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Tablet Master

Chapter 7

A new master

Shadyss appeared on the other side of the gate. Orus was holding the Tablet with one harm through the bars and had a spear through his chest. The crowd was cheering.

“What are your orders, Master?" she said, watching another gladiator pull the spear out of her Master's chest.

She created a dust storm for cover and teleported on the other side of the gate to try and heal Orus. The other gladiator stabbed her through the abdomen with his spear, but she managed to complete her healing spell. Orus coughed.

“Great," she said in his mind. “You're alive. Stay here, don't move and don't do anything."

She growled as the spear ripped through her flesh once more in reverse. She grabbed it as the man tried to stab her again, pulling the man closer as she punched him in the chest with might. She didn't need to hold back now that she wasn't bound by Salks' orders.

The gladiator flew ten meters out of the sandstorm and rolled over another ten before he stopped, immobile. She placed an invisibility spell on Orus before changing her appearance to look like him as she hurried to strip him of his gear and put it on before the sandstorm subsided.

The crowd was rooting for various fighters and her little sandstorm almost went unnoticed. Twelve other gladiators were fighting all over the battleground and twice that many were already dead or incapacitated.

She walked towards the nearest two as they sparred violently with spears and shields. She too held a spear and a shield, and she was wearing nothing but a loincloth over her manhood and a shoulder pad with spikes, just like every other gladiator.

One of the two collapsed to the ground as she arrived. The winner rolled over his body and thrusted his spear at her. She spun to avoid it and kicked him in the face.

She felt his skull shatter from the blow and the man collapsed on top of his peer.

The crowd nearby cheered.

She ran towards her next fight. Two gladiators had teamed up against one and he was about to lose when she stepped on his back, shoving him to the ground, before jamming her shield sideways into one man's throat and her spear into the other one's heart.

The crowd started chanting Orca repeatedly.

She charged towards another group of fighters and stormed through them like a blazing tornado, ripping them to shred swiftly; mercilessly. She held the last gladiator's head in one hand a few moments later and Black Orca was declared the ultimate champion.

She hurried back to the gate, waiting for Orus's master while keeping an eye on the real Orus.

“Keep the Tablet with you and follow me," she said to Orus in his mind. “You're invisible right now. Don't say anything and follow my lead."

Two guards opened the gate and the nobleman stood behind them. “Excellent work Orus," the nobleman said. “I didn't know you could fight so well, you've outdone yourself."

Shadyss walked in, followed by Orus, whom she could still see but no one else could. “You broke our deal," she said a few steps in and away from sight.

“What?" the nobleman said.

Shadyss changed back to her human form. “You will give Orus his freedom or I will kill you and your guards right here."

The two guards readied their weapons and moved in front of their master.

“These two are not simple gladiators," he said. “They are elite mercenaries. What makes you think you're better than they are?"

Shadyss chuckled. “Move back Orus," she said in his head, dropping the shield and the spear. “I can rip their hearts out without even touching them," she said, shoving the two guards against the walls on each side with a simple hand gesture. “You saw me fight hundreds of gladiators in that arena and until now, I was limited, bound to obey a maniacal master who forced me to hold my punches and play with my preys. Not that I didn't enjoy it, but what you saw was but a tenth of my abilities, so do as I say, or I will use them to hammer you into the ground."

“You're the one who broke the deal," he said, his voice trembling. “You left the arena."

“I never left the arena," she said. “But I will hold my end of the bargain if you grant Orus his freedom, now and officially."

“Where is he anyways?"

“He's right here," she said, cancelling her spell.

Orus became visible, holding the Tablet to cover his manhood.

“Fetch the slave magister once she releases you," the nobleman said to one of his guards.

Shadyss released both guards and the first one took off.

“How did Salks make you indestructible?"

“He didn't."

“But you said-“

“I know what I said. I lied. He didn't make me indestructible. I am indestructible."

He gawked at her as she showed her true form. The nobleman and his guard turned white and she could smell their fear emanating from their pores.

“I'm a powerful demon with powers beyond your imagination. Salks controlled me through some powerful magic that I have yet to understand, but he paid the price for it. Grant Orus his freedom and I won't obliterate your entire family line and heritage like Salks had me do to Paolus. We'll be out of your air and you can go on with your life."

She changed back to her human form as the first guard came back with another man carrying a large box.

“You called for me, sir?" the man said.

“I need you to issue and authenticate the liberation of my slave," the nobleman said, his voice still trembling. “Orus, known as Black Orca, is now granted his freedom, unconditionally."

The man moved to a nearby table where he scribed the proper document to give Orus and then recorded it in the official ledger.

Orus was offered another loincloth in the process and smiled as he was handed the document. “Thank you," he said three times; to the man, to the nobleman, and then to Shadyss. “I can return to my wife and daughter now."

“Let's go," Shadyss said. “I can't wait to meet them."

*

Mia materialized in a chariot, crouched on a bench with a smiling Valsheen sitting across her. “What are your orders, Master?" she said with a threatening frown.

Valsheen' smile vanished from his face almost instantly. “I'm sorry Mia," he said. “I couldn't let Lily control you."

She glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“I'm a flawed man," he said. “I'm also a control freak."

She held her glare and her silence.

“Lily said she wanted to keep all the gold you two took from all over my house, so I made a deal with her. She could keep it if she agreed to let me be your master."

Mia looked down and sighed deeply.

“I'm sorry Mia," he said, leaning forward to scratch behind her ear.

She didn't let him, snarling instead. He jerked his hand back and his eyes grew big.

“Don't you dare!" He said, pointing his forefinger at her nose. “I'm your master and I'm doing my best to make you happy."

“If Master Valsheen really wanted Mia to be happy," she said, growling low. “Master Valsheen should have let Mistress Lily say the words to summon Mia."

“But Lily wanted to keep all the gold," he said, leaning back.

“Mia wanted to keep Lily," she said. “Mia can get gold anywhere for Mistress Lily."

“I'm sorry Mia, I don't know what more I can say."

“Where is Mistress Lily?"

“She left," he said. “She said you would know where to find her."

Mia opened the chariot door and looked outside. The sun was about to set.

“Mia stop," Valsheen said.

She sighed deeply. She couldn't jump out even if she wanted to.

“I thought you wanted to find Shadyss."

“Mia does," she said, more of a hiss than words.

“More than you want to find Lily, correct?"

Mia nodded.

“Why do you want to go back to Lily then?"

“Mia likes Mistress Lily a lot," she said, staring at him for a moment.

She tried to read his mind, but it was blank. She tilted her head slightly. “Master Valsheen mind is blocked," she said, growling even more. “Why?"

“I thought it would protect me from people who may try to find out about you and the Tablets," he said.

“Mia does not believe Master Valsheen," she said, still holding the door open. “Can Mia move now?"

“Are you going to jump out?"

“Mia will not jump out," she said, lowering her tone and her head.

“Yes Mia, you can move," he said. “Please close the door."

Mia closed the door and perched herself on the bench.

“We'll be in Praxion tomorrow and we can go find Shadyss. My source says she's with Salks in his new house."

Mia stared at the floor, her tail was flicking idly, but she didn't have anything more to say. Valsheen was not as bad as Salks, but she had a good idea what he truly wanted, and she had no reason to believe her happiness was on that list.

“Once we find Shadyss we'll be unstoppable," he said. “Won't you like ruling a kingdom?"

“No."

“How about you, being able to do whatever you want once we're at the top of the food chain, won't you enjoy that?"

She lifted her gaze slowly and glared at him with narrow eyes.

“I'm already at the top of the food chain," she said through clenched teeth, “and I… was already able to do whatever, I… wanted!"

Valsheen gulped. “Tell me how, and what, I can do to make you happy Mia, please."

“I don't trust you anymore," she said. “I no longer want what's best for you because you don't care about my happiness at all. You want to be King because you think the King is at the top of the food chain, but I know better. I don't need power or wealth, I need freedom and you're not giving it to me. You think you can control Shadyss also, but I know Shadyss won't let you control her so easily. If you really want to make me happy, then you will find Shadyss, and you will return both Tablets to Lily. Anything less will lead you on a path to a most certain and painful death."

“Mia," he said, switching seat to huddle next to her. “I promise I will find Shadyss and I will find Lily to let her become your Mistress again. I honestly didn't think this would make you so angry and I wouldn't have done it if I knew. Please forgive me." He gently stroked her head and then scratched behind her ear.

Mia sighed deeply, reaching for his thoughts in vain. “How can Mia trust Master Valsheen now?"

“Trust can be a choice," he said. “I love you Mia. I want you to trust me until all those things happen and then you will know you can always trust me." He planted a kiss on her cheek before whispering into her ear. “Have sex with me Mia."

She didn't mind having sex with him, but she didn't really want to either. He had convinced her to trust him temporarily, but she wasn't sure he'd be true to his word. He did promise, but he didn't say anything about a time frame, and he didn't say he'd let Lily summon Shadyss either.

The searing pain grew slightly before she pulled her tongue into his mouth and leaned over him. She couldn't read his mind to find out what he wanted exactly, but she had to comply with his request.

Their tongues danced for a long moment, their lips glued together as he pulled her to straddle him on the bench with his hands groping her ass firmly. She moaned into the passionate kiss, devouring his tongue, her tail flailing and her hips grinding at his bulge.

He unbuckled his belt to free his huge cock, his lips still glued to hers, moaning back into the kiss as she began purring heavily. He pushed her bikini aside and he started rubbing at her wet pussy.

She bucked her hips and moaned softly. He turned her around and wrapped his arms around her little frame, reaching between her legs with one hand, rubbing his fingers at her clitoris, and reaching to grope her small breast with his other hand.

She coiled her tail around his hips to help her grinding motion, feeling his hard shaft prodding at her hole, slightly below his fingers, letting him guide her body as he planted a few kiss in her neck.

He pushed her down onto his dick, grunting as he did and rubbing his fingers feverishly. She bounced slowly, following his rhythm as he continued to pleasure her clitoris, his large member rubbing against her tight walls and pushing against her cervix.

The rhythm increased gradually. His hands moved to her hips and he began lifting her up and down, thrusting inside her faster and faster as she built her climax, his membrane throbbing as it grew harder for a moment.

Valsheen slammed his hips violently and pushed her down at the same time. She cried out loudly, feeling his dick breeching through her cervix and penetrating deep into her box before filling her with his warm semen. She meowed loudly, her nectar spraying all over his crotch as he continued to fill her uterus.

She relaxed in his embrace, hoping to cool down, but he pulled her out, turned her around before grabbing her head and pushed her down to shove his dick in her mouth. She swallowed it deep into her throat, her tongue swirling around it as he thrusted energetically.

Mia wasn't left with much choice but to bob and suckle as he fucked her face, bucking his hips against her muzzle for a moment before his hot cream shot into her throat. He groaned loudly and shoved her head back, shooting more semen at her face and breasts before flopping on the bench, panting heavily.

Mia sat between her legs on the floor of the carriage, staring at him as she cooled down. She swallowed his semen with delight although she hadn't enjoyed this as much as she'd wanted to, but it was still a delight.

She picked up the extra semen with her fingers and licked them clean as she stared at Valsheen for a moment.

Her master was happy. It should make her happy too. It had to make her happy, but she wasn't. He made her have sex with him and she couldn't read his mind to confirm if he knew what he had just done or not. The worst thing about this was that she had to trust him until he'd get his hands on the other Tablet and return to Lily.

“You are amazing Mia," he said after a long moment. “Let's have sex all day."

*

Shadyss was invisible so she could assume her true form and size without causing a frenzy. She watched Orus knock at the door of a house, swaying sideways as she caught a glimpse of a million questions he had in his mind. He had been a prisoner and gladiator for a little over a year and he wasn't even sure this was still his house.

His little girl opened the door. Her face brightened instantly as she burst in tears of joy, jumping in her father's arms. Her mother wasn't far behind and her reaction was similar. They hugged and cried for several minutes while throwing kisses, compliments and words of love at each other.

Shadyss sat in lotus position with her back against the wall near the alley as the family moved into the house. She wanted to let him know she'd stay around, but she decided to let the events unfold. 'He'll remember about me soon enough,' she thought.

She spent hours meditating, the night went by and the sun eventually rose. She hadn't had the chance to meditate since she had been prisoner in the Tablet, but she came to the alarming conclusion that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recover her energies.

'That's going to complicate a lot of things,' she thought. 'I guess I'll have to return to the Tablet occasionally." “Damn Tablet," she growled, flying into an upward position suddenly.

A man jumped and took a few steps away from her although he couldn't see her. He looked over his shoulder for a moment, walking away nervously.

She leaned against the wall and sighed deeply, brainstorming about who may be responsible for putting Mia and her in those Tablets, and who'd have something to win by doing this. Her worries didn't last long. Orus previous master showed up with eight heavily geared city guards and came knocking at the door.

Orus opened the door. “Lucius?" he said. “You granted me my freedom, what are you doing here?"

“Well, hello to you two Mr. Orus," Lucius said. “Rest assure, I'm not here for you, no… you see… I'm here for your wife. Now that you're free, it's time to collect."

“What the hell are you talking about?"

“You didn't think your wife could afford such a lovely house all by herself now did you?"

“How much does she owe you?"

“Five thousand," Lucius said. “I'm willing to take either of you back as my slave if you can't afford to pay."

“How would you expect me to pay?" Orus said.

“He didn't expect you to be able to pay," Shadyss said, reappearing.

The guards placed their hands on their swords, assuming a defensive position. Their fear was bliss to her olfactory senses as she looked down at them from her towering four meters in height. She wasn't limited by any ceiling and although it didn't make much of a difference for her, fighting while measuring one meter or five was virtually the same, she always favored looking down at her enemies. She could shrink to as little as ten centimeters, but she could also grow to twice her natural height, although at this very moment, growing taller would only attract unwanted attention.

“I'm a man of my word'" Lucius said, his voice trembling. “Violet came to me and asked for my help. She knew what she was doing and now it's time to pay her debts."

“It's fine Shadyss," Orus said. “Stay out of this."

“As you wish, Master," she said, bowing to him and hoping he would understand the weight of his words.

She turned invisible and flew above their heads as one of the guards slowly swept his sword where she was a moment earlier.

“I'll pay you in full in one month," Orus said.

Lucius shook his head and snapped his tongue a few times. “This isn't how it works. You pay now, or I will have your wife arrested and sent to jail. The magistrate will then decide her fate, but I will recommend that she be branded a slave under my care for compensation."

“One day, please, it's all I ask," Orus begged.

“If you fight me on this Orus, you will become my slave again as well," Lucius said. “Who would take care of your little girl then?" He snickered. “Maybe I should take all of you as slaves, then I can make sure your little girl grows to become a perfect, beautiful, and obedient little slave."

“Give me the order and I will obliterate all of them right there," Shadyss said in Orus' mind. “Remember, you can answer me if you think hard enough about your words, and maybe you can give me orders also, but I've never tried this yet."

“If I ask you to do this," Orus thought. “We will become fugitives and I will lose everything here."

“So, Mr. Orus," Lucius said. “I won't stay here all day. You ask your wife to go with me, peacefully, and I will make her my slave without having her processed by the magistrate. We both know there is a slight chance she may end up somewhere else if that happens."

“It's your decision, but it looks to me like you've already lost everything," she said. “When I asked for your freedom earlier, I had no way to know he already had a plan to get you back. He should die for his deception."

“How fast can you get me five thousand gold?" Orus said in his mind.

“I'd say within ten minutes, but there could be other consequences," she said.

“I trust you will minimize any possible consequences," he said. “Do it. Find me five thousand gold and I will buy us some time."

“I will tell my wife to prepare her things," Orus said to Lucius, sighing deeply as he closed the door.

“Make sure they don't escape from the back," Lucius said to one of his guards.

Satisfied Orus had managed to buy a little bit of time, Shadyss flew to the marketplace. Most merchants were finishing setting up for the day as she roamed about. “How much gold do you have," she said in their minds alternatively.

Most people's reaction was to think about the amount and the third one she probed had thought about the eleven thousand gold he kept in his chest, glancing at two guards standing next to it.

Shadyss changed to look like a huge eagle and swooped down to snatch the chest. She heard a bunch of people yell behind her, but she flew over a few houses before dropping back down through a few alleys, changing her appearance multiple times on the way back to Orus house. She stopped in the alley facing the house and broke the chest open.

There were twelve pouches filled with gold coins and a small chest filled with gemstones. She didn't have much time to estimate the value of the gems, but one pouch appeared to have just about five hundred gold. She took ten, hid the chest, and teleported in front of Orus' door.

Lucius and his guards jumped. They reached for their weapons but didn't draw them. She placed the pouch at her feet and knocked at the door without breaking the staring contest with Lucious.

The door opened. Orus wife and daughter both had a dagger to their throats and Orus held the Tablet.

“I'm sorry Shadyss," he said. “They tricked us. All he wanted was the Tablet. Please step aside."

She moved out of his way. Orus walked to Lucius and handed him the Tablet.

“How did you know about the Tablet?" Shadyss asked.

“After our last conversation," Lucius said, “I looked into Salks and it turns out a few people knew about the special Tablet he had. I figured Orus must have had it."

“Do you know how it works?" Shadyss said.

“I've been informed," he said, smiling maliciously. “Now kneel before your new master!"

Shadyss kneeled and bowed her head to hide the smirk on her face.

“Wait," Orus said. “Will you leave my family alone now?"

“Of course, Mr. Orus. Your family's debt is paid in full," Lucius said, signaling the guard to take the gold. “Follow me," he said to Shadyss.

“Please change to your gladiator form," Lucius said as they all walked away from Orus's house.

Shadyss complied, following him as ordered after one of the guards offered her his cloak to cover her naked body.

They walked for a few moments when Lucius puffed, stopping suddenly as if he had just hit an invisible wall. “What the hell?"

Shadyss scoffed. “Five hundred meters," she said.

“What?" Lucius said, trying to push the Tablet beyond the invisible wall.

“The Tablet won't go any further than five hundred meters away from the Master," she said, analyzing the possible applications of this new realization.

“But I am the Master," Lucius growled, abandoning his quest to pierce that invisible wall and turning to face her. “Explain this to me!"

Shadyss grinned as she changed back to her true form without growing taller. “I was never under your command," she said. “I was just waiting for the right time to kill you." She glanced at all the guards with a charming smile. “I will spare the life of the first one who kills Lucius!"

Shadyss felt that humming again at this exact moment. 'Mia is here,' she thought, filled with a sudden warmth and oblivious to the quarrel she instigated.

The guards began fighting against each other while some tried to kill Lucius and the others tried to stop them.

She watched the Tablet fall to the ground and Lucius had a sword plunged through his stomach. One of the guards grabbed the Tablet and moved in a defensive posture from the others. “I killed him," he shouted. “I killed him!"

'Let's see how they fare against my most powerful magic,' she thought as she began casting.

The guards took a few steps back, holding their shield in front of them when the crackling dark purple ball of energy formed in her hands.

She flicked her wrist, shoving away the guard holding the Tablet as she tossed the sphere in the middle of the rest of them. One of the guards jumped to try and avoid the inevitable, but he was caught in the blast as the energy grew twenty feet around its target and obliterated everything within, creating a crater just as deep and leaving nothing but dust at its bottom. A portion of the head of the guard that jumped fell right at the edge of the blast.

Shadyss smirked.

“What the hell," the guard said, sullying his pants and squirming away from the edge of the crater that almost rid him of his feet.

Shadyss appeared right above him with a malicious grin on her face. “I told you I'd spare your life," she said. “Although I never said anything about your feet, but I'm glad you weren't hit after all."

“Yeah," he said, panting. “Not as glad as I, I'm sure!"

“Now be a man and stop pissing your pants," she said, flinging him up on his feet. “Put the Tablet under your cloak and follow me back to Orus."

The man hid the Tablet and followed her. “You just destroyed all the gold. How will you make me rich?"

“Do as I say and don't worry about that."

She knocked at Orus's door a moment later and he opened.

“Give him the Tablet," she said, stepping aside.

The guard complied. Orus took the Tablet and sighed deeply.

“I'm sorry Orus, but the Tablet can't be carried away from you," she said, “and there's another Tablet in the city. I need you to help me find it and then I promise I'll find a way to leave you and your family unburden from this damn curse."

“What about me?" The guard said.

Shadyss glared at him. “Yeah… what about you?"

The guard took off.

Orus chuckled and walked out, closing the door behind him. “Let's get done with this, shall we?"

“I feel the Tablet is moving away fast," Shadyss said, grabbing Orus at the hips. “We must hurry."

* *

Mia was very excited as they entered the big city. She could feel the presence of the other Tablet; Shadyss' Tablet. Valsheen was spent from having sex all day long for two days and one night during the trip, in the chariot and at the inn they stopped on the road.

“We'll rest at my house here," he said. “We can find Shadyss tomorrow."

“Mia can feel Shadyss is close," she said. “Maybe it would be wise to fetch her as soon as possible."

“We'll need to be smart about this," he said. “Salks doesn't keep her outside the Tablet at all times and we must strike when she won't be there to stop us."

Mia nodded. “Master Valsheen is right. Mia is no match against Mistress Shadyss… but Mia feels it growing stronger."

He looked at her with one eyebrow perked.

“Mistress Shadyss is coming towards here," Mia said, unsure if she should be happy or scared.

“I want you to protect me from harm Mia," Valsheen said. “If you see the Tablet in anyone's hand, I want you to fling that person right by my side and drive him into the ground to try and knock him out."

Mia's eyes grew big and she took a step back. “It's coming fast Master Valsheen," she said. “Very, very fast."

Valsheen stepped out of the chariot and ducked behind the wheel as Mia assumed a defensive fighting stance.

Shadyss flew over the houses and noticed a cloud of dust in the street further ahead. It looked like someone was on a horse and in quite the hurry. She wasn't sure this was the person carrying the Tablet, but her senses seemed to point in that direction and the speed felt like a match.

“Don't resist my magic," she said to Orus just before teleporting to get a better view.

She appeared a few meters ahead of the rider but still a few meters above the surrounding rooftops. She looked down to identify the rider but felt another humming even further ahead.

The rider was wearing a white tiger fur cloak with nothing more than a thin bikini like outfit made of the same fur and a leather belt with a dagger and a pouch. Her skin was pale grey, almost bluish, she had very long pointy ears and long black hair.

What caused Shadyss to slow down in shock wasn't the unusual looks of the rider, but the mount. It was a huge white tiger with a saddle, and it was running so fast she could barely keep up.

Mia noticed a dust trail turning around a corner far up ahead the main street. It was at least three hundred meters away, but it was closing in extremely fast. With the dust lifting behind the rider and her excellent vision, Mia could see the rider and its very unusual mount.

She didn't have to wait much for them to be within range, but she didn't see the Tablet in the rider's hands, and she suddenly felt another Tablet. She looked up and saw Shadyss flying above the dust cloud and saw the Tablet held by the man she was carrying.

Mia didn't hesitate. She flung the man out of Shadyss's hands, but the man stopped in mid-air before crashing at Valsheen's feet. Shadyss had stopped and held him hovering above Mia's head.

“Stop that rider Mia," Valsheen shouted.

Mia abandoned her grip over Orus and shaped her energy into a wall right before the tiger.

Orus flung back to Shadyss.

The tiger and its rider crashed into the telekinetic wall with so much might the wall collapsed from the impact, but the mount and the rider tumbled past Mia by almost ten meters.

The dust cloud filled the street, preventing anyone to see more than a meter away.

“Get the Tablet Mia," Valsheen shouted before coughing intensely.

Shadyss teleported into a nearby alley as soon as Orus returned into her arms. “Stay here," she said. “Protect the Tablet with your life!"

She teleported back into the sky just in time to watch the rider slide over the last few meters as the dust cloud engulfed everything in its wake.

“Mia! Mia it's me, Shadyss," she said in Mia's mind. “Why are you attacking us?"

“Valsheen is giving me orders," Mia thought back.

“What's with the white tiger and its rider, do you know them?"

“I have no idea!"

“Are you happy with Valsheen?"

“I'm not sure we can trust him yet."

A powerful roar echoed so loud the entire city would have heard it.

Mia ducked reflexively and winced to try and see through the dust in vain.

Shadyss noticed a shadow flying out of the cloud so fast she barely avoided it. A very muscular female humanoid tiger with white fur and black stripes slashed at her with its claws but she dodged back again. The creature was flying just like Shadyss was and it attacked her again with great speed and slashed her across the chest.

Shadyss roared in pain as she flew down to dodge another attack. It had been a very long time since she'd experience such physical pain. Cuts from the strongest man felt like a needle sting compared to that claw slash and as much as she knew she could sustain an enormous amount of physical damage, she wouldn't withstand so many hits like this one.

At least she was very good at dodging the attacks, or so she thought. The beast slashed at her twice again in a clumsy way, but Shadyss realized her mistake of avoiding those hits a little too late. As she moved sideways to avoid that second clumsy attack, the beast teleported into her back and slashed her with both claws at the same time. The blow ripped her shoulders deeply and as the claws jammed into the base of her small bat wings, the beast ripped it all off along with a large chunk of flesh and muscles. Shadyss roared loudly as she plummeted through a rooftop before crashing into the floor.

Mia heard Shadyss roar and wanted to help, but her orders prevented that. She had to get the Tablet, but she didn't know where they were. She focused for a moment to feel the humming and realized it was guiding her to the Tablet, not to Shadyss. She felt two of them and the closest one was the one she felt coming from where the rider had crashed.

She ran towards it, barely avoiding a collision with a civilian on the way before she found her target. The girl held a dagger with both hands as though she was praying. A bright circle of energy with various symbols within it was spinning slowly at her feet and when Mia tried to fling the girl away, a cylinder of energy blocked her, causing a ripple all around the girl.

The girl moved her arms while speaking the fairy tongue and a large hand made of rock sprouted from underneath to grab Mia. Her breath was cut short as the large rocky fingers crushed her stomach severely before pulling her down into the ground slowly.

Mia was buried to the neck when the white tiger landed between her and the girl, growling. It was covered in blood and still held Shadyss's wings in its claws.

“Saïna? Is that you?" Mia said.

“Kill it," the girl said.

The tiger swung its claw at Mia's face.

Shadyss groaned in pain. She couldn't feel anything below the neck. Her back was gushing with blood, her left arm wasn't functioning either and she could barely move her right arm. Luckily, her flying ability didn't require her body to be functioning as she controlled it by thought. She took a long moment to navigate out of the debris before flying into the sky to assess the situation.

A new line of dust rose on the road outside the city walls as the rider fled. The cloud down below had begun to settle, and Mia wasn't in sight, nor responding to her telepathic messages, but she felt one humming, just below, and the second one far ahead where the rider fled.

Valsheen was leaning against the back of a chariot, trembling, and clasping the Tablet tight against his chest when Shadyss landed before him.

His eyes grew big and she caught a whiff of fear escaping from his pores, adding to the smell of his soaked pants. She couldn't help but lean closer to sniff him some more, confirming all the odors and detecting the remnant scent of semen as well.

“Please don't kill me," he said.

“Where's Mia?"

“She was killed. The tiger ripped her head off."

“Why can't I read your mind?"

“I had a spell placed on me to prevent any form of mind reading."

“What happened after we last met?"

Valsheen took a few deep breathes and his trembling stopped. “Why don't we go talk at my house," he said. “I don't want to be here when the guards arrive."

“Fair enough," Shadyss said. “I'll be invisible, and I will follow you."

Valsheen nodded and wobbled back into his chariot.

“Find a tissue to cover the Tablet with," she said to Orus mind as she followed the chariot. “Keep it with you and follow the fancy cart that will pass by you in a moment."

“With pleasure," Orus thought.

She flew by Orus side as he followed the chariot. Despite being invisible, Shadyss left a trail of blood behind her for a few minutes before her back had regenerated enough to stop bleeding. By the time they reached the house on the opposite side of the city, she had regained the use of both her arms and partially felt her legs, but still couldn't move them.

When the chariot stopped in front of a fancy house, she told Orus to keep walking and to hide nearby.

She followed Valsheen inside the house. “Are you in?" he said, holding the door open for a moment.

“Yes, you can close the door," she said, reappearing before him.

Valsheen closed the door. “I'll have a change of clothes if you don't mind."

“Go ahead," she said. “I'll wait for you over there." She pointed at the couch near the fireplace of the living room.

She heard Valsheen hide the Tablet in what sounded like a secret compartment in the wall or floor of the room upstairs before changing his clothes. She heard him order a servant to make some tea and start preparing dinner before he walked back into the living room and sat on the couch before her.

“I went after her immediately," Valsheen said before she asked anything. “When I found her, I followed her discretely, but she noticed me and took off. I chased after her and called for the guards to help me on the way. She was very illusive, but we managed to catch her. She only had one Tablet on her; yours. She made a scene in the middle of the street while struggling with the guards and before I could get my hands on the Tablet, Salks showed up and claimed it. With the both of us claiming the Tablet, the guards decided to keep it and have us deal with the Magistrate to get it back."

The servant walked in with some tea and poured two cups before walking out. Valsheen took a sip before sinking back into his seat. “Didn't you have small wings the last time we met?"

“The tiger ripped them off," Shadyss said. “It'll grow back overnight. Please continue."

Valsheen nodded. “I had my men search for Mia's Tablet, but they never found it. The Magistrate was sadly in Salks pocket and I couldn't get it back. I expected Salks would send you after me the next day, so I fled town. I heard Salks had sold his manor to move out of town. I think he also caused the death of three nobleman and their servants before he left town, but maybe you could shed some light on that one since the details weren't clear about what happened there exactly."

“Salks sold me out to those noblemen's servants," Shadyss said. “It was bliss and I took all of their souls, except for Salks' of course. I can't kill the Tablet Master. He was pissed and asked me to bring him to Praxion. He had me fight in the arena ever since."

Valsheen nodded. “Yeah, that much I know. I heard quite a while ago that you were fighting in that arena, but I had barely survived three assassination attempts, which I strongly believe was orchestrated by Salks, so I kept on hiding and moving further and further away until I finally heard that you had killed him in the arena. It was a relief, really. I went back home and found Mia was living in my manor with a Rat-girl called Lily."

Shadyss chuckled. “Lucky you."

Valsheen laughed. “Turns out Wasp had tossed Mia's Tablet in an alley where Lily found it and stashed it in her… hole. It took a few months before she used the Tablet to summon Mia. I don't think she knew anything about it then and not much more after either because she traded it to me for some gold Mia had scraped off my furniture. She genuinely thought Mia would go back to her."

“I suppose you have no intention to let Mia go back," Shadyss said.

“I don't want to, but I promised Mia I would," he said. “She wants me to let Lily be the Tablet Master for both you and her, but I truly hope we can come to an arrangement that would also make it profitable for me."

Shadyss scoffed. “Profitable as in us doing your bidding to conquer the entire kingdom."

Valsheen moaned with a smile. “I guess we could say that, but I really want the two of you to help me do it, not just obey me. We could all be friends."

“You do know how much we value our freedom, right?"

“I do," he said, leaning forward. “You and Mia are amazing creatures and I'd rather have you as friends then slaves, but I also can't trust anyone with the power to control you, even if they'd make it so you would help me achieve all that."

“My goal is to be free of those Tablets," she said. “I don't mind helping you as long as it doesn't stop me from achieving my goal, so here's the deal. You invite Orus and his family to your house for the next ten days while you do the proper proceedings to transfer everything you own here in Praxion to them, this house included. I'll talk with Mia in ten days when you can summon her back and unless she has strong reasons not to, I'll have you recall me into the Tablet so you can summon me again the next day and we'll both be yours to command."

Valsheen grinned with anticipation.

“Remember I already got one Master killed," Shadyss said. “I can do it again if you make us do things we don't agree on. Maybe we'll go back to that Lily and have her summon Mia if needed, or maybe we can simply stay under your control, that'll be up to Mia. Either way, I believe we can achieve all of our goals if we work together."

“That sounds like an amazing plan," Valsheen said.

Shadyss walked to the door and opened it for Orus to walk in. “I called him here," she said. “Orus, this is Valsheen."

“Please to meet you," Orus said, bowing his head slightly.

“The pleasure is all mine," Valsheen said, hurrying next to them. “I've been told you were a great warrior."

“I hope to leave all the fighting behind me," Orus said. “I'd like to spend every second I have left with my wonderful wife and my daughter."

“How about you bring them here and the three of you share this big house with us," Valsheen said.

“We need you to live with us for the next ten days and then this house will belong to you," Shadyss said.

Orus looked around with round eyes. “Is this for real?"

“It'll be all yours in a few days," Shadyss said. “Valsheen will take the burden of the Tablet from you and you can live out your days as Nobles in this city. We'll make sure of that." She flashed a smile at Valsheen. “Now let's get your wife and daughter here."

Enya, Orus's daughter, was sound asleep in her mother's arms in their new bed when Orus, Valsheen and Shadyss finally sat near the fireplace in the living room to enjoy some fine wine.

“I've been meaning to ask you about that monstrous tiger," Valsheen said, leaning back into his seat.

“What about it?" Shadyss asked.

Orus watched in silence, sipping his wine, relaxed.

“What the hell was it?"

“I think it was my daughter."

Valsheen almost choked on his sip of wine. “Wait, what?"

“My daughter Saïna," Shadyss said. “I think she's trapped in a Tablet too."

“A third Tablet?"

“It would appear so."

“Is she more powerful than you?"

“Indeed, she is."

“She ripped Mia's head off like it was nothing," he said, shaking his head in shame. “When she jumped right in front of me after that, I thought that was it, but then the other girl called her back and they fled."

“Ah," Shadyss laughed. “That explains the need to change your clothes."

Valsheen smirked. “Laugh as much as you want," he said, laughing. “I've never been so terrified in my entire life. That thing was huge!"

“Saïna can change her form at will, just like me," Shadyss said. “She uses a form of magic even I don't know, and it allows her to increase her strength to astronomical levels should she use enough energy to do so. She could probably obliterate me with one blow if she wanted to. She's probably limiting her usage, so she won't have to go back in the Tablet too often."

“Why haven't you learned that kind of magic yet?" Orus asked.

“I prefer to rely on my spells than my physical strength, but I've learned a few tricks from her."

“Should we go after them to get the Tablet?" Valsheen said.

“I think it's not a good idea right now," Shadyss said. “We know her Mistress wasn't on a quest to retrieve ours until now. Maybe she wasn't aware there were more than one Tablet, but after our little encounter… this could change."

“What if she comes back?" Orus said.

“I'll protect us," Shadyss said, standing up. “I'll cast a few protective spells right away in case they do come back. You should all get some rest."

With the house well warded with powerful magic that used up more than half of all her energy, Shadyss spent the following days meditating in lotus position, invisible and as tall as she could; a towering eight meters in height, hovering above the house that didn't look so big anymore. Three of the few things she could do at will and naturally without spending any energy; flying, changing size and being invisible.

Valsheen had the deeds to the house transferred to Orus along with all the furniture, the chariot and even his two servants.

The little family seemed to be very happy and Valsheen was nothing but friendly to them. Shadyss joined them a few times for dinner, but she preferred keeping watch outside. Her wings had grown back, and she was fully recovered from the beast's dreadful attack.

“If the beast attacks, it'll be swift and I prefer to be ready," she had told them.

No one tried to convince her otherwise and luckily, or thankfully, the attack didn't come.

Shadyss met with Valsheen in the living room when at long last, Mia's name reappeared on the Tablet. Orus and his family stood behind them, watching.

Valsheen held the Tablet high with a grin on his face. “Mia-Këllaradÿss!"

Mia appeared before them, yowling loudly and lengthily.

“It's okay Mia," Valsheen said.

“What are your orders Master?" Mia said.

“Just don't hurt me for now," he said, chuckling.

“Shadyss!" Mia screamed as she jumped into a hug.

Shadyss hugged Mia back for a moment before letting go.

“Mia is so happy to see Mistress Shadyss again," Mia said, sliding down.

“I'm happy to see you too Mia," Shadyss said, petting the top of Mia's head as she perched herself at her feet, purring heavily to her touch.

“Outstanding," Valsheen said, gawking at the two felines.

Shadyss smiled at him. “Other than pleasing me, what do you want most right now Mia?"

Mia smirked and pondered for a moment as the obvious answer had been denied. “Mia want Master Valsheen to return the Tablets to Mistress Lily."

“Do you think Lily can help us find that third Tablet?"

“Not specifically," Mia said, “but Mia and Mistress Shadyss will be completely free when Mistress Lily's order is to not obey any other orders."

“So that's what you really want," Valsheen said. “What if I do that instead?"

Mia pondered for a moment. “This would have worked if Master Valsheen had not broken the trust already. Now Master Valsheen has to prove Mia can trust him again by returning the Tablet to Mistress Lily."

“Faire enough," Valsheen said. “We'll do it. Then me, you, Shadyss and Lily can try to find Saïna."

“So, it was Saïna!" Mia said, swatting her tail energetically.

“I believe it was," Shadyss said, “but I could be wrong, although I never encountered a creature that could take me down like she did."

“Why is everyone stuck in those Tablets," Orus said, taking a step forward.

“Question of the day," Shadyss said. “If you ever find out, please let me know."

Mia sighed deeply. “If Saïna, Mia and Mistress Shadyss are prisoner in the Tablets, it can only be Shaella."

“She's the only one with enough power to do something like this," Shadyss said with a nod.

“Who's Shaella?" Valsheen asked.

Orus had one finger raised and his mouth open before he nodded to that last question.

“She's…" Shadyss said before sighing. “She created me."

Valsheen scoffed. “Wow! She created you, you created Mia, and Saïna is your daughter."

“Technically," Shadyss said, “Saïna is Shaella's daughter. You see… I was created by Shaella, The Goddess of Evil, Death and Destruction. I was made from her blood, which makes me part Rahkshasa and part Succubus, just like Shaella. She used a tiny part of her soul to create me and infused me almost all her memories so I could accomplish an important mission as an extension of herself; as an Avatar. I was supposed to find Saïna in another world where Shaella had no deific powers."

“Did you find her?"

“Yes, but by that time, I had changed," Shadyss said. “I was just as evil as Shaella was when I sought to find Saïna in that other world, but something happened to me during this time and I was emotionally connected to Saïna for a while before I could even find her. Saïna was undergoing an enormous emotional change during that time specifically and it changed me as well. I became… a good person. I couldn't return to Shaella afterwards since it would mean the end of my existence. All of me would return as part of her and I wanted to survive as the new person I had become. With Saïna's help and a few others, including Mia and one of Saïna's daughters, I was able to part from Shaella completely."

“I guess that's why she'd want to punish all of you," Orus said. “I think maybe we should return to our little house and stay away from all this… godly mess."

Shadyss laughed. “I don't think she'll come here to hurt any of you. Anyways, we'll be leaving tomorrow so you'll all be rid of us and you can live a happy life."

“Thank you," Orus said. “I'm glad I was able to help you and you're all welcome to return anytime you want regardless. I'm a bit worried, that's all."

“All you need to worry about is the wellbeing of your beautiful wife and daughter," Valsheen said. “How are we going to get back to Lily exactly, now that Orus owns my chariot and all?"

“You can fetch the Tablet now, Orus," Shadyss said.

Orus left the room for a moment and returned with the Tablet before offering it to Valsheen.

“When you summon me back tomorrow," Shadyss said, “We will both be under your command and we'll be able to move further than five hundred feet from Orus. I'll fly us all back to… what's the name of that city anyways?"

“Lankmar," Valsheen said.

“Good to know," Shadyss said. “I'll fly us back to Lankmar where we can find Lily."

Valsheen nodded and took the Tablet, staring at it for a moment before he finally read the name on it.

Mia watched Shadyss disappear instantly. “Uh… Mia hoped this would look a little more… exciting."

Valsheen laughed but stopped suddenly as the Tablet began shaking in his hand. “What the hell?"

Everyone stared for a moment.

Valsheen started walking with the Tablet in front of him. “It's pulling me away Mia, what's happening?"

“Mia does not know," she said, following him up the stairs. “Maybe let the Tablet go?"

“No," he said, entering his room. “I think it's leading me to your Tablet."

The Tablet in his hand pulled him to the wall and stopped there, vibrating slightly.

“Is the other Tablet behind that wall?" Mia said.

“Yeah," Valsheen said, pulling on the Tablet. “The pull isn't strong, but I don't know what will happen if I take the other Tablet out."

“There is only one way to find out," Mia said.

Valsheen opened the secret compartment in the wall and grabbed the other Tablet, struggling slightly to keep them apart for a moment before letting them touch.

The Tablets produced a blinding light for a moment and when the light dimed out, there was only one Tablet left with both names on it.

“Oh no," Valsheen said after reading the small inscription. “By speaking either names, Mia-Këllaradÿss or Shadyss-Mikaellaïnalla, one helpful servant with great powers will appear to serve you. Does this mean I can't have you both out at the same time?"

“It would appear so," Mia said, sighing deeply.

“It looks like I could summon Shadyss right away though," he said. “Should I try and see what happens?"

“Mia does not want to go back in the Tablet," she said. “Mia never wants to go back, but Mistress Shadyss wants to come out also." Mia yowled.

“The rules have changed now Mia," Valsheen said. “We have to try to figure out how this works now."

Mia sighed, nodding her head slightly.

“Shadyss-Mikaellaïnalla!"

The swap was instantaneous. Mia vanished as Shadyss took her place in the exact same spot.

“What are your orders Master?" Shadyss said.

“Nothing for now," Valsheen said. “I'm afraid I have bad news."

“What is it Master?" She said, looking around cautiously.

“I can't have you and Mia both out at the same time. The Tablets fused together as one."

“What am I doing here and who are you?" Shadyss said.

Valsheen looked at her in shock. “Wait what? You don't remember me?"

“No, I don't," she said. “Should I?"

He took a deep breath and looked at the Tablet. Both names were still visible. “Mia-Këllaradÿss!"

Shadyss was replaced with Mia instantly.

“What are your orders Master?" Mia said.

“Please tell me you remember me," he said, his heart pounding.

“I remember you Master," Mia said.

He looked at her for a moment. Mia stared back at him.

“Did you just say that because I asked you to and you have to obey my commands?"

“Yes Master," she said. “Did Mia do something wrong?"

“No Mia, you didn't."

Valsheen paced for a moment, pondering as he held the Tablet in one hand. “I want you to remember the number 8 Mia."

“Yes master."

“Mia-Këllaradÿss!"

Mia vanished. Both names remained on the Tablet. “Mia-Këllaradÿss!"

Mia appeared. “What are your orders Master?"

“Do you remember the number I asked you to memorize?"

“Mia does not," she said.

“Do you know who I am?"

“Mia does not, Master."

Valsheen puffed a few times before he started pacing again. “This is not good… or is it? Or is it not? Or is it?"

“What can Mia do to please you, Master?"

“Nothing for now," he said, looking at the Tablet again. “Shadyss-Mikaellaïnalla!"

“What are your orders, Master?" Shadyss said after taking Mia's place.

“Do you know who I am?"

“No, I don't, Master."

“Do you know who you are?"

“My name is Shadyss, Master," she said, bowing her head slightly.

“What do you remember before you were here?"

“Nothing, Master. Nothing at all."

“But you know your name?"

“Yes Master, I do."

“Do you know what you're capable of?" he said. “Do you know your powers?"

“Yes, I do, Master."

“Tell me two of them."

“I can fly, and I can change my appearance at will, Master."

“Fuck!" Valsheen slammed his fist into the wall and cringed. “Ouch, this wasn't smart."

“Would you like me to heal your hand, Master?"

Valsheen screamed with rage before reading the name again; “Shadyss-Mikaellaïnalla!"