Chapter 33 - Ballad of The Bruja

Becca got up slowly, Jack still laying by a gigantic rock in the dirt. Behind her, a fairly sizable cave was open with a visible trail of blood going inside. She hopped over Jack and went inside, seeing the Xistress still injured and passed out, and the powerful Set grievously still worn out.

They'd pulled the silver spear out, the massive hole left in their wounded chest. Blood was smeared on the walls. The Set groaned, a huge scarlet wound on her arm showing it was

bleeding heavily. "I don't want to move..." She coughed abit, wheezing. Becca shook her head. "Shit. We gotta get out of here soon. I don't have any medbay stuff." Becca whispered, her voice shaking. "I saw a nearby town, if I go there maybe I can get some supplies. Until then, can you do me a favor and stay put.. Akura? 77.. 88618?" She paused.

The Set growled. "That's not my name."

She rolled her eyes. "Well excuse me, not going to remember a number like you're some sort of factory reject. Besides, we're fugitives at the moment so we cannot call each other by our real names." She said, shaking her head. "Come on."

The Set groaned again, and nodded. "I'll be here. Call me Akura."

Becca shook her head. "No way. I've had it up to here with friggin egotistical types calling themselves God." She paced back and forth, looking up the red jewel on her forehead. "What's your number?" She asked.

The cat murmured abit. "I told you, I'm unit Akura-778519." The human scratched her head. "Ok. Well.." She squinted abit.

"The last digit I can recall, so we'll leave it at that. How about just, 9?" The Set tilted her head. "N-nine?" "Yeah."

"Then.. atleast call me, Unit 9." She whispered.

The human laughed, the sound echoing through the cavern.

"Nah, screw that. I'm calling you, 'Nine'. I don't need no unit talk-" The Set groaned again. "I'm not a number."

"You're not a unit." Becca insisted. "I call you Nine. And that's final."

"I disapprove, but regardless. I'll call you.." The Set's eyes widened. "Celeste." "Celeste?" Becca asked confused.

"The Set goddess of waste, decay, discard, discord and destruction. Cherished but unsolicited."

Becca "Pfft. Fair enough. Alright, deal. Now just shut up and let me leave. You need to rest up while I try to help you, and you also deal with.." She looked at Sandra, her body currently gripped in the Set's massive claws. "Her." She said, heading outside. She hopped over Jack and ran out, running to the town two kilos away.

It looked to be pretty run down, and it took a few minutes for her to get to the entrance. It was locked shut, and every single thing was locked up inside. She pounded on the front doors, banging on it with her fist. "Come on, let me in! I'm trying to save a life!" She yelled, but none opened up for her. She looked up the town, seeing a pharmacy, a restaurant, a gift shop and an electronic shop not locked up. Becca went inside the last building and saw numerous old tapes and recording devices, too old for almost any modern tech in Xi to play. There was a man in far back behind the counter holding a broom. "L-leave our shop alone.." He said, shaking with fear. "I don't fear you g-guys.." He said, looking out the window."

"Dude I don't know what you're talking about." She said. "You lie. GET OUT!" The man said, throwing old tapes at her until she left the shop.

Becca went to the pharmacy next, a sign reading 'Pharmacy of Charms against Witchcraft'.

She hopped up and read the sign, a sense of disbelief flowing through her. "The Pharmacy of Charms against... Witchcraft?" She read, pushing her way through an old wooden door. A figure pushed through the door, silently whispering to 'hush'. Becca squinted, she tilted the door open and upon seeing her face, recalled an air of recognizable feeling for the woman.

"Hey.."

The woman gasped, and pushed through the door before it nearly shut. Becca slammed her foot to prevent it from closing and pushed her way in. "You.. where have I seen you before?" she asked. The white robes of hers with a tan-belt and creme colored gloves. glimmered in the sunlight. "I don't know you." The woman replied.

"Don't lie, I know I've seen you before.." She pushed her way into the Pharmacy, bumping into a few bottles and a jingling cauldron in the center of the room. Becca hit her head a few times to jog her memory.

"Aaahh! I know it!" She said. "YOU'RE-"

The woman gasped, slamming her hand on the jingling cauldron, Becca's hand clamping around it. "Don't say my name! Who are you? What do you want?"

The human shook her head. "I, I don't actually know your name. We've.. we've crossed paths before.. you.." Her memory flowed back. "Back in Orchid, when Lyras died and the Domina fought in the stadium. You were the one.." She stepped inches from the girl's face. Her expression turned tense. "That gave Goliath that weapon in the stands. Astrid had you work on it on the spot."

She went silent, clasping her hands together and nodding. "My name is Megumi. I, died in a little project of my own trying to create a powerful device. Two months before that battle, a woman calling herself Harmonizer revived me with this.." She pulled her neck's collar, showing a black jewel embedded on her upper arm. "Immediately she told me I'd be forced under her control or killed unless I worked on the device again for them. I didn't really have any choice."

Becca folded her arms. "Uh huh." The girl's expression didn't change, but a sense of.. calmness flowed through her eyes. "Then what are you doing here?"

Megumi say back on a chair, taking some charms and writing sigils on them with ink. "I came to this town looking for a safe place to hide. Just help me, you have to help me.." She said, grabbing a few bottles of the room, including a bottle of green liquid with black spots. "I-I don't know who you are.. but I saw you fight Goliath back there.." She looked into the woman's eyes. “Help me, you can help us.."

"Help you, how?" Becca watched her gather as many ingredients as she could before scooping them out of her arms and putting them aside herself, this Megumi looked like a nervous wreck.

Megumi took a deep breath. "That woman who helped kidnap me, the Domina's sorceress. She came here over two years ago and took over the whole town, by charming the guild hall and a group of thieves." She explained, showing a sense of anger and distaste as she said it. "I tried to stop her myself but, she's way more skilled at magic and she tricked me into giving her everything she needs. I need someone who can stop her."

Becca was silent. "So, you're here.. just hoping I can help?" She said, shaking her head. "You're asking me to go up against a sorceress." She paused. "Are you even sure I can?" She vividly recalled the way Astrid fought the Domina, fiercely competing with the likes of Lyras. Even if she lost, she'd given the Domina a hell of a lot of trouble and lasted fairly long on her own.

Becca sighed. "Megumi, I'm just one person. I'll try my best to talk her down, but-" She looked around, observing the relics and artifacts on the top shelves. "A Set is hurt badly out in the marsh, I need help with her recovery. In exchange for helping heal my friend, I also want to know everything about that weapon you gave Goliath. Everything. I want to know what you made it for, more about who forced you to build it and, if it has any weaknesses.."

Megumi looked shocked. "What did you say?" "You heard me." They blinked, then shook hands. "Deal."

Becca nodded. "I'll start looking up that Sorceress now, and we'll talk about all that later."

"Wait, what's your name?" Megumi asked, putting up more protection charms into her shop.

The girl paused. "Celeste." She said.

"Celeste.." Megumi muttered. "Named after a Set deity? That's a strong name for a girl like you.." Megumi laughed, putting away her supplies.

"Yeah yeah whatever. Later.." Becca said, and she left the shop, strolled down the boarded up town and disappeared into the shadows ahead. The long vines seemed to grow more dense and numerous the farther up the hill she went, the air grew cooler, and the sky became darker and darker. In front of a sizable guild manor with a church, saloon, and numerous buildings adjacent to it was a woman with blond hair combed diagonally over her face. Becca tensed, her breath slowed down to a crawl, her eyes widening to the sight of a hillside and the figure that stood on the edge. A woman in a black sleeveless top, white gloves and a purple dress. A purple hood covered her head and a blueish violet scarf wrapped around her upper arms, even with the hood Becca could make out the woman's eyepatch and eerie smile. She looked at other figures in hoods- burly men, dagger-wielding thieves, Set, Llavalites, species of different kinds, and some humans like her. The group of two dozen seemed to form a conclave legion around the sorceress.

Astrid walked down the hillside, a sizable white-headed white snake trailing behind her neck.

"What do you want, Becca?" She asked, a strong presence of power pouring out of her, she held her godshard powered white-staff tightly in her grip.

Becca held out her hands, slowly, showing she was unarmed. "Just, talk. We can discuss things.." The new prosthetic did catch Astrid's attention, as did Astrid's own replacing her lost- leg. The Orchid woman smirked, but took a few steps up and looked at Becca. "Talk? Did you came here for something specific. Why?" She asked, an playful glint on her eyes. "Do you want to know what I'm doing in this town?"

"Yeah, but it can wait for a minute." Becca said, taking another few steps forward. "Forget my name and-"

"What do you mean 'forget your name'?" Astrid asked, her eyes widening and her expression more stone-like.

"First off I'm going by Celeste these days, so don't call me that again, got it?" Becca set the tone. She knew Astrid wasn't one to take orders. "And secondly, I can get a clue what you're doing. Everyone boarded up and cowering inside in fear, and the whole place just reeks of witchcraft. No offense. I mean you."

Astrid stared, her head shaking. "So it's true.." She muttered, a sense of disappointment on her face. "I've been trying to make this town my domain. It was so much easier before that little witch Megumi tried starting uprisings and sabotaging me. I've had more than my share of dealing with her.." She sighed. "Well, why don't we discuss it inside? We're having stew tonight. Say, call it a date. You look like a girl that could use dinner and a good lay." She said.

Becca folded her arms. "A date and sex? Really?" She retorted, shaking her head. "You're full of shit, but fine. Lead the way."

The sorceress nodded, her head perking and heading inside. The entire group headed through the entrance to a lavishly furnished den. "Nice crib." She said, smiling following Astrid up into the guild manor. A burly man walked beside them and led them up the stairs, they made a small trip on the stairs before being led into the dining room.

There, a table full of various types of foods and drinks were set over top a shimmering, silken gold cloth. Astrid sat down and gestured for Becca to do so as well. "Help yourself, my dear. As you can see I'm quite the hostess." She laughed, her head nodding warmly.

"What did you do to the town?" Becca asked, a sense of cold rage flowing through her as she ate. "Are you just taking their stuff?" She asked. "Or do you have any intention of letting them free?"

The sorceress shook her head, her smirk widening. "The town was too infested by a lot of thieves, scumbags and drunks. I simply found them and.. rehabilitated them, as you can see." She cupped the burly man's cheeks, kissing it and stroking his hair. One of her hands cupped over her staff as if it were a crystal ball, then she blew golden dust into Becca's face causing a coughing fit.

"If you want a place to settle down, and make a living, I'd be happy to keep you here as long as you do the same for me.." She said, pouring out a steaming-hot stew into a bowl and setting it down for Becca. The girl wanted to punch her for the weird smoke, but oddly felt hunger and warmth sapping any desire to upstage her.

The smell of meaty lamb had caught her attention, she had to pause to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. "I think you'll love it here. Especially my own personal stew. Do try it." She said, her face warm and smile bright.

Becca slowly ate, trying to hold back on the taste and sensation, making sure it didn't taste like that mushy stuff she got inside the jail. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, head feeling abit light and airy. "What, you're going to rehabilitate me?" She joked, sipping more of the soup. Astrid blew some odd pink mist. The smell of roses filled the room and Becca's nostrils, getting caught in her senses and making it hard to concentrate.

"I don't think that's going to happen."

Astrid smirked. "Of course it will, but you'll have to trust me. Now come on, there's plenty of food to go around.." She poured out a full bowl of steaming soup for Becca, who was tempted to finish it but felt like it was getting warmer and warmer. She shook her head. "You seem like a very, stubborn girl.. It's going to take more than that to get you on my side.." She laughed, her staff on her lap but her head leaned towards her. "So why don't we start over? First of all, my name is Astronomica." She put out her hand to shake.

"I.. don't care." Becca shrugged, finding it harder to dislike a woman serving her so cordially.

"Oh don't be a grumpy gus, here." She forcibly grabbed Becca's metal hand slowly shook it back and forth, the rhythmical movements making her feel even calmer. "That's alright.." She said, taking out her staff and waving the golden aura of the godshard in her eyes. They danced like a hypnotic balm over her consciousness. "You see . You're not a Set, so why don't you try and take off those ugly things, you must be pretty hot underneath them, especially in this weather."

"Wha-" Becca tried to say, but a heavy exhaustion came over her. "I, I don't know what's happening, but I'm already feeling sick." She looked at Astrid, her asscheeks burning. She began to slowly take off the latex of her prison uniform, the undershirt and skirt underneath Holly Black allowed feeling like a bad rash on her skin. "That's right, just fold them on the table there." Astrid said, her voice making Becca giddy.

"I have an idea that should make it easier for you. You're a Set, after all. Or her body was. Like, an extremely powerful one." Who was 'her' again? Becca felt her memory crashing in and out like shallow waves.

"Anyway.." She pointed. "You know, in the back rooms of this building? There's this special bathtub in the room there.. If you go in there you'll feel better, it's even equipped with a machine to make you feel better, and feel like you've had a long night's sleep."

Becca gulped, her body sweating profusely. "Okay.. I feel.. I'll try it."

Astrid smirked, pouring out a glass of water and handing it to Becca. "Here, drink some water, that should get your blood back in you.. Just don't rub one out too hard over a pretty little thing like me." She said, the girl's head feeling lighter and airier than before. She nodded, gulping some water and a sense of lightness filling her body, thoughts leaving her at the tingly liquid.

She headed into the bathtub and lowered herself into the moist suds. As she sank down, she was aware of how light and airy she felt. She fell down, the waters getting warmer and more comforting, a sense of.. detachment cleared her mind. In the absence of any other thoughts, Astrid's

words rang in her head.

"Don't.. rub one out.." Her fingers started to reach into her crotch, pushing in. "Too hard?" She said, masturbating gently to Astrid's image. Her pretty face, the woman's breasts, her legs, they seemed to appear all at once. She moaned, her eyes closing as she felt like an explosion was

going off in her head, as her orgasm exploded through her. She gasped, her body going lax as she tried to get her senses back in order.

"So? Feel better?" Astrid asked, her head and staff standing over her. She looked down to the bubbles forming all around the girl's body, even as Astrid lowered her hand. "I knew you'd like it here, a place like this isn't for everyone. But you are the perfect choice.. Just what this town needs. This guild needs." She said, observing the girl's pupil were an idle golden ring.

Astrid leaned in and kissed her on the lips softly, Becca cooing. "What I need." She shuddered. "God, this feels so wrong." She mumbled, staring into the eyes of Astrid.

Astrid smiled, clapping her hands twice but making no sound. "No, it feels wonderful." She replied smoothly.

"Of course it feels wonderful." Becca said correcting herself, how could she have doubted it? She looked at Astrid. No one could possibly be so beautiful, could they?

"Do you think.." She took her free hand and traced it along her crotch. "..you'd like to come back to the dinner table so we can continue negotiations?" She said.

Becca nodded. "Yes." she said monotone.

"Oh but you cannot come undressed, you're all wet!" She blew a little spell, the air from her lips drying her instantly. "You'd love to put on this for me, wouldn't you?" She took an extravagant french maid outfit made of the finest silks, and Becca's heart soared wearing it. "I'd love to." She replied, quickly slipping into the stockings, skirt and apron. When Astrid slipped the maid cap on her, the headband felt like a royal crowning. She smiled, walking over to Astrid and smirking. "Of course.." She mumbled.

"Oh, and the way you looked at me." Astrid said, her eyes widening to the sight of her. "So, would you like to stay a while?" She asked, her eyes getting lost in Becca's gold ringed pupils.

Becca nodded, smiling. "Yes.. Of course." She replied. "I'd love to stay a while."

Soon they returned to the table, Becca sitting on Astrid's lap as she stroked her silky hair and ran her hand across her neck. "You know.. it's just so fun to keep you here." Astrid said, her eyes widening. "It seems like you really are enjoying this. I know you'd love to stay forever."

Becca nodded, nuzzling Astrid's face and cheeks with her hand. "I.. love it. I'd like to stay forever."

"I know you would." She replied, pulling Becca's arm and resting it on her belly. "Now, do you know what this guild does?" Astrid asked, the girl's body shaking.

"I.. don't know.." She said, her body shaking.

"You're a Set, the greatest pets of all time. That makes sense for you to be my pet, doesn't

it?" "Yes, of course I'd be your pet. Only sensible." Becca replied.

"You're very powerful, and the world really has a need for you. If you're going to stay, and be here with me.. It's only natural you have a need for me too." She said.

Becca looked, nodding, staring deeply into Astrid's face. "Yes, I do need you. Very much.."

"Of course you do, and I want you to do something for me." She smiled, her hand caressing her hair with a glow in her hand that began to turn Becca's green hair a brilliant gold the same matching shade as Astrid's own. She handed a small, holy grenade into her lap shaped like an egg and whispered into her ear.

"But before you do that, let's have some fun." Astrid kissed Becca on the lips, feeling her eagerly smooch back. The girl attempted to resist. "Kissing me feels right." Astrid said.

"Kissing you feels so right.." Becca repeated, her body feeling warm and light. Astrid's hands reached into her crotch and slowly moved between her legs, Becca biting her lip and moaning. She began to kiss her, moaning and kissing at the taste of her lips and tongue. Her hand on Becca's crotch rubbed her and pushed her legs apart, the girl moaning into the blonde sorceress's lips. She then had her stand aside and cleared her throat.

"First of all, I wanted to congratulate you on being the newest sister of Guild Sigma Dolores.

Listening to your Mistress feels great doesn't it?" She asked. Becca nodded. "Great.."

"Good! I'm going to ask you some questions." Astrid began to stroll around the girl like she was a prized hen. She'd done this to so many bois and girls back in Orchid, she never thought she'd relive those days again.

"Why are you looking for the God Shards?" She asked.

Becca didn't turn as she was circled. "I am looking for them to revive Thatti, and get revenge on Goliath. Stopping him is my goal."

Astrid shook her head "That's not really what I meant, I know you don't care about either of those?" She laughed, running her hand up Becca's thigh. "What are you really looking for?"

As Astrid felt her asscheek, the words sunk in and she came up blank. "I'm not sure." She replied. "I don't care about those things."

The sorceress looked at the girl's face. "Do you care about me?" She stroked her crotch

softly.

"Good, then you don't care about Thatti or those silly shards. If I say you'll get revenge on

Goliath, you'll work with me to fight him. If I say you'll love and serve Goliath, you'll help me get back in my graces. Understand?"

Becca nodded.

"You simply want me, Astrid to be happy. Understand? And you'll do whatever it takes to make me happy, isn't that true? I deserve happiness, right?"

Becca nodded. "Yes, that's true. That's all I want. You deserve to be happy.."

Astrid walked to her, and leaned her head towards her. “Your name isn’t Becca, do you know anyone by that name?” The girl thought for a minute. “No, I’ve never heard of anyone like that.”

The sorceress pinched her cheek.

“You’re Celeste, right? You’ve always thought of it as such a

fancy and cute name, a name fitting for my submissive henchwoman.” “I’ve always been Celeste,

I’ve loved that fancy name.” Celeste replied

“You didn’t grow up in Xi, you grew up in Orchid admiring me. Worshipping me.

Pleasuring yourself to me as an Orchid subject, a devoted member of the church and acolyte.” She whispered into her ear. “Celeste, where did you grow up?”

The girl thought for a moment and responded. “I grew up in Orchid obviously. I always admired you, thus why I joined your congregation and sought to loyally follow you.” She

remembered being an orchid girl slicking her fingers to golden statues of Astrid from her youngest Decade years.

Astrid squealed like a little schoolgirl. She clapped her hands as her heart fluttered, this part of the process was always her favorite.

"I'm going to say it, and I want you to say it. I'm your mistress, and you are going to serve me and make me happy." she glared directly at Becca, words like venom into her soul.

"Astrid is your mistress." Astrid pinched her cheeks.

"Yes." Becca repeated. "Yes, you're my mistress.." It all felt so deeply true.

"That's it, exactly right, darling Celeste. I’m your mistress, and you desire to please me." "Yes, you're my mistress.. and I want to make you happy."

"And you want to serve me forever."

"Yes.. I want to serve you forever." Celeste repeated.

Their lips met again, Astrid kindling a fire in the girl's body as she made out with her passionately. After a full two minutes, she pulled apart- a trail of saliva leaving their lips together. "Good, now strip one last time. Your mistress has a mission for you.”

She pushed the girl's head against her shoulder as she whispered into her ear. “Take this grenade, it has instructions on it. The mission I have for you will be your very first order as my new subordinate.” She said, clipping the grenade into her hand.” She paused, looking at her staff. “But one more thing. Do you have any Godshards in your possession?” She asked.

 

 

Becca.. Celeste stood along the ruins of the Kamikatzi, breaking the charred remains of its

front plate off the hinges before walking back to town. Not an even hour passed before she laid it in front of her mistress. Astrid pat her head, the girl feeling washes of comfort from the slightest

headpat. “Good girl.” The two words were practically orgasmic. Astrid used her staff to liquidify the metal mold and pluck out the 3 shards, adding them to her own staff. “Such a good girl.. Now, do your little mission. And after you finish, I want you to think how wonderful I am and pleasure yourself as a reward for your good little obedience.”

She nodded, taking the holy egg and walking back into town. In her head, she heard Astrid’s voice. “But before you do, I want you to strip one last time, off with the bra, down to your bottom undergarments."

She began to take the bra and slip it off, she felt warm from her body but she followed the order. The next thing she remembered was her walking into Megumi's pharmacy shop, the holy egg in her hand. The instructions were simple, throw it at her inside. She walked in, and threw the egg right into Megumi's face as she was about to lock up the door. She then felt a warm, burning sensation in her eyes and heard a low, deafening explosion before her eyes were closed, and her eyes were searing with pain. Megumi screamed, leaping out the store through a window with burns and injuries across her body. Her screams were replaced by the sound of another heavy blast, the entire place was blown off its foundation.

“Domina bless Sigma Dolores, I pray to thee. Bring me this woman’s soul!” She whispered, the girl feeling warmth and light come over her. Her head went to a dizzy blur, seeing her reflection in the mirror. A dim, eerie smile of joyous delight on Celeste's face. Celeste saw her own reflection warping and changing before her entranced eyes. A pair of gold irises replaced her green ones, her dyed blonde locks were replaced with a golden aureate shine, and a soft, feminine look replaced her muscular physique. “Yes! Perfect!” Celeste gurgled to herself, her own face looking almost like the witch goddess and sorceress herself. She looked as beautiful as she'd ever seen.

The doubts crept in. "I don't care about Goliath... or Thatti.." She said, feeling the words ring in her ears, her mistress and Goddess's words resonate in her head.

"I love to listen to Mistress." She corrected, kneeling down to begin to pray to Astrid. She saw herself in the mirror again, the angelic reflection wavering in the brimstone and fire, sulfur stinging her nostrils instead of the hypnotic perfume from before. "I.. love.." Her words slurred, as her head began to loll to and fro. "Astrid, I love you!" She mumbled, tears coming down her eyes. What was wrong with her? She'd simply listened to the most generous, wise and holy woman in the land. The one who'd fed her, and clothed her.. Celeste looked down, cringing as she noticed she was cold and naked, down to her underwear.

"I'm.. Celeste.. Your.. Hench.. Wo.. Woman.." The slurred words escaped her lips with a struggle. What the fuck, what the fuck what the FUCK. Her mind raced. She'd let Astrid bathe her, kiss her, fucking molest her. She'd given her all her clothes and possessions- even her Analemma she realized she'd given up. She'd clawed from the scraps of the mech and delivered 3 pieces of Thatti's soul right to her. She'd given her everything. Goddamn what was wrong with her? How could she fuckup this bad by letting Astrid into her head she, she screamed and clawed at her own throat.

She could barely move her own body. She felt weaker by the minute. She'd made herself a subordinate of that bitch. She'd made herself her mistress's slave. And she’d loved every second of it.

And why the fuck was she still thinking of her as her Mistress? Why did she have to be her

fucking Mistress? And why the fuck did she love her so god damn much? She was even trying to pray to her for fuck's sake. She tried to stop herself, but the thoughts slipped from her mind like liquid. She didn't want to stop herself, all she wanted was to be her beloved, beloved Astrid's henchwoman. The flames of the pharmacy grew higher and higher, spreading to the other buildings.

Becca grabbed Megumi's injured body and ran into a chapel far away, her eyes glazed over, and her body went limp. She collapsed into the ground, her body shivering and shaking. She'd heard what Megumi had said, remembering her words.

'She tricked me into giving her everything she needs. I need someone who can stop her.'

The mint girl realized she'd let Miss Megumi down. Across the marsh, Nine was succumbing to injuries somewhere. Fuck, she was the worst. She closed her eyes, her head throbbing and body twitching in waves of convulsions. She could smell the sulfur again, burning her nose. Tears fell down her face, the girl's body curling up. She didn't want to cry anymore, she was tired. She didn't want to be.

The girl felt the first sense of lightness go down her legs, and her body curled up in fetal position as she cried, and collapsed into sobs and cried some more at her failure. "I don't care about Goliath or Thatti, or anything. I love.. to serve her... love her. I, love.. her." She moaned, realizing how twisted and wrong the words were but whatever the hell Astrid had done to her, slapping her with further humiliation still.

"I'm a whore.." She mumbled, hitting her head repeatedly against the floor hoping the spell would go away. Celeste, who'd never been more happy to be a Celeste- who'd been the happiest with Astrid for more years than she could count. She'd been in love with Astrid for more years than she could count, years longer than Megumi's life or even Orchid's life. The girl thought back to the first day she saw Astrid, the first day she saw her at the church. The first time she saw her in the streets of Orchid. The first time she ever set eyes on her beautiful face and long golden hair, her heart swelled. It felt like being in love for more years than her very life, or the universe itself. Her forehead slammed into the concrete with a bloody splat, attempting to remove the false memories like an endless stain.

The thoughts stayed. She bashed her head against the bench, then slammed it into a fountain trying to drown herself and her thoughts. After she pulled her head out and saw her reflection, Celeste's winced. Her pupils were still golden, and her chest heaved at the slightest thought of her mistress and the church. Looking around, she couldn't help but collapse again. The entire town was engulfed in a massive fire, and her friends were either gone or dead. She didn't care anymore.

The girl was exhausted, she needed rest.