The Fire Inside
The pain is all consuming, blanking out my the logical part of my mind that know's this is just a game, the part of my mind that knows I could just log off. When the voice enters my mind it gives me the briefest respite, like a sip of water in a desert. My mind desperately grabs for it.
"A Traveler, how long has it been? The days all blend together down here" says the sultry voice, again the pain eases at her word, only for it to flare back into agony. "P..Please" I manage through gritted teeth "k..k..k...keep talking." The pain rips at me in ways I did not know were possible.
"What? Oh right, your mortal body cannot handle the pressures of this place" she says. I feel a hand rest on my chest and the pain vanishes immediately. All of it, the knife wound, my regular aches and pains, all gone. The relief i feel is indescribable, I know in this moment I would do anything to keep it this way, to keep the pain away. I finally open my eyes and I am treated to a world of fire. I hover horizontally above a summoning circle that appears very much like the one i saw before. We are on an island of rock in the middle of a lake of fire, with nothing but agony as far as the eye can see. This is what I imagine hell would be like.
Next to me stands a demoness of fire. She is beautiful in her own, primal, way. Slim and tall, with eyes of fire and hair that reaches the floor. Her body radiating heat and all of her giving off visions of flame. If I had ever seen a creature so beautiful and terrible before, I could not say. It seems like she could tear into the depths of my soul on a whim.
"Now, where were we?" She purrs "Ah, right. You barged onto my little island of solitude. Very rude if I do say so, very rude indeed. I simply cannot remember the last Traveler I spoke too, hell I can't remember the last mortal I spoke to. Does King whats-his-name still rule up there? Actually, I don't care. What is your name little Traveler, and why are you here?"
Terrified at the possibility of her lifting her hand and the pain returning, I tell her my name and of the fight with the summoner and my accidental falling into the circle. At her urging I recount my entire story so far, It occurs to me that I could log out, just leave, but I am entranced to my core.
"I see, so that is where my dear Ignis went. I am known as... Ember and it seems I owe you a small debt. Even a weak summoner can bind one such as I with the proper materials. Unfortunately though I cannot simply let you go. Not without striking a deal. You see as much as i enjoy my little island, I simply must leave, and you know how your body is not equipped to deal with this realm? Well mine is simply not equipped to deal with yours."
"What do you want from me?" I ask
"A space in your soul. Let me in so I may leave this place and we will return to your realm together. You are new, Traveler and I have knowledge I can share with you, power I can share with you. Ignis will sense the me inside you and become your faithful companion. Just let me in" she is leaning so close i can feel her lips brushing my ear. She nuzzles into my neck as her hand traces ever so slightly on my chest.
"Isn't that when you take over my body and leave me trapped inside my own head?" I laugh without humour. "I have no reason to trust you, no reason to allow you to take me over."
"Sure, other than being trapped here eternally with me, in torment. But you have my word for what it's worth that we will be.. partners of a sort. Your body will still be yours, I will not take it from you." She then raises her hand ever so slightly and the pain explodes back into me.
"YES, YES I ACCEPT" I scream in agony. Her hand lowers and I can feel her smile against my neck. "Very good little Traveler, very good indeed." She opens her mouth and bites into my neck, I can feel the blood escape as she laps some up tenderly. "Now, we are blood bound."