Chapter 15: Plundering the Vault

Note: Thanks to WRC264 for beta reading this. Illina

My body throbbed from the bruising impact. I kicked at kraken’s rubbery tentacles wrapped around my body. I smacked into them with my fists. It swirled me around, squirming and thrashing in the water. Sounds roared in my ears, muffled, muted.

It pulled me close to it. A beak appeared. It thrust out of the mass of writhing, black flesh. It pulled me in. I cursed, bubbles bursting from my mouth, and then I twisted my body. I planted both my feet onto the rubbery creature’s body, framing the beak. It snapped.

I braced myself, leg muscles straining as the tentacles pulled me down towards its hungry maw. The suction cups sucked at my skin. They gripped me tight. I couldn’t escape it. Had no weapons on me.

“Cernere’s black cunt!” I screamed into the water as my muscles fought against its strength. It pulled harder on me. The water thrashed around me.

It slammed me into the metal walls of the pool. Pain burst across my back. My entire body shook. My legs buckled. Knees bent. It yanked me towards it snapping beak. Terror flashed through me. I got further than my mother.

But not much further.

Barg

I dove into the water.

My legs kicked, driving me down towards the thrashing kraken. Illina’s face strained in the water. She fought against it, her feet planted on it like she was fighting against being pulled into the creature’s body.

Then it surged forward and slammed her into the wall. Bubbles exploded from her mouth. She went limp. It pulled her towards its maw. I swam faster. Fear propelled me. I reached the rubbery tentacle holding my lover and bit.

I savaged the rubbery appendage. Blood tasting of ink filled my mouth. Bitter and foul. The tentacle writhed. I tore out a chunk of flesh and spat it out. My teeth snapped down and savaged again, rippling away more of its foul, rubbery meat.

Illina’s dazed eyes met mine. She shook her head and thrashed again. Bubbles burst from her mouth. I heard her muffled shouting but couldn’t understand her words. I would rip her free. I attacked the next tentacle holding her tight. A beak snapped at me.

I kicked away while tearing out more of the foul flesh. The water boiled around me. Then a tentacle slammed into me. It drove me away. I hit the side of the pool. My lungs burned. I had to breathe. But I wasn’t about to let her die.

I kicked back at it. This thing wasn’t killing my Illina.

Stefan Halian

Ahlona’s sweet pussy juices poured across my tongue. I tilted my head back, gulping down the liquid. My entire body trembled as the magic surged through me. I threw the vial to the ground and felt the reserve of power I had to burn.

The kraken thrashed through the water, tentacles breaking the surface and sending waves that sloshed around my feet. Ahlona stood by me, her sword out, looking at the water with trepidation. Only Barg had dived in after Illina.

Bubbles frothed in the water. I seized them with tendrils of air magic, shaped them into hardened blades, and slashed them down into kraken’s bulbous flesh. They pushed through the water and struck the kraken’s bulbous body. But not hard. They didn’t hit with much force, slowed down by the liquid itself. It resisted their strikes.

The water grew murky as inky blood spread from the kraken’s wounds. Barg and Illina vanished from sight. Even if the air blades were effective, they were too risky. I could kill my companions. I racked my brain for solutions.

I could sense through the water. I could feel where Barg and Illina were. They were by each other, tentacles lashing around them. The barguest savaged at the rubbery appendages, ripping and tearing while Illina, weaponless, thrashed.

The kraken’s main body lay at the heart of all the currents. A bulbous shape with a snapping beak trying to rip Illina’s body apart and feast on her. I couldn’t let that happened. I had to protect her. Save our mission. My chest rose and fell. My fingers flexed.

What to do?

Fire was useless. The water would absorb the heat and spread it out to everyone. Earth would run into the same problems as the air blades. What could I do with water? It had weight. Mass. An idea struck me. I could feel the heart of the kraken.

I surged my magic into it. I poured it all, using every ounce of control I had. I seized the entire reservoir. I burned through Ahlona’s pussy juices. The water level dropped. I compressed it all, squeezing it down on the kraken’s body itself. The current rushed past the tentacles, Barg, and Illina. I felt the squishy body compressing. It resisted it. I forced the water in tighter, my hand shoving into my robes.

Tentacles appeared over the shrinking water level. Barg burst out of the waves, kicking in confusion. Illina’s head appeared, red hair matted, black ink swirling about her. The kraken’s tentacles twitched. Then she was free, swimming away.

The weight crushed down further and further on it. Its gelatinous body compressed more. Tentacles tore free and floated to the surface, but it still lived. Still survived the immense pressure pushing down on it.

I popped the cork off another vial of pussy juices and downed more power, drinking it as I kept up the weight. The pool water had dropped to a quarter of its height, Barg and Illina pressed against the side where the pressure hadn’t increased. A ball of near solid water surrounded the Kraken, compressing tighter and tighter. It resisted now. It didn’t want to be compacted any longer. It was feeling strange.

The kraken’s body ruptured. In that moment, I felt it die. I released the spell. The inky water rushed back. It surged upward, thrusting Illina and Barg with it. They gasped, pushed against the sides as the pool swelled to its normal levels.

Sir Bryce glanced over at me and nodded his approval.

Illina

Monica helped pull me out of the water. I rolled over onto my side, shuddering. My ribs ached from being crushed by the tentacles. Bruises throbbed along my skin, the pain rippling through my nervous system. The leywife hugged me.

“Are you okay?” she asked, fright thick in her voice. Her wet cheek rubbing on mine.

“Fine, fine,” I said. A nervous giggle burst from me. “That was quite a surprise. Open the vault and ... BAM! Tentacles!”

“Yes, yes,” Barg growled. He shifted into his human form, water dripping off his skin. “I am sure it would be exciting to some.”

I laughed harder and struggled to speak through the chortles. “Remember, that thief ... she loved ... the idea of tentacles ... Wrapped around...”

“She was an interesting one,” admitted Barg. “Didn’t she end up finding a panthopus to fuck.”

“Yeah,” I said. My laughter trailed off. “Tentacles ... Don’t get the appeal. That was slimy.” I glanced down at the inky water. I sighed. “Stefan, could you siphon out the blood and stuff. I need to see what that did. If there’s more work to do. And to find my tools.”

“Of course,” Stefan said. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Me, too,” I said and beamed at him. “Thanks.”

He gave an embarrassed shrug. “We were all worried about you.”

“I wanted to use my magic, but I was afraid I’d hit you,” Monica said. “It’s not very precise.”

I waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine.” I glanced over at Sir Stickinass. “Did you even draw your sword?”

“I would have been useless in the water,” he said. “I trusted Stefan and his magic to come to your aid.”

Stefan smiled, looking like a boy who had been given praise by his father. He stared down at the waters and concentrated. A column of it drew out, siphoning out the black gunk. As he worked, he glanced over at me. “I could drain it all.”

“I’m sure Cernere’s thought of that,” I said. “I don’t know what nasty thing she has planned. It’s no a hindrance at the moment.”

He nodded absently.

In a few minutes, the water grew clear enough. I dove back in. I searched along the bottom and found my tools. Then I swam to the open door. Inside was a cramped compartment and another door. There were holes in the floor. Drains. I glanced behind me. Seal the vault door and then open the main one. It had a handle on it.

How terrifying. You had to trust that it would drain fast enough or you’d drown. A shiver ran through me. Then I noticed the text on the wall.

To those who follow my black path,

choose with care or feel my wrath.

No more than four will I permit,

to plunder my black vault complete.

My warning to heed,

beware the greed,

for gold shall tear you apart.

Ahlona

“What!” I demanded. My wings fluttered. I glanced at my Stefan. “Why wouldn’t we all go?”

Monica nodded her head. “I know I might not be the most skilled, but...” She rubbed hands on her belly. “I have powers.”

“I’m fine with it,” Alloria said. “Just come back with my necklace.”

“You mean my favorite necklace?” Illina asked, toying with the amethysts she wore around her neck.

Alloria glared at her.

“I am going,” I insisted. “I am Stefan’s sword. I was sent to protect and guide him.”

“And I don’t need you in the Black Vault,” the thief said. “I need Barg, and Stefan’s magic will be a big help. Sir Boringmouth is paying, and I don’t think he’ll trust me in there without his supervision.”

“I still don’t see why I’m not permitted to come,” I insisted.

“Right, right, we’ll all drown if we try to take more than four.” Illina rolled her shoulders. “There’s a water lock. It won’t open if there are more than four in there. Cernere left a pretty clear warning that she’ll only permit four to burglarize her Vault.”

“Permit?” I demanded.

“We’re breaking into her Vault,” noted Stefan. “I mean, it seems she doesn’t want anyone in there.”

“Of course she does.” Illina grinned. “It’s a game. She wants to see if anyone can do it, but she knows that if you had unlimited resources, you can keep throwing bodies in there. Where’s the fun in that? We’re not allowed to brute force her traps. She’s limiting us to a good thieving crew of four. So, sorry Ahlona. You’re hot and all, but Sir Limpdick has a big enough sword, too.”

Sir Bryce just sat there and ignored the insults.

“Stefan,” I gasped, turning to him.

He placed his hands on my arms. He stroked them, staring at me with his warm eyes. He leaned in and kissed me. His goatee rasped on my lips. I closed my eyes, a shiver running through me. My wings fluttered.

“I love you, Ahlona.”

“How am I supposed to watch over you?” I whispered back, my wings drooping and halo dimming. “This is not fair.”

“It’s not.” He smiled at her. “I am sorry. I’ll have Sir Bryce, Barg, and Illina to watch my back. We’ll be in and out in no time.”

“She had a kraken waiting to ambush the person who opened the vault. What other monsters does she have down there.”

“I have your pussy juices. It’s like I’m taking you with me.”

“We have to get going,” Illina said. “My water breathing potion won’t last forever.”

“What are the rest of us supposed to do?” asked Sir Bryce.

“Well, you’re made of boring stone, so I figure breathing’s not an issue for you,” Illina said with an impish grin. “I suggest the rest of you to hold your breath.”

Sir Bryce Cartith

Irritation beat through me. Illina grew more and more tiresome. But her utility was coming to an end. Once I was in the Vault, once I had what I needed, I could be free of accepting her insults and snide remarks.

“Be safe,” Monica said, hugging me. She stared up at me.

“I have come too far to fail here,” I told her as she rubbed her face into my breastplate. “The Lawbreaker will be punished.”

Hatred, thick and hot, filled my veins. Illina wouldn’t fail me like her mother had.

“I know.” Monica leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed me. “I love you.”

“Love you, wife.”

She smiled up at me. “Don’t let Illina drive you to distraction. She’s just teasing you.”

“No, she’s belittling me in a vain attempt to feel like she’s in control of the situation.”

Alloria came up, her black hair falling about a face paled nearly blueless. “You better come back. I don’t want to go through life never getting a taste of your cock.” She shuddered. “What has the magic done to us.”

“Driven us mad,” I growled, a part of me aching to fuck her right now, but the Vault lay open. “When I return, once we are on the boat, I shall pound you so hard.”

“Yes!” she moaned in wanton delight and then kissed me, too. With hunger and fire. My blood ignited.

With a growl, I pushed her away and then jumped into the water.

I sank into the cool depths.

I held my breath as the others followed. I hit the bottom, the water pouring into the joints in my armor. I would have to spend a weak oiling everything once we were out of here. Bubbles rose around me, obscuring everything.

Illina swam by me, rapping her knuckles against the back of my helm. I growled at the echoing rap then marched after her towards the open vault. Stefan labored to kick down, tangled up by his robes. Barg swam down with ease. I marched into the room, already feeling the burning need to breathe. I fought against it, my heart screaming.

A panic tumbled on the edge of my control. I needed to breathe. To suck in air. We crowded into the room. It was tight, pressed together as Illina and Barg pulled closed the vault door. It closed with a dull boom.

Plunged us into unbreathing dark.

For a moment, terror seized me. It was all I could do not to thrash. We were trapped. Stefan shouted beside me, water muffling fear. We would die in here. Trapped. The Lawbreaker would never pay for ruining my wife. For taking her smile from me.

That look in her eyes...

My gauntlet-clad hand scrabbled to grab my amulet, but it was beneath my breastplate. I banged into it. I had to breathe. I—

A loud gurgling echoed around us. The water flowed and then it spilled off my head. I sucked in blessed air. Stefan let out a brittle laugh. Barg sucked in panting breathes. Illina hummed along with nonchalant playfulness.

The level of the water drained. It poured out of the joints of my armor. It flowed down a drain, glugging away. Then the door behind me opened inward onto more darkness. Light flickered into being. A ball of magic floating before Stefan, spilling over his waterlogged, blue robes.

He stumbled forward a few steps, water splashing across the stones. He breathed heavily. I trembled but gathered myself. We were inside the Black Vault. A heady rush washed through me.

Exulting, I stepped out of the lock. Then Illina wiggled past me. Water ran down her body, her toga squishing as she walked. She had weapons on her. She pulled out a dagger as she peered ahead at the floor.

“Brighter, Stefan,” she said as she padded forward, dripping water.

The light shone down to expose a hallway stretching before us. The walls and ceiling were made of the same metal as the vault door. Sheets held together in some means I couldn’t see. The floor was made of volcanic rock. Pumice. It was porous, the water dripping from our bodies vanishing into it.

Illina froze. “Gods! Down!”

She dove to her belly, Barg following. Instincts screamed at me. I threw myself forward, grabbing Stefan out of reflex, and hauled him down with me. I hit with a large clatter, Stefan gasping in surprise beside me. The air howled over our heads. Something slashed above us. A loud clang exploded behind us.

I pushed up and looked back to see a disc of metal had fired down the corridor. The edges gleamed sharp in the magical light. A shiver ran through me.

“Stones absorbed our water,” Illina muttered. “It triggered a mechanism. I just heard it.” She burst into giggles. “Smart. Cernere, you devious cunt!”

Stefan Halian

“Thank you,” I said to Sir Bryce, lying on my belly beside him.

My heart pumped icy fear through my veins. That would have cut off our heads. I glanced down at the water squeezing off my robes vanishing into the pumice tiles. There were far more of them. If there were more traps...

I sent out water magic around all of us, I drew it off, a simple way to dry clothes. Streams of water flowed from all of us. I guided it back to the water lock and poured it on down the drain where it would be safe. Hair dried, Sir Bryce’s becoming a tousled mess. Illina’s had a frizziness to it. Our clothing was rumpled and wrinkled, but in moments, we were all dry.

“I knew you’d be useful,” Illina said and pushed herself to her feet. “We need to go slow. Just because there was one type of trap doesn’t mean Cernere didn’t put any other’s. If I spot them, I’ll mark them. I don’t want anyone setting off a trap and getting me killed.”

“We’d hate that, too,” I said, chuckling to myself.

“Of course,” she said as she stood up. “I have such a great ass. It would be a crime to deny the world my cute booty.”

Sir Bryce snorted.

“Oh, feel free to get yourself killed, though,” said Illina. “Just blunder into any traps you want. Find out just how solid your head is. It’s full of bricks, so they might just bounce off.”

“Your mother didn’t have a tongue like you,” muttered the knight.

Barg chuckled. It cut off when Illina glared at him.