Warm morning sun filtered the glass dome, waking the redheaded thief from her slumber. An angry sense of foreboding swept over her as she opened her eyes and remembered what day this was. Today was the Day of Sorrow.

Sheila was still not sure what was going to happen to her, only that it would happen in the Hall of Darkness. Venger had told her as much the night before during his nocturnal visit to her suite of rooms. He had also given her a heavy wooden trunk she had not yet dared to open. All she knew was that it contained the only items she was permitted to wear today.

Fear gripped her, but she swung her feet over the side of the bed anyway. This part of the routine got easier each day. Most of her hope had already died somewhere between the first night that she arrived and the night her had made love to her like a man, and not a demon, beneath the Moon Desert mural in the Hall of Perpetual Twilight.

After that night, probably a week or so ago, it seemed to Sheila that everything within her had changed. The nagging doubt about her feelings for Venger grew into a raging torment. That night she had seen the dark lord as he had once been and she had fallen in love with that man. The thief constantly reminded herself that Venger was evil now, the man he had been gone for years. Still, she knew what she saw and felt. She remembered the things he had said to her.

Much of her resolve had gone that night. She no longer knew what to think or what to feel. Her insides were twisted up with anger that he had made her love him, a being she has sworn to hate. She was angry with herself for allowing her mind and body to give in and love him in return. In the end, her submission to him was nearly complete and she found she no longer cared.

She also no longer cried every morning; the tears had stopped about seven or eight days ago. That night, when Venger had taken her as she stood in shackles, pinned to the wall, the complete hopelessness of her situation had hit her. After that night, she had not shed even one tear. She was afraid that if she did, she might never stop.

The dark lord had warned her to be dressed when he arrived. For a moment, she considered defying him yet again. It would mean another beating and more rough sex, but she would probably escape those with her life. She was not as sure that she would live through whatever awaited her in the Hall.

Thoughts of defiance flew from her mind with the appearance of Shadow Demon who assured her that she would be killed if she didn’t do as she was told today. With trembling hands, she opened the trunk and gulped at the contents. Instead of clothes, there was nothing but jewelry. She sat on the floor in her dressing gown, examining the contents piece by piece.

By the time Venger came for her, she was ready.

A glittering gold and Bloodstone tiara sat atop her head. Strands of gold accented with more Bloodstones were woven through her hair, which was pulled up into a top knot. A solid gold choker wrapped around her neck. Two gold chains trailed down the front of the choker. At the end of each was a golden disk, a Bloodstone set in the center.

The chains had somehow magically adjusted once she had put on the collar so that they came to rest over her nipples. However, the disks didn’t adhere to her skin so when she moved, the disks swung back and forth, uncovering her.

A gold chain hung low on her hips, cinched tight around her stomach so that part of it hung down between her legs. She wore no panties. Rather, she had a gold v-shaped thong that split her folds and exposed her mound almost completely. Gold and Bloodstone anklets and bracelets completed the outfit.

Standing before Venger she had never felt more exposed or more aroused. The jewelry was designed to stir the wearer’s sexual juices and provide as little coverage as possible. She looked him directly in the eye as she spoke.

"I’m ready."

"You are more lovely than I could have hoped, my soon-to-be queen," he breathed. "Take this to complete your outfit."

He held out a piece of gold fabric he offered her. She took it, he gaze sweeping over his body. Venger was dressed in little more than she was. His normal robes had been replaced by a shimmering silver cape set with Moonstones. A silver crown set with the same stones perched atop his head and his thick black hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

The dark lord also wore a silver thong similar to Sheila’s. Like her, his feet were bare. For the first time, she noted that his toenails were black. It appeared to be polish, but she didn’t have time to really examine them. Her head was forced up under the power of another spell.

"There is no time to waste, little thief," Venger hissed. He took the fabric and secured it around her neck. It was a cloak, similar to his only shorter.

"So what happens to me in there?" she asked, dreading the answer.

"Today, sweet Sheila, you become my queen!" he laughed and took her arm, teleporting her though the door with him.

Light blurred before her eyes and she felt momentarily weightless. Then she landed on her feet in a pool of light. She was momentarily blinded and attempted to lift her hand to shield her eyes. Instead, she felt a tug on her waist.

Squinting her eyes, she looked down and saw that her bracelets had been bound to the chain around her waist. Venger now held the loose end between his fingers. He tugged on the chain and she began to move forward against her will. He lead her down the corridor, the stone floor cool but not cold beneath her bare feet.

The pool of light followed them as they moved the length of a long hallway. Her jewelry sparkled under the lights and she could hear gasps from people that she could not see as the disks bounced from side to side, revealing her erect nipples. Sheila knew as far as anyone looking at her was concerned, she was Venger's sexual slave.

Now that her eyes had become used to the glare, she could better make out the details of the Hall of Darkness. Pillars with skeletons flanked either side of her. The alcoves they formed appeared to be quite deep. The voices she heard seemed to originate in the blackness beyond the openings, where eyes occasionally glittered in the reflected light.

Finally, Venger stopped and Shadow Demon appeared in front of Sheila. He made a courtly bow to both her and Venger. As he moved off, the dark lord motioned with his hand towards an alter. Though every muscle in her body fought, she bowed once to both of them and proceeded up a small set of steps to the stone alter. She stood in front of it as Venger addressed the crowd.

"Today, my slaves, you will witness the greatest victory your master has ever achieved," he boomed. "For today, on this the Day of Sorrows, I will take Sheila the Thief and pupil of Dungeon Master as my queen. Great shall be my glory and power as I implant this one with my seed!"

No! Sheila cried silently. This can’t be happening! Anything but bearing Venger’s child! Please why won’t someone help me?

Venger looked up at her, his red eyes glistening. The thief knew that he had read her thoughts and would like nothing better than to impregnate her here and now. She only hoped that the timing wasn’t right and that she might escape that fate for now. In the back of her mind, however, she wondered what would happen if she failed to bear Venger’s child. She decided that she didn’t want to know.

With a surprisingly graceful bow, Venger swept off his cape and approached the alter. He pushed Sheila down onto the cool stone, until her body lay the length of it. At first she was surprised that he didn’t use restraints to hold her there. Then, she realized that it had to look as if she were doing this willingly and so he would bind her with spells instead.

He swept aside her cape, letting it pool on the floor beside his. Sheila felt herself lift her arms to Venger and he broke the chains with a snap. She moaned involuntarily and tried to spread her legs for him. He responded by unclasping the hooks at the waist of the v-string and sliding it off her body.

Sheila felt the gaze of hundreds of eyes straining for a better look at her private areas and suddenly, she no longer felt naked. Whether it was a spell or the kinky part of her psyche kicking in, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that the idea of offering herself to Venger was suddenly making her very wet and hot.

Now that her hands were free from the chain, she reached up and undid the clasps that held his thong in place. She slid it off his body and gently massaged his penis until it stiffened visibly. Clawed fingers reached up and ripped off the choker, taking with it he gold disks that covered her nipples.

Venger seized one tight tip in his teeth and pulled, eliciting a scream of delight from Sheila. He lavished the attentions of his mouth on her breasts as she continued to massage him, caressing his sac until he moaned. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she rubbed herself along his length, nearly begging him to mount her.

Finally, the light brightened into an intense glare and the thief found herself reaching for his penis, her legs spread wide beneath him. She guided him into her center and felt him expand. Unlike before, however, this was uncomfortable.

Use your mind to expand yourself to fit me, a voice filled her mind. Do it or my presence will kill you.

Sheila, remembering what Shadow Demon said, had no reason to think that he was lying. She forced herself to focus on the weight of him inside her. The pain was becoming more intense and she let out a silent prayer that she was doing this right. Gasping for breath, she imagined her vagina fitting Venger like a glove, no matter how huge he became.

Instantly, the pain lessened and she could feel herself tighten around him more comfortably. This elicited a moan from Venger. She pulled up her knees and spread her legs farther apart and he pushed in father than he ever had before. Sheila gasped as he hit a sensitive membrane deep within her that he had never even come close to before.

Then he was through the thin barrier and she felt as if he were swallowing her whole. Her body was alive with desire and she climaxed almost immediately. Venger however, held himself still inside her until she lay still. Only then did he begin to move.

His movements were slow at first and then faster. His hands gripped the top of the alter as he slammed into her. Her body arched up and met his, hands wrapped around his chest so that she could hang onto him. Her moans came harder and faster, as did his growls of desire.

They came together in a perfect orgasm and Sheila felt her nerves explode. She sagged under his weight as he collapsed on top of her. They lay like that for several minutes until Venger pulled out of her. He pulled her with him as he sat up. Without warning, the alter morphed into two thrones and the golden light that had grown so bright during their coupling softened.

Sheila sat their blinking, still stunned from their primal sex. There had been little foreplay or torture involved for once. It had simply been quick and dirty. It made her fear what lay next, and with good reason.

As Venger’s breathing slowed, he beckoned for Shadow Demon to approach them. He stood and motioned for Sheila to do the same. Slowly, she got to her feet, dully noting that she was still quite naked. He reached out and took a new crown of gold and silver from the pillow that Shadow Demon held.

Smiling down at her, her affixed the crown to her head, securing it with the strands of hair intertwined with gold. He also took a sparkling ring from the pillow. Sheila wanted to pull her hands behind her back, but instead found that she raised her left hand to Venger’s and offered him her ring finger. He slipped the crystal and violet stone onto her finger.

She felt her skin burn as the ring molded itself to her. Looking into Venger’s eyes, she knew with certainly that the ring would not come off unless he removed it. Turing, she faced the crowd with Venger.

"Behold, my slaves," his voice echoed through out the hall, "my queen! Sheila, fallen angel of the Young Ones!"

Sheila wanted to cry, but no tears would come. She had truly believed that her friends would come for her, but they hadn’t. There was no last minute rescue, no breaking down of the Palace doors to free her. Now, she was Venger's queen, expected to bear his child and be his lover.

"We are not yet finished, my queen," the whispered to her.

With a wave of his hand, she felt herself being whisked away by teleportation once again. When the weightlessness had stopped, she found herself in a beautiful moonlit garden, Venger beside her. Both of them were wrapped in sheer cloaks of silver and gold. She whirled to face Venger, all spells momentarily lifted.

"What did you just do to me?" she demanded, her voice husky. "Am I pregnant now? If not, when? What if I never get pregnant? Then what?"

He took her hands and led her to a bench surrounded by the most fragrant flowers Sheila had ever smelled. Once they were seated, Venger looked into her eyes. For a moment, Sheila froze. The kind Venger looked back at her, the one she had seen on her first night in captivity.

"I did what I had to," he began. "Today is the Day of Sorrow, the only day that non-demons can be prepared to bear my children.

"Normally, someone not of my heritage cannot bear my child. However, the universe provides a way to change that, the darkest day in the Realm. The Day of Sorrow. It is the day that the very ground of the Realm will weep if I take a humanoid woman as my queen."

"And the pregnancy part?" she pressed.

"You are probably not carrying my child yet," he admitted. "Our coupling in the Hall was designed to change you physically, not impregnate you. However, in the next several days, you will find yourself rich with my seed and ensure that you bear my child."

"If I don’t?" she stared into his eyes.

"Then you will probably die in the hall, another skeleton lashed to the pillars, bearing witness to my next queen. Unless other arrangements are made."

Sheila gulped. "Well, did it have to be so public?"

"You still do not understand," he hissed. "Today, I took you as my bride, as my queen! That in and of itself required a ceremony with witnesses. Moreover, according to prophecy, the more witnesses to my taking of you, the more likely you become to take my seed in a short amount of time."

Again, Sheila wanted to cry and again the tears would not come. She had none left. Venger’s words were like a slap across her face. Her future, her fate had been sealed moments ago and she had not even been aware of it.

"Now," he growled, "we begin our honeymoon, as I believe you call it.

"Come to me willingly, Sheila, in this garden of beauty. I promise that any child conceived here will by just as lovely."

Sheila leapt up, but tripped on her robes. She wanted to run, no longer seeing the handsome man she glimpsed on occasion but the face of evil instead. Venger caught her with a rough hand and shoved her down to the dirt that ringed the flowerbeds. She struggled beneath him, but he pinned her hands above her head and forced her legs apart with his other hand.

The force with which he attacked her reminded her of the night he had whipped her during sex. And how much she had gotten off on it. Those thoughts telegraphed across her mental bond with Venger and he regarded her coldly as he drove his penis into her.

"If that is what you want, Little Thief," he chuckled, "then that is what you shall receive!"

Sheila whimpered as he moved in and out of her, all the while still holding her hands above her head. By the time he came, she had nearly passed out from the pain. For as much as Sheila enjoyed a little pain with her pleasure, what he was doing to her was well beyond pleasurable. So she felt it an act of mercy when she blacked out as his sperm flowed into her.

When Sheila woke, she was a bit surprised to find herself back in her own chambers. She sat bolt upright in bed and looked around. She appeared to be alone. Reaching up, she found that the crown she had worn earlier was gone. So was her ring. She ran her fingertips over the burned flesh where the ring had melted onto her finger earlier.

"I thought they might get in our way," a voice whispered behind her.

She twisted around to see Venger coming from her sitting room. He was naked, and looking down, she discovered she was as well. His body was magnificent and perfect as always, showing well-sculpted muscles that were usually hidden beneath his robes.

"Of what?" she questioned, even though she knew perfectly well what he had in store for her.

Instead of answering her, he crossed the room and sat behind her on the bed. His strong fingers massaged her shoulders and she felt the aches from earlier in the day slide down her arms and out of her body. Her head lolled back and he kissed her neck, running a tongue up to her jawbone.

She wanted to protest, fight back or even run. But she couldn’t and this time no magic held her in place. No spell held her prisoner under his touch. Part of her wanted this, the part of her in love with Venger. That part of her mind was overpowering everything else and the fear she felt earlier was vanishing.

Sheila felt empty, as if all the fight had gone out of her. Her friends, even Dungeon Master, had abandoned her. The only reason to live was to bear Venger’s child and he was going to do everything possible in the next few days to ensure that.

Why fight it? I have no choice. Why not enjoy what his body offers me? Why not learn to love him as I believe he loves me?

The thought was formed in her mind before she could stop it.

"Do not fight me, my queen," Venger whispered in her ear, his hands still massaging her shoulders but working towards her breasts. "Give in to me, Sheila. Let me show you how good this can be when you do not struggle. Let me love you as you know I can."

"Do whatever you want, Venger" she finally sighed. "I won’t fight you."

That was all the invitation Venger needed. He wrapped his legs around her waist and continued to massage her upper body. His hands pinched her nipples while he kissed her neck and back. He let his hands move lowed, across her stomach until it came to rest on her soft mound.

She leaned back into him, spreading her legs. His fingers stroked and danced along her sensitive organs until he could feel her slickness coat his hands. Sliding out from behind her, he moved in front and knelt between her legs, grasping her thighs.

He kissed a trail along her inner thighs until his lips reached the juncture between her legs. Then, his tongue snaked out and began to finish what his hands had started. She writhed under his ministrations, coming rather quickly and not really getting the time to enjoy just how wonderful that felt.

As Sheila collected herself, Venger leaned back and regarded her with a gleam in his eye.

"Let me show you how pleasurable pain can really be, Queen Sheila."

She said nothing in reply, just leaned back on her elbows and started into his eyes. He took he silence for the sign of submission that it was. He pulled her to her knees and began to suck her breasts, tugging on her nipples. When she let out a small gasp of pain Venger bit down hard on the now-sensitive area.

Sheila felt his fangs sink into her skin and tried to pull away, but he was too strong for her. He wrapped his well-muscled arms around her and pulled her closer to him. At first, he thought that she was still fighting his desires. Instead she arched her back, pushing her breasts farther into his hungry mouth.

He alternated his mouth and his hands on each of her breasts, his claws tugging and twisting while his teeth sunk into the soft flesh. Sheila ran her hands along the planes of his stomach, rubbing his penis until it stiffened and throbbed under her touch. The more aroused Venger became, the harder he bit and clawed until the thief felt warm rivulets cascade over her stomach and Venger’s tongue lapping at them eagerly.

Looking down, she noticed that her breasts we bleeding where he had bitten them particularly hard. She saw her blood glisten on his vampire-like teeth.

"What does it taste like to you?" she questioned him. "Why to you seem to like my blood so much?"

Venger raised his hand, ready to strike her again until he realized that she was being serious. He regarded this as a good sign.

"Your blood is sweet, like all innocent blood," he replied quite honestly. "It gives me great pleasure. And great arousal."

"Let me taste what you taste," her eyes looked directly into his, wanting to understand this fascination of his.

It was something that Venger found momentarily disconcerting. He considered her request. It was most likely that she would be repulsed by the taste. Most non-demons were. However, he also realized that, given her proclivity towards violent and unusual sex, as well as the dark power flowing through her veins, there was a good possibility that her innocent blood would taste as sweet to her as it did to him. If that were the case, then the power of it would mingle with the darkness within her and take over her mind and body, giving him a worthy playmate.

The idea of a Sheila who gave herself to him willingly tantalized Venger. Her resistance aroused him so her submission would nearly drive him mad. The dark lord knew that either way, he would have her. He could, however, had a willing partner rather than a hostile slave. By doing this, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

He lowered his lips to hers and she snaked her tongue out to wipe the droplets of her own blood from his fangs. Instead of the metallic taste she was used to when she accidentally bit her tongue, the blood was now sugary tasting, rather like cotton candy.

Energy seemed to surge through her and she threw her head back in a very sexual, seductive way. She raised one knee so that her foot sat flat on the bed. Her other leg bent under her, allowing Venger a good look at her most private of areas. She leaned back on her hands, thrusting her breasts toward Venger, making herself as appealing as possible.

I feel like I’m the sexiest , most powerful, desirable woman alive! Sheila marveled. "And?" he asked, when she looked at him thoughtfully.

"I know why," she slurred, now heady with the power of her own blood.

It was as if a flood gate had been loosed somewhere in side of her. She no longer cared that this was Venger and not Hank. She no longer cared if tomorrow she discovered that she was pregnant with this evil being’s child. In reality, she cared about nothing at all, save for satisfying her desires, so powerful was the effect of the blood on her mind.

"Take me," she hissed in an evil tone, much like Venger’s own.

The dark lord smiled as he felt the bonds of restraint loose in her mind.

Gently, he eased himself down onto his back and pulled her on top of him. She straddled his waist and began to rub her sex against his, both of them slick with a mix of sweat and desire. Her hands rubbed his shoulders while she moved her swollen and still slightly bleeding breasts against his chest.

When she was satisfied that he was stiff enough, she slid down the length of his body to take him in her mouth. Her fingers caressed him while her lips sucked and teased, eliciting moans of delight from the dark lord. Finally, she felt him begin to tremble as he prepared to come.

Sheila moved back up his body and eased herself onto his rock-hard member. He was still bigger than normal, just as he had been in the Hall of Darkness. She expanded herself to fit around him and began to move, all the while grinding her bottom along his base.

She reached out with her mind and let his desires flow along the mental bond. Moving alternately faster and slower, she was able to bring him to the verge of climax and then back down momentarily.

All the while his hands grasped her lower back, pushing her farther down onto him as he thrust upward with his hips. He penetrated her deeper than he had in the Hall, and she collapsed on top of him as he came, crying out in pain and desire at the same time.

"Are you injured, sweet Sheila?" he asked when he could breathe again.

"No," she replied. "Just hungry for more."

She pulled herself off him and slumped to the bed beside him. Venger reached out and stroked her hair, tangling it up in his fingers. They lay there like that for a few minutes, holding each other in a lover’s embrace. Finally, Venger rose from the bed and walked over to the wall covered in sexual enhancers. He picked out two leather whips, one short and the other rather long.

Without waiting to be told, Sheila moved to kneel on the floor like an animal, her bottom towards him. She knew was what coming and this time, rather than fear, she felt excitement and anticipation.

When Venger lashed out with the longer whip, she moaned in delight. It didn’t hurt, as it had so many times before. It felt wonderful, as far as Sheila was concerned. In response, she spread her legs farther apart. A stiff feather flew off the wall at Venger’s behest and floated below the thief, ticking her into wetness as the whip continued to lash her backside.

Sheila began to rock back and forth, her arms trembling. She glanced back when the leather strands stopped their assault on her only to see Venger crawling towards her. Feeling his presence behind her, she slid herself backwards until she felt his rock hard penis rub against her genitals. Then she stood still just as Venger liked and waited. She did not wait long.

He entered her from behind, sliding himself in impossibly far. His left hand rested on her back, keeping her on all fours while he himself was on his knees. Moving slowly at first and then faster, he used the shorter whip on her buttocks with each thrust. Sheila cried out in delight, feeling him pounding within her while he tortured her backside at the same time.

Finally, Venger discarded the whip and pulled her to her knees. His hands snaked down between her legs and found her soft mound. He stroked her there, slowly and deeply, all the while quickening his pace in and out of her.

She felt her knees slide on the slippery stone and her legs spread even father apart. Venger rammed himself into her hard and she cried out. He pulled her to him and pushed himself in father. Venger held her like that for several minutes until he was sure that all of his seed had entered her.

When they finally broke apart, Venger helped Sheila to the bed and lay down beside her.

"What else do you wish, my sweet queen?" he asked, his eyes shinning with what Sheila could only think of as a tinge of love.

"I will give you anything. Name it and it shall be yours."

"I want you," she whispered.

Venger lay back on the bed and smiled. This had gone even better than he had hoped. He had a queen who was willing to give herself to him, willing to taste his power with him. Hopefully, she would also bear his child in a short time.

With great anticipation for the rest of the night, he rolled over and began to caress Sheila's breasts once more, sucking on the still bleeding nipples.