"Is that him, milady?" Livonna asked, sniffing air and pricking her ears up. "Really handsome one!" she smiled wistfully, looking at young blond elf in green suit.
"It doesn't matter, if he is handsome or ugly!" Dame Athanasia shook her head. "As I already said, he is the keeper of the runic key I need. Well, we need."
"And what's the problem, milady?" Wolffang smirked. "Easy peasy lemon squeezy! All we need is just to sneak into his house and find that key, right?" she put her hand on the bunch of master keys under her apron.
"The problem is, we don't know, where in his house the key is hidden, my dear burglar," Dame Athanasia slapped orcess's butt. "And if we will blow up the dark, searching his house through, he will find out, that somebody stole the key too quickly. No. We need to find another way."
"Maybe you will just subjugate him by your bite, milady?" Kajira asked, straightening her pointed hat. "And then you will easily make him tell you everything you need to know and after that - to forgot, that he even saw you."
"Elven blood is too tasty for mine kind," Dame Athanasia sighed. "I'm not sure, if I will be able to control myself enough not to drain him over. And if I'll turn him into vampire, that will break all our conspiracy. But I have a better idea. Wolffang, Livonna, you two should track his usual routes. Kajira, prepare our wolf-girl's clothes, please."
"What do you have in mind, milady?" Livonna looked at her mistress in confusion.
"Since we can't just invade his house and blow up the dark searching for the key, you will get it for me." Dame Athanasia patted werewolf-girl's head. "You will turn into your human form and befriend with this elf. Your wolfish sense of smell will help you to find the key, when you'll became the welcome guest in his house. And if you'll find out, that there are any magic traps, you'll find the way to let Kajira in, so she'll help you." she patted Livonna's head once again. "I'm sure, you'll succeed, my fair beast!"
Few days later, in the evening a three pretty young women, two dressed as a philistines and one - as an aristocrat, were walking down the street. One of them, a beauty with a wolfish grey hair, stopped and sniffed air.
"He is coming!" she whispered, turning to her companions.
Dame Athanasia nodded contentedly.
"Excellent! Livonna, dear, stay here. Wollfang!" she turned to the orcess. "Get ready!" the vampiress stepped behind an arch, hiding in shadows. Wolffang put her hand on the saber hilt. Few minutes later they heard foot steps approaching. Livonna nodded. Wolffang raised the sabre.
"Where do you think you are going, pretty?" she asked, smirking. "Do you have any money? Or any jewels? No? And what if I'll find some on your body?"
"Help! Please! Someone!" Livonna screamed, while orcess was coming closer.
"Stop right there, criminal scum!" both girls heard strict male voice, and the elf appeared from the evening shadows with a rapier drawn. Wolffang screamed angrily and tried to attack him, but even if she was planning to defeat him for real, she had no chance against a knight. So he quickly disarmed her and put his rapier to her throat.
"I surrender! I promise!" Wolffang gulped in fear. She was pretty sure, that he will just scare her away, but not capture. The knight looked at her sternly.
"And what should I do with you?" He sighed. "Call the guards and send you to the court?"
The orcess shook her head, looking at him pleadingly. The elf frowned.
"Well, I have an idea. Pull your skirt up!" he said, taking off his belt. Wolffang pouted, but submitted. Livonna smirked.
Few seconds later the whooping sounds of the belt landing on the soft skin repeatedly and the girlish screams of pain were heard around the alley. Wolffang was begging for mercy and weeping bitterly, struggling the pain. She quickly became almost ready to confess, that it all was nothing but a staging, but when she caught the gaze of Dame Athanasia, who was watching all the scene from around the corner, poor orcess bit her tongue. She knew very well, that her mistress will punish her for failed task much more severely, than even the elven knight. And she just screamed and wept in pain till he was satisfied and just kicked her away. Steal crying in pain, failed robber ran away, clutching her very sore bottom. The knight followed her with his gaze and turned to the girl he saved. Livonna smiled and curtsied.
"Oh, thank you, milord! You saved my life!" she finally noticed, that her breasts are uncovered and blushed, fixing her corsage.
"Not at all, young lady," the knight smiled back and turned away, giving her time to fix her dress. "It is dangerous walking alone so late, you know?" he said jocosely strictly.
"I know," Livonna sighed. "I know. My bad. My employer made me to clean dust in his library all over, and I made too many breaks to read..." she smiled guilty. "I was happy he didn't caught me, when I was reading his books instead of working, or I could get a spanking instead of payment," Livonna giggled and sighed again. "So I ended my work quite late. Right when highwaymen go out for prey..." she looked at the knight. "If it wasn't for you, I would definitely have been robbed, and possibly killed!" Livonna curtsied again.
"All's well that ends well!" the knight smiled. "Don't feel bad for your thirst for knowledge," he winked at the girl. "I hope, the book you were reading was an academic treatise, not just some romance novel. But even it was the latest, don't feel guilty. What is your name, young lady? I am Falaen, Knight of the Realm." he saluted.
"My name is Livonna," Livonna curtsied again, blushing. "You may not believe me, milord, but that was an academic treatise. About natural balance and the role of predators in its maintenance. I was always loving books, but my family was very poor, so I never could get a proper education." She sighed. "Well, now the robber is gone. I guess, I can continue my way home. I hope, nothing more bad will happen to me. Thank you very much for saving me and good bye!" Livonna sighed again and turned away, preparing to go, but suddenly the knight's hand lay on her shoulder.
"Not so fast, Livonna," Falaen smiled. "Night streets aren't safe enough, and my evening is free. Why should I not escort you home?"
Livonna smiled happily.
"Oh, thank you very much, milord."
All the way home Livonna was trying to keep the conversation going. She never felt herself so foolish ever before, but Falaen found her rustic spontaneity surprisingly nice. Of course this girl was far from the noble ladies from his usual encirclement. She was too rude and totally lack of manners, but she was really cute in her clumsiness. Her almost primal wilderness was really tempting. So when they finally reached her home, Falaen asked her, if they may meet again. And when Livonna blushed and agreed, he insisted to meet the next day in city park. She promised him to be there at midday, made a curtsy and disappeared behind a tenement house's door just to get out from a window on the other side.
Dame Athanasia was very happy about her maid's success. But it was only the first step to her triumph. So she allowed Livonna to date Falaen and insisted that she should behave nice with him. At least, until she will find the runic key. Wolffang tried to complain about the spanking she received, but Dame Athanasia just called that collateral damage and even Kajira advised poor orcess to forget about that punishment and not make a drama. End justifies the means.
The next day at the midday Livonna came to the park. Falaen was happy to see her again. They spent few hours just promenading around the lake, making pauses to stare at water. Livonna tried her Best to not make a fool of herself and not disappoint Falaen. But actually she charmed him by her easiness. She was completely different from the noble ladies and high society dandies. And in the same time the werewolf-girl started feeling that she finally met someone, who saw a person in her. So after the date in park they met again quite soon. Falaen taught Livonna some high society manners and even gave her few science lessons. He was surprised, how willingly this girl accepted new knowledge. He didn't know that, but she even asked Dame Athanasia and Kajira to help her to study. And not just the witch but even the vampiress surprisingly gladly helped her. And while Falaen was teaching Livonna some science and manners, she reminded him, how to simple enjoy life by walking around a forest or just doing nonsense time to time. So one day he finally invited her in his house. The only problem remained was Livonna's secret. Her curse. Her beast nature, which she kept hidden from Falaen. She wanted to confess him, but still was unsure if he won't just chase her away after that. And she continued trying her Best to hide her beast part from him.
And while Livonna was happy and Dame Athanasia was pretty sure, that she almost got the key, Wolffang became more and more jealous and envious. Falaen was really very handsome and smart, but while that wolf in chick's clothing almost got his heart, she got only a very painful belting from him. And in the same time Wolffang was pretty sure, that Livonna doesn't even try to speed up. Just like she really started falling in love with that elf! And that was unacceptable! At least Wolffang was sure so. After all, if this love will become Livonna's main priority, wouldn't she betray Dame Athanasia? Wolffang discussed this with the vampiress few times, and she even agreed with her, that the she-werewolf's make-believe love became true. Maybe even mutual. But when the orcess asked if she should take some measures, the vampiress suddenly became very serious and strictly prohibited her to do anything about that without any explanation. Wolfgang was confused, but decided to take matters in her own hands.
Wolffang tried to stay on the leeward, but it wasn't so easy on the market with so many people around. Even not to lose the knight and his girl wasn't an easy task. Orcess sighed. She wasn't sure how to ruin their romance, but she had an idea. And right now she was looking for an opportunity. And finally she saw her. A noble elven lady in a very expensive dress with two bodyguards - a dwarf and an elf. She was much more focused on goods on the shelves than on her own safety, while her bodyguards were admiring pretty girls instead of looking for their employer. Wolffang smirked and looked for Livonna. Just in time to notice, that Falaen leaved her alone to prepare his surprise. The time was right.
The orcess sneaked behind the elven lady and easily stole her wallet. If she wanted to be sure, that silly woman won't notice that she was just robbed, Wolffang would replace the wallet with a stone the same weight. She did this trick many times before. But now she wanted to make some noise. And trying to be as quick and as inconspicuous as possible, she sneaked behind Livonna, put the stollen wallet in her bag and escaped as quick as it was possible, hiding behind the arch. The she-werewolf finally recognised the smell, but right when she turned around, the noble lady in a beautiful blue dress suddenly screamed:
"Thieves! I got robbed! You two, fools! Do something!"
Her bodyguards looked around, trying to find anyone looking like a thief even a bit. A crowd become bigger. Wolffand choose a moment and sneaked out from her hide. She sneaked behind the dwarf.
"That grey-haired girl stole something from the lady!" she whispered in his ear before disappear again. The dwarf turned around, trying to get, who was just speaking to him, but decided to follow mysterious advice and caught poor Livonna by her hand.
"Where do you think you are going, princess?" he asked and turned to his partner. "Aurelio, I think I found our thief! Help me to search her!"
"How dare you?! You have no right to do this!" Livonna protested, but two men easily overpowered her and while Aurelio was holding her by her arms, his partner searched her bad.
"I found it!" he shouted. "I found it, lady Shahirim!"
"Good job, Shtyz!" Lady Megalkarven Shahirim took her wallet from his hands and screamed: "Strip this vile thief naked! She deserved a good birching!"
Her bodyguards nodded contentedly, and Shtyz started ripping Livonna's dress.
"But I have no idea, how this wallet got into my bag! I didn't steal it! Please, don't do this to me! I swear, this is a mistake!" Livonna protested, struggling, but neither the lady nor her bodyguards listened to her.
"Hey! What do you think you are doing! Stop immediately! I forbid you!" Falaen screamed, trying to get through the crowd, but he was too far to stop lady Shahirim's bodyguards.
Wolffang smiled, peeking from around the corner.
"What?! A werewolf?!" Aurelio screamed, stepping back.
"Guards! Guards! A werewolf! A werewolf!" Shtyz screamed out loud, throwing the rope.
Livonna looked at Falaen, who was totally shocked. The fear and disenchantment in his eyes were much worse than any pain or humiliation.
"I am sorry, Falaen! I can explain!" she mumbled. But he just turned away. The werewolfess growled desperately and just ran away like darkness.
Falaen also walked away, still not wanting to believe what he just saw.
Wolffang laughed until she drop. Suddenly someone's heavy hand lay over her shoulder. Wolffang turned around and gulped in fear, seeing furious Dame Athanasia.
"Do you have any idea, what had you done, stupid girl?" the vampiress asked sternly, grabbing her maid by the braid.
"But that mutt wanted to betray us and stay with that elf! Someone should stop her! I thought..."
"You are here not for thinking!" Dame Athanasia interrupted her. "I could just talk to Livonna and she would listen to me! And you ruined all the plan, stupid jealous vixen! Three weeks of preparation down the drain!" she pulled orcess hair, making her scream and turn her face to the wall. "Stand still!" she raised the girl's skirt. Wolffang sobbed in fear. She knew very well what is going to happen.
Dame Athanasia raised her umbrella.
"And now try to finally remember! Never spoil my plans! Never do anything without my permission if that affects my plans even indirectly! Stop competing with your partners! And never hurt feeling of any of them this way ever again! Is that clear?" she said in low stern voice, accentuating every word by a hard stroke of her umbrella on the girl's bottom.
Wolffang wept in pain and nodded, begging for mercy. She never saw her mistress so angry. By the time the punishment was finished, the orcess's bottom was bruised badly.
"Take her to our lair," Dame Athanasia said to Kajira, who suddenly appeared from the shadows. "And if Livonna will return before me, try to stop her from killing Wolffang. I don't want to loose any of you," she whispered in the witch's ear and walked away, covering from the sunlight under her umbrella.
Just as Dame Athanasia thought, Falaen went right to his house. He still was so shocked about what he saw at the market, that he didn't noticed, when a woman in dark clothes appeared from the shadows and bit him right in the neck. Suddenly he felt weakness and then a strange apathy. The woman turned him around, looking right in his eyes.
"Your blood is so tasty! It was very hard not to drain you down." she smirked. "Do you remember, what had happen today, Falaen Knight of the Realm?"
"Yes, milady." he nodded. His voice sounded empty.
"And what had happen today?"
"I found out that the girl I loved was actually a wild beast. Literally."
"Good. And now you have nothing to lose, Falaen. So give me the runic key," Dame Athanasia commanded.
Falaen just nodded and invited her to his home. There he led her into the kitchen and opened a shelf filled with cupcakes.
"Such a silly stash!" he said without any emotions. "Some magic, and a no one will notice that one of these cupcakes stays on this shelf much longer than such a stuff can stored." he took one of the cupcakes and crashed it, taking the runic key out. "It's yours milady." he gave it to vampiress.
Dame Athanasia smiled.
"Thank you, my dear. Now eat all what left from this delicious cupcake and forget that you ever touched it. And lead me out from your cosy home." she hid the key in her pocket.
Falaen quickly ate all the crumbs remaining from the enchanted cupcake and lead his sinister guest to the door. On the porch Dame Athasia gazed into his eyes.
"Forget about me. Forget about the key." she said in low voice.
"Yes, milady." Falaen answered.
"What do you remember?" Dame Athanasia asked.
"The girl I loved was a werewolf..." he respond perplexedly.
"Go and have some rest. And you never saw me," Dame Athanasia turned around and walked away, while totally confused Falaen closed door behind himself.
They both didn't noticed that poor Livonna was peeking from the bushes, weeping in pain and desperation.
"Is Livonna here?" Dame Athanasia asked, closing the door behind her.
"No, milady," Kajira turned to her. "How did it go? Have you got the key?"
"Yes! Another step to my victory. To our victory, my dear Kajira!" the vampiress smiled, but frowned noticing Wolffang, who tried to hide behind the curtain.
"Hey you, foolish girl! Go and find Livonna before she'll make anything stupid!"
"But she will torn me into pieces!" the orcess protested.
"Oh, yes! I will!" a rabid roar was heard behind their backs. All three women turned to the door and saw furious Livonna standing on the threshold.
"Oh, darkness!" Wolffang closed her eyes and hugged herself.
"How dare you to speak to me in such a voice!" Dame Athanasia said sternly. "Get over my knee! Now!"
"How dare you to ruin my love?" Livonna screamed hysterically. "You could make him forget about what he had seen on the market! But you didn't! Why?" she came up to her mistress, showing her ivories.
"To be sure, that he will not recall about the runic key any time soon, being too upset about how his love turned to be a beast!" Dame Athanasia grabbed Livonna by her scruff. "And I don't need to explain any of my decisions to any of you three! So get over my knee! Now!" and she put struggling she-werewolf over her knee. "Now you need some lesson in humility!" the vampiress took a solid wooden hairbrush.
"This is not fair! I got birched for nothing just because of this greenskin framed me! OW!!! OUCH!!! Milady, please, don't do this! OWIEE!!! I am so sore already! EEYOOW!!!" Livonna bawled in pain, squirming and struggling after each heavy spank landing over her already badly flogged bottom.
Livonna howled and bawled in pain, while Dame Athanasia continued walloping her with the hairbrush, neglecting her protests.
"...And I am your mistress, so it is me who decides what is right and what is wrong! And you can only... Hey what do you think you are doing?!" the vampiress tried to keep the she-werewolf lying over her knee, but Livonna suddenly break away and grabbed her mistress by the collar.
"I don't care if I owe you! I don't care if you are my mistress! You have no right to ignore my feelings like this!" she punched Dame Athanasia in the face and ran away, slamming the door behind herself.
Dame Athanasia stunned in shock, looking at the closed door.
The weather has turned bad. It was raining cats and dogs. Falaen was sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace, looking out the window, sadly staring at raindrops running down the glass.
There was a knock on the door.
"Who is there?" Falaen asked, standing up from the armchair.
"It's me, Lydda!" the female voice answered.
"Oh, it's you," Falaen sighed and opened the door. "Come in, my old friend! How do you do?" he hugged her.
"Well, that's a state secret, you know," a young elven blonde giggled and hugged him back. "But speaking seriously, I am fine. Me and princess Maera are still trying to find her disappeared mother." she frowned for a second. "And how are you, my friend?"
"Well, fifty-fifty," Falaen shrugged.
"What's the matter, Falaen? I see that something is bothering you!" Lydda frowned.
Livonna didn't noticed that. She only wept bitterly, gazing at elves through the window. They didn't even notice her. And she didn’t even realise that she was just seeing a meeting of old friends. Her heart was broken. Weeping bitterly poor werewolfess walked away. And at each step she was turning more and more beast-alike.
A big grey she-wolf ran out the city and stopped only when she reached the forest. She sat on the ground, raised her muzzle and howled bitterly, feeling how the raindrops are running down over her fluffy wool. She never felt so lonely and so betrayed in her whole life. She howled to the clouded sky but the storm muffled her, turning her howl into a silent weep.
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