Chronos - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Ritual

About an hour before closing, Bethany made her way down to my domain in the basement. She was a pretty sort, a redhead with better than average looks. She wouldn’t be considered a model, by any stretch, but she did have that ‘sexy librarian’ thing going on.

As her heels clicked their way to my desk, I could see that her face was flushed with embarrassment. Well, that was understandable. If I had any sense of shame, I would have felt embarrassment in suggesting a sex ritual to help keep her ex from bothering her. Fortunately, I had no such virtues.

“Ah, Remington. S-Susan said that you had a way to keep me safe when we go out? Because of my ex escaping?”

I smiled at her, and nodded. “Yes, Susan mentioned that. Do you have any questions about the process? It is important that you’re willing and consenting, otherwise it won’t work.”

“You don’t think badly about me? For dating a supervillain?”

Shaking my head, I said, “Oh, no. Everyone has choices that they regret. Honestly, I’m not one to judge someone else on their life choices. I’ve made my own share of mistakes, you know, which is why I have to carry around this thing.” I held up my cane, to make the point.

Bethany breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Remington. I didn’t know who he really was when I started dating him, and by the time I found out, well…”

“It was too late to back out,” I nodded, understandingly. “Unfortunately, that is how things often work when dealing with those who have power. Which is one of the reasons why I need your willing consent for the ritual. It wouldn’t do to have anyone say I took advantage of you, after all.”

She nodded, still nervous, but more at ease than she had been. “So, um, what will happen in the ritual? I know that Susan mentioned a sacrifice, but she didn’t know what it would be. She also mentioned either sex or blood was required?”

“Yes, because this ritual is predicated on your consent, there needs to be a way to open the barriers your body and soul naturally put up. Sex opens these through intimacy, while blood gives me a direct connection. The end result is much the same, but it gives you the choice between laying yourself bare, or offering your blood for the cause.”

Bethany gulped, and said, “Uh, I think I would like to go with sex. It, um, has been a while. Not since Eric, you see.”

“Of course. Now, that is the mechanics of the ritual itself. Now, for the actual changes. Since I don’t know what your attributes are, according to the System, I decided not to risk leaving you crippled in some way, and instead decided that a curse mark would be the most viable way of giving you constant protection.”

“Curse mark? I don’t like the sound of that.”

“It is the visual representation of the changes that will be made. I’ll make sure to place it somewhere discrete. Think of it like a tattoo, but one that gives you powers.”

“Powers?”

“Yes, powers. First, immunities. I can make you immune to your ex’s powers, and fold in the disease immunity on the charm I gave you, as well, making it permanent. Second, it will give you some degree of protection, your skin work like armor. But it only works while you’re awake, so no going to sleep when supervillains are attacking!”

She giggled at that, her nervousness ebbing away as I joked. “And finally, there will be a bit of a boost to your self-confidence. So that, when you’re ready, you can get back out there in the dating world.”

“Wow, how are you able to do all of that?”

“Oh, it is pretty technical. But the collecting of essences and preparing the circles and all of that is on my end. Your end, well, will involve just laying back and allowing everything to happen. And, when it is done, you’ll be able to rest easy, knowing that, if your ex wants you, he will have to come after you as a normal person, rather than using his powers to control you.”

Bethany took a deep breath, and said, “All right! Let’s do this!”

“Excellent,” I smiled at her, and led her to the conference room that I’d used yesterday. Now, however, the table and chairs were up against the wall, and a square rug, ten feet on a side, was spread over the floor, with a magic circle emblazoned upon it.

“Get yourself comfortable, Bethany, while I light the candles. Then, we can begin.”

“O-okay!” Her voice was rushed, and I could hear her starting to undress as I went clockwise around the circle, lighting candles at the eight points to invoke the powers I’d need.

When I was done with that, I looked over to Bethany, to see her nervously standing there in just her bra and panties. I smiled at her, and said, “Don’t worry, you’re a very beautiful woman, Bethany.”

That seemed to encourage her, along with the fact that I was now disrobing as well. When she blushingly revealed her breasts (a healthy B cup) and the neatly trimmed bush between her legs, it took all my control to keep from licking my lips like a hungry man looking at a steak. She was pretty, in the girl next door kind of way, and I was very much going to enjoy this.

“Get into the circle Bethany, and lie down.”

Bethany nodded, and did as she was told, though I was happy to see her eyes lingering on me. I still looked like I was in my late 20s or early 30s, after all, and while I certainly wasn’t buff or athletic, I was not fat either, but rather ‘sculpted’. And the word fit since, well, the only mages (whether male or female) I knew of who weren’t well endowed and sculpted to their ideal of beauty were those who had some religious aversion to using transformation magics on oneself.

I stepped into the circle myself, and knelt by Bethany’s side. Her breath caught in her throat as my fingers began touching her, caressing her as they moved across her body, exploring her stomach, her hips, her breasts, and that lovely mound between her legs. The ritual would take the better part of an hour to complete, while I muttered incantations under my breath. Tiring myself out early was not allowed, and so foreplay became even more important than ever.

By the second time she came, it was time to move to the next step. I moved on top of her breathless form, admiring the way the sweat made her skin glisten. Parting her legs, I found her very ready for me, and, by this time, I was at full attention and ready to go.

As I slid inside her, I continued my chanting, enjoying the warm wetness of her insides. I held there for a second, letting her get used to my length, and then pulled back, only to thrust in again, causing her to moan in pleasure. And then I began my rhythm.

I took it slow, making sure to hit all the right spots. This was a slow burn, not a sprint, and more than once I changed positions to draw things out. As we moved together, thrusting and gasping and chanting and moaning, the magic welled up in the circle, adding more and more power to what was already swirling about us, waiting for the climactic finish.

And then the climax came. Literally. In the midst of riding on top of me, Bethany’s walls clamped down about my shaft, and I unloaded into her. With my climax, the magic came crashing down upon her as well, extending her orgasm into a string of climaxes that lasted twenty seconds or more. Meanwhile, fatigue blasted me, an expected cost of the ritual.

Completed Ritual

Ritual   Effects

Transform   12 – Bestow Curse Mark, Powers

Extras:   Duration (Continuous)

Flaws:   Action (Full), Limited (Must be Willing), Range (Touch), Requires Grapple,   Tiring

Drawbacks:   Power Loss (Must chant incantation)

Cost:   3 PP

Mental   Transform 12 – Alter Mind

Feats:   Subtle 2 (Unnoticeable)

Extras:   Duration (Continuous), Insidious

Flaws:   Action (Full), Check Required (Knowledge: Arcane Lore, DC 22), Distracting,   Limited (Must be Willing), Range (Touch), Requires Grapple

Drawbacks:   Power Loss (Must chant incantation)

Cost:   7 PP

Total   Cost: 10 PP

Design/Construction   DC: 20

Design   Check:

Knowledge   (Arcane Lore): 1d20+20 = 24 (Success)

Construction   Check:

Knowledge   (Arcane Lore): 1d20+20 = 25 (Success)

Mental   Transform Check
 Knowledge (Arcane Lore): 1d20+20 = 24 (Success)

Bethany’s   Fort Save (Transform): 1d20+0 = 3 (Fail)

Curse   of Absolute Obedience (Very Common, Major): Bethany must obey all orders   given to her by Remington/Chronos, no matter what. Failure to comply results   in a magical backlash, causing damage. (+5 PP)

Immunity   2 – Immune to Paradoxical’s Powers, Disease. Noticeable (Curse Mark). (Cost 1   PP)

Enhanced   Charisma 2: Noticeable (Curse Mark). (Cost 1 PP)

Protection   5 – +5 Toughness, Noticeable (Curse Mark), Power Loss (Unconscious). (Cost 3   PP)

Bethany’s   Will Save (Mental Transform): 1d20+0 = 11 (Fail)

Memories   altered so that she remembers consenting to the Curse of Absolute Obedience.   Personality altered to make her more submissive to Remington/Chronos. Mental   trigger gives her pleasure when she obeys Remington/Chronos.

Bethany slumped forward in exhaustion; her breasts pressed against my chest. We lay there for a moment, resting, recovering. Our hands stroking each other’s body like a lover’s caress.

Finally, Bethany recovered enough to see the changes that had been done on her sheet. “Remington, what is this curse?”

I smiled at her. “Don’t you remember, Bethany? You consented to the curse so that I did not have to weaken your physical or mental abilities. You said that the idea excited you.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right! Silly me, I think all the orgasms knocked it out of my head!”

“That’s all right, Bethany. Now, the curse marks you as my slave. When we are with other people, I want you to treat me normally, as you did before. However, when we’re alone like this, I want you to call me Master.”

She froze for a second, and then nodded. “Yes, Master.” Her body shuddered as the pleasure hit her. “Oh, Master! What was that?”

“A little reward for you being a good girl. Now, I want you to keep quiet about the curse. That will be our little secret.”

“Yes, Master. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Good girl. Now, stand up, and let me look at you.”

Bethany was only too quick to comply, and she was beaming like a puppy who had been given a treat. Her hair was tousled, as one would expect from what we’d been doing, but I did notice that her breasts were a bit perkier, and her waist a bit slimmer. Not so much that it would be glaringly obvious, but it was a noticeable change.

Speaking of noticeable changes, as my eyes trailed southward, I found that her bush had been burned clean by the magic. In its place was the curse mark, nestled just above her folds. And then there was my seed, dripping down her leg.

“Are you on the pill, slave?”

“No, Master. There wasn’t any reason to, since I wasn’t planning on any relationships. But it is a safe day today.”

“Well, you will keep track of your safe days from now on, and let me know. If you are a very good slave, then I might just reward you with more than just a bit of pleasure. Would you like that?”

“Yes, Master! I would love to do anything you ask of me. I exist to serve you.”

“Very good, slave. Now, help me clean up, and then we can join the others. And remember, not a word about the curse.”

“Yes, Master!” Bethany happily replied, and set about helping me to clean up the candles and ritual supplies, as well as setting the room back to rights. Only then did either of us reach for our clothes, so we could get dressed and get ready to go out with the others.

I was tired, since the magic was intense. However, I was more than pleased with the results. The mental influence I’d put on her was subtle enough that outside forces wouldn’t notice it, even when scanning her mind, and she wouldn’t notice it unless someone pointed it out to her that her mind had been altered. And the memories I implanted said that she desired my protection, and was willing to be my obedient submissive in order to obtain it. Moreover, she was secretly thrilled with the idea, having read several novels with those kinds of themes recently.

It was an indulgence, perhaps, but who was I to turn away a golden opportunity when it presented itself? Especially when it came with a willing thrall and good sex? I was wicked, not stupid.