The Dark Gathering was a tradition among warlocks the world over: a place for them to meet in secret at a location known only to those initiated into the practices of demonology and chaos magic. For all intents and purposes, it was a secret society, with members from all walks of life. Yet there were certainly some powerful presences among them, including the noble and powerful.

Cassandra was one such person. Involved in a small coven in Elwynn, the gathering was a good way to scout for new members and mingle with others. She enjoyed this party more than the noble galas and political affairs. Here, she could be herself.

Yet this one was different.

A rare appearance by Baroness Penelope Brightwood had the gathering abuzz with talk and excitement. A powerful user of chaos magic who had seemingly mastered the fel, Penelope was not someone most dared to approach. She sat in her booth area with one of her demons: a succubus who rested beside her as though she were more a domestic pet than a demon.

As Cassandra turned from a discussion with a colleague, a gap in the crowd brought her eyes into contact with the Baroness's across the room. Those emerald eyes peered at her, a soft smile resting on Penelope's lips that felt both welcoming and suggestive of some deeper intent.

Cassandra felt vulnerable, as if she were a zhevra at a watering hole in the Barrens, sensing a predator nearby, simply watching and waiting.

A waiter interrupted her, asking if she'd like something to drink.

She looked at him with a thankful yet respectful smile and shook her head.

"No, thank you," she said.

Her eyes returned to the watching Baroness.

Wait. Her succubus had been there just a moment ago, and now she was gone. It had only been a few seconds.

Then it came: a sensation from a hand placed on her shoulder, followed by a voice beside her ear.

There it was.

The demon.

"Beautiful, isn't she? She likes you, you know. My mistress."

Skar, as the demon was called, assured her of this. The tips of her fingers glowed a soft pink as they rested against Cassandra's shoulder.

"S-she... is the most... beautiful woman... I've ever s-seen," Cassandra said.

The words were sincere, but they had been compelled from her lips. She didn't realize it in the moment, but the demon was charming her with her succubus magic.

"I was like you once. A middling warlock, playing at power far beyond my reach," Skar revealed.

"I went to her, seeking to learn from her. Yet I was out of my depth. She took me in, yet the gulf between us in our power was so great that I couldn't possibly hope to ever be what she was."

Skar's faintly glowing hand touched the side of Cassandra's head.

“Yet even I. Even you. Have our place at the feet of this woman.” Skar assures her.

A flurry of images flowed into her mind—memories of Skar's past and the terrible price she had paid for serving the Baroness. Images of the debauchery and deeds Skar’s mortal form had partaken in at the hands of the Baroness.

Cassandra inhaled sharply, overwhelmed by the visions.

The images had been twisted so that they no longer showed Skar and Penelope, but Cassandra in Skar's place.

She barely had time to register one before the next flew into her mind, followed immediately by another.

She saw herself kneeling before the Baroness, completely at her mercy. Penelope’s mound pressed against her lips as her tongue twirled inside her. Her firm grip weaved through her locks of hair as she used her for pleasure.

Then the vision changed.

She found herself bound, unable to move, while Penelope stood over her with an expression of cold authority. Her wrists shackled above her head, a whip lashing across her back. She could feel it, yet it didn’t hurt… it was exciting.

Another image followed.

Her chest rose and fell quickly as another image flew into her mind’s eye. Penelope’s hand around her neck as she loomed over her from above. Her large strap pumping wildly into her womanhood. Cassandra lets out a partial moan but its quickly muffled by Skar’s hand so as to not draw attention to them.

Nobody had heard it

“Go to her. Tell her you love her, then take off your dress right in front of her. Beg her to take you in.” Skar said as her voice faded away.

No longer were her hands upon Cassandra.

In fact, she had seemingly disappeared again.

Then, sure enough, Cassandra looked toward the booth where the Baroness was seated and saw the succubus sitting there once more.

"Go... to... her..."

A voice in her mind compelled her.

Cassandra obeyed, beginning to walk toward Penelope through the crowd. She barely noticed that there was a crowd there at all. It felt like sleepwalking, but with a purpose guiding her mind.

Before she knew it, she was standing in front of Penelope, who simply looked at her with that same silent smile.

A cigarette rested between her fingers as she waited.

"I... l-love you... Baroness..." Cassandra trembled.

Her hands moved uncertainly as she stood before Penelope, her expression distant and confused. Her hands reaching for the zip at the back of her dress as if guided by another hand. She slides it off at the shoulders. The expensive silk falls away, dropping to the floor around her feet. Her body was revealed, naked except for some black lace stockings that climbed her plush pale thighs.

"I beg you..."

More images flashed into Cassandra's mind, they were uncontrolled and sporadic. The visions returned, but this time they were darker. She can feel the pain of whipping, the strain of the shackles on her wrist and the violent sound of the whip meeting her flesh. It changes again, this time she saw the Baroness above her again, her hand around Cassandra's neck, but this time something far more terrifying was happening. Penelope was drawing Cassandra's very soul from her body. Those emerald eyes peered at her from the darkness.

The charm spell was broken.

Cassandra suddenly recoiled, hurrying to grab her fallen dress and cover her form.

"S-sorry... I... I have to go!" she said in a panicked voice, turning and dashing out of the booth area and out of the party entirely.

Some of the other partygoers looked on, confused and questioning.

"Nothing to worry about, my good friends. Just a little stage fright," Penelope said with a smile.

There was a charm about her that people simply seemed to enjoy.

Some chuckles and murmured words followed, and soon everyone returned to their party activities, unbothered by the display that had just occurred.

Penelope's hand squeezed firmly down on the base of Skar's tail, pulling on it hard enough to make her point, yet not in a manner that would draw notice. Her emerald, piercing gaze shifted toward Skar from the corner of her eye.

"Disappointing," she said quietly, but directly to her.

"Forgive me, Mistress, I just lost-"

Skar stifled a sound of discomfort from the grip on her tail.

"Shh. Enjoy the gathering for now. Pain comes later." Penelope said firmly, maintaining her smile and practiced manner of remaining proper in a public setting.

"Y-yes, my mistress," Skar simply conceded.

She maintained her expression so as not to reveal the worry beneath it. She was going to be punished when they got home. All she could do now was, indeed, enjoy the gathering.

Penelope took a drag of her cigarette, softly blowing the smoke from her lips after a few moments.

She wasn't worried at all.

She'd have Cassandra and her entire coven in time.

She was a patient predator, and her appetite was insatiable.