An unspeakable punishment.

"Second, as you can see, I have defeated your holy woman. She belongs to me now." I lifted Jetta's head by her hair to look her in the face. "Don't you?"

She nodded with a wince of pain, her voice pleading. "Yes. Yes, I do. I'll be good."

I lifted her a little higher. "You refused to obey me outside and still need to be punished. Don't you?"

She gasped softly and met my gaze, but then shied away from it. Whatever she thought, she knew what I expected her to say and she knew I would kill more people if she made a scene. "Y-yes. I do."

I knew the Priestess was tough. I knew she felt a powerful sense of duty to protect those weaker than her. I knew she could handle a lot of pain and would always sacrifice herself for others. I had broken her body and bent her mind. Her heart and soul still fought me. It was time to break her heart. "This is your punishment, and see that you remember it: you will kill one of these townspeople. Refuse or fail, and I will kill them all. Slowly. While you watch. And you will beg for **** before I'm finished with your next punishment."

She paled. "N-no. Please. God! Anything else. I beg y—"

"Do you refuse?" I raised my voice threateningly.

"No! No. I-I'll do it." Her voice trembled. She knew she had ****. She couldn't fight me and had seen enough to believe I could and would carry out such a terrible threat. She had to do it.

I wouldn't have bothered spending so much time and effort on the corruption and torment of any one woman except that she was the most pure and beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on. She was everything I'd sworn myself against, and I wanted to twist her into a Dark reflection of herself. It was worth the time. It was fun.

I released her and she climbed to her feet, looking at the crowd in despair. They were all stunned, some of them murmuring amongst themselves. My broken angel took a breath and steeled herself, convincing herself that her actions were indeed the right thing to do.

An elderly woman stepped forward. "Lady Priest."

Everyone turned as she continued forward, crossing the space from her peers to where Jetta and I stood.

"Take me." She glanced at me nervously, hoping she wasn't about to die for her insolence. But I was curious to watch this play out. "I'm an old widow. I won't be long for this world anyway. I daresay you'd be doing me a favor." She took Jetta's face in her wrinkled hands. "You poor thing. Look what he's done to you."

Jetta began to cry. "I don't want to do this."

The older woman nodded. "I know, dear. It's not your fault. You may swing the sword, but the blame lies with him." She turned her head slightly in my direction.

I considered putting a stop to this. This was meant to be a punishment for the Priestess, not a moment of comfort. But I restrained myself. I wanted to see it through, and I could work with this. I could make her commit atrocities in my name, convincing herself it's not her fault. I would desensitize her to the acts until she enjoyed them. That could be very fun for me. It could even break her soul. Then she would finally, truly be broken beyond repair. I was looking forward to it.

Jetta was hesitating. She had been given an easy out by this woman. A willing sacrifice. She was a strong warrior priest, but she was no murderer. No executioner.

"Do it." I said, my tone threatening. "Now. Or I will."

"I'm so sorry, Liz." Jetta said with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I have to obey him. I can't let him... the others..."

The woman nodded and Jetta jumped on her, both hands on the older woman's throat. They fell hard, with Jetta landing astride her victim, **** her so hard Jetta's whole body shook. It didn't take long.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Jetta muttered again and again, tears on her cheeks as Liz died without a fight. Jetta buried her face in the older woman's bodice, sobbing.

The whole room was quiet. All hope had died with Liz. There was no doubt just how powerless the humans were.

I gave her a moment to feel the emotional impact of her punishment before moving on. "Stand up." I ordered.

Jetta rose to her feet, still crying. She refused to look me in the face. That was fine. I never expected her to like me; only to obey me. But I lifted her chin with a claw just the same. "You will not defy me again. Will you?"

"No." Her voice was soft.

"You are beginning to understand. I own you. No matter how distasteful my commands may be, disobedience is worse."

"Yes."

"Good. Go over there." I directed her to a hard wooden chair at the edge of the room and instructed her to sit, draping one leg over each of the arms to display herself shamelessly. "Now masturbate while I **** your friends. Make yourself come as many times as you can. You may not look away or stop or you will be punished." The last word hang in the air. It held a lot of weight now.

She nodded, moving her fingers between her legs and one hand to her breast, moaning softly as a generous amount of milk spurted out. Her eyes were heavy, distant; her heart was broken. But she obeyed. She would always obey, now. Always.

I turned my back to her and heard her break into sobs again even as she fingered herself. Jetta was a tortured mess; I loved it. The Bind spell preventing her from using magic expired, but I doubted she'd notice. She was done fighting.

As I strode toward the villagers, I felt the awesome weight of their fear. I was the predator. I was the one calling all the shots. I could indulge in any whim without guilt or shame. I felt more free than I ever remembered being in a lifetime of being human. My humanity was long gone. Purged to make room for something far better. And I owed it all to Melanoche and Carnachias.

I felt great pride in being chosen as their champion. I reached for the new power that had spawned in me the night before.

Priest Trait: Mantle of Blackest Night

Melanoche's essence surrounded me. I was a bonfire of her Dark divinity. She was pleased with me; eager to lend me more of her power to work her will on the land.

I faced the villagers, flexing my hands. It was time to make a proper army.