Moving on

Serzaan stood there, paused, calculating. Thinking. The spell she held shined brightly, illuminating the sourroundings, showing how spotless the chamber really was. The moment seemed to go on forever.

But you didn't have time for this. You approached her quickly, head down, looking straight into her eyes, and before she could even react, you planted a kiss on her face. In an instant the magic sphere above her head disappeared, dispersed by your own ability. As for demoness herslef - she didn't defend against the kiss. She didn't pull back, or stop it. She just accepted it, even though she knew that nothing more will happen now. But a kiss was still a wordless promise of things to come.

Oh yeah, finally some action!

Your lips parted, you smiled at her while touching her chin. She let out barely audible sigh, and turned her head away from your hand.

"There." She pointed at the wall. You noticed that something was bending it, changing it's surface. After a few short seconds a large, wooden doors showed up, with a single handle. "You will meet him there."

"Thank you."

You winked at her, and turned to Carmen.

"You coming?"

"Already did." She chuckled, but then saw your unamused face. "Okay, I'm coming..."

The Chimera didn't bother to look for her clothes, just walked up to you naked.

Like how she looks?

"Yes. She is... interesting. At the very least." You said in your mind to your dark passenger, and took Carmen's hand.

Together, you stepped through the doors.

Once more you felt like dimensions are twisting themselves to bend to your will. To the direction that you chose. To the...

Room looked like a library. It was massive, dozens of feet in each direction, filled with bookshelves, and the two of you stood at the end of it. The candles levitated in the air, lighting everything up.

"Finally, we can speak unsupervised by strangers." Carmen said, coming back to her previous tone of voice. The one that she had when you first spoke. "I admit, meeting Serzaan is always stimulating, but right now I need to think of solution to our problem."

"Our problem?" You asked.

"Khaj. Try to keep up." She said with pretensious voice, and you just gave her the look that could freeze oceans.

"Anyway, I saw your artifact started to function. I assume you have complete control over her?"

"Yes, she listens to my commands." You confirmed.

Pfff, only because our pact binds us.

"Would you prefer to still sit in that cave?" You asked Ishtar silently. There was no answer from her, just an image of her sticking her tongue out at you.

"Great. We will require her assistance."

With that Carmen approached one of the shelves and picked up a book. Without giving it two looks, she used her strength to tear it in half like it was a tissue. You were astonished for half a second at this display of power, but then you remembered that she was a Chimera and had some unique traits. Enhanced strength must have been one of them.

"What are you do..." You started to ask.

But then the castle shook. And both of you heard a horrifying, metallic scream. It was constant, and it sounded like someone kept scratching a wall with a dagger.

And it was louder with every passing second.

"Splendid." Chimera smiled, and winked at you.

"What's so splendid about him coming here?" You were kinda sceptical about this whole ordeal.

"Don't ruin this moment. My plan works!" She smiled, and proceeded to pick up another book.