Professor Horne's message was short and formal, written in his characteristically shaky handwriting: "I expect you in my office this evening at the eighth hour. The matter cannot be delayed."

  "He'll want to... adjust his demands," Vyxara said thoughtfully. "Your new status changes the rules of the game."

  "Maybe he just wants to congratulate me," Valentina mumbled without conviction.

  "Oh, sweet naivety," purred the demon. "You know exactly what he wants."

  The corridors of the university were almost deserted by this time. Her footsteps echoed off the stone walls. Somewhere in the distance, she heard the laughter of students who were out late.

  The closer she got to Professor Horne's office, the heavier her steps became. The Essence lamps on the walls seemed to be watching her, pulsating to the rhythm of her growing tension.

  Around a bend, she heard voices. She hastily stepped into the shadow of a pillar. Professor Veilford and Professor Emberfell walked past her, engrossed in conversation.

  "...a truly remarkable achievement," she heard Emberfell say. "But I can't stop thinking about this defense incantation..."

  The voices faded away. Valentina waited a moment, then continued on her way.

  "Be careful," warned Vyxara. "Your value has increased. Let him feel it, but don't overdo it."

  She reached the familiar wooden door. Muted light filtered through the cracks from inside. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

  "Remember," Vyxara whispered, "you're not the little country girl anymore. You're a force to be reckoned with."

  Valentina took a deep breath. She raised her hand to knock.

  "Just a moment," Vyxara held her back. "Let him wait a little longer. Let him get nervous."

  So she stood there, listening to the muffled sounds behind the door. The rustling of paper. Footsteps on the wooden floor. A suppressed cough.

  Finally, after what felt like a small eternity, she knocked.

  "Come in!" Horne's voice sounded hoarse, tense.

  Valentina put her hand on the handle. The metal felt cold under her sweaty fingers.

  "He's mellow enough now," Vyxara purred contentedly.

  Professor Horne's office was dimly lit, with only a single Essence lamp casting its flickering light on the massive desk. The professor himself stood at the window, his gaunt figure a dark silhouette against the evening sky.

  "Valentina, how nice." His voice trembled slightly. "Why don't you sit down?"

  She took a seat in the worn armchair in front of his desk. The familiar smell of old leather and parchment mingled with something new – a perfume?

  "He's dressed up," Vyxara commented with amusement. "How touching."

  Horne turned around and sat opposite her. His fingers drummed nervously on the tabletop. "First of all... Congratulations on your spectacular victory."

  "Thank you, Professor. Your help has been... invaluable."

  "Yes, it has, hasn't it?" A strange smile flitted across his face. "My hints about the competition modality have proved useful?"

  "Very." Valentina held his gaze. "I might not have been able to defeat Faustus without them."

  "That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about." He leaned forward, his eyes shining feverishly. "You have exceptional talent, Valentina. With the right guidance, you could... well, the sky would be the limit."

  "Here it comes," warned Vyxara.

  "The final exams are coming up," Horne continued. "I could help you with that. Even more than before. All my knowledge, my experience..." His voice became hoarse. "I could give you the highest grade I've ever given."

  "That would be... very generous," Valentina said cautiously.

  "Generosity deserves generosity, doesn't it?" His hand twitched in her direction, but withdrew again. "Our previous... arrangement has been to your satisfaction? I've always stuck to the agreed-upon rules, haven't I?"

  Valentina felt the blush rise to her face. "Professor, I..."

  "I want more," he blurted out. "Not just... I want you. All of you." His voice almost broke. "You wouldn't regret it. My knowledge, my connections, everything could be yours."

  "Well, well," muttered Vyxara. "The old wolf is showing his teeth."

  "I... I don't know..." Valentina searched for words. The intensity of his gaze made her nervous.

  "You don't have to answer right away." Horne leaned back, trying to compose himself. "Think about it. I'd make you my master student. Officially, of course. No one would have to know about the... details."

  His shaky fingers played with a quill. "Imagine – private lessons, access to my personal library, recommendations to the best Essence Weavers in the realm... everything I can offer."

  "That sounds tempting," Valentina said quietly. "But I'd need time to think about it."

  "Of course, of course." He nodded eagerly. "Take until tomorrow evening. But no longer. This chance... it won't come again."

  "He's afraid," Vyxara analyzed. "Afraid that the duke might beat him to it."

  "Tomorrow evening," Valentina repeated and stood up. Her legs felt wobbly.

  "The same time." Horne stood up as well. "And Valentina... think of what I can offer you. Not only knowledge and power, but also... understanding. I know what it's like to be looked down upon by others."

  She nodded silently and walked to the door. His voice stopped her once more: "You're something special, Valentina. I knew that from day one."

  The corridor outside suddenly seemed cold and dark to her. Her footsteps echoed unnaturally loudly off the stone walls.

  "An interesting development," said Vyxara thoughtfully.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  ~

  Valentina nervously paced back and forth in her attic room.

  "What am I supposed to do?" she mumbled.

  "The question is," said Vyxara thoughtfully, "what exactly is holding you back? His help was valuable. It will continue to be. And be honest – the arrangement wasn't that unpleasant, was it?"

  Valentina blushed in the darkness. "That's just it. It should feel wrong, but..."

  "But it excites you," Vyxara completed the sentence. "His desperation, his obsession with you – he wants your submission, but in reality it gives you power over him. And that arouses you."

  "Yes," admitted Valentina with a whisper. "And that scares me. What does that say about me?"

  She sat down on her narrow bed, pulling her knees to her chest.

  "It says you're learning to enjoy your power," Vyxara purred. "But let's be practical. Final exams are coming up. His support could be crucial."

  "But what about next year?" Valentina stared out of the skylight into the night sky. "He'll expect it to go on like this. But maybe I don't want it to."

  "A lot can happen between now and then," replied Vyxara. "The duke is interested in you. Your star is rising. Next year, you may be in a position where Horne himself realizes that you no longer need him."

  "And if not?"

  "Then you'll find an elegant way to end the agreement. But now, just before the exams? Rejecting him would be dangerous. He could make your life very difficult."

  A gust of wind rattled the roof slates. Valentina shivered and pulled her thin blanket around her shoulders.

  "It still feels a bit like a betrayal," she said quietly. "To my principles."

  "If, after all we've been through to get you where you are now, the will to do what it takes to succeed isn't one of your principles, then I'd be really disappointed in you," Vyxara said.

  "But what is the consequence, Vyxara?" she asked. "Not morally, I mean practically. What will it do to me?"

  "It makes you stronger," Vyxara said firmly. "Every boundary you've crossed so far, every rule you've broken, has shaped you into the person you needed to become to win the competition and ensure your survival."

  Valentina touched the cool window pane. Her reflection stared back at her, pale and serious in the moonlight.

  "Maybe you're right," she finally said. "Maybe it's wisest to continue the arrangement. At least until after the exams."

  "And who knows?" purred Vyxara. "You might even enjoy it. It's intoxicating to make a human as crazy as Horne is about you.

  "That's what worries me," whispered Valentina. "That I'm enjoying it too much."

  Tomorrow she would give Horne her answer.

  "Get some rest," Vyxara said gently. "You'll have a short night tomorrow."

  ~

  The next evening came far too quickly. The corridors of the university were already in twilight when Valentina made her way to Professor Horne's office. The scent of spring flowers wafted through the open windows, a strange contrast to her gloomy mission.

  "Ready?" asked Vyxara.

  "As ready as you can be for something like that," murmured Valentina.

  The office was different from the previous evening. Several Essence lamps were burning, bathing the room in warm light. There was a carafe of wine on the desk, half empty.

  "Ah, Valentina." Horne rose hastily. His hands were shaking slightly. "I... I hope you've thought about my offer?"

  "I did." Valentina closed the door behind her. The heavy bolt fell into the lock with a muffled click.

  "So?" His voice sounded hoarse.

  "I accept." The words felt strange in her mouth. "On one condition."

  "Anything," he breathed. "Whatever you want."

  "If I want you to stop, you have to stop. Right away," Valentina demanded, her voice firm despite the nervousness rumbling in her stomach.

  "Good," praised Vyxara. "Make him swear."

  "Of course, I agree, I promise." Horne nodded hastily and held out his hand. "Let's go to my private bedroom."

  Valentina followed him hesitantly through the heavy door at the end of his office. Behind it was a spacious room with a large wooden canopy bed that took up half the wall. Thick velvet curtains hung from the windows and dimmed the light.

  Horne went to a chest next to the bed and pulled open a drawer containing shackles. Valentina's heart raced at the sight.

  "Take your clothes off," he said in a gruff voice. "Lie down." He was back in his role and would expect her to play hers too.

  Valentina hesitated for a moment, then opened her dress, letting it slide down her body. Then she took off her underdress and lay down in his bed. The sheet felt cool against her skin as she stretched out on it.

  Horne bent over her and tied her wrists in shackles, fastening them to the bed frame. The leather was soft but firm and left her little room to move.

  "You're so beautiful," Horne murmured as he pulled her ankles apart and tied them up as well. Valentina now lay with her legs apart, feeling helpless and vulnerable in this position, but at the same time she felt a familiar tingling sensation between her legs.

  Vyxara whispered to her: "Don't be afraid, little Weaver. No harm will befall you. I am with you. You can let yourself go and enjoy it." A wave of heat ran through her at the thought of what was to come.

  Horne took a step back and let his eyes wander greedily over her naked, bound body. Then he began to undress.

  Valentina watched him carefully, taking in every detail of his movements. His body was bent with age, his skin flabby and wrinkled, but his manhood stood out stiff and demanding.

  When he finally stood naked in front of her, he leaned over her and stroked her breasts with his rough hands. Valentina gasped at the touch.

  "You are so absolutely beautiful," Horne sighed again as he twirled her nipples between his thumb and forefinger until they became hard.

  Valentina squirmed beneath him, torn between discomfort and desire. She felt so vulnerable, but at the same time something stirred deep inside her, a heat coursed through her body.

  Horne leaned down and took her nipple in his mouth, sucking and licking it until Valentina moaned involuntarily. His hands wandered over her stomach, right down to her heat, where he began to stroke her.

  Valentina tried to shake off all thoughts and focus instead on the feel of his fingers sliding through her wet folds. She tried to ignore everything else and concentrate on the pleasure instead.

  Horne slid one finger inside her, then two, moving them rhythmically back and forth. Valentina felt herself getting wetter and wetter, her crotch throbbed and burned with desire.

  "Oh," Horne sighed hoarsely. "Now you're all mine, now I can do everything I've always wanted to do to you."

  Valentina closed her eyes and tried to relax. She breathed in and out, concentrating on the tingling in her abdomen. And even though she still could barely move, she no longer felt helpless, but strong.

  She opened her eyes and looked directly at Horne. "Then what are you waiting for?" she asked with a challenging tone.

  Horne groaned and positioned his manhood at her opening. With a single thrust, he penetrated her, filling her completely. Valentina sucked in air at the sudden sensation – Horne was already moving urgingly inside her. This was different from Hobkin, different from Crispin anyway, much rougher. And to her surprise, she liked it.

  He grabbed her hips and pulled her firmly against his lap, again and again. Valentina squirmed beneath him, gripped by lust but unable to move. With each of his movements, she felt the heat in her body increase until it finally felt like an inferno between her legs.

  She lifted her hips towards him as best she could, wanting more of this burning pleasure. Horne gasped and moaned above her, his body slick with sweat.

  Valentina felt as if she was split inside. One part of her groaned under the sensations, the uncomfortable position, the forced motionlessness – but another part cried out for it, wanted more.

  She closed her eyes and let herself fall, surrendering completely to the rhythm in which Horne moved. Her body began to tremble, her muscles tensed.

  "Oh yes," she gasped involuntarily.

  Horne seemed to take this as an invitation. He thrust deeper and faster into her until Valentina thought she was going to faint from pleasure.

  Her whole body began to tremble, her thighs shook. She felt something tightening inside her, getting tighter and tighter until she finally let out a loud scream.

  Valentina came so violently that she thought she would break apart. She contracted hard around Horne, her muscles twitched uncontrollably.

  Horne groaned and then poured himself into her with several rough thrusts. Valentina felt his seed flowing hotly inside her.

  They both lay there for a long time, breathless and sweaty. Horne was breathing heavily. Then he withdrew from her and began to undo her bonds.

  "That was... indescribable," he murmured as he released her. "Everything I've ever dreamed of."

  Valentina sat up, rubbed her wrists and massaged her aching, cramped limbs. She felt empty, used and completely satisfied.

  She stood up and began to get dressed. Horne watched her, a blissful smile on his face.

  "I'm really glad you decided to accept my offer," he said. "I'm sure we can still learn a lot from each other."

  Valentina just nodded silently. She felt numb from what had just happened. It had been physically exhausting. When she had said goodbye to Horne and finally left the room, closing the door behind her, she felt like a different woman from the one who had gone in.

  Later, in her attic room, Valentina stood at the window for a long time, staring out into the night.

  "You made the right decision," Vyxara said gently. "Sometimes you have to be pragmatic."

  "I know." Valentina touched the cool window pane. "But I wonder how many 'pragmatic' decisions like that my soul can take."

  "The soul is amazingly flexible," purred the demon. "And often stronger than you think."

  "Not just the soul," Valentina said with a grim smile as she massaged her aching joints. Vyxara laughed softly in the back of her mind.

  The first hint of dawn colored the horizon pink when Valentina finally went to bed.