Luna’s eyes never once left the demon as it settled provocatively in one of the large reading chairs that dotted the library, her mind churning. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, mingling with the demon’s smooth voice. She could feel her cheeks burning, a heat that couldn’t come from shame alone. The demon’s pose, so casually seductive, sent unbidden images of tangled limbs and soft caresses through her head.<span style="color: green"><i>No! No no no!</i></span>She pressed a hand to her chest, taking a deep breath.<span style="color: green"><i>This isn’t like you.</i></span>She didn’t usually think like this.<br/><br/><span style="color: green"><i>It’s a demon of desire. This is what it does. She’s just trying to lure you into a false sense of security, take advantage of you...</i></span>And if it already had this much of an effect on her, it wouldn’t be long before she lost herself to it. Worst of all, its dark eyes seemed to know, seemed to ask her to forget everything and give in. She couldn’t. Not with it. Not like this.<br/><br/>She softly bit her lip, the pain giving her an anchor, something to keep her focused.<span style="color: magenta"> “You know you cannot just enter the Fade without a dose of lyrium or blood magic,”</span>it said. Luna nodded slightly, her eyes darkening in understanding. This certainly didn’t feel like her Harrowing, and she certainly didn’t remember using any lyrium. That only left one option...<span style="color: magenta">“Blood magic is keeping you here... As a sacrifice I wonder? But where’s the -fun- in that. We can.. benefit from so much more.. just -me- and -you-. You are.. different.”</span><br/><br/>Her mask of confidence broke, just for an second, at the word ‘sacrifice.’ She hadn’t lived just to end up as some... sacrifice of blood. A maleficar had already chased her from her home, almost raped her, even... and now she was to used and cast aside as part of some dark ritual? She shook her head vehemently.<span style="color: green"><i>No.</i></span><br/><br/>Luna took a cautious step forward, knowing that every step wove its web around her. What did the demon mean when it said she was different? Was that just a lie, a deception meant to draw her in? Or did she mean it? She had no doubt that the demon wanted something from her – a host, a pact, freedom from the Fade – but she had no way of knowing what it was. At least a rage or sloth demon would be straightforward, no dances of lies and seduction. As it was, even if she thought destroying the desire demon would free her, she wasn’t likely to succeed.<br/><br/>Why did it want<i>her</i>? Certainly a blood mage would be a<i>stronger</i>host. She was barely even a full mage! Maybe it thought she was an easy target... or maybe there was something to what it said. Maybe she<i>was</i>different. But how?<br/><br/><span style="color: magenta">“Come then, ask your questions. I am... -eager- to hear them.”</span>Luna watched the demon’s hand trace down its perfect form, and had to will her emerald eyes back to its black ones. Maker, but she had questions! She’d play this demon’s game – and if that meant she had to act the part, so be it.<br/><br/><span style="color: green">“All right. You’ll have your questions; I have more than I’d like to.”</span>She found herself drawing closer, pacing slowly forward until she stood barely inches away from the demonic siren. Subconsciously, she let her tongue run along her bottom lip.<span style="color: green">“First, you said blood magic is keeping me here. I doubt you’d have told me that if you didn’t have something to offer me.”</span>She smiled softly. She was terrible at this, she knew – what she did know she had learned from watching other apprentices flirting awkwardly with each other. She could only hope that the demon bought it. She leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a whisper.<span style="color: green">“A way out. The ‘key to my freedom.’”</span><br/><br/>This close to the demon, she was filled with an overwhelming desire to touch it, even for a moment, to feel that flawless skin against her own. Once again, the images flashed through her mind, clearer this time. She bit her lip again, harder, the pain giving her clarity.<span style="color: green">“But that’s not all, is it?”</span>she asked quietly.<span style="color: green">“You are <i>desire</i> given form. You want something from me.”</span>Her voice shook slightly.<span style="color: green">“You wouldn’t be here, otherwise.”</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>