Out of the Lamp

Chapter 8: Perverted

Alia

The next morning at uni passes by without incident.

It's a nice bright day, the weather is crisp cold and fresh. I stretch out my arms above my head and yawn loudly. Letting them drop to my sides, I recline lazily on the comfy armchair style bean bag. The student union here is pretty good, and the open social spaces are decked out with an array of different styled sofas, chairs, beanies, the works.

My notes from the morning lecture are scattered across the small circular table in front of me. My eyes close shut as I let the faint heat of the sun beat down on my face. The ceiling has a large centrepiece window that allows wes for an epic view of the sky above.

'Nice.'

The amused voice behind me makes me jump with surprise. I open my eyes and tilt my head up to see Jason peering down behind me. I frown as I follow the path of his eyes down to my...cleavage!

'Ugh!' I grunt and sit up straight, instinctively pulling up my top. 'Perverted scum.' I shoot daggers at him as he walks around to my front and hops into the opposite chair. 'Excuse me, that seat is taken.' I snap irritably at him.

He puts both arms behind his head, and lifts his right foot to rest on his left knee. 'Oh yeah? By who?'

I don't meet his eyes. 'What's it to you?' As long as you don't sit near me, it could be my imaginary friend for all I care.

'Nothing, I'm still going to be sitting here, enjoying the view.' His brow quirks suggestively at my top.

'You're the worst.' I snap, keeping a hand at my neckline. It wasn't even indecent and he's being this perverse!

'Oh you ain't seen nothing yet.' He smirks.

With a sigh, I clear away all my notes and pens, shoving them inside my bag. Hoisting the strap onto my shoulder I get up to leave.

Jason stretches his leg to rest on the edge of my chair, stopping me. 'Really? You gonna be like that?'

Wait, is he actually...offended? I swear I almost laugh in his face. Especially the way it's all scrunched up and confused looking. As if he can't possibly tell why I wouldn't want to be in his delightful company.

'Yeah, I don't mix business with pleasure.' I nudge his leg aside with mine and walk past. 'And you,' I look over my shoulder with a smirk, 'are one job I can't wait to be rid of.'

Something flashes across his face. Anger, annoyance, sadness? I don't know, I don't particularly care either, but he doesn't look like a happy bunny, I tell ya that much. He plants both feet firmly on the ground and removes one hand from behind his head. My gut instinct tells me to turn tail and run.

I get ready to bolt when two words stop me straight in my tracks. 'Come here.' He says. Voice ice cool and stony. 'Now.' He pats his thigh.

No, no, no! I scrunch up my eyes. This is not happening.

The thing about the Seventh Sin, the reason it is outdated and prohibited magic, is because of what it does to the victim. Lust can be a beautiful thing between lovers or those on mutual grounds, but a manifestation of evil between strangers. The Seventh Sin of Lust empowers the user to brand his or her mark upon the directed person, allowing full and irrevocable control over them. In this case, me. Jason's literal puppet on strings; and doesn't he just know it.

It's considered the worst kind of dark magic, as it mixes obedience against ones own will. How far that goes, depends on the user. Disobeying the Sin is impossible. It's excruciatingly painful, as I found out for myself yesterday. It makes you want to obey, in the end. If only just to escape the torture.