From Hero to Hypnotized: Chapter Three

The sorceress walked through the streets until the guards’ barracks approached. Soldiers tasked to safeguard the walls and castles of Turvion patrolled here. Hessia scanned through each of their minds to search for her contact.

Rolfe, Hessia thought. Rolfe, can you hear me?

What do you want? He replied. I’m working right now.

I need your help. I’ll find you on your break.

Hessia waited by the front gates, chomping on an apple. The cobblestone streets were smooth and warm beneath the afternoon sun. Leaning against the walls, she glanced off into distance to stare at the royal palace. Its moonlight glow humming with silver energy that radiated over the city. What was it like on the inside of that castle? The view over Arclast must have been beautiful from its towers. It was little wonder the nobles who lived there viewed themselves as gods and the commoners as insects.

He dawned the same uniform worn by every guard in Turvion. A sleeveless, brown leather tunic with chainmail underneath and a sword at his side. Upon his head was a steel forged kettle helmet. His round shield was carved from wood, with the sigil of King Warrick’s family. That sigil was a golden Phoenix with wings wreathed in flames. Stepping through the front gates, he waved to Hessia.

“Thanks for coming,” said the sorceress.

“What can I do you for?” Rolfe asked.

“Hunting.”

“There aren’t any bounties at the moment. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t need any bounties. Just information: have any arcane magicians entered the city recently? Anyone with powers of hypnosis?”

“You might be thinking of Soren Malkus. We’ve had dealings with him before. He’s a performer for a traveling circus that’s been visiting Turvion the past month.”

One month would have been more than enough time for an arcane magician to plan a heist. If this Soren was truly the culprit, Hessia would be a fool not to take advantage and capture him first. Then, the Heroes’ Guild would have no choice but to acknowledge her skill. But she needed to wait before taking any actions. Observe his magic for herself.

“Tell me where to find him.”

*****

She reached the outer districts of Turvion in the late evening. Each house was a tiny and dank hut steeply built into the slums. It was also the most heavily populated part of the city. Every day the slums grew larger and larger due to refugees fleeing from the goblin attacks on Northern Arclast. Straw rooftops and moldy clay walls were all the shelters left in this area. The streets were rank with the smell of human waste.

Grief swelled in the sorceress’ heart. Most of these people came to this city hoping for salvation, only to be ruled over by royal pricks like Galvero and the Heroes’ Guild. They’d spend the rest of their lives begging for scraps while living in a city that treated them worse than rodents.

“Probably explains why this hypnotist operates here,” said Hessia. “Desperate people are easier to control. The villain…”

The circus tent stood at the centre of an intersection. It was a towering, cone shaped thing with red and black swirls spiraling upwards. Part of the sorceress wanted to laugh: was this hypnotist even trying to be discreet? But then, worry returned…She remembered Queen Nephoria’s warning.

Inside the tent, Hessia wrestled through crowds of men and women all gathering together. There was a strangeness with this circus tent: as if it seemed to grow larger, the deeper Hessia traveled inside. Blackness was everywhere, along with hushed voices and the sound of crowds wandering aimlessly. In an instant, a flash of white light sent Hessia reeling backwards.

A fluffy, white cushion caught her right before she hit the ground. Orange, blazing lanterns lit up the darkness. Looking back and forth, she scanned her surroundings to see rows of audience members all seated on wooden benches with the same fluffy cushions on each one. Glowering lanterns cast warm glows at each end of the benches. At the far end of the tent, a stage stood with a cluster of shadows gathering on top.

“Welcome all!” A great, booming voice cried out from the stage. “I am Soren the magnificent: master of illusion and the mind itself!”

Yeah, he really isn’t making any attempt to hide himself.

Stepping into the light, the magician revealed himself. Tall and lordly, the sorcerer stood with moonlight colored skin. His rich, jet-black hair was slicked back. He wore a blood red dress shirt with an ebonite suit over it and a top hat. His cape shimmered in the color of a starlit sky. Jeweled stars glistened upon the ebonite threads. A roar of applause surge through all in their seats while he bowed. Hessia narrowed her gaze at the magician.

“Thank you!” he cheered. “Thank you! You’re all far too kind! Now then, the mind is such a curious thing. With the right application of magic, you can even…”

As he continued speaking, the sorceress focused her gaze on him. The hypnotist had a playful smirk written upon his face as though possessing the answer to a riddle only he could guess. Normally, Hessia had no difficulties reading minds. But whenever Soren spoke, she found herself struggling to focus on his thoughts. Something in his voice was blocking her. One of the audience members nudged her by the shoulder.

“Are you alright, miss?” He asked. “You seem stressed.”

“I…” Hessia slowly paused. “I’m fine, I think.”

Soren glanced right at Hessia. Their eyes met for a moment. Then, the magician undid the veil over his mind. Peeking into his thoughts, Hessia saw a vision of herself kneeling before the magician. Her eyes were the same blood red as all the other slaves. Her face smiled reverently while Soren held her chin in his hand. Hessia shook her head, casting the vision from her mind.

No…Not fine at all.

Acid burned in her veins. She was an expert in the arcane studies and a warrior far beyond this man’s skill. There was no amount of hypnotism that would ever cause Hessia to allow him to control her like that. Marching right on stage, she stood right across from the hypnotist. A playful smirk wormed its way over his lips.

“Come now,” Hessia said. “Any mage student could cast some fancy illusion spells. You’re an amateur, at best. A spoiled brat who’d crack at the first sign of true power.”

“An arrogant one, I see.” Soren mused. “My favorite sort. Tell us your name, darling.”

“No.”

I know it was you, Hessia spoke into Soren’s thoughts.

How very observant, Soren replied. Nice to know I have a fangirl.

Nice to see you’re just a man. That priestess seems to think you are a demon.

Demon? Well, that’s one word for it I suppose.

Soren’s eyes shimmered red. Hessia’s heart froze.

Soren’s eyes spiraled and strange yearning stirred inside the sorceress. Calmness washed over her mind as pleasure swirled inside of her. Hessia gazed helplessly into the ruby swirls as he beckoned her to walk closer. Her arms stretched out in front of her as she sleepwalked towards him. The hypnotist’s smirk widened into a devilish grin.

 All too easy, he spoke in her mind. That snapped her out of the trance.

“N-no,” she said out loud. “I…I know what you’re trying to do!”

Shutting her eyes tightly, Hessia walked backwards struggling to avoid him. Everyone in the audience was bursting into laughter now. The sorceress could practically feel her face turning red as she brought her hands up to her eyes covering herself. There had to be a way out of this. Already, this confrontation was turning out to be a disaster.

“Is that quite necessary, darling?” Soren asked. “You really should look a Lord in the eyes when he’s addressing you.”

“Are you Lord of a noble house?” Hessia asked.

“Not a human one.”

“Human or not: I won’t be so easily tamed, villain. I am much stronger than you think.”

“Every single puppet has said the same thing. Trust me, when I say you’ll be no different. Just another lovely pawn for me to use.”

 Hessia stiffened. His words weaved delicate webs to bind her. As the hypnotist spoke, she could feel him circling her as a serpent coiling prey. Soon, she could hear footsteps shuffling onto the stage. Hundreds of them. The sorceress peaked into their minds to see these were the audience members. All of them were chanting the same thing mentally.

ALL WILL OBEY

“I tried to fight it too,” said the voice of a woman.

“We all did,” said another man.

“But our master has given us purpose.”

“Surrender and join us…”

“Let him in…”

“You are just as weak as the rest of us…”

Their voices were all around her now, whispering softly. How many other thralls had Soren enslaved? Gritting her teeth, Hessia tried to ignore how happy and content the other thralls sounded. How lovely it would be to just accept her fate as one of them.

Right as she took another step back, something tripped her from behind making her lose her footing. The sorceress’ eyes sprang open as she fell. But right before she hit the ground, an arm slid from underneath her, catching Hessia by the waist. She was in the arms of the hypnotist now: looking up, she could see Soren smiling triumphantly as if he just conquered the world. A thunderous applause rose from the audience.

All around, the crowds surrounded them on stage. Their eyes were blood red, and their smiles were mindless with bliss. Legions of elves, orcs, men and warlocks were now crowding around the sorceress as the demon held her captured in his arms.

“Now then,” said Soren. “Where were we?”

Spirals swarmed Hessia before she could look away. His arms held her tightly by the waist as she gazed into his swirling eyes. The spirals were penetrating her now. She struggled against the yearning lust that enflamed her nerves. She tried to ignore how lovely it would feel to just let him inside of her soul while she gave herself completely to his spell.

 “I…I’m stronger than you think. I can-”

“Hush,” Soren commanded. “Just accept your fate, darling. No more thoughts…No more worries…Just keep staring into my eyes.”

Hessia obeyed.

“Tell me your desires,” said the demon.

“I wish to help others,” said Hessia. “I want to be a hero and-”

“Truly? Is that truly what you desire?”

            She paused. Casting aside her walls, she told him the truth.

            “My desire is power,” she declared. “I wish to hold power over those who believe me to be weak. The Heroes Guild. The kingdom. I want power over them all.”

            “Give yourself to me,” said Soren. “And I will grant all that you desire and more.”

Her legs buckled as she fell to her knees in front of the stage. As she did, lust swelled inside of her body until it ached. Already, the yearning washed over her senses until all she could think about was the spiraling of his eyes. There was no need for her to think or fight or even question anything he said. Soren held her chin in the palm of his hand, aiming her face so that she would stare into his eyes.

“Y-yes master,” she shuttered. “My soul is yours.”

Hessia understood that vision the demon had blessed her with when she first entered his tent. It was not a taunt or even a promise. He was showing her future. Hessia had sealed her fate the moment she came to this place. She was just a foolish girl thinking herself to be a hero while destiny was waiting to remind her of her true place.

You are mine now.

            His voice slipped past her walls. A tempting, beguiling voice that pulled her into his sweet presence. He no longer needed to read his mind to hear him, for he was already inside of her, drowning the sorceress in his embrace. The demon’s eyes burned gloriously with an evil triumph in their hellish light. His flesh shifted from pale moonlit, to the color of shadow as two horns curled at the base of his forehead.

            “Now then,” said Azguloth. “Whom do you serve?”

            “I serve you, master.” Hessia said proudly. “It was stupid and arrogant of me to even think I stood a chance. My only wish is to please my betters…”

            The demon smiled.

*****

            Night was clear of clouds, allowing for the pearl moon to shine over the castle city. The Sorceress Queen stood upon the peak of a tower before the castles of Turvion. From here, all were insignificant. These ungrateful urchins, the Queen once sought to protect were now hers to conquer. Far below, the soft creatures slept in their beds unaware of the doom that awaited them.

            With her were a company of slaves Azguloth had sent to go with her from the tent. Each of them wore sleek, black uniforms with collars tightly around their necks and swords sheathed at their sides. Glancing at her reflection in one of the castle’s windows, Hessia admired her new form. She wore the same black uniform as her fellow slaves, but with a sleeveless tunic to reveal the fiery glowing runes Azguloth had enchanted into both her arms. They were written in the language of demons.

She still wore her pointed hat and kept a flying broomstick slung across her shoulders. Both her eyes now burned in the same blood red as everyone else who had succumbed to their master. Behind her, Azguloth stood towering over his newest slave. His shadow cast a dark blanket over her.

“You are almost complete,” he said. “You have just one final test.”

            Hessia smiled. She sneered upon the castle city. Just hours ago, she would have been fighting with all her breath to save Turvion from the evil she was about to release. But it made no difference now.

            Closing her eyes, the sorceress opened her mind to the mortals that dwelt in Turvion now. She could hear countless memories, loved ones, dreams for their future all here at once. Their minds were endless gateways. The sorceress slave awaited her lord’s command. With a cruel smile, he spoke.

            “Invade their minds, slave. Infect them with my control.”

            Flooding over her, the voice of the Under Realms sang sweetly to Hessia. It sang in the voice of sirens lulling their victims. It sang in the voice of forbidden desires. It sang in the voice of every sinful deed committed since the first humans dared to disobey the gods. Then, she willed the music into the dreams of her prey.

            “YOU WILL OBEY.”

            Hessia leaned up against a castle wall, listening to the chaos unfold. Hundreds and thousands of voices cried out at once. Some were clashing, fighting, screaming and begging against the will of the demons. Others cried out for their gods to save them. Most succumbed instantly. A smile passed over the Sorceress Queen’s lips as the music roared ever louder.

            It felt as though an eternity passed when the city finally fell silent. The Sorceress Queen reached into the thoughts of her victims to see they had all been hushed. They were no longer people: just lifeless extensions of her overwhelming power. Nothing remained inside of them, until the Queen whispered one final command.

            “Worship me.”

            The chanting began as a low, murmuring noise. Then rose into glorious chorus.

            “Long live the Queen!”

            “LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!”

            “LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!”

            Azguloth took the Sorceress Queen by the waist, holding her from behind. Pleasure seeped into her veins as he whispered in her ear.

            “How wonderful,” he spoke. “Arclast just met its newest tyrant. A Queen and a pawn at the same time.”

            “Yes master,” said Hessia. “Powerful and yet, utterly powerless. Only for you…”

[Art by sorealee]