Lich in the Library (UPDATED once again! Find the line.)

(My first attempt at not being shitty at plots. I know I'm supposed to be doing the Island Adventure thing, but to be honest, I can't bring myself to work on it at all. Maybe some other time. Until then, more short stories.)

 

You awaken unclothed, with your arms and legs tied to a wooden crucifix. As the the room around you fades into your senses, you see a lavender-skinned lady, surrounded by candlelight. She mumbles an incomprehensible string of words with her hands held over a dusty book. Moments later, her hands glow with a soft, violet aura. With her arms outstretched, she approaches you.

 

"I'm sorry, but I have to do this. Forgive me."

 

Her foreboding words incite panic in you, and you struggle against the ropes that bind you to the cross. As you drag your exposed flesh against the planks, splinters find their way inside of your skin, and you grit your teeth as you wince in pain. The woman takes notice of your pained expression, and smiles.

 

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm only going to take you away. You'll be in better care, I promise."

 

The woman firmly grasps your thighs, and lets out a cacophonous roar of demonic screeching. The soft light surrounding her hands leaks into your body, and you feel a warm sensation creeping toward your crotch. Suddenly, you feel intense stimulation inside of your groin, behind your nipples, and on top of your tongue. It was as if a plant had taken root inside of your body, and was teasing you with its soft tendrils. You could feel it stealing your breath with its tender caresses, and you begin panting like an animal in heat.

 

"It seems like you're feeling the effects already. With this, you're finally mine. Aren't you happy, husband?"

 

You beg the woman for mercy, like the pathetic whelp that you are.

 

"I know you're scared, but you'll have to bear with it. It must be done, husband."

 

She starts mumbling again, but you interrupt her with another frantic plea for mercy.

 

"Why should I stop? I'm only taking back what was stolen from me."

 

There is a long pause, as if she's waiting for you to respond, but you have no idea what she's talking about.

 

"You really don't remember, do you? I guess I'll just have to show you, then."

 

The woman raises her arms, and holds her palms to the sky. Suddenly, the room flickers with the dim light of dying incandescent bulbs, revealing an army of bookcases.

 

"Remember this place? It was my- I mean, our library. We spent so much time collecting books, and reading them together. You would stay here for so long, that you would fall asleep at one of the tables, only to wake up in my embrace. It was so romantic~! But, someone stole you away from me. I guess you're better off not remembering them, aren't you? After all, they didn't just take you away from me. They took you away from the library. Our library. That's why, I'm going to do my best to make sure that such an awful thing doesn't ever happen again."

 

Thankfully, you wiggled yourself free from your bindings during her monologue. Sure, your wrists and ankles are numb, and you've got several pieces of wood wedged inside of your skin, but the reward of freedom more than makes up for it. Your nude body prances aimlessly through the library, desperately searching for an exit that doesn't seem to exist. Suddenly, you hear a cacophonous burst of demonic laughter, followed by a howling gust of wind.

 

She's already found you. "Did you really think you could escape?" she taunts, giggling with a triumphant look on her face. Ordinarily, this would be the perfect opportunity to smack her and run, but your body doesn't want to respond to you at the moment.

 

The woman raises a hand in your direction.

 

"Salexh, imolch, domozh."

 

The strange feeling wriggles within you yet again. The tendrils tease you until you fall to your knees, desperate for release. Then, a new pair of wriggling roots forms, and takes command of both of your arms. Through sheer willpower, you stop them from reaching your hands. Your lower brain screams at you for disobeying your new queen.

 

You press your luck, and land a natural 20.

 

Errr...

 

You muster up all of your inner strength to fight against the magic, and successfully fend off the influence of the tendrils. As the roots shrivel back into your thighs, you let out a sigh of relief. However, your victory is short-lived. The woman glares at you with a fury you've only seen in Japanese animes. Calmly, and clearly, she scolds you for your insolence.

 

"Why do you keep resisting? I only want to touch you, to please you, to make you mine. Isn't that what you want? If you weren't satisfied with the way we used to be, I can change! I'd do anything for you, husband. More than that stupid girl would, anyway."

 

With newfound confidence in your willpower, you insist that 'that stupid girl' is more than likely the better wife for you, especially since she hasn't tied you to a crucifix.

 

"I'M THE ONLY WIFE FOR YOU, UNDERSTAND? That woman is a thief, and a whore. I saw her. The way she kissed you. The way she held your hand. How she would take you shopping. She didn't belong in our library, so I refused to let her in. But, like the needy bitch she is, she got jealous. She didn't like how you would stay with me for days on end. She said that I was scaring you into it. Can you believe it? Me? Scary? It's funny, isn't it? Why aren't you laughing? LAUGH WITH ME!"

 

She laughs so hard that you can feel the shelves trembling. Several books fall onto the floor. One of them lands squarely on its spine, revealing a glowing vortex that spits out a glowing green orb. Without thinking, you grab a nearby book, and hurl it at the orb. It shatters, and a burst of blinding light floods the building. You're unharmed, but the woman seems to be in a dazed state. She calls out to you in a sweet, familiar voice.

 

"Anon, is that you? It's hard to see. Where are we?"

 

The woman snaps back into her usual tone of voice. "Shut up! Shut up! You don't belong here!"

 

It's a hard to specify who you're speaking to without a name, so you kindly ask the purple mistress for one.

 

"Name? Anon, you should know who I am. It's me- Shut up! He's not talking to you, you don't deserve to talk to him, you thief! Husband, how could you not know my- Thief?! I've never stolen anything in my life! You're the criminal, you- Why won't you shut up? You tried to steal Anon away from me. We were meant to be together, right Anon? We love each other very much. Go on, Anon, tell her how much you love me! Anon? Anon?!"

 

It's getting harder to distinguish the difference between the two voices, and her bickering is giving you a headache. You ask her for a moment of silence, for the sake of thought.

 

"See? He wants you to shut up! Me? He was clearly talking to you! I don't need to shut up, Anon likes the sound of my voice. Oh really? He looks like someone just hit him over the head. I don't remember Anon being that much of a masochist, except when we- Why don't you just shut up already, Anon needs to think! What, did I hurt your feelings? I bet it hurts to know that I was the one who took Anon's- So you admit it! Thief! Temptress! Whore! Oh, so that's why I'm a thief? Well, for your information, Anon gave it to me. Begged for it, even. Of course, this was after I- My husband would do no such thing! He's faithful! F-A-I-T-H-F-U-L! He would betray me. Oh, he betrayed you, and it felt amazing. You damned thief, how dare you speak with such...." they trail off.

 

Mother of Ilias, this is starting to become unbearable. You ask both of the voices to state their own side of the story, without insulting each other. They agree, under the condition that you choose one of them by the end of it. You agree, hoping to reach that precious happy ending.

 

The sweet, familiar voice is the first to testify.

"We first met in the library, where I was picking up a copy of my favorite magazine. You introduced yourself, and I immediately fell in love. I asked if you wanted to go shopping together, and when you refused, I... I did something mean. But, you said that you enjoyed shopping with me, so I guess I'm forgiven. You even let me hold your hand! Eventually, we shared our first kiss. It was so romantic~! Then, we went back to my place, where I put on my special pair of underwear. You know, the ones you bought for me. It was then that I knew we were destined to be together forever. You kept asking me to 'set you free' with this pathetic look on your face, so I did. It felt amazing. When I took your twitching-SHUT UP! Fine. You kept asking for more, but I was tired, so I fell asleep with you in my arms. That is, until that girl took you away from me."

 

Why did you change your mind so readily? It doesn't seem very logical. You press her for more information about the 'something mean' she mentioned earlier.

 

"W-what are you talking about? I never said anything about doing something mean. I would never do something mean to you, silly! Liar! Stop hiding the truth from my husband! Your husband?! Who died and made you queen of my beloved Anon?"

 

There is a brief pause, until the bitter voice spits her response. "You did, you idiot!"

 

"No I didn't, you did! No, you did! I had no part in it! Anon knows me better than that, isn't that right? My husband doesn't know the real you! You've done nothing but lie to him! Hey, Anon, that 'something mean' she referred to, do you want to know what it is? Don't listen to her, she's lying! Ironically enough, this thief is actually a poli-LIAR! SHE'S A LIAR! Anon, you believe me, don't you? You know that I'm not a bad person, right?"

 

Due to the sweet voice's sudden snap, the two voices are now indistinguishable. You are unable to tell which voice asked you those last two questions. Perhaps you should re-think your approach.

 

You tell them that where they stand on your hierarchy of romance is none of their business, and ask for some time alone.

 

“I don't like hearing you speak to me like that, but I can't disagree with you. Go ahead, husband. I'll give my beloved Anon whatever he desires,  even if it means leaving his side.”

 

It's satisfying to hear both of them agree on something, for a change.

 

You leave the woman's company, and wander aimlessly through a seemingly endless labyrinth of numbered bookshelves. Somewhere along the way, you find a discarded magazine, next to a few chairs. You figure that this is the sweet voice's 'favorite magazine', and take a peek inside. It's a gun catalog, with several revolvers circled with red ink. When you turn the page, a beige index card slides out. There is something written on the card, in symbols that you can barely comprehend. You think the message reads "299 Romero", but you're not sure.

 

It's cryptic, but it's still a clue.

 

[INDEX CARD added to court rec-I mean, inventory.]

 

Now, if only you could decipher this dastardly riddle.

 

Unsatisfied with your findings, you continue searching for evidence, leaving the gun catalog behind as a landmark.

 

You wander around the library for what feels like an hour. Your bare feet ache from navigating the library's cheap carpet. The fatigue almost overwhelms you, when the shock of cold tile against your sole momentarily sends the life surging back into your bones.

 

Surrounded by bookcases, this tiled enclosure seems unfit for a library. The checkered tile, and the swivel chairs bolted down to the floor give you the impression that this was formerly a barber shop. You take advantage of the situation, and sit in one of the chairs, easing the the pain of your troubled heels.

 

However, a new problem arises. When you finally achieve the optimal sitting position, you feel something sharp prodding your exposed tuchis. Startled, you spring out of the chair, and upon landing, you swivel your head. Much to your surprise, something sharp has pierced the leather exterior of the seat.

 

It's a very small, curvy knife. Something tells you that if it had the nerve to injure your behind in such a rude manner, it must have something to do with your predicament. You store it in your inventory.

 

Lich in the Library

[DAGGER added to inventory.]

 

You certainly don't want to continue exploring, and your rump can't take another ambush. You decide to head back to where you left the gun catalog.

 

Perhaps the numbers on the index card are directions? You begin your search by comparing the numbers on the card to the conveniently enumerated bookshelves. Eventually, you find what you're looking for.

 

You tell the bookcase that you have come for the one named "Romero", and ask for his location, but it doesn't want to cooperate. Nonetheless, you rummage through every hard-back this unwilling suspect has to offer. Your search uncovers three books, all of which are written by a "Romero". You don't know if any of these are the Romero you're looking for, so you take all of them into custody.

Lich in the Library

Lich in the LibraryLich in the Library

[BOOK 1, BOOK 2, AND BOOK 3 added to inventory]

 

That's odd, both the second and third books have a "MISPLACED" label on them.

 

You open Book 1, and start reading.

 

You see all sorts of fanciful red goatmen. Nothing catches your attention, until you come across a page that has been vandalized with circles in thick red ink. Although the markings have damaged most of the page, you read what little you can of the entry.

 

"Ozkavosh - Demon God of Lust."

 

Ozkavosh is a towering demon, with large, ram-like horns protruding from its cheekbones. It will only trade its services for carnal goods. Ears, toes, and tongues are highly valuable, and it will ask for one of these items if you wish to purchase a moment of intimacy with your beloved.

 

If you wish to summon Ozkavosh, you must first..."

 

The ink blots out the rest of the page. You scan the rest of the pages, but find nothing of interest. You close the book, and move on to Book 2.

 

Book 2 seems like a huge scam. When you flip through the pages, you realize that only the first three have dating tips written on them, and the other hundred or so are dedicated to the executive producers of the book. You're thankful that the library gave you a chance to check it out before purchasing it.

 

A-anyway, each of the three dating-related pages contain dating tips riddled with painful zombie puns.

 

"Of corpse you can get the man of your dreams, esfleshially with the help of this guide!"

 

Augh. You're tempted to close the book right away, but a morbid curiosity drives you deeper into the depths of this corny hell. The last line of the book intrigues you.

 

"If all else fails, use brute force."

 

No puns, no fluff, just one bold, concise statement. It's almost terrifying, in a way. You close Book 2, and open Book 3.

 

Well, you don't open Book 3. It opens itself. A glowing green vortex forms, and from this vortex, a luminous green ball emerges.

 

"Anon, what are you doing?" A voice calls out from behind.

Lich in the Library

 

You've got a bad feeling about this...

 

You show the woman the dagger you found in the chair. You tell her that you were uncovering the truth.

 

"W-what do you mean?!"

 

You bluff, and tell her that you know what this dagger was used for.

Lich in the Library

"You're sweating. Are you nervous? Scared, even? You should be, you liar."

 

She confidently struts toward you, and tightly embraces you, using a hand to push your head deep into her ample cleavage. "She's gone now, Anon. We're finally alone. Aren't you happy? We can finally spend the rest of our lives together. Or... do you still want to know the truth?"

 

You nod your head.

 

"This dagger, it looks very fancy, doesn't it? That's because it's magical. You can use it to get anything you desire, at a cost. But, I found a way to get what I wanted for free! You already know what I'm talking about, right? That woman, though I'll never forgive her for what she did to you, I'm also very thankful for what she gave me. When I saved you from her, I thought that you would immediately fall in love with me. But, you didn't feel the same way. You were sick of women. But, I couldn't let you go, so I kept you here, and I did my best to keep you company, hoping that one day you would understand my feelings. That is, until that stupid girl barged in. I couldn't let her get away with stealing you away from me, so I fought back. I won, but you were nowhere to be found after the fight. So, I made it my lifelong quest to find you. Using the girl's body as a sacrifice, I made a deal with Ozkavosh. I asked him to bring you to me, and to live a happy, loving life with you forever. She was more than happy to take up my offer, and I readied the library for your arrival. I should've known not to trust her. When you finally came back to me, you had lost your memories. I was devastated, so much so that I took my own life. However, I found new life in death. This new body could do so much more. I used my newfound powers to retrieve your memory, but I couldn't find any of the memories we made together. It was then that I decided that I would make new memories with you. I hid the rest of your memories, and prepared myself for our new life together. I wanted to plant a seed of love inside of your heart, but you wouldn't let it blossom. Why? Why do you keep resisting? Do you still hate me, Anon?"

 

You feel something similar to raindrops falling on your head. Is she crying?

 

"Anon, please forgive me."

 

Although she's putting on quite the display, you still don't believe her story. It's hard to believe someone who's put you through so much confusion. Perhaps it's time to get The Truth out, once and for all. In one swift move, you wiggle out of the Lich's grasp, and hurl the dagger at the green orb, covering your eyes. The Lich has no time to avert her eyes, and she is fully exposed to the orb's glimmering rays.

 

She falls over, murmuring a barely audible apology like a broken record.

 

"I'm sorry, Anon. I'm sorry, anon. I'm sorry, Anon..."

 

You are surprised when a pair of blue arms wrap around you. A whip-like tail wraps itself around your thigh, and soft cushions of flesh are pressed against your back. The fiend nibbles your ear, and hums a greeting in a deep, seductive tone.

 

"I'm back, Anon. Did you miss me?"

 

You tell her that you have no idea who or what she is.

 

"Oh really? Maybe this will jog your memory~!"

 

She grabs your wrists, and holds them behind your back. With a click, two cold, metallic circles envelop your wrists. You've been cuffed.

 

"Do you remember now? Oh, this brings back so many memories!" She squeals. "Hey, I bet I know what you're thinking right now. 'Set me free! Set me free!', right? Well, if you make me happy, I'll think about it." She giggles devilishly.

 

You ask her how you could make her happy.

 

"I just want you to say one little thing. 'I love you'. Do you think you can do that for me?"

--------------------------------------NEW STUFFS HERE MATE

You have more than a 'little thing' to say to this lecherous, violent woman, but you keep it to yourself. Wouldn't want to get on her bad side.

 

"Come on!" She shakes you. "Say it! Tell me how much you love me, Anon! Go on!"

 

Just a little bit longer...

 

"Hey, what's the matter? Are you scared? Are you afraid that I might kill you? Don't worry, I would never hurt you! Well, maybe a little. Anon is kind of cute when he's in pain, wouldn't you agree, Ms Purple?" She presses one of her sharp talons firmly against your neck. "Go on, say it. Otherwise, I'll have to find another way to get in the mood."

 

No, don't panic. They're just empty threats. Do not panic.

 

"Oh~? You're shaking. You really are scared, aren't you? Or, maybe you're enjoying this? Are you thinking about what I might do to you? Well, with that girl out of the way, I can do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g I want. It'll be just like our first date! All you have to do is say the magic phrase!"

 

Please, get up.

 

"Fine. I guess I'll have to resort to something more drastic." In the blink of an eye, her razor-sharp talons punch a hole through your neck. You feel something seeping into your skin, like ink on paper. It brings about a stinging sensation far worse than any wasp could ever hope to achieve. You wail in pain, much to her pleasure. "Oh, YES! More, more!" She moans, tightening her hold on you. You close your eyes, and wait patiently for death's cold embrace.

 

The library grows silent. You open your eyes, and much to your dismay, you are still very much alive and in pain. However, your captor is nowhere to be seen, and you are lying face-down on the ground, with the cuffs still choking your wrists. A thick, tar-like substance spews forth from your throbbing wound, and you writhe in pain. It is evident that you have been poisoned.

 

"Husband, you're awake! Tell me, what did this filthy whore do to you?"

 

You try to speak, but only end up gagging on your own fluids. You hack up a gelatinous ball of pitch-black phlegm as the poison works it's way into your lungs.

 

"Husband?! Husband! Damn it, what did you do to him?"

 

"It's not what I did to him that matters, it's what I will do to him. Anon's going to become my toy soon, and then, we'll finally have a loving family together! Isn't that what you've always wanted, Anon?"

 

As you suffocate on your own tainted fluids, you can feel something wriggling inside of your head. It stirs you insides, as if trapped within a cage of flesh. It wants to be set free.

 

"H-husband!"

 

"See? Soon, we'll be together forever!"

 

---------------LINE OF UPDATE

 

Your vision is fading. Your thoughts drift off into oblivion.

 

"Do you want to be together with him? So be it."

 

You hear the pitter-patter of soft footsteps, followed by the chilling shriek of steel. Something sharp is wedged into your spine.

 

"Join him in hell, foul demon."

 

"Anon! Why you... oh! So, you've given up? Wonderful! Time to go home and spend some quality time with Anon!"

 

There is a loud poof, followed by a gentle whisper. "Worry not, husband. I will see you again."

 

Your eyes open when a chilling wind caresses your wounds. It's hard to breathe. Before you stands a demoness, whose cheeks have been pierced by gnarled horns. "Hello there, human. Welcome to Hell. Don't worry, you're not dead yet. Come with me."

 

She grabs you by the wrist, dragging your body along a smooth stone surface. "You've got quite an interesting body, human. According to your tags, you should've been dead a long time ago. Yet, you've only been here for a few minutes. Tell me, are you a father?"

 

You shake your head, unable to find enough air in your lungs to tell her your story.

 

"That's a shame. I'm sure that someone with your seed could've birthed a true hero. Well, here we are. This will be your new home, until someone makes an offer for your body." The demoness leaves, closing a gate of bars behind her. After a brief moment of silence, you hear a muffled conversation in the distance.

 

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but he's been deemed a special case. His body and soul will remain on the market until purchased."

 

"Anon is MINE! You can't let other people have him! I gave him a good dose of my energy, his tags should have my name on them!"

 

"We found nothing but his name and death date on his tags. Besides, he's a special case. He's lived past his expiration date, and he's still sentient, despite being undead. Even if he had your name on his tags, we'd put him on the market. It's business, hon. Without bodies like his, we'd go bankrupt."

 

There is a loud groan, followed by angry footsteps. Pure silence rolls in, and you wait patiently for something, anything to happen. Complete boredom lulls you to sleep, until you are rudely awoken by blaring alarms.

 

"Anon? Where are you? I've come to rescue you!"

 

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