<span style="font-weight: bold"> Prologue </span><br/><br/>Elrin peered out across the city from his vantage point - the third story of his home, situated right in the center of Port Berstin. The cool light of the rising sun cast soft shadows across the dull browns and greys of the numerous other establishments and homes that had sprung up around his own. Despite the muted colors, it was a comforting sight. Port Berstin was a place of opportunity, one of danger and excitement. Not all things that went on here truely suited his tastes - slavery was not something he exactly looked up to - but he stayed out of the affairs of the townspeople as much as possible. Sometimes, he had to step in. There was an acceptable level of slavery. There was an acceptable level of violence. Yet, there also had to be some small semblance of order - and sometimes, people given so much freedom overstepped the boundaries he'd laid out. That simply wouldn't do. It was another form of excitement for him - hunting down and disposing of those who overstepped their station. Rich to poor - there were rules that you simply did not break in Port Berstin. The punishment was the same, reguardless of station.<br/><br/>Despite the sense of pride and happiness he felt when he looked over his fair city, the feeling was a fleeting one. The abductions were getting worse. Even here, inside the protective shell he'd placed on his precious city, individuals were disappearing daily. It was a common occurance - you could devour someone in the streets with little repercussion - but these dissappearances were different. He felt it. Could feel the sudden burst of magic in specific places around his city, and suddenly, entire groups of people were suddenly gone. He'd heard reports of it, he'd felt it, and he'd even seen it once. Obviously, they were not targetting him...but...<br/><br/>"Master?"<br/><br/>Elrin heaved a heavy sigh - master. He hated that title. It was one he'd hardly earned "Vanessa, must I tell you not to call me that?" Turning away from the suddenly-dishearting view of his city, he drew the curtain closed, sheathing the room in relative darkness. Returning to his high-backed, velvet-lined chair, he settled himself back with a comfortable sigh, propping his feet up on his desk, nudging aside a few magical knick-knacks to make room.<br/><br/>"Oh, I know you love it. Just last night, when I called you 'Master' while-"<br/><br/>He laughed - she really was incorrigable "Get on with it, Vanessa. How goes things? It's not like you to be gone an entire day before reporting back." Swinging his chair around a bit, he gazed upon Vanessa. She was a beautiful girl - soft, white skin. Pouty, red lips. Beautiful, long, flowing white hair. Her ears were long and pointed, and had it not been for the enormous black wings on her back, the backwards-curved horns atop her head, or the long, whippy, spaded tail sprouting from her cute, bubbly little butt, one could almost mistake the succubus for an elf. Always one to tempt and tease, she wore as little as possible, much to Elrin's both enjoyment and annoyance. A simple clothen top made up the majority of her wear, though she had, as she said, 'improved' the outfit by cutting out the entire front of it, leaving her full, lucious breasts exposed. Both nipples were peirced by dangling jewelry, and he couldn't help but look upon her lusciously enticing form every few seconds. Her hips were hardly covered in a simple, short leather skirt - no doubt, without any panties beneath. Most men AND women would have given alot to spend a night with her. Most that did became her meals before they ever even got to touch her.<br/><br/>Elrin noted her stomach was a bit larger than normal, rounded out just enough to indicate that she had eaten recently...and he had a feeling it was not pancakes she'd had for breakfast.<br/><br/>Noticing his gaze, Vanessa uttered a soft little giggle "Oh...him? Another one wanting to be smuggled into the city. He was alone...horny little cat-guy. Said he'd love to get a closer look at my butt, so I figured I'd give him the chance!! He'll get a bird's eye view when he comes out of it!" She slapped her stomach softly, causing the remains of the mostly-digested male feline to slosh about noisily within. Despite how hard he tried to hide it, she knew Elrin didn't mind her enjoying a good meal or two now and then. Sometimes, she even brought her master someone to enjoy - he'd never admit it, but he loved the feeling of a nice, full belly. She still knew so little about him - he was handsome, smart, charismatic, and incredibly powerful...yet, he never interfered in the daily going-ons. Stranger yet, he trusted her, and fully. It was that, something she'd never expected given her origin and race, that earned him the title of 'master' - one she happily doted on him. He was the only one she'd listen to, and trust.<br/><br/>Again, Elrin sighed - though he could do little to hide the obvious smirk that suddenly sprung up on his muzzle "You and your appetite. You know, I really should arrest you for breaking the law. Smuggling people in and out of the city, during such a time as this..."<br/><br/>"Aww..." Walking around the large, oaken desk, Vanessa planted her soft little butt right in Elrin's lap, leaning back against the fox's soft, grey fur "Arrest me? Maybe manacle me to your bed? Such a terrible fate. What would you do, then? Devour me? Send me to this nice..." She pressed her lower back against his stomach, sighing softly in delight "...toned belly of yours...?"<br/><br/>Elrin just rolled his eyes. Tease. Though, admittedly, that nice little butt of hers felt quite nice in his lap. Wrapping his arms around her middle, he placed his hands on her softly-gurgling belly, feeling it shift and churn as it slowly reduced what little remained of the feline within her into nutrients for her sexy little body "Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind. I assume your breakfast tasted good?"<br/><br/>She laughed softly, curling her tail around his neck. This is why she loved him so much - he truely didn't care "Ohhh, he was delicious!! Though, I'd more call him a midnight snack. Mmm...he squirmed so nicely, and still feels so good...another hour, and bye-bye kitty." She placed her hands over his own, pushing them a little more firmly against her stomach so he could feel it churn, steadily digesting her early-morning prey.<br/><br/>"So, your report?" Elrin asked, prodding the conversation along without being too hasty.<br/><br/>"Oh!" She exclaimed, wiggling back and forth to get more comfy in his lap "Well, let's see. Three went out yesterday, six came in. I assume you know of all of them by now. Kitty...well, kitty here will be going out, but out a different way. Don't worry, though - he's not...y'know. Anyway...the sharks are still in the harbor. Between the three of them, they ate nearly a half-dozen people yesterday. You'd figure people would figure out to stay clear of the water, but noooo. I think some of them almost make a game of it now. I saw some coins getting passed around, and folks going for a swim...course, most of them didn't come back. Those sharks are going to weight a ton."<br/><br/>Sighing softly, Elrin eased his muzzle down into Vanessa's hair, inhaling the delicious scent of her body eagerly. Admittedly, she had an utterly delicious smell...it was mouthwatering, especially when he was hungry. She knew it, too - almost seemed to tempt him with devouring her so often, but it was just something he couldn't bring himself to do. He was hardly one to give up prey. Returning his mind to the information given, he heaved another heavy sigh "So, noone has done anything about it, then? I'm not surprised. I don't think we'll find what we're looking for here. Anything else?"<br/><br/>"Umm...let's see...oh!! The guild is raising a HUGE stink over the barrier you put up. They can't leave, and they are losing money. Starting to get a bit violent - waylaying people in the streets. Might be something you need to deal with, soon." She tapped a finger against her chin, 'hmmm'ing softly to herself. What else, what else. Every little tap of her finger on her chin would elict a little wiggle from her tush, further teasing her fox master "What...else....oh yes!! Spider-thing in town stirring up trouble. I don't even know how she got in - I didn't bring her. Sneaky one. A few more dissappearances, but I attributed to one..." Again, she peered down at her full, round little belly, sighing in pleasure as it continued to gurgle away, eagerly digesting the remains of her breakfast "Self-appointed slaver stirring up a few toussles, but nothing much beyond that. Your 'friend' hasn't returned yet, either. Likely shark poop by now. Oh well! Oh, some raiders on the bridge outside town. No real biggie."<br/><br/>It didn't bode well. Ignoring the perfect little butt grinding against his lap, Elrin leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, and just thought. Damnit - why did she have to make even THINKING so difficult?! And why in the heck could he never bring himself to push her off him. Why? Because he liked it, he had to admit. Oh yes - she'd be visiting the bedroom with him, and soon "Sharks, slavers, a Drider, the guild...and noone is doing anything. I really do not think we'll find what we are looking for, here. The shield holds, but people continue to dissappear. Noone is doing anything. For all I know...she might be here. She might be regaining power. The abductions...it's all starting to fall together."<br/><br/>Vanessa, clearly confused, turned to look into Elrin's beautiful emerald eyes. He'd never really given her much information, and she'd never really asked about it "She?"<br/><br/>Staring into the darkness in silence, Elrin got a faraway look on his face, one Vanessa knew all too well "...She. The Devourer..."