User blog:Thrögma/Sands of Nasurabi: Fingal

'''This is a continuation of the previous story, hence the same super-title (or whatever it's called). Due to the nature of this project, this is in a way a two-part story; if you want, you can read the first part and this, and not read any following parts, as they will not continue this particular storyline. You understand.'''

The first thing I noticed upon my awakening was a sharp pain in my temple. The sandstorm hit hard and fast, and I was almost completely buried. I probably would have suffocated, had my bird not been smarter than I was. Clearly that Caracara had avoided the sandstorm, likely by staying above it, and if it weren’t for his loyalty (or hunger) I may not have woken up in time. Desperately I crawled out of the sand, spitting and gagging. Its coarse and rough grains had gotten everywhere, but aside from the irritation I was just happy to be alive. Oh fuck. Oh shit of fuck, they’re dead. Those poor, sweet camels probably didn’t survive that storm. Also the guys, they probably also had the flesh sand-blasted from their bones. But I wasn’t. I was alive. Which means the tall tales about flesh-rending sandstorms were probably just old fishermen trying to scare me. Which means the camels probably survived! Also the people, which is ok I guess. They were chill, but not camels. Shit. I’m going to need water. I looked around. Lost.

“God damnit!” I screamed, startling my bird. I sighed, and suddenly realized I had my canteen with me. The old woman with no arms was right, keeping a flask with me did save my life! She’s an oracle! Or that’s how you travel in the desert.

“Well Korga, I guess we’re gonna need to find some direction. Yohar said the tomb was to the East, so that’s where we’re heading.” And off I went.

I had already been walking for hours by the time I came upon anything of note. Asides for Korga and a particularly grumpy tarantula, I was completely alone. I took a swig of my flask, to find just shy of a drop trickle into my parched mouth.

“Stupid desert with its ten inches of rain per year. Why couldn’t this desert-dwelling monster-lord have died in a temperate rainforest?” Just then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed something. Out in the distance, just beyond the crest of the dunes, I caught a glimpse of stone. It wasn’t layered weathered sandstone, but even, artificial, carved. A ruin. I ran towards it, cresting the dune. I didn’t even care if it was the ruin I was looking for, ruins meant a chance to orient myself. But it also meant monsters. I knew that ruins in these parts are never abandoned. But the presence of monsters means a shot at survival. At this point I would give anything for a drink of water and a chance to live. Damn my freedom, damn my home, I had to live.

When I climbed the dune, I saw it: an oasis. It was small, not much more than a little lake and some trees. At its center, a great crumbling pyramid stood, adorned with jutting battlements and obelisks, dominating the sands around. Surrounding the pyramid and oasis were decaying ruins, shattered pillars and collapsed walls. Finally, a chance at survival. I ran to the oasis, and collapsed to my knees, drinking with cupped hands from the cool water, thanking the gods above for my fortune.

“Gotcha! You’re coming with me, nya!” I turned around, to find myself face-to face with a young sphinx. The girl climbed closer, inching towards my face, as I tried to step back. She licked her lips, and began speaking.

“Five days red, four days white, I tried to—”

“What are you doing?” a voice came from towards the ruins. The sphinx stopped her riddle, and we both turned to see an anubis staring at us. “You know the rules. All travelers must be brought before the queen for inspection. We can’t have a repeat of last time, she would be furious!”

“Come on, nya! I just wanted to have a little fun, nya. Surely her majesty won’t mind if I test him out f—”

“No ifs ands or buts! Come on Shefat, we don’t want to piss her off.”

“Very good,” I piped in, “but is there any chance I could get some directions, then I can just be on my way.”

“No!” shouted the two girls. Before I knew it, the anubis had restrained me with a binding spell, and I was being led forward.

“What’s that, nya?” the sphinx  asked, pointing curiously to my bird.

“Korga, he’s my bird. A caracara,” I replied with exhaustion.

“Hmmm, the queen will be very interested in this exotic bird. Get it!” ordered the anubis. The sphinx jumped around flailing, uselessly trying to bat at her airborne quarry.

“It won’t work,” I explained. That bird stayed above a sandstorm for hours. But he’ll follow me. Look, what the blazes is going on? Who is this queen, and where am I going?”

“You’ll know soon enough,” purred the sphinx.

“Fantastic, more vague and cryptic allusions to a fate I don’t know,” I muttered.

The monsters led me towards and into the pyramid. Its interior was a warmly-lit affair, flanked by elegant columns painted in deep reds and purples, and lined with carved imagery. Wherever I was, it was old. I noticed a horde of khepri scattering by. The anubis whispered something into the ears of one of the insect-girls, who then swiftly skittered away. Deeper we descended, until at last we came to a great set of golden doors.

“The queen will see you now,” the anubis declared, as she opened the door, pushed me inside, and swiftly shut it behind her. I looked around the room. It was quite luxurious, covered in gold inlays, and hanging silks, with smouldering braziers providing a warm flickering light. Just as I was taking in the details of the room, a voice caught my attention.

“What is your name, boy?” I turned to the front to see a gigantic elegant cushion like a circular divan sitting raised on a dais, covered in lush cushions, and draped by a fine silk hung from the ceiling. Reclining on the cushion was a dark and twisting figure. Her deep lavender skin was barely covered by some choice golden ornaments, with rich violet markings running from her bare shoulders to the black serpentine tail she had in place of legs. Her emerald eyes set in black scleras stared straight to my core. I swallowed. An apophis. One of the mightiest of all monsters.

“Well?”

“Fingal. That is my name. You’re an apophis, aren’t you? Like the one in that encyclopedia? What am I doing here?” I said nervously. The apophis smiled.

“Yes, I am. I am called Ipthys, the queen of the Nephet ruins. Come closer,” she beckoned. I swallowed, and stepped a bit closer, trembling. “That’s better. You look scared. Do I frighten you, Fingal?”

“Of course. Not only have I been apprehended and dragged here against my will, but you are a monster, one of tremendous power. If I was without fear, I would be a fucking idiot. You still haven’t answered my question.”

“Indeed,” she laughed, “but you’ll do well to mind your tongue. I ask the questions, and I make the proclamations. Kneel before me, Fingal. Both knees. Now.” Reluctantly, I dropped to my knees.

“That’s better,” she smiled. “The apophis in that book is actually my aunt, if you could believe it. I am told I look like her.” she smiled, and almost laughed. “Most of my kind rule vast demon realms consisting of countless monsters and incubi, and stretching for miles across the desert. My aunt was such a queen, subjugating her first pharaoh at only 19. While I am a woman of similar ambitions, my mother was not. She was the fourteenth daughter, and left early on in her life. Instead of starting an empire, she instead found this place. The pharaoh that ruled here had been dead for millenia by the time she got there, undoubtedly slain by a more grotesque ancestor of mine. When my mother found this place, it was barren and home to a small hive of khepri, no more than seventeen. She made an arrangement to share the pyramid, and soon after that some local monsters started moving in. Soon, a humble court had assembled here. Fast forward a millennia or two, and here I sit, ruling over an empty kingdom of sand. 700 years I had to make due with this paltry oasis.”

“I think it’s rather pretty,” I interjected.

“Well, there’s no glory in ruling a slum, is there? And you would do better not to interrupt your queen. Regardless, for seven centuries, I was stuck with this little spot in the desert. Very few men ever venture out here, so there’s little opportunity for expansion. You can’t make a demon realm without a vast supply of demonic energy, and you can’t accumulate that kind of power without fresh spirit energy. That’s why you’re here. I have the girls bring in every man that passes by. We can’t afford to lose a single… precious… male. Unfortunately, years go by without a traveler. And they’ve all been a bit disappointing, really. Hell, most of the time the girls deliberately go against my orders and take the men for themselves.”

“You lost me,” I sighed.

“Rise, Fingal,” she commanded, and without a second thought, I stood to my feet. “For the first time in my life, I have seen a man who pleases me. You are to become my consort Fingal, and together we will create a demon realm to rival the lilim.” She smiled. “How lucky you are. I hope you’re ready.” She slithered towards me, and began coiling around my legs before I could step away. She leaned in and took a deep breath, absorbing my odor, and sighed. I could feel her skin touching my body now, the scent of her hair filling my nostrils. Suddenly, she leaned in and bit my neck. A wave of heat rushed through my body, as I felt a tingling and dull throbbing pervade my skin. She giggled. I went nearly limp, as she caught me and carried me to a large perfumed bed. Coiling around me, she leaned above me, and stole a kiss. It felt like she was melting into me, as she chased my tongue with hers, wrestling it down. After it seemed like ages, she parted her lips from mine, and smiled. I panted, red in the face, and terribly confused. The feelings inside were overwhelming. Fear and arousal, anxiety and excitement, discomfort and desire, it was too much, as she pulled the clothes from my trembling body. It was humiliating, unable to do anything as she exposed my towering flesh to the air. I tried to move, but I was helpless. She smiled, as she carefully removed the jewelry that barely covered up her modesty, exposing her voluptuous figure in all its glory. I couldn’t help but let loose a gasp at the sight of her swollen clitoris. With a seductive smile, she lowered her sex unto mine, letting loose a gasp of her own, as we became joined. Slowly, Ipthys began to rock her hips, straddling my flesh in elegant, fluid motions, tightening her coils. More and more, I sank deeper into her, absorbing every sensation, every kiss and little smile, every touch and caress. Face, arms, breasts, I was immersed in it all, drowning in this intoxicating woman. Sweat began to bead on the tips of her breasts, as she writhed and rocked her hips harder and harder, moaning. Soon it was too much to bear, as I felt my flesh tremble, and explode into her, filling everything with warmth.

I laid on the bed in a post-coital haze, as Ipthys, that incredible creature wrapped her arms and tail around me. We had been going for hours, days maybe. I had no idea. It was strange, this feeling. Like I was home, after being away for so long. Like I would never be alone again. I didn’t know how to feel about it, not knowing whether it was even right to feel this way. Especially under the circumstances. Ipthys smiled.

“With you by my side, I am finally whole, after 700 years. Together, we will build a kingdom that will dominate this desert. I had an idea, you know. I never felt it fair to choose between a bright green and a dark demon realm.” I turned towards her, as she pressed her glistening chest upon my bare skin. “So I thought we could make something new. A demon realm in eternal sunset. A ‘fiery demon realm’ or something.”

“Is that even possible?” I whispered, looking into her emerald eyes.

“Anything is possible,” she giggled, “when you have love. Of course, this kind of thing has never been done before. I will need all your spirit energy, every last drop of semen in your body to do it, but with the perpetual motion machine of monsters and incubi, the sky's the limit.” She smiled, and whispered, “a kingdom of eternal sunset, a day that never ends and a night that never comes. A kingdom of eternity.”