In the blink of an eye, I found myself in a different world.
I thought this was a situation similar to when I appeared over the floating sea, till I noticed Ciara beside me.
Still with a bonnet over her head, she knelt by my side just as she had back in her apartment, but with a calm expression.
She stood up, observing our new environment, and with her finger no longer holding me down, I hastily stood up.
My eyes swept left and right, and just as I noticed a third presence, Ciara spoke.
"Maria, even you got caught."
"Yes, mistress."
The woman, Maria, had been just a few steps behind us.
Looking at her, she was like the child of of darkness.
She had long black hair that reached her waist and a black gown that touched the floor and a common thing about these two was that they seemed to absorb the light around her.
The immediate space around Maria was distorted, my eyes unable to make out her hair strands or any design on her dr. Her young face and exposed arms were the only things that stood out as human about her.
She might be a demon, too.
Being reminded of Ciara's nature, I subconsciously took a step away from her, my actions making her turn back to me.
"Trying to run away?"
"No, just wary of you and your servant."
With just the three of us in a wide expanse of sand, I was once again at the mercy of the two.
"So, where are we?"
My lips moved to inform Ciara of my ignorance, but suddenly the knowledge I needed popped into my head, appearing like it had always been there.
"We are in a Battle Arena."
Ciara looked to the sand in the distance, hands on her lips. "So, like a place you pull enemies into to fight?"
"Yes."
As I answered Ciara, a grin spread on my face. A terrain I could take my enemies into to battle—how powerful was that? I quickly began picturing myself beating up ghouls in the expanse of the desert but was brought out of my daydream.
"So, what advantages does this arena offer you?
It seems to extend forever, but what is its true size? How long can you sustain it? How long can you stay in it? What happens when you leave this world—does the arena cease to exist, or is it a separate world on its own?"
I blinked at Ciara, my lips slowly opening. "I don't know."
"Not surprising," the mature woman nodded.
Still taken aback by Ciara's questions, my mind was adjusting to the true nature of the current situation when the ground began shaking.
"Did you do anything?" Ciara casually turned to me, not hint of fear.
"No."
The trembling continued for several seconds. Then I saw Ciara's figure blur.
I was suddenly pulled from my position, finding myself kneeling beside Ciara in another location, staring at the jaw of a gigantic, black, spiky worm snapping closed around the space I had previously occupied. Where we stood was several meters away from the worm, and while I swallowed at my near-death escape, I was in awe of the blonde woman's speed.
"You're strong." I stood up.
"Thank you."
The woman didn't look my way; she kept her eyes on the black creature, filled with fascination.
"That is a true Black worm. The spikes around its body signify its pure blood. They are so rare people are beginning to consider them extinct. Maria, get it."
"Yes, mistress."
The reply came from behind, startling me; I hadn't been aware of the woman's presence.
Maria kicked off without hesitation, her figure leaving a black trail, but then I snapped my fingers.
Snap!!
The sound echoed throughout the world and, in an instant, the world dissolved.
All three of us reappeared in Ciara's apartment. No one spoke, silence reigning. Ciara stood frozen and I looked around the room, searching for Maria.
"You sent us out." Ciara's words were more of a statement than a question, but I gave a reply.
"Yes."
I was in a precarious situation, I couldn't allow Ciara keep having her way with me.
If the black worm was as precious as she had stated, then gatekeeping was a card up my sleeve.
Another moment of silence passed.
"How long are you going to pretend you're okay?"
In some twisted irony, just as Ciara spoke these words, I felt something running down my nose. I touched it and looked to see my finger covered with blood.
Fuck, I cursed within.
The technique I had just pulled off was no doubt powerful, but it was also a massive drain.
Casting and cancelling it had depleted all my essence. There was a tearing pain wrecking my whole body, and I was giving my all to hide the torture.
"If you don't restore your essence, you'll pass out."
Another round of silence descended, me wondering if I could weather the storm on my own.
"How?"
"Say please."
My face twisted. I wanted to deny the woman, but worse than the fear of passing out, I was horrified at the thought of being unconscious under Ciara's care.
Who knew how long I would be out? I glanced at the dildo which had been kept to the side and gritted my teeth.
"Please."
"Good boy." Ciara reached out and pinched my cheek.
"Maria!!"
Beside Ciara, a black liquid pool suddenly appeared and out of it, Maria slowly rose.
Coming from below like a nightmare, she stretched out her hand which held a small green vial, and Ciara took it.
"Here."
The blonde gave me the vial, uncorked. I looked at her skeptically but, in the end, chugged down its contents.
I thought the contents of the vial would take time to begin working, but as soon as it went down my throat, a cool sensation spread through my chest.
The pain in my body rapidly subsided and a comforting heat began building at my center.
Ciara moved from my side, returning to the couch opposite while Maria sank back into the ground.
"Use this moment to connect with whatever is inside you. If you lose your connection with it, I'll have to begin killing you all over again."
The woman's mention me instinctively shiver.
"Is me nearly dying the only way?"
"Not really."
I had asked the question out of frustration, but Ciara's answer made my mind freeze.
"There are other ways?"
"Yes. I could have had you meditate for two weeks while burning some incense, but that would take too long.
Having you on the brink of death is much faster."
Remembering how my mind had begun fracturing from the constant death encounters, my jaw dropped.
"You're insane."