Purity 5

I rushed outside of the bakery, only to see the same scene that was projected into the summoning circle: The giant demon, Zelb towering over the smaller, hurt hero Purity. Purity’s dress was torn by the swipes of Zelb’s claws and tail, and her body exposed to the onlookers all around her, who watched with a wide range of emotions.

“How can they be out here?” I asked. “Tybalt said they were stuck in the magic circle.”

Zelb continued the furious flurry of attacks, and Purity dodged and blocked them until the strike threatened to get near one dumbstruck young man. To protect him, Purity hopped to the side to direct the demon’s attack, but this proved to be a dangerous decision, as the claw raked against her garment, tearing it to ribbons and burning her flesh.

I rushed in to defend Purity, preparing a powerful pummelling punch at the demon, but once my fist made contact with the beast’s back, it passed right through, and I tumbled forward, landing right underneath Purity. The heroine gasped, dodging out of the way. The demon swiped at her again, sending her rolling against the ground. When she picked herself up, the tatters of the rest of her clothes barely stuck onto her, showing off her form to the bystanders, including her curious, yet cute heart-shaped bush.

The demon chuckled, cracking its knuckles. “That’s right. We’re still inside that pathetic circle, but don’t think my magic can’t make it past that feeble attempt to contain me. I’ll break out completely, sooner or later, but for now, I’m content to give the people here a show—one that you will never live down.

Zelb grabbed Purity by the braids and lifted her up. The hero grabbed onto the demon’s wrists but continued to stare out to the crowd in front of her.

“Look at your hero, Anteronia. She claims to protect this city’s virtue, but none of you will have it. You are a city of sin, and that’s all you’ll ever be. Why would you want a hero like this?”

Purity grit her teeth, dangling there, exposed before a crowd that can’t take their eyes off of her.

“I can feel it inside you,” Zelb said, leaning in, its tongue wiggling out, teasing at her ear. “The secret enjoyment you keep from everyone else. How you discovered that you are a sexual being, just like everyone else here. How much you want them to see you like this. How about we take it a step further, then? And you show them how much of a slut you can be? Me and you, together, instead of at odds.”

Purity’s lips parted. Her breaths came out in short, quick bursts. Her eyes hazed over. By all accounts, the demon was right—the woman loved to show herself off—to have everyone look at her—to want her. All she had to do was jump further to go all the way, to go beyond her comfort zone and—

“No.”

Zelb blinked and tilted its head. “Excuse me… what did you say, I-”

“I said… ‘NO!”

With that, Purity unleashed a burst of pink light that surrounded her, knocking the demon back and freeing herself. Though her hair fell loose and fell over her shoulders, she kept herself standing tall and proud. “This is my body,” she said. “And it’s part of a sexual being, yes. I understand that, and I accept that.” She turned around to look towards Zelb, narrowing her gaze. She stepped forward, and with each step, the demon, now on the ground, backed away. “And I get to do with my body what I please, not what you want, and not what anyone else wants. So, I’ll repeat it. Zelb, to you, I say ‘No.”

Zelb grabbed onto its face, screaming and writing upon the floor. The demon then petrified, crumbling away before the hero, just as the vision of the two of them upon the street vanished.

I picked myself up and stumbled my way through the bakery. Once I slammed through the doors to the VIP room, I was greeted by the sight of Purity sitting on her knees in the circle, cradling Tik Tik in her arms.

“You… you did it!” I shouted, running into the circle and getting Purity into a big hug. “You got rid of Zelb!”

Tik Tik shook her head, and in those bright blue eyes of hers, I saw a slight hint of weakness and worry. “Zelb is still here. But… it different now.”

Purity sighed, placing her hand upon Tik Tik’s head, giving her a sweet pat. “I think we’ve figured a way to keep the demon at bay—at least until Tik Tik can find a more permanent solution.”

“What sort of method keeps the demon from manifesting?” Eshere asked, turning the page in her book.

“Zelb is demon of lust,” Tik Tik said. “Lust demon get power from wanting sex, when someone not feel good about themself and need sex to feel good.”

“That’s right,” Purity said. “I figured that out as I was fighting the fiend. There are things out there that would take that which is good and natural and twist them in harmful ways. Just like there are also parts of ourselves that may become the germinating seeds of evil, when in fact, they are quite the opposite.” She placed a hand upon her chest. “Just as I confronted my own inner demons, I was able to help Tik Tik fight her own.”

“Well, then,” I said, “If Zelb is locked away, then we can get Tik TIk out of this city so she won’t bet tempted by it anymore, right?”

Tik Tik shook her head. “No. Can’t hide from sex,” Tik Tik said. “Need find permanent solution. Need find someone powerful and magical to get rid of Zelb once and for all.”

Baker chimed in then and said, “I think I may have a possible solution for you, darlings, but it means bringing up old wounds. But for you, Tik Tik and Purity, I think it’s worth it.

Tik Tik blinked. “What mean, Baker?”

“The young lady Aldevan is a dabbler in the occult and a powerful magician besides. If anyone can help you, then it’s her.”