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A sharp sting.
That was the first thing Veldrin felt.
Two tiny pinpricks forcing liquid ice through his veins, eroding the stone stuck within them. So cold it scorched his insides. Veldrin could not escape the overwhelming pain that gripped his body. The urge to scream filled his lungs, but no sound escaped him. The paladin’s vocal cords were seemingly unable to vibrate and produce sound. He tried to blink away the deep, inky pitch that covers his eyes. To shake the darkness that surrounds him on all sides. Nothing. The muscle memory was there. His body wanted to take the involuntary movements, but it couldn't .
Belatedly, Veldrin realized that it's not just his veins that were so slowly clearing, but everything. His body was petrified, encased in stone.
His lids were frozen wide, with solid rock replacing where his eyes once were. Nose, mouth, and ears all filled solid with no opening to breathe or hear. He could not move. His muscles began to burn from being stuck in a single position for so long. His world reduced to the small pieces of him that he can feel.
His heart, despite his overwhelming sense of fear, could barely beat in his chest. Panic rose as his mind lashed out. Veldrin's insides itched. Every inch of him tried to thrash and slam itself into the stone walls of his petrified prison, but it was no use. He was trapped within his body. Burning from the inside out as the magic slowly thawed him.
How did this come to be? How did he end up here?
Veldrin remembered wandering into another drow city, one operated by those who worship the Masked Lord mostly, in a small act of desperation. He searched for if anyone had seen his precious Altonin. His darling, stupid, little pet that got too grand of ideas in his tiny, empty brain behind that pretty face of his. Oh how Veldrin loathed what Altonin made him do to the young drow. He hated how much Altonin forced his hand, and hurt his prized bard. But how else was Altonin supposed to learn to keep his place?
And then he was gone. With Veldrin stuck searching for any sign of his sweet bard.
Veldrin had been a ways into his journey when he felt the magic that tracked Altonin fade and blip out of existence. He had known it was a possibility. Altonin, charming as he was beautiful, had his ways of wrapping others around his little finger. Everyone knew very few survive on their own in the Underdark, not without help. So it was natural that Altonin would have likely sought out another. Providing he had known it was there. (An idea that made the anger and jealousy sink deep into Veldrin’s stomach)
Contrary to this, the paladin had also heard stories that drow magic never seemed to last long term once on the surface. Perhaps the young bard had found a way up, and if he had, there would have been nothing more Veldrin could have done.
Veldrin would have turned back and gone home empty handed at the first sign of the wavering magic, not wanting to deal with the hassle of trying to trace down his former lover. The risk of death vastly out weighed the worth of a single male bard, even if it was his favorite toy. He had even considered a hunt for the young bard, letting Altonin get his head start after he had come to him for help, and then starting a small chase. But when screams and shouts came from Aunrae and Jaerlyn's shared room, he abandoned the idea in favor of going to his mother and remaining sister’s side.
His mother, Matron Thalra, had demanded to know what happened to the traitor.
“ He… escaped.” Was his weak reply.
Irate with the loss of her youngest daughters, Matron Thalra charged over to her eldest son and slapped him across the face, her talon-like nails scratching small gashes into Veldrin's cheek.
“ Escaped? No. That insolent, misbehaved child that you favored was given help. You will find him, and bring him here to face his consequences. His life is not worth the death of your sisters, but it is a start. ” Veldrin silently nodded and turned on his heel to ready himself for travel, “ Oh and Veldrin,” The small woman spoke in a calm even voice, “ If I find out you helped him escape, directly or indirectly, you too will face Lolth. You're dismissed.”
Cold dread ran down his spine as he nodded once more and silently left. His Matron Mother was not to be ignored.
And so he had found a party willing to scout further around the Underdark, providing Veldrin, in exchange, helped them. He didn't particularly care for what this thirdborn son, Dhourn, was looking for. Only that he could use the wizard's powers to contain his wayward lover and bring him home to face the consequences of his actions.
Veldrin remembered very little after. They had neared another wizard's tower, there was a scuffle, and then a spectator? He could only remember feeling his body slowly turn to stone. His muscles painfully squeezing and contracting as his skin grew taut and cold over him.
And then there was nothing.
Silence.
No thoughts. No sounds. He just ceased to exist for some time. Veldrin would have liked to imagine he had felt every brush against him from some creature or adventurer stupid enough to wander by. But there was nothing.
And now here he was, slowly becoming aware, by the force of something in his neck.
If he was lucky, it would be his darling pet on the outside. Waiting for him with baited breath. Those bright blue-green eyes worried and desperate for Veldrin to be alright. Trying to regain the paladin's approval. Ready to fawn and make nice once more. Altonin could never be mad at Veldrin for too long. Veldrin would gladly take advantage of Altonin’s concern and convince the bard to return home with him. (And if he was even luckier, he'd even be able to get Altonin on his knees one last time as an apology for putting Veldrin through this mess in the first place, before surrendering him to his mother.)
The ache in his lungs drew him back from his fantasies. Veldrin could swear that spots grew in his vision, despite being able to see nothing. It hurt so much. In his mind he could feel his fingers try and claw at the rock that encased him. He imagined them wet with warm, sticky blood as he refused to give up. Prying piece by tiny piece, until-
Air.
A small passageway cleared up through his throat, allowing the paladin to barely breathe through his open mouth.
He gasped, or at least tried to. Veldrin struggled to fill his lungs, as the stone that still covered his body refused to let his chest expand. The paladin let out a choked noise, trying to get more than short, shallow inhales. There simply wasn't enough air in his lungs. Veldrin wondered briefly if this was how he was going to die; coming back to life.
“Hush now. Let the stone melt off you.” A deep, melodic voice whispered in his ear. The voice surprised him, for he couldn't sense that anyone was around. He felt no presence, felt no warmth against his skin and yet the voice in his ear was confident and real. The paladin internally struggled against the stone to face the intruder, but could make no move.
Who's there?! Veldrin’s question was desperate and angry. Fully ready to start a fight.
“Breathe and calm yourself, Veldrin Corborel.”
Veldrin wanted to growl at the male intruder to fuck off. That he was trying . How dare a male speak to him in such a way, especially one who knew his and his House’s name! But the anger that bubbled up within him seemed to melt away at the sound of the male's voice once again cooing in his ear, “That's it, my darling. Breathe . You're doing so well for me.”
The sticky heat of his anger turned to a low simmer, and then to a gentle warmth. Something soft and comforting. The feeling of Altonin's arms wrapped around him while he wore his favorite sweater. The soft sensation of Altonin's lips he pressed feather light kisses down Veldrin's chest.
Veldrin's breathing began to finally steady, and then
Crack .
A piece of stone fell from his hand.
“Oh! You are a strong one. My queen was right to grant you life once again.” The voice tickled at Veldrin's ear, seemingly surprised at his mental fortitude. His body shivered as a pair of warm lips teased him, pressing right behind where his ear met his jaw. Altonin's favorite spot to tease when he really wanted to rile up and distract Veldrin from whatever he was working on.
Altonin? Veldrin wondered. Could it truly be him bringing him back to life? Could his precious bard have survived alone in the Underdark for this long? Did his sweet plaything manage to find him and save him?
The voice did sound different, now that Veldrin thought about it. Though that could also be the stone in his ears altering the way Altonin sounded.
“Afraid not, dear one. He was here. But now he is not. He held your stone corpse in his arms, but then simply left . That boy left you to rot ,” The voice spat out. It quickly changed its tone to something more soothing, as if it was trying to reel in its anger, “It is only me, my darling boy. I'm here to save you,” Seemingly reaching deep within the paladin's body to caress his soul. Veldrin tried to speak, but his tongue was still covered in stone. He was left unable to do anything other than let out a breathy moan as that voice continued to melt him from the inside out, “Oh, you make such exquisite noises so easily,” The voice hitched and Veldrin could feel it shudder and shiver against him, “No wonder that boy once worshipped you so. And to think he's abandoned us . Abandoned you. ”
Abandoned. Veldrin could scarcely believe it. That was unlike Altonin. Altonin would never leave Veldrin behind, not willingly. He has sworn himself to the older drow, that was the unspoken condition of allowing Altonin within House Corborel. Unyielding fealty. That he belonged to Veldrin, and Veldrin alone. Hells, Altonin had even begged Veldrin for help after the deaths of his sisters. He hadn't wanted to leave in the first place.
But then again… That's what had started this whole problem to begin with. Altonin's defiance.
Veldrin’s anger grew into a boil at the thought of the time Altonin spent with that half-drow prisoner his mother felt the need to keep locked up. He'd slaughter the man again if he could. He would gladly tie up Altonin and force him to watch as he dragged the wretched half-breed to the sacrificial altar and kill him again and again, as he commanded Altonin's full attention.
Veldrin could image it all so vividly. The crease of Altonin's well sculpted brows pinching together. The tears that Altonin could never seem to restrain, threatening to spill. The shocked look in his eyes, begging Veldrin to tell him this wasn't real. Slightly parted lips that trembled wanting to call him a liar. And that was all from Veldrin just teasing him with that tacky necklace he had enchanted. The real thing would be so much grander. The fight being drained out of the bard, as he screams and begs for Veldrin to stop. Struggling against his restraints, being unable to look away from the artful sacrifice to their beloved gods.
A pleasurable heat rose in Veldrin as he imagined Altonin's horrified face. He wanted so badly to hold Altonin's adorable, fear-stricken face and cup it between his bloody hands. To slide them across and stain his face before burying them and yanking Altonin by his hair. He would whisper to him, telling him to clean his sticky fingers. To ruin Altonin's long, soft hair red with the blood of the man he chose to throw his attention at. Yes, this would be a suitable punishment for his wayward bard. Kneeling before him, crying so prettily with Veldrin's bloody fingers in his mouth first, then his cock. Choking it down as Veldrin fucked his face, reminding the young drow once again that he was his and his alone.
“ Oh there's that wonderful little feeling within you. Vibrating and pulsing ,” The voice moaned against his stone flesh, ripping him from his fantasy and back into his cold and dark reality, “ Yes, that's a good boy. I want to feel that .”
Another body pressed against Veldrin's. Though he still couldn’t see, he could feel . Not through his own sense of touch, which was slowly coming back to him as thick chunks of stone crumbled off his body. But rather he could feel the voice's intent. What the voice wanted him to feel within his soul. A pair of arms wrapping around him from behind. Ghostly hands wander down his chest, breaking off more stone in their wake as they come to rest on his hips. The press of a firm chest pressing against his back. The small grind of hips against his front. This voice wanted Veldrin to feel it . Everywhere. It wanted to be an overwhelming presence that revelled in Veldrin's fantasies. To feed and fan the flames of Veldrin's lust.
And Veldrin could feel himself wanting to give in. To get lost in the melodic tone of the voice, and let it – him – lead him anywhere.
But he needed answers.
Who are you? Where is Altonin? Veldrin wondered, his tongue still stone. His mind still stuck in a haze.
“You will know when you finally see me. I do so enjoy it when my boys can only feel my touch first. It makes their first time with me special ,” There was a breathlessness to the voice that sat uneasily with Veldrin. The voice was making it abundantly clear that it didn't just want to be a voyeur in Veldrin's fantasies. But rather feed on Veldrin's desires and take advantage of his current helpless state.
Veldrin wasn't sure what to feel at the realization. Disgust that he's being used in such a manner fights with the undenyable trust and pleasure he felt flood his body every time the voice purred in his ear. It left him torn between wanting to lash out or accepting his new faceless lover.
“The boy is lost,” The voice once again jolts Veldrin back into his body, “He has taken up with an insolent, little vampire. One that looks quite average, though could have been considered desirable by a certain type , if the foul creature wasn't,” Veldrin can feel the feather light kisses along his throat as the voice paused for dramatic effect, “ a surface elf .” The overwhelming presence of the voice made him inescapable, surrounded on all sides by a single being. Vile and pure hatred mingled with uncontrollable lust as hands seemingly reached under his stone skin and stroked .
Veldrin moaned once more. His body ached. He couldn't tell where pain of muscle atrophy ended and the desperation of carnal pleasure began. He only knew the voice.
“Our queen wants him,” The voice spat. Unbridled jealousy filled his tone, “She wants to play with him. To rip him limb from limb. To reshape him into an obedient little pet. Just as he should have been for you, my darling child,” The nails of the ghost hands on his hips dug in. Hips grinding against his own solid flesh ones, finally free of stone. A pair of warm lips traced a line up the edge of his ear, before sharp teeth clamped down on the tip. Veldrin groaned helplessly, wanting to lean into the touch, but his neck was still frozen.
The paladin felt like he should be distraught at the idea of someone wanting to tear Altonin apart. He felt like he should want to protect the younger drow from such a fate from a stranger. But the idea of his sweet, stupid, little bard consorting with a surface elf , vampire or not, made him seethe. Let the queen have him! Let Altonin know all of the suffering he has caused Veldrin.
“He was a perfect child. Could have been Chosen . And you , your standing was so perfect for my child. I led you two together. He was meant for you, and you alone… And yet you let him stray . You let him wander ,” He felt thin but firm fingers thread into his hair and yank. All Veldrin could do was let out a soft keen that begged for more from the voice. He craved release. He needed to be out of his stone prison. He needed those ghost hands to touch him. Those hips to grind so deliciously against him, while he helplessly moaned and rocked against them in equal rhythm.
“Our queen is quite furious with you, little paladin. Find our precious, little brat and bring him home. Bring him home to my Lady Lolth , my sweet pet,” The voice breathlessly cooed into his ear. Those ghostly hands once again wander grab him to stave off any building release. Veldrin whimpers and tries to buck against the feeling though he knows it's useless.
“My queen desires him. She set you free. She sent me to give her demands. She has given you a gift, my child. One you cannot refuse.” Veldrin's heart clenched, uncertain of the gift from the Spider Queen, “You shall see it in time. Oh-! ” The voice moaned, the hips beginning to stutter against his own, “I can feel your worry. Deep and overwhelming. It is delightful . Don't you fear, my pet. My beloved queen will grant you her powers. You will be made into an unstoppable force. So perfect and even more lovely than you are now.”
I will change? Suddenly Veldrin's body went cold, as if a bucket of ice water was dumped on him. His once frozen arms dropped to his sides. His knees buckled and gave out and the paladin crumpled the stone floor. Barely having the muscle control to stop his still mostly stone covered head from colliding with the ground. His chest heaved. Fear and instinct took over. Change regarding Lolth wasn't ever a good thing when one had lost her favor and gained her fury.
Veldrin's weakened arms attempted to try and crawl away from where he thought the voice might be. But, strong hands gripped his shoulders and forced him up right once again. Fingers pressed against his cheeks and pried between his flesh and the stone that still covered him. His skin crawled as too many hand gripped his prone form. The paladin tried to shake off the voice's physical manifestation to no avail.
“Oh yes, my precious pet. You will change so magnificently,” A thumb rubbed gently along his lips, before it slipped between them and rested on his now freed tongue. Veldrin choked and gagged on the semi-solid digit. He wanted to pull away. He wanted to fight and swing his sword down upon the voice. But the voice just cooed at him, and an overwhelming wave of remaining lust he had overtook his senses.
What little spit he had drooled from his mouth and down his chin as the thumb stroked softly at the exposed muscle, a gentle hand encouraged his jaw to shut. Instinctively Veldrin suckled on the small appendage, not even giving pause to think about what he was doing. His tongue lapping oh so gently against the pad of the voice's thumb. Veldrin felt the voice shiver. “You will become so powerful. A beautiful champion for me and my queen. The perfect being to bring Altonin home.”
Veldrin's thoughts felt foggy. Unsure of what to make of the voice, but also trusting of every word. The voice only had his best interests at heart right? The voice had the Spider Queen's will behind it, so it must be true. I'll find him, my lord. I'll find my Altonin, just tell me where. I'll bring him to you. To Lolth. Where can I find my beloved Altonin, so I can hold him within my grasp once more?
Spider-like fingers pressed against his lashes, gently brushing away the tiny pebbles. Slowly Veldrin's sight came back to him. The world going from endless darkness to varying shades of gray. Though despite the nature of his darkvision, he could see the voice leaning over him.
The voice belonged to a beautiful male drow with soft features. Long, soft, white hair draped over his shoulders and fell down in soft waves to where Veldrin assumed would be his lower back. His vibrant violet eyes stood out amongst all his features. Bright and knowing, they reminded him a lot of Altonin's deep blue-green ones. Veldrin’s eyes slipped down to the drow's exposed chest. Open luxurious crimson silk robes framed his sweat-damp and rapidly cooling chest. Which was artfully tied at his waist to expose one of his slender legs, with a well detailed leather belt.
Movement caught the paladin’s eye. He noticed a small spider, no bigger than the size of Veldirn's palm, crawling up the drow's sleeve and came to rest upon his shoulder. He quickly averted his eyes from the creature, not wanting to anger his goddess further. It was likely the cause of his freedom. The start of all of his pain. The one that bound him to Lolth for good now.
Veldrin swallowed as he drank the drow's visage in. He knew this man. He knew this was no mere noblemale drow. The drow standing above him gave Veldrin a smirk as the realization cleared his thoughts.
Keptolo .
His god. The fount of his divine powers. The one he swore an oath to. The owner of the voice who had gotten off on his helplessness, was standing here before him. Charming and beautiful in all the ideal ways.
“Oh my beautiful pet,” Threading his hand through Veldrin's hair he yanked the paladin's head to back to look up at him once more. A bare foot slid across the wet stone floor to press against Veldrin's groin. Veldrin let out a whimper of pleasure at the touch. His hips hitching up trying to seek more pressure. The paladin turned to putty in his god’s hands.
He needed this. He wanted this, he realized with mild horror. Veldrin would give up every inch of his body to please his god. Do anything to regain his favor.
Please, he begged, shutting his eyes to focus on Keptolo's thumb while he slowly rocked his hips against his god’s foot. Please, my lord, my love, tell me where to find him.
“Baldur's Gate. You'll find my Altonin in Baldur's Gate.”