XXV - The High Priestess 4

"What I crave above all is conquest," I declared, "I'll chart a course through the cosmos, starting with our own Milky Way, then onto Andromeda, and beyond.

No obstacle, no force shall stop me.

I'll stop at nothing to achieve domination over all, and I will have no mercy towards anyone who would dare to obstruct my holy odyssey.

There'll be trials, hardships, and tough choices, but I won't falter.

True power doesn't come to those who were born the strongest, fastest, or smartest.

NO, it comes to those who will do ANYTHING to achieve it.

And I'm that man.

It's willpower that counts.

If you're prepared to grasp power with both hands, to sacrifice and strive, then by God, you'll achieve it. Or die trying.

If one of my comrades dares to stand in my way, I'll try to talk sense into them. Reason, plead, whatever it takes.

But if they persist, I won't hesitate to eliminate the obstacle.

No regrets, no sleep lost over it."

Lavinia let out a low whistle, her expression a mix of surprise and admiration. "Now that's what I call straightforward," she remarked. "Respectable. Count me in for your Church Of Truth. I'm done with the mundane and men's balls, it has grown to be quite boring. It's time for something... darker. I'll throw my lot in with you, Eros. Your side, the evil side, sounds like where the real excitement lies."

With a languid flick of my finger, I cast a shadow across the room. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," I murmured, "Evil? Selfish? Call me what you will, but I see the grand design. I'll gladly play the villain if it means achieving my vision."

Lavinia, her gaze steady, pressed on. "And what, pray tell, is it that you desire from me?"

A smile danced at the corners of my lips, a serpent's grin. "Submission, my dear. To heed my commands without question." I leaned in closer, my voice a whisper. "But I'm no tyrant.

Question me, challenge me. Constructive criticism is more than welcomed, but know that cooperation will serve you best."

Lavinia's response was coy, a glint of defiance in her eyes. "I'm nobody's pawn, darling. But I'll play along... mostly."

I fixed my gaze upon her, rising from my seat, drawing near until our breath mingled. With a gentle touch, I held her hands behind her head, cupping her cheeks as I whispered, "And what of you, Miss Lavinia? What do your deepest desires reveal?"

Her cheeks flushed red, a stark contrast to her usual composure. "Cat got your tongue?" I teased, urging her to speak.

"I... I don't know," she stammered, flustered by my proximity.

"Come now, honesty is a virtue," I pressed.

With a hesitant exhale, she confessed, "I... I want you to make love to me."

I recoiled slightly, feigning offense. "That's impolite. What's the magic word?" I teased, enjoying the subtle dance of power between us.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Don't you want it too? Quit playing games, you shit.

Haven't you forgotten? My Devil's still lurking in you, I could mess you up, you know..." Lavinia spat out the words, her tone seething with discomfort and anger.

"You wouldn't dare touch me, you can't. Now say the damn words."

Lavinia reluctantly relented, "FINE, FINE, PLEASE?"

"That's a start, Lavinia.

You'll learn some manners eventually, we'll work on it together."

I then began kissing her, our passion igniting a fire that burned with a raw and primal intensity.

Our lovemaking was fierce and rough, which heightened the experience.

It was an ecstatic event, a tornado of sensations that left us both spent and satisfied.

As the hours passed, we finally, lay exhausted but content. I looked at Lavinia, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips.

"Well, well," I teased, "what happened to that nasty attitude of yours, huh?"

Her response was sharp, a flash of irritation in her eyes. "Just shut up," she snapped, her tone tinged with annoyance. "Let's forget about this. I'm going out to the balcony for a smoke."

I chuckled, "On my way, sweetheart."

We stepped out onto the balcony, cigarettes in hand. Passing her one, I lit it and remarked, "Give these quirleys a try. They've got a bit more flavor than your regular dry smokes, and they're fresher."

Taking a drag, she nodded appreciatively, "Thanks. Surprisingly good. You'll have to teach me how to roll them sometime."

Teasingly, I shot back, "Ask nicely, and I might just do that. HAHAHAHAH."

"I bite, you know, grrrrrr...." she replied playfully.

"Noted," I quipped back.

But then, diverting our attention to the night sky, I remarked, "Look at that, the Milky Way's putting on quite a show tonight. Beautiful starry night... Makes you think, doesn't it? One day, we'll conquer every planet in that vast expanse."

Lavinia pondered, "You really think so? Our galaxy's quite the beast."

I shot back, "Eight planets, one damn big star, 146 moons, enough asteroids to make your head spin, and of course dwarf stars like Pluto. It ain't all that vast if you know where to look."

Lavinia stuck around for the night, and we talked about my aims and the Church of Truth's ambitions till we both crashed out, slipping into a sleep so deep, it felt like we were diving headfirst into our wildest dreams, just waiting to come true...