Revenge of the Red Witch

AN: This story contains graphic scenes of rape and violence. If this will offend please do not read.

“He’s dead. That’s the only explanation.” Sylphiel said flatly.

Amelia had to admit that the likelihood that Gourry was alive and in hiding somewhere was diminishing rapidly. Still she said, “Don’t give up hope, Sylphiel-san.”

Sylphiel shook her head, “When we last saw them, they told me they were getting married. They said they wanted me to hear it from them before I heard it from some random traveler. Lina-san said they were ready for a quiet life with a half dozen kids.”

Sylphiel’s lower lip trembled and Amelia’s jaw nearly dropped in shock. Lina and Gourry had planned on getting married? And Lina hadn’t said anything to her either! “I was crushed.” Sylphiel continued, her voice shaky, “But I wasn’t surprised. I thanked them for telling me. They asked me to keep it quiet. They didn’t want rumors of their wedding plans reaching her parents before they had a chance to meet Gourry-sama. I said I would.”

Sylphiel brushed away her tears before continuing, “They looked so happy together. They always looked so happy together. When they left I was so jealous, I wished something would happen that would prevent them getting married. And now…”

Amelia put a hand on her arm to stop her, and then gave her a comforting hug in the middle of the crowded city street. “Don’t do this to yourself Sylphiel-san. It wasn’t your wish that did it. It was a bunch of low life bandits! And we’re going to help Lina-san smash them.”

Sylphiel clung tightly to the princess, tears spilling from her eyes. She hadn’t meant to break down and cause a scene in the middle of town, but she couldn’t help it. “With the Hammer of Justice?” she eventually got out.

Amelia rubbed her back, “Exactly. We’re going to smash them together, with the Hammer of Justice!”

“Good luck convincing Lina to allow you two to tag along.” Zel said, and Amelia and Sylphiel sprang apart in shock.

“Zelgadis-san!” Amelia exclaimed, “What…how long have you been here?”

“Long enough to figure out what you two are up to.”

Sylphiel dried her eyes on her sleeve. “Are you looking for Lina-san too?”

Zel shook his head, “I was just passing through. I saw her in the Cow’s Feet Bar just a few hours ago.”

“What?” Amelia exclaimed, “How is she?”

“Let’s walk and talk. People are starting to stare.” Zel said calmly.

He waited until they were in a less dense part of the city to continue. “I’ve never seen her like this. Not even when Phibrizzo had kidnapped Gourry.”

“So he wasn’t with her.” Sylphiel said quietly.

Zel looked at her and put a hand on her shoulder, “She as much admitted that he’s dead.”

“You talked to her?” Amelia asked.

“No. I overheard her gathering information on some bandit named Jaxon.”

“Why didn’t you talk to her?”

“She didn’t exactly look as though she wanted to see a friendly face.”

“But she’d want to see you!” Amelia persisted, “She needs to know that she’s not alone.”

Zel sighed. “She’s deeply ashamed, Amelia. Being strong was important to her. It’s bad enough that rumors of what happened follow her wherever she goes and that complete strangers know what happened. It would be worse for her if it was her friends. She’s probably terrified that we’ll think less of her. Believe me. I remember what it was like when Rezo violated my body.”

“That’s why we need to find her!” Amelia persisted, “So she can see that we still think she’s strong!”

“She’s going to fight you at every turn.” Zel pointed out. “She’ll come around, when and if she’s ready.”

“You’re just too scared to try!”

Zel sighed. He knew it would be pointless to reason with her. “Fine. I’ve got other things to do.”

“Wait!” Amelia cried, “Do you know where she was going?”

Zel considered her for a moment. Amelia looked determined. Sylphiel just looked lost in her grief. “I saw her on the eastbound road out of here. Beyond that I have no idea.”

Amelia smiled, “Thank you.”

*********

Lina showed the small group of women and children a break in the flames. “Through there, go home. And tell anyone you see that the Red Witch got her dish of vengeance today.”

Some of them didn’t have to be told twice to flee from the camp. They were out before Lina could bat an eye. A few stayed behind to offer their thanks before leaving. Lina wished they would hurry and go.

Still. Lina couldn’t believe how selfish she used to be. Before it was grab the treasure and run, nevermind who got hurt. Nevermind the bandits she’d leave alive to continue their vile, wicked ways. Now she still got her treasure, after she helped whatever slaves were in the camp to escape and after she had exterminated each and every bandit.

Finally the last of the innocents left, and Lina made her way back to the center of the camp, which was in chaos. Bandits were running every which way in an attempt to find some way through her firewall. Lina’s lips curved upward in a grin. The only people who could get through it were those she permitted to.

She unsheathed her short sword and set to work. She preferred to slit throats, but she would toss the occasional fireball or flare arrow around as needed. In their panicked state they were no match for her, and soon the only sounds that filled the camp were those of the fire.

Lina knelt before one of the bodies, prepared to start her ritual when the sound of footsteps stopped her. She turned and brought her sword to the throat of a young man. A very young man. His eyes widened in fear and he dropped the knife he was holding. “Please let me go.” He said, “I just joined on yesterday. I haven’t done anything bad, I swear!”

Lina indulged him with a contemplative look. He continued babbling, “My parents died, I had no other way to support myself, please!”

Lina yawned. “Spare me the sob story. I have no way of knowing what you did or didn’t do. You willingly associated with low lives, though. That tells me you have no qualms about hurting others. So the way I see it, you’re just as culpable as anyone here.”

He took a few steps backwards away from her sword and then started to run. Lina laughed. “Ray wing!”

In no time she was in front of him, blocking his progress. She grabbed him by the hair and brought her sword to his throat. “Don’t you know? There’s nowhere to run to. You made your bed now lie in it!”

Without further ado she dragged the sword across his throat. He went limp as the life left his body, and Lina kicked him away from her. She took a deep breath and then knelt beside him and turned him so he was face was up. She grabbed a small knife from her pocket and started to carve a series of letters onto his forehead. R.O.T.R.W.

********

“Those flames, what’s happening?” Sylphiel asked a woman clutching a small child as she ran.

“An Angel of Mercy!” The women cried, “Bandits had taken us. She attacked them and set us free.”

“Thank you. Amelia-san!”

“Right. Ray wing!”

Sylphiel followed suit. Soon enough they were over the firewall. And there in the center of it was a figure clad in red. “There she is!”

Amelia and Sylphiel landed, and then nearly gagged. A stench of death and burned flesh hung ominously in the air. There was blood everywhere, and Lina had taken the time to position the bodies in a macabre line. Amelia’s eyes widened as she realized that Lina had carved something onto all of their foreheads. She felt weak in the knees. Beside her Sylphiel had collapsed to her knees and was saying goodbye to her dinner.

Amelia barely had time to register that Lina had also written “Revenge of the Red Witch” in blood on the tents, along with “Bandits Beware.” Lina had noticed their presence. She had been crouched over the body of a dead bandit, carving letters into his forehead. Now she was standing. She growled as she turned to face them, “More bandits? Usually I crush all of you in my first sweep!”

Her words caught in her throat as it registered that the two people in the camp with her were not bandits but people she knew. The color drained from Lina’s face and her eyes seemed to become unnaturally big. “Lina-san…” Amelia started, but everything she had planned to say died in her throat.

“Leave.” Lina said, and then turned her attention back to the bandit she had been carving up.

“Lina-san, what happened?”

Lina remained quiet as she finished her knife work and stood up to drag the bandit’s body with the others. It gave Amelia the chills to watch her. Beside her Sylphiel stood up and put a hand on Amelia’s shoulder. Not to comfort the other woman, but to steady herself. “Lina-san, where’s Gourry-sama?”

Lina said nothing as she dropped the body and started to search for another one. Sylphiel persisted, “Please Lina-san. I love him, just as much as you do. Not knowing is killing me!”

Lina ran a hand through her hair and seemed unconcerned by the blood that she streaked in it by doing so. She knelt before another corpse and, hands trembling this time, proceeded to carve him up. When she finally spoke it was distant, as though she didn’t want to admit it to herself. “He’s dead.” She wiped her eyes on her sleeve, as if brushing away tears, “You two need to leave.”

Sylphiel collapsed, and Amelia knelt down beside her, putting a comforting arm around her. “How did it happen?”

Lina stood up and dragged the corpse with the others. It was sickening to watch her work as she started to search for another body, leaving Sylphiel’s question unanswered. “Lina-san, please tell me what happened to him!”

“You don’t want to know the answer to that.” Lina said flatly as she gave up on finding another body and started walking to the tent where she had spotted the treasure earlier.

Sylphiel shook her head, “Nothing you can tell me can be worse than the images that keep coming into my head.”

Lina ignored her and continued the short trek to the tent. Amelia got up to follow her. “Lina-san, we’re here to help however we can. But we need to know what happened. The Kingdom of Dils has issued a warrant for your arrest and I’m sure I can get it dropped but…”

“Don’t waste your time. If the Kingdom of Dils wants to arrest me, well, I’d like to see them try it. I don’t need your help.” Lina spat as she reached the tent.

Amelia followed her inside. “Lina-san, you’re scaring me. This is…it’s…”

“I’ve already asked you twice to leave.” Lina stated flatly as she pulled a bag from her cape and started to fill it with treasure. “I’m starting to lose my patience.”

“Then what are you going to do? Slit my throat and carve stuff into my forehead?” Amelia shot back, “Was this even Jaxon’s camp?”

Lina spun around, “How did you learn that name? It took me two months to get one lousy name!”

“Zelgadis-san overheard you in a bar earlier. He ran into us and told us what he knew.”

Lina looked at her as though she was crazy, and then turned back to the treasure. “This is what I do now, Amelia. Bandits are a vermin on the earth that need to be eradicated. This is justice.”

“And the three men you murdered in Dils? Lina-san, they weren’t bandits.”

Lina’s mouth twitched. She tied up the bag and stuffed it in her cape, and pulled out another one. Amelia was starting to grow impatient. “How do they fit into all of this? Did they kill Gourry-san?”

Lina remained quiet as she finished filling the second bag and put it in her cape. She stood up and started for the exit to the tent. Amelia, sensing that she was about to ray wing out of there, grabbed her by the shoulder, alarmed by the tension she felt in her friend’s muscles.

“Did they hand you over to the bandits? Did they rape you?”

Lina spun around, her eyes wide, “What do you mean rape?”

Amelia backed away, “There’s talk that you and Gourry-san were abducted…”

“Lies!” Lina cried, “It didn’t happen!”

“Then what did happen? Gourry-san didn’t just die of his own accord.”

Lina’s eyes flooded and overflowed with tears and she started to sink to her knees, “Nothing happened.” She said, her voice unnaturally flat, “Nothing!”

Amelia walked over and knelt down to embrace her. Lina screamed and backed out from her grip, “Don’t touch me!” she yelled, panic consuming her voice.

Amelia backed away, wondering how she could have been so stupid. “I’m sorry, Lina-san. I just want to help.”

Lina stood up shakily and opened the flap to the tent. She was about to step through it when her knees buckled. She crossed her arms across her stomach before letting out a howl that was a frightening combination of rage and grief. Her hands moved to her face and she started to cry huge rasping sobs.

Amelia looked at Sylphiel as she made her way towards them. Neither had any idea what to do. “I didn’t want you to know.” Lina gasped through her sobs. “I didn’t want anyone to know. But they told everyone!”

Another wave of sobs consumed her and it took her awhile before she could finish. “I thought they were going to help us! But they laughed and….” She shook her head, “And they did stuff, and then they bragged about it to everyone! They bragged about it!”

**********

A moldy crust of bread and a glass of water. For once in her life, Lina was not particularly hungry. She was too sickened by all that had been done to her during the past day to warrant much of an appetite. But since she had until the time it took her to finish the bread before her captors tormented her again, she ate more slowly then she had ever done in her entire life.

She stole a glance at Gourry, still tightly bound and surrounded by four bandits. His chin was slumped forward on his chest as though he was nodding off. Lina wasn’t sure if he truly was asleep or if he was just trying to lure the bandits into a false sense of security. As quietly as she could so that the bandits guarding her could not hear she whispered a light spell. Nothing. Her powers were still good and sealed.

The sight of the bandit leader making his way over to her caused her to moan in dread. Part of her believed that there was nothing he could do to her that could be worse than what had already taken place. The other part feared that his depravity was just that deep.

He stopped before up. “Get up.”

Lina didn’t even protest that she’d not finished her meal. That would only earn Gourry a beating. She let the remaining crust fall and stood up, glaring at the ground as she did.

“Listen, bitch. You’re in for the performance of your life, and you’re going to do everything I say, or your friend starts to lose body parts. Get it?”

Lina’s eyes moved back over to Gourry, who was awake and alert now. She had the sense that he was pleading with her silently to run and let the bandits do to him what they would. Lina turned away. She wasn’t leaving without him.

“Yes Master.”

Lina’s stomach sank to her feet when the leader told her what he wanted her to do. She started trembling and squeezed her hands into fists. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she felt paralyzed in place. “This way.” The leader said.

Lina remained rooted in place. He grabbed the chain that was still clamped tightly to her breasts. Lina screamed, and followed him like cattle to a slaughter house. Her face started to burn with humiliation. It got worse as she saw a few bandits arrive with three young men.

Lina looked at them steadily, hoping they would read the plea in her eyes and help her. They looked like decent men. The leader said they had been travelers that they had brought to the camp. They weren’t bandit scum. Certainly they would help.

They met midway in the camp. “Don’t you have something to say, bitch?” the leader prompted.

Lina froze. Her voice seemed to have vanished. The leader sighed, “Start with a pinky.” He yelled to the men surrounding Gourry.

Lina’s brain snapped back into action, “No, please, I’ll do it!”

The leader clapped her on the shoulder. “Make that ten.”

Gourry’s screams were what propelled her to do it. Keeping her gaze on the strange men as steady as she could, she rushed the words as quickly as she could, the humiliation burning holes in her stomach. “I was the great Lina Inverse. Not I’m a bandit slut. And I want you three to fuck me like the whore I am.”

Lina wanted to crawl away in shame, and the feeling grew worse as they smiled. The first traveler stepped forward and pushed her down to her knees. “So this is the great Lina Inverse. Let’s see how good you are at giving head.”

He undid his pants and Lina’s hopes vanished. They weren’t going to help her. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. The traveler shoved himself in. Lina sucked weakly. “You can do better than that, put more effort into it!”

“Do it!” The leader barked.

Lina balled her hands into fists and did as ordered. She heard the other travelers circling her. “I don’t believe that’s really Lina Inverse.” One said, “She’s too powerful to get kidnapped by a bunch of bandits.”

Lina’s cheeks burned. She had always thought as much as well. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Who cares?” the other said, and Lina felt him lift her hips. Lina’s stomach churned, but it was nothing that the bandits hadn’t done already. She’d survived it once, she could do it again. “My girl won’t let me take her anally. This one will.”

“I’d care very much if I told a lot of people that I slept with Lina Inverse and the real one came after me to dole out some punishment for ruining her reputation.” The remaining traveler said.

The traveler behind her pushed into her. “Are you really going to skip out on the chance to bone the Dragon Spooker?” he asked as he clumsily reached forward to grapple her breasts. Lina nearly choked as pain flooded through her. She didn’t dare grit her teeth. Satisfying as it would be to bite traveler #1’s dick off, she was scared that Gourry would not survive the aftermath.

“I used to know someone from her village growing up. He told me some interesting things about her. Just one moment.”

Lina felt her hopes rise. May be traveler #3 was going to help her and this was all a ruse to get the bandits off his back.

“Swallow, slut. Do not spill a drop.” The first traveler ordered right before she felt her mouth flood with semen. “Good. Now lick me clean.”

Lina suppressed a shudder. She felt as though she would lose her meager meal, but she licked him clean, finishing just as the second traveler did. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the third man return, carrying a plate.

“What’s that Cris?” the second traveler asked.

Cris grinned, and pulled a slimy brown slug from the plate. Lina screamed when she saw it and turned to run. Everything but the slug was driven from her mind in a tidal wave of panic. The leader caught her and threw her to the ground, screaming the whole time. “Ten! Hold her!” he yelled as she struggled to get up. The other two travelers each grabbed an arm, pinning her to the ground. “What is this?”

“I’d heard that she’s terrified of slugs.” Said Cris, grinning, “No one knows why. Just that she goes into hysterics when she sees them. Looks like it’s true.”

Lina didn’t seem to hear him as she started to mutter, “I hate slugs!” over and over again.

“We should cover her in them.” The second traveler said.

“No!” Lina yelled, “No please!”

Cris came towards her, holding a fat slug in his fingers. Lina started to scream hysterically. He put it on her right breast, just above the nipple clamp. The feel of the slimy creature against her naked breast was too much. She threw up, vomit spilled down her front and onto the first traveler.

“Bitch!” he yelled as he stood up and kicked her in the ribs.

“Get it off me!” she screeched as she pulled it off with her free hand and threw it as far as she could. The leader grabbed her arm and held her down.

“This is so amusing. Who’d have thought that the great Lina Inverse would be so scared of something as insignificant as a slug.”

“Should I put another one on her?” Cris asked eagerly.

“No!” Lina screamed.

“I should cut off the swordsman’s hand for this, but you’re so amusing like this I’ll let it slide.” The leader said as he kissed her forehead. “Put one right on her pussy lips.”

Lina screamed and slammed her legs shut. Two more bandits came and started to pry her open. She began to hyperventilate again. The leader pulled on her chain. Her panic was so great this time that she barely noticed. “Damn, this bitch is totally freaking!” he muttered in amazement.

The other two bandits forced her legs open, and Cris came forward with a slug and placed it on her most private area. Lina passed out.

*********

Lina was disoriented when she came to. Slowly she sorted through the sensations. She was on her back in the grass. Someone, or was it two people, were pinning her arms down. Her legs were spread. Someone was between them, buckling against her. It hurt. And then something that really gave her the willies. Small, slimy things were crawling all over her.

Her eyes shot open. “Oh god!” she groaned as she started to struggle.

“She’s awake!” one of the bandits said.

Cris pulled at her nipple chain. This time it kept her rooted. “Am I the best ride you’ve ever had?” he asked as he thrust into her.

“Go to hell.” She muttered, her mouth dry.

“Ten!” the leader ordered.

Lina closed her eyes as tears once again leaked down them. So it was back to this, with slugs crawling all over her. It took all of her self restraint to keep from screaming in panic until she could break free and pull them off. But they had talked about cutting parts off from Gourry. She opened her eyes in panic as she wondered if they had while she was unconscious, but from her position she couldn’t see him.

She moved her head back and her eye caught something that caused her breath to catch in her throat. The bandit holding down her right arm had Gourry’s sword tied around his waist! Apparently the news that Gourry had found a new magic sword had not reached the bandit camp, because Lina knew there was no way that the leader would have given it to a minion otherwise.

Lina’s mind started turning furiously. If she could get close enough to Rizark and grab the sword she could kill him and get her powers back. Then she and Gourry could get away.

Cris growled as he came. He leaned forward and kissed Lina on the lips before getting up and doing his pants. “So boys, I guess we’ll get to tell everyone back home that we fucked Lina Inverse!”

“Spread the word that the Incubus Gang took that bitch down! And to send anyone else who’d like the opportunity to give her a good hump our way. I reckon we’ll keep her for a good two months before we kill her.”

Lina kept her eyes on the sword as the leader exchange a few more crude remarks with the travelers before they got back onto their wagon and headed off. The leader stepped in front of her, and Lina reluctantly took her eyes off the sword. She didn’t want him to notice her eying it.

“Stand her up.”

Lina was forced to her feet. Her legs were trembling badly, partly from disgust at the slugs and partially from the newfound hope she was feeling. The leader reached forward and lifted her chin, “How would you like to wear slugs for the rest of your life?”

“I wouldn’t, Master.” She said, wishing he would shut up. She needed to think!

“Why are you so scared of them anyway?”

Before she could answer, Rizark came out. Lina felt her heart speed up faster. He was too far away. If he would only come closer! “Something’s wrong. She’s feeling hopeful.”

The leader glanced at her thoughtfully, “That’s interesting. She should be good and crushed now. What are you so hopeful about, bitch?”

“That in two months I’ll be dead and won’t have to look at your face anymore, Master.” Lina replied caustically.

The leader glared at her. “I think you need more time with Rizark. He only gave you a small taste of what he is capable of this morning.”

“Oh yes!” Rizark purred as he came closer.

Lina tried to still the beating of her heart. She wanted to grab the sword already and start swinging, but she had to wait for Rizark to get close enough. Finally he was standing before her, and she shuddered as he grabbed at her with a multitude of tendrils.

She took a deep breath and hoped that Gourry was awake and paying attention. She turned slightly behind her and grabbed the sword and swung it around, cutting through Rizark.

The leader laughed, “Idiot! Do you really think a plain sword could bring down a monster? And I thought you were supposed to be smart. Ten!”

His face fell as Rizark turned gray and crumbled to ashes. Lina spun around to face where the four bandits surrounded Gourry. “Flare arrow! Flare arrow! Flare arrow! Flare arrow!” she screamed and she knocked through the two bandits who had been behind and made a break for him.

Her magic was back! And her aim was good. The bandits around him fell screaming. Gourry ran towards her. Lina shot off a few more spells at the few bandits brave enough to try to take her down, but most ran in terror as they realized her power was back.

Lina reached Gourry and cut through the binds at his wrists and arms, and handed him the Blast Sword. Lina scanned the area for the leader, wishing that she had taken the time to take him down when she first got her powers back. Now, he was nowhere to be seen. “We’re taking them down.” Lina told Gourry before she threw a fireball at a bandit who was fleeing in fear.

Gourry took the gag from his mouth. “I’m with you.” He said, his voice unusually merciless.

He ran, chasing down the bandits, slicing through them with a brutal efficiency and killing them instantly. Lina similarly targeted them. Usually she didn’t aim spells to kill humans. If a fireball did, if was the person’s own bad luck. Now she was out for blood.

The bodies started to pile up as the screams of panicked bandits died down. Soon Lina and Gourry could find no one else to kill. “Do you see that bandit leader bastard anywhere?” Lina asked.

Gourry walked up behind her and looked around. “No. He must have run as soon as he realized what was happening.”

“Coward. Does he really think that will stop me from hunting him down?”

“I’ll be right there with you. Here.” Gourry said as he took off his shirt and handed it to her.

Lina’s face flushed. She grabbed it and walked away from him. She knelt down and started to pull the slugs off first, throwing them as far away from her as possible. Then she grabbed one of the nipple clamps and opened it. Her breath seized as she realized that taking them off was just as painful as putting them on!

“Lina?” Gourry asked.

She took a deep breath and reached for the other one. “I’ll live.” She replied. She braced herself and took the second one off. She let it drop to the ground and pulled on Gourry’s shirt.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up and started turning over corpses. Part of her hoped to find the leader dead. The other part hoped that he wasn’t here. She wanted him dead, but she wanted it to be a slow, torturous death.

Lina was still going through bodies when Gourry came up to her. She avoided his gaze. What must he think of her now? And how were they supposed to build a life together after something like this? Would he even want her?

“I found where they were keeping our stuff. They hadn’t hawked it yet. Here’s your mantle and amulets.”

“Thank you.” Lina said mechanically as she grabbed them and took them to a tent to change. She felt a little bit better once she was in her own clothes again with her amulets on.

She glanced around the tent, looking for something valuable to take, but found nothing. She left, and noticed that Gourry had also donned a fresh set of clothes. He was limping, but otherwise he looked all right.

“He’s not here.” Gourry said as he examined another body.

Lina nodded stiffly. Now that the danger was gone her mind seemed sluggish with shock. “Let’s gather whatever treasure they have, torch the place and get the hell out of here.”

Gourry nodded in agreement. “Our stuff was over there. It was with a lot of other stuff.”

He looked at her in concern as she walked over to the tent he had indicated. “You need a healing spell. You’re bleeding.”

In her numb state Lina could barely register the fact that blood was seeping between her legs. “It can wait until we get to somewhere that isn’t here.”