The Dark Arts

- Horndog D -

Muscle memory guided the fox's hand as he moved the paintbrush across the surface of the old oak stump. The experience of having drawn the same star on the same circle of wood more than a dozen times enabled him to space the points an even distance apart without needing to measure them or pay particularly close attention to the process. Upon connecting the last point of the pentagram, Marcus jerked in surprise when the wolf looking over his shoulder pointed past his face and said, "The line wavers slightly, just there." Marcus quickly swirled the brush in the saucer of paint he'd mixed from red ochre and egg yoke before correcting his mistake. "Good," the wolf whispered, nodding. "That will do nicely."

"Master Razaiel! Can we speak with you for a second?"

The wolf turned and walked slowly across the glade, removing his hood as he entered the fire's dancing circle of light. Before him stood a mule and a goat, both of them wearing traditional ritual garb identical to his save for the absence of the twin columns of ornate symbols sewn in gold across the chest of his robe. "What is it?"

The mule lifted a candle from the box beside his hooves. "Lukas brought up a good point. These candles are a little on the small side. What if they melt before he can... you know, finish the ritual?"

Razaiel looked at the goat, who avoided making eye contact. "Lukas? Do you expect this to take a long time?"

"I mean... No, not really. I guess." Lukas shrugged. "I just thought maybe, you know, in case something... Um..."

Razaiel placed his arm around the younger male's shoulder and gently led him away from the firelight, nearer to the woods surrounding the clearing. "I know there is apprehension in you, my apprentice. Don't be ashamed of it. This will be the single biggest step you've taken on your journey since joining our sect of the Order. Not only that, but it's the first step you will have taken alone."

Lukas glanced up at the spindly branches hanging above their heads. In that moment, they looked to him like fingers attached to the long, ashen arms of some creature reaching out of the darkness to grab him. "I just... I really don't want to mess this up."

"Have more faith in yourself. Of all the members of the Council of Shade, you have shown the greatest promise. In a mere six seasons you have traveled further along the path to becoming a warlock than many of those who have studied with us for years. Your dedication to the arcane arts is truly inspired."

"Thank you. I just want to be useful."

"You have been most useful, my young apprentice." The wolf withdrew his arm and stepped forward. He touched his finger to one of the rune-like symbols painted on the tree trunks, tapping the crimson shape to test that it was dry. "You've attended every function for which you've been summoned, contributed your energies to the group... You even managed to procure a vessel."

Lukas shivered at the mention of the word vessel. He silently assured himself it was a response to the chill of the night air.

"A power now lives inside you," Razaiel continued. "That is why the council has deemed you worthy to perform this most sacred of rituals." The canine placed his hand on Lukas's shoulder as he walked past. "We will begin shortly. Do not doubt yourself, Apprentice. Remember that fear is a gift meant to strengthen our resolve as we follow the path into shade."

Lukas pulled up his hood and tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robe, ignoring the urge to piss out his empty bladder. Whatever force bestowed the gift of fear had been generous. Lukas had walked the woods around him countless times in both daylight and darkness; never had they seemed so foreboding. He looked back at the silhouettes of figures moving through the clearing. Beyond them, he could see thin gaps in the trees that revealed the park. The narrowest glimpse of the pond shining pale silver in the moonlight provided him some small measure of comfort—enough to breathe in deeply the scent of wood smoke and ease the tension gripping the back of his neck. If this was a test of his devotion to the Order, he was determined to prove himself worthy to stand among his brothers.

Ten months had passed since Lukas first met the people who became his closest friends. In the course of writing a report on ancient civilizations, he'd visited the library of a community college near his house to scour the shelves for what little information had not yet made it into the internet in some form. As he absentmindedly scanned the pages of a book on demonology, a black wolf at least a decade his senior appeared seemingly out of nowhere and said, "I see you're interested in forces more powerful than us." One thing led to another, and Lukas soon found himself pledging his loyalty to the pursuit of the magickal arts. Razaiel had first taught him how to read tarot cards and divine the future by casting fistfuls of salt into open flames. From there, his education progressed to Ouija boards, creating effigies for curses, and writing basic spells before he was invited to join the ranks of the Council of Shade as the newest Acolyte of Cernunnos.

"Lukas?" Glenn called, fluttering a piece of paper. "Are you ready to recite the incantation?"

"Yeah, sure." Lukas joined the mule beside the fire. Glenn handed him a copy of the Incantation of Cleansing they were to recite before rituals. The pair read the words aloud, then found Razaiel to inform him the task was complete.

"Excellent. Preparations are finished." Razaiel held his arms level with his shoulders, the sleeves of his robe hanging beside his slender frame like black curtains. "The full moon nears its apex... Bring forth the vessel!"

Two more hooded figures emerged from the trees, each of them gripping a line of braided rope that wound around the torso of a teenaged gazelle walking between them. She stumbled over the uneven ground as she was pulled forward, the rope binding her arms behind her back. Her hazel eyes darted between the ground and the group of council members watching her approach. Only when she came within several feet of him could Lukas make out the rapid-fire obscenities belting out of her throat, the words muffled by a cloth gag between her teeth.

Razaiel stepped in front of her. "A fine vessel, indeed. My apprentice has a keen eye." He snapped his fingers, signaling one of the acolytes holding the gazelle in bondage to remove her gag.

"You assholes," she coughed, struggling to speak through a parched mouth. "Get this shit off me or I'm going to break all your knees with a baseball bat!" She twisted fruitlessly against the ropes, nearly toppling over backward in the process.

Razaiel smiled. "You needn't worry... Amy, was it?"

"Audrey. Learn the names of the people you kidnap, dickbag!"

"My apologies, Lady Audrey. But rest assured this is no abduction. You have been selected for a great honor. You will play an integral part in bringing about the Reawakening—the next stage of cultural evolution that enlightens all peoples to the powers of magick and the dark arts."

"No thanks." Audrey's scowl twisted into a derisive smirk. "Now how about you be a good little wiz-tard and untie me before I scream until the cops show up and jam a Taser in your ass."

"You have fire in your soul," Razaiel said, "but little more than the fog of ignorance in your head. Scream until your lungs burst; no one will hear you out here."

He stepped forward and placed a hand on each of Audrey's shoulders. She tensed at the contact, her confident demeanor all but vanishing. "I-I mean it," she stammered. "I'll scream! Lukas, do something. Help me!"

Lukas lowered his head to hide his face beneath the hood of his cloak. "Sorry, Audrey," he muttered weakly.

She turned her focus back to the towering black wolf, her eyes full of panic. She watched the canine's lips move as he uttered something unintelligible, a long string of alien syllables spoken almost too quietly to hear. Once finished, he stepped back wearing a satisfied grin.

Audrey blinked. "What... What was that?"

"Nothing more than a simple fatiguing spell to help you relax." Razaiel withdrew a length of chain from a pocket stitched into the lining of his cloak. The last link connected to a silver coin, its polished surface reflecting the light of the orange blaze. Razaiel dangled the coin level with Audrey's face and bobbed his fingers to make the object sway between her eyes. "Now listen very closely. Focus on the coin and the sound of my voice. Let all else leave your thoughts. Focus, and be calm. You are under our power and will do exactly as we say. Obedience brings you pleasure; disobedience brings you anguish."

Everyone looked on as Razaiel swung the coin and repeated his speech again and again. Lukas listened to the words spoken in mind-numbing monotone until they became nothing but a droning white noise to his ears. He twiddled his thumbs nervously, turning to Glenn when he saw movement in the edge of his vision. The stout equine offered a reassuring smile and mouthed the words You'll do fine.

What comfort Lukas gained from the gesture dissipated the instant Razaiel fell silent. Another snap of the wolf's fingers prompted the figures beside Audrey to release her from her bonds. With the ropes removed she stood motionless, her heavy-lidded stare aimed at nothing.

"Now," Razaiel commanded, "remove your clothes."

Audrey gave no reply before her limbs began moving with slow, methodical precision. She pulled her long-sleeved shirt off over her head, wobbling slightly as the fabric caught on her horns, then dropped the garment on the ground. She allowed her bra to fall next, her face revealing no trace of emotion as she bared her perky B-cup breasts before six sets of intently-staring eyes.

Lukas felt his heart pound inside his throat. He swallowed hard and fought to maintain his composure as he watched Audrey slide a pair of tight-fitting jeans down her slender legs. She removed her panties with matched efficiency, then stood nude to await further instructions.

Marcus timidly cleared his throat. "Is it time, now?" A nod from Razaiel prompted the fox to open a cooler and remove a crystal decanter filled with amber liquid.

Razaiel poured equal amounts into a pair of plastic cups and handed one to Audrey, instructing her to drink. He extended the other cup to Lukas. "You too, Apprentice. Finish it."

Lukas stared a moment at the contents of the cup before swallowing it down in several full gulps. He grimaced at the bitter taste. "What is this?"

"An ancient herbal mixture," Razaiel explained. "It helps promote fertility and arousal."

As far as Lukas was concerned, he needed no aid where it concerned arousal. His embarrassment was limited only by the realization that his was not the only robe tented by an obvious erection.

Razaiel raised his arms above his head. "The time of the moon's apex is nigh! Everyone, take your places!"

Every muscle in Lukas's abdomen clenched as he began to remove his own clothing in accordance with the directions he'd spent the last two weeks memorizing down to the smallest detail. Razaiel's words echoed in his head: "Rituals of such import allow no room for error." He felt naked without the covering of his robe and cloak, even as he still wore an undershirt and briefs. When they too had been discarded, the goat unconsciously hid his hard-on before realizing the absurdity of clinging to modesty in such a situation. He feigned confidence by lowering the pitch of his voice as he said to Audrey, "I want you over there." She followed his finger and walked to the large stump near the center of the clearing. Lukas followed, his eyes wandering down her smooth back to the brush of her tail as it swayed side-to-side over the gently protruding curves of her ass.

Razaiel and the four other acolytes in attendance formed a wide circle around the altar, their positions mirroring the points of the pentagram painted across its surface. Each of them clasped their hands around a small candle that illuminated only the lower features of their faces, their eyes hidden within the shadows of their drawn hoods.

Lukas and Audrey entered the center of the circle where he again did his best imitation of authority as he ordered her to lie on the altar and present herself. The gazelle did as she was told, the weathered stump beneath her back as she pulled her knees up toward her chin. Lukas had heard the female anatomy likened to a flower numerous times, but it was only at the sight of Audrey's thighs opening and the moist folds of her sex blooming before his eyes that the analogy struck him as anything other than schlocky poeticism.

"Let the Dark Conception begin!" Razaiel's voice echoed across the glade. The circle began chanting, low voices murmuring invocations copied from ancient grimoires.

Lukas stepped into position. His cock throbbed in his hand, the tip bleeding fat drops of pre onto Audrey's pubic mound. He aligned himself between her glistening lips and pushed forward, skewering her almost to the womb in one slow, fluid motion. The sensation of her velvety sleeve clamping around him drove all distractions from Lukas's thoughts. He was no longer inside a chanting circle in the middle of nowhere; he was inside her, inside the young woman he'd known since childhood. Lost in the utter bliss of such intimate contact, his hips moved on impulse. His cock drew back, almost exiting the soft channel of her pussy before plunging forward to hilt her again. Long, measured thrusts gradually transformed into fast, rapid jabs. His back arched with each buck, his balls colliding with Audrey's spread rump hard enough to produce an audible thud.

Audrey stared at the sky through glassy eyes. Drool trickled down the side of her face as her jaw hung slack, moans of pleasure gurgling up from the base of her throat. Lukas studied her expression as he made her body rock to the rhythm he set, silently imploring her to look at him. To say his name. To acknowledge that it was him giving her this pleasure and not some phantom cock fucking her in a wet dream.

A mixture of lust, guilt, and frustration swirled through Lukas's mind. He grit his teeth and buried his face in the valley of short, silky fur between Audrey's breasts, the mounds of her tits jiggling against his temples as humped into her with progressively more frantic thrusts. His cock was so hard it hurt, the discomfort growing more severe every second he managed to stave off his orgasm. If nothing else, he wanted to bring Audrey to climax before him.

"You're doing splendidly, Apprentice." Razaiel's words sounded distant as they reached Lukas's ears through the droning chants and the wet noises of sex. "Impart your essence and breed the vessel!"

Through a watering mouth Audrey gargled, "Breeeed meeeee."

Lukas shut his eyes and bucked into Audrey as hard and fast as his muscles could manage. The spectacle of his engorged cock hammering her juicy twat caused several acolytes to fumble the words of their invocations, pausing as they regained their focus. Sweat beaded under Lukas's coat and dripped down the wispy beard dangling from his chin. The need for release forced him to shorten his thrusts as he surfed the edge of climax. He twirled his tongue around Audrey's right nipple before taking the hard nub of flesh between his teeth to chew it gently. Just as he found a tempo he thought he could sustain, his orgasm boiled up without warning. He bottomed out inside Audrey, his cock nestled against her cervix as it pulsed out jet after jet of cum. She shuddered beneath him and sucked sharp, urgent gasps of breath between her lips. The walls of her pussy convulsed around his rod, milking him until his ejaculate overflowed and dribbled out over her rear.

The pair remained connected for a short time before Lukas willed himself to pull out. He took a wobbly step to one side, revealing the view of his dripping cock and the trickle of milky white seed escaping Audrey's cunt.

"Huzzah!" Razaiel's call of triumph was echoed by the other acolytes. All snuffed out the flames of their candles and converged around Lukas to offer him their congratulations.

"T-Thanks everybody," Lukas panted. He took the opportunity to wipe moisture off his face and neck, having no idea how else to respond.

"You have done well, Apprentice," Razaiel said. "Very well, indeed. I am pleased to announce that with the completion of this ritual, you have proven yourself worthy of ascending to the rank of Greater Acolyte of Cernunnos."

Another collective cry of "Huzzah!" rang out. 

"Oh, wow. Thank you so much!" Lukas smiled broadly as he received a procession of handshakes and pats on the back.

"Pay close attention to your dreams, Apprentice. Now that you have ascended, the spirits may reveal your true name, as they did mine."

"Sure, definitely." Lukas had almost forgotten hearing that Master Razaiel of Deepest Night was still known to members of his family as Jeremy Milson.

Once the excitement died down, Marcus looked to where Audrey was sprawled limply across the altar, her eyes closed as she slept. "So... What happens now, exactly?"

"We should reclothe the vessel," Razaiel said. "The spell will assure she remains asleep until the first light of dawn, when she will awake with no memory of what has transpired. In nine months' time, she will give birth to one of the thirteen Black Prophets whose teachings bring about the Reawakening."

"If it would be alright," Lukas said, "I'd like some time to meditate. I'm feeling drained and need to recover. I don't mind taking care of everything here once I've, uh, regenerated."

Razaiel nodded. "Very well. Regain your energies. We will reconvene for our weekly assemblage on the fifth."

As the group began to disburse, Glenn stopped beside Lukas. "Hey. I don't know if this is appropriate on account of your ascension and everything, but are we still on to play Battlewatch this weekend?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Cool!" Glenn flashed a thumbs up before hurrying to catch up with his fellow acolytes, twigs and dead leaves crunching beneath their steps as they disappeared into the forest.

A rogue gust of cold wind reminded Lukas he was naked. He slipped his discarded robe back over himself and rubbed his palms together near the fire, all the while scanning the surrounding area for any signs of movement. After several minutes passed without disturbance, he walked to where Audrey lay motionless. "Okay. I think they're gone."

The gazelle's eyes blinked open. She rose up into a sitting position, grunting as she massaged her lower back. "Jeez, I wish the ritual could've involved an air mattress." She turned to Lukas, excitement lifting her features. "How was I?"

"You were amazing! I wouldn't have— I mean, you were really convincing. Just great."

"Heeee, thanks." She grinned sheepishly. "I really want to try out for drama club next semester."

"You'd be a shoo-in. You're just... Just great."

Audrey shifted her weight back and spread her legs across opposite sides of the stump. She pulled the lips of her pussy apart and watched as thick globs of spend leaked out of her hole. "Damn, you cum like a fire hose," she said with a giggle.

Lukas rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry. I mean, you know, about all of this."

"S'okay." Audrey dipped a finger in her creamy twat and brought it to her mouth to taste. "It was kind of fun. Weird, but fun." She paused a moment before continuing. "So... Do you, like, believe all this stuff?"

Lukas shrugged. "I dunno. Some of it, maybe. Most of the spells and stuff never seem to work, but... I mean, you know. I can't exactly hang out with the jocks, or the art students, and I'm not rich. These guys are really nice, believe it or not. They're the only real friends I have. Besides you, I mean."

Audrey had pulled her panties back on and was in the process of squirming her pants up over her hips. She smiled happily at the comment.

"I mean it," Lukas said. "You're... You're such a good friend to do all this. Putting up with coming out here, and letting me... I mean, giving me your, uh, virginity. And everything."

Audrey popped her head through the neck hole of her shirt and tousled volume back into her tawny hair. "I'm not a virg—" She stopped suddenly and looked wide-eyed at the goat as a realization dawned on her. "Ohmigawd, was this your first time?"

Lukas averted his gaze. His ears burned so hot he imagined them glowing like embers.

"Ooooohhh, that is so cute!" Audrey took Lukas's hands into hers and kissed him on the cheek. When their eyes met, she leaned in again, their lips joining softly to linger for a long moment. Lukas inhaled her scent—the scent of a freshly-mated female—and became delirious with longing. He barely registered when their kiss ended, or when Audrey said, "I think you deserve something special to celebrate losing your V-card," before kneeling in front of him.

"W-Wait a sec, Audrey. You don't have to do anything more for me."

"Of course I don't." She winked up at him before pulling the front of his robe up over her head.

"Aud—Ah! Holy shit." The intensity of the pleasure hit Lukas like a punch to the gut as a pair of hungry lips latched into the head of half-hard cock. Audrey slathered her tongue across the tip, then licked the shaft as if it were a melting popsicle, teasing the chubby prick back up to a full erection before taking it more than halfway behind the tight 'O' ring of her lips.

Having climaxed only minutes earlier, the sensation of a long, slick tongue swirling around his sensitive glands was enough to make Lukas lightheaded. His cloven hooves scraped against the dirt as he pushed his legs further apart to maintain balance. Audrey mistook the action as a means of giving her better access to the goods and responded by swallowing his cock down to the root.

Lukas began to buckle over and gripped Audrey's shoulders for stability. As if on cue, he felt hands grabbing his ass, pulling him against the muzzle that was already mashed against his crotch so tight he worried Audrey wouldn't be able to breathe. She worked around that problem by pulling back every few seconds to suck a fast breath of air in through her nose before ramming her face forward again. Each thrust of his dick between her vacuuming cheeks sent his head flinging back as he bleated Audrey's name. Her fingers dug greedily into his rump, pulling his asscheeks apart.

A feeling welled up inside Lukas's stomach so sharply that he momentarily mistook it for nausea before identifying what was actually the very intense and immediate need to cum. "Gonna—" was all the warning he could manage before his cock erupted. Audrey moaned in understanding and continued to suck him through the duration of a mind-blowingly powerful orgasm. Lukas saw stars as he imagined literally cumming his nuts out the end of his dick into the gazelle's warm, massaging muzzle. When the last of the spasms subsided, Audrey let the spent cock lay across the cushion of her tongue as one of her hands moved to gently caress the tender pair of balls behind it.

Lukas picked up on a muffled noise coming from beneath his robe and realized Audrey's other hand was busy working what sounded like a sopping wet pussy. The small puffs of breath tickling the hair above his loins grew increasingly rapid until they stopped abruptly and another moan vibrated through his cock. This moan was louder, lewd and guttural, melting into a distinctly feminine whimper.

With a satisfied sigh, Audrey at last pulled off the slowly-deflating organ in her mouth and appeared from under the length of black fabric with her right hand still inside her panties. A visible lump rolled down her throat as she swallowed an impressive load of goat jizz. She licked an escaped strand of cum off the side of her muzzle, then pulled a trio of slimy fingers from between her legs and sucked them clean.

Lukas staggered two steps backward upon straightening his spine, his legs still unsteady beneath him. "That was... incredible."

Audrey smiled. "We can do it again if you want."

Reflexively, Lukas moved his hands to protect his genitals. "I'm sorry, Audrey, I really need to rest for a bit."

"I didn't mean tonight," she laughed while delivering a playful punch to his shoulder. "I gotta get home soon, anyway. Mom gets all pissy when I stay out too late. Give me a call tomorrow, 'kay Lukas?"

"Yeah, sure thing. Have a, um, good night."

Audrey gave him a surprise peck on the nose, then waved as she scampered off in the direction of the park. As soon as she was out of his sight, Lukas let out a heavy sigh of relief. In solitude, the forest around him took on an air of tranquility. He looked at his hand and observed the way it shook slightly from the residual adrenaline coursing through his system. "A greater acolyte, huh?"

He chuckled as he set about cleaning up the glade. He lifted the cooler sloshing with melting ice and dumped its contents over the fire. The flames hissed as they were extinguished, liberating their heat in a billowing cloud of steam that rose above Lukas's head, up through the overhanging branches, and vanished into the vast night sky beneath the perfect circle of the moon.