[CONTENT WARNING]
there's some pretty intense mutilation and gore in this chapter
summary is that Crimson goes through a bloody and ahem invasive ritual through which Umbra makes her Wretched
Umbra lays me down in a bed of roses.
The petals are soft. The thorns are not.
With a wince, I mutter, "Is this going to hurt?"
"Some." She softly kisses between my horns. "Relax. Breathe. Mostly, it will feel strange." She kisses my neck. "All you must do…" She kisses my chest, just over my heart. "Is relax. And stay calm. Can you do that for me?"
"Y–Yes. Yes." I shift and exhale as she continues kissing my body. "Mmm… Yes… I'll do anything for you, my Queen. My Goddess…"
"Good. Be still."
Her huge hand flattens over me, palm covering my chest and her fingers on either side of my neck. From above, she hums in thought with her eyes closed, and the thick vines of the Wretched Overgrowth curl and writhe and extend. This place is the heart of it all–another chasm tucked away deep within her personal domain of the Hells. We're the only people here, and the cavernous chamber's air is practically dripping with the palpable fragrance of roses.
Above and behind us both looms the single largest rose bloom I have ever seen. It's as big as Aurora's Cathedral, the shade of deep bloody red, and surrounded by thorny vines so thick they rival Nyth's bones. Throughout and all around are more roses of every size, all of them just as red. This entire space is nothing but one massive garden, and I'm not entirely sure it thrives on water.
"This… is it…" She leans closer, tongue flickering toward me as her empty eyes pin me in place. "Your final opportunity… to decide differently. Once I begin this ritual… There is no stopping it, Crimson."
"R–Remind me. I'll have this exception?"
"Yes. However, it is conditional. Only if things end between us will you be permitted to sever these ties. If you choose to turn away from the Wretched… You are turning away from me."
"Right. Right. Um. And that's–Is it… required? If things go wrong between us, do I have to leave your side?"
She frowns. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Because." A little embarrassed, I admit, "I'm not very good at… letting people go. If I care about someone, that doesn't just stop because we're no longer romantic. If it's possible… I'd like to stay friends."
"How sweet you are, little one." Her lips curl as she breathes in. With a long exhale of her hot breath over my skin, she kisses my cheek and then my ear. "Of course. Friends. That stipulation is based on your choice. If you wish to stay, you may stay. Any other last minute questions?"
"Um. What are… What will…" That exhale thing she did has scrambled my thoughts. "Mmm… No. No others."
"Then I give you one final chance to rescind."
"I w–I won't. Please. Please. Make me yours."
"Then I will do so with pleasure."
She lifts her hand off me and it glows yellow-white as a sigil appears in her palm. I've been warded from harm. Simultaneously, the rose vines constrict my wrists and ankles, then my waist and neck, then my legs and arms. I'm suddenly splayed out, and my heart races with excitement. Though the vines dig in tight, their thorns hardly faze me. They don't even pierce my skin. All I feel is a sharp pressure. And suddenly I'm completely under her control, unable to move on the slightest.
"Oh!" I blurt out with a laugh. "I wasn't expecting this!"
"Only for you," she purrs, then murmurs a laugh too. "But now I silence you. I must focus, little rose."
All well and good–the thinner vines have gagged me. I hope this leads to certain activities afterwards! With her hand hovering over me, she begins whispering in a slow and hissing language I've never heard before, so quietly I can hardly hear. As she does, another sigil shines the color of blood over me, and the vines cinch a little tighter. It takes my breath away.
"Be still," she whispers in Draconyl. "Breathe. Relax. Best to close your eyes. This part will hurt some. It will be bearable. But you won't want to see what I'm doing."
"Mmm! Mm mm mmm!"
"It's bloody. It's gory. Not for the faint of heart."
Which means she thinks I'm faint of heart.
Well, I'll show her! I'm going to watch closely!
"Though I'm now certain you will attempt to watch regardless. Hahh… Very well then. You asked for this. It's time we took our intimacy a touch… deeper."
Her index claw very slowly draws down from just between my collarbones to the bottom of my sternum. She was right, the pain is for from unbearable, but it definitely hurts even through the warding. It feels as if she just cut my skin.
Oh. Because she has. All the way to the bone.
My blood runs like rivers. The vines drink it all. It only hurts for another ten seconds or so, and then it's only a good sting as the pain radiates. That wasn't so bad. I suppose it is somewhat unsightly, seeing such a deep cut.
"This one is worse. I'll be swift and get it over with."
"Mmm?" I hum, incredulous.
It hits me before I even register that it's coming. So quickly I might have missed it if I blinked. The deep, aching, gutwrenching pain comes just as swiftly, and only within its fierce bite do I realize what just happened. A second cut, exactly the same but with more force.
My ribcage has been cut open.
My body is involuntarily writhing against my bindings, with my toes and knees curling. It's so painful it takes my breath away and shuts out my every thought. The warding rebounds just as quickly, and it's reduced to a dull ache. I clench my jaw and jam my eyes shut. I'm starting to regret looking. I'm not sure I want to see whatever in the Hells could be worse than this.
But I know I'll feel it. And I know I am not faint of heart.
I want this. I will see it done. And I will see it through.
"The worst of it is next. I will give you a moment."
Once I've caught my breath, I exhale deeply and nod.
She stares down at me, clearly looking concerned.
And then I realize she couldn't see me nod. "Mm!"
"It will be quick. Past this, it will be much easier."
Before she's even finished speaking, she uses her claws from both hands to pry open my ribcage with a few sickening cracks. It's done in less than a second, but the pain lasts much longer. This time it makes my eyes roll a little and the edges of my vision go dark, but I fight to stay conscious and force myself to bear it. Once the worst passes, it's no worse than the previous incision.
Shit. Shit. Okay. I got through it.
Umbra hums with satisfaction. "You watched, didn't you? I know you did. Quite brave of you, Crimsy. I'm very proud." With a deep breath, she leans in closer. "This, I do only with you." Lowering further, she licks up my blood on her black forked tongue. A little taste at first. Then she laps up more of it with a soft moan. "Ahh… That's divine… You taste… so richly delightful. Savory. And full."
I was not previously aware that I'm into this.
With some of it smeared across her lips and pale face, she retracts the gag around my mouth to fiercely kiss me and make me taste it too. Oh no. I'm into this too. Breathing heavily from excitement, Umbra kisses me with such intensity it's overwhelming in the best possible way. It's like I'm being hit by a storm. Someone's certainly gotten feisty!
When she exhales, rose red fire pours over me from her mouth like liquid, like heavy fog. It doesn't hurt. No, whatever spell she cast over me with that has numbed my pain to another degree. Like warm heat relaxing an ache away. The smoke that spills off it is light and airy, but smells like roses. As the flames dissipate, she returns to whispering her incantations, and I find staying relaxed to be much easier. I feel almost sedated.
"This, the final movement. It will feel strange."
"Strange. Okay. Okay. I can do strange."
"Stay calm. Breathe."
Her tailblade stabs straight through my heart.
I hardly feel it. Like nothing more than a good punch. She was right, however, it feels very strange. I've been impaled, immobilized, nailed down to this spot. When I try to move, the sword keeps me in place. It's bizarrely unnatural and horribly uncomfortable. But I can't tear my eyes away.
My blood somehow runs up the blade's length then converges to flow along her black dorsal plating, finally spreading across her extended wings which are wound with thick rose vines. The vegetation and the Goddess drink my life before my very eyes. With a haunting smile, Umbra licks at her tailblade to have another taste of me, then resumes her incantations.
As the roses creep in, I start to fade.
My consciousness wanes, but I desperately hold on.
"Mm… Mmm… No…"
"Shhh." She kisses me softly. "You must rest. Fear not, my little rose. I will tend to you as I always have. Please. Let go. Fall under. Sleep now, Crimsy. I'll be right here when you wake."
A few more weak whimpers and moans slip past my tongue. It feels… It feels good. My body… It's so warm. And fuzzy. The relaxation takes control, and the sedation does the rest. It's a losing fight to stay awake, and I take her words into my pierced heart. She will protect me and take care of me.
I know I am safe with Umbra.
So, I let go. And fall under.