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Elisabeth could feel Der Tod's observant gaze throughout the room, looming over her with an intensity that could be compared to a predator stalking its prey, patiently waiting for a proper time to pounce. Death wasn't a patient being; she was prone to doing what she pleased when she felt the urge to do so. However, when it came to the empress, Death was always listening for her beck and call ardently.
Even with the faintest of thoughts, Elisabeth would have to occupy the deity, and Der Tod would appear right before her very eyes as if the woman were none the wiser to the eagerness that Death exhibited in her presence. From a cold, stoic entity to one full of kindled vivaciousness, her words held a plethora of depraved desires, and her touch became purposeful in even the lightest of grazes upon the empress's body. Despite Sisi's acknowledgment of Der Tod's stark shifts in behavior, it was not something the royal was willing to call out upon, lest to avoid the consequences of doing so.
Perhaps that was why Death was here now, emerging from the shadows that the dim candlelight cast, with her reflection being shown in the corner of Elisabeth's extravagant vanity, striding over to where the woman sat. The empress was readying herself for bed, swiping over her face an array of remedies and mixtures to keep her skin aglow, no matter how tedious the routine came to be, but Elisabeth would rather continue to do it on her own.
She grew tired of the constant surveillance that her staff had her under, regardless of whether it was for her well-being. The lack of privacy that the reaper and her Angels of Death provided already made her weary enough as is; the least she could request was to have a moment to herself, regardless of how fleeting the whole ordeal truly was. Sisi wanted to ignore Death, not in the mood to play her dangerous game, when a chill ran down the empress's spine.
Der Tod's slender hands reached out to her, resting her palm against the dip of the woman's back. The thin silk of her robe did nothing to restrict the feeling of her frigid hands through the material, her shoulders tensing as her breathing hitched at the unwarranted touch. One thing that Sisi could claim with the utmost certainty was that no matter the setting, Death demanded the empress's attention to be on her and her alone, so it wasn't of any surprise to be met with the lord's displeased expression when finally glancing up at her reflection.
Her eyes flickered away after registering the emotion on the seemingly well-composed deity's face: frustration. It was a sight that Sisi nearly giggled at, but feigning ignorance towards death was a much more compelling notion to proceed with. Grabbing at the nearest balm to lather upon her rosy lips, the empress was set on proceeding through the rest of the night with so much as a word to Der Tod—not even the luxury of a greeting.
In response, Elisabeth could feel Death's sharp fingernails raking up the surface of her body, traveling from her back towards the nape of her neck, digging into the flesh with those talons of hers. Wrapping her hand firmly around Sisi's frail neck, Der To used her thumb to direct the empress's head in her direction, a pleased hum passing her lip at the sight of Elisabeth's stunned expression. No doubt, it was one of the easiest emotions to evoke from the woman, yet it never failed to raise a haughty smirk on the reaper's lips.
"An empress should have more manners than what you present," chastised Der Tod in a mocking tone. She grasped onto the royal's neck a little tighter, her pointed nails sinking into the underside of Sisi's jaw. "You wished for me to grace you with my presence, so you should greet me with far more gratitude than you are currently displaying." The statement elicited scorn from Elisabeth, who gawked up at Death with a look of disbelief apparent on her features.
"Why would I bother doing so when you've been there the whole time?" Proposing the question to Der Tod, the empress couldn't help but stifle a chuckle. The eyebags under her eyes, more evident than ever, crinkled at the action. "You grow more impatient with time, increasingly desperate to have me, that you creep upon me from the shadows of my private quarters. Have you no shame?" Elisabeth refused to spare formalities with the deity, not while she had outgrown acting timid and fearful; instead, she allowed her feelings to be unrestrained and announced. Momentarily taken aback by the mortal's frank behavior, Der Tod's eyes darkened, fury seeping through every pore of her body, but she wouldn't let that show—not yet, at least.
As if the Lord were contemplating her choices, she loosened her grip on the empress's neck, skimming the back of her hairline and tracing the shape of Sisi's hair until she reached the curled ends. Oh, how Death adored how each strand twisted around her fingers so easily and so willingly. The more she tried to comb through, the less she was able to restrain herself as she entangled her hand against the braided crown to part Sisi's hair. Death's fingers scratched against Elisabeth's scalp before giving her perfect tresses a harsh tug.
The style seems to have taken the maids' time on end, all their efforts in vain with Elisabeth's hair disheveled and roots stinging from the rough pull. A pained cry escaped the empress's lips. Being forced up from her seated position, the stool was abruptly knocked away from her. Death's grip on her hair was the only thing keeping Elisabeth up on her two feet, knees buckling, and the inability to escape had tears brimming within her eyes. The loud screech of the golden pegs against the wooden flooring echoing throughout the space did nothing to deter Der Tod from what she intended to do.
A part of her blamed herself for Elisabeth's comfortability, being far too lenient with the mortal's confidence to even give the empress the thought to goad her, let alone dare to utter such words to her face. "You forget your place, Elisabeth. Even though you regain the smallest bit of control over your life, that does not mean you have power over me ." Death growled into the mortal's ears, her voice husky with a twinge of frustration within her tone. Using her other hand, Der Tod rested her palm over Sisi's heart, watching in a state of entrancement as her chest heaves at a rapid pace. The empress was defenseless; her body was captured within the confines of Death's grasp, her neck and collarbone on full display as she struggled to pull the reaper off of her.
"You're wrong...!" Sisi rebuffed, the pride initially shown quickly depleting after Der Tod's vicious ministrations. The stammer in her voice was apparent, and the lord couldn't help but sneer at her for her insolence. Bringing Elisabeth's warm body towards her icy one, Death's mouth tickled at the curve of the woman's neck, her teeth ever so faintly grazing the smooth skin. Pulling at the sleeves of her robe, more of her flesh became exposed, much to the deity's delight as she clamped her teeth down at the midpoint between the empress's neck and shoulder. Refusing the poor woman any chance of escape, she swiped her tongue against the punctured skin, relishing the taste of it, before nuzzling her face into Elisabeth's shoulder.
With the woman's adrenaline spiking and the floral scent of her soaps filling Der Tod's nose, a groan escaped past her lips, no matter how hard she tried to conceal it. There was a rampant desire to claim Elisabeth as her own, to utterly ruin her for her inadequate lover—betraying her mind continuously. "I don't think so, your highness; after all, just look at how prettily you succumb to me." Nudging Sisi's chin up in the direction of the mirror with her knuckles, she gives her a mere glimpse of what the reaper intends to do. "It's only your mind that refuses me, so, no matter how much it hurts you in the end," Death purred, her words nearly coaxing Elisabeth into complacency when, in similarity to every other instance, she pulled back, despite letting Death's lips lurch closer and closer to her own.
Elisabeth knew that the reaper's words held no ounce of concern for her; instead, the statement served to mock the empress and the downward spiral that she winds up deeper within all because of her. There was a pleasure that the Lord couldn't help but derive from seeing the woman so utterly helpless, her grasp tightening in response. Nails digging deeper into the soft, warm flesh that contrasts in every aspect of her own, Death doesn't allow Elisabeth a moment to flee away from her scrutiny, allowing herself to see into the depths of the mortal's waning soul. Even when the empress was cowering, her eyes glimmered with life, much like the finest of gems to casually dress the woman, only making her gleam brighter. It was unfair; seeing her this tantalizing proved it difficult to take her along. The deity's stare became somewhat softer at the thought, at the life draining from the royal's eyes.
Der Tod believed that the empress could do anything beautifully, even in her passing. She could see it now: the shallow breaths slipping past her supple lips, the way her body would slowly halt in all movements before becoming as still as a doll, a spectacle that Death couldn't help but grin to herself at. Despite her everlasting yearning, the reaper knew that it was far from the empress's time, a constant test of her patience that seemed to be wearing thinner by the day, so she would have to suffice in keeping herself entertained. "I want nothing to do with you, Shi," the empress declared, her voice coming meekly, but the power in her words spoke volumes to Death. Sisi watched with widened eyes the snarl that began to grow upon Death's face, roughly tossing her aside to the ground as if she were insignificant.
The reaper glowered at Elisabeth from above, not an ounce of guilt or pity present within her dark eyes as Der Tod stepped upon the expensive fabric of her dress, her heeled boots digging into the material intentionally as she crouched down in front of the trembling woman, hearing the pitter-patter of her heartbeat racing as if its life depended on it. Typically, the lord would chuckle, teasing her for the nervousness that she exempted in her presence in contrast to others, but Death found herself to be rather fed up with the empress's rude behavior that she had been so pompously displaying. Elisabeth had grown far too accustomed to having power within her fingertips, so now it was the deity's job to knock the mortal down a peg or two—perhaps even more.
"It seems that Sophie didn't do an adequate job teaching you proper manners, but don't worry," Death knelt, a malicious grin tugging at her lips as she peered close to the empress's ear to speak. "I will make sure to get that in order." Her voice was sickly sweet, and she did nothing to ease the fear plaguing the woman beneath her. It was strange—the pull upon Sisi's body that forced her to follow along with Death's charade, her back against the cold wooden panels of her chamber—and with the predatory glint in the deity's eyes, it was apparent that she would not permit any chance of escape. Her breath was caught within her throat at the touch of Der Tod's cold hands raking over the shape of her body with a phantom-like touch, causing a shiver to course through Elisabeth.
The uncertainty of Death's intentions was daunting to her, fight-or-flight instincts kicking in as she tried to flee, believing that if not, she would be devoured by the reaper. As if the empress's pleas were heard out, the lord was off of her, the swiftness of her retreat causing Sisi to flinch slightly at the loss of contact. Shi was not one to give up so easily—especially making such a bold declaration—so the woman had to wonder what she was planning. The initial feeling of relief was quick to be subdued with a wave of unease, her almond eyes following in Der Tod's trail to see what the deity was up to.
Without ever hearing a sign of someone entering the enclosed space, there was one of Death's angels at her side. The uncanniness of the startled Elisabeth, the gaze of the angel fixed upon her master, who greeted the reaper with a graceful bow. She did not speak, her lips pressed into a thin line as the lord whispered into the underling's ear, her hand obscuring her mouth to prevent the empress from reading her lips, a skill that was quite common among royals. Knowing that her secretiveness only heightened the fear, the mortal woman further brought a wicked smile to the deity's lips, the words getting a firm nod in response from the angel, showing no reaction whatsoever.
Just as quickly as the angel came, she fled the scene, leaving the poor empress alone, trapped with the monster before her. It was so cruel and deceiving. "What do you want from me?" She trembled, her voice cracking as Sisi was left standing in place, fearing becoming the prominent force controlling her body. "There are many things I want from you," the lord quipped, turning on her heel as she made her way towards the restless mortal who stood before her, constantly challenging her authority, as if the Empress of Austria had overarching control over the Lord of the Underworld. The idea alone was simply preposterous, and having the woman properly reminded of her place in the grand scheme of things felt adequate as punishment.
"For now, why don't you start by sitting on your bed? It looks like you need support right now," chastised Death, physically ensuring that Sisi was obediently following orders by pushing her by the shoulder onto the plush surface, eliciting a gasp from the empress. "Though, I would say you aren't exactly deserving of such luxuries—not when you've only shown me disrespect." Finding any little thing that she could grasp, Elisabeth felt her back sink into the mattress, the force of the action giving her no time to scramble away from the reaper that kept her in place. With an outstretched palm tightly woven over the empress's wrists, Shi held her in place, relishing the feeling of Elisabeth's warm pulse thrumming under her fingertips.
"I'm sorry," Elisabeth stammered, the only thing that came to mind in a poor effort to fix the damage that she had already done; unfortunately, Death wasn't feeling very forgiving this evening, scowling at the woman from above. "It's rather unbecoming of an empress to stumble on her words," the deity smirked, relishing in the terror on the woman's features. Pinning down the skirt of her gown with a knee, Death took a moment to allow her eyes to rake over the mortal's trembling form, watching at how she shook so helplessly, despite her greatest efforts to conceal it. The reaper wanted to feel bad, or at least try to fake it, but the curl of her lips only rose further at the sound of Elisabeth's thrumming heartbeat, hearing it fill the silence in the room with ease.
The chill of Der Tod's hands roamed throughout the surface of Sisi's body, the cold that contrasted with the warmth the woman's body emitted. Despite the low temperatures, Elisabeth felt hotter than before, her hands becoming clammy at her inability to move as her eyes pleaded for the Lord to spare her. Death's advances with her throughout the years were never this intimate, a few grazes of the reaper's fingertips to the yanking of the empress's poor wrist in her direction, stumbling into Shi's arms unintentionally. This was different, though; with such proximity, it was hard for the empress to pull away. Eyes frequently flickering between Death's lips and eyes, the royal couldn't stand how quickly her body fell into submission, despite her mind's insistence on fighting her off.
"You seem so scared, Elisabeth..." Death acknowledged mockingly as her free hand settled on the empress's cheek. The gesture was surprisingly tender, too nice of a touch that the lord tried to catch her off guard with, and foolishly, Sisi fell for it all over again. Her squirming ceased as her attention turned to Shi's fingers, noticing how undeniably pale the deity was in comparison to her own flushed skin. The empress nearly let out a relieved sigh, feeling her nerves being eased away by the icy touch, when the moment was abruptly disrupted with a harsh slap to the face. The sound echoed throughout the chamber, the fresh mark stinging across her skin as the empress's head shifted to the side from the force.
Elisabeth's eyes blinked owlishly at Death, watching the wide grin rise to her face, an expression of pure enjoyment on the reaper's features. With her pearly teeth gleaming in the candlelight, the joyous smile shifted into one full of malice as she spoke: "Oh, Elisabeth. Did you truly expect me to be kind after your brazen display of insolence?" Her dark gaze dipped down to the speechless royal, too stunned by the impact of her palm to even let out a helpless wail. It was somewhat disappointing not hearing the woman's cry, but her expression made up for it— tears swelling up in her eyes, her nose scrunched up to quietly sniffle, and her bottom lip quivering.
It was cruel, striking down upon the poor, unassuming woman who had no time to attempt to deflect or plead against the attack, but it was in Death's nature to act as such—without warning. Despite knowing this, it proved more of a challenge to carry herself in such a manner when faced with Elisabeth's petrified state. Just like in many other aspects, the empress had, yet again, made the lord so weak that she couldn't help but soothe the pain with the same palm to inflict it. As expected, Sisi was far more jumpy, flinching at the action that had tricked her prior. "Just one look is enough to make my resolve crumble," muttered Death, her lips brushing against the royal's temple.
"Fine. I will be far more lenient than I intended to be." With that, Death pulled herself away from the mortal, the vagueness of her words leaving much to the imagination, and Sisi simmered on such ideas as the reaper's eyes left the empress's, flickering over the room. Elisabeth was thankful for that, finally having a moment's breath—at least, to the best of her abilities under all the tension. Sitting up slightly, she watched Der Tod from afar, more particularly at what was in her hands.
A melted candle, its wick barely illuminating the corner in which she stood, was far shorter than the rest that Death could've chosen, leaving a lot of the melted wax to swim around in the saucer. Unsure of her intentions, Elisabeth tensed up at the reaper's return above her, her heart hammering against the confines of the corseted nightgown.
"Why that candle? If you wanted more light, wouldn't a taller candle be more ideal?" Lips pressing to a thin line at the thought, the empress tilted her head up towards Shi's expression, watching the lord chuckle in response. "Impatient, are we?" The woman shook her head quickly, the mischievous glint in the deity's eyes only causing Sisi's worried state of mind to increase tenfold. She shook her head quickly to disprove such a notion. "You will see soon enough, Elisabeth. But first..." Death didn't continue speaking; rather, she let her hands do the rest, gliding up to Elisabeth's backside to give her a firm nudge, pushing her down against the plush duvet. Face buried within the white sheets, the empress struggled to see what the reaper was doing; all she could feel was the brushing of Shi's fingertips tracing down her spine, her nails poking at the bone.
Being kept down with Death's hand upon her lower back, Elisabeth could only check through her peripherals at the reaper's building of anticipation but was surprised not to see her at all. No matter how much she fought against the force keeping her down, Sisi was incapable of moving any part of her body, as if she were strapped down against the bed. Of course, the empress had prior knowledge of this ability, but there was no chance she could comprehend the extent of Der Tod's reach. What Elisabeth couldn't stand was the secret thrill that was being obtained—the pull on her mind that kept the royal waiting quietly for the lord's return as the agonizing seconds passed by. "Shi...?" Ever so meekly, the woman called out, wondering where the deity must've disappeared off to.
What the mortal didn't comprehend was the soft clacking of Death's boots as she returned to the sanctuary that was Elisabeth's room, the item she had requested from her angel in hand. The leather material of the object contrasted greatly with her pale flesh, starkly sticking out as Shi returned to her side, bringing forth what she had brought. “Yes, Your Highness?” The lord chuckled lowly at her nervous tone, her fear poorly concealed.
The thin, flattened end of the crop traced upon Elisabeth’s skin, causing the empress to shudder at the foreign sensation, yet her innocent eyes followed with great curiosity. It wasn’t typical of Death to delve into these types of things, but in the pursuit of claiming more of the mortal woman’s attention and her love, Death was willing to do anything.
“Is that a riding crop?” Elisabeth implored, feeling the end drawing around the outline of her body ever so faintly, starting with her right side before moving on to the left. “You would be correct, empress. How very astute of you,” the praise fell from the deity’s lips in a teasing manner that sounded more like a taunt, irking the royal. No matter how deeply she fright was towards death, her pride wouldn’t allow her to stand for such insults. “So then, why did you bring it here? Its purpose is to be used for horses, not people,” she argued, raising a brow in the reaper’s direction. Abruptly, the suffocating presence around Sisi’s body ceased, allowing her to raise her head to look at Death more appropriately.
“I would beg to differ, Elisabeth. There’s a world of sinful delights, quite debauched and shameful.” Countering the woman’s claims, Der Tod used the crop to tap at the underside of Elisabeth’s jaw, keeping her attention fixed solely on her. “Mixing pain and pleasure is quite a common phenomenon, one I believe you would find enjoyable.” The woman scoffed, her attitude not disappearing despite her vulnerable position. “I highly doubt that, Shi.” Denying the deity’s claims, the empress shook her head, gripping at the frills of her sleeves to wipe away some of the sweat and moisten her palms. Even with the lack of restraints, Elisabeth couldn’t find the courage to sit up and tell the reaper to leave. There was too much going on, too many questions raising in the mortal’s head that compelled her to stay put.
“You refuse to believe such a thing, yet you continue to call out for me,” insisted Death, who was rather pleased with Elisabeth’s temporary submission. Retracting the flat end of the crop away from the woman’s face, she proceeded as she initially intended. Down the sides of her shoulders to her hands, whacking at her knuckles lightly, a warning to keep her palms flat against the bed. Sisi complied, albeit a bit hesitant, to not upset the Lord. “Hmm, so it seems you know when and where to hold your tongue, so I have to assume..." Death mused on, brushing over the fleshy part of her thigh, tracing circles into the skin, with her eyes fixed on the royal’s petrified expression. “That your insolence was intentional.”
Ignoring her initial promise to the woman, Der Tod struck down the crop with no warning, and the pained yelp from Elisabeth was instantaneous in response.
Sisi lurched forward, clawing at the reaper’s coat for support as she sobbed out. She could feel the muscles underneath the skin tensing, and the lack of preparation left her mind in a state of disarray. “ Arme Kaiserin , I didn’t think you’d be so soft." As if to remedy the strike, Death moved the layer of silk aside, leaving her thigh exposed to her cold touch. For a moment, the Lord watched sadistically as the area that was hit blossomed into a flushed red and was sure to bruise as time passed. She couldn’t help but grin wickedly at that fact before grasping her hand at her thigh and kneading the meat, still far too sensitive to handle such rough treatment. A stream of cries fell past the empress’s strawberry-tinted lips, trying to muffle the indecent words with Death’s coat, but it only fueled the reaper onward.
“I’m not finished yet, Elisabeth. It would be best for you to sit, mein Haustier .” The sinister purr of Der Tod’s words made the poor woman realize that her helpless pleas would not subdue the deity during this visit. She wanted more from Elisabeth, and the best option was to follow along in Death’s dance. The royal had no control over what was to come, no jurisdiction over the pacing of the movements, nor could she anticipate the next twirl or dip that the reaper would force her into. Squeezing her teary eyes shut, Sisi unfurled her hands away from the coat, slumping down into the sheets that she was supposed to be sleeping in, but it wasn’t like it wasn’t common for Death to disrupt her peace—even in her dreams. She wished for this encounter to be, but the soreness in her legs left no doubt that the mortal was awake and none the wiser to Der Tod’s plans.
“Good girl..." cooed Death, dipping down to leave a trail of fleeting kisses upon the curve of her shoulder, and despite herself, Elisabeth shuddered at the touch of her icy lips. She felt herself sinking in the velvety sheets, unable to hold herself up as the lord pushed aside the robe, drinking the side of the sprawled-out empress, who was slowly being subdued by the flurry of tender kisses. A part of Death wanted to stop tormenting the royal and simply lavish the woman who claimed her heart so casually, baring all of her passion out to her.
But she couldn’t simply let such truths come to light and let herself become vulnerable when there was so much to be done.
“See? That wasn’t so dreadful, now was it?” Once the mortal’s cries had been hushed down to a series of whines and whimpers, Der Tod retracted her touch, smiling triumphantly at the woman beneath her. “You can take more, can’t you?” These questions, rhetorical in nature, were barely registered with Sisi by the time the second whip was laid on her other thigh. A startled yelp flew straight out, the sound echoing within the chamber and resonating deeply with the reaper’s soul.
There was not a sliver of mercy shown upon the empress, the second blow burning much more than the last and giving a lovely pop of color to the woman’s skin. Death couldn’t hide her arrogant grin, relishing the incoherent noises that left Elisabeth, her eagerness to hear more growing with each pitiful cry of her name. The deity, callous and cold, didn’t comfort and soothe away the lingering pain; consequently, the third strike was brisk, swatting down along her inner thigh, inching closer towards the spot between the empress’s legs, the spot aching to be touched. It was strange—an unexpected twist of events that had Elisabeth trying to recoil away from, not wanting the reaper to see her bodily reactions that were betraying her mind so openly.
Unfortunately, the poor woman didn’t even have a chance to scrunch up her knees before Death was there in pursuit, preventing her retreat with one hand dragging Elisabeth by the ankle. “Who would’ve expected the Empress of Austria to have such depraved cravings?” Teasing Elisabeth with a swipe of the crop to the dip in her drawers, the deity couldn’t help but be amused by this revelation, knowing that she was indeed right.
“It doesn’t strike as odd, not with how you torture yourself endlessly." Death went on, the pressure from the leather tool never lightening as she rubbed Elisabeth through the cotton fabric. “Is it worth it, I wonder? To live such a miserable existence just to escape from me... Elisabeth’s needy cries served as her only response to such ideas, not even bothering to rebuke a single one. Der Tod, who was displeased with the woman’s lack of response, stopped her movements.
“I asked you a question, Kleiner Vogel. Is it worth it? Living such a fruitless life and working so hard to only amount to nothing?” Disciplining the empress for her lack of speech, Der Tod struck down upon her clothed core, the demand in her words failing to reach the woman. She was losing herself in that mix of pleasure and pain that was having such a tight hold on the empress—no coherent words forming due to the stream of moans that were no longer being muffled by the covers or her palms.
Elisabeth was sure Death could see it too; the way she was unraveling was due to a combination of sensations that she felt was wrong to derive such ecstasy from. The mortal hated proving the reaper right, but she couldn’t help but let out such lewd noises. Der Tod acted as if she knew her most sensitive spots, teasing them endlessly. She felt enough pressure to feel the rubbing, but not enough to satiate the growing ache that was forming in between her legs.
“It is—I’m sure of it!" She hiccupped, and the low growling near the empress's ear made it clear that Death was dissatisfied with her denial. “ Liar. ” The reaper hissed, her breath beating down upon the curve of the royal’s neck, and all at once, the pressure was moved away from her clothed crotch. This resulted in Sisi’s needy mewls ceasing and a frown settling upon her soft features. The woman was so worked up, and for the deity to simply stop her ministrations? She blinked the tears away that began to brim in her eyes, feeling her wobbly legs shrink back down atop the duvet, away from Death’s hips.
“No, I’m not! I love this life I’ve made for myself,” Elisabeth countered, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut, sensing Der Tod’s mouth pressing against her flesh—the area where her neck met her shoulder, silencing her effectively. The lord continued to kiss and nip upon the empress, her nails sinking into her arms as she moved down to her collarbone, brushing the area with her lips faintly.
“If that is what you choose to believe,” Death purred, teeth grazing the top of her cleavage, the husky drawl of her voice making the empress shudder in perverse delight. “But I’m not done with you yet.” Then, all pleasurable touches went away, leaving Elisabeth questioning what was next with an anticipation she wished to ignore. Fortunately, Death didn’t leave her in the dark for long. The woman watched the deity’s hands reach for the melted candle, the wax polling at the bottom of the saucer, and only a small wick flickering between the two.
The empress was transfixed by how the warm hues glowed against Der Tod’s pale skin, making her intimidating beauty prosper as the fire danced in her pupils. Her breath was caught in her throat, a flush erupting across her body at such a thought invading the sanctuary that was her mind. It was something she would never dare confess to the Lord—less out of fear and more out of embarrassment for such an idea.
Elisabeth couldn’t comprehend what was going through the reaper’s mind, seeing her blow the flame out before her eyes narrowed back on her, making the woman shuffle in place under such scrutiny. “Stay still." The hushed order from the deity was all it took for Sisi’s movements to halt, her misty eyes staring up at Death longingly. “Look at how obedient you’ve become to me." The lord teased, her hands ghosting the empress’s smooth skin downwards, returning to her inner thighs, knowing what the mortal wanted before she even had to ask.
Unfortunately, Der Tod didn’t plan on delivering what she craved—not yet, at least. The bed sank under the new weight placed upon it, and the lord’s body knelt in front of Elisabeth, maneuvering her legs to welcome her accordingly. Death greeted each with a quick kiss, resisting the urge to sink her teeth in. On most occasions, the deity would do so without hesitation, but with the far-off look on Elisabeth’s face, she didn’t want to provide further pleasure to her until her lesson was finished.
“It’s so peculiar how humans find pleasure in things that only bring them pain." The melted wax swished side-to-side in its holder, threatening to spill over with the slightest jostle in the lord’s grasp, so ever so slightly, she let the warm liquid seep down onto the pale flesh of the oblivious. "You especially, Elisabeth.” The melted wax was hot enough to cause a sharp pain upon contact, leaving a smoldering trail across the expanse of her thigh, and Sisi would’ve been steadfast at retracting away from Death, but she had straddled the royal’s lower legs, keeping her in place and victim to her torture.
Her hands flailed, reaching to grab at the deity’s thighs, reeling up to give her a piece of her mind when Death swiftly alternated to the other, unharmed thigh, tilting the saucer until a long line trailed from Elisabeth’s knee to the joint of her hip. “Enough…!” She wailed, the ache upon her thighs from a multitude of different sensations having them all sorts of wobbly. “You can take a little more for me, can’t you?” Der Tod purred maliciously, her cool hands flicking away at the dried wax that had settled upon her skin, the cooling sensation of her touch providing a comfort that Elisabeth hated but was grateful for. She was the cause of the pain being inflicted; there was no reason to spare her any thanks.
“Besides, I know you would’ve struggled with all your might if it hurt you that badly,” Death cooed, bunching up the fabric of the empress’s nightgown to gain further access to new, unexplored areas of skin. “You cannot fool me so easily, Liebste .” Brazenly, Death poured the rest throughout the expanse of her stomach, down to the rim of her undergarments. Elisabeth cursed herself for choosing this night to wear her costume, an extended hiss being vocalized through gritted teeth.
Fortunately, with the substance quickly cooling, the subtly warm wax felt much nicer this time around. Rather than Elisabeth’s unexpected nature to the unfamiliar burning, it contrasted with the comfortable heat spilling all over her middle section, sending all sorts of tingles throughout her body. The empress did not want to enjoy this; the whole thing was unprompted and unchaste, not something a lady of her stature should be seeking out more of.
There must’ve been that lustful glint in her eyes, for when Der Tod caught a glimpse of it, she eagerly spilled the rest, painting Elisabeth’s body in splatters of wax, becoming far too impatient with the steady pour. Their gazes were held to one another’s for a moment, seeing the pools of desire that the reaper reveled in, knowing it was for her and her only. Only she could subdue the cravings in Elisabeth’s heart; she was the only one who could evoke such pleasure—the only one who could ruin her so beautifully.
The metal saucer was carelessly tossed aside, neither seeming to care for the loud clanging noise it made against the floor. Death’s lips found purchase at her neck, while her hand slipped past the fabric covering her mound, fingers brushing over the silt before nestling themselves inside. The thrill of it all had Elisabeth reeling, hands settled upon her shoulders to stabilize herself from the waves of ecstasy wearing her down.
Her sweet, needy moans echoed throughout the chamber like a chant, ringing in Der Tod’s ears as her open mouth went back and forth. From leaving kisses upon the space of her neck to nipping down upon the unmarked areas, watching as the blood would race to each spot, her fingers worked in tandem diligently. The pace was set in fast motion, with the intent to have the Empress of Austria unravel, breaking apart the poise that she tended to carry.
“More—I need more, Shi!” The royal urged, her nicely manicured nails clawing into the deity’s backside, nestling her head into the side of Death’s neck. Her ombre tresses tickled at Sisi’s cheek as she buried her face deeper, her panting breaths fanning hotly against the reaper’s pale flesh. In most scenarios, Death would have insisted that she beg properly, just as the commoners throughout the streets vocalized their desires for change.
Loud, repetitive, and nonstop.
But the empress had been well-behaved, just as Der Tod ordered her to be, so this evening, the lord was the first to relent. “So many demands for someone who didn’t want me here,” taunted Death, her voice murmuring against her warm flesh. Trailing her tongue upon the next area to be marked with the indentions of her teeth, the deity clamped down, adding another finger as per the royal’s request. Elisabeth wailed gutturally, her head falling away from its resting spot upon the reaper’s neck as she lay on the bed, staring up at her directly. The intimacy of this position had Sisi bashful, but there wasn’t enough time to dwell upon such matters, not when she felt herself steadily building up that release that she had constantly been worked up to, only to have it taken away at the last moment.
“Please, don’t stop—you mustn’t!” Helplessly, the empress cried, needing constant reassurance from the deity that she wasn’t going to stop. Death was more than willing to comply, savoring the neediness that wasn’t common for the woman to display so openly to the reaper. It was an opportunity that came by within the range of months to years that would be spent away from one another.
This was an unprecedented moment that Der Tod was going to use to the fullest advantage, breaking the empress down until all thoughts to fill her mind were of her alone. It was something that pushed Death to go faster, her thumb swiping over her sensitive pearl, watching as Elisabeth was being pushed closer and closer to the edge. The sounds escaping the royal were high-pitched yet hoarse from the fluctuating tones, and the only audible word was the reaper’s name.
Elisabeth was sure that she was a mess: hair fraying in every which way, lips swollen from the number of times she was required to bite down upon it, varying marks from Der Tod’s biting and slapping, and the remnants of wax scattering about the bedding, slowly chipping off her skin. The maintenance that would be sure to follow the morning after would be copious in workload, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to care much about it. The empress felt much more alive than she had felt in a long time, the popularity and adoration failing to stir such emotions within her, despite the pain that was accompanied by Death’s company. Her legs came up to wrap around the reaper's waist, daringly pulling the lord closer to her than before, clinging onto her as she felt the tight coil in her stomach beginning to snap.
“I won’t stop, not until you’ve come for me.” Death was reassured with a gentle tone, her breaths becoming ragged from the intensity of the moment. Holding herself up, Der Tod pressed her forehead against Elisabeth’s, allowing her sweaty form to be cooled off by her lower body temperature. Enamored with the sight before her, Death murmured praises to the crown of the empress’s head, curling her fingers deep within her folds. With Death pressing her thumb firmly to her clitoral area, it was the final act conducted so that the royal convulsed beneath her.
“So good for me, Elisabeth," praised Der Tod, taking her time to slip her fingers away from inside the empress, only for her to bring them up to her lips. Swiping her pointer finger over her bottom lip, the order wasn’t even required with how quick Sisi was to open her mouth for her, diligently cleaning the fluids off her fingers. The gesture appeased Death greatly, knowing how blissed-out the woman beneath her was. Elisabeth, with her jaw slacking, quickly began to doze off, her hands still curling at the hem of the reaper’s coat to keep her close. Her mind had yet to succumb with her body into the state of slumber the rest of her was within.
The lord stifled a chuckle upon realization, using her other hand to swipe at the tear streaks to stain her face. There was beauty in seeing the empress in such a state, a rare sight that not even the photos would have the possibility of capturing in its glory. So Death stayed for as long as she could, studying every stray hair and indentation on the woman’s body and tracing her eyes over her lips a multitude of times.
The deity knew that it would be so easy to take her like this without so much as an ounce of resistance if she were to press her lips to Elisabeth’s. Perhaps then she would be able to discover if she tasted strawberries, properly reflecting the color of her lips. She knew that this was no love, though, only a moment where yearning for the empress had become too much for the reaper, wanting to convey all the foreign emotions that plagued her everlasting existence.
Perhaps someday, but today was not the time. At least Der Tod was amused for the evening; after all, it wasn’t often that Elisabeth sang so exquisitely for her.