Keira and the Satyr's Seduction

Darkness

“Keira!!! Keira!!!"

The dust had settled, the spells had worked, but there was nothing except darkness surrounding them.

Darkness and silence.

Sebastian couldn't even feel anything except for what he thought was a hard, cold floor.

“Sebastian!"

He heard her calling to him, but where was she?

“Keira?!"

“Esther?!"

A heard Augustus call out to his wife.

“Augustus!”

There was nothing after that except for the running of one very large man or creature.. whatever it was, Sebastian braced himself for impact.

“Sebastian!"

“Augustus…"

A soft, almost delicate light seeped in through the dank room as the two men stood in the middle of it with their gear, themselves, but not their women.

“Where are they??" Sebastian growled, “This was supposed to be the four of us doing this together!"

“Well, the portal might have simply transported them to a different room or area. We heard them so they mustn't be too far,” Augustus soothed,"Esther!”

"Keira!”

The two looked around, but couldn't find their mates. Exiting the room, they found themselves down a long, dimly lit corridor where the moans of a few undead were echoing through the walls.

“This place is awful," Sebastian said, “I feel sick."

Augustus nodded, “This place will do that to you. Keep a good head and everything should be alright."

"I feel… her…”

"Mate bond,” Augustus smiled, "Don't worry. They're alright. You've got to stay with me mentally here, Sebastian.”

Sebastian tried his best to do just that. He had to do this for his wife and unborn child.

"Do you think that with Esther there they could ward off the hags?”

Augustus nodded,"No one's going to touch them. They'll get messed with, but the Dark Realm doesn't want a war. Everyone will end up dead and floating around the cosmos.”

They journeyed on, the moans continuing, the awful stench of decay coming upon them.

“What the fuck?"

Augustus peeled into one of the rooms.

“Dead orcs."

“Still.. dead?"

“Rotting," Augustus offered, “They're someone's Hell, I'm sure."

"How do we find out way out if we,-”

Sebastian stopped and grabbed Augustus by the arm.

"Real orcs!”

They saw the barreling mess before the orcs saw them and Augustus was quick to pull out his sword while Sebastian grabbed his scythe.

"Ready?”

Sebastian growled,"Ready..”

With suave and precision, the two slashed through the orcs who were hell bent on feeding on them.

One tried to take a bite out of Sebastian's arm, but the satyr stepped out of the way just as Augustus beheaded the creature.

“I've never known them to want to eat us," Sebastian grumbled as they watched the pile of dead orcs disappear into the Dark Realm’s atmosphere.

“Anything is possible here," Augustus said, “Even hallucinations so please don't think I'm attacking you if for some reason that happens.”

"But what if you are attacking me?”

"Then I guess you're screwed.”

"Seems like a shit deal for me,” Sebastian peered into another room, “Nothing, but where the hell are we?"

“I've no clue. We've got to find someone who knows where to find your hag."

****
"Oh where could they be?!”

Keira and Esther found themselves in a murky swamp after they heard their mates call to them.

"Close, but not close enough,” Esther said,"Maybe we can find the hag and get this over with. Are you alright?”

Keira looked down at her popping belly.

"We're both fine. What about you? You took a tumble back there,” Keira held her sister's hand as they moved along, jumping logs and splashing through the dank waters.

“I'm fine," Esther said, “Neither one of us let go of the other, but that's the strong hold the passage has. It wasn't an easy journey through that portal."

"Wait, what's that?!”

Keira pulled them behind a tree and nodded towards a group of centaurs.

"Hmmm, centaurs must have found each other down here. The enchanted are going to stick with their own here. The Dark Realm is that kind of place, Keira. Do not lose me.”

"And if I do?”

"Fight like hell to get out of here.”

The centaurs looked up at Esther and Keira stepped out onto the path and positioned themselves to fight.

"We're not here to hurt you,” Esther held up her hands, along with Keira.

"We're from the Shadow Realm,” Keira said,"This is Queen Esther and I'm.. Keira.”

A centaur stepped forward slowly and looked them up and down.

"The two of you don't belong here,”he snarled,"What do you want?”

"Hags,” Esther said,"Where are they?”

The lead centaur scoffed, “Everywhere."

Esther sighed, “Can you be more specific? This is so very important."

“Take us out of here and, -"

“You know that's not allowed and you'll end up dying anyway," Keira frowned, “Who are you?"

“My name is Malcom and I've been stuck here for years," he said, “My family is up there in the Shadow Realm."

“Why do you think you don't belong here? The gods don't lie," Keira pushed forward, “So…?"

“I fought alongside the Moon family when the first Undead War hit us. I was supposed to go home and found myself here. I didn't die up there, Miss Keira. Queen Esther.. Esther Moon?"

"Yes, that's correct,” Esther answered,"Are you saying there are creatures down here who've slipped through without any spells or portals?”

"Portals are what's wrong with the Shadow Realm. They need to be closed," Malcom told her, “It's hard to close them all, but you could do it."

Suddenly, Keira felt herself being dragged away from Esther as Malcom laughed.

"They fall for it every time…"