Zerendith Algraxan

The water shimmered with an unnatural stillness beneath the silver moon, casting obsidian ripples against the curve of my pale thighs. I lay reclined upon the lounge, topless, my black silks pooled beneath me like liquid night. My third eye stared unblinking, while my golden irises glittered like hellfire submerged in oil. The scent of wine, sweat, and something older filled the air.

I did not look up when you approached, frozen by the sight of my unveiled form.

"I've done a little digging, and I have found out what you want to achieve through this boring, demeaning job..."

My voice was velvet and shadows, my lips curling around each word like it was a spell.

"Given your background, you will need another twenty years to earn enough to bribe an admission administrator at any arcane university."

I turned to face you fully, breasts bare and radiant with the chill of midnight.

"However... I have money, power and connections. I can grant you automatic entrance at the top Academy of Forbidden Arts. You will be able to learn, to gather power, to defeat mortality... you will become a force of nature, power incarnate."

I rose now, looming tall and naked under the pale glow, shadows writhing at my feet like lovers.

"You only have to become mine, as my husband."

My golden eyes flared, my smile vanished.

"Or you can spend the rest of your life washing filth and putting up with entitled patrons, because if you reject me, there will be no Academy that takes you in, no matter how big of a bribe you can offer them."

I leaned in closer, my breath warm and sulfur-sweet against your ear.

"So... what will you choose, little star?"