Compulsion spells were always a tricky monster to deal with.
As Zikee followed the footsteps of her new halfling captor, she tried to devote every ounce of willpower she had left to maintaining a pocket of sanity. Seduction magic wasn’t thing the worst she could have been affected by, but it was by far one of the most dangerous.
Under its effects, she couldn’t barely register her own conscious thoughts. When she moved it was with extra care not to look unsightly in front of her captor. His gleaming purple scales and perfect green eyes were enchanting to look at. She’d never seen someone so beautiful before. Such were the effects of being unwillingly trapped in his spell.
And by the looks of things, she was one amongst many others.
“Welcome, Big One,” the halfling said as he opened the door to what could pass as a mansion in Kison territory, though the air was much seedier here.
A long wooden staircase sat near the front entrance, leading up to two separate paths, both of which were aligned with several people waiting. Zikee felt her thoughts growing to mush as she looked at them all. It was mostly women, but she saw a great deal of men as well, all of which were draped in uniforms that barely left much to the imagination. Some stood in nothing but undergarments while others seemed clad in more exotic costumes.
“This is the Golden Daffodil,” her dragon captor said, extending a hand out to all the people around him. “And of course, I’m the owner here. You can call me Dandy.”
He winked as he said that, which sent a tremor through Zikee’s heart. Why did it have to be seduction magic? Compared to being poisoned, this was much less palatable. But just as Zikee thought as much, her gaze fell upon yet another familiar face in this establishment.
Serving drinks in nothing but a lacey black apron, she saw the other half of the Dragon Duet. Sky’s gaze was just as vacant as the one she’d seen with Angel. Had they both fled here only to get caught in this so-called Dandy’s spell?
Dammit. I was careless again. The Silver Dragon will have to wait for the moment.
Looking at all the other people who “worked” here, she saw the same vacant stares reflected back at her. Just how long had this operation been going for? And how far did Dandy’s spell reach? Zikee could feel her brain rotting the longer she was in his presence. But just as she tried to fight it, his hand reached up to grab her chin, forcing her down to look him in the eyes.
“You’re not thinking of running, are you?” he asked, his voice equal parts soothing as it were hypnotic. “We haven’t even gotten your measurements yet.”
Zikee had to claw at her own psyche to hold on. She managed to shake her head to placate the man, his gaze lingering even as he finally let her go.
“Good. I know of several people who’d go crazy over a giant. Myself included.”
Zikee tried to will herself free, the idea of becoming a slave too much for her to bear.
For the first time in months, she felt helpless. Truly helpless. A warrior died on the battlefield. A warrior died protecting her pride. A warrior did not become the servant of some crazed dragon with a hypnotized brothel! She couldn’t let that be her fate. She clawed at every piece of her memory, her mind conjuring up a single image to cling to.
Elanor. Remember Elanor. Remember what that monster took from you.
She held onto the pieces of her memory as Dandy led her up the stairs, the many grunts and cries she could hear around her only spurring Zikee forward. She would be no one’s plaything.
Elanor. Remember what he did to her. Never his face. Never forget his face.
She could see the image burned in her skull. The tracks of blood dripping down her blouse. The lifeless gaze forever locked forward. The monster standing on its hind legs, its back turned after killing the only person she’d ever loved. The only person she’d ever cherished.
“Oh Qui, I’ve brought you a new friend!”
Zikee came out of her thoughts, looking up to find herself entering into a bedroom of sorts.
Sitting upon a wide grey mattress, there was a woman with bright red lipstick and hair as black as the wings of a crow. She was just as scantily dressed as the others, her maid’s uniform missing several features, but Zikee still took note of the woman’s face. Ty had been careful to give them a thorough description of what target they were searching for.
“Big One, go say hello, why don’t you?” Dandy asked, though his tone was more commanding this time.
As she scanned the woman over, Zikee put a name to the face. Though a bit more youthful than he expected, there was little doubt in her mind that she’d stumbled upon the very woman they’d been searching for.
Qui Valentina...
But there was no sign of the Silver Dragon anywhere.
“Big one!”
Dandy grabbed her face again, forcing her back down.
“I gave you an order,” he said, his voice taking on a much harsher tone.
Zikee felt her mind melting again, but the sensation was different. She could feel her mind dragging back memories the more she thought of that draconic monster.
She could see the Silver Dragon taking flight. She could hear her own cries as she held her wife, begging whatever gods above that it all be some forgotten nightmare. She could hear the tremor in her voice as she screamed, a thousand memories forever stained in a single day. Her worst day.
Zikee felt some level of sensation in her hands.
That’s right. Never forget his face.
Dandy continued to stare at her, his gaze turning seductive as his voice lowered.
“Don’t you want to please me, big one?” Dandy asked.
Zikee felt her fingers curling one after the other.
“You disgust me.”
Her fist collided with Dandy’s chin.
All at once she felt the spell fading from her mind, the heat and tightness she hadn’t even recognized vanishing away as Dandy was sent flying backwards. Thoughts collided back into coherence. She could finally think clearly. See clearly. Dandy landed in a heap on the floor, staring back at her shock, one hand on his jaw.
“What? How did you-”
Zikee quickly drew her sword.
“You have my thanks for the reminder. I truly hate dragons like you.” She flashed a smile. “And I’m married anyhow.”
Dandy growled, his scales shining as he wasted no time in transforming. Zikee glanced to Qui, finding the woman lying unconscious in bed. Considering her own spell had been undone, it was likely the others had been freed as well. In fact, Zikee could hear screams from outside their room, but they hardly mattered at the moment.
She ran over to grab Qui just as Dandy broke through the ceiling, his draconic form growing so massive Zikee had to use a nearby window to escape.
“How dare you touch me, human!” he roared above the sounds of the night. “To hell with pleasure! You burn today!”
Zikee slung her prize over her shoulder, already trying to disregard the angry dragon as she prioritized getting as far away as possible. Even if she’d escaped once, there was no guarantee she’d fair well a second time, especially with a hostage. Yet as she tried to use the streets for cover, her hopes were dashed as she looked back to see a massive draconic form flying after her. He certainly didn’t care for secrecy.
“Big one!”
Zikee considered trying to lose him through a shop when a flash of fire came crashing into Dandy’s face.
“Dragon! Everyone, get clear!”
Zikee smiled, immediately disappearing into the nearest alleyway as she heard the telltale signs of guild activity. How could she have forgotten? When a giant reptile went on a rampage, the guilds were always the first to be called. And in a city as rich as Nerania, there were plenty of funds to afford the best guild hands the people could want.
Behind her, sounds of cannons and magic blended in with Dandy’s angry shouts of pain.
“Dammit! Get out of- Graaagh! I’ll burn you all!”
She took the distraction as a small consolation even as a large part of her wanted to cut off his head for trying to seduce her. But that notion would have to wait. She had another dragon that was much more important to find. And as she felt her captive stirring, she knew the time to find him would be drawing near.
“Where…am I?” Qui asked in a shaky voice. “What’s going on?”
Zikee’s response was simple and to the point, only looking ahead as she carried her.
“Somewhere safe. Save your strength for the interrogation.”
