Tales of a Seductress β Chapter 77
I watched as Gregory sucked on Julianβs dick. It wasnβt like it wasnβt obvious that the two men were sexually active with each other, but this was the first time I had seen it first-hand. Gregory idolized Julian, and as his lips stroked Julianβs member, he looked up adoringly at his big brother. Julian, on the other hand, wore a disinterested look. It looked mostly like he was humoring Gregory.
Of course, this was the reality behind Julian in a nutshell. He felt nothing. I didnβt know if his penis literally lacked the ability to feel sexual pleasure, or if he was dead inside for some other reason. I simply knew it for what it was. Julian experienced no joy, ever. The feeling of sexual pleasure did nothing for him. He could cum, but it was an empty feeling for him. That was the truth behind Julian.
As a result of his nonexistent sexual drive, he overcompensated. That would be an understatement. He completely saturated the world in lust. Perhaps it took extreme sexual perversion to get him to feel even a little bit of happiness. I didnβt know that either. I just knew that he hated himself for his sexual perversion in the same way that I had hated myself for my sexual promiscuity.
For me, I was always secretly guilty of the sex I enjoyed. I didnβt see myself as a good person. However, the same guilt manifested itself in a wildly different way for Julian. He decided to make everyone as perverted as him. If everyone was a sexual deviant, then Julian was simply one among a crowd. I suspected that was the reasoning behind Julian. He wanted to paint the world in his image, and his image was a self-hating narcissist determined to gain any satisfaction he could, no matter to what extreme he had to go.
Julian finished up, having Gregory swallow down a load. When he finished up, there was an unexpected knock on the door and Gregory quickly got off his knees and wiped his mouth.
βWho do you suppose it is, brother?β Gregory asked with a smile.
Julian sighed. βLikely fourth brother. He has it in his mind to pursue the stolen treasury. He seems to think he has a way to head off the Bandit who robbed the castle and βmurderedβ the princess. On that note, the last I heard, our body had been stolen, but father informed me today that heβs having the body placed in the tomb until Daphne comes to take it. Where did you come up with a spare?β
βI didnβt need to go far, brother. A slave woman, er, not the elf woman, was found dead in Corneliaβs room. After burning the body, the difference would be difficult to make. Of course, I took care of the servant who found her.β
βWhat of the elf girl?β Julian asked.
βVanished the same night as Cornelia died.β
Julian nodded. βKeep searching. If you find her, send someone to kill her. I donβt like loose ends. However, to think Cornelia would so quickly take to torturing and raping. She would have been great.β
I nearly gagged on that if I had a mouth to gag on. Julian was back to reaching his own conclusions. I supposed it was simpler to believe that after seeing the underground sexual torture, that I became enamored and bought a slave girl to test it out on. Since nobles barely saw slaves as people, I guess Julian assumed I was starting to make the jump into complete depravity. On the upside, they still knew nothing about my identity.
The door knocked again, and Julian have a sigh, moving to go answer it. However, instead of the expected Devon, it was Richard standing at the door. Even Julian seemed somewhat surprised by the unexpected guest.
βWhat a surprise, brother, what is it?β
βAh, 1st and 2nd brothersβ¦ I, see youβre together.β Richard peered around uncomfortably for a second before continuing, βI, uh, need your help.β
Julianβs eyebrow rose and he looked surprised and amused at once. βReally? Brother has finally come to ask us for help. What kind of help does brother need?β
βThat is.β Richard was very stiff and formal with the two flamboyant men, as opposed to Devon who was openly antagonistic. βLet me just take you to my room.β
βOh, Iβd never take a refusal to come to brotherβs room, of course.β
Richard ignored that, immediately turning and leaving. Julian and Gregory looked at each other. Julian gave a shrug and followed after his third brother. Their rooms were not far away, and it only took a minute before he opened the door and let the two men into his bedroom. As they entered, their eyes immediately fell on a woman who was sitting on Richardβs bed.
The woman looked haggard. She had big black pillows under her eyes, messy hair, and seemed to lack any dignity or presence. She was still shaking and when she saw Julian and Gregory enter, she made a small yelp before turning her head away, looking down like an abused animal.
βWhat is this, brother? Iβm not against foursomes but perhaps I should pick the girl next time?β
Richard gave no reaction to his prodding, and instead, shook his head. βSylvia has been like this since last night. Iβd have just ignored her, but there is something odd when you analyze her. Try it.β
Julian frowned, but a second later, he squinted at Sylvia. His eyes opened big and his mouth fell. Gregory was only a few steps behind.
βBy the gods,β Gregory whispered. βThat, how?β
βCornelia did it to me last night.β Sylvia let out in a whining voice, holding up the ring, βShe did this to me.β
βThatβs the answer she gave me.β Richard sighed. βOf course, I told her that Cornelia died two nights ago. Perhaps she is in shock. I knew the two women were competitiveβ¦β
That was an understatement, but I was focused on Julian, who wasnβt waving away her claim as easily as his brother. He stared at her with narrowed eyes as he moved up and looked at the ring. He went to pull it off, but the ring wouldnβt move. After a few seconds of pulling, he finally let go.
βAβ¦ cursed ring,β he said softly.
βIt must be!β Richard responded. βIs there any way to remove it?β
Julian nodded slowly. βMaybe, but I have to wonder why there is a cursed ring that makes her identify as Cornelia Bartrum.β
βBut donβt you recognize it, brother,β Gregory spoke up. βThat is the ring Cornelia Bartrum wore.β
βWaitβ¦ youβre right, I thought it looked familiar.β Richard moved up and grabbed the ring.
Julian scratched his cheek. βThe woman named Cornelia Bartrum was perhaps not Cornelia at all. Her identity must have been faked.β
Only Sylvia gasped, apparently the only one in the room who hadnβt been able to jump to that realization on her own.
Then Gregory spoke up, βBut how did it end up on Sylvia.β
Julian looked down at Sylvia. I could almost see his mind working. The body went missing, now the ring was on Sylvia. I couldnβt be alive. That didnβt even register in his mind. That must mean that she probably stole it to be more like me, just like she stole the body as some kind of trophy. It might have been an appropriate conclusion in another situation.
βIβm telling the truth!β Sylvia shouted. βShe came to my room last night. But her face was different. It was pale and otherworldly. B-b-beautiful. The ritual succeeded. Donβt you see? Sheβs Qeteshβs nowβ¦ and sheβs come backβ¦ to punish us all. This is only the beginning! In two weeks, she says sheβll kill me in two weeks! I have to run! We all have to! Sheβs coming, oh, gods, sheβs coming for me!β
Julian slapped her as she started to grow into hysterics. Even I was surprised by how much I had terrified her. Of course, she wasnβt entirely wrong, but I never expected her to actually convince herself of that.
βIβm sorry, brother, if it was simple, I wouldnβt have come to you,β Richard apologized to Julian, even though it was Julian who slapped Sylvia. βDo you know what she is talking about?β
βI do not. The girl must beβ¦β
βCornelia!β Sylvia shouted at Julianβs irritation, βShe was the sacrifice. We killed her! We raped her!β
βWhat!β Richardβs eyes widened and heΒ turned his eyes to his two brothers. βIs this true?β
Julian hid the displeased look on his face and gave Richard a smile. βWell, it seems like your beloved Sylvia pulled a switch on us. The girl who was sacrificed was indeed your betrothed.β
βOh, godsβ¦β Richard bent over, looking like he might throw up for a second. βWill thisβ¦ will this hurt the royal family.β
Of course, that was the selfish Richard I expected. For a brief second, I thought he might show some concern, but that concern seemed to be more about his station as a royal. Would the nation be threatened by them raping me to death?
βNo, all third brother needs to know is that we took care of it. She died in an unfortunate accident. That is all.β
βRight, a-and what of Sylvia?β He looked down at Sylvia with as much concern as the mud on the wall.
βShe has given me something to think on. Iβll look to see if I can get the ring removed. Iβm sure if we pool our resources, we can find an enchanter who specializes in curses. Weβll get this sorted out.β Julian patted Richard on the back and then turned to Sylvia, βIn the meantime, Iβll increase security on you, and if youβd like to escape to one of my private villas, Iβll offer it to you.β
βN-noβ¦ I must stay by Richardβs side!β Sylvia demanded. βBut thank you! Thank you for helping me!β
βItβs fine. This is what family does for each other.β
While Sylvia cried and thanked Julian, he quickly bid her farewell and left the room with Gregory in tow. They were only a few steps from the room when Gregory started talking.
βDo you believe what sheβs saying about Cornelia returning? I mean, her body did disappear.β
βOf course not.β Julian laughed. βYouβre too quick to believe superstition, brother. Besides, you said you saw dragging marks. Clearly, the woman took Corneliaβs body tried on the ring, and is too embarrassed to admit it herself. However, after using me to get her revenge, she has already pushed her luck too far.β
βWhat does brother have in mind?β Gregory asked.
βAn accident. Removing an active curse can be dangerous business. Perhaps for a few extra gold coins, our curse remover might fail to save her. That will spare us one more problem.β
βMm, does brother want me to go find one yet?β
βNo, first go to father and let him know that I do not condone the marriage of Sylvia with dear brother. I have some letters to write, so I will see you later.β
βYes, of course, brother.β
Julian entered his room alone, sitting down at his desk. As he started writing down his thoughts on a parchment, I came to the realization that this was the point I had been waiting for. I had one more thing to do, but it wasnβt something I was able to do by myself. I began to concentrate, and the temperature in the room started to become colder. Julian didnβt notice it at first, but after a moment, he frowned, putting his head up.
At this point and time, the door opened, and a woman stepped in. She wore a completely white robe. Her face was obscured by a hood and veil, but anyone who saw her could tell she had an ethereal beauty to her that could captivate any man with her eyes alone.
Julianβs eyes locked on hers. βIβ¦ didnβt send for any servants.β
She didnβt say anything, taking a few steps towards him. Her body shined in the light. My skill was working at full bloom, and as a result, she stood there as solidly as anyone could.
βNo-noβ¦ have we met before you?β
Julian was staring cautiously but started backing away until his feet hit the bed. Meanwhile, she only stared at him, her head cocked to the side as she watched him carefully. After a moment, she took another step towards him, carefully moving forward.
βNoβ¦ Cornelia?β
She took another step forward. He flicked his wrist, and a knife flew out from his hand. The knife was aimed perfectly for the womanβs heart. However, despite her solid appearance, the knife kept going and it slid through her body and thumped into the door behind with a solid thud.
At this point, Julianβs breath was starting the quicken. βWhat are you?β
With a panicked look, he turned and grabbed a pillow off the bed and threw it. She pulled out her hand and caught the pillow in the air, dropping it to her side. Her approach continued on in complete silence, not even the footsteps could be heard.
βYou canβt beβ¦ Qetesh?β Julianβs voice was tight now, but he had already grown afraid.
She took the next step. He fell back onto his butt, looking up at this mysterious otherworldly beauty approaching him. It might have been pride that kept him from shouting for guards. Perhaps, his brain just couldnβt process what was happening. Or maybe he already knew it was too late. She finally reached the foot of his bed. Then, she reached down, and pulled back the veil, revealing what was hidden underneath.
He stared blankly at her with his mouth open. There was no recognition on his face. This woman was not someone that he knew. Furthermore, there wasnβt a single scream that touched the air as he died.
I released the power after we were done. That night, Min and I fled the city in a merchant carriage filled with generous donations from Pratter and Sandor, who were fleeing in the opposite direction. I didnβt know if weβd ever see them again, but I did know that I was finally done with this city. Now, I just had one last loose end, Nova.
Our cart passed the gates just as the bells started ringing, signifying the death of someone in the royal family.