Jadis had long ago noticed that Destarious liked to pull aspects of her previous life on Earth into their monthly visits. The weird noir thing he had done last time had made it pretty obvious that the mad god was enjoying himself playing around with her former civilization’s culture and history. Considering that he apparently hadn’t known much about Earth before meeting her, if anything at all, Jadis had to wonder if he was pulling the knowledge from her brain, or if he had visited Earth directly after plucking her soul out of the cosmos. If he had gone to Earth, she couldn’t imagine that his presence would have gone unnoticed or unremarked.
Whether he had gone to her old planet or not, the fact remained that D loved to insert random aspects of Earth culture back into Jadis’ life on occasion. The Vital Overflow Ritual was one of those occasions.
“Was zum teufel is this music!?” Ludger shouted as he performed a frankly atrocious dance move that reminded Jadis of a sprinkler crossed with a drunken rabbit. “It’s so loud!”
“Just go with the beat!” Syd called back with a mad grin. “Feel the rhythm!”
“This is utterly undignified!” Elodie complained loudly, though she was also grinning ear to ear as she danced in front of her bare-chested and extremely muscular fiancé. “If my father was here, he would have a heart attack!”
“Shame he isn’t here, then…”
“What?”
“Keep dancing!” Syd shouted over the thumping bass. “We’ve got almost four hours of this to go!”
While she was a lot less shocked by the music pulsing through the temple’s ritual hall than others were, Jadis was still surprised to hear what was, essentially, a techno beat coming from the musicians. She was pretty sure the men and women who had volunteered to provide the musical component for the ritual were surprised, too. She doubted any of them were familiar with the melodies being played, and the instruments definitely shouldn’t have been capable of the sounds being produced.
Jadis was also certain that no one in the temple had cast any spells to make the lights change color or pulse in rhythm to the music’s beat. Such was the power of a mad D ritual. Following instructions created chaos.
Moving her three selves through the room, Jadis both observed and encouraged all of the active participants to dance at the level of energy that was needed to satisfy the ritual’s requirements. Doing so wasn’t just important to make sure that the spell succeeded, but it was also intensely amusing for her. No one in the room, or the empire for that matter, had ever experienced a rave before, and Jadis was having a lot of fun seeing the various reactions coming from people. She could kind of understand what D was on about when she looked at the ritual from that perspective.
“Keep it up!” Dys slapped Halvor on his back. “You’re a beast!”
“Så gøy!” The big barbarian exclaimed as he pumped his arms and legs. “This reminds me of summer nights in Jarnlund! Ha!”
While he wasn’t the greatest dancer, Halvor had enthusiastic energy, which carried him a long way. She wondered if part of his excitement came from the four nearly naked, very busty priestesses who had drifted around him. From the looks they were giving the man, Jadis didn’t think their proximity was a coincidence. Nor did she think Halvor would be feeling lonely later that night.
From what she was seeing elsewhere on the dance floor, the Lyssandrian priestesses weren’t the only ones sizing up their prey.
“You’re such a good dancer!” Aurea called out as she purposefully brushed her sizable chest against Noll’s arm as she moved close to the therion. “So confident and graceful!”
“…It’s just movement,” the old wolf responded almost too quietly to be heard over the music.
“Dancing is so much more than movement!” Aurea insisted, her eyes twinkling as she smiled at the taller man. “You have to possess a true artistic heart to dance as skillfully as you do with no practice! Have you ever considered worshipping Lyssandria more directly?”
“No, I haven’t…”
“Allow me to guide you in a few of my favorite prayer forms later,” the High Priestess said as she put one hand on Noll’s hip and began gyrating in a way that would have turned heads at a belly-dancer’s competition. “In private…”
“Go get ‘em, girl,” Jay grinned as she watched the two dance.
“What was that?”
“Just admiring the scenery,” Jay said as she grinned at Eir.
The lovely elf was looking drop dead gorgeous wearing what was basically a robe that left her arms and legs bare, with slits on either side that went all the way up to her armpits. Only a thin golden rope held the two pieces of cloth relatively together, and the near exposure that was being constantly threatened by the ensemble was somehow way sexier than if Eir had just gone with open nudity.
“Oh, I know exactly what you mean,” Kerr panted as she pranced next to the oracle. “I know we only need to do this ritual every six months, but can we do this painted dancing shit more often? For fun? This is fucking awesome!”
As Jay stared at Kerr’s painted, bare breasts bounce hypnotically, she revised her earlier assessment. Nudity was just as sexy as being barely clothed. But the body paint was good, too.
“Are you sure you are okay with being bare chested around so many,” Eir asked with genuine concern as her own breasts threatened to spill out of her nearly non-existent clothing. “You are not uncomfortable?”
“Fuck no!” Kerr laughed, her wagging tail causing her skimpy loincloth to move dramatically “Besides! Give it another twenty minutes! It’s going to be as hot as Svaroga’s balls in here by then! You’ll see a lot more clothing hit the floor before we’re done, I promise you!”
That was probably true. Even with the various spells filling everyone with energy, people were still going to get hot and bothered from all the dancing. Having on minimal clothing would be a boon, not just a ritual requirement.
Jadis was already prepared for the heat, since all three of her bodies were wearing nothing more than chest wraps and some tightly bound underclothes coupled with loincloths similar to the ones she had first worn when she had been reborn on Oros. Her choice of wardrobe wasn’t just comfortable, but it had also left a lot of room for her lovers to get creative with the different colors of dye. She had no interest in ever getting any tattoos, but she quite liked the colorful look on her selves. It was a nice change of pace from being marble white. Besides, letting her lovers apply the paint had been a delight.
Maybe Kerr’s suggestion to have these ritual raves more often wasn’t a throwaway idea after all.
As the dancing continued and the night progressed, Kerr’s prediction regarding heat and clothing proved accurate. Soon enough, those who had only removed enough layers to satisfy the ritual requirements were tossing shirts to the side, exposing themselves to the press of sweaty, nearly naked bodies as the crowd danced with increasing fervor. While energy did not flag thanks to effects like Bridget’s Stamina Beacon and Sorcha’s Stamina Wands, as well as the spells that various priestesses were providing, everyone was still getting hot and thirsty. Jugs of cool water were passed around the dance floor, since the ritual required all to dance without pause, but that led to a lot of the water being spilled onto the floor, as well as the dancers. Very soon, even those who were still wearing enough clothes to maintain their decency were showing off a lot more than they might have intended.
“Oops! Sorry!” Syd said as she knocked into someone from behind as she danced with Bridget and Sabina. “I—oh, hey Amarantha!”
The answer as to how a cat dances at a rave was answered by a great deal of shimmying, head bobbing, and acrobatic leaps. The answer as to how a fire-furred Lares riding a walking stone cauldron dances at a rave was more involved but summarized to one word: dramatically.
“I wish I had been given more warning about this ritual!” the Lares’ tiny voice squeaked over the loud music. “I have some potions I could have made that would have enhanced the experience!”
As she spoke, Amarantha’s flames flashed and sparked as the paints they had poured onto her continued to burn in a process that was both beautiful and baffling.
“I can only imagine what that would be like,” Syd laughed at the thought of Lares-concocted hallucinogens. “As long as they aren’t addictive!”
“Oh, horribly so!” Amarantha admitted with a bright laugh, “But I have cures for that! They’re worth it for some of the interesting effects!”
While Jadis was still processing the information the wicked cat had given her, Amarantha turned her attention to the side and pointed with her nose.
“I don’t think I’d need to dose those two, though! Things seem to be progressing nicely!”
Glancing over to where the fiery cat was indicating, Syd grinned knowingly and joined Amarantha in her laugh.
Wilhelm and Jocelyn were awkwardly dancing together off to one side of the room. Despite the mass commotion all around them, the two had eyes only for each other. Whenever anyone came near enough to the Oracle that she might be bumped into, the Hero would interpose himself between her and the other participant without even looking. Neither were going to win any medals in a dance competition, but the cute factor was top notch.
“One hundred percent,” Syd agreed with the Mystic’s assessment. “You’ve got to keep me updated! I want all the details the moment one of them finally breaks down and asks the other out!”
“You’ll have them!” Amarantha shouted happily. “But I expect some juicy stories in exchange!”
“It’s a deal!”
Amarantha’s letters were infrequent due to her circumstances, but Jadis always appreciated the entertaining recounting of life within the Hero’s party that the Lares provided for her. When, exactly, Wilhelm and Jocelyn were going to hook up was a hot point of speculation, and Jadis was glad that her ritual was potentially helping them move along in their budding relationship.
Speaking of budding relationships, Jadis herself had a couple that felt like they were coming that much closer to flowering.
“You’re an amazing dancer!” Jay told Maeve as the Fetch swayed her hips to the beat.
“No bones!” Maeve replied before sticking her tongue out at Jay. “I’m made for this!”
“It’s not the only thing you’re made for!” Kerr shouted as she moved up behind the shapeshifter and began grinding against her. “Woo! Dance, sexy lady, dance!”
Ever since they had returned from Glanum, Kerr had been making a point out of showing her sexual interest in Maeve. She hadn’t done anything more than words or light touching, nor had she spoken to Jadis about her opinions directly, but it was obvious that she was trying to get Jadis interested in the Fetch. Jadis didn’t mind, since her opinion of Maeve had improved drastically ever since they had sat down together and worked through her self esteem issues, and it had risen even higher after the airship incident.
Maeve, for her part, had been receptive to Kerr’s flirting, but hadn’t taken any of her openings as an opportunity to try and seduce Jadis. In fact, she had been generally reserved with her. Friendly, but no attempts at flirting or jumping into her bed. Oddly, that cool cordialness increased Jadis’ interest even more.
Watching the Fetch grind her ass into Kerr’s crotch wasn’t hurting her interest, either.
The other blooming duo on the dance floor that was making it hard for Jadis to contain her more passionate instincts had drifted close to her Dys self. Or she had drifted closer to them. She wasn’t wholly sure. Nor was she certain how Thea and Meli had ended up dancing together. She doubted it was coincidence.
Meli was, unsurprisingly, an excellent dancer, no doubt in part thanks to her high Agility and natural limberness. When she moved, it was like watching a modern art performance worthy of a high society theatre. Or one of those expensive strip clubs that Kerr enjoyed so much. Thea, on the other hand, acted as a sort of anchor to the wilder movements of the Dryad. Not that she was stiff; Thea was actually moving with a great deal of skill. And yet, she was also dancing with her eyes closed while Meli circled and capered around her, so Jadis wasn’t entirely sure if the shieldmaiden even knew that the other woman was next to her.
Then again, it would have been very hard for Thea to miss the way Meli kept touching, rubbing, and sometimes draping herself across her. Maybe keeping her eyes closed under those circumstances was just how Thea kept herself from melting on the spot.
When Aila caught Dys’ eye and the redhead gave her a knowing look, she grinned and rolled her eyes back at the other woman. The point had been made. Jadis really did need to have a deeper conversation with Meli about where their relationship might be going.
As the night continued and the ritual wore on, Jadis found herself entering a strange state of euphoria. She hadn’t been drinking, much less doing any of the “potions” that Amarantha apparently had access to, yet she felt like she was practically floating out of her bodies. She felt electrified, yet somehow a little numb at the same time. It was a strange, yet pleasurable sensation that just made her want to dance even harder. Falling deeper into the thrumming rhythm, she could tell that the rest of the ritual participants around her were experiencing something similar.
The beat’s tempo never increased, yet the frenetic energy of the magical rave rose higher and higher as the dancers drew closer together. It was like they were all being led towards the center of the room, pulled by a magnetic force. Only, it wasn’t the center of the room, Jadis dimly realized. They were all being drawn towards her.
As the music reached an almost deafening crescendo, all of the dancers raised their hands towards the ceiling. Even those who were not direct ritual participants followed suit, swept up by the overwhelming aura filling the hall. Sweaty, dye-covered bodies rubbed against each other as hands reached high and faces turned skyward. No one but Jadis and her lovers knew what was coming, and yet, they could all feel the inevitability of a final note reaching its peak.
And then the music stopped.
The moment all sound cut out, all the dancers went still as a wave of some powerful energy washed over them. It felt like a thousand gallons of pure, cool, crystal-clear water had been dumped over their collective heads, instantly washing away the intense heat that had been burning just under everyone’s skin. A collective sigh of relief echoed in the chamber, and for just a moment, there was utter peace.
Then people started collapsing to the floor as their tired legs gave out.
“That was… far more intense than when it was just us!” Eir panted, still speaking a little loudly despite the music no longer playing. “I believe I need to lie down…”
“You definitely need some rest,” Jay said as she swept her lover up in her arms to keep her from sinking to the ground. “Good thing we’re prepared this time.”
“Yes, we are,” Eir smiled at Jay before giving her a loving kiss. “Thank Lyssandria for your insistence on doing a test run.”
Since Jadis had performed a smaller version of the ritual with her lovers, she had learned that everyone wouldn’t just be tired from the exertion of the long hours of intense dancing, but they would all be hungry and thirsty as well. So, in preparation for the main event, Jadis had arranged with the temples to have tables overflowing with food and restorative beverages waiting in the wings for when they were done. Without Jadis even having to say anything, the doors to the ritual hall flew open and dozens of acolytes and priests carried the banquet to the dancers, along with water and towels to clean themselves off, as well as chairs so the weary could sit and relax.
Not that everyone’s mind was on food and rest.
Watching the crowd through multiple sets of eyes, Jadis saw Halvor, the Berserker, quickly exit the hall with four giggling priestesses in tow. On the other side of the room, she spotted Wilhelm standing to one side with Jocelyn in his arms. Both of their chests were heaving as they stared into each other’s eyes, and Jadis didn’t think any amount of food was going to distract them from their moment. Aurea, on the other hand, had a platter of meats and cheeses in one hand and was using the other to hand feed Noll, all while sitting on the old wolf’s lap. Noll was looking a little stiff, but he also didn’t seem to be all that unhappy with the development, either.
All around her Jadis saw couples pair off as the energy in the room didn’t dim so much as it shifted. Those who were in relationships already seemed to have eyes only for each other, while those who were single found others who were of like mind and intent. Jadis didn’t think the crowd was in any danger of becoming a spontaneous orgy, but the vibe in the air was far from chaste. Jadis had to wonder if the way people were acting had to do with some hidden effect of the ritual, or just the fact that so many young and attractive men and women were gathered, mostly naked and drenched in sweat, in a room together.
She couldn’t speak for anyone else, but Jadis knew for certain how she was feeling. And much like Halvor, food wasn’t the first thing on her mind at that moment.
Nor was food ever the first thing on Alex’s mind.
“I want you… To take me…” The Demon whispered into Dys’ ear as her other lovers joined her other bodies by the banquet tables.
“Right now?” Dys almost laughed, though the proposition of having Alex that very moment was too enticing to treat as a joke. “It’s a little crowded in here.”
“We did not… Complete… My accession…” Alex reminded her.
In fact, they had not, as it turned out some of the other Demons in Building Five were more observant than either of them had expected. Cobbler had been very confused by the embarrassing encounter, but Oats at least seemed to understand and accept the explanation she and Alex had given. Several of the others, on the other hand, had asked endless questions, to the point where Jay and Alex hadn’t been able to attempt another Exhibitionistic Accession ritual.
“Right now?” Dys asked quietly as Alex’s painted body clung to her like a wet rag.
“Please…”
Well. Who was she to deny her Demon?
As quickly and quietly as possible, Dys and Alex slipped out of the hall to find a place where they could conceivably indulge in each other’s lust while being both public and unobserved at the same time. Since they had lived in Lyssandria’s temple for some time, Jadis had a few ideas on where they could go. As she and her tentacled lover rushed towards the temple bathhouse, a collection of figures barely visible in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
Stopping in her tracks, Dys leaned her head around a pillar to see Second Prince Kestil walking leisurely with several of his guards. Their group was unmistakably heading for the ritual hall, though what his reason for being there was she couldn’t even begin to guess.
“Problem…?”
“Nope,” Dys said before picking Alex up and rushing down the hallway and towards the baths. “A different part of me can deal with that shit. We’ve got another ritual to complete.”
“Yes… Please…”
234