"It won't stay forever," said Mori.
He concentrated again, closing his eyes for a moment.
The monster almost predicted it, dodging the new massive chains popping out of the ground.
They kept doing in the same direction, toward the swords that came from its back, planted around them.
Four sets of chains headed for the four swords, when it realized it, it quickly swung its sword at one of them and broke it.
He was too late. Mori had tightly grabbed the handle of the other 3, unearthing them and quickly throwing them back toward the monster.
He quickly got the Damocles sword backward, ready to swing at all three of them.
As soon as they were in range, he quickly swept horizontally.
All three blades thrown by Mori's chains hit its chest.
The Damocles sword was gone, leaving the monster empty-handed.
It didn't scream in anger or grunted in pain. It looked surprised, and its eyes looked of an even brighter red than ever.
Mori quickly got new chain out from under it, profiting from the surprise caused.
He grabbed both feet, quickly swirling around them while new chains were coming out of the ground to grab its other limbs.
It had four arms, and two legs.
As both its legs were taken, it quickly started getting the thrown weapons out of his chest, but barely got one out before chains attached to one of its arms.
Then another, and another. It only had time to throw back one sword at Mori before it was brought to the ground, the chains tightly pulling the monster down.
Mori easily dodged the projectile, moving sideways.
The ground shook as its body hit it. It was still struggling to get up, fighting the chains with its only available arm.
Mori finally grabbed that last one, bringing the monster flat to the ground one last time.
It was still struggling, but unable to raise anymore.
The amount of chains holding it down, paired with their sealing properties, was simply too much.
Mori slowly approached, but he was unsure of what to do.
He got closer and closer, getting meters away from its face.
He wasn't even as tall as one of its eyes, an opponent he was glad not to face earlier on his journey.
He sat on the ground, waiting.
"What now?" asked Maël, in a sigh.
"Almost out of cursed energy. We need to wait. The chains should hold."
Her mark receded, leaving Mori alone in the control of his body.
As he sat down, he felt exhaustion overtaking him.
In an instant, it felt like fire had lit over his body, that he lost control over his muscles.
He fell backward on the ground, flat on his back, while breathing slowly.
He closed his eyes tightly, enduring the pain, while trying to mentally conjure a curse that would take the pain away.
He had done it plenty of times, but he had to cast it from memory while he felt like he was on fire.
Lying there on the ground, he was simply left to himself.
He was unable to concentrate, unable to move or even speak.
He lied there in pain, until he finally passed out, next to the monster's face.
He felt a slight relief, as pain stopped, but it was only for a short moment, as he found himself back with Maël.
He looked around the room, nothing had changed, beside her outfit.
It was even more provocative than the last time, which was truly a surprise. Was the next step to forego clothes?
She was once again, sat legs crossed in front of the fireplace, blankly staring into it.
Mori sat in the opposing armchair in silence.
He could see right into her eyes.
It wasn't a fire, like the monster. Nor was it cosmic, like the Unkindled. It wasn't purposeful like Maya or pretty like Aura.
It was empty, a black void.
It was lonely, a bottomless pit.
She was so close, her nose slightly brushed against his, while she kept tightly holding the chain back.
She let go with one hand, using it to grab Mori's chin.
She caressed his face, the look on her face not one of anger.
She got closer to one of his ear.
"You need to realize you're not the one in control, here," she murmured in his ear.
She gently bit his ear, her available hand still holding his face.
Mori was still holding her shoulders, but no amount of force used would push her away.
She then kissed his ear.
He found that truly weird, yet the sound and the feeling of it made something rise in his chest that he hadn't felt in a long time.
It felt like his heart pumped faster, that his blood ran hotter. Her lips traced down from his ear to his neck.
He could feel her lips, and even tongue on his skin while her grasp on him became tighter.
Her grasp on the chain was stronger, pulling him tight while her other hand was tightly holding his face. Experience more content on m v|l e'-novelhall.net
It was not the same as Aura, he realized.
When he first met her, she would go at his neck like an animal, her primal instinct kicking in. She was like a starved puppy who had food for the first time.
Maël felt starved too, but not the same way Aura was.
As she kissed his cheek, he looked into her eyes one more time, both of them looking at the other.
Mori leaned forward, the restraint of the choker giving in just enough, so that his lips would reach hers.
She pushed back, pulling on the chain again, yet her lips stayed on his.
She was tightly holding his neck, while Mori's hand stopped pushing her back.
He was gently holding her head, his fingers intertwined in her hair.
His other hand gently held her thigh. Every time her tongue entered his mouth it felt like the heat rose.
He was grabbing her tighter, pulling her toward him, but it mattered little.
She was the one in control.
She finally broke away, her eyes opening to his.
They both were out of breath and took a moment.
For the first time, Mori's gaze went down.
She was truly beautiful, erotically provocative, even. The see-through nightgown was accentuating it, not the other way around.
She followed his gaze down, smirking.
She finally got up, leaving Mori on the chair.
It felt like some of the heat dissipated as she took a few steps back.
She didn't hide herself, almost inviting Mori to look at her.
"Why go to such lengths?"
She raised her eyebrows, then rolled her eyes.
She sat in the armchair opposing Mori.
He tried to get up, but the chain still held him down.
He stared into her eyes, but it felt like his heart did not know what to do.
How could cold and empty eyes like hers belong to someone so ...gentle?