Hopeful Sin

Filliandari

The bedroom was probably spacious once. It was comfortable, opulent with its plush red carpet, and dark mahogany walls. The ceiling was six and a half feet high, providing ample space to move for the house's residents to move around the space. A tall wardrobe took up a section of the wall opposite of the door that led to the hallway, and the wall to its left had another door leading to the hot-tub-sized-bathtub that non-sentient, invisible servants kept maintained and ready for their conjurer.

What prevented the room from being as spacious as it would otherwise be, was the massive double-king bed that ran along the wall opposite of the bathroom. Canopied, four wide posts spiraled upward from each corner of the bed and ended in clawed apexes that just barely avoided digging into the onyx ceiling. Gauzy black curtains dangled down three sides, shot with highlights of red when the light hit the right angle, with a plethora of plush pillows at the head. The silk sheets were delightfully cool when unoccupied and perfectly warm when laid on for a time, with a thin, cooler top sheet taking the place of a blanket, existing only for the security of the bed's occupants.

Between the head and foot of the bed were matching wooden posts, more slender and smooth than the broad supports at the corners, and they were laden with restraints. Multiple sets of cuffs were secured every couple of feet with varying lengths of steel chain allowing them to reach the center of the bed, all made of leather and iron, padded and comfortable and unyielding, all made for long-or-short-term restraint. Silk rope was draped over the bar to the side in a tidy loop and posted on the wall above the head was a deep red plank that held accessories. Dildos, anal plugs, gags, collars, leashes, whips, crops and a variety of clamps were arrayed within easy reach of anyone who knew the basic cantrip of mage hand, such as the red-skinned tiefling who occupied the bed, with a golden-haired human woman, staring up at the mirror that was the bedroom's newest feature, added only days before while he'd been traversing the underground Labyrinth to reach the Holy City of Aurevail.

Eris would have been willing to lay there with Filli's head in his lap forever, gazing down at the rich blonde of her hair splayed over the red of his flesh, her lips, so pink and full, gently parted as she lightly dozed. His voice was heavy with reluctance when he finally murmured to his drowsy wife, "We should probably go before they rush the temple. Or worse, determine they could just walk through the main entrance down to this place if they guess we are here."

"You're right," she whispered, though she didn't sit up, just as unwilling to depart as he, "I don't know how to get through town without attracting attention, Eris... should I wear a cloak?"

"Well... there are alternative routes. It will be harder with the two of us... but the dungeons have grown Filli. They have grown a lot. Each new bound soul increases a core's power and lets it stretch out a little further. Your Inquisition has been busy for the last five hundred years. Most of the dungeons have grown to touch each other. You don't think I just walked into the Holy City, do you?"

"I didn't really think about it... but if they still sense me and want me to die, I don't have as much power as I did before." She felt anxious without her crutch.

"But... will they sense you without your power?"

"I guess there's only one way to find out... maybe we can move in peace through this one, at least," she finally sat up with a heavy sigh, "You know we're both now going to be hunted without mercy, right?" Filli asked while reaching for her clothes.

"Probably. But I wouldn't want to run for my life with anyone else," Eris caught her hand and pulled her close for a deep kiss.

She returned the kiss fervently. From this point, she'd treat every day like it was her last with him. Because it might be.

"Let's pack up and go," she whispered as she pulled away.

It was a near thing, Filli could feel the heat from his body intensifying, matching the desire that burned in her husband's eyes, and her body was already beginning to melt, ready to surrender and submit before he released her and they finished packing. Leaving the tent, Eris dismantled and stowed it, saying as he did, "Normally I travel invisibly. You can even get through most boss rooms that way if you don't go for their hoard. But for two people I can't maintain it for long. Couple castings for an hour apiece. That means we will have to fight through the dungeons and the weaker bosses. The Labyrinth starts around level three in this dungeon. We could fight the first boss, skip most of the second level while invisible, skip the second boss. Repeat on the third floor, and then we can escape. But I have to warn you, the Labyrinth is the real reason the Inquisitors stop purging at a certain level. It's untamed and filled with a lot of scary shit. Wherever it connects to the dungeons, their monsters can roam it. In the places in between, free horrors walk. Ever wonder where the bulk of the greater demons went? The deep dwarves and drow lurk down there too.

"We could try your idea. You cloak up and try to slip out of the city. I can meet you at the next dungeon. It's risky. You are not as likely to be tortured and killed, but far more likely to be captured. Best to assume they will have guards wherever you rebirth at, so death is not an escape.

Finally, and this is just for pure craziness... you could walk up the stairs and attract everyone. The mob will shield you for a time. I can't imagine there is much the Inquisitors could say that would sway them all. You could announce a pilgrimage to the next town, and I can meet you there. It has a beginner dungeon and might be easier to slip into the Labyrinth than here with its Adventurer class holy dungeon. Minimal risks for you, although a few civvies might get hurt protecting you." He clearly couldn't care less on that point.

Filli was tormented. Instinct screamed for her to take the path of least risk - to those around her - and go with the cloak. If she were discovered by the Inquisition, she could always use the final option as a desperate measure and call as much attention to herself as possible. But new, selfish desires have made themselves known to her, and she found herself reluctant to leave Eris again, to be separated and not know where he was and if he was in danger. But then, it was pretty clear in his evaluation that her presence would be what brought him to danger, and he would travel safest alone and invisible.

She'd created this problem... she should be the one to face it. "I'll try the cloak. It's not like anyone really expects me to be traveling in disguise."

Eris took her hands in his and now looked tormented, himself. "You cannot pray until we are together again..."

"My Lady will understand," Filli responded with certainty, a far cry from the immense guilt she'd felt for missing prayers just the day before, "If She felt otherwise, Eve would never have gotten away with her actions in putting the Cathedral to use in my defense yesterday. And I still have the spells I prayed for yesterday."

"If you are going to be caught, I want you to swear to me you will fight... kill... suck, fuck, whatver you have to do to get free and get back to me."

"I will," she vowed, smiling ruefully, "Most Inquisitors never think to protect themselves from radiance, you know. All the 'unworthy' Celestials are trapped down here, after all..."

"If... when you make it back to me, I am going to tie you up, face fuck you until you are near to passing out, fuck your ass while you are helpless, then plunder your pussy until you password. Because I love you," He promised.

She shivered, murmuring, "You know, you shouldn't distract me right now... but I do love you, and I will find my way to you. No matter what."

"The Gulag. Three days." The nearest 'town' was a forced labor settlement, Nulgary, near mines and forests. Home to criminals who'd surrendered and were deemed redeemable by the inquisition. Forced to work back breaking labor, usually until death, but assured their souls would go to heaven. Alternative to dungeon banishment.

The Gulag was the local dungeon for those deemed... unredeemable.

And all these horrible things done in her name, if not with her open stamp of approval. The thought made Filli nauseous. How many innocents had the Inquisition declared unredeemable for the most unjust and unfair of reasons? "I'll be there."

Eris kissed her again, long and hard, before breaking off and heading for the Halls of Repentance, already fading from view.

After ensuring that she was well and heavily cloaked, her face fully hidden and her hair pulled back, Filli walked to the normal entrance. She was not going to risk putting anyone in her church in danger by going through the secret entrance, and she had no doubt in her mind that they were being watched, at the very least. To further her disguise, she started to limp lightly, like an old wound that never healed properly, something she herself would never have been afflicted by.

At the exit, one of the guards nodded cordially, "Hope your visit was blessed," a generic greeting for one coming out. Whether it was smiting evil or finding answers. His slightly sad tone indicated he thought her continued limp to be a sign she did not get what she wanted.

Down the street at the Church of Life, several squads of the Inquisition had blocked off the road and surrounded the building, much to the anger of the assembled mob hoping to see her. She could faintly hear Inquisition criers trying to list her crimes, but the crowd wasn't having it.

Filli slowly limped her way down a block further, gratified to know that her church still stood, and hadn't been burned to the ground by overzealous hands. Walking by the spectacle directly would be a risk, though, so she made her way past the racket before turning in the direction of the city's entrance, keeping up her slow meander, even though her heart pounded so hard she felt it might burst from her chest entirely.

As she approached the main gate Filli saw the normal militia, and a couple Inquisition soldiers. They ignored the men as they passed through but stopped and questioned females and everyone had their hoods drawn back.

Seeing this, Filli changed course with as much casual stride as she could muster, while looking around. Homeless children weren't a common sight in the city with so many churches able and willing to give help, but those who chose to stay on the streets, who could be bought with a hand full of gold coins and magical aid might know a better way for her to leave the city, one that the Inquisitors wouldn't be aware of.

The thought drew her slowly toward Redemption Row, home of the Temple of Laughter. Their god was the patron of good merchants and thieves. Though the latter could not legally receive so much as lip service in this world, they existed, and most were experts in their field. Looking about, she saw a young man staring reverently at the coming sunrise. Surely not casually watching passersby for an exposed coin purse or other valuables.

While she had been hoping for a young female to approach, the longer she spent out and about in the city, the more of a chance there was that she could be recognized. So, she approached the young man with her side to him and her eyes downcast, waiting for him to notice her.

It didn't take long, and out of her periphery, she saw his eyes flick down, skipping over everything but her waist and her limp.

"You don't have to steal it," Filli murmured, as her hand brushed the bulging bag of coins at her waist, "You can have every last coin if you help me get out of the city without going past the gates."

"Dear Lady, I would never consider stealing. 'Tis not honorable. But 'ers the real question fer ya. Would ya be needing directions, or a guide? See, I can tell ya how t' get out o' the city. But there's always Inkies about. An' sumtin' got 'em all riled up since las' nigh'. Copper ta silver tha' ya won't make it a day away, 'specially wit dat limp ya got that seems a wee sporadic. I swear ya seem ta forget which leg it was when you paused at the corner der."

She winced as he pointed out just how very bad she was at deception, while also letting her know that her approach hadn't been as subtle as she'd thought.

"If you can get me out of the city, and past the Inquisitors, you can have my gold, and a trinket that if taken to the Church of Life and presented to the High Priestess therein will earn you a favor within the church's power."

"I'll take yer gold and a favor from you, to be named at my discretion. Not in the habit of going to churches to exchange favors. Especially for someone trying to sneak out of the bloody Holy City. How's that?" Talking business, his accent cleared up remarkably well. Still lower caste, but much more refined.

"So long as your favor does not violate my vows or the laws of my church, I will agree to your terms."

"Righto," he used the heel of his foot to lift a sidewalk sewer top, "Down ya go, no ladder, just jump."

Glancing around, she looked down the hole to get a measure of its depth, before throwing caution to the wind and leaping.

Filli landed with a thick plop after a ten-foot fall, in knee-deep brown water. Brown water in a city that was meticulously clean, and she could now honestly say that, yes, a holy man's shit stinks. The channel was three feet wide and flanked by two-foot-wide dry walkways on either side. Her guide dropped, catching the rim of the entrance and swung over to land on one of those edges.

"Excellent landing for a cripple. Up ya get," he held out a hand for her.

She accepted the hand, letting him help her step up to the walkway.

"This is a city of miracles," she muttered, "Maybe miracle waste is a part of it," she did stop the act, though, not needing it anymore.

"Give me your gold. Ditch the robe. One, it stinks, which you will notice later. Two we'll be swimmin'. Three, if yer hot I will probably cash in for a taste once yer outta the patrol range."

Filli sighed softly. Of course, she would find a degenerate to be her guide. Might as well get the reveal over with, though she had no hope that her identity would change his mind about wanting to defile her. Without ceremony, she pulled off her cloak, letting it fall into the muck and shaking her hair to fall freely down her back.

"Oh, fer fooks sake. Yer the gawds damned Lightbringer!" he informed her, culture completely wiped from his mind.

"Now the most wanted criminal in the Inquisition's eyes. I understand if you don't want to escort me now, and you can still have the gold if you just give me the proper directions..."

For a moment, she could swear she heard laughter somewhere, but she couldn't determine where it came from. The man's face screwed up with irritation, and he muttered, "Oh sure, laugh it oop. Ah'll escort you. But ya gots to follow the rules. No fooking praying. No spells besides cantrips. No fooking prayin'. A do wat ah say without all the damn questions. Every Inkie in the city's lookin' fer ya. Every civvie too. Diff'ren' reasons, same r'sult. All eyes out fer you. Now, ditch the robe too."

Now, her lips pressed together with her own irritation. "I'll take them off, but I'm not going to be wandering around once we're out of here with nothing on!" Filli grumbled as she peeled off her robe. Fooking degenerates.

"Nice plate undies," he chuckled, "And no, you won' be walkin' around nekkid. People would think ahm the demon wot's got you jumping ship for the Dark. Are ya shagging a demon and jumping ship fer the Dark?"

"I married a tiefling," she sighed, "The Heavens disapprove."

"Well, glad yer a Lifie then. No vows or laws on monogamy. C'mon."

He started off down the sewers. They seemed to be heading deeper into the city rather than out by her guess.

Well... her new husband had literally told her to suck and fuck her way back to him if need be, so... that helped harden her resolve, although her personal disgust was another matter. Still, though, she followed him, with no other alternative now that she'd gotten rid of her cloak and frankly just couldn't get back up through the sewer grate. While they walked, Filli took the opportunity to look him over.

The man was tall, six feet, so nearly Eris' height. Bulkier, though no less stealthy. With day old stubble and easy laugh lines, he was not unattractive even with his unkempt, peppered hair. He led the way, passing up the chance to watch her in her armor.

Filli followed in silence for a few minutes, before stress got the better of her, and she had to ask, "Are we heading deeper into the city...?"

"Yep," was the curt reply, and he shushed her immediately after.

This did absolutely nothing to soothe her growing anxiety and while she went silent, it was more to prepare defensive spells at a moment's notice.

She suddenly heard the sound of rushing water ahead and the sludge moved faster and faster. Now, he seemed fine with talking, "Ya can swim, aye?"

"Yes, of course," she'd had five hundred years to learn such necessary skills.

"A'right then, gonna need a blowtop down payment here. We're gonna jump down a twenty-foot waterfall, get swept a mile outside the city and get dumped down a ten-footer." The plan, while stupidly dangerous, sounded almost normal for her situation. But it's with horror that she realized she knew what a 'blowtop' was because of... Eve. Who'd told her when she was a teen, herself, giggling while they were alone in the then-acolyte's room. It involved a handjob while the tip was in her mouth.

"You are owed a favor, not multiple," Filli reminded him sternly. She may be willing to cross lines, but only to a point, damn it.

"Alright then. You jump here. I'll head over to the exit side of the river. It's dark, fast, and there's a few wrong turns ya can make that'll trap ya underwater for an hour or two. But ah guarantee there are no Inkies down there that I need to guide ye past."

He turned, starting to back track their route, where he could undoubtedly stroll right out the city gates and make it to the rendezvous safely.

"Hey! You said you would guide me out for a favor! You're not guiding me out if you just leave me here in a place where I can get lost!"

"Ah, naw lass. Ye can't get lost. River only flows in one direction, see. It just takes side routes sometimes. Just gooo wit da flooow," he grinned and saluted, still backing away.

"Fine!" Filli cried, her voice echoing in the tunnels, "Come back and I'll give you your... 'down payment'."

He trotted back, nearly skipping. "My Lady of Triumph. I understand you need a guide. Allow me to offer my services, if I could get but a boon," he grinned mischievously.

She didn't return his smile, but shifted down to her knees, ready to be on her way to the man she actually wanted to be with.

He untied his pants, letting them drop to his knees. He was... decent, she supposed. Shaven completely, which was new for her. Thick without being overly so. He leaned back on the wall and laced his fingers behind his head.

Filli scooted forward on her knees until she came level with him, glad at least that even if he was a degenerate, he was one with some understanding of hygiene. Not giving herself too much time to dwell on what she had to do, she took him in hand, pulling the head of his member into her warm mouth where she began to lightly suck while pumping her hand along his length.

"A little tongue and we'll be well on our way," he prompted, his voice a little strained. He was rock solid in her hand, so he was clearly enjoying himself, despite the lighthearted critique. The degenerate started to sing to himself, "Sucked off by the Light..., oh I'm getting sucked off by the Light..."