Chapter 35: Night

The kiochi’s eyes shot open as a bright lamplight clicked on above her. Blinded by the light shining down into her dilated pupils, she instantly scrunched her eyes shut and shied away from it by turning her head to the side and pressing her face into a small pillow.

As realization reached her waking mind, she blinked her eyes back open and immediately sat up straight.

Centered within the dome of light created by the overhead lamp, she found herself unable to discern hardly anything beyond the fact that she was now surrounded by a thick darkness. Blinking through the lamp’s glare, her eyes went wide as she discovered that she was no longer in the house’s kitchen, but was instead sitting in what appeared to be a cage.

The kiochi’s movements were almost bird-like as her head bobbed and twisted back and forth as she examined the metal bars of her new prison.

As her eyes began to get accustomed to the bright light, she peered through the bars of her cage and stopped short as she registered three sets of eyes staring back at her from the darkness.

Situated around a high-backed chair were three forms whose solid black appearance was so intense that they stood out clearly against the darkness around them. The largest of these beings was sitting in the chair itself while the other two were standing on either side.

The one in the chair appeared to be masculine and was leaning forward with it’s hands clasped together and its elbows resting on its knees. Its eyes seemed to be human and looked to be more or less normal, though they were being thrown into a stark contrast by the pitch blackness that surrounded them. The two beings on either side of the chair were clearly feminine, and although more lithe in appearance, they were far more intimidating than the one sitting between them. This was due mostly to the fact that unlike their companion’s, their eyes were glowing red orbs that shun out brightly against the solid blackness of their beings. The two fiery-eyed women carried themselves with a subliminal level of confidence, as they leaned, poised and alluringly, against the backrest of the tall chair.

Her own eyes widening to their fullest at the sight of her captors, the kiochi couldn’t help but to instinctively lean away from the imposing trio. Although motionless and completely silent, the three beings in front of her still portrayed an undeniably menacing capability that was made all the worst when the air around her suddenly began to thicken and become heavy.

A lump quickly formed in the kiochi’s throat as she watched two bright, toothy smiles spread across the blackened faces of the standing women.

“Oh! She’s afraid...” whispered a voice that seemed to come from the room itself “Good...”

“Yes, she is...” answered another voice that seemed to echo with silent laughter “And it’s so delicious!”

“Indeed...” spoke a third, deeper voice “Such a lovely flavor...”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, the kiochi went to lean further back but froze in her movements as the sitting being narrowed its eyes at her.

An ominous chuckling began to ring out through the room as the being closed its eyes completely and rose up to settle back into its chair. As it came to rest, a soot-like poof of blackness faded away from around its body and revealed that it was the man who had defeated her.

“Well then...” said Anton as a thin smile spread across his face “I think we established enough of an atmosphere. Let’s go ahead and move things along now...”

As Anton spoke the few electric lights on in the room around him began to wink back into existence and flicker weakly.

On either side of him, the blackness began to fall away from the standing women, and as it did so, it revealed them to be the two dark elves from upstairs.

Now free of their bondage gear, the dark elves had both donned simple dominatrix style attire. They were both dressed identically in knee-length lace-up stiletto boots, finger-less opera gloves, form-fitting leather pants and laced corsets with push up style tops that hugged their torso’s snugly as they rested over white, loosely fitted blouses. Everything they wore beyond their blouses was colored black with red highlights.

Dressed to match them, Anton wore a red button-up dress shirt and black slacks as he went for a simpler yet just as imposing visage.

The kiochi stared at the smiling trio for a moment before turning away from them. Blinking in the now dimmed light, she quickly looked around the unfamiliar room. Her expression became questioning as her eyes darted about and fell on each of the strange looking implements that dotted the area around her. After a moment of exploring the room with her eyes, her movements slowed until she went completely still.

The dark elves both began to laugh softly as they watched the realization form in the kiochi’s eyes.

This place, was a dungeon.

Drawn back to them by the sounds of their laughter, the kiochi’s eyes landed on the dark elves before falling to stare directly at Anton.

“Well hello there.” said Anton as he grinned back at her “Good to see that you’re finally awake. We were getting a little worried ... Well, not really. But anyways. Welcome to our little dungeon. As you can see. It’s fully stocked. And we should have everything we need here to make sure that your stay with us is a very ... comfortable, one...”

Narrowing her eyes, the kiochi’s glare shifted to an expression of surprise as she tried to speak through the gag in her mouth.

“Humph!?” she cried as she blinked and then slowly looked down at herself. Her eyes once again went wide as she discovered that she had been stripped naked and locked into a set of bondage gear.

A Bolero straight-jacket, that had been crafted out of black leather, had been wrapped tightly around her upper torso. The broad straps and cuffs of the jacket crisscrossed her shoulders, neck and collarbone before coming together and attaching to a thick belt that had been tightened around her ribs, just above her waist. Her arms had been fed into the sleeves of the jacket, crossed beneath her exposed breasts, and then strapped to this same belt. Her hands had been balled into fists and locked into the strict bondage mittens that were attached to the ends of the jackets sleeves.

Two thick leather binders were wrapped around her legs. One stretched across her shins, from her ankles up to the base of her knees and the other was wrapped around her thighs.

To complete her bondage, a ninja-like, face mask gag and its leather harness had been strapped around her head and her long tail had been tightly wrapped around her waist until the bladed tip, now cleaned of the rubber sealant, was able to be planted at the small of her back, where it could be rendered harmless by being encased in a modified leather knife holster and then strapped, buckled and locked to a leather belt.

The kiochi stared down at herself for a long moment before suddenly looking back up at the trio in a panic and scooting on her butt to the back corner of her cage, where she then frantically pulled her legs up to hide her chest.

Having reclaimed a bit of her modesty, she commenced to glare angrily over her knees as a bright blush began to spread out across her cheeks.

Surprised by the sight, the dark elves looked at each other before smiling wickedly.

“Well, well, well! It’s looks like somebodies bashful!” teased Kianna.

“Yeah! I guess the poor little ninja-bitch isn’t a fan of the locker room, huh!” taunted Fiona.

The kiochi’s ears began to turn a bright red as her blush deepened. Unable to teleport and escape due to the thin ring of enchanted silver-inlaid-steel that was still locked around her neck, she could do nothing but pull her legs in tighter against her body and glare up at the taunting dark elves.

“Mmph! Ah!” she cried through her gag as she started to wiggle about in an effort to free herself.

“Huh? This is pretty surprising. This bitch was just dressed up like a total whore. But actually having her tits out is suddenly too much for her?” mocked Fiona as she crossed her arms and gave the kiochi a perplexed look “Guess this little bitch is nothing but a tease then?”

“Looks like it.” mumbled Kianna as she lifted the kiochi’s sheathed sword and held it out in front of herself “Guess she’s just a failure at everything she tries to be...”

Seeing her sword in the dark elf’s hands, the kiochi’s eyes tightened in thought as she looked from Kianna to Anton and back. Confusion was clear in her expression as she stared at the dark elf and continued to struggle.

“ ... Hm, well now?” mused Anton as he began to rub his chin “Girls ... I think this kiochi might have assumed that you two were my victims?”

“ ... Well she’s not really wrong about that! We are your victims!” snapped Fiona as she pointed her ears straight back.

Anton chuckled as he glanced up at her.

“You’re your own victim, Fiona.” he said as he looked back at the kiochi “And you always have been.”

“Humph! Whatever!” huffed Fiona as she narrowed her eyes at her grinning sister.

“So then. Did you think these two were going to be against me?” asked Anton as he leaned forward and rested his elbows back on his knees “Did you think that they were going to be your allies?”

Still wiggling in her binds, the kiochi tightened her eyes as she blatantly ignored his question and refused to look at him.

“ ... Oh, c’mon now. Let’s not be rude.” said Anton “I know we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. But there’s no reason we can’t be civil with each other from here on out. As at this point, I’m more than willing to move past our grievances if you are. And despite your attempts against me, I will say, I’ll hold no grudge, and seek no restitution against you. In fact, I feel I actually owe you a bit of gratitude. For you see, you have in reality done me a service by giving me the opportunity to teach my dark elves a bit about assassins, and despite your poor performance, it was still a solid lesson. And I’m happy with the end results. So, at this time, all I want from you now is to have a simple conversation, and nothing more. And I think that’s more than reasonable considering the circumstances. But, what do you think? Do you agree? Or is there something you’d like to add?”

Although the kiochi was clearly listening, she again, completely ignored Anton.

“ ... Well?” asked Anton as the grin faded from his face “ ... Do you find my offer reasonable? Or not?”

Again, the kiochi completely ignored him.

“ ... I am making an attempt to be civil with you, kiochi.” said Anton as he narrowed his eyes “And I would appreciate it, if you showed me the same courtesy.”

The kiochi huffed through her nose in a dismissive manner and shifted herself to the side as she continued in her efforts to wiggle out of her binds.

“ ... I see.” nodded Anton as he settled back into his chair and laid his arms out across the armrests “Very well then ... Hm...”

Noticing the thoughtful expression on his face, Fiona and Kianna both watched Anton for a moment before giving each other a knowing look and smiling at the kiochi. They were both startled when Anton suddenly rose from his seat.

The kiochi frantically pressed herself into her corner and began to cry out through her gag as Anton approached her cage.

Without a word, Anton knelt down, unlocked the cage and left the door fully open as he stood up, turned his back on the kiochi and made his way back to his chair.

Clearly confused, the kiochi didn’t dare to move as she stared at the now wide open door. Just as equally confused as her, the dark elves said nothing as they watched Anton settle back into his seat.

“Girls.” said Anton as he stared at the kiochi with an empty expression on his face “I’m going to need your help with something...”

“Huh!?” exclaimed both of the dark elves in unison as their ears pointed themselves straight upwards.

Maintaining his emotionless expression, Anton kept his eyes locked with the kiochi as he spoke.

“This kiochi has information that I’d like to have. Who sent her here, what clan is she part of, and are anymore of her comrades going to show up ... All simple questions really, but important nonetheless ... Unfortunately, it seems that this kiochi isn’t particularly interested in speaking with me...” explained Anton “Now, this is not all that surprising. As the fact that she would harbor a certain level of resentment towards me is completely understandable. However, that does not change the fact that my questions need to be answered. So, if she’s unwilling to speak with me ... Perhaps, she can be convinced to speak with you two...”

“ ... So? You just want us to talk to her then?” asked Kianna as she turned to the kiochi “That’s it?”

“Oh no, no, no, no ... Not at all...” said Anton as a thin grin began to spread across his face “Merely speaking with her wouldn’t be any fun at all, now would it? No ... No, it wouldn’t. So instead, I’d like to know what you girls would like to do, with this kiochi...”

“Do, with her?” questioned Fiona as she too turned to the kiochi “Wait? What do you mean by that?”

Anton began to chuckle softly as he registered the questioning look in the kiochi’s eyes.

“Well, it’s simple. Dark elves, such as yourselves, are of course, naturally inclined to want control of those around them. In fact, the desire to punish and control the guilty is something that’s been embedded deep within the very fibers of your beings. It’s who you are. And I’d like to see what that part of you looks like...” explained Anton “I’ve never had the privilege to see a dark elf actually dominate someone. And as far as I know, you two have never been given the chance to practice that particular skill of yours ... So this is actually a pretty lucky opportunity for all of us ... Well ... almost, all of us...”

The kiochi couldn’t help but to swallow nervously as she registered the growing excitement in the dark elves eyes.

“Seriously!? You’re serious right now!?” exclaimed Fiona as a evil looking smile spread across her face “So we can do whatever we want with her!?”

“Indeed.” smiled Anton “So long as the end result is you establishing control and getting her to a point in which she’s willing to speak to me. Then yes, you may do as you please with her...”

Turning to each other, the dark elves began to laugh softly but menacingly as they shifted their gazes back to the kiochi.

Her eyes going wide, the kiochi started to struggle in earnest as the dark elves began to move towards her cage.

“Oh ... Getting her to want to talk to you won’t be a problem at all, Master!” sang Kianna “We’ll show you exactly what we can do!”

“Oh yeah! This is gonna be our pleasure...” cooed Fiona as she smiled broadly down at the kiochi “We’re going to make this little bitch sing for you!”

With the dark elves now looming on either side of the cage’s entrance, the kiochi, in desperation, rocked forwards onto her knees and quickly scooted herself to the edge of the cages doorway.

“HMMHM HMPH MMMMPH HMMMHMPH!” she exclaimed through her gag as she frantically shook her head and gave Anton an exasperated look.

Anton leaned forward in his seat and rested his elbows back onto his knees as he spoke.

“Are you trying to say that you’re willing to cooperate now?” he asked.

The kiochi nodded her head as she waddled out of the cage and planted herself between the dark elves.

“I see...” nodded Anton “Well, isn’t that convenient...”

Still nodding, the kiochi glanced upwards and gave each of the disappointed looking dark elves a smug look.

“And pathetic...” continued Anton.

Blinking, the kiochi’s head went still for a second before her eyes darted back to Anton.

“Just absolutely pathetic.” stated Anton as he narrowed his eyes in disgust “Is the mere threat of pain really all it takes for you to roll over and immediately give in to your enemies? Is it that easy for you to admit defeat? Do you have even a shred of honor? Or any integrity at all?”

Seemingly frozen in place, the kiochi did nothing as she stared back at him.

“ ... Well!?” demanded Anton “Do you, or not!?”

The kiochi blinked in uncertainty before her eyes tightened and she looked down at the floor in front of herself.

“Humph! Right, I figured as much...” mumbled Anton as he shook his head “Now, don’t get me wrong, kiochi. I’m all for setting these theatrics aside and getting my answers out of you right away. I’m a reasonable man after all. And I’m more than willing to negotiate for the information I want. I would have made a fair agreement with you. A deal that would work out for both of us. That is exactly what I wanted to do from the very beginning ... Unfortunately though, at this point, I’m afraid that option is no longer available to you anymore. Because you see...”

Moving only her eyes the kiochi peeked up at Anton and watched him as he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest.

“I’m not the one that you’re going to be dealing with anymore...” he said coldly “It’s the dark elves that you’re going to have to convince now...”

The kiochi went stiff as the weight of the air around her suddenly became thick and heavy. Slowly she looked up at the dark elves that stood on either side of her and gulped loudly.

Both Fiona and Kianna were wearing smug looking grins as they waiting expectantly.

“ ... Mm! Hmmhm hmph, mmmmph hmmmhph?” offered the kiochi through her gag.

Both of the dark elves smiled fully and exposed their short fangs as their irises began to glow with a faint, hungry looking red light.

“Wow. I didn’t understand a single word of that.” said Kianna as she cocked an eyebrow “Did you?”

“Nope!” sang Fiona as the kiochi’s eyes widened “It looks like this little ninja-bitch is going to be a stubborn one after all ... Oh well! Can’t be helped!”

With the dark elves now looming above her, the kiochi tightened her eyes in anger and crouched down low as she started to screech through her gag.

Surprised by the unexpected aggression, both Fiona and Kianna jumped back from the kiochi as a pair of black colored, bat-like wings suddenly sprouted out from between the straps that ran across her shoulders and stretched themselves out to about a meter on either side of her.

Still screeching as loudly as she could through her gag, the kiochi spread her thin, membranous wings out as wide as possible before using them to strike at the dark elves in a threatening manner.

“Whoa! Whoa! What the fuck!” cried Fiona as she and her sister both took another step back and away from the enraged fiend.

Seizing the opportunity, the kiochi rolled back onto the balls of her feet and with all her might, she shot herself upwards and out from between the two dark elves. As her body became airborne she began to flap her wings wildly in an attempt to lift herself up and over Antone’s chair.

Unfortunately for her, she stopped moving almost immediately as pink and green glowing chains wrapped themselves around her ankles and she was violently jerked backwards before being slammed onto the floor.