Shadow of the Divine

The thief of the night studied the mansion on the hill from the treeline.  Her deep blue eyes narrowed as she nodded to herself.  It was just as the intel had described it: an old four-story gothic mansion perched on the cliffside, its shadow spilling down toward the beach far below.  She watched the grounds as the clouds crept across the sky until they coated the moon with a layer of ghostly haze.  It was at this moment she chose to act, her bare feet streaking across the grass without a sound.  The waif of a woman was at the wall in moments, her body leaping high as she caught a second-story window ledge with her fingertips before pulling herself up into a crouch.  She felt to the right of the window, tugging gently on a small, thin wire running up the side.  

A grin formed beneath her face covering, 'The intel had indeed been good,' she thought as she severed it in two.  

With the alarm severed, the window was slid open a few inches and Kat was inside in a moment.  The lithe figure landed as if a shadow on the cool, hard floor.  

'Fourth floor, third room on the left,' she thought.

She paused before moving, her eyes closed as she listened for signs of stirring.  Then she was off in an instant, her body moving low and fast to the stairs. Her feet made no sound as she slinked up to the fourth floor.  The halls were eerily quiet.  No sign of the master of the house... or any of his rumored creations.  As she reached the third room on the left, she was met with a tinge of disappointment.  With her skills, she made quick work of the intricate lock and slipped inside.  

She had been hoping for more of a challenge.

Her eyes scanned the two story room she found herself in.  The walls were coated in bookshelves, each lined floor to ceiling with assorted texts.  The smell of old books lingered in the air as she took a tentative step forward surveying the space.  The air was still and a smattering of tables littered the floor.   And there in the center of the room was her prize.  

She stepped closer, eyeing the intricate runes on the cover of the ancient grimoire resting on a carved wooden pedestal.  It was an exact match for the sketch she had studied.  She walked from the pedestal to a window, sliding it up in preparation for the next part.  She had heard stories of traps, counterweights, and rolling boulders.  But she was careful and... she was fast.  She took a deep breath and summoned her strength.  In one instant, the book was in her hand.  In the second, it was in her bag.  And in the third instant, she leapt from the window.

The cold, night air hit her face with a jolt.   Kat was free.  She savored the moment as her lithe body fell, a shadow illuminated by the moon.  The air rushed by her as she descended past the cliff on which the mansion sat.  She held her arms against her chest before spreading them wide, feeling the wind slip between her fingers.  She was the shadow of the night.  

As the ground rushed towards the black garbed figure she drew her legs in, her body flowing until her legs were beneath her.  She reached for power, drawing upon the spring that flowed within her.  

Kat landed as if the air itself caught her; the still boat beneath her remained untouched. A grin spread across her face as she stepped to the controls and pressed the start button. Puzzled when nothing happened, she pressed it twice more before her eyes went to the keyhole. A lump formed in her throat when she saw the key was missing. A moment later, a bright light flared behind her. Turning, she saw a man standing on the beach, an extraordinarily bright lantern in one hand and the boat key in the other. 

Kat's eyes fixed on the key as her body tensed. The man didn't move. She waited another moment before making her move, darting across the boat and pulling a bench open, her hand sliding deftly inside only to find the space empty.

"Tut, tut, my little cat burglar. You won't find any of your weapons, I'm afraid. Now, why don't you come back to shore? You have something that belongs to me. "

Kat surveyed the scene. Her boat was not going anywhere. The sounds of the water rocking the craft back and forth. The strange man stood still holding the lantern, a smile on his face.

"Well then," she thought. "I'll have to find a different way through this."

Kat took a deep breath, calming her body. She donned a mask of her best sultry smile and stepped out of the boat into the ankle-deep water. She took a few steps towards him, the precious grimoire in her pack slung over her shoulder.

"I'm  impressed. I don't believe I've ever even been seen during a job before."

The man set the lantern down on a small table, the key to her escape disappearing from his other hand into some hidden pocket.

"Yes. Your reputation precedes you, little one. The Thief in the Night. The Shadow Waif. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, not a hint of insincerity in his voice as he bowed.

As Kat reached the shore, she surveyed the man. He was easily a foot taller than her. Despite her skills, overpowering him to retrieve her key would prove difficult. Curiously, she saw no henchmen, bodyguards, or other peons at his beck and call. She swallowed before speaking.

"I could say the same for you. The Mad Scientist. Unholy Experimentalist. The Monster in the tower."

She stood two feet from the man.  Her back straight, her small, lithe body calm but ready to act without hesitation.

He rolled his eyes, a chuckle escaping his lips, "There is power in the idea of self. Of how others persevere us. I'm sure you agree. It is always interesting to see how much truth there is behind the curtain," He stepped forward one step, his hand outstretched, "Now I'm afraid we have to get the unpleasantness out of the way before things can move any further. Return my book, if you please."

Kat kept her mask on, a smile on her face. She shifted her shoulder bag around to the front and unzipped it.  As she reached inside, she placed her hand flat against her chest. Drawing a deep breath in, she pulled power from the well of magical energy within her.  Energy surged into her open palm for just an instant before she made her move.  Her body slicing forward with lightning speed, the magic surged down her arm through the rest of her limbs.  The smile never left her lips as she closed the distance in an instant.  Her hand darted forward toward his chest as her left leg swept with magical strength.

She never saw him move.  Her hand struck empty air.  Her leg swept through nothing but the moonlight.  The confused look on her face lasted only an instant before pain surged from her back, an open palm striking her and making her stumble, landing face-first in the sand. 

The man clicked his tongue twice in quick succession, "Now that was quite rude, wasn't it? After I extended you the courtesy of meeting you at your little boat.

Kat whirled and shifted up to her feet. Her body crouched low as she winced and rolled her shoulder. She looked up to see the man standing quiet and still before her, with no look of exertion on his face. She tensed, drawing power once more from the spring of magic within. She pounced like an animal at him, her athame suddenly materializing in her hand, its crystalline hilt cool against her palm.

This time, she saw the flicker of movement — a hand sliding through the air at superhuman speed.  Before she could register, she felt a tight, unyielding grip on her throat.  Her body was lifted up to eye level with the man.  He squeezed her neck harder, tilting her head to the side as he watched her try to claw at him, her glass athame lost in the sand.

"You are an interesting specimen.  I see the rumors of your speed and grace are true.  But I am curious if you know where your powers come from?  What deep well of magic you draw from.  We will have plenty of time to discuss and dissect what makes you... you."

Kat hung in the air as he squeezed her neck with confidence.  Her arms clawed uselessly at him as she struggled for each breath.  She growled with the bit of strength she had, her mind racing between options and variables, desperately seeking a solution to her current problem.

Meanwhile, the monster of a man casually held her body in place with one hand.  His free hand reached forward and plucked the book from her shoulder bag.  He opened it and thumbed through the pages before her face, distracting her from her schemes.  The grimoire was... empty?

"Just wonderful, my little Kat.  With this, I believe we can conclude that your mission was a resounding success.  I am quite pleased with your performance.  You delivered the book just as promised, with all the flair of legend." With that, he discarded the text in the sand, a smug look on his face.  

She watched the text fall in slow motion. It hit the sand, only to be immediately soaked by the tides. In that moment, she realized she had walked into a trap. The Monster was dangerous and cunning. She would have to act swiftly. His words echoed in her head, turning into inspiration. With what little strength she could still muster, she reached for the divine. Once more, power flowed through her veins. Her hands closed into fists as she formulated the magic in her mind. Her eyes blinked closed for a moment before they darted wide open. Her body began to change. Her hands transforming into paws tipped with sharp claws.  Her torso elongating and growing, ripping her clothing to shreds and revealing the now fur-covered body.  

'I will rip The Monster to pieces with her claws for his treachery,' she thought, anger burning through her.

The man watched the transformation with the curiosity of a scientist studying an exotic creature, "Oh, you are a marvel.  I am most impressed.  That said, there will be time to explore all the wonderful forms you can take for me.  But for now, we must head back before the storm arrives."  

As he finished his sentence, his grip on her transforming neck loosened, Kat bracing herself midair, ready to land on all fours and strike—but before she could reach the ground, there was another superhuman blur of speed. Something was forced tight around her neck. She growled as she fell, feeling her connection with the divine severed.  She hit the sand a moment later, now merely a girl, naked save for the metal collar locked around her throat.  The front of the collar was adorned with a large red jewel, pulsing with magic.  

Kat felt for that swell of magic within her, but found she could not reach it.  Each time she tried to draw on that power, the jewel at her throat flared, her connection to the divine severed.

Dizzy, Kat struggled to her knees in an attempt to get up.  Why did she feel so heavy?  The whole world seemed to move in slow motion.  

A hand appeared in front of her face, open and inviting, "Now, my Kat, please come with me.  We have much to discuss.  You can walk with my help or I can bind you and throw you over my shoulder.  Your choice.  Either sounds delightful to me."

She took his hand, and before she could blink, she was standing.  His movements seemed even faster now.  She tensed and turned to him, her fist striking out as she tried to reach for her spring of strength.  The collar locked around her neck pulsated as her fist connected with his stomach.  Her strike was met with a pitying look of a teacher disappointed with their student.  

"Manners, Kat.  I'm afraid without the connection to the divine you, your touch does little more than tickle.  Very Well.  Since you have disregarded my offer of hospitality, I'm afraid i cannot trust you unbound and untethered.  So things must be unpleasant for you.  First, a punishment for striking me."

He moved in a blur, a hand again on her throat. Her face plunged into the ocean as he held her firmly by her slender neck.  His other hand slid down her naked back, tracing over the runic tattoos coating her skin.  After what felt like an eternity, he pulled her head from the water, allowing her a few panicked gasps of air.  As she began to get her wits about her again, he plunged her head once more.  Holding her head in place.  Her body and limbs struggled in vain as she clawed at the ground trying to lift her head.

The second time, he lifted her body higher.  He looked her in the eyes with a cold, calculating expression, "Apologize, Kat"  

"Fuck you, you monster!" she spat at him.

By the time 'monster' left her lips, her head was back under the water.  She closed her eyes, trying to keep her composure. Only for her concentration to be broken by the sharp pain of his open palm striking her ass.  Her cries of pain silenced.  Water flowed into her mouth, cutting off her breath and voice.  Again, he held her down until darkness crept in at the edges of her vision, then wrenched her from the water.

"Bad, Kat," the words burned into her mind as he forced her under once more, his hand relentless in its onslaught on her reddening ass.

This continued until she lost count.  Each time, she was held under the water until her lungs burned and her ass ached.  Each time she was pulled out just long enough for her brain to hear his two simple words, "Bad, Kat,"  before she was plunged back beneath the water.  

Eventually, when he knew she could endure no more, she was hauled up and dropped onto the sand, knees trembling, chest heaving, her raven hair plastered to her pale face.  He squatted before her, his eyes fixed on hers with a cold, unyielding stare.   

"Apologize, Kat."  His words echoing in her dizzied brain, hammering through the haze of pain.

Water dripped from her mouth, running down her jaw and mixing with the sand clinging to her skin.  Her eyes were red and glazed.  She sputtered hoarsely, "I... I... I'm sorry pl... please... no... no more..."  

He leaned down, brushing her midnight tresses from her face, the long strands sticking to her cheeks.  His lips touched her forehead with a gentle, caring kiss. "You are forgiven, my pet.  A lesson well learned, I hope."

He produced from nowhere two sets of metal cuffs, and before Kat could think, they clicked closed on her limbs.  She looked down, dumbfounded, at her naked body, her wrists and ankles shackled together.  How had it all gone so wrong?

The Monster picked her up with one arm and held her against his warm chest, "You chose this path, my thief of the night.  You could easily have been relaxing in front of a warm fire.  I hope you are enjoying your choices as much as I am."

With that, he stood up straight, his free hand rising and drawing a symbol into the ether before him. The air shimmered with divine energy.  Light began to creep through crevices in reality.  The crevices coalesced into jagged lines that intersected and merged.  With a flash, a door opened in the universe before them.  

"Welcome home," he said as he stepped through carrying his new prize.