Shanti saw the effect she was having on the woman she had so often secretly admired and she quickly slipped her arms about that pale womanly figure, maintaining the fagade of cleaning by rubbing her hands across Malika's back. A soft moan finally escaped the raven haired woman's full lips and Shanti suppressed a smile at her small victory. The risk she was taking was immense, if one of the sisters should enter then they would both be sorely punished for the intimate embrace.

So it came as a shock to Shanti when she felt Malika's fingertips beneath the water timidly slide over her hips. There was a moments hesitation as the fear that Shanti was playing some kind of game almost drew her hands away. Malika's closed eyes were unreadable and she couldn't see the expression on Shanti's face practically begging for her embrace to be returned. Then Malika's pale blue eyes opened and she slipped her hands forward and grabbed her training partner's firm bottom to pull her closer.

They stared into each others gaze for what seemed Like hours, so close and yet so impossibly far from what each knew they both desired. Occasionally the tips of their noses would touch and a jolt of forbidden excitement would pass through them both. Shanti's hands stopped her false attempts at cleaning Malika's back and settled her palms below the slender shoulders she had long desired to trail her lips over.

The dark magic that filled the temple like some sort of putrescent miasma seemed to lift for a moment in the space between them and that was when Malika's lips found Shanti's. Their eyes closed once more as they shared a moment of sweet defiance to all they knew and found that a fire far more intense than those of the dark realms burned in each of their bodies. Shanti lifted a leg to wrap about Malika's waist as their tongues found each other and began a sweet dance that whispered of hope in that dark place.

Suddenly a noise disturbed them and they jumped out of their tight embrace to find it was only a rock that had come loose from the wall. Shanti Looked back to Malika with hopeful eyes but saw immediately that the moment had passed. The poor woman looked terrified and confused and Shanti stepped back closer to her to tilt her head to the side and whisper.

“I have broken all my vows to Lagria for the hope of your touch Malika. Tonight you shall become a sorceress like no other before you and I will be yours to punish as you see fit." Though the whisper was spoken as an apology there was a tone of promise within Shanti's words that made that heat burn in Malika once again.

Before she could reply to Shanti however, the girl gave a small nod of her head and left the waters to begin dressing Malika for the ceremony. The attempt to Lure the demon from the pit was based partly on the lusts of the infernal creatures and so the garb was minimal. A series of golden ribbons were wrapped about Malika's Large breasts and across her hips before a long silvery transparent shawl was fixed about her waist leaving her long creamy legs bare beneath.

As Shanti prepared her, Malika longed for the apprentice to touch her in the intimate areas she was dressing but no touch came. To keep the fair skinned woman from becoming disheartened though Shanti did offer her an encouraging wink once she was finished.

Malika was Left to take one Last look at the nude girl she now realised would be spending the night in her bed should she pass her oncoming trial. Then she turned and left the baths and the heavy weight she felt in her chest soon returned.

Despite her hasty retreat Shanti‘s words had offered her some comfort which she privately cherished as she entered the Large doors to see the sisters Lined up awaiting her arrival. Upon her entrance some of those assembled twittered like harpies at the sight of Malika's obviously aroused state. The sisterhood consisted of over thirty sorceresses each with their demonic thralls nearby. Malika's cobalt blue gaze wandered toward the demons, each a towering mass of muscle and hellish power. ALL of them were male in shape and all were naked save for a magical obsidian collar about their necks engraved with the darkest of magical runes to keep them obedient.

She walked to the summoning circle, a large opening in the floor upon which was written the runes which would bind the demon in place whilst Malika bartered with her soul. The trick was to get the most power from the infernal whilst giving up the least amount of yourself. Maliciousness and a cruel nature helped a great deal in these bargains.

Likewise she wondered what kind of demon would rise up from those runes. They were all different with horns, tails, extra Limbs, no Limbs and odd spurs of bone meant for the torture and murder they so excelled at. They all shared a strong masculine likeness however with broad shoulders, square jaws and as they were all naked their oversized members were also on display. Many of those lengths twitched and started to rise at the sight of Malika.

Just in front of the circle the one named Eluria awaited her arrival along with Deckler, the largest and strongest of all the demons. Deckler was the reason Eluria carried the title of the High Sorceress as his power was unheard of. He had been known to crush stone in his bare claws and could cleave a fully armoured knight in half. As was the tradition, Malika knelt before their Leader and awaited her permission to begin The Tempting.

“Malika, you are today to join our sisterhood in the service of Lagria." The high sorceress' voice was low and carried a malicious hint of amusement. It cut through Malika's nerves to find the fear nestled in her heart.

“Yes mistress." She Lowered her head submissively.

“You may begin the rite, though as chaos and evolution are the ways of the world we decree that your Tempting will be different from the rest."

Malika suddenly looked up in surprise to see the gleaming crimson gaze of Eluria looking at her as her tongue licked across her lips. Malika had seen that look of bloodlust before and it scared her to be on the receiving end of that gaze now.

I-how so mistress?" Malika's honey sweet voice trembled as she spoke. ‘You will cast The Tempting through the opposition of your sisters’ magic, only if you are worthy to join our ranks will you be able to bring forth a demon. If you fail then we shall share your soul between us and you shall wander our halls as our dead eyed servant for the rest of your days." Beside her Deckler Grinned showing a mouth full of sharp white fangs.

Malika was lost for words, terror gripped her heart and all arousal she had felt from Shanti's ministrations fell to the wayside. Against the power of the entire coven she surely would not be able to summon even the least of demons. The only explanation for this new tradition was that Eluria had sensed her reluctance to kill and had decided she would be best used as a servant of hers instead of a servant of Lagria.

The high sorceress stepped aside and Deckler obediently followed her. Left with no choice, Malika began casting the ritual in the ancient language. Though what should have been spoken with conviction emerged with her voice trembling. As she called out to the demons of the dark realms to come to her she felt her voice silenced by a heavy weight on her throat. She Looked back, wide eyed and fearful to see the sisters all smiling at her imminent failure. Some were extending small incantations into the air designed to cut slices from her spirit for themselves.

Malika fell to her knees and Lifted her hands, her whispers brought no answer from the darkness. Finally Eluria Lifted her hand and the circle lifted leaving Malika to collapse on the cold floor of the chamber. With an expression of delighted hunger the sisters began to advance on the barely clothed woman and Malika felt the first icy shards of their spells begin to tear at her soul.

The cannibalism of her spirit was rudely interrupted however when the summoning circle suddenly erupted with a pillar of bright green fire. There were screams of surprise from the sorceresses as they scurried back behind their demonic protectors. Such an upsurge of power was unheard of, especially since the tempter had not finished the ancient chant.

Gasps of fear and dread were silenced however as the fire died down to reveal the tiny figure of an imp stood in the centre of the circle, his small wiry arms folded across his sickly green chest and his clawed foot tapping impatiently on the stone. His only clothing was a pair of ratty sand coloured shorts that seemed Like they had survived at least three ages of the world.

The fear and shock soon turned into cruel mocking laughter as the sisters saw the small grizzled creature that Malika had apparently just managed to summon. Its narrow ugly face and small black eyes looked at them all as if impatiently waiting for them to do something. Then it finally spoke.

“Aaand shit. Knew I shoulda taken a left at the intersection but noooo. I gotta listen to directions from a three headed dog." The imp grumbled to himself as he looked over his surroundings, its voice sounded Like someone crushing a slug into grit.