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Melanie hated being watched. Even before joining the institute she hated the feeling of eyes on her back and being judged. Quite surprising that she became a youtuber with such a hatred but that was in the past.
She’d scrounged up a statement referencing something called “The People’s Church of the Divine Host” and a place called “Ny-Ålesund”. She’d buried the records after getting the details of the church and where they were presumably still set up. By buried, Melanie means she separated the pages of the statement and misfiled all of them. It would keep Jon out of her hair, if Jon was even going to come back. He’d been in a coma for over a month, and Melanie was having serious doubts about if he’d wake up.
The Dark seemed like a good savior for her. The antithesis to the eye. Blindness and darkness and not knowing. Sure the Slaughter already had its claws sunken into her but she was willing to go all the way with the Dark. She was willing to give up her humanity as one last “fuck you” to the Eye. Melanie packed her bags, and with a plane ticket and a few connections, arrived in Ny-Ålesund.
It was bitterly cold and snowy. Thank the gods Melanie had the common sense to wear heavy clothing. Not only that but it was dark. She switched on her torch, walking through the snow and approaching the main building of the research station. Melanie flicked it off as she reached for the door handle. The mere presence of the building was truly ominous. Melanie braced herself, and opened the door.
It was dark inside. Somehow even darker than the night outside. It felt thick and oppressive but as Melanie stepped into it she felt at ease. The feeling of being watched was gone. Even Elias’ control couldn’t breach the supernatural darkness and that made Melanie ecstatic.
“Hello?” She shut the door behind her so as to not let the cold into the warm building. “I’m looking for ah- Manuela?” Melanie stepped farther into the room, glancing around. A silly thing to do, her eyes weren’t adjusting. The darkness wasn’t something your eyes would get used to. Melanie felt something snaking up her leg and she squeaked in surprise, pulling her leg back. “What the-” she was then grabbed by something large and tendril like wrapping around her torso and yanking her forward until she was face to face with-
The light clicked on.
A surprisingly well dressed scientist. Tanned skin with dark and loose curls tied up in a ponytail. Her attire wasn’t screaming “high ranking cult member” either. A white, high quality lab coat, black lab gloves, black base layer, and a silver cross attached to a black choker around her neck.
The woman looked so astonishingly ordinary that Melanie thought she’d gotten the wrong person. That was until Melanie noticed the strong lack of light in the woman’s right eye. The… thing, pulsed, drawing in more light.
“Um-”
“What are you here for?” The woman’s eyes- eye?- narrowed.
“I’m looking for- um- Manuela Dominguez.” Melanie took a step back from the woman, whose expression seemed to soften when Melanie announced her reasoning for her presence.
“Well you’ve found her. Tell me, dear child, why were you looking for me? I do try not to… ask too much, it goes against my nature but you-” she smiled, “color me curious about you.” Melanie could feel her face heating up a bit. Being trapped under Manuela’s analytical gaze shouldn’t be that… attractive.
“I- um- I want to join the church,” Manuela cocked her head.
“A servant of the Beholding and… oh, one of the Slaughter’s little soldiers. You wish to sever such connections?”
“I didn’t choose to be a servant for either of them,” Melanie grumbled. “Also- how do you know that? Isn’t your whole thing.. Blindness? Not knowing?” Manuela laughed at that.
“Well, yes. That’s true, but I’ve always preferred the aspect of pure darkness rather than “not knowing”. One does not obtain a PhD with the ignorance that the Dark can provide,” a PhD? Melanie let out a low whistle. “Consider it something as a… like recognizes like scenario.” Manuela grinned, flashing rows of sharp teeth. “Why don’t you follow me, angel, we can talk, and initiate you if you’re ready.” Melanie blushed at the pet name.
“Um- yeah, alright,” she nodded and followed Manuela as they walked deeper into the research station. Manuela didn’t seem to enjoy having the lights on, and appeared to almost flinch whenever she switched them on.
“Can I make you something? Tea? Coffee?”
“Just water is fine,” Manuela grimaced a bit.
“Ah- the water here isn’t…” she sighed and nodded, sitting Melanie down in a quiet dining area. Everything was rather utilitarian, as expected from a research station. Manuela carefully filled a glass with water, trying to touch it as little as possible so it wouldn’t turn murky and dark.
“Thank you,”
“Of course. So,” she sat across from Melanie, a soft smile on her face, “what got you interested in joining our… congregation.” Melanie huffed.
“Not a big fan of the Eye. I hate it. Deeply. I wanna give one last “fuck you” to Elias when I quit, so I figured joining the church would… Give me that.”
“As good a reason as any, angel.” Manuela’s gaze raked over Melanie, but it just felt like someone, well, admiring her. Not examining her every flaw under a microscope with a scalpel at the ready.
“What’s the initiation like?”
“Swearing your allegiance, and a baptism. That is, if you’re ready to leave everything behind for this.” Melanie nodded.
“I’m ready,”
“Do you not want to think it over?” Melanie shook her head.
“I don’t care what happens to me. I just wanna be free of this.” Manuela nodded and waited for Melanie to finish her drink.
“Well we aren’t exactly in an… ideal location for your baptism but I suppose we’ll make do,” Manuela cleared out the sink and made sure it was clean before covering the drain and turning on the faucet. Dark, brackish water poured out and slowly filled the basin. “Give me a moment,” Melanie nodded, shifting her weight. Silence permeated the air as they stood, ruined only by the noise of the sink running.
“So… A PhD? What field?” Manuela smiled.
“Astrophysics. I was rather well known within the community.” Melanie nodded and wrung her hands together. “You seem nervous,”
“What are you going to do to me?”
“Well… we need to cleanse your body of the light. Extinguish the flame within you.”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“Yes.” Melanie shuddered. Well at least Manuela was honest. “I’m going to drown you. That is what a baptism is, after all.”
“Um- right… okay,”
“Having second thoughts?” Melanie quickly shook her head. “Good.” Manuela shut off the sink, gazing into the murky water. “Melanie, could you turn off the lights?”
“Yeah, sure,” Melanie walked over to the lights and switched them off.
“Come here. Just follow my voice.” Melanie stumbled blindly through the dark before being pulled into Manuela’s arms. “There you go, good girl.” Melanie’s face flushed and she felt so very grateful for the darkness that neither of them could see through. Manuela held Melanie close to her as she started to mumble a blessing over the sink filled with dark water.
“So um- is this normal? Baptizing someone in a sink?” Manuela didn’t respond for a moment, finishing her prayer with the line of “et ita est”.
“No. Typically we baptise people in a stone basin within the physical location of the church.” She sighed and took off her gloves. Or, well, Melanie assumed she did from the way Manuela removed her hands from Melanie’s waist. When her hands were back on Melanie’s body, they felt like flesh. Melanie could feel skin rather than rubber. Manuela ran her thumbs over Melanie’s bare sides. She pressed Melanie against the counter in front of the sink, pushing her head down to just above the water.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
“Good. Don’t breathe in. It’ll take longer.” Manuela shoved Melanie’s face into the water.
Cold darkness engulfed her face and Melanie sputtered from the sudden submersion. She instinctively tried to fight and pull her head above water, but Manuela held her firmly as she muttered prayers that were muffled to Melanie’s waterlogged ears.
Melanie stopped fighting and let the remaining air out of her lungs. Her head started to feel fuzzy after about a minute and slowly her vision began to fade. Her lungs hurt as Manuela softly sang hymns in praise of the Dark.
Manuela pulled Melanie’s body out of the water a bit after the woman went limp. Melanie crumpled to the ground, dark water dripped from her mouth as her cold and still body laid there. Manuela felt around for a pulse, and once she was sure that there wasn’t one, she dragged Melanie back to the room she typically slept. Manuela stripped Melanie of her clothes, pausing as a bullet dropped down from Melanie’s pant leg. The back of Melanie’s leg had a starburst shaped scar.
“Ah,” Manuela sighed and finished stripping Melanie down. “There you go,” dark was starting to creep up Melanie’s extremities. Manuela laid Melanie down on a cot, and sat next to her. Her fingers ran through Melanie’s hair. “Pretty girl…” she mumbled. Gently hummed hymnals filled the quiet air as Manuela stayed next to Melanie.
Melanie was unsure of how long she’d been unconscious, but there was Manuela’s soft humming and hands in her hair when she woke up. Melanie took a shaky, deep breath. Her lungs hurt but she felt… whole. The feeling of being watched had finally abated and despite the dark she had a heightened awareness about the world around her. She blinked her eyes as she woke up, and melted into Manuela’s hand. Melanie let out a tiny mewing sound.
“Awe… welcome back to the land of the living, Melanie,” Manuela pressed a kiss to Melanie’s forehead. “Are you feeling alright?” Melanie nodded and sat up before realizing she was completely naked. She thought about covering herself up but neither of them could see, so what was the point?
“My lungs hurt,”
“I did just drown you.”
“Mhm,” Melanie rubbed her sternum. She ached all over- no- no ached wasn’t the right word. It felt like something was pressing inside her. Like something was pushing at her skin and trying to force its way to the surface. “God- is this normal?”
“Is what normal? I may be smart but I can’t read your mind, Melanie.”
“I- i feel like something is trying to get out. Like it’s trying to escape my skin.” Melanie scratched at her hands.
“Oh? Does it?” Melanie huffed in annoyance.
“Could you stop being unsettling?”
“Sorry. No, it isn’t normal. It’s a… sign. It means your abilities are strong and they want to come out. The Dark seems to like you.” Manuela hummed, her fingers trailing down Melanie’s chest. Melanie shuddered at the contact, her back arching slightly to meet Manuela’s hand.
“Mm…”
“Poor thing…” neatly trimmed nails scratched lightly down Melanie’s stomach. Melanie squirmed, her breathing growing heavy. “You’re a perfect angel…”
“Manuela- what are you-“
“Oh- sorry am I being too forward?” Melanie paused.
“Yes but I don’t want you to stop. Just- just tell me what you’re planning on doing. I can’t see so- you know,” Manuela nodded.
“Of course. You know… it’s been quite a while since I’ve been with another person,” she smirked, “of course I had my communion with the Dark, let it take what it wanted and wring me dry… but it’s been so very long since I’ve felt another person’s touch,” Melanie shivered and moved her legs so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She patted her lap.
“Come here then,” Manuela smiled and started to strip. The lab coat and base layers fell to the ground, and she slipped out of her shoes. The choker with the cross stayed on though. Manuela cupped Melanie’s face before waving her hand. Tendrils wrapped around Melanie and dragged her onto the bed, splaying her out as they wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Melanie made a surprised noise but didn’t struggle.
“I like having control, if that’s alright with you,” Melanie swallowed hard and nodded as Manuela crawled up to Melanie’s face. “May I?” Melanie bit her lip. Manuela was straddling her face and asking if she could ride it.
“Please,” Manuela made a pleased sound and lowered herself onto Melanie’s mouth. She squirmed to find the best position before giving an experimental grind. “Mmh-“
“Good?” Melanie nodded. Manuela’s hands worked into Melanie’s hair. “Good girl. Lick.” Melanie started to lap at Manuela’s cunt, paying special attention to the woman’s clit. “F-fuck-“ Manuela whimpered. It had been forever since she’d been good and properly eaten out. Her eyes shut as she frantically ground into Melanie’s mouth, chasing her climax as quickly as she could. “Melanie- yes- you’re so good at this- good girl~” Manuela cried out. It felt far better than sex had any right to feel. Melanie made a few muffed noises as she tried to rub her thighs together. It wasn’t much use though, as Manuela’s tendrils were holding her legs firmly apart.
Manuela panted, her hips rocking firmly into Melanie’s mouth. She needed this. It had been so very long since she’d felt this… Manuela felt like she might sob as she got closer and closer to her orgasm. Melanie was quite skilled with that smug mouth of hers, Manuela had to hand it to her.
“Fuck- Melanie-“ heat coiled tightly in Manuela’s gut. “Melanie-!!” Manuela’s thighs clenched tightly around Melanie’s head as she came. “Ah- haah…” she rolled her hips a few more times, savoring the feeling of Melanie’s tongue on her velvety and overstimulated flesh. Manuela let out a soft breath and got off of Melanie.
“Mm- that was quick,”
“Shut up, it’s been a while since I’ve had an actual person to fuck me.”
“Guess we’re in the same boat with that,”
Manuela smirked as she nestled herself between Melanie’s thighs. Melanie was soaked, even staining the sheet beneath her with her arousal.
“How cute,” Manuela slid a finger into Melanie. Manuela’s fingers were long, but rather slender. One wouldn’t be nearly enough for Melanie to feel full. Melanie let out a keening whine. “Oh? Is there something you want, angel~?” Melanie tried to roll her hips but was stopped by another tendril wrapping around her.
“Please-“ Melanie whimpered. “Fuck me- make this- this itch go away-“ Manuela slipped another finger in. Two was satisfying but Melanie needed to feel stuffed. “More-“
“More? How greedy.” Manuela curled her fingers, making Melanie mewl. “I guess I could… but what would you do for it?”
“Anything-“
“Would you carry the spawn of the Dark?” Melanie’s eyes went wide.
“What-?”
“Well, we do still need creatures that lurk in the shadows. Would you carry them?” Melanie shifted as much as she could.
“Would it be like a pregnancy or-“
“No, no. Um- eggs. That’s the most accurate way I could describe it,” Melanie paused. To bear the children of the Dark felt like a heavy weight but a true honor.
“Please-“ Manuela kissed up Melanie’s shoulders before biting down on her neck. “Please!!”
“Good girl~” Manuela slipped a third finger in and started properly fucking Melanie. Melanie squirmed and tried to roll her hips to meet Manuela’s fingers. “You’re taking this so well…” Manuela whispered, curling her fingers and drawing a lewd moan from Melanie. “Such a pretty girl… are you going to come on my fingers?”
“Yes- yes Manuela-“ the ecstasy of the moment had allowed Melanie to forget about the Dark trying to breach through her skin. She ached. She needed. She needed and needed and needed-
The pad of Manuela’s thumb grazed over Melanie’s clit.
“F-fuck!!” Melanie’s hands scrambled for anything to hold on to. The tendrils let her arms go, and Melanie wrapped her arms around Manuela’s neck. “Please- please- Manuela-“
“Shh… you’re doing so well. Giving yourself up to me… to the Dark… what a perfect sacrifice.” Melanie almost cried at the praise. She was so wound up that it hurt. She needed Manuela. Melanie’s pussy was so wonderfully tight and slick and her walls fluttered around Manuela’s fingers.
“I- I’m a good sacrifice- I- I’m so good for you-“
“That’s right~” another curl into just the right place had Melanie’s jagged nails scraping into Manuela’s skin. “Awe.. feeling close?” Melanie gave a frantic nod. “Hm, suppose we should do something about that…” A loud whine escaped Melanie.
“Please- Manuela- wanna come- please-“ Manuela nodded and redoubled her efforts, making Melanie sob with relief. She was so close-
“Who do you belong to?” Manuela curled her fingers.
“You- the Dark- whatever- whatever’s in the dark that wants me-“
“There you go.” A few more curls and a few more brushes over Melanie’s clit was all it took for the woman to come hard on Manuela’s fingers. Melanie panted, her body trembling with the force of the aftershocks. The tendrils around her receded, leaving her
“G-god-“
“Feeling alright?” Melanie nodded and sat up. “That’s good,”
“Yeah,” there was a brief pause as Melanie caught her breath and nodded. “So… eggs.”
“Yes. I think this would also be a good opportunity for you to use your abilities,” Manuela let out a soft sigh. “I want you to try to summon tendrils. Imagine taking that itch under your skin and directing it into the shadows.”
“… sure.” Melanie didn’t entirely buy what Manuela was saying but decided to humor her. As she focused, that itch went away. Something brushed up against her hand and curled around it. “What is that-?” Manuela reached out and felt the tendril.
“Good job. That’s an extension of the Dark that you get to control. Well- you get to control it most of the time. They can have a mind of their own.” Manuela hummed. Melanie paused, thinking what to do with this newfound ability. She grinned, and tendrils wrapped around Manuela’s wrists, pulling them behind the woman’s back. “Ah-?”
“Oh this is fun.” Manuela huffed.
“Very funny. What do you have in mind?”
“Well- um- how would the Dark… put its eggs in me?”
“The tendrils,” Melanie made an “oh” sound and nodded.
“Um- well then I’ll probably just…” She sank down on a tendril, gasping as it filled her so so wonderfully. “Fffuck…” Melanie whimpered. She rocked her hips, mewling as the tendril wriggled and hit spots deep inside of her. Manuela wished she could see Melanie, just this once. Instead she settled for impatiently rubbing her thighs together. Melanie sounded beautiful. Breathy gasps and moans filled the dark space. Manuela would be fingering herself if her hands were free, but Melanie’s tendrils had them bound behind her back.
Using the Dark to masturbate was mildly humiliating to her, but god she was so needy… A tendril poked at her entrance before worming its way in. Manuela shuddered as it curled and writhed inside of her cunt. Then another tendril. And another. And another. And more and more until Manuela was panting and mewling and stuffed to the brim with squirming shadows. Melanie was still rocking her hips onto the tendril that was starting to swell around the base. The girth had increased substantially and Melanie was starting to wonder if she was even going to be able to take it. Melanie shut her eyes and whimpered, her mouth falling open as the egg pushed inside of her and deposited itself deep inside of her.
“Fffuck- Manuela-“ Melanie gasped as the tendril swelled again. She wasn’t going to be able to take much more. Melanie was small. A bit waifish. Her body couldn’t handle more than… well even one egg was pushing it but as the second one was pushed in, Melanie groaned. The tendril pulled away and let Melanie collapse back on the bed. Manuela was still chasing her orgasm though, her hips bucking as she frantically tried to finish herself off.
Manuela came with a shuddering cry and fell forwards between Melanie’s legs as the tendrils disappeared.
“oof-“ She pushed herself onto her hands and knees before tapping Melanie’s hip. “Are you feeling alright?” Manuela received a pained whimper in response. She sighed and moved to lay next to Melanie, feeling the warmth of the woman’s body. Her fingers traced over the swell in Melanie’s abdomen where the eggs pressed against her skin. Melanie shivered.
“Christ-“
“Still sensitive?” Melanie nodded. “Alright, I’ll be gentle then.”
“Mm.. thanks…”
“Did you enjoy your union with the Dark?” Melanie took in a deep breath, shaky and pained.
“Well- my lungs still hurt and you did drown me, but I feel far better than I did at the institute.” Manuela hummed, her fingers tracing over Melanie’s face to memorize every contour and ridge and scar. “Thank you.” She sighed and nuzzled into Manuela’s gentle hands.
“Of course.”
“Will you be here when I wake up?” Melanie was starting to let her eyes fall shut.
“Of course.” Melanie hummed in response, sleepy and drained. “Sleep well,”
“Thank you…”
“Thank you, Melanie.”