Lyndra blanked her face as she spoke, “You boast your misdeeds?”

  Deeken’s brow rose, “No boasting. Simply an explanation on how I arrived.

  An idea formed, but Lyndra kept her warm gaze, “You mentioned you wish to repay me for my aid. I may have such tasks for those willing.”

  Deeken stood up but bowed his head again, “I am in your debt. I would be willing to repay your kind efforts.”

  Lyndra let her hands lay on the armrests, “My home requires things. If you can procure some items, we can discuss further on how we can help your people.”

  Deeken smiled, “What do you wish for?”

  Lyndra knew dark elves could be tricky, but giving him a simple errand would prove his worth somewhat. The kobolds did speak of a town two days from here. They noticed it on their travels and circled around it, but the dark elf may have an easier time gaining some items.

  Sekka, bring a small sack of gold to me.

  “It’s a simple quest. Procure some simple items and that will curry favor with me. If you run off, never come here again or I will burn you just as I burned those men. Do you understand?”

  Deeken nodded, “I understand.”

  Sekka appeared at the doorway, a small sack in her hand. She stepped in, half closed eyes on the dark elf. Deeken turned to the succubus, eyes widening a hair as he gazed on her barely covered form. Sekka tossed the coin sack and Deeken caught it in one hand. He held it to him, opening the top and seeing a small fortune in coins.

  “There is more of that if you fulfill my requests,” Lyndra said with a whimsical tone.

  “What is your will, beautiful sorceress,” Deeken said as he turned back to Lyndra.

  Lyndra listed a few items such as wine, silk blankets, furs and a few other items to make her home a little more comfortable. She let the dark elf know that there would be more gold if he returned in a timely manner.

  “I can procure these items easily. Give me a few days and I will return with full arms.”

  Lyndra kept her face blank, “Then go my handsome dark elf. Follow the torches to the entrance. I expect to see you soon.”

  Deeken bowed and stood back up. Turning, he walked to the room entrance, but gave Sekka a warm once over before disappearing into the corridor. Sekka stepped closer to her Mistress, head bowed.

  “Do you trust him to come back?”

  Lyndra smiled, “Perhaps, but that is a matter for another day.”

  Lyndra changed the subject, “Have the elementals found anything else of interest?”

  Sekka nodded, “They did find a vein of gold. They will begin mining and adding it to the Heart chamber. It will increase your wealth over the coming weeks.”

  “And how are our kobolds?”

  Sekka grinned, “They have taken well to living here. They have been most helpful in the mushroom cavern. The other female kobolds are expecting to have their children soon. Their numbers should be over fifty in the next few nights.”

  Lyndra nodded as she gazed on her beautiful servant, “Then let us prepare to welcome new dwellers to my dungeon kingdom.”

  ***

  The dungeon grew a room at a time. Lyndra walked the corridors and rooms, plans within plans circling her mind. Amid those plans, the handsome image of Deeken clouded her thoughts. As the nights passed, she longed for his return. Despite the logic of knowing he may never come, no matter how brief it was, it was nice to have someone admire her for a small spell.

  The dungeon felt like home and the kobolds were wondrous dwellers. They worked hard and were eager to please their mistress. Lyndra at times would feel a pang of guilt as she remembered the many times, she had slaughtered them on adventures. She never thought much of them other than as mindless NPCs, but as she watched them grow; their true selves began to shine in the dark dungeon. Their numbers had indeed bloomed to beyond fifty members and the Dungeon Mistress often spied on the little ones as they played and worked alongside their mothers.

  Lyndra walked down an empty corridor. She wanted nothing more than to create a home worth living in. She had turned her attention to a large room by her core. She had it constructed and molded to her liking. A stone slab rose up in the middle and carvings dotted the walls, but it was cold and empty. The times she spent with Sekka were hot and fun, but the core dreamed of other lovers to fill her needs. The kobolds were a fine people, but they did not meet her lustful requirements.

  Thinking back, the image of the dark elf swam in her thoughts. If Deeken returned and brought his people, they could live here. The men would be hers and they would aid in protecting the dungeon. Sekka often spoke of their magical studies and abilities. It would be a situation of convenience, but one the core was not against. As much as the elementals tunneled and searched, no other beacon crystals were found. The search could take longer than expected and the Mistress felt time was starting to run out. Without certain dwellers to create traps and other items, she was still at the mercy of others discovering her.

  A nagging thought filled the Mistress as she wondered if Deeken would tell others. She tried to comfort herself with promises of gold to keep him quiet. If he stayed with his people, they would be under her control and she would feel better, if he returned.

  Lyndra’s former life spread out like a mental tapestry. How simple it used to be, adventuring and fucking until she passed out. Part of her missed those times, but now she was here, growing a dungeon to protect her tenuous hold on this digital reality. Thoughts flowed to questions, wondering what her real self was doing at this time. Was she happy? Did she still play? Did her adventures take her to the corners of Lukken and beyond?

  Lyndra smiled sadly to herself. She accepted her fate, but at times she disliked the direction it took. Being ripped from the abyss and placed underground to build a dungeon kingdom refocused her aimless life. Try as she might, she tried to recall her life outside of the game, but no memories came. The mental haze was thick and she guessed the powers that be made it that way so not to ruin the immersion for players in the game. It still sent an annoyed sliver up her spine and she often went back to carving out her dungeon to take her mind off of it.

  Ten days passed since Deeken departed. Lyndra felt the light of hope dim and soon resigned herself to the fact the dark elf was not returning. Sekka noticed the touch of pain in her Mistress’ eyes and offered to go to the towns to retrieve items to furnish her dungeon. Lyndra contemplated it, but the succubus was much too valuable to chance leaving.

  Lyndra ordered the succubus to stay. They would continue to mine and search for another Beacon crystal. If one was found to summon humanoids, her new dwellers would go forth and procure or take what their Mistress desired.

  On the eleventh evening, Lyndra sensed a presence at the dungeon entrance. Blinking from a room to the main corridor leading in, she stepped through the darkness to see the dying evening light and a horse and wagon just beyond. Deeken stepped down off the wagon and stepped to the entrance. The red eyes of the dark elf glowed, as did his bright white smile.

  “Sorceress?” Deeken said to the darkness.

  Lyndra was overjoyed as she looked to him and the full wagon beyond. The dungeon core had widened the entrance seven days earlier to welcome the dark elf with his many goods. Seeing him now, she emerged from the shadows, but stayed in her dungeon.

  “You returned,” Lyndra smiled.

  Deeken bowed. “Please forgive me. It took longer than I expected to gather the items and a few extras. May I come in?”

  “You may,” Lyndra said and mentally called to Sekka and the kobolds.

  Deeken kept his smile as he stepped back to the horse. Grabbing the reins, he tried to pull the horse and wagon in when the horse began neighing and stamping its front hooves.

  “Come on,” Deeken grunted as he tried to keep control.

  The horse fought harder, pulling away and wide eyes staring down the wide dark tunnel, the faint form of Lyndra barely visible. Deeken pulled harder but the horse panicked. With a mighty pull, it broke from the dark elf’s grasp and tried to run off. The wagon slowed it down slightly as it tried to turn the heavy cart. Struggling, it lifted its front legs and screeched.

  The horse’s screeches filled the area and a sliver of panic washed over Lyndra. Deeken tried to calm it down, but the horse tried harder, the wood bar at its sides cracking. The screeching grew louder and louder and before Deeken could grab the flaying reins, a thick lightning bolt streamed from the dark tunnel and slammed into the horse.

  The dark elf took a step back as the horse screeched again before a second bolt struck its side and exploded out the other side. The horse’s body cracked and then burst into shards of light. Deeken looked back at the entrance, his eyes wide.

  Lyndra stood in the shadows. Beady eyes filled the darkness behind her before the kobolds spilled out. Dozens moved outside and surrounded the dark elf before they converged on the wagon. Little reptilian bodies took hold, pushing and pulling as a group, bringing the wagon into the tunnel. Deeken moved with them, eyes on Lyndra as she beckoned him with a finger.

  Lyndra turned and began walking, Deeken behind her and the kobolds pulling the wagon inside. The group pressed on until they reached a four-way corridor. Deeken’s eyebrows raised as four partially decomposed corpses shuffled into view. The dark elf recognized them as the men who chased him before and he smirked.

  Kobolds jumped on the wagon and pulled away the protective sheet. Lyndra stood to the side, keeping her face blank, but her digital heart soared. The wagon was stuffed with blankets, furs, silks and crates. Kobolds opened the tops of the crates to display their contents. Sealed wine bottles gleamed in the torch light from several crates while others contained paintings and books.

  “The town was lacking in some items so I travelled a little farther,” Deeken said as he pulled out a bottle of wine. “I wasn’t sure of your tastes so I purchased several bottles of each.”

  Lyndra smiled as Sekka appeared from a corridor. “Have the kobolds and the dead bring the items to the designated places and storage. Be sure to have the furnishings in place.”

  Sekka bowed and moved to the side of the wagon. The succubus began ordering the kobolds and dead, each giving them a task to complete. Deeken stepped closer to Lyndra, a bottle of wine still in his hand.

  Lyndra turned her gaze to him, “Follow me.”

  Lyndra turned and began walking, Deeken close behind. Soon they walked side by side as the Mistress walked with an even pace.

  “The horse….” Lyndra began.

  Deeken nodded, “No need to say anything. I only bought the horse a few days ago and we didn’t bond. It tolerated me, but my kind has very little use for horses, beautiful sorceress.”

  “My name is Lyndra,” the Mistress said as she continued to look forward.

  “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” Deeken said smoothly.

  The pair made their way deeper until they arrived at a cavern. It was vast, the end barely visible in the few torches glowing at the entrance. A small lake was to one side and flat land filled the rest. Earth elementals worked, expanding the cavern to make it even larger.

  “It is beautiful here,” Deeken said as he stepped in a little further.

  “I thought you would find it beautiful. I had it prepared should you return.”

  The dark elf turned to Lyndra, stepped closer and fell to one knee, “I know I took longer than expected, but your beauty could not leave my dreams. I wanted to be sure to return with items to impress and match your beauty.”

  Warmth bloomed inside Lyndra as she looked to the dark elf. The joy of having new things in her dungeon seemed to help ease her further into her fate. Thoughts danced of having more dark elves to call upon filled her heart as her mind worked to make it happen.

  “You have done well. I had this cavern designed so your people will have a place to stay, if they wish to come here.”

  Deeken looked up with wide eyes, “The cavern is beautiful and your offer is generous. You saved my life and I feel the connection between us. I’m sure I can convince my people to come here.”

  Lyndra’s eyes took on a dark edge, “Will they serve me? Will you serve me?”

  Deeken bowed his head, “They will serve. I will serve. This is your domain and it would be rude to think anything otherwise. They will be happy to have a home.”

  The dark elf looked up with warm red eyes, “I would seek to only please, Mistress.”

  The warmth flared into a small storm, but Lyndra didn’t let on. Instead she took a step closer, eyes on the handsome dark elf.

  “Then perhaps we can further discuss an agreement between my home and your people?”

  Deeken stood up, a small smirk appearing, “I would gladly warm your home with my presence.”

  Lyndra could not fight the small smile blooming. Sekka stepped to the cavern entrance and bowed to her Mistress, an eye on the dark elf.

  “Your room is furnished,” the succubus said simply.

  Lyndra looked to Deeken, “Shall we sit and discuss the future?”

  Deeken returned her smile, “I would be honored.”

  Six

  With a wave of Lyndra’s hand, the metal door swung open. Stepping in, she drank in her new bedroom chamber with restrained delight.

  The walls were covered in paintings as a large fireplace stood to her left. Instead of burning wood, a stream of lava flowed down, casting a comforting hot glow. The middle of the room had a large stone slab, but the new furs and silks covered it. Puffy pillows lay on one end and paintings of Lukken landscapes hung on the wall behind it. A stone table stood off to the side with two wooden chairs, cloth covering it and two bottles of wine in view. Two wine glasses shined in the chambers glow.

  Sekka stood off to the side, a small smile on her lips as Lyndra stepped in. The Dungeon Mistress was nearly giddy as her room looked like a real bedchamber. The succubus walked closer, seeing and feeling her Mistress’ mood lighten. Deeken stayed at the bedroom entrance, his own smile shining.

  Lyndra turned around to Sekka, stepped forward and kissed her. The succubus’s knees weakened as her Mistress slid her tongue in for a moment before pulling it back.

  “Thank you for having it arranged so quickly. Be sure to furnish your room and make it as comfortable as you like.” Lyndra said.

  Sekka bowed her head, “As you command, my Mistress.”

  The succubus turned to leave, but hesitated as she looked at Deeken.

  Lyndra caught the moment, “No need to concern yourself. Deeken and I will be discussing the future for a few hours. Once you’re done, feel free to return to check on us.”

  Sekka bowed again, “As you wish.”

  The succubus moved to the doorway. Deeken stepped aside and the winged demon walked past, not giving him a second glance.

  Lyndra moved to the stone table and chairs. With a thought, she channeled her Alteration. The chairs shifted into grand seating. Velvet cushions rose up as the edges took on a golden sheen. With a dramatic turn, she sat down in one of the red velvet chairs. Robe at her leg falling to the side, a toned leg swept up and crossed over her other leg, hand pointing to the wine bottles.

  “Deeken, please do the honors.”

  The dark elf stepped closer, the iron door to the room closing shut behind him. Picking up a corkscrew and bottle, he worked the screw into the cork and began twisting. A moment later, the cork popped loose and dark red wine spilled into the empty glass and then the other. Putting the bottle down, he lifted up both glasses and handed one to Lyndra.

  The dungeon mistress held up her glass and the two made a silent toast before taking a sip. When the wine touched Lyndra’s tongue, her body surged with a deep craving. Memories from the game began spilling in on how she loved drinking after a long adventure. Nearly forgetting the taste, it roared with hunger as her sip turned to a gulp.

  Deeken watched, amused as Lyndra gulped down wine until the glass was empty. Lifting up the bottle, he poured her some more. Sipping on his own wine, he gazed on the purple haired beauty as she sipped this time, savoring the taste.

  “Does Mistress approve?” the dark elf asked as he sat in the chair across from her.

  Lyndra nodded, “I do. It is splendid.”

  “It must be hard to live down here, so far from any real civilization?”

  The dungeon core took another sip, “It can be. One forgets the little things that make one happy.”

  “I’m sure you have your reasons for being here, but with your power, couldn't you can take over a kingdom or two?”

  Lyndra let out a small laugh, “Maybe, but the solace is comforting.”

  “What brought you here? Had the outside world become not to your tastes?”

  Lyndra swirled the wine glass, “It’s a long and complicated tale.”

  Deeken’s pointed ears perked up a little, “I’m in no rush to go anywhere. Your beauty is one aspect, but I would like to know deeper aspects of you.”

  Lyndra eyed him, the wine already soothing her nerves. He was saying all the right things and he seemed eager and restrained at the same time. Lyndra questioned her own wants and they bubbled under her skin, calling out for the touch of another. Sekka usually nestled her face between her Mistress’ legs but the dungeon core remembered her many nights with different lovers. Each was an experience of their own and Lyndra wanted to have that again.

  “I used to adventure across Lukken before everything changed,” Lyndra said as she glanced downward for a moment.

  “A sorceress would be prized among adventurers,” Deeken took a sip.

  Lyndra smiled, “It would, but I wasn’t always a sorceress. I used to be a cleric, healing my fellow adventures in more ways than one.”

  Deeken pressed his elbows on the table, giving Lyndra his full attention, “What changed you?”

  Warmth slid up Lyndra’s digital spine as the room grew hazy, “Circumstances beyond my control. I found my new home and have been here ever since.”

  “I don’t wish to be too forward, but I can tell there is still a pain in your heart.”

 

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