back here bro? When you were doing me nah know wah wit dis-!

"Master Pollipi!" The dark voice of Frater Honorius snapped the half-elf out of his worrisome concerns, "do inform us of your impressions on this case".

Ewe glared at Lupo.

The Oaken scion avoided eye contact with the dhampir and stood up.

~End of Act2~

Act3: The Spell

We sojourn back to the glades where our strawberry-blonde witch- who was still in the conjured dress and shoes, had dazedly got through her tasks bumping into many trees, falling into shrubs and enraging the ire of forest critters along the way. The Fairy-Garden was devoid of any fairies and sprites which could only mean they were all with Heart, but that didn't seem to concern Yum as she entered the cottage- with her bonded fairy in tow, kicking off her shoes- that disappeared, to splay herself upon the settee. She picked up a joint that had been sparked then put it down to point at the fireplace, using her Gift to start a fire.

Gazer flew up to Yum's face, "you made Miss Patty-pan drop her laundry!"

"Soz", Yum gathered up the debris of her forest japes to throw into the fire before casting a Compose spell on herself. She plucked the flower from her hair and lovingly tucked it into her décolletage.

Gazer scoffed, "you almost trampled the Floppy Bunnies and their parents!"

"Soz", Yum nodded with a dazed hoe-struck smile.

Gazer had enough, "GET YOUR HEAD TOGETHER STUPID!" She cast a bubble that soaked her bonded witch.

Yum crumbled into tears, "oh Gaze... why am I so stupid?"

Gazer asked, "do you really want to-!"

Yum wailed, "'E WOS RIGHT THERE!" She sobbed, "the one, my prince...'n' I didn't ask his name". The conjured dress soon melted away leaving Yum naked with only her long hair providing tasteful modesty.

Gazer conjured bubbles that cleaned the sorrow away from her face turning the tears sticking to her bonded witch's face into blue glitter, "well I don't know what you're bawling about because the first thing I would be doing is looking for a spell that could help me remember or even-!"

Yum leapt to her feet with joy, "but of course! I could find a spell that could bring 'im to me", she conjured lavender roses in her long hair along with a crown of white roses upon her head.

Gazer was incredulous, "against his will?"

Yum shook her head, "Gaze! That won't be the case at all, I'm sure it's just going to be a matter of burnin' an attract candle 'n' you know... visualise..."

Gazer was unimpressed, "or you could just take initiative? That dhampir bloke sounded like a toff! So he obviously must be from the city or at least live there!"

Yum was hoe-struck as she recalled his voice; out of those lovely pillow lips of his came to mind the darkest depths of a forest as the faintest finger of the moons' light pierces through the canopy and somehow she knew there was something within that looked back at her. Before she could ponder on how strange that sounded in her mind she clutched her chest from a strong throb rippling out of her heart- again? Yum reminded herself that these heart-throbs only happened since she made an effort to not stay in bed to sulk and it always occurred when she's having a knowing moment- not even giving her any time to balance what with how.

Gazer exclaimed, "Yum! Were you even listening to a word I said?"

"We need to find a spell!" Yum made her way to the corridor, "but we'll need a spell for that!" She raised up her arms as her hair lifted:

Between my hands

O Wisp, please listen well for what I ask

For this is the task

To find a spell

To aid me well

In seeking my handsome hero from before.

The wisp flew out of her palms, "It's already found somethin'!" She put Gazer on her head, "fancy nan 'avin' a spell like that?"

Gazer made a face, "Nanny Cunny? Didn't you ever remember her droning on about her 'mad game skillz?'"

Yum looked pensive, "well it makes sense, nan never liked takin' on favours involvin' Love Magic or as she would say: 'muckin' aroun' with the powers that be'". She perked up, "oh my days! Didn't nan always say that mum 'n' dad met like magic?" Her eyes sparkled, "cor, wot if we find the spell that brought 'em together or like a talisman belongin' to mum?"

Gazer rolled her eyes, "or we can just follow the spell and find out for ourselves".

Yum grinned, "that too!" She skipped along before floating up into the air as she silently invoked her Witch Flight. An unseen force lifted up hair briefly as she channelled a flame to follow after the spell leading her along a winding trail of endless corridors that- in her own words, "cor! Feels like we've been flyin' for hours!".

Gazer floated off her witch's head to fly ahead and ask wearily, "doesn't that mean the spell is leading us through the Stony Passage?"

Yum gawked, "WOT? We are?" She looked around then gulped, "cor! Nan mega forbade us from even thinkin' about this place!"

Gazer became even more weary, "didn't Pimento say that Nanny Cunny kept monsters here?"

Yum comforted her fairy with a cuddle, "that just sounds like Pimento 'n' his big fibs".

Gazer scoffed, "well duh! That's obvious!" She became pensive, "but Nanny Cunny never said anything about this place other than never ever think about this place..." she looked to her witch, "your grandmother must have kept something here or beyond".

Yum looked ahead to the wisp, "I'm as stumped as you are Gaze". Her face then slumped into a lovelorn grin "but all I just want is a spell to help me meet that fine dhampir bloke so I can find out his name" she added bashfully, "find out if 'e's single 'n' if 'e 'as freqs for a frequency-crystal..."

Gazer glanced aside.

Suddenly witch and fairy gasped as they found themselves in a small, round room where three pillar candles burned upon a pealing podium hewn from singing stone.

Yum was in awe of the sweet echoes, "far out! Wot a lovely sound!"

Gazer escaped out of her witch's hold to fly ahead, "my Seelie-hearing is picking up something out of this sound..." she gasped, "Yum... there's something about this singing stone".

Yum listened to the podium, "ooh 'ang a bit, it sounds like a spell!" She was befuddled, "it's castin' a spell?"

Gazer shrugged, "Nanny Cunny taught the singing stone to cast a spell?"

Yum looked around and gasped to see the wisp and the flame gliding harmoniously around the room taking advantage of its circular design to charge more magic making our strawberry-blonde shiver, "cor! It's gettin' a bit parkey in 'ere innit?"

Gazer spelled her wings into a puffer jacket, "that could be more about your drip- or lack of, than the mad magic this room has hoarded".

Yum looked down and shrieked, "I wos naked all this time!?"

Gazer glanced aside then looked back to see the flaming wisp collide with the flame of the left pillar candle.

Before witch or fairy could express their surprise or try to flee the bonded pair sank into a ripple that pulsed out of the middle candle.

~*~

Livi's tiny self floated through cavernous passageways she had found within the nook and crannies of this catacomb as she kept up with the astral moth ahead. A tense grimace was etched onto her face as the heavy breathing of White Annis fluctuated from a creeping sensation then without any warning to feel like something was behind her. Throughout all of this, our succubus was aware that she could not make a single peep despite the numerous times she was forced to silently panic her way out of a spider's web.

Our succubus had only been here once when she was a little girl; she can still remember how her sobs echoed as she wept for her mummy all alone and wishing she had never left her side. But each time she recalled the memory her heart would flutter upon remembering being found by him then holding his hand as he led her out to the safety of her mummy's embrace. Lolo... Livi held back her tears, she was thirty-three years too old to be reminiscing about old memories but how she wanted nothing more than to hold onto his hand and let him lead her to safety, out of darkness and into the light. Nevertheless she knew better than to wait around for someone to be her saviour when she can save herself.

The astral moth started to fly faster.

Livi pondered, am I getting closer? Spurring herself to keep up with the conjured moth. She quietly gasped at the astral moth zeroing towards a blinding radiance; safety! At last! However to her horror the radiant light was in fact a pair of eyes glaring at her and soon she watched with helpless horror her conjured astral moth being devoured, "OH NO!"

OH YES! I have you now my juicy morsel!

White Annis snatched up the tiny succubus and grinned hideously.

Livi wailed, "IT CAN'T BE! I FELL FOR A TRAP?"

White Annis cackled:

Too right my pretty!

Livi struggled, "let me go!"

White Annis squeezed harder:

Don't be stupid! Why should I?

Livi glared directly at the ghostly witch: Because you will sorely regret it! Her eyes turned red and she set her grabber's eyes alight in green fire causing the ghostly radge to let go with a pained screech; leaving our succubus- whose eyes were green once more, to escape "oh! What can I do now?"

White Annis emerged with bleeding eyes:

I can suggest surrendering and panicking too.

In your dreams! Livi tossed an astral moth at the phantom menace.

White Annis batted away the succubus' projectile:

Was that your best?

Livi's eyes flashed pink as she cast a maelstrom to toss the witch's ghost onto her head before forcing her into a wall with a strong blast of wind. "Now leave me alone!" Livi soared off hoping she could have time to make some distance before it got up.

But alas! Our succubus did not fly off very far before she was snatched up once again by the witch's ghost:

Not quite, my pretty!

Livi wailed, "LET ME GO! I SAID LET ME GO!"

No, I shall not!

White Annis squeezed a scream out of the succubus:

It seems I have misjudged you as something common!

She traced a sharp finger around the eyes of her helpless prey:

Such pretty eyes... what would they taste like?

Livi threw her head back and unleashed the Venusian gospel as she let on to one big piece of screaming.

White Annis was forced to let go:

DAMN YOU!

Her form warped and rippled before feebly trying to put herself back together but broke apart into ribbons of smoke:

MISERABLE RECALCITRANT TART! I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER!

The ribbons swelled into hands reaching out to throttle the life out of the succubus.

Livi raised her right hand to invoke: Light Pearl! Firing a ray of light to rip apart the wicked hands.

But the wicked smoke dispersed back into the smog.

Livi found herself outnumbered by the White Annis' arsenal of spells. With a deep breath, she stepped back to remind herself that she may be outnumbered but that didn't have to mean she was out-gunned. She had enough spells to go toe to toe, her glittering Casting-Field brightened as she held out her left hand to conjure forth an astral moth and with her right hand anointed it in a gleaming radiance that she tossed at the witch's ghost, "take this!"

White Annis grabbed the magical projectile and crushed it:

Shouldn't this fight be fought on an even standing?

Within a step the relentless radge stood before the succubus and with a sound swat left her no time to scream or grunt as she was sprawled out on the floor and returned to her normal size:

Much fairer don't you think?

Livi gingerly got to her feet, "well then I suppose you can try me for size!" Her eyes turned red as she unleashed a roar of green fire at the White Annis' head hoping to suffocate it.

With her head still aflame, White Annis burst into a wild cackle:

PATHETIC! TAKE THIS BACK!

She absorbed the fire engulfing her head into a fireball and launched it at the succubus.

Livi closed her eyes and braced herself as she absorbed the fire adding a flaming lustre to her Casting-Field. She tossed a flaming astral moth that burst into a lance of fire forcing the witch's ghost away from her. The Lilligan scion conjured out of her palm another astral moth aflame that burst into a fan that she brandished, "I'm ready for you".

Are you?

White Annis unleashed a brumy lance at her prey.

Livi struck at it with her fan but she leapt back as the murk merely split apart into smoggy hands to grasp at her. She back-flipped away but found herself cornered so she bravely stared down the miasma- not daring to show an iota of fear.

The face of White Annis fogged into a twisted imitation of her prey:

What kind of succubus are you? Where are your little wings to help you fly away?

The face was split apart by a menacing grin:

Such a shame I would've enjoyed ripping them off your back to devour as you watch in fearful agony...

An anger was cast on our succubus. Fuelled by years of taunts and the frustration from having to be held back by Guild and Circle-sisters alike, when she wanted nothing more than to serve the taunts right back with a knuckle sandwich. Her green eyes glowed as she stood tall, "well you should know what happens to those who talk shit!" She closed her eyes to inwardly invoke her angelic name and lo! A power overflowed out of her heart- this power was the Marine-Force the ancient essence of a Venusian channelled forth from the layer of the Marine-Kingdom where a witch can receive the grace of She who sits upon the Night-Throne.

And so the Marine-Force shone out of Livi in a dazzling water-light that made the monstrous wretch recoil.

Wh... What is this?

White Annis' miasmic form wavered and wheezed out a gasp:

Could it be? The Marine-Force?

The water-light burst into an eclipsing spring of astral moths melting into evaporating dew to reveal our Succubus in a magenta frou-frou-esque ballgown garnished with pink sorbet peonies and red tea roses. Her arms adorned in sheer pink gloves whose glitter thrummed with the magic of the Dream-Dust whilst her hair was done up into an elegant updo. She tossed up her fan and spun a flawless arabesque for the gown to puff up into a cocktail dress exposing her bare pins. Her red sparkling heels now had ribbons that laced up to her knees finished with a pair of tea roses bursting into astral moths fluttering up to roost upon her hair. The updo became undone to be spelled into a refined loose plait with one of the moths roosting upon her head to become a glittering, fluttering hair clip. The other moth burst showering the Lilligan scion in dew as her lips glistened in an enchanting lip gloss whilst a rosy blush and pink eye-shadow graced her face. The Lilligan scion's transformation into the Venusian-Maiden guise was completed by the last moth fluttering onto her face to transform into a domino mask resembling a pair of wings, she caught the fan and opened it into a fierce brandish, "now I'm ready".

There was a smirk in White Annis' voice:

Oh really? let's see if you're ready for THIS!

Geysers of dark necrotic miasma surged out of the ground in droves towards the succubus.

"Definitely!" Livi threw the fan at the geysers causing them to explode into glitter, the fan boomeranged back to her as she back-flipped away from the witch's ghost.

White Annis' form dispersed into smog:

Know this succubus, your foolhardy fortitude is futile. I gave you plenty of chances to yield to my will but you have decided that you want a delightfully drawn out death...

The smog charged at the succubus like a smoking tidal wave.

Livi incanted:

Maiden guise

Help me in this troubled hour

Imbue my Witch-flight

With Succubus power!

She leapt up for her glittering fiery Casting-Field to radiantly return as our succubus flew off in the other direction but she could only haplessly avoid the towering mass of smog- not having that, Livi slashed at the smoggy fiend with her fan causing it to topple over into a dark pool.

The bloodshot eyes emerged out of the pool as a pair of hands dripping with an evilous haze formed a mudra as the White Annis' voice echoed its twisted, murky incantation:

! eeht nopu llac I shtped emoskrum eht ni gnikrul nortaP

! tnavres sseleman ruoY! em raeH

! tfarc dekciw ym leuf taht stra krad ruoy yB

nrom gninruom a fo wodahs eht morF

! nroB-gomS eht em htegnirB

The smoggy form of the White Annis erupted into a smog-bank flowing with necrid malevolence.

Livi was terror-struck by the horde of corpses rising up from the thick brume.

Some were beginning to mould whilst there were plenty with their bodies peeling apart and despite a good number of them having one eye missing or none all of them shared a spark that was devoid of life only death and an urge to slake their need to obey the wicked force that was spurring them to move.

Livi shrieked as she found herself in the smog's cruel grasp, "let me GO!"

? I dluohs yhW

The smog grasped harder getting a scream out of the succubus as White Annis cackled:

! eid uoy, ytterp ym woN

Livi clenched her mouth to endure the pain; if she were to scream who knows what could happen if this wretch was able to take her soul.

! tsiser ton oD! elituf si edutitrof ruoY! subuccuS

The White Annis shook her prey.

Livi tightly shut her eyes as a murky hand began to pry her mouth open fighting with her spirit to not yield.

! em ot flesruoy eviG! lesrom ytterp revo s'tI

The White Annis forced her prey's mouth open.

Livi was resolved to not let this be a doddle for the horrid radge so she unleashed the Venusian gospel causing the hand to dissolve.

! TAHT POTS!! ON! NIAGA TON

The White Annis burst into swollen undulations followed by a multitude of groans echoing as the fiend tried to keep her miasmic form coming apart.

The Lilligan scion leapt away from the brumy fiend but became surrounded by the murksome Smog-Born. I am way over my head! Livi found herself backed up against a wall as they lurched closer, I need to get out of here! She raised her fan to incant:

Dream-Dust and Dark-Force

Come together to aid me

In my hopeless hour

May you converge to blast all into the nether

Blessed with Succubus power!

Her Casting-Field flared as her fan was engulfed into a glittering orb of green fire that she threw at the dead horde to torch out a path laden with brume and gore.

! EPACSE TON TSUM SUBUCCUS EHT! REH RETFA! SLOOF

Bellowed the White-Annis.

Livi leapt up to cast Witch-flight, Lolo... where are you when I need you the most? Suddenly a thick force shoved her onto the ground causing her to recoil into a scream.

~End of Act3~

Act4: Come Together Come Apart

The Oaken were roused to their feet in solidarity of the Oaken scion who had stepped down from the dais.

Lupo prowled the war-room, each step seemed to add more heat- and volume, to his words, "SO WHY ARE WE SITTING ON OUR RAS NEM WHEN WE NEED TO BE RALLYING TOGETHER TO BRING THE K. I. W. F. PON THIS DYAM DUPPY DEH!? US WIZARDS HAVE TO PUT A FULL STOP TO THIS WITCH'S FUCKERY! A RIGHT STOP!"

The Oaken cheered on their scion.

Ewe wished he was anywhere but here- specifically with...

"GENTLEMEN!" Frater Cronq bellowed over the boisterous din.

Frater Honorius banged the stone bell against the table, "STOP THIS NONSENSE AT ONCE!"

Choirmaster Spartan diligently recorded the debacle into the book- wanting nothing more than to put these boy-wizards in their places, but knew that the minutes will provide fodder for some due and deserved punishment.

Ewe had enough and approached Lupo to grasp his arm, "what the fuck are you doing?"

Lupo glared at the dhampir, "I could say the same for you, bruv!"

Ewe was taken aback with a raised eyebrow of confusion, "come again now?"

Lupo kissed his teeth, "whatevs anyway! Mans still talking!" He disappeared out of Ewe's grasp where he appeared ahead and free to carry on his fiery sermon, "I SAY WE ALL GO DOWN TO THE CATACOMBS AND CAST DE TING DEH OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL! WHO'S UP FOR A WITCH HUNT!?"

The Oaken wizards chanted, "KILL IT WITH FIRE!"

Lupo conjured his sunglasses to put them back on, "BUN FIYAH TO THE WITCH!"

Frater Cronq face-palmed, "good bloody grief!"

Three years was far too quick of a respite for Ewe.

Frater Honorius stood up and raised his voice, "MASTER POLLIPI! THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH! SIT BACK DOWN AT ONCE! SO WE CAN AT LEAST PLAN A COURSE OF ACTION IN AN ORDERLY MANNER WITHOUT YOUR RABBLE ROUSING!" He glared at the Oaken brethren, "the Oaken Guild abides by the tenets of Law and Order! The very fabric of the Day Throne! And I'll be damned if I let this Guild fall into the throes of chaos!"

Lupo was about to talk back but froze as his elven hearing picked up on a faint sound that soon reverberated in his heart; it was Delichoux! In trouble! He could hear her screaming! At that moment a crack appeared on his sunglasses, soon he was flooded in the ache of her distress! Bun this! My woman needs me! "Mans has no time to be faffing about here! ME GAHN!" The Oaken scion removed his sunglasses to crush it making him disappear within a bolt of gleaming lightning!

Ewe dispersed into shadowy bats that dissolved into nothing.

Frater Cronq huffed, "an absolute bleeding disaster!" The Ovate spoke up, "right gentlemen, all hands on deck! Healers, Strategists and Choristers shall assist Choirmaster Spartan and I in fortifying the Guild grounds".

Frater Honorius conjured a black orb, "the rest shall come with me to the Catacombs' mouth". He made the orb disappear, "we'll make a quick stop off at the Armoury en route. A gentleman must practice proper courtesy especially for sudden guests".

~*~

The catacombs were now drenched in a dark thick miasma.

Out of the evil brume Lupo appeared in a burst of golden lightning. He formed a mudra with his left hand to invoke a gleaming fire to engulf his hand, whilst a lengthy handgun appeared in his right hand.

The firearm had been modded into its long shape to contain the magazine customised to contain enough bullets to be unleashed nine times its speed.

The Oaken scion turned around brandishing his spell and machine-pistol dubbed the Niner. Holding the threat pose for a tad longer he noticed that he was brandishing the ratchet at nothing then he was startled by the sudden appearance of Ewe but hid his fright with brinkmanship as he snapped, "what? Did Frater Honorius tell you to fetch me?"

Ewe blinked away the urge to slap this fool's head off, "believe it or not, I am your retainer which unfortunately entails having to go along with most- if not all, of your unwanted hare-brained japes because I am oath-bound to look out for your well-being to ensure the Oaken-bloodline is not needlessly ended by proxy of death indubitably of your own doing".

Lupo rolled his eyes.

Ewe patted the Oaken's scion shoulder, "but for goodness sake Lolo! You may as well be my little brother! Do you honestly believe I would forsake you?" He gave him a brotherly shove, "you may make stupid and impulsive decisions but it's never without reason... most of the time".

Lupo huffed, "fine! But bruv you've got some explaining to do like what on t'ree eart' have your do-gooder self been gettin' up to? What sort of woman is making you lie in front of everyone at the War-Room?"

Ewe side-eyed the half-elf, "what have I said about using your Gift of Path on me?"

Lupo walked ahead, "bruv! Less talk! More walking! Who knows what could've happened to my woman!"

Ewe raised his eyebrow, "Delichoux?"

Lupo answered, "yes Delichoux! Last time I checked she is my woman!"

Ewe glanced aside, "boldly stated".

Lupo kissed his teeth, "mans not about that life! I'm a new man! I am the Oaken Guild scion! I have duties! I have responsibilities! I am betrothed".

Ewe quipped, "well you're certainly right about the merger between our guilds but surely you must be aware of the recent caveat to the betrothal".

Lupo loudly huffed, "NUH! OF COURSE I AM AWARE!"

Ewe shrugged sarcastically, "well putting that aside Gallant Oaken knight; whatever on t'ree eart' would make you come to the conclusion that the Lilligan's scion would be down here of all places?"

Lupo snapped, "you know how women roll! Their ears are too small to heed anything other than change hand when getting their nails did! I explained to that bratcubus why she and her dumb fool na-rah Guild nem can't be rocking up here because of this duppy deh! And the trick-arse hoe clearly did not listen to a single word I said because her bloody screaming has led me here!"

Ewe face-palmed, "please tell me you did not call the Young Mistress that!"

Lupo kissed his teeth louder and mumbled darkly, "about did not!" He stormed off.

Ewe glanced aside then closed his eyes to focus; for all creatures of the night are born with one Umbral-Trick whilst others merely bloom or must be inscribed via Trick-Circles. In the case of our dhampir, he was born in communion to the Umbral Darkness which the Dark-Lore spakes of being the shadow of the Black Sun's rays which was known as The Shadow-Work Trick. A scabbard bobbed forth out of his shadow to draw forth the Dark Grove Edge.

One of the sacred arms forged for The Hand of the Oaken to wield; the very long singled-edge blade was of Adamas Diamond steeped in black voids left alone in a sunspot of a winter solstice deep within the ceremonial grove of the Oaken Guild's sacred forest. Taking the scabbard he slightly unsheathed the blade then sheathed it to catch up to the Oaken scion in a supernaturally small amount of steps.

Lupo used the conjured fire to light his way through the thick miasma whilst he primed the gun gangsta style ready for any sudden ambush, "ah wah di ras wit de Old ends? Me nah recall any of this!"

Ewe unsheathed the sword for a negating gleam to emanate from the blade, "because this miasma is obviously magical in nature, imprinted with a Displacement enchantment to sew confusion leaving the spellbound to be lured into the caster's snare or hinder heroic efforts".

Lupo shrugged, "and?"

Ewe walked ahead, "and so, dealing with this spell first will bring us closer to saving your woman". He turned around to face the idiot scion, "obviously that will require a convergence to be cast".

Lupo turned the gun and fire into dew with a clap of his hands, "well duh! I was going to suggest that!"

Ewe exhaled, "well why don't you lead?"

Lupo swaggered his way to stand in front of the dhampir, "don't mind if I do!"

Ewe inhaled then exhaled again but more sharper as he used the sword to draw a deosil circle in the air causing it to ignite into a luminous radiance, "cast the spell already".

Lupo glared at his retainer then focused on casting as he flexed his hands into a mudra:

Evil Brume of wicked breed

Who wants us doomed

I spurn your designs

Dissolve and Decline!

Abracadabra! Begone!

May the peak of daylight drive thee back from where you came from!

So be it the will of Tildeed

FIAT!

A golden medal connected to a chain materialised in his hands that he rose to hose down the smog in golden rays of a summer solstice noon.

Ewe's sword began to belt out a metallic trill reverberating vigour to the radiance.

The smog-bank swirled into a groaning vortex before exploding into a shriek leaving the catacombs devoid of the wicked smog.

Lupo squinted his eyes as he listened out for something he wasn't quite sure what as his elven ears twitched, "bruv? Can you hear that? It sounds like footsteps!"

The dhampir's ears twitched, "and they're getting closer". He switched his sword over to wield in his left hand to place his right hand over the blade to incant:

Blade of diamond forged in darkness

That once was sleeping in the dark grove

As Above So Below

At the Oaken's behest let the light reduce all to nothing.

Fiat.

The blade rose into a high peal as it now glowed a dark gleaming brightness.

Lupo placed the chain around his neck and let the medal glow as he invoked a bright light teeming with a righteous glower. The Niner reappeared in his hand that he wielded gangsta-style yet again.

Ewe turned around to decapitate a corpse with designs to ambush.

Black brume spewed forth from the now headless assailant as it crumpled onto the ground.

Lupo fired at a family of shambling corpses with their arms outstretched and teeth gnashing out their blind urge to tear apart the living. The bullets were blessed in the rays of the Winter Solstice spelling for a quick death as they dropped dead from their heads splattering apart.

A corpse' lower jaw fell off causing brume to spew out of its open mouth at the dhampir.

Ewe grabbed an old relic of a shield and tossed it to take the brumy brunt shrivelling the old guard into rotten wood and melted iron. "Lolo! Stay sharp! These corpses have knowledge of advanced poison spells!"

Lupo kissed his teeth, "try getting drooled on by Two-step!" He fired the Niner at the gaping corpse completely taking the head off followed by brumy gore spraying into the half-elf's face but a film of darkness emerged just in time to be caked in the smoggy gore and melt soon after. He side-eyed his retainer, "I could've taken that venom, calm".

Ewe quipped, "for the sake of the Guild, your bloodline and of course yours, do not demonstrate your so-called Poison Immunity".

More of the murksome corpses poured in, barely holding their aged arsenal of swords, daggers and flails.

Lupo raised the medal casting a luminous halo upon him and the dhampir to protect against the reek, "seriously? Ras-clat Ghost witch now ras Smog-Born stupidness?

With a sound slash Ewe's blade roused a breeze that tossed the decrepit against a wall.

From the haze rose forth a new haunted batch and cornered their living prey.

Ewe cast a dark tide to shove back "fighting them off will be futile! Our main priority is finding the Lilligan scion!"

"Light years ahead!" Lupo raised his medal to incant:

Sacred light

Hear my heart's plea!

By your bright art

Do what I command of thee

Seek out my lovely Livity!

A bright wisp emerged from the medal and shot forth westernmost to which our Oaken scion did not waste any time following after his spell.

Ewe snapped his fingers turning the ground the Smog-Born lurched along into a treacly puddle of shadows leaving them stuck. With a swing of the Dark Grove Edge our dhampir unleashed molassic tides of gloom, "do pardon me that I don't have the luxury of sticking around". He punctuated the pun by sheathing the sword causing the tides to crush the stuckists into brumy gibs.

~*~

Yum slowly opened her eyes and found herself holding onto Gazer- in her spritely form, for dear life. The familiar bond allayed our strawberry-blonde's fears by feeling her fairy's pulse.

Gazer groggily asked, "cor wot on t'ree eart' did we go through?"

Yum gawked, "to be honest Gaze, I dunno where we even are..."

The witch and fairy were now in a corridor that seemed to bend and lead deeper; the ground and wall were draped in heaving red velvet. Chandeliers from above illuminated the room to evoke a warm, pulsing vein.

Gazer fluttered ahead then swooped back to perch on Yum's head, "my wings are picking up Wild-Magic!"

Yum's eyes were closed as she let herself become an open channel to the radiance of such unfettered force, "far out! It's really pure!" She opened her eyes to smile at her fairy, "like bein' in a Wild-Magic tunnel".

Gazer glowed, "now that gives me an idea..." The wings expanded three-times and with a flap it burst into bubbles revealing Gazer had transformed back into the bluenette buxom amazon- the puffer jacket was reduced to that of a bolero and the T-shirt a crop top to flex the fairy's underboobs, "witch, we might as well be in one!"

Yum invoked her Witch-flight, "far out!" She found herself hovering around the chandelier, "so this place amplifies our magic".

Gazer stepped forward, "it's almost like where we are... could be the heart of the cottage that Nanny Cunny would go on about".

Yum descended to hover beside Gazer, "I dunno Gaze, we're probably on the vein".

Gazer asked, "so now what?"

Yum smiled, "well wot with this place brimmin' with so much Wild-Magic it shouldn't be 'ard for us to teleport back to familiar parts of the cottage we know 'n' love".

Gazer smirked, "and I suppose in the meantime we see where this corridor will lead us..."

Yum looked ahead, "we can always turn back when it starts to get scary".

Gazer floated beside her bonded witch, "or just put up a fight when we have the means to fight back!"

Yum nodded, "you're mega right Gaze!"

Gazer held her witch's hand, "besides aren't you curious to find out why Nanny Cunny forbade us from stepping foot here?"

Yum smiled, "of course! 'ere 'n' the stony passage would've made for some wicked hide-'n'-seek games!"

Gazer looked at the drapes, "I'm not sure if it would be worth getting caught by Nanny Cunny".

Yum closed her eyes as she could feel a ripple ease out of her heart, "far out! I'm feelin' a nice peaceful vibe as though nothin' could go wrong!"

Gazer nodded, "same, I suppose we have nothing to worry about venturing further".

Yum smiled at her fairy, "'course not!"

And so witch and fairy flew down the corridor hand-in-hand through the winding bends draped in the same heavy velvet.

Gazer became cautious, "maybe this place is enchanted..."

Yum asked, "enchanted?"

Gazer explained, "what if Nanny Cunny placed an enchantment here to trap intruders".

Yum let go of Gazer's hand to glide ahead to look around- despite there being not much to look at other than the effect of the chandelier's upon the velvet, "but for wot?" She turned to look at Gazer, "'n' wot do you think 'appened to those who got trapped?"

The blue fairy crossed her arms, "I'd like to know why this place is even here in the first place?"

Yum shivered, "wot I'd like to know is 'ow is it mega parky?"

Gazer rolled her eyes, "seriously?" She snapped her fingers conjuring a bubble to burst on Yum's nose showering the strawberry-blonde in blue Fairy-Dust that shifted into a clingy dress of sheer blue material of glittering dew, "maybe if you weren't naked".

Yum giggled, "cor Gaze, this looks mega lovely" she then became pensive, "but it's still cold 'ere..."

Gazer raised an eyebrow, "cold?" She looked around at the cold stony paving upon the ground and the layers of stone upon the wall "I guess all of this doesn't help..."

Yum shook her head, "it's not so much the cold comin' from the stones, it's more like a feelin'..."

Gazer was perplexed, "a feeling? Like the weird hunches you get now and again?"

Yum nodded, "it seems to 'ave ramped up since nan died, but it's like as we're goin' deeper the feelin' is gettin' stronger- as in the chill I'm feelin'".

Gazer asked, "shall we leave then?"

Yum shook her head, "just to end up with even more questions? No answers? If we 'ave a look-about 'ere maybe some of our questions will be answered".

Gazer pointed out, "even so but we'll be left with a whole lot more questions to figure out for ourselves".

Yum smiled poignantly, "that's alrigh' I guess, knowledge is power as nan would say!" Her smile became brighter, "but you know wot? I have a feelin' we'll have loads of 'elp figurin' out the answers", she looked aside and winked.

Gazer glided ahead of her witch, "well we ought to press on then instead of gawking at nothing".

Yum began to follow but she collapsed on the velvet ground with a shriek.

"YUM!" Gazer was beside the strawberry-blonde, "hold on!" She sprinkled Fairy-Dust upon her, feeling relief to see that it was working its magic upon her as the witch began to stir. "What on t'ree eart' made you do that?" She asked then fell silent as she looked up.

For witch and fairy were in front of a large painting depicting a round garden gate of stone.

A strong force radiated from the image making the fairy recoil and hold onto her witch.

Yum began to come to as she weakly asked, "Gaze... wot's goin' on?" She swooned from a heavy pressure pushing itself onto her.

Gazer held tighter as her wings expanded to shove off the pressure- to no avail, "I honestly don't..." Her form deflated into the spritely form as she dropped onto her strawberry-blonde witch's chest.

The radiance of the painting sharpened into the knelling of a high-pitched bell summoning forth a ripple.

"Gazer... we 'ave to get away from 'ere..." Yum clung to her fairy and gingerly fought against the density as she got to her feet but yelped from a force that shoved her into the painting creating a great splash of ripples.

~*~

Gazer was the first to come to as her glow returned in flickers, "what am I doing back in this guise?" She warily fluttered her wings, "and yet..." she channelled forth her Fairy-Gem and turned it into a bubble, "there's still so much power here as though it was never touched at all". She absorbed the bubble to be glamoured back into the bluenette amazon that stood tall but immediately knelt down to sprinkle Fairy-Dust upon the strawberry-blonde's brow causing her to stir.

"Gaze... is that you?" Yum groggily asked.

Gazer anointed her witch in bubbles of calm and relief, "I'm here... always".

Yum smiled from a consoling wave that swept away any worries as she smiled at her bonded fairy, "I know..." She yawned then slowly got up to have a stretch, "cor wot even 'appened? It wos like we were in one place 'n' now we're like 'ere!"

"Wherever here is supposed to be..." Gazer took a step forward to survey their whereabouts.

A room whose stone was so sheer that at first glance it looked like the masonry were of an ice conjured to glow with the lustre of sunset. Yet the masonry was not hewn from ice but a sheer gem whose opalescent soul burned enchanting a warmth.

Yum was dumbstruck with wonder by the amount of books roosted within their shelves. She wandered to a glass cabinet where its innards were concealed by black glittering velvet. She then noticed that the room felt smaller from all the shapes formed by the dark velvet that were draped over.

The glitter upon the fabric contrasted with the gemstone brickwork making the room overall feel like an attempt to catch the shimmering twilight into a bottle.

Gazer disappeared her bolero before cautiously approaching a bookcase. She raised her hand over the books, "my Seelie-sense is picking up a strong enchantment".

To which our strawberry-blonde witch placed her hand upon the book whose spine was decorated with pearls and crushed diamonds and was promptly shoved onto the ground.

Gazer rolled her eyes, "an enchantment that doesn't want us touching these books", she looked at the black velvet drapes, "or anything else..."

Yum's eyes were spinning, "cor blimey..."

Gazer conjured a bubble that hosed down her witch with a Rejuvenating Shower spell.

Yum got to her feet, "cheers Gaze".

Gazer had her hands on her hips, "you're welcome but let's not try that again".

Yum shrugged into a bashful grin, "but surely not everythin' in this room is under this 'ands-off enchantment".

Gazer raised her eyebrow, "well enough of this room seems to be".

Yum smiled softly, "you're so serious all of a sudden, Gaze..."

Gazer snapped, "and what about you? Aren't you the least bit surprised?"

Yum answered calmly, "I dunno if I'm surprised like you but... I know we've jumped arse-first down a bottomless 'ole with no chance of comin' back to the way we were". She took Gazer's hand, "wot makes it better is that we 'ave each other".

Gazer hugged her witch, "too right, I'm not sure where to start with my questions and I'm a fairy".

Yum relinquished herself from her fairy to look around, "yeah 'n' I'm a human..."

Gazer commented, "with your eyes and hair you're definitely part of the weird ones".

Yum tentatively touched her hair, "maybe I can find somethin' that can answer the questions nan couldn't..."

Gazer stepped in front of her, "perhaps there was a reason Nanny Cunny kept us away from whatever she knew".

Yum nodded, "we can discover that reason too". She found herself in front of the same bookcase and touched the spine again without being shoved back instead there was a light ripple from her heart.

It's okay...

Our strawberry-blonde witch thought she could hear a voice but it was so little to make head or tail yet she pulled the book out to hold in her hands.

Gazer remarked, "ookay, totally not strange. One time you touched it you were shoved onto your botty but suddenly you can hold it and you're not on your head?"

Yum shrugged, "I dunno really..." she stroked the book's cover, it was embroidered with thread of sheer opalescence, "but it felt like I could just take it, like it wos okay to do it". She hugged the book then gasped as it disappeared before her eyes and smiled from an unseen cuddle that reverberated out of her heart, "far out".

Gazer implored, "oh just time the fuck OUT! I take back that crap I said earlier about curiosity because this is starting to get far too weird! Yum, just think for a moment! We're in the proximity of strong knowledge that will change everything! For better or worse!"

Yum smiled, "all I know this knowledge can only make us strong cos it is wot is".

Gazer sighed out a smile; this wasn't usual of Yum to behave like this but it was very much like the old Yum- dim and spacey but steadfast in her faith. "You are a stupid and crazy witch so somebody smart and insane better be around to help you use some discernment". She added, "because that was certainly not included in your degree".

Yum hugged the bluenette, "friends forever, stay together!" She added warmly, "plus it'll be closure to finally find out everythin' about nan..." she gasped, "even... mum...'n' dad too".

Gazer suddenly asked, "actually where is the spell?"

Yum perked up, "wot spell?"

Gazer drawled, "the spell to help you meet the fine dhampir bloke again!"

Yum excitedly clapped her hands, "ooh! Right me spell!" She started to flit about calling in a sing-song warble, "coo-ee! Where are you spell? I really want 'elp meetin' the fine, dhampir bloke!"

Gazer glanced aside, then went over to a tall shape draped in the dark velvet but took a step back from the radiance of- "Wild-Magic! This room is enchanted with the stuff!" She suddenly realised she could not hear the pitter-patter of Yum's feet, "Yum?" She kissed her teeth, "NOW what has that idiot witch gotten herself into?" She channelled out a radiance of Fairy-Dust that lifted her off the ground, then turned it into a blue bubble of glitter that fluttered off before disappearing westernmost between a row of book shelves. She floated after the bubble hoping that Yum was safe but that became the least of her worries as our bluenette found herself gliding down a long winding path where the glitter upon the velvet shimmered frantically as Gazer delved deeper.

Soon the shimmering glitter flickered into a blinding radiance.

But that did nothing to deter Gazer as she sprinkled Fairy-Dust onto her eyes conjuring forth a pair of sheer blue sunglasses. With her eyes now protected, our bluenette journeyed deeper until she found herself afloat in a nook complete with a lit fireplace where Yum sat in in a stupor.

The fire's flicker reflected in Yum's eyes giving off an opalescent illusion as a faint glow began to emerge.

Gazer completely didn't notice Yum's eyes as she descended to sit beside her, "Yum! Why did you walk away like that?"

Yum said nothing.

Gazer shook her witch, "YUM!"

Yum blankly slurred, "I'm... sorry..." she then reached her hand towards the fire.

Gazer shrieked, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She tried to wrench her witch's hand away from the fireplace, "STOP IT!" Suddenly the bluenette was cast away into the wall where the black velvet emerged to hold her in place leaving her to struggle, "LET GO!"

Yum put her hand into the fire causing it to burst into flaring fuchsia flames as she pulled her hand back- unharmed, to reveal within her palm a solid round ball of clear crystal.

Gazer gawked, "what?"

Yum blinked and the faint glow disappeared from her eyes.

Gazer exclaimed, "YUM! WAKE UP!"

Yum asked, "wossat?" She then noticed something was burning her hand and dropped the round crystal ball.

The crystal ball levitated in front of the strawberry-blonde's face.

Yum gaped at her fairy, "crikey! Wot 'appened?"

Gazer scoffed, "seriously?"

Yum saw that her fairy was bound in the glittering velvet, "Gaze! Wot 'appened to you?"

Gazer frowned, "seriously?"

Yum shrugged, "wot?"

Gazer huffed, "Don't you even have the slightest clue on how you went from trying to find this Seeking Spell of yours to putting your hand in the fire?"

Yum shrugged, "Gaze, I 'avent the slightest yet alone foggiest idea-!" She gawked, "I DID WOT NOW?"

Gazer watched the black velvet release her to skulk back to the nothing it came from, "putting your hand in that" she pointed to the fireplace then to the levitating crystal "for this". She was by her witch's side, removing her sunglasses that she reduced it into Fairy-Dust and rubbed into the burn on Yum's hand.

"I must've been under to do somethin' like that" Yum commented then smiled at the floating crystal, "still though wot a pretty crystal!"

Gazer snapped, "well it's obviously not just any pretty crystal! Who would even put that in a lit fireplace?"

Yum answered, "where would we even start? Why would nan or mum do such a thing?"

Gazer scrambled behind her bonded witch to cower at the crystal hovering closer, "never mind about those questions, what in the infernal layer is that!?"

Yum grinned at the bluenette, "ooh wossat a pun?"

Gazer swivelled Yum's head to return her focus to the crystal, now inches in front of the strawberry-blonde's nose.

Causing witch and fairy to leap back to huddle in a corner and shriek!

Yum panted, "cor! That wos bloody sudden!" She yelped upon seeing the crystal hover in front of her eyes. The radiance of Wild-Magic teeming from the crystal made her squint, "crikey! This ain't no ordinary crystal!"

Gazer conjured another pair of blue sunglasses, "it's almost like a Fairy-Gem but at the same time completely nothing like one at all..."

Yum was in awe, "I really dunno Gaze but..." she held out her hands, "it feels like it wants to be 'eld..."

Gazer warily eyed the crystal, "but wasn't it hot to the touch?"

Yum's eyes were beginning to glaze over as the crystal was inches away from resting in her palms, "I dunno but the crystal promises it won't hurt me again". She smiled blankly, "it knows my name". The glow returned in her eyes as faint flickers, "and it even has a name".

Gazer was incredulous, "a name?"

Yum tenderly stroked the crystal, "sshh... it's speaking now... your name is... stone... shu".

Gazer stood up and scoffed, "now that's a new entry for the weird names for weirdoes chart!" The fairy gasped, "unless it's..." at that exact moment a mysterious cuneiform ghosted upon the crystal, "a Shewstone!"

Yum asked blankly, "is that your name?" There was a long pause then affirmed with an empty nod, "yes it is".

Gazer loudly kissed her teeth, "witch, we need to set up a séance because your grandmother has bare explaining to do! What business does she have owning AND hiding a Shewstone?"

Yum watched the crystal float upwards asking dazedly, "do you have another name?"

Gazer had enough and strode over to carry the strawberry-blonde fool out of here. She could sense the strong charge of Wild-Magic from day-dot but was not so keen about the charge getting stronger and she certainly wasn't so down to figure what polarity it was tuned to.

The black velvet surrounded the fairy and shuddered their forms to resemble snakes.

"Fool me twice, shame on meeEEEE!" Our bluenette leapt back from one of them making a grab for her neck, "try your best but I'm not leaving without that witch!" She conjured a bubble into a domed barrier and began to channel Fairy-Dust to strengthen the spell.

Our strawberry-blonde blankly implored, "you can tell me your name".

"YUM!" Gazer roared but huffed a sigh of defeat as her witch did nothing but stare at the Shewstone. "I should've chose being safe and bored at Heart's!" She reduced the barrier into a crowd of solid bubbles airily hindering the velvet's effort to ensnare her with light crushing shoves. Suddenly she was struck from behind causing her to fall on her face and the impact deflated the amazonian back into the miniature bewinged woman. She scrambled to her feet and leapt out of the way of a large heaving curtain of velvet where a pair of hands were formed to which Gazer lobbed Fairy-Dust:

Give it a rest

You pair of soft pests!

The hands formed a mudra which caused the air-borne Fairy-Dust to fly back into Gazer's face knocking her out into a slumber.

The warmth in Yum's smile was as warm as a monotone image of a flame explaining robotically to the crystal; "don't worry I can speak it too. This is how we can talk to each other". She held out her hand, "now tell me your name".

~*~

Livi was thrown against a wall, her Maiden guise flickered as she weakly got to her feet to make her stand, "I will not give up!" Then immediately swooned into a faint as the cocktail dress puffed back into the ballgown.

! uoy gnillik emit ym ekat lliw I

White Annis now held the limp succubus over her head with the intention of dashing the pretty thing against an unsavoury patch of broken glass.

However a bright glare forced the witch's ghost to throw the Lilligan scion up into the air as the creature's smoggy form swirled into a puddle.

Our Lilligan scion was dumbstruck from finding herself in the arms of..."Lolo?"

Lupo gently set her down, "I'm here princess".

Livi buried her face into his chest to crumple into a sob.

Lupo sprinkled golden dew on her head, "hush, you're safe with me".

Livi sighed ecstatically as a Rejuvenation spell embraced her, "oh Lolo..."

"Leave this to us", Lupo lightly kissed her lips then stalked off towards the writhing puddle.

Livi suddenly became aware of Ewe holding back his laughter, "hello Brother Ewe!" She puffed out her cheeks into a pout.

Ewe patted the succubus' head, "I suppose absence truly does make the heart grow fonder".

Livi blushed, "oh please!" She then asked, "how did you two know I was here?"

Ewe motioned to the Oaken scion, "that was all Lolo, I just simply had to take his word for it". He smiled, "plus you should know how he conducts himself around you especially when he knows you're in danger".

Livi blushed even more, "is that so?"

The puddle began to groan as Lupo cast a shining bolt at it.

Ewe drew Livi behind him, "please take cover, Young Mistress". He unsheathed the Dark Grove Edge with a flick of his thumb before drawing the sword out of its scabbard to melt into his shadow.

Livi watched the dhampir join the Oaken scion with his brandished blade, "but I can help too..."

The puddle rose up once more into a tower of cackling smog.

Lupo fired his Niner at the creature, piercing it with bullets imbued in the element of light.

Ewe slashed at the brume's intention to overpower him, "Lolo! That can only do so much! Purify the thing already!" He gripped the hilt and raised the sword for the blade to warble a metal pitch driving back the smog.

Just as Lupo was about to hold up his medal, a bolt of green glittering lightning struck at the smog.

Livi stepped forward, in her frou-frou magnificence and hosed down the smog with Dream-Dust falling off the wings from the eclipse of astral moths she conjured as she clenched her hands together at her chest, "Brother Ewe is right! This thing has to be purified!"

Lupo decided now wasn't the time to scold the recalcitrant bratcubus and held up the ornate golden medal to unleash waves of healing light making the puddle's form to twist and writhe until it shattered into little shards of black crystal contained within a cube of solid shadow that rippled into a dark crystal.

There was something in the glimmers of the crystal cube that made Ewe raise a barrier around it by casting a circle with his sword then raised the sword for the blade to sing out the polarity of whatever was within the cube. Be it evil? Be it possessed? By what? Proceeded by who?

Livi broke the silence by asking, "is it dead, Brother Ewe?"

Lupo scoffed, "well duh! Of course it's dead!" He bragged; "with excruciating pain that duppy was converted to the ways of the good vibes cos you either go with grace or get dragged along pon di face". He punctuated the braggadocio display with a wink then he switched on the Lilligan scion, "TRICK-ARSE WITCH-HOE! WHY DON'T YOU EVER LISTEN TO US!?"

Livi became defensive, "AND WHERE WOULD YOU TWO BE IF I LISTENED TO YOU LOT!?"

"Alive". Ewe answered as he focused on letting the sword work its metal pipes as he was still conducting his Polarity Analysis spell.

Livi crossed her arms, "so what? For how long? And what if I just get even more lost?"

Lupo rolled his eyes, "then it proves the hypothesis that Lilligan witches really do have biscuit for heads! Or at least the scion does".

Livi stomped her foot, "how dare you! I am not a biscuit-head and neither are my Lilligans!"

Lupo quipped, "but you conduct yourself like a pair of clown shoes" he waggled his eyebrows at her, "is this why you lot wear them heels? For compensation?"

Livi growled, "you dolt! That is far from the case!"

Lupo parroted in a mocking falsetto, "that is far from the case!"

Livi tossed a glittering astral moth at the Oaken scion, "stop doing that!"

Lupo was trying not to laugh as he laid it on thick with the falsetto, "stop doing that!" He caught the moth and turned it into confetti that he tossed back at her.

Livi's eyes were red, "I am going to give you such a sound thrashing at the duel!"

Lupo shrugged, "I would've preferred the lap-dance to be honest!"

Livi's eyes returned to green and blushed, "in your dreams!"

Lupo smiled bright and smugly, "so we're good for tonight?"

Livi's eyes flickered to pink before shifting back to green to yell, "WHY DO YOU ALWAYS INSIST ON HAVING THE LAST WORD!?"

Ewe ended the spell by bringing the sword down then turned around to exclaim,

"HOW OLD ARE YOU TWO!?"

Livi immediately blurted, "it was Lupo's fault!"

Ewe chided her, "must you react to his idiocy?"

Livi pouted.

Lupo shrugged, "yeah Liv! Why do you react to my idiocy?"

Ewe glared at the Oaken scion, "Lolo, do shut up!" Then glared at the irritating pair, "your bickering is getting in the way of my deductions!"

"Dudley Ewe-right on the job to nobody's surprise!" Lupo drawled.

"BE FUCKING SERIOUS!" Ewe exclaimed.

Livi swiftly hid behind Lupo.

Our half-elf rolled his eyes.

Ewe took a deep sigh then spoke with reigned composure, "it appears what we dealt with was a decoy".

Lupo pointed out, "so that duppy attacking my woman is live and kicking?"

"Still?" Livi shivered then asked, "but what can we do?"

Ewe scolded, "well I made a start on using the Dark Grove Edge to reveal the polarity of the assailant but couldn't get very far thanks to you lot forgetting you are bloody adults!"

Livi forlornly bowed her head then looked up at him, "surely there must be a way we could converge our powers together?"

Lupo remarked, "I believe you have helped enough, m'lady!"

Livi quipped, "I was talking to Ewe not YOU!"

Ewe found the barrier was torn apart and the crystal shards gone, "where is it?"

Livi asked, "where is what?"

Ewe answered, "the remains of your assailant".

Livi gasped.

"So why are we standing around like lemons?" Lupo raised the medal and incanted:

Enrapturing Glare

Ensnare and Capture!

FIAT

A rain of golden glitter revealed the shards to be forming back into a puddle.

Ewe pointed his sword at the residue:

BY MY DARK, RIGHTEOUS ARTS

WICKEDNESS DEPART!

FIAT!

The sword unleashed a beam of darkness causing the slimy wreck to writhe.

Livi noticed how the puddle would recoil from the shining droplets and twitch from the black volts, "but of course!" With a twirling arabesque her ballgown transformed back into the cocktail dress, "be this a decoy or not, we must converge our powers! There's enough on our plate with the Smog-Borns!"

Lupo crossed his arms, "so this duppy is an Annis ghost!" He huffed "fantastic!" He uncrossed his arms to let his medal levitate, "when you're ready, Young Mistress".

Livi's eyes flared pink before returning to green as she summoned forth an astral moth that broke apart into magenta Dream-Dust to converge with Lupo's Light Shower into a fountain of glittering daylight.

Ewe raised the sword casting the convergence into a cube pealing harmonious frequencies that caused the puddle to implode into nothing.

Lupo quipped, "that's it?"

Suddenly a rend in reality caused the trio to drop onto their knees from rippling bends.

Lupo exclaimed, "now what!?"

Ewe raised his hand, "a schism has been open to the Wild-Magic!"

Lupo exclaimed with more exasperation, "da fuq?"

Livi however had got to her feet in an entranced state listening to an instinct that spake to her heart to be open and to receive. She closed her eyes and held out her arms; smiling blankly as she embraced the feeling of her heart being pierced then she exclaimed ecstatically from a sensation blooming out of her heart.

Ewe squinted his eyes from the glare then conjured sunglasses "Lolo... are you... seeing this?"

Lupo gawked in awe, "yes... I can see Delichoux..."

Livi suddenly came out of her trance to find herself being eclipsed by astral moths glittering magenta Dream-Dust, "this power... it's more than Wild-magic, I know it!" The moths melted into a glittering spring of magenta water-light, "I know you" and she surrendered herself with arms wide open.

Lupo got to his feet to save his woman but was brought to his knees by an unseen force.

Ewe raised a barrier with his sword, "careful Lolo, I don't think this is just a schism into the Wild-Magic".

Lupo dazedly got to his feet, "it feels like the Marine-Force!"

Ewe channelled more strength to the barrier as he could feel a growing pressure, "then this schism must lead to the Marine-Kingdom!"

Lupo held up his medal to fortify the barrier, "but what does that mean?"

Livi's domino-mask dispersed into astral moths fluttering around her to undo her plait for her hair to become long and flowing. Her cocktail dress dispersed into astral moths leaving the succubus naked as a glittering glow appeared on her arse cheeks resembling wings; a symbol of a Venusian called the Booty-Mark.

Lupo ogled the Lilligan scion as she levitated in the air, drinking in eyefuls of her nakedness especially the new detail to her bundas but then he was drawn away to ogle how the nipples of her hearty, sumptuous milkers were erected and glowing a marine opalescence. He gave thanks for his elf-hearing as he could hear her aroused panting.

Suddenly a large crack formed in the barrier shoving the half-elf onto his back.

Ewe side-eyed Lupo, "do bloody focus!"

Livi's arms and hands were embraced in sheer evening gloves glittering with magenta Dream-Dust. Adorning her feet were hot magenta stripper heels garnished with sorbet peonies. The sparkling thong had no chance as it was all but devoured by her bundas now covered by a tiered tutu of sheer diamondesque tulle sandwiched between pink and magenta altogether resembling the petals of a sorbet peony. Her nipples were adorned in a pair of pasties resembling magenta glittering tea-roses. An astral eclipse styled her hair into high twintails contained into double-buns held together by ornamental tea-roses and sorbet peonies of pinks and purples glistening with dew. Her lips took on a juicier magenta gloss whilst the eye-shadow was a glittering hot-purple to compliment the rosy blush.

Between her hands a light emerged to flash into a large jade hewn into an egg that shimmered with the marine force and within its centre bloomed a rose whose petals were made of the finest folds of amethyst and rose quartz where it changed into a glamorous rose quartz ring of a large diamond offset by amethysts and jade.

Livi gasped, "this is my..." magenta moths fluttered out of the diamond and transformed into a dainty handbag of magenta velvet with a diamond strap, "my Shewstone... the dream-egg..." Livi was speechless as she gawked at a magenta veil emerging out of the ring to wrap itself around her waist forming a huge bow behind her that burst into a pair of wings sprouting out of her back emitting twinkling Dream-Dust at each flutter.

Her large gossamer wings were opalescent jade underlaid by a lilac pink iridescence. Her fore-wings were crowned with an eye-spot altogether resembling closed eyes flexing magenta eye-shadow. The hind wings led on to rose-pink tails curved slightly outwards where droplets of magenta diamond dangled and jingled chimes of the sweetest little bells.

For the wings not only signified that she had finally been reunited with her Shewstone but also to hail her transformation into the Venusian-Lady guise. From here on her power could advance to limitless heights and depths.

Lupo levitated beside her, "Delichoux..."

Livi gasped, "Lolo what are-?" She looked down to find herself high above the ground thanks to- "My wings!" They fluttered releasing a shower of Dream-Dust, "Lolo, look! I finally have my wings!"

Lupo smiled softly as he held her hand, "and you never gave up".

Livi blushed, "Lolo..."

Lupo pulled Livi closer to snatch her up into a snog.

The snog got Livi moaning as the half-elf now had her- still afloat mind you, in a hard-carry as he rubbed her pussy against his erection making her wings orgasmically flutter out Dream-Dust.

Ewe glanced aside incredulously then feigned a very loud cough for the couple to stop.

Lupo let go of his woman, "oh fucking now WHAT!?"

Ewe pointed to a horde of Smog-Born that had lurched into the room.

Livi shrieked.

Lupo descended to the ground to join Ewe in fending them off as he lobbed bright fireballs at the horde.

Livi was left afloat feeling helpless but then she felt a pulse reverberate out of her heart making her sigh, my Gift... never has it felt this strong... so potent... I feel it... I know what I must do. She went into her bag for a handful of Dream-Dust:

Let your heart unfurl to bloom

Depart from this fate of doom

You were always free!

You only have to choose peace!

Trust in the Dream-Dust!

She blew the magenta glitter at the Smog-Born making them crumple into foetal heaps upon the ground.

Overwhelmed by dreams of a former life they melted into magenta beads.

Livi descended onto the ground to be with Lupo and Ewe.

The dhampir gave Livi a thumbs up, "well done, for only receiving your Shewstone moments ago, you have taken to your new succubus powers very well".

Our succubus smiled, "because studying pays off", she bashfully grinned, "and I suppose a little help from my Gift too".

Lupo pointed out, "but why was it found here?"

Livi became crestfallen, "and what does that mean?"

Ewe shook his head, "before we jump to conclusions remember Livity's Shewstone emerged out of a schism".

Lupo nodded, "from the Marine-Kingdom".

"But who would put it there? And why?" Livi appeared beside Lupo to hold onto his arm unwittingly sandwiching it between her breasts, she looked up at the Oaken scion with worried jade eyes, "Lolo... I should be happy but even finding my Shewstone I'm left with so much more questions".

Lupo brought her closer, stroking one of her twintails "reality check princess, you won't have to answer those questions on your own".

Livi felt her nipples hardened and impulsively raised herself up on her tiptoes to kiss him, soon levitating off the ground from her wings fluttering.

Ewe glanced aside then walked off to leave the pair to themselves as he knew the Witch's Ghost was still about.

Lupo had her in a hard-carry and rested himself against a wall as he carried on rubbing her pussy against his erection.

"Lolo... if you carry on doing that... I don't know... I don't know but..." Livi moaned from her nipples getting harder.

Lupo shut her up with a loud lip-smacking kiss, "you're a succubus, don't resist your power".

"Lolo!" Her pasties burst into dew revealing a sheer opalescent nectar leaking out of her nipples, "is this...?" She blushed, "the marine nectar?"

Lupo dove in to suckle her nipples.

"Mmm... Lolo... yes.. keep doing that please..." Livi moaned. Suddenly he stopped making her ask, "Lolo... what's wrong?"

Lupo was alarmed, "can't you hear that?"

"Hear what?" She gasped at a sudden chorus of faint whispers, "what is this?"

Just then Ewe sensed a murmur but a blast of light suddenly slammed him against the wall knocking him out cold as the sword to careened far beyond his reach.

Livi was horrified by the whispers becoming louder because she was able to discern the voices were whispering, "my Angelic-Name".

Lupo became serious as he had a lot of questions but he asked, "who else would know that?"

Livi became panicked, "I don't know! I only told you!" She began to tear up, "I haven't told anyone else! I never have! Lolo please!"

Lupo embraced her, "I know Delichoux, I know..."

The pasties returned to Livi's nipples as her tears turned to Dream-Dust, "Lolo..."

Suddenly a schism echoing with whispers emerged.

Livi made like a barnacle on Lupo and cried, "LOLO!" The tears of glittering Dream-Dust intensified as she sobbed, "Lolo... please... I never told anyone else that name... you're the only one... the only-!"

Lupo comforted his woman with kisses to her tears, "Delichoux, I know". He could feel the schism beginning to pull so he placed her behind him, "but someone else other than I knows your name and I'm going to make sure that someone and anyone else no longer lives". He cocked the Niner and turned to look upon the frightened Lilligan scion, "what you need to do is take your fine lickle ras back to your Guild grounds and I'll come check for you once I sort this out".

Livi sniffled, "promise?"

Lupo patted her head, "what kind of husband would I be if I wasn't back in time for my cup of tea?"

"Lolo, please be careful!" Livi's lips glowed as her fluttering wings lifted her off the ground to give him a kiss.

Lupo felt a rush of energy surge through him; this must be the Blessing of Venus spell he had read that one could receive from a Venusian's kiss. He wished he could just enjoy the peace of this spell soaking him but he could feel the pull getting stronger and held on to lengthen the kiss just for a moment more.

Suddenly Livi shrieked then swooned into a faint.

"DELICHOUX! WHAT'S WRONG!?" Lupo gave the lifeless succubus a shake, "no... please wake up princess..." Just as he held his hand over her forehead he drew it back as her body levitated out of his arms, her face was a serene expression as she now floated in front of the schism with her wings expanded, "Delichoux..."

Livi opened her eyes to the ebb and flow of waves. She soon became alert upon realising that she wasn't hearing waves but multitudinous whispers chanting "my name". Suddenly she was swept into the portal before she could cry out for help.

Lupo's eyes flared, "not again..." He roared out: NEVER AGAIN! With the quickness of a thought all stood still; as though time itself feared his wrath were it to move an inch as he leapt head-first into the whispering portal where suddenly all that was still flowed like a river as the schism collapsed shut.

Ewe slowly got up, steadying himself from the light-induced vertigo so common of vampirism. He held out his hand patiently- though he didn't wait too long, for the Dark Grove Edge to float back to him. Our dhampir snatched it up by the hilt to drop the sword into the fathom of his shadow. As he gathered his thoughts, he deduced that something was not right about that blast; he should've been able to endure it or even counter otherwise Frater Honorius would've kept him far away from the Oaken Guild and nary considered having him initiated. But here he was; getting up from being laid out on his back by a light spell- but not just any light spell...

However our dhampir now found himself with bigger problems: Lupo and Livi, where were they? He closed his eyes to use his Thrall Trick to catch their psychic pulse but there was nothing as though they completely disappeared.

He knelt down and pressed his right hand onto the ground; closing his eyes he shut his mind off from all outside and all within to an audible silence. Listening to the zero frequency echoing he felt another pair of eyes open; this was the herald of the Gift of Metron, the blessing of another pair of eyes allowing one to see all that has passed before. The inner eyes showed a schism opening before Lupo and Livi, then she was dragged in, Lupo followed after her- he cast a Time-Stop spell? Surely a mere schism- not even a portal, could be fought off yet alone closed and worth casting a Time Stop spell?

This wasn't enough to work with; he converged his Thrall Trick with his Gift so that he now found himself walking amongst a slow motion tableaux vivant of the ordeal, standing by the schism his vampiric hearing caught on to a sound far different to the sound of rushing water atypical of a schism into a Wild-Magic tunnel the sound were whispers- a city of insomniac whispers! The whispers were making it unintelligible but through converging his Gift with his umbral endowments they were clear and though he could not recognise the words he could recognise the accent- Enochian! The schism was one that opened into the Stream of Enoch! Such a feat could only occur if one were to know a Venusian's Angelic-Name if she were to reveal it or if one were to obtain such knowledge.

As Livi levitated in front of the portal Ewe looked down and saw her shadow. He once read that a Venusian's shadow was a sheer shimmer but instead there was a thick miasma where a pair of bloodshot eyes stared at him. He stepped back to narrowly dodge a scythe of light arched at him. Livi was now encased within an orb along with the smoggy shadow and he quickly dodged a lance of light that soared past his head. His eyes widened at how he could hear the light! As though it was a solid negation of sound- of voices, of song.

Of course! Casting such a light spell could only suggest this Annis- who wasn't sure which but was certain it was a witch when alive, either learnt such a craft or could only be... an Unseelie, Ewe pondered gravely. For the Unseelie were maligned fairies that drew upon a maddening light distorting all that is good and pure. He soon felt the reigned lapses of an ambling ripple as Lupo gallantly dove in after Livi.

Our dhampir shook his head, even as a child the Oaken scion had a compulsion for skating uphill in the most dramatic manner; couldn't he have stayed on his feet and just flow with the stream for more speed instead of overcharging into a magic-boom?

The schism closed up forcing the dhampir's eyes open, back in the catacombs and alone.

Following after Lupo was not going to be impossible but it was not going to be such a simple feat. The pupils of his amber eyes dilated to negate into a white rim as the amber irises contracted into thin dark pupils to herald his Shadow-Sight; another facet of the Shadow-Work Trick enabling our dhampir to see the inner and outer shadow formed within all as dark-wisps.

Ewe saw golden dark-wisps reverberating a Spring morn spark- that could only belong to Lupo, formed into a conical spiral converging within the vortex's little eye just as the Stream of Enoch was about to close. He closed his eyes then opened them to reveal his eyes were no longer under the Shadow-Sight.

Not wasting a moment's thought he closed his eyes to let the darkness to glove his hands into claws and he raised them to summon an umbral stream drawn from a dimension of pure shadow.

The Black-Stream was a powerful conduit to craft constructs and performing such a feat of riding through other dimension planes.

Ewe flexed a mudra to make the Black-Stream surge into a spiralling tunnel that the dhampir crouched for speed as he followed Lupo's twisting path. With such a kick-off, it gave Ewe enough speed to ride the curls at a velocity that earned him the epithet of Dark Surfer. He became one with the umbral waves and shifted into a dark current to swirl into the pinhole opening to take him beyond this plane and closer to Lupo and Livi.

~End of Act4~

Act5: A Succubus in Lyd Gorge

Yum blinked her eyes, "cor! A fireplace? 'Ow did I end up 'ere? 'ang a bit! Weren't Gazer goin' on about a-!?" She suddenly gasped, "Gazer!" She heard nothing so she pressed her fingers against her forehead and twitched her nose to sense her fairy's pulse leading her to find her unconscious miniature self sprawled out upon the floor.

Our strawberry-blonde puffed out a sigh of relief as she could feel her fairy was okay and merely under a sleeping spell. From the sharp crystal frequency of Fairy-Dust however our strawberry-blonde began to worry that she may not be strong enough to bring Gazer out of this spell. But suddenly she clocked that this place was overflowing with Wild-Magic perhaps channelling into this could give her enough power to wake up Gazer. She inhaled deeply then exhaled and held her hands over her bonded fairy:

For the sake of our bond

I channel upon the Wild-Magic from beyond

To undo the enchantment of Gazer's Fairy-Dust

Because she must wake up.

Blue glitter bubbled out of the fairy to gather at the strawberry-blonde witch's fingertips. Yum gawked at the strong potency of the Wild-Magic but anchored herself to helping her fairy as she closed her eyes to focus on flowing with the Wild-Magic. Within her palms, the thrumming glittering convergence burst into blue fire haloing Yum's form as her hair serenely defied gravity.

The blue fire restored the fairy back to the bluenette amazon.

"What on t'ree eart?" Gazer yawned, "are we still here?"

Yum smiled, "still together".

Gazer became tense, "well I'd rather not be still here". She looked around, "where is it?"

Yum asked, "where is wot?"

Gazer narrowed her eyes, "what are you on about?"

Yum shrugged, "wot are you on about?"

Gazer exclaimed, "THE SHEWSTONE!"

Yum soon gawked at her empty hands as the clear crystal ball was nowhere in sight, she then looked up at her fairy and shrugged, "good question, where is it?"

Gazer sharply quipped, "how should I know? You were talking to the bloody thing!"

Yum was surprised, "I did wot?"

A tear emerged bathed the room in an opalescent water-light washing over witch and fairy as they were swept onto their botties from this strange schism reacting against the Wild-Magic as forceful tides of heavy energy rippled forth.

Gazer raised a barrier that was already coming apart from the tides of heavy energy spilling out of the schism.

Yum hurriedly fortified the barrier channelling her Gift of Yrosi to invoke flames around the barrier.

The tear collapsed shut just as something fell out.

The barrier shattered as witch and fairy were now left with a mystery woman.

"Too mega far out! Lookit those wings! She must be a fairy-princess!" Gawked our strawberry-blonde witch.

Gazer gravely shook her head, "no. She is not".

Yum was befuddled, "then wot is she?"

"A Venusian". Gazer wearily eyed up the wings, she could feel potent power radiating from them, "Heart says the power a Venusian draws upon is far different to the Wild-Magic and even Fairyland".

Yum was in awe, "cor! Do you think she could be a Fallen-Angel? Or even a Musk-Damsel? Ooh! I call it, she must be a Succubus!"

Gazer side-eyed her witch, "well there's no point in placing bets when I have my Fairy-Dust". She fluttered her wings gathering up a charge of Fairy-Dust:

Fairy-Dust,

Let us know

If this Venusian is a Fallen-Angel, Musk-Damsel or Succubus

That we can trust.

The Fairy-Dust hovered over the pretty creature letting it bloom into a glittering, bubbling blue magenta fountain.

The convergence flashed out an inverted pentagram that shifted into an egg then rippled into a magenta moth. The magenta phantasm popped into a spray of glitter.

Yum was in awe, "too mega far out..."

Gazer had her hands on her hips, "so she is a succubus, how on t'ree eart' did you guess that?"

Yum shrugged, "dunno but it felt like it made sense" she soon oohed at the magenta and pink glitter, "you know succubi wings are really mega gorgeous up close".

Gazer rolled her eyes, "never mind!"

A loud sound of groaning glass as the succubus' magical drip melted into nothing; her twintails shifted into a long single plait as she now wore a black dress, cuffed and collared in white lace and a pair of black high heels.

"Cor... even without 'er wings she looks mega glam" Yum was in awe, "wot a lovely dress, Mrs 'ole would 'ave fun puttin' a number like this together!"

Gazer was unimpressed, "she totally looks like a snob who lives in the city".

Yum shook her head, "Gaze! There's no need to judge a book by its cover".

Gazer huffed, "seriously?"

Yum knelt down for a closer look at the insignia on the woman's outfit, "I wonder wot's this thingy about?"

Gazer glanced at the insignia then looked at her witch, "we could ask Madame Hard-Wax".

Yum nodded, "good idea".

The mystery woman started to wake up. Her jade eyes then bewilderedly scanned her surroundings.

Yum knelt at the woman's side greeting softly and sweetly, "alrigh' luv? You're safe now dearie".

The mystery woman- who was our Lilligan scion, felt comforted by the strawberry-blonde witch- who she sensed to be a human, but gaped in horror at the white roses crowning the human's head that could only mean she must be a... White Annis Cultist! She hung her head low and began to weep and sob.

Yum gave the woman a cuddle, "there, there let it all out, nothing will 'urt you 'ere".

Livi gave in to the only means she concluded on protecting herself. Submerging into a primal instinctual shell; her pretty face twisted from her mouth widening into a deadly cavern of canines to hail her surrender to the Venusian Monstrosity, an ancient trait many attempted to breed out but suffered cruelly for their efforts.

Yum backed away, "umm... did your Fairy-Dust ever find out if she could be trusted?"

Gazer gulped, "I don't think she trusts us!"

The succubus' little delicate hands sharpened into sinister claws bared as a glimmer came to her dilated eyes deciding the human and fairy would make a sumptuous snack.

"I think you're spot on!" Yum frightfully wobbled as her and Gazer held on to each other to scream.

! niaga em truh reven lliw uoY Livi unleashed dark fire balls at the cultists.

Gazer broke off into a scarper as Yum absorbed the dark fire balls but sorely regretted it from the scorching pain having no choice but to firm it as she channelled her will to force back the fire at the monstrous woman that was promptly snuffed out, "ooh crumbs!"

Gazer yanked her witch by the wrist and fled.

! stsitluC! rof enod era uoY Livi conjured billowing tides of currents that sent witch and fairy barrelling out of the nook as she prowled in pursuit.

"GAZE! WOT DID SHE SAY!?" Yum bellowed.

"I'M FOCUSSING ON LIVING RATHER THAN SHE SAYS, WHO SAYS, WHO CARES!" Gazer conjured bubbles for them just in time as they bounced off a wall conjured to be jagged with broken knives and glass.

The tidal current shattered their bubble leaving them pinned against a wall.

Gazer struggled, "this wind... I've never felt such a sinister energy".

Livi appeared before them, her prettiness returned to her visage as she proclaimed gravely, "and now you die".

Yum and Gazer screamed and in the fairy's fright she puffed back into a sprite leaving our Guardian-Witch to shriek into a crescendo.

The scream echoed into a Wild-Magic feedback making our succubus stagger back before being shoved onto the wall leaving her on her botty as she hastily dodged falling velvet drapes.

Yum gasped and grasped Gazer.

For the drapes unveiled a grand portrait of a woman of strawberry-blonde tresses and fuchsia eyes wearing a golden gown.

Livi was dumbstruck by the image when suddenly her Shewstone emerged out of her chest, "it's mine!" She clutched it to submerge into a faint.

"FAHKIN 'ELL!" Exclaimed Yum who fell onto her face, "that wos mega fahkin' intense!" She found her fairy to be unconscious- most likely fainted out of fright. "Bless your little wings, Gaze" She sprinkled a Restful Sleep spell upon her fairy and gently tucked into her décolletage.

Our strawberry-blonde knelt down beside the succubus and stroked her forehead. I know she attacked us but I felt she wos as scared as Gaze 'n' I... even more. She looked up at the woman in the portrait who could only be... "mum, I feel so helpless without you 'n' nan." She noticed the succubus desperately grip the crystal orb, "even more so cos I dunno where to start with 'ow her Shewstone turned up 'ere".

~*~

Livi opened her eyes with a shriek and was stunned to find herself in a cosy front room by the fireplace where a plump sofa, large armchairs, cushions and pouffes gathered about in a warm, soft henge. A glowing blanket loomed in front of our succubus who found herself upon a chaise longue- that was very comfy.

The blanket slipped off to reveal the strawberry-blonde from before only she wasn't in a blue dress but a lilac halter top, a pair of bell-bottoms and surrounded by little sprites.

These cultists were initiating fairies too! She shot up to her feet with a wild and fearful look upon her face.

"Wait! Please! We're only 'ere to 'elp!" Yum reasoned.

Livi stepped back, "you lot are cultists! All of you are here to help your leader White Annis!"

The frightened sprites fluttered away to hide!

Yum looked aghast at the succubus, "OI! Wot are you on about?"

Livi was taken aback, "you are not cultists?"

Yum looked befuddled, "well of course not! It's just me 'n' the sprites". She added, "to be honest these lot should've been with Heart instead of sleepin' through it all in the biccy jars".

A sorry squeak was faintly heard punctuated by a hiccup and a belch.

Yum warned the succubus, "and you can't be bandyin' that name 'ere!"

Livi lowered her head, "oh".

Yum asked, "wot makes you think I'd be about White-Annis?"

Livi faced the strawberry-blonde, "it was the white roses..." she became crestfallen, "that probably wasn't the case at all... I'm sorry".

Yum smiled, "don't worry, I felt you were mega scared". She sat down next to the succubus, "bless, can't even imagine wot you must 'ave gone through" she leaned into her, "but you're safe in this neck o' the woods!"

Livi wearily asked, "where is here exactly?"

Yum warmly answered, "we're in Lyd Gorge Woods!"

Livi queried, "on Bion?"

Yum shrugged out a grin, "least I 'ope so! Last time I checked we're still on this pane!"

Livi slowly nodded then gasped to see the sprites come out of hiding.

Yum crooked her finger, "come on you lot, she's completely 'armless, absolutely nothin' to be afraid of". The sprites gathered around her head, "go on, say 'ello to her". After a moment she asked the succubus "actually I don't think I asked for your name, wot is it?"

Livi answered, "my name is Livity".

Yum shook Livi's hand, "well Liv, it's nice to meet another witch!"

Livi nodded, "likewise..." she then asked, "but what is your name?"

A sprite fluttered in front of the succubus to squeak at her.

Livi translated, "her name... is.... Yum".

Yum grinned, "yeah".

Livi shook Yum's hand, "well it's nice to meet you Yum". She gave the sprite a stroke, "and you too, little dear".

The sprite squeaked at her.

"Oh? Your name is Blinky?" Livi smiled, "nice to meet you, I'm Livity". She counted out the other sprites chattering at her, "and you're Blueberry, Pink 1, Pink 2, Blinkers 2, Blinkers 3 and Snoozer", she giggled, "nice to meet you all".

Yum did a double-take between Blinky whistling along with the succubus, "cor! You can speak to fairies?"

Livi nodded as she let the sprite nestle into her palm whilst some perched on top of her head, "my godfather and chaperone taught me".

Yum asked, "so 'ave you been to the Fairyland then?"

Livi shrugged, "well of course but I was really young then".

Yum was in awe, "too mega far out! I wos really young when I went there- that wos with me mum too". She then queried, "I know this is goin' to sound strange but like..." she eyed the heels "are those red-bottoms?"

Livi nervously shifted her eyes, "they are..."

Yum gushed, "because they are just like mega gorgeous! It's like one o' me grails for me witch wardrobe".

Livi smiled, "when I wear these I do feel my witchcraft becomes stronger, my Guild always stresses that to wear heels is to invoke the old ways when witches would have to seek high ground to cast spells".

Yum nodded, "oh my days! Makes total mega sense! Me nan would go on about that stuff too! Come to think of it, she used to live on a heath before she had me mum".

Livi remarked, "major Witch-vibes, hearing that you must be aligned to the Night-Throne".

Yum grinned "of course! I may be to others some next Hedge-Witch but like me mum 'n' nan: I pledge to She who sits upon the Night-Throne". Her hands formed an inverted triangle, "look within the night for wot is so 'n' you will know". She laid back in her seat, "me nan 'ad this cottage built 'ere in the deepest parts of the woods to be one with Earth 'n' Water".

Livi asked, "so your nan knew about the old ways?"

Yum sat up but her smile became wistful, "she wos mega about the old ways". She then sighed heavily, "but she's dead now... just like me mum".

Livi sidled up closer to Yum, "I'm sorry to hear that".

Yum mustered a smile, "it's alright, me mum died when I wos really young but I can always remember 'er hugs 'n' 'er lullabies... well most of 'em".

Some of the sprites gathered around her to peal mewls of comfort.

Yum doled out cuddles, "you lot are the absolute mega sweetest!"

The remaining sprites bleated at her in a shrill mewl.

Yum cooed, "oh poor dears, you lot gettin' bored? Alrigh' then go 'n' play in the garden but when the last light leaves the canopy get inside the cottage 'n' cast the Lock enchantment".

The sprites raced off in glittering comets.

Yum faced Livi with a forlorn smile, "me nan passed away not too long ago- well about three years ago". Her smile warmed up, "with all the years I got to 'ave with her I still feel like she's with me". Her face fell into a gawk, "'ANG ON! YOU'RE PART OF A GUILD!?"

Livi hastily composed herself as she wondered if the Hedge-Witch had caught her gawking at the sprites as she shyly answered, "yes..."

Yum nodded slowly, "so that makes you..."

Livi began, "oh I'm just your garden-variety-!"

Yum exclaimed, "ACTION-WITCH! THAT'S EXACTLY WOT YOU ARE!"

Livi glanced aside then looked at Yum, "I'm a what now?"

Yum grinned, "exactly wot you are! An Action-Witch!"

Livi motioned for the strawberry-blonde to elaborate, "and what exactly is an Action-Witch?"

Yum began to count off her fingers, "well you're certainly not a Hedge-Witch like me".

Livi tilted her head, "but within my Guild, we learn how to be at one with the natural world in order for our potions and remedies to be super effective".

Yum continued, "wot about divinations?"

Livi nodded, "fortune-telling is one of the practices my Guild observes to honour the old ways of the Witch-Queendom".

Yum clapped her hands, "oh my days yeah! Bequeathed with sight, it wos the obligation of the Witch Queens 'n' all witches who aligned themselves to their doctrine to 'elp those who wish to see". She asked, "so like do you lot observe 'appenin's 'n' Rituals?"

Livi brushed back a strand of hair, "but of course my Guild have had the honour of leading numerous Happenings and Rituals".

Yum became pensive, "cor... there's not much difference between Hedge-witches 'n' Action-Witches".

Livi pointed out, "you still haven't explained what is an Action-Witch?"

Yum grinned, "well you know... they like use their magic mainly to fight back, they can jump really high, go on quests to beat up 'orrid radges in scary dungeons 'n' wear tarty clothes".

Livi raised her eyebrow.

Yum became bashful, "not that there's anything particularly bad about the last part..." she grinned as her breasts jiggled, "it takes one to know one".

Livi shrugged, "albeit the articulation you're not far from the mark".

Yum added, "well I recently heard from someone at some next 'amlet 'n' if I'm right 'e wos goin' on about one Action-Witch Guild that dressed like right tarts".

Livi huffed, "I suppose he knew the name of this Guild?"

Yum shrugged, "dunno! Sort of eavesdropped cos I keep to meself innit?"

Livi pointed out, "so you just live on your own here? Like a hermit? Haven't you ever been outside of this forest?"

Yum nodded, "well of course I 'ave; goin' to the seaside, some next forest along with all the other 'amlets 'n' I've even visited the city too but I wos really small- that wos when me mum wos still alive". She grinned, "plus I went to uni 'n' school too".

Livi asked, "really? Where did you go for school?"

Yum became bashful, "well more like a summer school for witches..." she smirked, "but I am degreed in Lore at Wic-Green".

Livi tilted her head, "soo... you stayed in the city to go to uni?"

Yum tittered, "no way! Why bother when you can ride the Wild-Magic tunnels?"

Livi looked surprised, "but that can be dangerous without an Enchanted-Stone- like a Witch-Stone? Or even a Magic-Armour? You can at least hone a Casting-Field to ride the Wild-Magic".

Yum smiled, "yeah but where's the fun when you can be in flow with the Wild-Magic at its most natural and purest state?" She sighed, "too mega far out!"

Livi became pensive, "I never thought of traversing the Wild-Magic dimension like that".

Yum gave the succubus a friendly nudge, "well you should! It's mega fun!"

Livi pointed out, "but what if you get lost in the Wild-Magic?"

Yum smirked, "well I 'ave! But as they say even if you lose the way, just go with the flow 'n' the Wild-Magic will show you where you need to be". She added with a smile, "well actually it wos me nan who told me that rhyme".

Upon hearing that a breeze of comfort and reassurance made Livi feel grounded as she observed, "your nan taught you how to ride the Wild-Magic?"

Yum nodded, "a mega lot more than wot a Hedge-Witch would know". Her expression became forlorn, "but at the same time she kept a lot away from me 'n' since she's gone I just feel so alone". She added, "even though it's not really like that at all but-"

Livi touched Yum's hand, "it feels like you've been left behind..."

Yum looked up, "yeah that's exactly the mood".

Livi smirked before holding up her left hand, "for as long as I can remember, I've always had my Shewstone and I guarded it with every fibre of my being". She stroked her hand, "so by the time I blossomed when I needed that power the most... it just vanished! And why was it here with you?"

Yum shrugged, "That's wot I'd like to know for meself!" She suddenly shrieked then doubled over in her seat to clutch her chest.

Livi asked out of fright, "YUM! Are you alright?"

Yum sighed as a pearly diamondesque book emerged out of her heart to fall into her grasp, "too mega far out!"

Livi scolded, "good grief! I hope frightening the living daylight out of guests is not commonplace in this neck of the woods!" She then demanded, "what on t'ree eart' was all that about in the first place?"

Yum smirked, "sorry Liv, I found this book earlier 'n'..." she fell silent upon looking at the embroidery of the book's spine to spell out a name: Blondine.

Livi raised her eyebrow, "and?"

Our strawberry-blonde traced her finger along the spine's embroidery, "this book belonged to me mum".

Livi remarked, "well if you are generations deep in witchcraft even of the Hedge-Witch persuasion that's obviously not just any old book you found earlier, it can only be a grimoire".

Yum replied, "well of course but..." she looked to Livi, "wot if me mum knew somethin' too" she let the book float in front of her.

Livi remarked, "I suppose we could find out together, they say two heads are better than one". She held Yum's hand, "if we have come this far on our own then I'm sure it'll be quicker when we work together".

Yum smiled, "you're right!" She then suddenly asked, "but are you sure? We've only just met we're practically strangers".

Livi countered, "well we know each other's name so doesn't that make us feel closer?" She looked at her left hand once more, "besides if you were the one who found my Shewstone then it was you who summoned me here".

Yum looked confused, "but 'ow would I do that?"

Livi answered, "you used my Angelic-Name, all Venusians have a true name that she must not tell anyone unless she trusts them" she smiled at the Hedge-Witch, "so we're certainly beyond strangers".

Yum nodded slowly, "wraa... you're mega right!" She scratched her head, "but like we only just met so I dunno 'ow I would even know your Angelic-Name".

Livi answered, "I can only presume that you were able to read the Shewstone and by proxy you must know enough of the Enochian language for such a feat".

Yum sheepishly shrugged, "I suppose..."

Livi held Yum's hand, "and you may think it's odd of me to say so but I trust you".

Yum asked, "you do?"

Livi winked, "let's just say I have a 'gift' for knowing a good feeling from a bad feeling".

Suddenly a light emerged out of the book causing the strawberry-blonde to leap behind the sofa for cover, "cor! I'm not likin' the heavy vibes from mum's book!"

Livi held her hand over the book, "you need not fear it... for what you are witnessing is the Marine-Force". She gasped, "incredible! It's like this book was channelled from the Marine-Kingdom itself!"

Not really wanting to be left out on the fun- and just plum curious in nature, Yum came out of her hiding place to hold her hands over the book, "far out! This is so mega unlike a Wild-Magic tunnel!" The book began to flicker out a light that did not seem right to Yum. A chill held her in place making her heartbeat race as a force drew her deeper into a cold embrace as her limp body levitated. Her eyes widened from the flickering lights making her reach out, "yes... I need... you".

Livi clutched her chest in ardour to still her heart from drowning in memories of last week. Clandestine, carnal delights that were worth another week but she knew she could not give in to the seductive prince of light. This could only be the work of the Marine-Force radiating from the book.

The root of a Venusian's power and her being as all depart and return to the Dream-Cauldron that dwells in the Marine-Kingdom through either the rays of Love, Lust and Longing.

Livi cowered at the radiance emerging out of all three of them, what kind of human can wield the Marine-Force? The radiance flared out into a glaring halo, something does not feel right...

Yum's clothes burst leaving her suspended and naked. Her bondage were elongated briar snaking up her legs to coil her breasts for black roses to bloom and sprout mouths to suckle upon her clit and nips as shadows shivered out of the petals to lick her cunny leaving her to whimper lustfully as the briar lashed her bundas.

Livi was on her knees, her legs were wide apart as a golden light shone upon her cunny- her thong practically torn off, "yes... yes... just like last Tuesday". She rubbed her clitoris with more fervour as a shape began to form in front of her.

The shape twisted into a naked facsimile of Lupo who grabbed Livi by her hair and forced his penis into her mouth.

Please don't tease me... I can take more of you... The Lilligan scion took more of his length into her mouth feeling her pussy drip as his grip tightened. She was snapped out of her reverie as she saw the Hedge-Witch on the floor moaning in an aroused stupor as the roses poured nectar all over her.

The facsimile grinned monstrously as he shoved deeper to choke the succubus. His dick became harder as he watched the succubus cower and dry wretch.

"I bet you enjoyed that!" Livi tossed an astral moth that gushed into a magenta beam to sever the facsimile. Thinking fast she got to her feet; at any moment that poor human will be overwhelmed by the Marine-Radiance and- goddess forbid, mutate into a Marine-Spirit!

There was a sinister flicker to the spectrum.

Our Succubus held out her left hand and incanted:

Marine-Radiance I ask of thee!

Let your powers embrace me

With the grace of Succubus Power!

The Shewstone emerged out of her palm before rippling into an ornate egg of jade that bloomed into a rose with petals of rose-quartz and amethyst dusted in diamond dew. A magenta astral eclipse left our Succubus naked save for a pair of magenta knee-high stripper boots and matching evening gloves glittering with Dream-Dust. Her plait became undone for her hair to flow wild and freely as it stopped just before her calf; an astral moth gathered up her tresses into a high ponytail and morphed into a hairclip to keep it in place as her wings emerged to flash into a cape. Goddess! Such power! Have I already unlocked another guise? The cape flickered back into her wings making her gawk at the shrill peals permeating out of the light! "What are you? You're not just the radiance from the Marine-Force... you're more than that..."

! subuccuS, aedi on evah uoY

The spectrum surging out the rays of Love, Lust and Longing revealed itself to be infernal urges of Hate, Rape and Violation! The wicked rays haloed the book before flaring into a bright clamorous glare that shoved the succubus onto her botty.

Livi shrieked at her shadow; it was far from shimmering as a pair of bloodshot eyes glared back at her from the smog- White Annis! She scrambled to her feet, "but how?" Our succubus was suddenly ensnared in a grasp of golden light!

White-Annis cackled:

! erohw, dnim uoy reveN

Livi wailed, "NO! You should be finished!"

The wicked radge gripped her prey's arse:

? ylisae taht em htiw yawa od dluoc uoy eveileb uoy diD... yerp ytterp yM

Livi struggled, "let me GO!"

White-Annis giggled:

? dneirf wen rouy ot em ecudortni ot gniog ton uoy ereW

Livi gawked in terror at Yum moaning from a mouthy flower lapping at her cunny as she feebly tried to pull it away from her, "leave her alone! She has nothing to do with this!"

! enotswehS ruoy no sdnah reh tog ehs woh ot sa suoiruc ma oot I? erus uoy erA White Annis grasped harder on the succubus' arse.

Livi gritted her teeth, "she's just a human! Release her!"

? namuh a tsuJ

White Annis' bloodshot eyes flared unleashing a blinding glare.

Livi clenched her eyes shut, "exactly! And I won't let you bastardise the Marine-Force!"

! rewoP eileeS-nU ym ot dleiy lliw namuh ehT! hctiw hsiloof ti morf raF

White-Annis cackled as the book spun faster in reverse.

Livi opened her eyes, "what?"

"I've... got... to... I must do somethin'!" Yum felt herself surrender to a warm embrace that burned away the malicious flowers.

! etubirt yllis eht rof edutitarg ym evah uoY

White-Annis spread the succubus' arse cheeks to bare her cunny.

IN YOUR DREAMS! Livi clenched her eyes shut; a magnificent blinding water-light of opalescence emerged out of her cunny that made the book vomit a Marine corona and dropped.

The smog fled out of the succubus' shadow bringing back the shimmer as the wicked radge tried to retreat.

Not taking any chances with the thing, our Lilligan scion opened her eyes for her pupils to dilate unleashing a beam of the Marine-Force that sent the thing flying into a wall. She hastily went over to Yum and flapped her wings dowsing the human in Dream-Dust, "are you alright?"

Yum groggily answered, "bit dazed but I'm alrigh'". She looked to find herself back in her halter top and bell-bottoms, "cor! I could've sworn I saw me fave keks get destroyed!"

Livi replied, "because that was Unseelie magic".

Yum came to with a quickness as she raised her hands for the door to shut. She saw the book and held out her hand, her eyes widened as it flew into her grip. Then upon noticing the lifeless creature exclaimed, "cor! You gave it a good seein' to!"

Green fire formed out of the succubus' right palm, "not quite!" The fire surged out to vertically spear the downed radge.

! seitirps eht evas reven lliw uoY! sehctiw etal ooT

However the corpse simply churned itself into the fire morphing into a congealed mockery of a woman with those accursed bloodshot eyes and her face peeling apart.

Livi tossed an eclipse of astral moths at the radge.

White-Annis released a dark spectrum of light to wither the moths into nothing.

Gripping the book in her hands, Yum's hair shot up, "you need to go! Righ' Nah!" She launched a blazing fireball at the creature but cried out in horror as it went up in smoke.

! yaw ym ni gnitteg pots uoY

White-Annis released bolts of glaring lightning to bring the witches to their knees:

ecaep ni setirps fo hself eht gnitae yojne nac I woN

Livi struggled to stand up, "you will not even get to lay a finger on those innocent sprites! Unseelie!"

! stroffe ruoy fo ytilituf eht wonk dna traeh ruoy otni kooL

White-Annis struck the succubus across the face.

Suddenly Yum was on her feet, there was a flicker in her eyes that could be mistaken for an idea to drive fists into the face of anyone with bad intentions towards her Seelies- especially the sprites!

? siht si tahW

The radge gasped at the magic radiating out of the human.

Livi recoiled from the awe of the light- a power unlike anything she ever felt, Yum, what are you?

Yum's hair was held up by a vortex of unseen hands, You will not win! She launched a great mass of fire shaped as a butterfly that she cast at the creature, Even if it costs me my life! I will not let you hurt the sprites! The book glowed in her grip.

White-Annis smirked:

! ti dias uoY

She scratched at the flaming butterfly causing it to split into a kaleidoscope of butterfly wisps.

Yum shrieked as the wisps ensnared her into a cage of fire, "NO!" She tried to absorb the fire but it was far too much! She collapsed into a foetal position barely holding onto the book as it sank into her chest.

"That's it! I have had enough of your fuckery! Bloody fiend!" Livi tossed a handful of Dream-Dust at White-Annis and soon formed a mudra for the glittering pollen to burst into a magenta bolt that struck down the creature. She turned a fresh handful of Dream-Dust into a dagger disguised as an ornamental hair-pin and raised it over her head to stab the creature, "you are finished!"

! em rof ton tub, eeht roF

White-Annis' head stretched out of its socket to bite onto the succubus' neck.

"NO!" Livi screamed as her form flickered between her current scantily clad guise and her Guild tack, "I will not yield!" Barely holding onto its head she tore it off, screeching as it had a chunk of her neck in its mouth that it spat out. Holding back tears, our succubus collapsed onto her knees and quickly sprinkled Dream-Dust upon her wound for a Salve, Suture and Heal spell.

! em pots ton lliw namuh eht and uoy tuB

White-Annis connected her head back to her body as she now stood up to gut-punch the succubus breaking apart her guise as she crashed onto her face.

"Livity!" Yum tried to reach out but recoiled from the flaming cage that began to close in.

... seidal, em esucxe lliw uoy fi woN

White-Annis' cackle rang throughout the cottage causing the door to fly open as the room began to flood with thick smog and the door closed with a loud slam.

"LIVITY! LIVITY!" Yum panicked from the sheer escalation of it all but even more so she found herself giving in to a heartbreak of worry for the sprites and fairies, "oh goddess, wot can I do?"

As close to tears as she was our strawberry-blonde suddenly remembered an advice from Madame Hard-Wax: once you know the craft of fire, you have no reason to fear it because you know that same fire lies deep within. You are no longer strangers.

Then Yum knew what she had to do as she pressed her hands against her heart to draw upon the Gift of Yrosi mindfully and heartfully as the warming vortex embraced her. The cage imploded into a flaming orb of warm fire within her palms and she raised it over her head for the fire orb to absorb the smog leaving the room tidy and untouched. Our strawberry-blonde clapped her hands causing the fire to puff into dew then gawked at the sight of the room, "cor! Far out! It worked! Madame 'ard-Wax wos right!" Suddenly she remembered- "Livity!" She scurried over to the succubus, "ooh er... crumbs! I 'ope this will 'elp!" She channelled the Gift of Yrosi into her hands as she tenderly stroked Livi's brow.

A warmth came over the Lilligan scion making her stir, "Yum...?"

Yum hugged the succubus, "Livity! Thank the goddess you're alrigh'!"

Livi blinked her eyes from the rejuvenating warmth, "thank you but..." she looked around at the empty room, "what happened? Wasn't the White-Annis here?"

Yum gasped, "OH NO! THE SPRITES!" She got to her feet and ran off.

Livi shot up and followed after the human.

~*~

Our succubus caught up and gasped.

The Fairy-Garden had been ravaged, the darling forest critters were domed in shining glaciers and there was not a single trace of sprites to be seen. And worst of all their surroundings were blanketed in a great thick smog.

Yum collapsed onto the ground in tears, "that 'orrid thing took the sprites! I can't get in touch with Heart so I dunno about the others!" She sobbed, "it's like we're completely cut off!"

Livi knelt beside her, "well surely this forest must have a Guardian-Witch we can ask her to help us rescue the sprites".

Yum looked at the succubus, "I am the Guardian-Witch! Just like me nan before!" She became crestfallen, "some Guardian-Witch I am! I can't even protect Seelies! I let them get taken away the first time then this 'appens!" She began to crumple into a sob, "I've never 'ad to do any of this sort o' stuff! I'm just a Hedge-Witch..."

Livi had enough, "no! You are not just a Hedge-Witch! You are the Guardian-Witch!" She stood up, "on your feet! You have Seelies to save and a forest to protect!"

"But... but I dunno where to start... I've never really 'ad to go against radges... all my life I've learnt to make as much distance between myself 'n' those things", Yum sniffled.

Livi shook her head, "you my dear will have to learn how to go against the baddest and horrid of radges!"

Yum retorted, "yeah but 'ow am I supposed to do that on me jack jones?"

Livi had her hands on her hips, "well I don't know about Jack nor Jones but to stand your ground against a radge you will have to learn the ways of an Action-Witch".

Yum shrugged in exasperation, "but at wot cost? I'll 'ave to leave 'ere 'n' everyone behind to go to some Guild!"

Livi shook her head, "that's thinking quite far ahead when there's an Action-Witch in front of you".

Yum became befuddled, "wot?"

Livi nodded, "do you want to honour your grandmother and mother?"

Yum nodded tentatively, "I do..."

Livi held out her hand, "then take my hand and I will show you the ways of an Action-Witch, so you may have knowledge to become a powerful Guardian-Witch".

Yum reached out for the succubus' hand, "can you?"

Livi took Yum's hand, "only if you know what you want".

Yum looked into the succubus' eyes, "then I'm ready to become an Action-Witch! I want to protect all that I love!"

Livi pulled up the human to her feet, "and that's what I want to hear!" She looked around, "now we have to figure out where the thing has taken the sprites!" She stepped back from the creeping smog, "But we'll need to think fast!"

Yum suddenly exclaimed, "ooh hang on a bit! I just remembered we can ask the spirits!"

Livi concernedly glanced aside.

Our Guardian-Witch raised her hands to incant:

Spirits of Lyd Gorge

Forged by Trust

Drive back the airy gloom

Help us seek the sprites

And set wrongs to right!

She closed her eyes to levitate as whispers swept back the brume; soon after she descended, "to the grove... the grove". She faltered into Livi's arms but swiftly recovered and stepped away, "that's where that 'orrid radge is goin'!"

Livi nodded sagely, "to twist the forest's polarity from goodness to evil".

Yum conjured forth her besom to mount it side-saddle, "then let's get goin'!" She flew off.

Invoking Witch-Flight our succubus caught up as the lovely pair now soared side-by-side.

~End of Act5~

Act6: Fight Back

Lupo woke up with a start. He was no longer in the darkness of the catacomb yet alone the glaring maelstrom of the Stream of Enoch. There, the pulse he had on Livi was close and strong but here it felt so far and ever faint- dwindling. Nevertheless that was not going to stop him from getting his woman back.

Before our half-elf could set about putting together a Heart-Seeking spell he suddenly felt another presence that was getting closer making him kiss his teeth as his Niner manifested in his right hand, fool na ra beast dem tryin' to pick fight wit me over turf? Nah budda start! Invoked the Oaken scion, conjuring a feather of sunlight in his left hand that he turned around to toss.

With a whoosh the plume burst into a gleaming firework.

He had thought that would be enough to send it packing but this only sent a quickness to the unseen presence loping towards him! Our Oaken scion grasped his medal to raise high:

Reveal those who dare

For I invoke the High Glare!

FIAT!

And lo! How the golden medallion flared with the radiance of the Summer Solstice drowning his surroundings into a blinding light to reveal the outline of a Cloaking Enchantment- some enchantment! He fired the Niner at the outline causing the spell to come apart as a thick spray of blood unveiled an infernal groan.

Laid bare before the half-elf was the bloody form of a creature. Its pelt sewn with hides of women split and torn holy from the gunfire revealed within a human shape of beating pulping muscle with wild, crusty bloodshot eyes staring back.

"Me nah know ya from Adam but come closer and ya ras get heat!" Lupo fired down the creature and blasted it with a bright bolt he doled out of his left hand. Not even checking for whatever it was he ran off in the direction where his woman's pulse was least faint; each step the pulse was getting stronger but found that it wasn't still as he hoped- she was moving! Which only made him pick up the pace, she must have been abducted! Vae Victus to this fucker! What fuelled our half-elf was being able to hold Delichoux safe and alive after tearing apart her kidnapper with his bare hands. But he knew better than to ignore a niggling gnaw to look back and he decided to humour it by turning around.

For the creature was on its feet as though it wasn't blasted onto the ground and struck with a bolt of light. The skin of women hung off the gory shape like a whore's dress, reaching out to hold down the half-elf by his shoulder.

Lupo back-flipped away from this creature's grasp to buck a shot.

The shot caused the creature to stumble back but it leapt forward at the half-elf.

Lupo distracted the creature with a feint of a simple Photon spell that startled the thing allowing him to teleport to deliver a rabbit punch.

The creature dodged the fatal blow then swerved around to spit smog at the half-elf.

Lupo cast a fire spell to burn away at the brume and leapt back to fire more shots.

The gunfire by no means deterred the creature as a wicked intention of death burned within the lifeless eyes.

Thinking fast, Lupo made the gun disappear and grabbed the creature to throw it onto a tree where the monstrous breathing was halted from being impaled by a branch. Our Oaken scion backed away as he watched the creature slip out of its impalement to slump on the ground. He went over and stomped the head into a squashed pulp. Then carried on running after the pulse, kissing his teeth that it had grown a tad fainter.

The thing had risen to its feet; the women-hide slid off revealing the skinless corpse of a man beaten to death now reanimated by an inverted vigour that could only be the work of necromancy. The eyes glowed with an unyielding wickedness as pus seeped out of its tear-duct to puff into a crust. Lurching into a jog, it followed after the half-elf in deathly silence.

~*~

"Bloody bullshit!" Exclaimed Ewe, our dhampir was cornered by the Smog-Born but not outnumbered as he summoned forth tides of darkness to consume the cadaverous horde before clenching his hands for the darkness to shift into dark shocking currents. "How on t'ree eart' did they get here?" He summoned forth the Dark Grove Edge to brandish for battle.

More of the Smog-Born rose up in droves to shuffle towards their cornered prey.

Ewe held the sword at such an angle to summon a bright gleam to startle the Smog-Born into a stumbling stupor. Granting an opening for our dhampir to leap forward and serve up a fresh skull shattering kick.

A Smog-Born- obviously imprinted with a brazen spirit, swung its sword unleashing a ripple of smog making our dhampir retreat with a back-flip. It then raised the sword once more to have a swing at severing the dhampir's head off his neck.

Ewe leaned back to avoid the dead effort, "really now?" He propelled himself forward to rip off its head then ran off with a quickness to make distance. He needed to figure out where on earth he had wounded up at; for it was obvious he was in a forest but altogether something was not right cemented even more by the great thickness of evil swelling within this forest.

Our dhampir slowed down and had placed his hand upon the tree merely to gather his bearings and immediately upon doing so his Gift of Metron was triggered as his inner eyes shot right open to be confronted with the image of the fine buff ting from this morning- in tears? Yum... no! But knowing better than to give into the enemies of fear and anxiety, he emerged out of the vision to dodge a strike from one of the brumy fiends.

Tides of wicked brume suddenly charged at the dhampir.

Ewe swung his sword widdershins conjuring a dark vortex to absorb the smog.

This only made the smog-bank burst into an overwhelming swamp of miasma as more of the Smog-Born rose to feebly take up arms.

With a grunt of fortitude, our dhampir gripped his sword and lopped off heads here and there, splitting some Smog-Borns apart and using the hilt to dole out helm smashers but still they rose in more numbers to corner him. Raising the Dark Grove Edge he incanted:

Dark Grove Edge

Bound by my pledge to the Oaken Supreme!

I call upon the Shadow Stream

To do as I say

And clear the way!

The Shadow Stream gushed out to crash into the wicked brume and its miasmic schemes!

The sword sang out a sharp peal striking down the creatures with dark bolts.

Running upon the dark flow our dhampir kicked off into a surf as the dark waters throttled and drowned the brumy multitude. He caught on to a bright pulse and let the surf surge faster to bring him closer to the Oaken scion- hoping that the Lilligan scion would be nearby to kill two birds with one stone. He glanced behind to dash a spell of Dark bolts aligned to the Day Throne to jolt and burst the wicked creatures into pieces.

And yet, still the horrid Smog-Born rise and rose in multitude to follow the dhampir.

~*~

Lupo had lost count on how many of the rotting things had been torched by his Flamethrower Spelll; seeing how the undead horde were unperturbed at all he decided to take a hint and put his focus on finding his woman and getting her back alive and safe. The half-elf stilled himself to inwardly cast a spell to salve his efforts into a positive outcome, but immediately switched up his intentions to a simple Photon spell to blast away the surprise attack of a reanimated elderly man.

Leaping back up into a springly run evocative of child, the elderly husk dove into an effort to stab the half-elf with a torn branch.

But Lupo stepped back to dodge these endeavours before kicking off the moulding old man's head. He cast a fire spell to burn the head; but kissed his teeth upon seeing more of the corpses shuffle out of this brewing smog. Undeterred, he conjured feathers that brightened from being imbued with the Day Throne to toss at the evil dead making them explode into blinding sparks.

One of the corpses opened its mouth for smog to gush out of its dead maw.

Lupo held up his medal for light to shine through the miasma before it blast out a Bright Bullet to shove the cadavers onto the ground. Something must be controlling them... albeit remotely... He stepped back before running further into the woods; I can't waste time with these literal waste-men! I've got to find Delichoux... these tings, this smog, it's obviously just a means to hinder me!

This was promptly confirmed by the shriek of a formerly expectant mother- womb and all, springing forward with its rotted hands bared and clawed to dole out towards the half-elf the most gratuitous sparagmos.

"Not tonight luv!" Huffed our Oaken scion as he side-flipped out of the way and leapt forward into a dash.

A corpse of a lonely man dropped face-first upon the floor then- with its face left behind on the ground to be trampled by its smoggy brethren, lurched after the shiny prey.

The smog was getting thicker disrupting Lupo's Elf-Vision, so he raised his medal and a beam of light shot out of the medallion to clear a way and drive back the wicked brume.

But the Smog bank returned to with its intention sharpened to snuff the half-elf.

Our Oaken scion was not having a bar of that so he held the medal with both hands to increase his powers. Light poured out of the medal to burst into a charge of golden lightning. Cradling the shining voltage into an orb, he unleashed it into a solid gold indignation to smite the undead multitude.

This left the corpses with their bodies partially or fully cut asunder which meant gaping holes for cadaverous pickled smog to pour out.

Lupo decided to just fully put his eggs into a basket called speed as he channelled light within him to boost his momentum to outrun a thought.

But horror! The smog had caught up leaving the half-elf just barely steps ahead.

A flash of Delichoux crying ignited a fire that gave Lupo more speed. Yet he could sense the thick dread at his heels, Delichoux... I'll never stop until you are in my arms- alive and safe! Mark my words, woman!

Suddenly the smog was struck apart by dark shapes of bats bursting into shadowy bolts.

Lupo conjured ripples of light that dispersed into a layered firmament to keep out the wicked smog.

A shadow retreated to the Oaken scion's side that inflated into Ewe, "how long will that hold?"

Lupo made off into a run, "long enough to make some distance between us and it if we weren't having a chinwag like women!"

"Well then do keep up!" Ewe shot off ahead on a nose-ride through the shadowy hollow curves of the Black-Stream.

Lupo kicked at the shadowy tides; frothing forth a fountain of dusk's rays that he stood on to surf the Black-Stream in a low crouch for more speed as he managed to catch up to the dhampir, "have you found a pulse on Delichoux?"

Ewe answered, "This has been imprinted with a Seeking spell, it's taking us to where she is".

Lupo sighed with relief, "thank the sun, it's picking up she's alive..."

Ewe suddenly shoved Lupo into a ball of sheer, polished darkness as our dhampir was left to get wiped out leaving him to recede into a dark puddle.

"BRUV!" Lupo exclaimed, he conjured his Niner and shot his way out of his cell. Then he found himself face-to-face with a murksome shape whose bloodshot eyes glared, "AND WHAT!?" He held up the Niner gangsta-style and fired.

The bullets made the shape stumble but it was not enough, a light flickered out of its eyes and a tide of smog shoved back against the half-elf.

Lupo raised a Casting-Field of golden summer solstice rays over himself and stood on guard upon seeing the firmament he had put together come apart.

Suddenly a dark shadow whipped at the creature before constricting it into a dark bond.

Lupo channelled the Casting-Field to break apart into a blizzard of gleaming bright feathers that he sicced upon the bound thing bursting into bright lights that made the creature stumble onto its knees.

The dark puddle reformed into Ewe, "that's the Familiar!"

Lupo asked, "didn't you take care of that?"

Ewe raised his eyebrow, "I did say there were two Familiars, I only took care of one of them". He saw the creature getting back up, "that thing must be spelled to be the eyes and ears of the Witch's Ghost and to siphon power".

The creature was now up and had ripped out of its bondage.

Ewe summoned the Dark Grove Edge, using his thumb to unsheathe the sword, "if we can take care of this, there will be a difference in her power!" He drew the sword and slashed at the air releasing a dark current that charged at the familiar.

Lupo's eyes flared as he channelled light into the dark current.

Suddenly the woods were free from the wicked smog as the Smog-Born melted into bright ashes.

Ewe cautiously gripped his sword, "stay sharp, Lolo! This thing was no doubt dabbling in Unseelie magic when alive"

Lupo quipped, "so what else can our phantom menace do?". He gawked at the firmament breaking apart into a shower of dew.

The creature had grasped the gleaming shadow and crushed it.

"Rather naive to assume not that", Ewe raised a Casting-Field for himself and out of his shadow grew a towering shape that spurted long arms to embrace him.

Lupo remarked, "looks like this ting is on to our plan". He saw they were drawing in quite the lifeless audience, with his Niner poised gangsta-style he fired shots at the Smog-Born before casting a barrier of golden light.

For the smog was in fact triangulating into the creature causing its form to swell before its matter gushed into the fleshy form of a put-together woman- literally, a face projected upon the empty head, its eyes radiating the horror of White-Annis:

! tnetsisrep era mucs nekaO uoY

Raising its arms to the sky it incanted:

! sisehtitnA fo thgiL

! tiaG eht fo sinnA-etihW nopu enihS

! rewoP eileeS-nU ym nethgilnE

The smog gathered into a storm cloud.

Lupo exclaimed, "this dyam duppy is a ras fucking Annis radge!"

The brumy cloud fired out a wicked lightning.

Lupo broke apart the barrier firing it out into a golden beam to rend apart the lightning.

"Count your blessings this is not a Black-Annis radge we have our hands full with" Ewe raised his sword to absorb the Casting-Field into the blade.

Lupo rolled his eyes, "right! Let's count our blessings we're dealing with the one who reaps its power from women and to put a fucking bow on that can also draw upon the physical manifestations of the elements Earth and Water!"

The reanimated corpse channelled betweens its necroid hands more of the electric evils as the phantasmal visage professed wickedly:

! evila sgnilflah uoy nrub lliw tergeR

The bolt fired at the meddlesome pair.

Ewe raised his sword letting it sing a sonorous peal as it stopped the wicked bolt into a standstill! Gripping the hilt he began to drive it back- but found the lightning was not budging. Despite how overwhelming this force' density was, our dhampir was resolute to stand tall and channelled the Dark Grove Edge to warble its resonant hymn louder.

! ylbaresim liaf lliw uoY

The White-Annis made the corpse flex a mudra for the lightning to bring the half-vampire to his knees.

"Save it for someone who cares!" Lupo bucked a shot at the creature but gawked to see it bat away his shot, "bumba clat!"

Ewe saw an opening and struck at the radge but this left him with more problems as he was now embroiled in a tug-of-war between him holding on for dear life and the wicked bolt that entwined itself around the blade

Lupo was keeping distance which was enough for him as his eyes dilated to herald the Gift of Aur; the ability of seeing auras- that which represents the spark of life within all, but all he could see in front of him was a thick smog devoid of anything living.

There was something not right about whatever this thing was... it was not a simple case of saying it was the Familiar and case closed. It was as though the smog has become one with the Familiar. Before Lupo could ponder on that for a tad longer but he leapt out of the way of the Smog-Familiar swiping an elongated claw at him.

Ewe took a gamble; conjuring a curved blade from his shadow to cleave at the bolt unleashing a reaction of clamorous light against a supernova of darkness. Now with his blade free from the Smog-Familiar's grasp he back-flipped away to make distance between him and it.

! EID uoy woN

How those accursed eyes flickered summoning forth a smog-bank that was thicker and heavier and lo! From the smog-bank returned the Smog-Born- meaner and more ravenous.

Ewe gripped the Dark Grove Edge, readying himself to immediately fly into battle but he could sense a sobbing ripple out of his heart and into his mind. He looked around and could see the smog-bank was sticking onto the trees who he clocked were the ones crying. "LOLO!" He called out.

"What?" Lupo unleashed a geyser of light to push back the Smog-Born.

"It's twisting the forest into its evil polarity!" Ewe cast a dark bolt at a gathering of Smog-Borns before serving up a roundhouse kick to decapitate a Smog-Born that had tried to ambush him.

"And?" Lupo bucked shots from his Niner that were now charged with the element of fire.

"We must work fast to take this thing out!" Ewe leapt to the Oaken scion's side.

Lupo raised a wall of bright fire between them and the Smog-Familiar with its brumy army of Smog-Born. "Light years ahead fam!" He made a mudra with his right hand then passed his hand over the Dark Grove Edge's blade imbuing the blade to be embraced by a dark fire.

! rof enod era uoY! epacse on si erehT

The Smog-Familiar snuffed out the fire wall with a scratch leaving the Smog-Born to pour in and surround the meddlesome pair.

~*~

Our strawberry-blonde fell off her broom with a shriek.

"Yum!" Livi descended to the hedge-witch's side, "what's wrong?"

Yum tried to hold back tears, "the forest... I can feel 'em... they're really scared..."

Livi gasped to find the smog had descended upon them, "by the Night-Throne..."

Yum began to sob, "Goddess! It can't be! Are we too late?"

Livi helped Yum to her feet, "no! There is always something we can do".

Yum asked, "we can?"

Livi nodded, "even at the very last moment".

Yum shivered, "but wot is with this chill? Did that horrid Un-Seelie cast a Freezing Pox?" She looked around frightfully, "is it from this smog?"

Livi shook her head, "I don't know about that, darling". She held the hedge-witch's hand, "but that chill is the forest's distress you're picking up".

Yum blinked her eyes, "are you saying I can... feel the forest's emotions?" She looked at her hands, "is this cos I'm the Guardian-Witch?"

Livi smirked, "I wouldn't chalk it all down to that". She held onto the hedge-witch's hand and sighed, "yes... I can sense that a new Gift has awakened within you".

Yum glanced aside then looked back at the succubus, "you can?"

Livi smiled, "well only if it is a kindred Gift".

Yum tilted her head, "not followin' darlin'..."

Livi answered tersely, "I know if someone shares the same Gift as I do!"

Yum gawked, "really?"

Livi rolled her eyes, "yes. You".

Yum tilted her head, "so you too 'ave the Gift of Yrosi?"

Livi shook her head, "I said I can sense a new Gift has awakened within you". She touched her heart, "it is the Gift of Theia which I possess too".

Yum was awe-struck, "far out! Me nan told me about that one... she would say it 'elped 'er 'ear the hearts o' everyone 'n' everythin'- especially the ones who can't speak like we do..." she touched her chest, "too mega far out! I have this Gift nah?"

Livi explained, "just like your Gift of Yrosi, the Gift of Theia was always within you from the moment you were born but at that time it knew it wasn't the right time to wake up".

Yum clutched her chest then looked to Livi, "wot can we do to 'elp the forest?"

Livi looked around then closed her eyes, "you tell me, what are you feeling?"

Yum raised an eyebrow, "wot?"

Livi opened one eye, "did you not say you wanted to be an Action-Witch?"

Yum slowly nodded.

Livi's eyes were open as she looked at the strawberry-blonde, "well as my apprentice you're going to have a lot on your plate for learning even more so that you have to also learn how to control your newly awakened Gift".

Yum smiled, "oh Liv... THANK YOU!" She hugged the succubus.

Livi wrenched the human off her, "spare the hugs and thanks for later, darling". She held onto Yum's hands, "now focus... listen to your heartbeat and let it speak to you. Let unspoken words touch you so you may listen".

Yum did as she was told, "poor things... they feel so 'elpless..."

Livi spoke up, "but that's not all you can feel..."

Yum clenched her eyes shut, "you're right... I can feel somethin' else but it's really little".

Livi's eyes were closed, "like a spark"

Yum nodded, "yeah exactly..." she opened her eyes, "but wot is that?"

Livi opened her eyes, "think about earlier when you fought back against the White-Annis, what was it that made you stand your ground?"

Yum answered, "I just wanted to protect the fairies..." she closed her eyes and sighed, "just like 'ow the forest wants to protect their 'ome too but they're angry for lettin' themselves be too scared to fight back".

Livi nodded, "and we're going to give them the inspiration to do just that!"

Yum gawked, "far out! We can help them fight back?"

Livi winked, "well you described it best, that urge to protect is like a spark once we get that to ignite, everything else falls into place".

"Well that won't be difficult, wot with me Gift of Yrosi" Yum smiled, "let's get that fire burnin' for these lot!" She then asked, "but where do we start exactly?"

Livi huffed, "a Charming-Circle obviously".

Yum clapped her hands, "oh right!" She held onto Livi's hands, "alrigh' then so wot next?"

Livi answered, "the Gift of Theia is drawn from the heart; allowing it to speak where its voice echoes into the mind". She closed her eyes, "focus on your heart, feel it open apart into a mouth and let it speak".

Yum closed her eyes; gasping as she felt her heart open into a vivisection followed by a force rippling into a multitude of echoing whispers. Spiralling from her heart the voices now pealed in her mind.

We are scared...

... em raeF

There is no hope for our home.

... pu eviG

Forgive us. The light of the Unseelie is just far too strong.

... gnorts ma I

Yum winced at the density of such words being said by the trees; but seeing the dwindling spark still glaring with life- even as the smog gripped it into an ember, stirred our strawberry-blonde to yell: NO! YOU ARE STRONGER! She relinquished her hands from Livi and raised them up: I know how scared you are. But that fear should never stop you from protecting your loved ones and your home. Her hair was suspended by unseen hands as a warmth rippled out from her heart:

You are not alone!

! seil ehS! oN

Livi clutched her hands to her heart unleashing an eclipse of magenta astral moths that burst into an echoing pulse:

Fight back against this treacherous spell

Listen to the knell of your heart

You'll know how to turn the tables upon the Unseelie's art!

She conjured more of the eclipsing astral moths that burst into a calming breeze that swept through the trees.

... gintlem... gnitleM! gnitlem ma I! oN

Soon as if by knowing instinct the lovely pair were now face-to-face hand-in-hand empowering the Charming-Circle as our witches were afloat above the ground.

The converging of Gifts and Craft forged a fresh spring breeze to chase away the smog spurred on by the trees' indignation. Serenely the witches descended until Yum suddenly fell bringing Livi down with her as they shrieked in startled tandem.

"Cor! Rough landin'!" Yum remarked.

Livi got to her feet, "you don't say..." she helped up the Hedge-Witch, "but I must say you show promise of being a fast learner".

Yum was bashful, "to be honest I really dunno wot I d-!" She pointed to her heart, "wos that me Gift?" She added, "as in this new one that wos sleepin' before?"

Livi nodded, "but of course, albeit with a spot of help from the Charming-Circle" she flourished an elegant hair flip, "and my Venusian Witchcraft".

Yum glanced aside then turned to Livi, "too mega far out! That wos amazin'! I could actually feel the forest's voice on me skin 'n' within me head!" She suddenly gawked upon finding themselves in the clearness of the comforting darkness set alight by glowing flowers and reflective foliage, "oh my days! We did it!"

Livi was dumbstruck, "you're right..."

Our lovely pair looked at each other; their awed expressions became undone as they giggled before sharing a high-five and crowed: "WITCHES HAND OUT STITCHES!"

A path of glowing cosmos opened up to our witches leaving them stunned as their hearts were embraced by a warm gratitude that spake:

Thank you.

Yum gawked, "cor! Are you lot leadin' us to the grove?"

"I can feel the power we drove back returning even more wrathful" Livi summoned forth her wings to flutter a shroud of magenta Dream-Dust, it flashed into an eclipse of astral moths that swept up our strawberry-blonde witch as it followed after Livi who flew down the path barely keeping ahead as the cosmos' glow dimmed into nothing.

~*~

Ewe had finished bludgeoning a Smog-Born with its arm before it broke apart then he crushed the head by stomping on it.

Lupo conjured another gun- a modded desert-eagle dubbed the Heater, with the Niner he doled out holy blessings to a gaggle of Smog-Born.

With the Dark Grove Edge, Ewe slashed a current of shadows that tore apart a brumy gathering.

! MEHT LLIK! SGNILFLAH EREM ERA YEHT! SLOOF

The Smog-Familiar leapt at the meddlesome pair with infernal claws bared for bloodshed.

Lupo back-flipped out of the way and aimed his guns to blast its head off.

But the Smog-Familiar roughly struck the Niner out of the half-elf's hand.

However Ewe caught the gat and drove back the foesome thing with a sound kick.

The Smog-Familiar gawked at the disintegrating smog and how the Smog-Born suddenly began to melt. White Annis growled:

! uoy fo sekil eht rof rewop hcus deen I taht toN? niaga delioF

Lupo bucked a mudra to pin down the Smog-Familiar in a cage of light, "you done yet?"

The Smog-Familiar struggled to break out of the magic bondage:

! dnah ym yb reffus lliw uoY! sgnilflah tiaw uoy tsuJ

Ewe rolled his eyes then looked at the Oaken scion, "Lolo, I do believe you have a remark for such empty threats..." With the Niner he took aim at the creature.

Lupo held up the Heater gangsta-style and loudly proclaimed: YA FREE-PAPER DUN BUN!

Our Dhampir and half-elf fired in tandem unleashing bullets charged with Light and Darkness to converge into a beam of Dusk.

The sheer force of the beam shoved the head off the Smog-Familiar whilst the body split asunder for a brumy blood to gush forth.

Lupo formed a blade of light from his left hand that he used to stab one half of the creature making it explode into a firework of gibs.

Grasping the Dark Grove Edge, Ewe doled out the fatal strike imploding the other half of the creature.

! TEY ENOD TON MA I

Cried out White-Annis as the graven image dissolved off the Smog-Familiar's face- or lack of, nevertheless the sundered head burst in an unremarkable squelch.

"Some knaves just have to be wrong and strong to their graves, am I right, Lolo?" Ewe punctuated his scoff by casually tossing the Niner back to the Oaken scion.

Our half-elf effortlessly caught the gun and made the guns disappear into evaporating dew, "too right bruv!" He loudly proclaimed, "ONE FOR THE OAKEN AND NONE FOR DUPPY DEH!"

Ewe glanced aside.

Suddenly the chaps were beset upon by tides of miasma.

Lupo exclaimed, "STILL WAN' SOME, PUSSY-O!?"

A shadow splashed onto Ewe's eyes stretching out to snap into a pair of sunglasses, "it's not as strong!" He slashed out a dark tide that ripped the fog apart.

The dispersed miasma shifted into a legion of robed creatures surrounding our chaps.

Lupo eyes flared; his hands formed a mudra to evoke the sun and fired a beam of sunlight making it disperse and shift into... more, "shit".

Both of our chaps leapt away from the vicious multitude.

Lupo channelled his Gift of Levit- that being to suspend oneself, to hover above the creature's attempts to grab his feet, "which one of these Annis-radges can't stand crying babies again?"

Wings of shadow emerged out of Ewe allowing him to float beside the Oaken scion, "all that matters to an Annis is appeasing their demon and killing anyone who gets in the way".

Lupo shrugged, "so do we have to sing to this ting?"

Ewe huffed, "obviously bloody not, bruv! Just be prepared to converge your Purify spell with mine".

"Nothing like good vibes and good company", Lupo began to channel a ball of light gleaming with memories of a summer holiday, "am I right, bruv?" He tossed the ball at the multitude.

Ewe raised the Dark Grove Edge for it to warble causing the ball of light to disperse into ripples of dusk whose crystal knells made the legion explode into dew. "Too right", he held his hand over the blade and formed a mudra:

Forged by Darkness and Light

Let the Shadows of Night and the Morning Dew call upon the Spirit of Dusk

Let your blessing protect this forest and all within who are good and true.

Fiat.

Twinkling darkness reverberated into a serene frequency as the dhampir raised the Dark Grove Edge over his head.

Lupo's eyes glowed and incanted:

Shadows of Night and Morning Dew

Relieve us of our plight!

May fortitude lead us to set wrongs to right!

Fiat!

A great shower of dusk drove away the smog embracing the trees.

There are more...

"Ah wah yuh say now Ewe?" Lupo asked

Ewe disappeared the Dark Grove Edge into his shadow, "that was not me". He pointed to the trees, then called out, "Noble trees, what are there more of?"

More... like you...

Lupo pointed to himself then looked at Ewe who shrugged.

Those who want to protect us... they seek the grove to heal it... as does the creature who wants to defile our home...

A path of glowing cosmos and low hanging blossoms emerged in front of the chaps

Ewe bowed, "Noble trees, thank you for aiding us..."

Give thanks afterwards... hurry... the witches will need you...

Lupo raised his eyebrows, "witches?" His eyes widened as he started to put things together when he figured one of those witches could be...! He set off down the path at a gallant speed.

Ewe followed after Lupo, finally giving in to his worries, Yum... please be okay...

~End of Act6~

Final Act: Even at the Last Moment!

! em pots ton lliw yeht tuB ! rewop ym revocer ot stroffe ym derednih evah sloof ehT

White-Annis stood before the altar where the frightened sprites huddled together whimpering and mewling at this large horrid thing looming over them.

Blinky and a couple of the sprites started to hiss as loud as their little selves could soon inspiring the others to rally together and hiss defiantly.

? serutaerc elttil uoy morf ees I yrevarb fo yalpsid a taht sI

White-Annis giggled:

. em ot gnimrahc eht evael ot thguo uoy tub gnimrahc yrev woH

She raised her hand over the sprites to cast them into a crystal ball where they fell under an enchanted slumber:

! enim eb lliw uoy fo lla seitterp elttil ym nooS

Suddenly the crystal ball was encased in an orb of magenta glass that made the radge recoil:

! ON

She tried to snatch the crystal ball.

But it floated into Yum's hand as she stepped forward with Livi beside her.

"Oh yes! You horrid bitch!" Livi proclaimed, "and you are in for a serious trouncing!"

! SEROHW! TPURRETNI TON OD

White-Annis cast at the witches a smog-bank to ensnare them.

Yum's hair floated up as she cast a firewall to burn away the brume.

A pair of astral moths circled around our succubus before they shifted into a pair of fans for her to wield, wafting the pair in a manner to evoke wings aflutter, the astral eclipse floated towards the White-Annis to bombard it with the sublimities of a mother and daughter spending time together.

! rorroh eht hO! rorroh ehT! yawa teG! OOON

White-Annis' form began to ripple apart:

! em pots ton lliw uoY! oN

Livi thought fast and turned her fans back into moths that flew over to surge into magenta bolts that pierced White-Annis to the ground, "Yum! Wake up the sprites while I hold this radge down with a Cage spell!"

Yum looked down at the sprites, "oh you poor dears...". Clarity guided her heart, she knew exactly what to do despite feeling at the same time so clueless. Her hair once again was suspended by unseen hands as she cuddled the crystal ball and a loving warmth radiated out of her hands shattering the ball completely.

The sprites trilled a joyous tune as they flew around Yum's head.

Yum smiled, "thank the goddess you're alright!"

Livi was shoved back against a tree that she limply held onto.

Yum along with the sprites cried out in fright.

But shock! White-Annis now began to approach them no longer a robed apparition. Now she emerged as a woman within a white robe sodden with aged blood and dirt, "this grove can provide me with enough power and more to deal with you meddlesome lot once and for all!"

Yum and the sprites shrieked in tandem, but our strawberry-blonde remembered that she was no longer the Hedge-Witch. I am the Guardian-Witch of Lyd Gorge. I am not alone... I wos never alone... She raised her arms and incanted:

Spirits of the forest

With hearts aflame

Hand in hand

Together we make a stand.

Whispering waves shoved back White-Annis.

The sprites fluttered around Yum's head to form a halo as they sung an air to summon a breeze echoing their sweet singing to lend their aid.

White-Annis was pinned down by the constant currents, "curses! Why can't I get up!?"

Suddenly low hanging boughs of trees began to swing forward aided by the enchanted wind to strike the radge in the face.

"NO! I cannot be bested by a tree! Yet alone trees!" Her vengeful diatribes were cut off by her spluttering out blossoms, leaves and fronds.

Livi was rejuvenated by the sprites' sweet singing and the warmth of the Forest spirits. She went over to Yum and thought she saw a woman being attacked by trees; however she saw those bloodshot eyes that pulped and veined with a heart dead to love and virtue for the sake of a paltry romance of vice and knew she was looking at a cornered radge determined to be the last one standing.

The Lilligan scion's eyes glowed, "now let's finish this!" She summoned forth her Shewstone to invoke: SUCCUBUS POWER!

And lo! The Shewstone unravelled into the sheer magenta veil before it burst into glittering dew that flashed into an eclipse of astral moths fluttering around her to restore her hair back to the high twin-tails; the ornamental tea-roses and sorbet peonies were more vibrant than ever as did those adorning her hot magenta stripper heels. The pasties and tiered tutu mirrored the vibrancy of the flowers' petals, there was a magical shimmer to her evening gloves from the magenta Dream-Dust flowing out of her large gorgeous wings and the astral moths converged to puff into the dainty handbag and conjure forth her glamorous ring. She finished her transformation into the Venusian-Lady guise with a pose to flex her Booty-Mark before elegantly pivoting to face the radge with arms akimbo.

Yum's jaw dropped in awe, cor... succubi are mega gorgeous...

White-Annis wrenched herself away from the trees and fired a smoggy bolt out of her palm at the succubus.

Livi launched a pair of astral moths at the bolt where the impact erupted into a smog-bank.

The sprites wailed affright.

Yum cuddled the sprites to allay their fears with gentle shushes, "don't worry you lot! I'm 'ere". She then bellowed out, "LIV! LIVITY! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"YUM? YUM! I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!" Our Lilligan scion resolved this by fluttering her wings until it dispersed into astral moths to float upon her face transforming back into the domino mask.

White-Annis grinned, "too easy! You succubi really are stupid!" She saw through the smog-bank her real target and cast a bolt to strike the human.

Livi shrieked, "YUM! WATCH OUT!"

Yum felt like a deer in headlights within the fog but her heart was driven to protect the sprites and so she let her heart fire up from her Gift of Yrosi and a warmth expanded out of her into a shield for the sprites. Then the whole serene sublimity of the moment was cut short for our strawberry-blonde as she realised she didn't quite consider the incoming bolt charging at her, "'ELP!" She clenched her eyes shut and hoped to cast a Shield spell in time

Livi's eyes glowed: YUM!

Yum opened her eyes to a reflection of herself in a puddle and shrieked, "WOT 'APPENED TO ME CLOTHES!?" For such a feat could only be the result of a strong magic; because our strawberry-blonde now wore a long-sleeved roll-neck leotard that gloved her hands, over the leotard was a sheer tutu that did not make an effort to cover up her bundas or how they seemed to devour the leotard giving the look a thong efficacy. Altogether the leotard was made of a black material sparkling with magenta glitter that matched her stripper heels. A dark magenta lip gloss graced her lips complimenting a lilac eyeshadow upon her eyes whilst her hair had been spelled into a high ponytail held in place by a tiara resembling one of the succubus' moths.

White-Annis appeared before the human, "no one to protect you now!" Her fist barrelled forward to punch the pathetic thing.

Yum shrieked then clenched her eyes to brace herself.

However White-Annis found her fist striking an unseen wall that shoved her onto the ground, "what... was that?"

Yum opened her eyes and blinked in disbelief, "yeah wot wos that?"

Livi appeared beside Yum, "that is a Succubus-Barrier Enchantment".

Yum became starry-eyed, "cor... is this like a Witch-Armour?"

Livi side-eyed the Hedge-Witch before she slammed her heel onto the radge's chest, "don't get up, you are finished!"

Yum stood akimbo as she threw in her taunting twopence-worth, "yeah! You 'orrid thing!"

The sprites cheered on the lovely pair making them share a warm victorious smile.

A glint flashed in the bloodshot eyes of White-Annis and suddenly sprang up to cast the succubus onto her face.

"Livity!" Yum cried out.

The sprites wailed in terror.

"Let's see how well this barrier can protect shall we?" White-Annis opened her palm to throw a brumy flame at the human.

Yum screamed not bothering to witness the smoggy fire be snuffed out as she fled causing the radge to give chase.

Livi gingerly got to her feet and cast an eclipse of astral moths that burst into a magenta lightning to strike the radge.

"You tried, witches!" White-Annis absorbed the lightning and cast it back into a smog that pinned the lovely pair against a thick, grand and dying tree, "but I will be the one to hand out stitches!" She mustered up a brumy charge, "you will never best me! Now succumb to my will and power!" Her eyes flickered:

By the gleam of my eyes

Let the witches' power be mine

By means of this Wicked Glean!

The charge harnessed between the radge's hands burbled out a miasmic bolt that latched onto the hearts of the lovely pair.

The sprites wailing became louder as they were snared into a smoggy cage.

Youth began to return to the White-Annis as the charge grew more vibrant, "yes! Yes! Give me more! Give it to me all you stupid sluts! Give in to me!"

Livi began to feel faint.

Yum cried out, "Livity! We can't give up!"

"Delichoux" weakly corrected the succubus.

"Wot?" Yum became puzzled but was soon distracted by the pain she endeavoured to endure.

Livi's succubus guise flickered, "my actual name is... Delichoux, Livity is my Witch-name... but you can just call me Livi- only my friends do".

Yum smiled, "thank you for sharin' that with me..."

Livi asked, "what is your birth name?"

Yum answered, "Yum... I never 'ad a witch-name... me nan said it wos better for a witch to 'ave an epithet..."

Livi pointed out, "you must have a lot of faith in your name".

Yum smiled warmly, "me nan would always say that no one can take your name away from you... but you must 'ave just as much faith for sharin' your birth name with me- a 'umble Hedge-Witch".

Livi mustered a smile, "you know my Angelic-Name..." she shrieked as a handful of her power was wrenched out of her from the radge's Wicked Glean spell. She looked to Yum "I don't want to go without someone I trust knowing who I truly am" Livi shook her head, "and didn't I tell you are not a Hedge-Witch".

Yum weakly smiled as she felt herself losing the tug-of-war to hang onto her strength, "yeah, I am the Guardian-Witch of Lyd Gorge who is on a new path to become an Action-Witch". She sighed as her Succubus-Barrier vanished leaving her back in her halter top and bell-bottoms combo, "but why are you tellin' me this?"

Livi's succubus guise puffed back into her Guild tack, "I really do not know, but I know I feel better telling you".

Yum closed her eyes, "I understand..." She reached out her hand to Livi.

Livi strained to move her hand.

The White-Annis smiled at the orb of gleaned energy and prowled towards the still and slumped witches, "I must thank you lovely pair for being so gracious". She poked the human's face and was about to gloat when she saw they were holding hands- such a putrid sight, so she set about prying the hands apart.

Suddenly, the orb pealed a serene note that was followed by a choir of chiming glitter.

White-Annis' face twisted with disbelief, "what?"

The orb flared out loving rippling rays of a peaceful candlelit evening serenaded by rainfall.

"DISGUSTING!" White-Annis drew back but found herself against a tree where a gathering of branches and boughs ganged up to dole out thwacks to the face, "but how!?"

Still holding hands the lovely pair levitated away from the tree now renewed with a fresh fire that made the blossoms, leaves and even the trunk radiate vibrancy.

The orb shattered into astral moths that entombed the witches into magenta bubbles.

The first bubble dispersed to reform into Livi's wings as the Lilligan scion was now back in her Venusian-Lady guise standing akimbo with the might and pride of a succubus in her stripper heels; she placed one hand on her hip whilst the other clutched the dainty handbag. The Dream-Dust within the enchanted handbag as well as what was pouring out of her wings glittered with the pulsing abundance of the Marine-Force.

The other bubble burst for Yum to open her eyes and find herself clad in the Succubus-Barrier. Her heart thrummed to a new pattern and in time to a fire burning deep inside fed by a psychic bond to the forest that was palpable enough to hold hands. Her hair became afloat as she formed a ball of fire between her hands, "let me remind you, bitch!" The ball lit up into a flaming butterfly as she invoked:

I AM THE GUARDIAN-WITCH OF LYD GORGE!

The butterfly charged into the White-Annis consuming it into a fire raging with the love of a mother and grandmother lost- but forever close.

! OOOOOOON

Wailed the White-Annis as its womanly form melted into a skeleton pocked here and there with dying flesh.

Oh yes! You are finished! Livi took out a handful of Dream-Dust out from her handbag and blew it at the White-Annis striking the radge back into its spectral form.

Within the sockets of the skull that floated inside the brumy hood of the smoggy shroud, the bloodshot eyes of the White-Annis burned with undying hatred:

! em llef nac uoy that gniveileb peeK! em tih no oG

sseldne si thgin eht sA

! kcab emoc syawla lliw I

! ecnanetsus fo ecruos suoutpmus a rof sekam enorhT thgiN eht nehw yllaicepsE

Out of the shroud bony hands slinked out to jut into a mudra to invert the pure negativity of the Marine-Force and Night-Throne into something wicked. A fire of negated flames burned into a monstrous mockery of a butterfly as she cast it back at the witches.

Livi held onto Yum's hand, "I know you're scared-"

Yum smiled, "I'm not".

Livi returned the expression, "well I'm not scared too".

Livi and Yum joined hands to form a Charming-Circle as their hearts sang out a pulse that chimed surging ripples towards the negated butterfly.

The collision of the two forces exploded into a struggling fight between the twisted wicked hatred and the pure feminine force of a sisterhood in spring.

The lovely pair raised their hands as the tussle burst into a supernova of Marine-Radiance to hail their victory.

! NETAEB EB TON LLIW I

Roared White-Annis before immediately being shoved onto the ground from the sheer onslaught of Witch Power surging out of the Charming-Circle.

Livi's wings expanded into a more glamorous size fluttering to unleash a storm of magenta Dream-Dust before dispersing into a total eclipse of astral moths gathering into her left palm to shift into a charge of the Marine-Force.

Yum's hair became afloat as a warmth embraced her before blossoming into glittering flames that she gathered within her left palm a fireball flickering with sparks of blue fire that reminded her of Gazer. Feeling her fairy still slumbering peacefully she drew upon the bond of Witch and Fairy for the blue sparks to ignite into a fiery bubble causing the fireball to burn more with the vigour of sisterhood- both to the old and new.

The lovely pair broke apart the Charming-Circle to stand back-to-back to hold out their left palm unleashing the psychic force of Fire and the Venusian might of the Marine-Force into entwined beams.

! SIHT EKIL EID TON NAC I! ON

The White-Annis gaped in disbelief as she watched her form melt into glitter leaving behind a skull that collapsed onto the ground causing a pair of petrified eyes to fall out and crumble into dust.

A warm glittering dew rippled out from the grove into the rest of the forest no longer troubled by the evils of White-Annis.

The sprites were freed of their smoggy snare only to be snatched up into a dark grasp.

Yum blinked her eyes before suddenly collapsing onto her botty.

Livi had moved away enough to not be grabbed by Yum as she gracefully descended to the ground, "are you alright?"

Yum gingerly got to her feet, "well yeah, but... is that thing dealt with? For good?"

Livi smiled, "listen to your heart and hear". She closed her eyes and spread out her arms as one does to wholly receive.

Yum followed suite and sighed as she locked into her Gift of Theia. Whispers skittered along her skin before it swept her into a big hug as she felt within her heart the whispering voices of the forest and the spirits that burned vibrantly within every nook and cranny bound to her as the Guardian-Witch.

Thank you... for saving our lives...

Livi gracefully curtsied, "it is a witch's to protect the dominion of the Night-Throne and all within".

Yum hugged herself as she relished the sublime of this psychic embrace. When suddenly her eyes opened upon hearing frightened mewls clamouring against boisterous hisses.

For the sprites were in the grasp of a lofty shadowy figure. A pair of amber eyes emerged as a distorted voice soothed: there, there little ones... I promise no one will hurt you.

The sprites were lulled into a calm state as they purred.

For a split second our strawberry-blonde's eyes glowed before her hair was suspended as she punched out a fiery kaleidoscope of butterflies that ignited into a burning fireball: YOU GET AWAY FROM THOSE SPRITES RIGHT NAH!!

The sprites shot up to rapidly squeak at the dark figure.

The eyes narrowed into a squint as the dark figure pointed at itself: Look out? What for? He looked aside and gawked. For there was no time to comprehend as he was struck down by a fiery blast.

Before Yum could race over to the sprites, a flash of light suddenly made her buckle onto her botty and look up into the barrel of a gun.

Lupo had the witch at gun-point. He didn't care if she was the star of Ewe's wet dreams, "think you can outrun a bullet?" He cocked the gun.

Yum gulped and shrank back in fear at the red eyes glaring at her with cold wrath.

"Lupo! Don't you dare!" Livi ran over to stand in front of Yum and screeched.

The Oaken scion turned around to glare at the Lilligan scion.

Not caring how he could all but scoop her up into his pocket or how imposing he could be altogether she spoke up, "I won't let you hurt her!"

Lupo drawled, "yeah, you're welcome babes" he began to move her aside. Women! You move mountains for them and they'll find something to be ungrateful about!

Livi slapped his hand away as she screeched petulantly, "no! Don't touch me!" She stomped her foot, "you always do this! You jump to conclusions without ever understanding anything-!"

Lupo spoke over her, "then make it make sense, woman! What am I not getting?"

Livi stepped closer to hold the hand that he gripped the gun with, stroking the weapon before looking into his eyes, "you can't hurt her because she was the one who had my Shewstone and opened the Stream of Enoch that took me away".

Lupo pulled Livi behind him, "'nuff said!" He raised the Niner to the human's face.

Livi stormed forward to stand in front of him, "I said I won't let you hurt her!" She raised the gun to her face, "because you will have to kill me first!"

Lupo huffed,"I told you stop with the low blows, princess!" He then pointed out, "Why are you going above beyong for some mere human! And a Hedge-Witch seeing as we're practically in the arse-crack of nowhere! Who had the nerve to throw a dirty hit on my bruv?"

Yum became crestfallen as she soon realised that maybe the dark figure didn't have any ill intentions towards the sprites and it simply wanted to help them.

Livi frowned, "so?"

Lupo snapped, "so fucking explain how a mere human Hedge-Witch is able to activate a Shewstone!"

Livi huffed, "well I don't know! She must have read out the inscription!"

Lupo exclaimed, "THE DYAM HUMAN CAN READ ENOCHIAN NOW!?"

Yum meekly spoke up, "actually I can read Enochian... well better than speakin' it... but if I can remember wot me fairy told me... the stone told me wot to say".

There was a strained silence as the succubus and half-elf glared at her in disbelief.

Yum began to slink off, "I think I'll check on the sprites and your bruv too..."

Lupo pointed the Niner at her, "no! Trick-arse hoe! You are not moving another inch until I scrub my woman's Angelic-Name out of your mind!"

Livi turned the Niner into petals, "NO! YOU CAN'T!"

There was a flicker in his eyes before he demanded in a low voice: "explain".

Livi stepped closer to him and looked up into his eyes, "because without her I'm never going to find the answers! As to why it was with her in the first place? Because of Yum, finding out who took my Shewstone has never been more possible!"

Lupo crossed his arms, "does it matter?"

Livi stomped her foot, "OF COURSE IT DOES! More than ever I'm getting closer to a truth that for years I thought I could never attain". She turned her back to him, "plus I made a promise to her".

Lupo forced her to face him, "to the human?"

Livi snapped, "so what if she is a human? Your father was one too! You're a half-elf!"

Lupo snatched up the bratcubus and gravely warned, "I may be a half-elf but I am an elf!" He shoved her away from him, "remember that, woman". Lupo raised his eyebrow, "now regale me of this whimsy of a promise you made to a human Hedge-Witch?"

Livi put her hands on her hips, "I promised to teach her my way of witchcraft!"

Lupo scoffed, "what? Like an apprentice? And what way of your witchcraft do I not know of?"

Livi answered defiantly, "the Lilligan way of course!"

Lupo blinked his eyes in disbelief, "come again now". Livi was about to repeat herself when he exclaimed over her, "WOMAN! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOURSELF INTO!"

Livi huffed "of course!"

Lupo shook his head, "no you fucking don't! Because what you are going to do is share Guild tenets with an uninitiated! Can you over-stand yet alone understand that!?"

Livi was undeterred, "well I'm sure there's a way I can have her fast-tracked into the Lilligan!"

Lupo shook his head, "hoe! That won't be until next ras year! What in the infernal layers are you going to do for the rest of this year!?"

Livi's wings appeared to give her a lift, "I'm going to do what I can to help her nurture her powers to fit the Lilligan standard" she looked into his eyes, "and you absolutely can't tell anyone".

Yum felt herself blush as she could feel a thickness between Livi and the angry half-elf. The thickness was swollen, growing ever thicker and she noticed Livi was trying not to squirm as the half-elf grasped her arse.

Taking a hint, our strawberry-blonde slinked away from Livi and her boyfriend to the sprites circling the downed shadowy form.

The sprites sadly mewled.

Yum let the sprites nestle into her hair, "sorry, I got carried away... I really thought you lot were in mega-danger".

One of the sprites- with blue opaque wings, squeaked.

"Of course Blueberry, I know I can mega do somethin' to 'elp". Yum smiled, then placed her hands over the head of this figure; with her eyes closed her Gift of Theia sensed a dark pulse faintly rippling with life, "cor! Thank the Goddess I could've really 'urt your friend". She felt a chill teeming from the darkness, far from being a stranger but lost and she wanted nothing more than to comfort it.

Yum's hair became afloat as the Gift of Yrosi bloomed within focusing a heat to her lips inspiring her to climb on top of the figure and kiss it. She suddenly gasped as she watched the shadow melt away revealing the sprites's friend to be none other than, "the fine dhampir bloke!"

This time he was in a sharp, black suit where upon his right arm was a red armband and with a peaceful smile he opened his eyes.

She sprang off him as he got to his feet, her Succubus-Barrier vanished leaving our strawberry-blonde back in her halter-top and bell-bottoms.

Ewe looked at his hands; feeling refreshed from the sensation of warmth that washed over him. Then he looked up and beheld the lovely Yum alive, safe and very much within means to put his hands on her.

Yum bashfully grinned, "cor... it's you..."

Ewe knelt down and smiled at her, "yes it's me- Ewe".

Yum tilted her head, "wot? Like... literally? Your name is..."

Ewe chuckled, "as in E-W-E".

Yum shyly bit her bottom lip, "oh... Ewe..."

Ewe held her hand, "yes, we meet again Yum..."

Yum became sheepish, "I'm really sorry..."

Ewe asked concernedly, "for what?"

Yum blushed, "I hit you cos I thought you were tryin' to 'urt the sprites".

Ewe was shocked, "that was you?"

Yum shyly nodded, "but after the sprites told me wot 'appened I saw the error of me ways plus I got a bollickin' from your bruv too".

Ewe huffed, "oh good grief! Pay no mind to that hot-head". He gently stroked her hand, "hopefully he didn't scare you too much".

Yum blushed, "well Livi stopped it from gettin' too mega heavy but I 'oped me healin' spell 'elped you".

Ewe looked at his hands then at the lovely witch and grinned, "is that so? Well you can dole out more of those hits as long as you can cast that healing spell of yours".

Yum fluttered her eyelashes at him.

Ewe's amber eyes gazed into Yum's fuchsia eyes.

Meanwhile Lupo had Livi in a hard-carry, "don't you know how much this will hurt your mother if she were to find out?"

Livi traced her finger on his chest, "at this point... no one can know not even my mother..."

Lupo gently rocked her, "what about your Circle-sisters?"

Livi held on tighter, "that will depend on whether they walk beside me or turn against me".

Lupo huffed as he kissed her forehead, "fine! Your crazy ras will obviously do something stupid to make yourself bait if I'm not there!"

Livi pouted, "thank you".

Lupo winked, "you're welcome, Delichoux". He brought her closer, "but you know this little secret of ours would be even more secure with a slap and a tickle".

"This should be more than enough!" Livi slapped him across the face.

Lupo dropped Livi onto her botty, "butter fingers".

Livi was fuming as she got to her feet, "how dare you! You just can't drop me like a sack of potatoes!" She fluttered her wings to bring forth a cloud of Dream-Dust to restore composure to her dishevelled hair.

Lupo dusted off his hands, "because I just did, are you done with your moaning?"

Livi huffed, "you better keep your promise!"

Lupo paid no mind, "you have my word, woman and that'll do!" He walked away from her, "now if you'll excuse me and my boi have to sort out some loose strings here".

Livi became concerned, "whatever are you on about?"

Lupo gently pressed his succubus' nose, "nothing you witches need to concern yourself with especially you Lilligan lot!" He walked further away to see his retainer and Livi's human staring at each other and so he loudly clapped his hands to bellow, "OI LELIO! STEP AWAY FROM YOUR HOE! WE STILL HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OFF!"

In that moment Ewe wanted nothing more than to toss the idiot Oaken scion into a lake.

Yum became sad, "d'you really 'ave to go?"

Ewe nodded forlornly, "I'm sorry rabbit, but we must find the Guardian-Witch of this forest so she may aid us in carrying out a Cleansing enchantment to purify the woods".

Yum stood up, "well you lot won't 'ave to look any further..."

Ewe asked, "whatever do you mean by that, rabbit?"

Livi shook her head with an admonishing frown; Yum darling- as MY apprentice, you are not going to introduce yourself looking like that! She snapped her fingers, causing Yum's drip to shift into a white elegant body-hugging halter-dress paired with a matching pair of heels. Magenta tea-roses adorned her hair- now spelled into bouncy waves, the sprites snuggled into the flowers purring loudly.

Lupo side-eyed the succubus.

Yum glanced at Livi encouraging her with a thumbs-up so she cleared her throat, "because I am Yum Honey-Cream Crystal Mee" she punctuated with a curtsy, "the Guardian-Witch".

Lupo exclaimed, "YOU!? You are the Guardian-Witch?"

Yum shrugged, "well yea I am the Guardian-Witch of this 'ere forest o' Lyd Gorge as me nan wos!"

Lupo raised his eyebrow, "and what kind of name is that?"

Yum had her hands on her hips, "well it's me name as me mum named me!"

Lupo scratched his head, "so that's not even a Witch-name?"

Livi raised her voice, "WELL OF COURSE BLOODY NOT!"

Yum answered meekly, "me nan said that me name is me name 'n' no one can take that away from me".

Ewe shoved the Oaken scion aside to have Yum's hand in his, "well Lady Yum, it certainly is a pleasure to meet such a lovely and delightful Guardian-Witch". He gave her hand a kiss before letting it go to flourish into a bow, "however may I introduce myself as Brother Ewe Luv of the Oaken Guild".

Yum gazed at Ewe with hoe-struck eyes, "cor, so you're like a wizard?"

Ewe smirked out a smile, "I know quite a few spells but I wouldn't fancy myself as such". He closed the distance between himself and the lovely Guardian-Witch, "I am just a humble retainer to the Guild's scion- Lupo".

Lupo lit a spliff, "yo".

Livi frowned at Lupo.

Yum bit back a moan as she coquettishly pressed herself against Ewe, "umm... so 'ow can I exactly 'elp you... good sir?"

"Well you may need to cast another of that Healing spell..." Ewe slinked his arms around her waist for a closer look at the dress.

Livi had to give her eyes a rub as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing; Brother Ewe would always compose himself in such a formal manner and yet here he was ogling her apprentice's breasts like some lout at a strip club.

Lupo loudly cleared his throat.

Ewe let go of Yum, "but I suppose for starters we can start with the Cleansing Enchantment".

Our strawberry-blonde became sheepish, "oh right..."

Lupo all but exclaimed a sigh as he spelled the spliff into evaporating dew.

"Then let's begin by forming a Charming-Circle, shall we?" Livi bumped her hip against the Oaken scion and bossed her way over to the middle-most of the grove.

Lupo's annoyance was lulled by the inviting sway of Livi's hips and in lieu her arse; when suddenly an astral moth fluttered to splatter his face with magenta glitter. He glanced aside then spelled away the glitter with a snap of his fingers and stalked his way over to where the others had gathered. "So what next, O Guardian-Witch?" Drawled the Oaken scion.

Yum felt tongue-tied and practically dwarfed from being in the presence of casters aligned to Guilds- both of the witchcraft and wizardry persuasion! And there was Ewe, even more handsome when looking upon her with gentle consoling eyes.

You will be fine.

Because you know what to do.

The words rang in her mind like sublime church bells making Yum feel better as she spoke up, "if we join 'ands together in a Charming-Circle, we can converge our magic to imbue the Cleansing Enchantment makin' it even more mega effective".

And so our fab four joined hands and soon enough their unity was heralded by a cavernous hum that startled the sprites into a mewling panic.

Yum consoled the sprites, "don't worry you lot, wot you lot 'ear are the trees cos they're 'elpin' us with a spell to make the forests feel better, do you lot want to join in the circle?"

The sprites bleated excitedly.

Yum smiled, "alrigh' then, you know wot to do!"

The sprites formed a halo where their sweet little voices were accompanied by the tinkling chimes of Fairy-Dust teeming out of their fluttering wings.

Livi gaped with a bygone awe then quickly realised Lupo was looking at her and composed herself. She pondered what was going to entail from embarking on this path to seeking answers- away from the comforts of her home, her Guild-sisters, her Circle-sisters and her mother. She closed her eyes and her wings fluttered for her Dream-Dust to converge with the Fairy-Dust.

Lupo smirked, deep within the veneers of bitchiness and some shoddy effort to be scary; Delichoux was still the frightened little girl who could always be placated by: Seelies, flowers, sweets, kittens and her mummy. His heart swelled with love for his woman but he hoped she could see how much this love was beyond duty and responsibility.

Ewe looked at the sight with a pensive smile, for his vampiric hearing enhanced the sprites' singing reminding him of a home he had left behind for knowledge of a past he had no clue about and for the first time he felt comfort that he had never left them behind. Because what he thought he had walked away from were always by his side within his heart; that now throbbed with a warmth he never knew could feel thanks to her- the lovely Guardian-Witch, who with serene grace levitated off the ground.

Within the Charming-Circle reverberated a gathering energy spinning sunwise by whispering breezes.

Yum incanted:

Spirits of Lyd Gorge

Come along and join in the circle

Charged by Seelie Fairy-Dust

A new friendship can be forged.

Where hand-in-hand

Our trust can work a miracle most grand!

And lo! From the grove deep within the forests of Lyd Gorge; a magnificent carol of lights twinkling with Dream-Dust and Fairy-Dust swirled out into a ripple that almost made the lovely pair buckle were it not for the gents standing steadfast and holding on.

Livi's wings expanded to flap out blizzards of magenta Dream-Dust coating the sprites' wings.

Lupo mumbled under his breath an incantation of High-Elvish as morning dew illuminated the grove.

Ewe closed his eyes as a darkness came upon him to cast the grove in a peaceful summertime dusk.

Altogether the pouring of such different forces caused the spirits of Lyd Gorge to whisper louder and the trees to lift their voices up beyond the canopy.

Despite the fab four being wary of what sort of power they were channelling, all concerns were allayed as long as the circle was kept together.

The sprites floated up to form into a shining corona dispersing the ripples of light into a refreshing wave that inspired ripe abundance but suddenly mewled into a faint leaving their little selves to plummet.

Yum shrieked, "OH NO!" She suddenly leapt up into a Witch-Flight but her efforts only landed her on her botty.

The Charming-Circle was broken for Livi and Lupo to lurch into a faint upon the ground with their eyes spinning.

Lupo slurred, "you know babes, it has been quite a bit since we've worked such magic together..."

Livi groaned as her succubus guise burst into Dream-Dust, leaving her back in her Lilligan tack as she feebly clung to Lupo's hand.

Lupo weakly chuckled, "love ya too, babes".

Yum reached out in hopes she could cast a spell to save them in time!

However the sprites were snatched up in a shadowy maw vanishing before the strawberry-blonde's eyes then within a blink emerged as a black bubble in Ewe's grasp.

Yum became hoe-struck.

The bubble shattered revealing the sprites all safe and sound in purring slumber.

Ewe spoke softly "see? Just as I promised no one will hurt you and I will not allow such".

Yum became even more hoe-struck.

Livi suddenly came to, blinking out her surprise at how refreshed she felt as she got to her feet, "what have we done?"

Lupo stepped up beside her, "we've saved a forest by converging our powers". He took her hand in his and looked into her eyes, "The Day-Throne and Night-Throne became entwined for a new force to be harnessed".

Livi scoffed, "excuse me?"

Lupo frowned, "excuse what?"

Livi huffed, "so you're only going through with this merger because of the power?"

Lupo kissed his teeth, "you're bucking the dumbcraft now? Seriously?"

Livi raised her voice, "you are bucking the dumbcraft so answer my question!"

Lupo snapped his fingers for a pillow to drop onto Livi's head, "I shouted at your mum- the Salt-water Apsara herself, that I could never marry any other woman because of it between us".

Livi clenched the pillow to her chest.

Lupo took the pillow out of the bratcubus' grasp and placed it on her head, "what am I going to do with your mad ras, if I have to keep spelling it out?"

Livi thrust her hip against him, "well don't forget our duel". She strutted over to Yum.

Lupo gave her swaying hips and batty a hearty ogling as he called out, "you could just give me a lap-dance like a good wifey".

Livi scoffed, "in your dreams, hubby!" She pointed to the pillow on her head making it disappear where it reappeared transformed into a magenta water balloon to burst on Lupo's head with a great splash.

The soggy Oaken scion glanced aside then strolled over to the bratcubus.

Ewe let the sleeping sprites follow him as they floated in sheer dark bubbles around his head, "you really do have a delicious name and are so sweet too, Lady Yum".

Yum smiled hoe-struck as she ogled his pillow-lips in movement.

Suddenly the collective voices of the trees boomed:

THANK YOU GUARDIAN-WITCH...

Yum was startled out of her fugue as she yelped, "you're welcome-!" She softened her voice, "you're welcome you lot..." she looked to the others then faced the trees and let her heart ripple out the whispers of the forest's spirits, "but as the Guardian-Witch, I can't take all the credit cos I 'ad a lot of 'elp from me friends". She glanced at the resting sprites, "some old 'n' cherished", she looked to Ewe, Lupo and Livi "but quite a measure o' new faces!" She then asked, "you lot please introduce yourself cos the trees want to know who you are!"

Lupo genuflected, "I am Lupo and as the scion of the Oaken Guild I propose a friendship bond to be forged".

Ewe genuflected too, "and as the scion's retainer and an ambassador of the Oaken, know that I too shall provide aid, protection and a voice".

Livi curtsied, "and I Livity- scion of the Lilligan guild, am privileged to forge a bond of friendship with you noble trees".

Thank you, brave heroes may the bond forged today grow to a lasting abundance.

A radiant pollen wafted beyond the grove making the fab four sigh in collective relief as a rejuvenating tide washed over them.

Yum was in awe, "far out! You lot want to forge friendship bonds 'ere?"

Lupo shrugged, "well of course, as it was back in ye days of the High-Elves and as it is now it is the solemn duty of the Oaken guild to protect forests".

Livi remarked, "and forests are powerful fonts for witches to converge their power with, goddess forbid if such places were to fall into the wrong hands".

Lupo waggled his eyebrows, "goddess forbid indeed".

Livi side-eyed Lupo then decided he wasn't worth the time as she held Yum's hands, "despite everything I hope we get our answers".

Yum smiled, "I 'ope so too".

Livi smiled, "and I know I will make a fine witch out of you, worthy to strut amongst us Lilligans".

Yum gawked, "'ANG ON! YOU'RE A LILLIGAN!?"

Livi answered, "well y-!"

Yum shrieked, "AS IN THE LILLIGAN GUILD!? THE ONE WHERE EVERYONE DRESSES LIKE TARTS!?"

Ewe was at a loss.

Lupo snickered.

Livi glared at Lupo before she looked to the Hedge-Witch "and what of-!"

Yum all but yelled with excitement, "OH MY DAYS! I THINK THE LILLIGANS ARE MEGA GORGEOUS 'N' GLAM TOO!" She added, "I've always wanted to wear the pretty dresses 'n' red-bottoms!"

Ewe smirked.

Lupo burst into full-blown laughter, "BRUV! Your hoe is MAD!"

Our dhampir paid no mind to the half-elf as he drifted off into fantasies of what Lilligan tack would Yum look sexier in.

Yum became starry-eyed, "does that mean I could become a Lilligan too?"

Livi answered, "only if you are prepared to pledge and accept the Call of Initiation but that is something to look forward to in future".

Yum became weary, "but didn't Lupo say your Guild can get in trouble for sharing tenets with an uninitiated?"

Livi winked, "well Lupo won't tell a soul and you can guarantee Brother Ewe certainly won't say anything".

Ewe tapped his nose, "ladies rest assured, your secret will be safe with us".

Yum blushed, "thank you". She and the dhampir silently gazed into each other's eyes.

Lupo looked at his pocket watch, "well we ought to make some tracks, right Ewe?"

Ewe tenderly stroked Yum's face.

Lupo raised his medal for a golden bolt to shoot out a schism.

Livi cleared her throat as she prettily sidled up to the Oaken scion, "Lupo, why don't you escort me back to the Guild? Goddess knows I'll need to feed an excuse to the Inner Council for my long absence away from the Guild grounds". She punctuated her request by fluttering her eyelashes at him.

Lupo threw her into the schism, "bruv! Let's get a shake on!"

Suddenly an eclipse of astral moths surrounded our half-elf as Livi's voice boomed:

I SAID ESCORT ME BACK TO THE GUILD! NOW!

The moths shoved Lupo into the portal where it closed leaving Ewe and Yum alone.

Ewe leaned against a tree, "so you want to become a Lilligan?"

Yum bashfully grinned, "well why not? I always thought they were really far out!" Suddenly the drip that was spelled onto her by Livi faded, leaving our strawberry-blonde barefoot and back in her bell-bottoms and halter-top combo, "but I suppose there's no point in thinkin' ahead when I 'ave so much on me plate".

Ewe asked, "what do you mean, rabbit?"

Yum stood beside him, "well why did me nan 'ave Livi's Shewstone? Wos me mum involved too? Why did nan never tell me I 'ad another Gift?" She sighed, "I'm sorry 'ere I am just rambling to a stranger-!"

Ewe held her hand, "am I still a stranger?"

Yum bashfully bit her bottom lip, "well... I guess not..."

Ewe held her close to him, "we both know each other's name, am I right Yum?"

Yum nodded, "yea, Ewe..."

Ewe stroked her face, "and we both have an idea of each other's role..."

Yum smiled, "you're like the retainer for Lupo..."

Ewe chuckled, "and you are the loveliest Guardian-Witch I have come across".

Yum fluttered her eyelashes, "ooh 'ave you met your fair share of Guardian-Witches?"

Ewe grinned, "oh quite so, most of them sweet and cordial beyond their gnarled and hardy veneer". He stroked her hair, "but you my pretty you look and are so sweet and delicious through and through".

Yum pressed her breasts against him and looked into his amber eyes, "well you only need to ask 'n' you can find out if I taste sweet 'n' delicious too". She looked down at his bulge then up into his eyes.

Ewe asked, "what do you want to do?"

Yum blushed, "I... I dunno".

Ewe guided her hand over to his erection, "I have an idea".

Yum moaned, "I bet you do".

Suddenly a mobile phone bellowed.

Ewe huffed, "oh bother!" He looked at the phone then pocketed it with a heavy sigh.

Yum became crestfallen, "duty calls?"

Ewe answered, "sadly so..."

Yum asked, "can we stay in touch?"

Ewe smiled softly, "but of course, bunny".

Yum conjured forth an ametrine crystal, "do you 'ave freqs?"

Ewe held out his palm for a shard of black onyx to emerge, then he let it float out to circle Yum's ametrine before it returned to sink into his palm, "I must say I do prefer Frequency-crystals".

Yum made the ametrine disappear, "yeah innit?"

Ewe asked, "shall we have a freq-speak later? The Day-Throne knows I have quite a bit of admin to go through but by the evening I should be free to talk".

Yum smiled, "I'd mega like that!"

"I am certainly excited for tonight", Ewe smiled.

Yum blushed, "me too".

Ewe asked, "will you need help in getting back to your cottage?"

Yum shook her head, "nah, I can take care of meself" she looked to the sprites, "I won't exactly be alone either..."

Ewe kissed her hand, "well if you ever need me..." he winked at her, "I'm just a freq away". He began to disperse into bats.

"EWE WAIT!" Yum shrieked.

Our dhampir immediately stopped, "what's wrong, bunny?"

Yum became sheepish, "I want to give you somethin'..."

Ewe tilted his head, "something?"

Our strawberry-blonde inwardly invoked her Witch-Flight to levitate up to Ewe's face to kiss him.

Ewe now had her in a hard-carry to deepen the kiss that now had her moaning. He soon set her down and chucked at her pout, "oh dear, was that uncalled for?"

Yum blushed, "I just wish the snog wos longer..."

Ewe gave her a quick kiss, "we do have each other's freqs", then winked, "so we can be much longer".

Yum became hoe-struck, "oh my days yeah..."

Ewe sneaked in another kiss, "but remember this is not a goodbye between us".

Yum licked her lips, "then wot is this?"

Ewe brought her in for a full-blown snog with lashings of tongue that made her weak in the knees as he gently held her in place, "freq you later". He dispersed into bats leaving our strawberry-blonde alone as the bubbles burst for the sprites to wake up.

Yum- still hoe-struck, collapsed onto the ground with the biggest smile as the sprites surrounded her with querying mewls.

Suddenly Gazer wriggled out of Yum's décolletage, "why are we all the way here and not at the cottage?"

Yum cuddled her fairy, "Oh Gaze, 'ave I got news for you my dearie!" She placed the fairy on her head, "but that will defo require a hot bath 'n' a 'elpin' of me Yummy Honey Milk".

The sprites cheered but Gazer -still clueless, glanced aside.

TEA BLEND