Desperate Times - Demon tf

ATTENTION: Please be aware, this story was written using a reference. I advise you guys look at this before reading further, just as something to visualise the transformation with. The link can be found in the description. Enjoy!

I stride down the seemingly endless corridor, the urgency of my task obvious in my step. Each breath creates a small cloud of moisture in the air before me. Wrapping my cloak tighter around my body, I desperately try to fend off the freezing air, which seems to radiate out from the dark grey stones that make up the floor, walls and ceiling. The path is lit by a series of burning torches, the flames summoned here over a millennia ago when the tunnels were originally constructed, and having lit the path ever since. No need to replace the wick when magic is involved.
Increasing my pace, I silently pray to the gods that the risk I am undertaking will not be in vain; that the desperate measures I have been forced to make will pay off, even as the distant sound of sword and shield clashing above indicate to the battle raging on. If the elders knew that I’d even considered this option, it would have them up in heated protest. But… desperate times call for desperate measures…

As I arrive at my destination, I slow to a halt. The summoning chamber, I sigh, So many of us gifted by the gods with the art of summoning have turned away from it, what with the gradual influx of evil spirits and entities sneaking through the portals. For most, the risks now outweigh the benefits.
I let out a long sigh, a large cloud of mist forming from it. Then again, I muse, I haven’t got much of a choice. It’s either this, or the history of my race ends.
I shake my head in dismay, How has the fate of my kingdom come down to this?

The chamber itself doesn’t look like much; a small circular room, made of the same grey stone, with an inner circle of pillars. Within the circle of pillars, the ceiling is non-existent, instead a vertical shaft leads straight up to the surface about 100 feet above, Moonlight spills in from above, as does the sound of swords clashing…
Go up there and you’ll find yourself just in a secluded part of the castle grounds, protected by the high castle walls. It certainly explains why this summoning chamber has survived, while virtually every other one across the lands has been destroyed… destroyed by that cursed army, and their moronic tyrant of a king.
I feel my anger rising and force a deep breath from my lungs to composed myself. The rage cools, and in it's place, sorrow fills my heart. Sorrow for the levels they have fallen to, that we have fallen to…

Curse them all… curse every last one of them…

The floor of the chamber is made up of one large flat stone in the centre of the room, surrounded by sequentially growing rings of grey stone which spread out to the very edge of the room. The purpose of the summoning chamber is to amplify the powers of the summoner, allowing them to bring forth more powerful entities. Beaten in amplification ability by only one other chamber in all my kingdom's land, this room presents the best chance in my people's survival.
With this, I should have the strength to summon almost anything. And what I have in mind will be plenty effective…
Walking to the innermost circle, I crouch and pull out a large clear crystal from within my cloak. The crystal is heavy and jagged, looking similar to a piece of broken glass. I examine the crystal, checking it's condition. This should stop any unwanted spirits catching a lift through the portal. Even so, I must be cautious…
Happy with the condition, I lower my hand to the floor and begin.
With a firm grip, I use the tip of the crystal, much like a pen, to slowly trace out a pattern of runes and symbols on the large stone slab. The crystal leaves a glowing mark wherever it touches.
A couple of power symbols at the bottom, and three identity symbols above, I prompt myself, painstakingly drawing the identify symbols; symbols ingrained in my mind. These three symbols will be the saviour of this kingdom.
My hand gestures are smooth and deliberate, a single mistake or misplaced line and the rune will either fail, or worse, summon the wrong spirit.
The last thing I want to do is call forth the wrong entity; not all of them are so easily persuaded to return to from wherever they came…

As I sketch out the final identity symbol, my hand starts to shake; nerves starting to show through my steel composure. Noticing this only adds to the building anxiety; the pressure on myself, the fate of an entire kingdom resting on my shoulders, on the actions I undertake in these crucial few  minutes. I try to collect myself. I am the queen of this kingdom. I should be able to deal with pressure, pull yourself together, I tell myself, trying my hardest to steel my nerves. Pressing down harder with the crystal to steady my still shaking hand, I press on. I glance nervously at one of the torches as it suddenly begins flickering, as if a gust of wind is blowing through the room, despite the air being completely dead, not even the slightest of breezes. The shivers in my hand begin to worsen, and in a foolhardy attempt to steady it, I push down harder on the crystal.

*snap*

I look down immediately, realising my mistake. The tip of the crystal has sheared off and is currently bouncing along the ground, leaving marks as it goes. No, no, no! I plead in my head, frozen with fear as tiny fragments of crystal makes quick work ruining the carefully drawn identity symbols in its path. I quickly quench the fear, burying it deep. There’s nothing you can do to prevent that now, just hope that the rune will fail. The other option fills me with terror.
As the fragments bounces out of the rune, I examine the new identity symbols, cautiously relieved when I realise that they do not match any known entity or spirit listed in the archives, at least that I know of.
Turning my attention to the crystal, I inspect the broken tip. The damage doesn’t look too bad, it will definitely still work to some extent, if I am required to write an expulsion spell.

Looking back to the floor, I notice the rune still hasn’t vanished, and is instead glowing brighter than before. It should have disappeared by now if it had failed, which means…
No sooner had the thought passed my mind, when pinky-red mist begins to slowly seep out from the glowing lines of the rune, as if they were cracks in a barrier between two rooms. The amount of mist leaking into the room begins to rapidly increase. Strangely, instead of spreading out like normal mist to form an even layer across the entire floor, it instead seems to be gathering in a tight cloud around me. Realising what must be done, I quickly begin to draw the expulsion spell that will send whatever spirit I summoned back to its world.

However, before I’ve can complete the first symbol, I hear a seductive voice whisper to me from the mist, “Now, now, sweetie. I don’t think you want to do that” the voice purrs. I look up and jump at what I greets me. From the growing cloud of red mist, a figure of a woman is forming, barely a foot tall and hovering at eye level.
However, what truly frightens me is the spiked tail, large wings, and smooth horns that adorn this figure. A demon?! Of all the nightmarish creatures I could have summoned from the other realm, I managed the most uncontrollable, magically gifted creature there is?! I think with dread.
Glancing down, I spot the red mist is still seeping through the rune, It's not at full strength yet, there's still time! I cannot release a demon upon this world! I think with desperation, bringing the crystal down to the floor.
However, before I can draw a single line, a supernatural force grabs my wrist and yanks it up into the air, nearly dislocating my shoulder. I cry out in pain and desperately try to pull my arm free, but the spirit has a firm grip. Oh god, it’s already too late isn't it?!
The voice speaks out again, “Ah, ah, ah!” pulling my hand up further. The origin of the voice is constantly changing, swirling around me as if the speaker is pacing around me as they talk. I feel something trying to worm my fingers loose from the crystal, and in response I clamp down harder on it.
“Come on now” the voice whispers, right in my ear, “Let me have that there”.
I flinch at the close proximity of the voice, my knuckles turning white from holding on so tight. Despite my efforts, the supernatural force eventually manages to pry my fingers off one by one. A hand forms out of the red mist and suspends the crystal in the air for a second, as if examining it.
“Nice purity stone” the voice says nonchalantly, "I imagine a lesser creature would've been beaten by this"
The creature gives the crystal on final look over, before swiftly discarding it with a flick of the wrist. The action sends it directly at a wall, where it instantly smashes on impact.
“NOOO!” I scream as thousands of tiny pieces of crystal go flying out in all directions. The invisible force around my wrist suddenly releases me from its iron grip, and I crumple to the floor, holding my head between my hands.

"No, no, no…" I whisper. Despair begins to set in as I realise how fully screwed I am.
A quiet chuckle echoes from the mist, cutting through the quiet sobs that have begun to float up from my chest, and is quickly followed by the demon’s smooth voice.
“There, there dear. It’ll be alright” she soothes patronisingly, the red hand tenderly embracing me around the shoulders, “I’ll take care of you, and in return, I only ask for one thing” the spirit pauses, as if for dramatic effect, “…your body”
“Huh?”, I halt my defeatist sobbing and sit bolt upright, hands still either side of my head. I look at the miniature mist figure with a mixture of shock and disbelief, Did she just say…
“You see” the demon continues, a second hand materialising from the mist to further 'comfort' me, “Your ancestors cast me away to that barren realm over a thousand years ago, along with all the other monsters and entities I shared this world with” the hand has moved to begin slowly stroking the back of my head. “And there I stayed for a thousand years, until you, the very descendant of those individuals, set me free. Oh the irony!” she chuckles again, “And now I get to decide what happens… what happens to you, the very last of their descendants”.
My voice wobbles with fear, “H… how do you know they were my ancestors? What if you’re wrong?”
“Oh, I can taste it in your scent. Their blood flows through your veins” the demon makes a sound similar to licking its lips, “Oh yes, that sweet tang, I recognise it even without needing to break the skin. It is a smell that I have craved for so long, and finally…” the miniature figure stares directly into my eyes, “… I get my revenge…”

“What are you going to do?” I demand in the strongest voice I can muster.
The demon seemingly ignores my question, “Hmmm, but it seems slightly unfair to unleash all my fury on you; you don’t get to choose your ancestors after all… and it was you who released me, so I feel a reward is in order” the miniature figure claps it’s hands and leans in closer to my face, “Wouldn’t you agree?”
When I don’t reply, the demon smirks, “Hm. Don’t worry yourself princess, you’re going to be more powerful and beautiful than you’ve ever been before”
“Wh … What are you saying?” I stutter, already having a pretty good guess as a shiver runs down my back.
“Oh, it’ll be okay” the demon reassures me, “It'll only hurt for a moment… a lot.”

That being the only confirmation I need, I jump to my feet, both of the demons hands being dissipated back into smoke as I turn to make a speedy escape. Unfortunately, my first step never reaches ground, as the supernatural force returns and lifts me off the ground, restraining my arms and legs.
The mist closes in, completely surrounding me in a sea of pinky-red haze, rippling like a raging fire. I struggle against the iron grip around my arms and legs, but pause when the red misty hands rematerialise from the fog, drifting towards me. I strain and curse against my restraints, right as the hands touch my chest. My clothes rapidly burn away under their touch, exposing my skin to their malicious intent. The pair of red misty hands waste no time in working their magic, as an intense burning heat rapidly magnifies in my chest, pulsing outwards from their contact in all directions. The heat is deep and far reaching, igniting my senses everywhere the hands touch.
I try to move away, to clutch at the burning pain, to crumple in on myself and become a ball. Unfortunately, the demon does not let me go.

As best I can, I look down at my body, and am shocked by what I see. With my entire torso on show, it is easy to spot the skin around the effected area rapidly turning red. I watch in horror as the pair of smoky hands caress my skin, finishing on my chest and moving up to my shoulders. A split second later, searing pain erupts there too. I grit my teeth at the nearly unbearable, blistering heat, which only seems to swell with each passing moment.
Something passes through the portal, a powder alike to fine sand, denser than the mist surrounding it. It quickly reforms into something solid, steadily floating closer to reveal it's gold colouration.
Is that a...

The material lands on my chest, wrapping itself tightly against my skin to form a bra. Despite the burning heat coursing through me, I manage a self-deprecating, bark-like laugh at the apparel.  Bra? You can hardly call this immodest, cleavage-showing, flashy abomination a bra. Other than concealing my nipples, it covers nothing!
“Oh, but sweetie, why would you wish to cover this up” the demons voice queries, responding to my unvoiced thoughts, “You are already beautiful, and I have yet to make you blossom into the true beauty you will become. Why hide beauty, why lock it away when it is meant to be put on display?”
As I watch, the fabric around my chest melts, gaining a smoother appearance that shines like real gold.
“I. Am not. Your flower. To simply. Put on display” I say through gritted teeth, feeling the material around my bust solidifying and fusing with my skin.
“Oh no” the voice says tenderly, lovingly, like a mother, “You are so much more than that. You’re summoning powers are impressive. Truly impressive. I imagine that with your strength, you don’t even need a summoning chamber the majority of entities and creatures. Despite this though, and the gifts I am bestowing upon you, your powers will still not be enough to overcome the limitations of this summoning chamber, and thus I am not truly free. Not yet at least."
Gifts? What is she on about?
"If I am truly to be freed, only one chamber will suffice. I think you know which one I’m on about”
The only summoning chamber stronger than this one is… My eyes widen in realisation, The elders’ summoning chamber!

The demon has paused, and I wonder if it is done talking.
Sadly, this is not the case.
Right next to my ear, her whispering voice purrs, “And that’s where you come in. Even while I am constrained here, I can give you power like you’ve never imagined. Just picture the scene; entire empires, toppling before you. I know that is what you desire, your aura radiates it like a torch radiates light. I can provide this; and more! People will kneel before you, they will WORSHIP you, or pay the consequences."
I block out the image that forms, shove down the delusional thoughts of promise and hope that arise to her words.  
"And in return… you use those beautiful summoning skills of yours for me”
I grin despite the pain, “You like. The sound. Of. Your own voice. Don’t you?”
“Yes” the demon whispers, “But that’s because I know it speaks the truth. I have been planning this for a 1000 years, and I have every confidence that it will succeed. It has always been a waiting game…”

I grit my teeth harder together as the demons misty hands massage down my stomach, and taste blood in my mouth. More shapes materialise through the portal and form, slowly float towards where they latch onto my skin directly beneath the golden bra. Though it is difficult to tell from my angle, it appears the additional ‘clothing’ is nothing more than a strip of shiny, black material either side of my torso, connecting my bra and my hips. The fiery burning spreads throughout my abdomen, setting my womanhood alight with sensations. I try to hide the blush that rises to my cheeks, but the demon misses nothing.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about my darling. You should embrace the sensations you feel coursing through your body”
I ignore the voice as I resist the urge to scream out again in agony. I can feel something pushing against the skin around small of my back… something from the inside. I strain to see what sort of monstrous abomination could be growing there, until I realise the idiocy of my own question. As thin as the digits on my hands, a long, black tail pierces through my skin and quickly extends downwards in a lazy arc until it is roughly three foot in length, a small pointed arrowhead at the tip.

Out of the attention of the demon, the advance on red down my arms has slowed to a sauntering pace. I barely reaches my attention either, as more objects materialise and floats towards me from the mist, wrapping itself around my hips and fusing to form a matching gold thong.
The demon's hands continue to work down my legs, caressing and transforming more and more of me with each passing second. As the red procession surges down my shins, large quantities of black powder emerge through the portal, approaching and covering my legs from the mid-thigh down to the tips of my reddening toes. Each of my toes gains an inch long claw, sharp enough to draw blood with the utmost of ease. As the thigh-high boots fuse with my legs, I manage to snatch a glance down, and the sight fills me with anguish and despair. I’d known fairly early on what was going to happen to me. But seeing it happen, before your very eyes, and being utterly helpless in stopping it, it’s just… it’s…

“…Marvellous” the demon whispers in my ear, again responding intrusively to my unvoiced thoughts, and I feel a burning anger rising up in me.
“Let. The gods. Burn. Your very. Being. In purgatory” I curse through gritted teeth as the fiery transformation works its magic down my arms, quickly finishing them off. A new wave of matter materialises and begins plastering itself to my arms, quickly creating a pair of black elbow length gloves, with additional matter extending the outside of the gloves up my arm to create shoulder protectors.
“The gods?” the demon asks bemused as the hands focus on my neck, burning away the last of my cloak in the process, “Where are these gods you speak of?”
A restrained scream escapes my throat as the hands come to a halt either side of my head, and the intense burning begins pounding away through my skull. My teeth are forced out one by one to make space for the razor sharp fangs that replace them, and while my facial structure remains familiar enough to recognise, nothing is left untouched. I feel my ears being stretched out, becoming long and pointed.
“Your Gods…” the demon ponders, “Where are they, as their followers are slaughtered by the thousands?” she asks.
In my peripheral vision, I spot my brunette hair slowly bleaching white from roots to tip, and my bare shoulders tell me it's quickly growing longer.
I try to block out the voice of the demon, try to ignore the words that sound so promising, but the unending torture makes it hard to concentrate on anything, leaving only my senses. Despite everything, I desperately hold onto my resolve. She's just saying this to make you surrender.
“Where are they…” the demon continues, “…as your empire crumbles above our heads?”
As my hair continues to grow down my back, it slowly dawns on me that it’s no longer moving like hair; it would better be described as ‘crawling’ down my back, almost as if it is… alive?. I try desperately to look behind me to see it for myself, however I'm still firmly restrained.
From the red mist, I spot the shape of something approaching. It takes my pain-riddled and distracted brain a moment to recognise the shape as …horns.
“Where are they…” the voice whispers in my ear, “…when you released me?”
The golden horns make contact with my forehead, and instantly an intense burning sensation at the point of contact brings me to my breaking point, and my resolve finally snaps.

All my subdued emotions are released at once in the form of one long, wailing, guttural cry as the horns burn down to bone and fuse in place. All the pain, all the grief, all the anger; everything a queen must keep subdued; all of it just broke free.
As the scream dies down, I feel a single tear roll down my cheek, which quickly evaporates in the heat of the fire.
Heavy, sobbing gasps rack my body. I feel crushed, defeated. I barely notice as several more pieces of black and gold matter emerge through the portal until I feel the burn of them fusing with my skin.
“No gods answer your calls; they do not deserve your faith!” the demon spits, before returning back to her calmer, motherly voice, “The only entity you need place your trust in… is me”
I cannot bring myself to object, my spirit feels shattered. I don’t know what to think anymore. I cannot help but listen to the demon’s words. Everything she is saying just sounds so… so… promising…
By now, my steadily growing ‘hair’ reaches all the way down to my knees, and I can feel it shifting and flowing, as if waiting for a command.

Abruptly, the invisible force restraining me vanishes.
Suddenly in free-fall, I kick and swing my arms to try right myself. However, I already know I'm too close to the ground, I'm going to land awkwardly. And so I am more than a little surprised when my fall is slower than expected, coupled with the sensation of movement behind me. Nevertheless, I still fall to my knees on landing.
Looking over my shoulder, I quickly discover the reason behind my steadier fall. In the split second of freefall, my hair had rapidly taken on a rough shape of wings. As I watch, it quickly returns to a shifting mass of hair-like matter.
“You are complete” comes the seductive voice of the demon, “You have been reborn anew. My protege, my daughter”
I turn my head in the direction of the voice, seeing the foot tall figure standing at eye height once again. Daughter? Is she serious?!
“And with that, there is only one thing left to do…” demon says, getting a confused look from me.
What else is there to change?! I think in bewilderment, glancing down at my body, I already look like a less mature version of her, what else is there to… Oh.

Suddenly, the red mist surrounding me begins shifting, rapidly collating into dense tentacles of fog that are all rapidly drawn into the little figure before me. A wide grin forms on the demon's face, and with a chuckle, the little figure flaps it's wings and launches up into the air, eliciting a gasp of surprise from me. The demon takes full advantage of this, and darts through my open mouth. My gag reflex kicks in, but the demon forces herself down my throat anyway. I try to choke, but the flow of red mist continues to force its way in. Once in my lungs, the mist instantly dissolves into my bloodstream. Like a wave spreading out, I feel changes overcoming me again.
Not so much physical changes though, something different. Squeezing my eyes closed, I shudder as I feel the changes tainting me, tainting my spirit.
Like black ink on a white canvas, the demon’s essence pours over me, infecting me, corrupting me, making me like her. My damaged soul is warped further by the demon, shredding the humanity from it and leaving a blackened carcass filled with hatred and a malicious nature. My thoughts darken with the change. The stern but caring queen replaced by a cruel, perverse being, no longer human.
I don’t mourn for the loss, I relish in it. Rather than being scared of the power within me, I am excited by it. How far I've come... I muse, the thought of testing my new power on the thousands of guinea pigs above me only exciting me further. I sense a mental link forming, the presence of another being, the demon, in the back of my mind.

As the last of the mist pours into me and I feel the final corners of my soul shrivel and blacken, I open my eyes, revealing how they too have changed. The whites of my eye are no longer white, having turned jet black, while the irises are now a piercing yellow, accompanied by a slit pupil. Looking up, a wicked grin forms on my lips, displaying my mouth full of shiny new daggers. The torches around me burn blue, their flames being whipped around by a turbulent gust. Standing upright, I look down at the still glowing rune at my feet.
A malevolent chuckle bubbles up my neck, Don’t need that anymore, I muse,Best I get rid of it, lest anyone comes here looking for clues. Holding my hand out, palm down, I spin in a tight circle. The rune disappears beneath my palm.
Looking away with satisfaction, I inspect my surroundings and direct a question through the link, “Shall I summon anything before I leave mistress?”
The voice of the demon responds, “No need, little one. Mortal weapons have no effect on you anyway. Now go, free me from my prison, and you shall join me upon the throne of an empire spanning from one corner of this world to the other.”
“Consider it done”
“But first, use the gifts I gave to you, have some fun. Let them feel your wrath. Let them know how trivial their petty war really is.”
I smile, “I thought you’d never ask, mother”
I can sense the smile through the link as I turn my attention away.

Standing proud in the middle of the chamber, I look up at the open ceiling and the bright moon directly above me. The sound of fighting, the smell of blood and death, so strong to my new senses, brings a smile to my lips. I breathe it in, filling my lungs with the smell.
A stray thought crosses my mind.
On second thoughts, we don’t need this summoning chamber any more either…
Reaching out with my palm open to the sky, I draw on the well of power within me, then clench my fist. The columns all explode and shatter into a cloud of debris. The ceiling immediately begins to collapse, so I wisely make my leave. I crouch low as possible, wings extended. The next instant, I launch myself upwards, pounding my wings to drive me faster and faster towards the surface, laughing raucously to the sound of destruction below me.