At the midpoint in the journey of my life, I found myself lost within a deep, dark trance…

Bewitching Cara's                  

𖤐 HYPNOTIC HERESY  𖤐

________________________

…

I nervously tap my fingers against the red, psychedelic cover around my steering wheel, gazing up at the small, somewhat run down building looming before me, a bit of uncertainty in my eyes.

A quick glance in the mirror makes me realize I may have prettied myself up a bit too much, with quite an excessive helping of blush and eyeshadow. I always liked to look professional before an interview, so my overly dolled up appearance could be attributed to the anxiety I was currently feeling.

There was a knot of unease forming within my stomach, but my interview was in ten minutes, it would be rude of me to back out now. Besides, sitting in my car with the engine running was giving me a headache, a bit of fresh air could do me some good at least.

So with a reluctant sigh I push my door open, looking to the sign hanging above the entrance;

'Bed Bathory & Beyond - Your #1 Satanic Surplus & Magic Emporium'

…

I've fallen on very hard times recently, being let go from my job after six years of service. A month later and I've nearly exhausted everything in my savings! 

To say I've been stressed would be an understatement, I don't know how many hours of sleep I've lost worrying about my future. Every day that ticked by was only another step closer to my doom, I'd spent every waking moment anxiously dreading my inevitable requiem.

If something didn't come up soon...I didn't want to consider what I'd be forced to resort to. I was still a woman at the end of the day...Who knows what hellish fate I'd have to subject myself just to get by…

I felt like my heart was wrapped in ice cold vines, pierced by the thorns of some twisted, dark woods...

That is until I came across a rather unique job offer.

A small magic shop on the far side of town was looking for an extra set of hands, and after reading the brief summary provided, it seemed like I fit all the requirements listed. Female, twenties, able to work flexible hours. Nor did it seem like a particularly difficult job either, I could clean easily enough after all.

I reached out to the lister, expressing an interest and including my resume. I didn't exactly have much experience in retail, but I did have a wide range of music taste, so I was more than curious to work in a store with Bathory in its name.

I also figured the more professional I seemed the better, but I was still surprised when they responded to me within a day, eagerly setting up an interview as soon as I was available. 

Apparently this guy was somewhat well known within the stage magician world, having performed a few shows in Europe, while still remaining relatively unknown in the states.

But I'd made it clear that I was only applying to work part time in his store. The last thing I wanted was to find myself on stage in front of a bunch of strangers...

I look down to smooth out my skirt, running my hands up my figure to adjust the top of my blouse before taking one more deep breath to steady myself…

“Okay Cara, it's now or never.”

The bell above the door jingles to announce my entry, my black heels clicking against the wood floor beneath me. I turn my head, surveying the magic store and feeling quite confused how the inside seemed much larger, like some Hellspawned Tardis.

"Hello? I'm here for the interview?"

My meek voice gets no response, only the quiet sound of floorboards creaking and candles flickering. Two sleek black gargoyle statues pass my hips as I enter, their eyes bright red and smoke flowing from their mouths.

*click!*

I turn back around, quickly checking the door only to find it was now locked. How weird, maybe I pressed something when I opened it? Either way it definitely wasn't helping my nerves, but I knew there had to be someone in here with me so it's not like I was trapped or anything...

At least I hoped I wasn't…

I definitely felt like someone was watching me, cataloging my every step and action. It also felt incredibly warm, like someone had carelessly left their oven wide open while baking.

The first things I notice are a few slightly torn Venom and Darkthrone posters, both with small "$6.66" price tags, and displayed above a ouija board. Old timey candles illuminate a small walkway of shelves, decorated with various arcane & occult items.

I walk past an impaled reaper, hanging on the wall bloody and disfigured. It's eyes light up red with an animatronic growl, and it extends a long boney claw out, briefly swiping at my hair and causing me to laugh.

"I thought this was a magic shop, not a Target in October."

A small black skull surrounded by a bouquet of similar midnight colored roses seems to hold my attention as I pass, my blue eyes gazing downwards to a small, slightly glowing bell, and a set of tarot cards strewn around a hand sized puzzle box.

“Now that's definitely not my pleasure.”

I smirk to myself, taking my eyes from the small golden cube to inspect a large red bottle of Lord Nefastus’ Blood Wine. I resist the urge to taste it, making my way past what looks like a small restroom, two doors displaying the words Baphogents and Baphomettes.

The clever puns make me laugh, helping put me at ease. I soon notice two vintage posters, printed on old, slightly torn heritage paper, and pinned up just beside a large block statue of something that resembles a winged cucumber with a starfish head.

One of the posters illustrated an incredibly handsome man, possibly in his early to mid 30s, clad in a dark suit and tie with his black hair slicked back, his deep blue eyes screaming ‘gaze into me and lose yourself…’

Before him was a sleeping woman around my age and stature. Her face is slightly done up, and wearing some type of pink ballerina costume, her eyes closed while he waved his hands and snapped his fingers right in her peaceful, drowsy expression.

The other poster beside it showed the same devilishly handsome man, this time surrounded by stage lights as he levitated a different young woman up into the air, her dainty body completely stationary and guided upwards by his entrancing hands.

She was clad in a sparkling gown, arms by her sides and a blissful, slightly zoned out look on her bewildered face. She had a somewhat dopey looking grin, whilst her wide eyes stared off vacantly into nothing...

Below both posters, in blood red ink and written in the same font/style, was the text:

‘Erik Epicurus & Bewitching Beatrice - Coming Soon to a Church Near You!’

"Epic are us? That's a little...well, indulgent.” I think aloud with a soft chuckle. 

I considered myself to be a bit of a writer, so I couldn't help but feel my mind come up with a few better ideas, like "Handsome Devil", or "Lucifer's Envy", something like that.

“Guess his creativity is finite.”

I smirk at both illustrations for their cheesy nature, but still begin to envision myself in the place of both girls. His appearance reminded me a bit of a vampire, his charming, masculine face was a gift to behold, I could just imagine how romantic it would feel to act as his lovely assistant. 

I was always curious how cool it would feel to get hypnotized and levitated as well, but my crippling stage fright ensured I would always belong in the audience, rather than on stage. 

My brows furl as I pass a few flashy, heavily decorated performance costumes on display, letting out an audible groan when I pass by one that looks particularly revealing. 

It looked more like a skimpy two piece swimsuit, the top and bottoms made with a minimal amount of fabric but still decorated in jewels, sparkling and catching the light around the attention drawing garment. 

The one displayed beside it had a top that was more like two dime shaped pasties, etched with small red pentagrams, whilst a long flowing black loincloth draped from its hips, printed with an inverted cross.

Tied around the face of the small feminine bust was fastened a translucent veil, and through it I can see a spiked collar wrapped around its neck, attached to a hard iron chain locked between its spikes like a leash.

"Ugh...How chivalrous to have this on display." I sigh out loud, thinking the costume reminded me of a satanic belly dancer. A neat idea, but still not exactly one that screamed all ages.

Of course with my twisted imagination, I can't help but picture adorning myself with such a lewd and suggestive ensemble, dancing atop a poker table for a lucky crowd, or perhaps more intimate, like with a boyfriend or partner.

I had actually been a bit curious about the dress code in a magic shop. I certainly hope he didn't expect ME to prance around here wearing anything like that. In private with someone you liked was one thing, but in public during business hours? 

Ehh, let's just say I was more comfortable in a blouse and skirt. 

My eyes open wide with a sparkle, and I feel a slight excitement when I notice a pair of pentagram earrings, dangling behind the face veil and resting beside its spiked collar. 

"He has so much cool stuff...he won't mind I'm sure." My grin widens as I unclip the small golden hoops from my earlobes, replacing them with the inverted black stars which now dangle beside my neck. 

…

My attention is pulled from a few mystical items to a large bookshelf in an endless battle with dust. Taped to the front of the shelf, hastily scribbled onto a piece of cardboard, are the words;

"Tomes & Spellbooks half off all week"

It felt like I should probably try and find the front desk or something, but I couldn't resist the chance to look over a few spellbooks. And if I was going to work in this place, it would be a good idea to familiarize myself with some of the products sold.

"Oooo..."

I take a few moments to survey the spines before me, taking a small purple book on Samhain rituals and flipping around the pages. 

My smile widens as I look down upon various illustrations of naked witches dancing around bonfires, or using blood to levitate their nude bodies up into the sky. Descriptions of spells and lists of items required for their casting appear every now and then as I flip through the pages.

Despite growing up under the strict eye of Catholicism, I was still very much a pagan by heart, identifying far more with the rebellious, nature loving culture of my ancestors than any oppressive Abrahamic faith.

I notice a pink donut box resting on the shelf in my peripheral vision, messy and stained with sticky glaze and discarded sprinkles. I think I can hear a slight shuffling around inside, but I'm far too enraptured by the occultic book in my hands.

After reading about a few ancient rituals that could actually make the body weightless, I place the old tome back within its place on the shelf. 

I loved this kinda stuff, maybe this would be the perfect job for me after all!

I take a small vial filled with a pink liquid in my hand, amused by what was clearly supposed to be a 'love potion' when I turn the corner and come face first with another shelf, this time labeled; 

"City of Discounts - Nothing Over $1"

I can see a shrunken head inside of a jar as well, rotting beside what looks like a monkey's paw and a small crystal ball, one with a slight glowing effect even in the sunlight.

"What a bunch of cheap crap...I wouldn't drop more than twenty cents on these!" I think to myself with a snicker, waving my hands across the crystal ball like I was a fortune teller. 

My snickering is interrupted when I suddenly feel a cold shiver running up my spine, as if a strong gust of wind wrapped around me, guiding my face with a gentle touch. My soft brown hair flows behind me, and I feel my attention being drawn to the center of the aisle...

My gaze falls upon what looks like a small grandfather clock, I can see a long pendulum inside, hanging before a large mirror.

A smile comes to my face as I step closer, my own blue eyes staring back at me with a slight gleam, seemingly enraptured by the curious device. I soon realize the mirror is built around a small, red light bulb, positioned in its center, gleaming with a crimson glow that easily drew my gaze.

Also inside the rather silly looking contraption was a pair of small speakers, built into the walls beside the mirror and pendant. I study my reflection for a bit, musing once more about my eyeshadow being immoderate, before my wide eyes slowly glance upwards..

'Hypnotize Yourself & Your Friends!' is printed in large golden text, just above the machine.

I let out a small chuckle, running my hands across the gold words and lightly tapping my pitch black nails against the soft wood finish. It was an extremely cheesy looking device, like something from a comic book advertisement, and beside a small red button, I can read a yellow plaque on it's side;

'Simply focus all attention into the flashing lights of The Hypnotizer to induce a trance state! While your subject is riveted, they will be powerless to resist any command you give!

WARNING: Malum Brand Hypnotoys™ is not responsible for any lingering chicken effects'

There was a tiny illustration of a woman with a 50s haircut and crossed eyes. Her tongue hangs from her open mouth, giving her a very silly expression, whilst the girl marched forward with her arms stretched out and under the command of some unseen force. 

"So does this thing take like, cash?" I ask, feeling around for a power cord or some way to wind the device up.

I begin to imagine myself much like the young woman beneath the words, marching forward with my arms out, my eyes crossed and my tongue out like a silly entranced zombie. 

"That would be so cool to get hypnotized like that..." I muse aloud to myself with a sigh.

"I'll bet it's a wonderful experience, being mindless and controlled…”

The idea of being placed under a nice, relaxing trance state, where I was more open to suggestions, had always seemed like an appealing idea.

When I was young, a traveling performer once visited my small town in Italy, pulling an eager volunteer from the crowd and using a pocket watch to mesmerize her on stage. 

Her eyes followed the dizzying, hypnotic swinging before her face, her lips curling into a dreamy smile as she let out a quiet yawn. In a matter of seconds her eyelids had fluttered completely closed, and she looked to be in a wonderful state of dreamy euphoria!

I was totally amazed by her blissful entrancement, watching her flap her arms and strut about the stage like a silly chicken. It was easy to envision myself in her place, following the hypnotist's commands without a second thought or realization...

I knew in that moment that I wanted to get hypnotized too. I wanted a hypnotist to put me under their spell, and command me like an obedient thrall, the smiling, tranquil expression on her face all the proof of its heaven I needed.

And so, when I was older, I'd successfully placed myself under a trance using numerous self hypnosis videos online. But unfortunately, nothing quite gave me that blank, obedient feeling I was so curious to experience. 

"Wonder if this thing actually works.." I playfully tap my finger against the contraptions red button.

Maybe this 'Epicurus' guy was just tied up with a customer at the moment (or most likely having lunch or something). I might have time to see if this silly thing could actually hypnotize me...

With a soft laugh, I press the button. 

Instantly the tiny bulb comes to life with a bright red flash, the mirror around it starting to rotate around in a spinning circle. The bulb flashes once more, then again, and again, drawing me in further and further with each flash. 

I could feel myself already start to relax, my mind naturally beginning to empty as I stare intently into the rotating light, keeping my attention focused within its dizzying center. 

A soft bell sounds, and the hanging pendulum seems to release and drop down, so it was positioned directly before the light, still flashing hypnotically behind it. 

With a soft *tick..tick..tick..* it begins to gently sway back and forth, my face quickly taking on a blissful, almost euphoric expression, keeping my full attention on the flashing light as the pendant passed before my eyes.

"So pretty...f-flashy-y..."

Looking into the dark red gleam actually made me a bit sleepy. I could feel the gradual creeping of a yawn escaping from my lips, my eyelids quickly reopening, eager to return my transfixed attention to the hypnotic flashing.

"I can't...l-look...a-away..."

Slowly I melt into a flashing, mind numbing, red void, the hypnotizing helix of light continuing to draw me in. The pendant's swing picks up slightly, my eyes continuing to glaze over into nothing. Soon, it begins to feel as though I'm asleep and dreaming with my eyes open.

“So…cool…I'm…I'm actually getting…g-getting….h-hypno…tized…”

*VOOM...tick...VOOM...tick...VOOM...*

I really wanted to follow the pendulum back and forth, just like I'd seen in so many movies. Only I couldn't seem to look away from the dizzying, red glowing behind it. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't break away from its mesmerizing pull.

Gradually a soft, electronic voice begins to speak to me, faintly hidden beneath the binaural thumping which seems to push all thoughts from my head.

"The hypnotizer has you under it's power. You are mesmerized and docile..." The voice speaks with a transatlantic accent, almost like an old carnival barker, but much more hypnotic and sinister sounding. 

"The hypnotizer...has me...I amm...underr...it'ss power..." I quietly repeat back in a soft hush, delving deeper into the captivating light and letting its flashing vortex of euphoria dominate my soul. 

“You cannot resist being hypnotized.”

“I…I cannot resist…being hypnotized….”

“You must obey every command. You are hypnotized and docile.”

I think to myself how cool it is that I'm repeating the words back out without making the effort, before this thought as well slips away into the warm, buzzing void engulfing my mind.

"I amm...hyypnotizzedd...anndd...docillee..."

My lips part with a sigh, gently nodding my head up and down in agreement with the submissive mantra I'd just repeated. Yes, it felt so good to be docile. So good to be hypnotized and tamed. It was a wonderful euphoria to be in trance, hypnotic heaven akin to a climax. 

“Your mind is bending to my control…”

“M-my mmind izz…benddingg…”

With each flash I go deeper into hypnosis, deeper into trance, deeper into this wonderful, orgasmic state of peace. Around and around the mirror rotates like a spinning kaleidoscope, my face totally blank and mesmerized in its reflection. 

My eyelids droop halfway shut while a river of drool trails from my mouth down my chest, staining my blouse. Gradually my irises cross, and the flashing red becomes extremely blurry in my hazy vision, further numbing my subconscious.

"Now when you hear the ringing of the bell, you will strut as a chicken would!"

The announcer voice barks at me like some cheesy talk show from hell, all while I stand there with the classic hypnotized look. If only I could see myself, I would be amazed at how mesmerized I was!

"When I hear the bell...I will strut...as a-a...chick..en...w-wouldd...."

I could barely get the words out, my voice completely monotone and devoid of any sentience. From the other side of the room, a quiet laughter begins to sound at my submission. 

My eyes begin to cross even further, my silly, dumbfounded expression increasing tenfold when my tongue lazily droops from my lips, now completely bathing me in an ocean of my own saliva. 

I can feel my eyelids opening wide, filling completely with the light's reflection. I was lost in a mesmerizing haze, and I could only give myself to its seductive, intoxicating pull.

*DING!*

The hypnotic machine stops at the sound of a bell, the pendulum coming to a halt and resting before the lightbulb and mirror, which continues to spin around and around before slowly becoming stationary once more.

Instantly I place my hands on my hips, flapping them about like little wings as I spin around from the machine. I begin to bob my head about, tucking my legs and kicking my feet about the floor whilst clucking and squawking.

"Bwak buck buck bwak! Buck buck bwak!"

My agape mouth slowly changes into a somewhat dopey smile, a happy, thoughtless grin which proudly displayed my love and enjoyment of this trance. Being hypnotized was so fun, so sexy...I couldn't imagine a better feeling.

I continue to keep my blue eyes crossed, while my small elbows flapped about in the air, kicking and squawking like a silly chicken. 

“Bwak bwak BWAK buck buck BWAK!” I'm completely oblivious to how deep I was, totally unaware of what was happening, only that it felt good to submit and obey. 

Right now I was a simple hypnotized chicken, and I was proud to be one...

"Lift your shirt for me now."

*SNAP!*

A different voice gently invades my swirly mind, this one much different to the old timey radio voice of the 'hypnotizer'. This time it sounded much deeper, much more masculine and commanding. Even outside of hypnosis, I would have felt very naturally weak and submissive to such an authoritative tone.

Instantly I stop in place at the snapping of his fingers.

"Yes Master...I will...lift my...my shirt...for y-you..."

With a sigh I grip the bottom of my blouse, and slowly pull it up over my hypnotized face, completely exposing my tummy and chest. I can feel my boobs being softly touched and played with, affectionately squeezed within a very masculine grasp.

God, whoever this was, everything he did, his voice, his touch, they all just helped bring out my submissive, feminine side.

"Good girl. Red is a lovely color on you."

I hear the voice commenting on the color of my bra, while continuing to gently massage my breasts. A rather loud, horny sigh escapes my lips, and I could feel a dampness forming at all this sexy stimulation and excitement. 

"Now pet, you wish very much to buy something."

His voice spreads throughout my mind like sweet honey over bread.

"Y-yes...I wish...very much..to buy...something..."

"You wish very much to buy something."

"I wish very much to buy something...I wish very much to buy something...." I nod my zoned out face up and down, so happy to agree with his sexy words.

“I wish very much to buy something…I wish very much to buy something…”

*SNAP!*

...

"Ooohhhaa..."

A quiet, girly sigh fills the air while the seductive, euphoric haze enveloping my mind slowly dissipates, the world around me suddenly coming back into existence once more.

With my eyes back to normal, they roll around in my head for a bit before sluggishly refocusing on the blurry monkey's paw before me. It feels just like I've woken up from an incredibly deep sleep, but the clock on the furthest wall suggests only about fifteen minutes have passed since I arrived.

What was I doing again?...

Oh, right...my job interview...

I place my hands above my head, stretching my arms out with a yawn. Smiling to myself whilst my eyes flutter, I reminiscent on my time falling to "The Incredible Hypnotizer". After gazing into the flashing, everything in my memory becomes incredibly blurry and dream-like.

I could kind of remember repeating the mantras back out, but I wasn't sure if I was hypnotized to repeat them, or if I was just going along. Playing the subject's role because it just felt so....so...intoxicating.

Maybe that's what hypnosis is like? You know you're being controlled, but you go along with it because the feeling of surrender, the sweet kiss of submission, was incomparable to any mortal pleasure. 

Either way, I feel strangely sort of relieved to have gotten a quick nap in before my interview. I'm feeling much more relaxed now, there was hardly any anxiety, and I could face any challenge with the utmost of confidence!

"I wish very much to buy something." I can hear my own voice involuntarily speak without any effort on my end. 

Wait, actually, I'm right. I do want to buy something. But I definitely didn't want any of this cheap crap. Those spellbooks on the other hand, they had me written all over them.

"I wish very much to buy something!"

I happily chirp, so sure in my declaration that I even nod my head in agreement with myself. In a swift motion I quickly spin around, making my way back into the spellbook aisle.

As my blue eyes scan across the various tomes and grimoires, a few of the titles make me smirk:

Antrum Opening for Dummies

Blog-Sothoth : Secure Domains in Every Reality

Tales Of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits

Shoggoth Stew & Other Eldritch Recipes

I try and remember where I'd earlier set down that Samhain book, when another seems to call my attention at the far end of the aisle...

A small red book pulls my gaze, resting beside the pink donut box, and as I step closer, I notice a large, white pentagram hastily drawn on it's cover, printed over soft red felt. Right below the satanic symbol, I feel a shiver run up my spine when I read the unholy phrase:

Demonivm Maleficarvm

My eyes open with excitement, and my lips curl into a smile as I take the book in my hands and hold it up to my face. A rather detailed illustration of a demonic looking being greets me on the first page, with the body of a nude man yet the head of a goat, clutching two cryptic symbols above his bloody hands.

H̷e̴r̸e̶i̵n̵ ̸s̴p̴e̴l̵l̷e̶d̷ ̶i̶n̵ ̸v̵i̶r̷ĝ̷i̶n̶'̷s̸ ̴b̴l̸o̸o̵d̵,̵ ̸r̶e̸a̸d̸s̷ ̶t̷h̸e̵ ̶t̵o̷m̴e̷ ̷o̶f̷ ̴a̷l̷l̶ ̶t̵h̷i̶n̵g̷s̵ ̴c̴r̷u̵e̸l̵ ̶&̷ ̵w̵i̵c̷k̷e̸d̸ 

Flipping through the pages, I realize the text inside is written in some kind of thick red ink, most of it in some incomprehensible language I couldn't recognize. 

Multiple horrific drawings of tentacled beings, coupled with anatomically incorrect suffering pass my eyes as the pages flip into a blur. This was clearly a much more…intense book than the simple Halloween one was.

‘₴VɆ₲Ⱡł₳₮ɆVł ₲Ɽ₳₦Đł ₳₦₮ł₵Ⱨ’ is a phrase I notice repeatedly etched into the pages over and over, typically around gruesome acts of sacrifice. A woman pours boiling water onto herself from a cauldron, whilst the cryptic writing is scribbled across her X'ed out face again and again.

̸D̴O̵ ̵W̴H̷A̷T̵ ̶M̴U̴S̸T̶ ̸B̶E̸ ̴D̴O̸N̷E̸

S̵U̴F̶F̶E̷R̴I̶N̸G̵ ̵O̵P̴E̵N̴S̴ ̷T̸H̸E̶ ̵W̸A̶Y̴ ̴T̸O̶ ̸H̴I̷M̸ ̴ ̷

One passage however, quickly grabs my interest, when I skim by a crude drawing of a faceless, winged beast, with razor talons and leathery skin black as night;

"They had no voices, and their only form of real torture was their habit of tickling my stomach."

I pause, thinking the out of place text didn't exactly fit in with the rest of the horrific grimoire.

"Hmmm...Not...*exactly* what I was expecting, but still, the rest of this is perfect!"

I happily exclaim, closing the Maleficarvm in my hands with a grin. I couldn't wait to bring this home and display it along with a few other witchy items I'd procured. The drawings inside definitely made it worth a purchase for Halloween alone. 

Hey, maybe if I make a really good impression, this Epic-arius guy might let me keep it for free! 

*shuffleshuffleshuffle*

I'm pulled from my thoughts by a quiet shifting around inside of the pink box beside me. I had actually been thinking about grabbing a donut as well, but the mysterious noise fills the air with dread, killing any appetite of mine.

*shuffleshuffleshuffle*

Right, I thought I heard something inside it earlier too! It sounds like something...alive. I let out a nervous gulp as I set the book down, feeling my palms sweat and my pupils shrink when I see the box twitching.

*SHUFFLESHUFFLESHUFFLE*

I watch in extreme distress as the lid practically jumps off. Whatever was inside...it was definitely alive...and very very big. I place my hands together before cracking my knuckles. I wanted to turn and run, but I felt totally petrified with fear, the anxiety creeping through my being like poison. 

*SHUFFLESHUFFLESHUFFLE*

I nervously place my hands on the box's lid, careful to avoid a bit of jelly glaze, and with bated breath, quickly pull it open...

...

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

A blood curdling scream echoes throughout the store, my own voice crying out in absolute terror when I'm greeted by the largest tarantula I've ever seen! It was practically the size of a tissue box, the thick hairs on its legs standing up, while it's many eyes focused upwards on my face.

I feel completely frozen now, I have to scream at my brain to get away for a few seconds before I can register anything besides the horrifying spider. Another sharp gasp escapes me as I take a few steps back, struggling to control my breathing. My eyes open wide with fear, as the arachnid slowly crawls from the box onto the shelf, moving like an unnatural automaton.

Beneath its many legs looked to be a bloody old fashioned, a type of donut I normally quite enjoyed, but after seeing this horrific nightmare perched over it, I don't think I could ever look at one again.

I watch as it's mandibles twitch slightly, barely concealing two sword-like fangs that dripped a river of venom. They were covered in red icing, giving them a violent, gory appearance.  

The claws on the ends of its legs grip onto the wooden shelf, its many eyes all focused on me, and I watch in horror as the arachnid begins to creep closer, pulled about by eight horrifyingly unnatural appendages.

Oh god, it...it looks like...like it's getting ready to jump on me!! I have crippling arachnophobia, I would die if that happened!!!

"Ohhhh...O-Ohhhhh...."

I let out a quiet sigh as I stumble about in place, my head suddenly feeling much lighter and my blood much cooler. There was a fuzzy, buzzing sensation spreading across my skin, making my body feel numb and warm, and everything was starting to go white in my vision. 

"Ohhhhhhh....."

My eyes roll up far into my head, closing downwards as my legs give out and I lose consciousness, helplessly falling backwards into a pair of waiting arms, which tightly grip my sleeping form…

“Sweetest dreams, my heathen beauty…”

______

𖤐

....

"Mmmmnnnn...."

My mind is swimming around an ocean of darkness, slowly resurfacing with a soft sigh. My heavy eyelids lazily flutter, struggling to reopen, and I let out another dreamy moan as I come to. 

"Mmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnn......"

My eyes are crossed for a few moments before I'm able to finally open them wide, and focus on the strange, black shadow before me....

I watch the hazy outline of a man dancing around, becoming stationary in my vision as my world fills with color and balance once again.

"Rise and shine, little morning star." I hear him softly chuckle, placing his hand to my forehead, gently brushing my messy hair back.

"Oh my, and what gorgeous gems you have for eyes! It's not often such a pretty girl enters my humble abode."

Normally such a flirtatious expression would cause me to smile and my face to blush red, but my head was still swimming around in a dizzying pool of numbness. 

Eventually I'm able to find the strength to respond.

"Mmm...what...what...happened..."

My eyes open wide and my mouth slightly drops once my vision clears. Standing before me is the handsome man I'd seen in the posters! He was incredibly tall, maybe 6'1 or 6'2, and easily towering over me, with an infectious smile and charming gleam in his eyes.

"I'm afraid you caught a glimpse of my associate, much like yourself she has a somewhat...striking appearance."

He extends his hand out, offering his open palm to me, and I place my own within, letting him gently help me off the small chair and back onto my feet. A small kiss to the back of my hand fully awakens me, whilst stirring a slight jitter in my tummy.

Now that I'm close to his face, I can admire his piercing gaze, his eyes trailing down to my hand and softly running his thumb across my nails, as if admiring my delicate, feminine claws.

I feel an involuntary smile spread across my face, his touch was so incredibly electric, I...I actually felt turned on to let him hold my hand like this. But my dreamy expression quickly disappears once I spy the enormous eight legged horror on the desk behind him.

"Ahh!" I cry, stepping back nervously and feeling my legs shake under my skirt. But my charming rescuer only laughs, touching my face while holding my shoulder with his free hand, comforting me with his assuring presence.

"Sorry, Beatrice might not be the prettiest girl, but she doesn't mean you any harm. Unless of course, you're a small mouse or bird."

He gives me a devilish wink, his perfect smile only continuing to charm and enrapture me, but I start to feel even more nervous when I glance back towards the spider, only to realize she was gone.

"...For what twisted purpose would a magician have a bird eating tarantula?" I ask with a bit of sterness. He might have been really cute, but the thought of touching such a terrifying arachnid made me feel like I was going to faint again.

"Oh just something for kids parties.”

He laughs much harder, quieting himself down when he notices my distressful expression. With a gentleness he cups my face, and I feel a warmth flushing inside my heart once more.

"Please relax my dear. Beatrice is quite intelligent, better mannered than most people are." He releases me and takes a few steps back, watching the ditzy smile return to my face. 

"Knowing this allows me to handle her without fear. She's been one of my closest friends, and honestly, she's really more of a pastry eater when she can be.”

"You're best friends with a spider?" I ask with a grin, watching his own expression slightly blush at my fluttering eyes and inviting demeanor.

Admiring his gorgeous face, I begin to slowly forget all about the scary arachnid, being drawn in by his warm, welcoming aura.

"Say, might I fetch you a souvenir? At reduced charge, for such a beauty." He reaches inside the small counter, clearly trying to change the subject, and retrieves what looks like a regular switchblade. 

I glance downwards with a quiet giggle, blushing at both his flirtation and my own girlish reaction. 

My eyes open wide and my heart skips a beat when he carelessly presses the sharp end of the blade against his palm, fearfully expecting it to pierce his flesh, but I quickly relax once I see it slowly slide back inside its handle. 

"How about this dummy blade? Come all the way from this character I met in Norway once, let’s just say the guy owed me a solid.” He tosses the knife up into the air, catching it with his other hand and holding it out to me.

“Perfect for my knife throwing act, but perhaps you could use it to scare the crap out of your friends!" 

He slightly waves his free hand about the air, and I can't help but giggle at his theatrical display. He was definitely a performer, and incredibly nice to look at. His smile felt evil, yet also adorable. 

As he sets the fake knife down, I notice one of the ceiling lights flicker, the world around me seeming to morph for a second before returning to normal. It felt like I was drunk for a moment there, or like I'd stood up way too fast, and I have to rub my temples to soothe a quickly dissipating headache as a result 

"Actually um...Mister Epidermis...I'm here for the interview."

That was...odd. It almost felt like he was exercising some kind of power over me. His grin widens at my words, and I swear I could almost see a slight flame in his eyes.

"Ah yes, of course. I remember the young angel who reached out to me."

A sinister, yet alluring gleam sparks within his eyes, igniting like a fascinating flame for just a brief moment. I quickly blink my own in amazement at what I've just seen, wondering if perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me while watching his irises fade back to a calm, deep blue. 

"And that's Epicurus to you, dear. Or you could simply call me Sir if you like."

My face turns red and my eyes widen with embarrassment. I quickly nod my head up and down, letting out a soft, almost whisper "Yes Sir."

"Pretty AND obedient? My lottery spell may have worked after all it seems..."

I give him a small smile, as my face continues to blush. Wow, it felt so good to call him that. I felt very naturally submissive towards him, and it had given me such an incredible rush doing as he said.

“And quite an intelligent young woman as well. I can feel it in your soul, you are no lemming follower of a sheep cult.”

That sexy chuckle fills my ears and tickles my spine once more, and I watch as he reaches inside his vest pocket to retrieve a small deck of playing cards.

“Why don't I show you a trick, to break the ice?"

He offers me, shuffling the deck around his hands and flipping the cards near my face in a way that made me feel slightly dizzy. Spades, diamonds, and clubs pass my eyes, possibly leaving some subliminal imprinting. 

"Of course a sensible girl like you would seek strength, not the weeping of some effeminate martyr. How very fortunate that a beautiful, pagan soul is precisely what I'm searching for…”

The more I watch the cards shuffle, the dizzier and dizzier I start to feel. I can hear his voice whispering something to me but I can't make out what he's saying. 

It becomes easy to lose my train of thought, every slow, deep syllable he speaks echoing into my head.

“Watch…and listen….Watch…and listen…Good girls obey…Good girls obey…You want to be a good girl…You want to be a good girl…”

I nod my head with a glazed look in my eyes, not really paying attention to what I was agreeing to…

…

My eyelids flutter for a moment once they come to a stop, and he holds the deck out to me.

"Pick any card before you, my dear. Don't even think about it, just follow your heart's desire."

The back of the cards showed a faceless, cloaked figure, holding two boney fingers up in the air on one hand, while using the other to position two fingers downwards. A sharp pair of horns extruded from the blackness of his hood. 

Above the demonic figure is text written in Latin, below it centered between the beast's horns a small translation reads; "Tristram Trick Cards".

"Wish I had a poster of that." I muse aloud, tapping my nails against the back of the deck with a giggle.

I take one in my fingers, flipping it up so only I could see the face, quickly glimpsing it was the queen of hearts.

"Why don't we make this interesting? If I can genuinely amaze you, why not give me a kiss…?”

He begins to shuffle and flip them around my face again, the imagery and numbers merging together into a hypnotic blur.

"Oh, you want a kiss from me? Well, sure…but just on the…the cheek…” It feels so nice, so relaxing, to just clear my mind and focus on the shuffling deck....around and around....no thoughts...only blank...blank..blank..

*SNAP!*

"Is this your card?"

I'm suddenly pulled from the trance, my eyes fluttering as I sigh and rub my head. Looking down, I begin to smile when I see the queen of hearts fit snugly inside my cleavage. 

"Ha! It is my card! That's so cool!" I laugh, taking it out from its nuzzled position in my boobs. 

I'm surprised when I see his face turning bright red, and looking back down, I begin to feel a bit of excitement stirring beneath my skirt, when I notice 'E.Epicurus' written in sharpie on my left breast.

"Oh sorry, the uh, I forgot the...the...autograph happens...al-always…” He nervously stammers out, but I just laugh and give him a very flirty smile.

"Don't be sorry, that was really hot actually. I'll bet you get all the girls excited with that one."

I tease, handing the card back and giving him a small peck on his cheek, leaving behind a slight kiss mark where my lips had teased his flesh.

*mwah!*

I can't say I expected such a flirty and suggestive trick, but I definitely felt aroused to be part of it. Maybe it was just because I found him incredibly handsome, but I kind of wanted him to do that again...

His devilish smile returns to his gorgeously masculine face, and I watch as he raises his fingers in the air, as if reading my mind.

*SNAP!*

When my eyes reopen, his expression is even more cheeky, and my jaw drops when he holds my bra out to me, teasingly hanging on the end of his finger.

I quickly place my hands to my chest to feel myself, and with amazement, I realize he's somehow snapped my bra into his hands! A quick peek inside my blouse only further confirmed this. 

Immediately my face blushes redder than my now exposed undergarment, dangling on the edge of his finger as if to tease me. In a swift motion, he suddenly tosses my bra behind him, and I watch as the reddish fabric disappears into the far end of his store. 

As he steps even closer, I can feel an electricity coursing through me at his touch, wrapping his cowl around my back and pulling me in closer...

"Do I excite you, Cara?"

His deep eyes beckon me to stare, our hearts synching in romantic tension thicker than jelly. I could feel my palms starting to sweat, being in the arms of such a flirty and handsome guy turned me on so much, I could feel myself getting damper, while my legs grew weak.

"How did you know my name?" I inquire, still with a rather docile and seduced expression. 

"Answer the question my love. Do I excite you?"

With a great amount of strength I'm able to finally tear my gaze away from his own, meekly looking down to my ruffled blouse as a wave of shyness overcomes me.

"Y-yes...you do..."

I confess in a soft whisper, keeping my face down while my cheeks burned red. I feel him gently cup my chin, tilting my head back up.

"Then give to your passion and kiss me, my sweet."

Without an ounce of hesitation I quickly submit to his desire, letting my lips fall against his in a passionate smooch, the loud popping and smacking of our lips dancing together echoes throughout the vacant store.

This was no friendly peck, but a full makeout session, the two of us descending into a mess of gasps and moans, as it became difficult to tell who had seduced who.

It was so hard to believe that only a few moments ago, I was experiencing some mild anxiety, and yet now I was totally being swept off my feet by this charming gentleman!

After what feels like a lifetime of heavenly bliss, our lips part, and I feel his heavy breath on my neck, giving me a playful bite and causing me to moan.

God, he was even giving me love bites now. It's like he knew exactly how to turn me on.

"I noticed you've done yourself up quite nicely for our interview...Did you want to look pretty for me, Cara?"

Instantly my face blushes even more, and I have to grip onto his suit to stop my legs from folding...

"Yes I...I want you to think I'm pretty..."

He lightly brushes my hair with a chuckle, seemingly amused by my response.

"I think you're gorgeous, Cara. Worth more than a thousand girls."

"Ohh.."

I can't help but sigh out at his lovely words. They made me feel so incredible, and being in his arms like this as he spoke them, was an indescribable ecstasy. 

"And as my lovely assistant, your beauty will shine for all to admire."

My eyes quickly flutter back open, and my mind cuts through the sexy seductive haze blinding me.

Wait....what did he just say??

"A-assistant? You mean like....on stage?"

I ask nervously, fighting against the magnetic pull of his embrace to slowly step back. Epicurus chuckles and places his hands together as he steps closer to me.

"Oh ah, haha...I..I don't think so. My place isn't on the stage.." I let out an uncertain chuckle, now feeling less seduced and more nervous, the gleam in his eye wasn't exactly a noble one. Picturing myself on stage made me feel like fainting again!

"No no no, I-I really do prefer watching tricks, it's just marvelou-"

*SNAP!*

His fingers click in the air beside his face, and immediately I fall into his eyes, so deep, so fascinating, a magnetic, blue ocean. The world around me is quickly tossed beyond my reach, a warm fuzziness wrapping around my soul like a blanket. 

My eyes open as wide as they can, while my mouth begins to drop open. I felt totally hypnotized by his eyes, totally helpless and under his power. I couldn't even register what just happened, only that my anxiety was now replaced by a wonderful euphoria.

Every thought in my mind quickly vanishes, becoming fully blank and open to suggestion.

"You are lost in the magnetic pull of my eyes....Feel yourself falling to my stare."

My empty head fills with his voice, wrapping itself around every corner of my delicate and submissive mind.

"Y-yes......"

"There is only the trance, sweet girl. Only surrender. Only obedience."

“O-onlyy…the…t-trancee…”

His eyes were like a captivating, mesmeric whirlpool of bliss, easily ensnaring any and every thought in my mind save his own. I felt so weak, so powerless in his grasp...I wasn't fully aware of what was happening, but I wanted to stay in this incredible state forever...

"You are held in my power."

"I am held...in your power..." My voice is rather lazy, coming out all monotone and drowsy.

"In this trance you will obey my commands."

"In this trance....I will obey your co...commands.."

"You wish very much to be my lovely assistant."

"I wish...very much...to be your lovely...assistant..."

As I sigh out my sweet, obedient submission, I feel him lightly place his hand on my cheek, keeping my head up. He begins to slightly sway his other hand near his eyes, helping to further draw me into their hypnotizing pull.

"You enjoy being hypnotized, don't you Cara? Answer me honestly, love."

That sexy voice echoes throughout my subconscious. I have no choice but to respond, I'm helplessly at his command. I was hypnotized after all, and a hypnotized girl always obeyed her master. 

"Yes...I...I enjoy...being...h-hypno...tizzed..."

A sinister chucking fills my ears, a slight trail of drool running down my chin.

"Good girl. You're such a good, beautiful girl." 

Epicurus takes his hand from my face to lightly pat my head. 

"Have you a preferred induction method, my sweet?" I hear his voice inquire, reaching deep inside of my mind to retrieve the answer for himself.

"Yes...Sir....." I groan, struggling to open my eyes even wider. I had an adorably mesmerized expression on my face, advertising my beautiful, blissful tranquility.

"The....the swing...ing....w-wa...tch....ohh..."

Again a venomous chuckling invades my head, feeling so intoxicating in its seduction of my mind. He runs his fingers through my hair, twirling my brown locks between his fingers and playfully brushing my face with it. 

"Ahh, I should have known by now you're a woman of class and refinery."

He releases my hair to place his hand on my shoulder, his lips spreading completely wide to show his teeth now resembled a row of sharp knives. 

"As luck would chance it, I happen to have a beautiful pocket watch, and I'm sure you'd look amazing falling under its sway. I'll have to remember your preference for our future shows together."

If I could see his intimidating and unnatural fangs I'd feel quite scared, but in this moment I could focus on nothing but his eyes, his voice, his power over me.

I loved submitting myself to his thrall, and I would do it a million times for free.

"For now though, your eyes are feeling heavy. So very heavy. You feel so tired, sweet Cara. So drowsy and ready for sleep."

My eyelids suddenly feel extremely heavy, while his eyes start to become blurry in my vision, watching four to six pairs of irises all swimming across each other.

"Mmmmn...S-sleep..." My eyelids close, only to sluggishly reopen with a groan, the act of merely opening my eyes clearly felt almost impossible to me.

Epicurus takes his hand from my shoulder to begin waving it before my face in an extremely hypnotic fashion, all the while telling me to 

"Sleep....Sleep....Sleep..."

"Y-Yezzz...Oohh....."

"Feel your eyes closing down...down...down..."

“D…Dowwnnn…”

“You are hypnotized…You must sleep…”

“M-mmusst…mmustt…ss…ssleepp…ohh…”

*SNAP!*

“Zzzzz….”

My eyes close, and a happy, blissful smile comes to my face. I let out a myriad of intense, orgasmic moans as my head tilts back, my devilish hypnotist taking the time to admire my figure.

"Such an incredibly pretty girl. Every guy in the audience is going to catch feelings for you." He steps back from me, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall as he admires his hypnotic handywork.

"But unfortunately for them, your body, and your soul, are now mine, sweet Cara."

"Yesz...Sirr.....My body...andd ssoul....are yourzz..."

"Good girl...Now...Remove thy shift..."

I nod my beaming expression along to his words, gripping the end of my blouse and pulling it up over my head. Epicurus grins like a madman when he sees my bare tits exposed to his hungry eyes. 

"Good girl Cara...That's a very good girl. The rest as well, let me see your perfect flower..."

There's an intense tone of lust to his voice, and he can barely contain himself as he watches me slide my skirt down my legs, stepping out of them and my panties to stand before him completely nude.

“He has me hypnotized…I…I have to do what he says…He's my…master..”

The thought was like a whisper on a fierce wind, easily lost and overpowered.

"I can feel him controlling my mind...shaping my...my thoughts..."

Deep within my subconscious, I realize I can still somewhat form my own thoughts, but have little control. I was bound within my own mind, restrained and only able to watch my body dance to his tune.

"I can't...break free...I'm totally in his power...this is so...so...sexy...I'm really under his control…” My own thoughts like a whisper, feeling my dopey smile grow. 

“I must obey his hypnotic commands…I must obey his hypnotic commands…”

My hypnotist has a look of mad, wild lust in his eyes, which eagerly admires every inch of my nude figure for him, his irises filled with flames of excitement and desire. 

"Such chocolate for the eyes you are, Cara. That reclusive crybaby upstairs really took ‘his’ time when he crafted you, didn't he..."

He laughs to himself, finally pulling his attention from me when he feels a fuzzy tickling running up his side. With a smirk he looks down to see Beatrice slowly crawling up his thigh, clutching my red bra in her enormous fangs, a slight bit of venom dripping into my left cup.

Erik grins, and offers his hand for her to climb onto, holding the spider up to his face without any fear. 

"Ah, apologies my dear. I didn't mean to disturb your tidiness."

He playfully rubs the top of her fuzzy head with his finger, taking my bra from her fangs and wrapping it around his fingers, almost exactly like I currently was. 

With a slightly sadistic grin, he steps closer to me and allows Beatrice to climb onto my bare shoulder. All eight of her long, hairy legs grip my skin, crawling around my breasts and up towards my mesmerized face.

"I'll dispose of this at once. I believe she'll look much better in something of my own design...Isn't that right, Cara? You love showing off your beauty for me."

Beatrice crawls around my back, tickling me with her hairs but getting no reaction. 

"Yezz Zzirr....I love...showing off...my...beautyy..."

I sigh out with a smile, completely oblivious to the impossibly large spider crawling around my naked body and tickling my skin.

"Good girl....Now Cara, you begin to find yourself wanting very much to have sex with me. Feel your desire for me increasing with each passing moment...."

My eyes roll around in circles beneath their lids, and between my legs, an ocean of ecstasy forms. 

I wanted him inside me now. No, I NEEDED him inside me. All I wanted was to ride his cock. I wanted him to take me as a man would, to experience his flesh and his love.

"Yesz Sir...I want...to have zexx...withh you..."

"Good girl. You want to enter the backroom with me, and make passionate love until sunrise..."

"U-untilll....s-sunrizzee..."

His voice was like an addictive wine, it was indescribable to throw myself to his whims and desires. 

"You want me to give you many orgasms, my sweet."

"I wantt...you tto give me...many...orgasmsszz.."

"You want to feel me inside your pussy."

"I want tto...feel y-you...inzzide..my puzzzyyy..."

I could feel my clit tingling with happy excitement at the prospect!!

As I repeat my sexy mantras, Beatrice slowly crawls down my leg, looking to my discarded clothes on the floor with a bit of annoyance in her many eyes. She uses her impressive fangs to grip my blouse, slowly crawling away with it.

Erik on the other hand looks absolutely ecstatic, practically salivating at the sight of my naked pussy, before his eyes trail up my skin to admire every curve of me, stopping to ogle his own name printed across my bosom, as if proudly displaying myself as his property. 

*BANGBANG*

Our sexy and intimate moment is shattered by the banging of a fist against a glass window, the one at the front of the shop. 

"Hey! The sign says open!"

A rather grating voice calls out across the room, far from us and my nakedness. With an irritated mumbling, Erik's jagged smile quickly turns into a frown, the light above us flickering once more and casting occasional shadowy blankets over us. 

"Excuse me, dearest. Give me but a moment."

He addresses me with an almost condescending playfulness, tapping my head and smirking at my sleeping face before his expression sours once more. With a quick adjustment of his tie he's off to the far side of the building…

…

"Come on! I've gotta pick up some shit for my sister's birthday! Let's go, I've only got two minutes till midnight!"

He's greeted by an aggressive looking male also in his 30's, angrily banging his hand against the glass, shooting him a glare as he turns the corner. As Erik steps closer, the lights behind him flicker with a greater intensity, the glass almost bending slightly at his looming presence.

"Why don't you act smart for once in your life, and hit the bar instead?" He speaks with a calm, asserting voice, returning an angry glare of his own, parting his frowning lips to reveal his sword like teeth, but the eager shopper seems unfazed.

"Why don't I hit something else, fuckface?"

He shouts out, banging his hand on the glass once more, with a relentless fury. 

*BANGBANGBANGBANG*

He stops suddenly when the glass begins to crack slightly, right where he'd been smacking his open palm again over and over. His enraged expression slowly fades away and turning into one of uncertainty, and eventually one of fear when the glass begins to crack further.

Only this was no normal, random shattering pattern, stretched coincidentally. This seemed to be deliberately guided by some force, shaping and cracking into the small outline of letters. 

He watches with a scared expression as the shattered letters begin to spell out two, clear words to him....

F U C K

O F F

His eyes dart back to Epicurus, who's glaring fury has only increased, reaching inside his suit as if to retrieve something when every light in the store suddenly goes out at once.....

The man steps a bit closer, nervously staring into his own reflection against the neverending blackness behind him...

Until...

*BANG*

A grotesquely deformed head suddenly smacks itself against the etched letters, letting out a deafening wailing that echoes down the street, sounding similar to a car accident. 

It’s skin was sickly pale like a drowning victim, leathery and wet, its eyes like two sunken craters that twisted in a hideous contortion. Its mouth hangs limply by its jawbone, while a bloody tongue flapped about in the air below.

The size of the head was also freakishly unnatural, being far too large for any humans, with a long gray neck that twisted around like a corkscrew. 

“Death?…Death?….Please…Give me death…”

The man lets out a high pitched cry of his own, falling on his ass and watching in pure terror as the deformed face presses its wagging tongue against the words, leaving behind a sharp trail of blood as it slithers around like a red serpent. 

"FUCK! FUCK FUCK SHIT AH FUCK!! AHH! AHH! AHHHHH!!!"

He lets out a girly squeal as he quickly rushes back to his feet, tears streaming down his face. With another cry he takes off running down the street, screaming and crying obscenities. 

His shrieking voice slowly fading off into the distance, the lights in the store gradually flicker back on, revealing Erik's smiling outline, just as handsome as always and looking quite pleased with himself.

He shakes his head with an amused chuckle, taking the time to flip the sign hanging before the entrance around from "open" to "abandon all hope".

…

"Sorry my love, just closing shop."

I hear his charming voice refilling my mind, my dreamy smile increasing when I feel him gently run his hand against my bare shoulder, scooping me up in his arms. I willingly go limp in his grasp, an absolute waterfall between my legs.

"But I should be yours for the rest of the evening...If you'll have me…”

“Y-Yes Sir…I w-woulld llovve..to…have…you…”

He presses his lips into mine, giving me a loving smooch while his tongue explores my mouth, gently nudging and rubbing against my own.

Outside the store a dimwitted bird sits perched atop the front bumper of a parked car, gazing upwards at the full moon unaware of the danger it was in, or the eight arachnid eyes hungrily stalking it from the shadows and getting ready to pounce at any moment...

He gives me a few more loving kisses around my face and cheeks, carrying my limp, dainty form off to explore the nine layers of passion together....

_____

𖤐

Epilogue -

A Treacherous Trance ;

There was a cool winter breeze in the air, a dense layer of snow blanketing the land in a misty white hellscape as far as the eye could see, like an excessive snowglobe, fallen from the highest heaven. 

The icy wind throws itself about in a blistering whirlwind, carrying multiple leaves in its grasp, thrashing into the descending snow like frozen tears. An inhuman howl echoes across the wind, being slowly drowned out as the aggressive white mist descended upon all existence. 

…

I was far away from my hometown, though I couldn't say exactly where. The past year of my life has rushed past me like a hypnotic blur, only the sweet taste of newfound romance clear in my memory. 

Standing within the freezing blizzard, like an icy monolith, was a large theater, held defiantly against the sub zero wind. Man sized spotlights surround the building, while the frozen streets are lined with a river of snow-covered cars. 

'Erik Epicurus & Bewitching Cara - Enthralling Entertainers in the Macabre and Impossible!'

Blinked within a circle of flashing lights above the entrance, whilst a row of icicles gripped the text Alberigo Amphitheater printed beside it, their icy blades shaking elegantly in the surrounding winter storm, like knives set to fall any moment. 

Beside the entrance was a large poster of the devilishly handsome magician, wearing the same black tux and gripping a large bone saw in his hands. 

I was laying by his feet, clad in a revealing swimsuit made of diamonds, tossing my arms in the air and looking up at him with a mix of wonderment and adoration on my face.

Another poster showed me in an even skimpier two piece, my eyes closed tightly and my arms stiff by my sides. There was a bright red apple held in my smiling mouth, as I fell backwards into a pair of waiting arms, looking totally relaxed and dreamy. 

'None can resist the hypnotic pull of Epicurus!'

A loud, thunderous applause comes from within the theater, paired with whistles and cheers from a packed audience. 

Despite the white hell encompassing the building, it was actually quite warm inside. So warm in fact that a few elected to hang their coats by the entrance, right beside a small merch booth, guarded and watched over by eight attentive eyes, silent and unseen from the shadows.

A young man looks like he might be attempting to survey a few small posters of me asleep and levitating, but quickly steps back when he hears the sudden snapping of bones, followed by the small squeal of a squeaking mouse, making him slowly back away with a nauseous expression. 

The ocean of applause surrounds a large stage, illuminated by a dark red light, which casts our shadows upon the enormous curtain behind us, decorated with a printed flame pattern. 

Off to the side of the stage was a spinning board made of wood, open restraints bolted around a targeted center, while an assortment of knives stuck through its splintery grasp. 

The assorted blades looked as though they'd been thrown around the outline of a person, but the lucky damsel was out of harm's way, and relishing every moment of attention…

…

I felt my face beaming with a smile, looking down to see my own legs off on the other side of the stage, clear and far away from my body, and yet I felt no different than I normally did. In fact, when I feel the soft touch of a finger teasingly running up my leg, I can't help but let out a snicker. 

My face had no more makeup than usual, save that I'd had to begin powdering my neck before shows to hide a collection of hickeys. Epicurus grins to the audience, clutching a small saw in his hand while using his free to lightly caress and tickle my bare legs on display for all to see.

He sets the large saw down, and grips his cowl to his face, standing above my helpless form like a vampire about to feast. I felt completely powerless, and at his mercy. He could do anything to me right now.

He could even bite into my neck and force me to scream in front of all these people if he wanted to...It was hard not to feel excited by that.

Being fit inside of this wooden box, with only my arms, head, and legs visible, also gave the illusion that I could have been nude, especially in the skimpy one piece I was wearing. 

I bite down onto my lips and let out a much louder giggle when I feel his powerfully masculine hands grip my legs tighter, moving them up and down in the air as if to tease me. 

"As you can see, the enthralling beauty lives completely unharmed, thanks to my mastery of the dark arts!"

There was a tight fitting pair of handcuffs around my ankles, with my wrists bound above my head by a second pair. I smirk and roll my eyes at his cheesy announcement, using my hand to mock his overtly showman persona by flapping it as a mouth would. 

“Blah Blah BlaaHAHHAAHAH!!!"

My playfully teasing is interrupted once my glass heel is removed, exposing my bare foot to the air and his waiting, tickling fingers.

He moves them around my soles and between my toes, forcing my eyes to cross as I take on a madlike expression, devolving into an excess of giggles and gasping. 

Eventually he shows me a bit of mercy, and slides the heel back onto my foot. A bead of sweat runs down my face, the audience becoming slightly blurry in my vision as I sink back...

I let out a sigh of relief when my other half is wheeled back, the box locking with a *click* and connecting my split midsection.

Epicurus gives another sly grin to the crowd, unlocking the cuffs around my ankles and letting them fall to the wooden floor of the stage with a *clink clack*.

He slinks his way over to my face, gripping my wrists tightly in his hand and staring deep into my eyes while I gasp. I swear, he was even hotter when he was on stage and exercising his control over me like this. 

"Good girl.." I hear him whisper, reaching into his suit pocket to retrieve a small, bite sized chocolate, unwrapping it in his fingers and letting it fall into my waiting mouth. 

The chocolate and strawberry taste instantly makes love to my tongue, I barely have to chew before it melts into a creamy substance and slowly slides down my throat.

My wrists are soon unbound as well, and I rub them above my head as the box surrounding me collapses, and a spotlight falls over me. I'm fully on display for every eye in the room now, clad in a sparkly leotard that showed off a generous amount of skin.

The lights from the stage twinkle off its delicate design, my legs exposed all the way up to their hips, and my cleavage pushed upwards, while cut in an extremely generous V shaped window.

My beaming smile increases at the sound of their thunderous clapping, and I allow the man of my dreams to take me by my hand and lead me into a sitting position, before guiding me onto my feet, my heels *clicking* against the wood floor.

I face the crowd and take a bow along with my magician, waving to a few awestruck boys in the front who seem particularly enamored with me.

"She's so pretty..." One of them sighs under his breath, resting his head in his hand with hearts in his eyes.

"Thank you, thank you!" Epicurus laughs, waving to the loving public before us. He reaches back inside his suit, turning to face me with a playful look in his eyes.

"Time for the grand finale my sweet." He tells me with a sinister chuckle, the lights dimming around the stage and his face. 

I quickly nod my head and tell him "Yes Sir", standing straight up and moving myself into position. 

“Now in regards to my next trick, I'm afraid my darling assistant is a tad nervous with heights. And so, for her own comfort, I'll place her into a deep, relaxing trance."

My heart is already racing at his words, nearly leaping out from my chest when he pulls out a beautiful golden pocket watch, dangling it up in the air before my face. 

"Now my fallen angel, keep your attention on this pretty watch, and soon, you will fall under my hypnotic control..."

He waves his free hand around behind the watch, inviting me to fixate my gaze upon its golden surface, my mouth parting and my eyes fluttering wide open when it begins to gently rock back and forth.

"Your eyes are glued to the watch, Cara...They cannot help but follow it side...to side...left...to right...."

My blue irises dart back and forth with the lovely watch, happy to follow its hypnotic pattern as a smile comes to me. I was exactly where I wanted to be in life, at the mercy of his seductive spell. 

"Thaaaat'ss it my pretty...You cannot resist the swinging of the watch...The gleam of the light draws your gaze...You cannot look away...You don't want to look away...You want to relax, and be hypnotized."

"I...I cannot...look...away.."

“You WANT to be hypnotized…”

“Y…yes…want…to be…hypno…tizedd…”

"You are hypnotized. You must obey my commands."

The watch picks up speed, swinging faster and faster while becoming a golden blur before my swaying eyes. 

"I am...hypnotized...I must obey...your commands..."

I stifle a yawn, feeling a rush of sleepiness overtaking me and drawing my eyelids downwards.

"Yesss...Such a lovely subject. She falls to hypnosis so easily, and looks incredible as she does so!" Epicurus thinks to himself, showing his teeth in a grin and swinging the watch faster.

"Your eyes are getting so very heavy...They feel so powerfully drowsy...Closing down....down..."

Another yawn escapes me, my fluttering eyes rolling about in my head before refocusing on the watch. I was so tired. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and sink back down into that wonderful pleasure state. 

"My eyes...are...getting...heav...y....*yawn*...."

"You are submissive to me...You are drawn to my power..."

"Yes...Sir...I am...drawn...to your...power..."

A mindless expression comes over the face of a young girl in the front row, seeming to go into a trance as well. She becomes wide eyed and dreamy, falling to the watch’s sway just like I was.

Her cheeks burn red when her friend beside her quickly jabs her ribs, snapping her out of it.

*Tick Tick Tick* 

The small hands within the watch spin around in a dizzying circle, further perplexing my mind which was already on the brink of melting.

“It's so easy to let go…So easy to give in.”

“L-let…*yawn*......mmmgo…”

"When I snap my fingers, you will fall into a deep, hypnotic sleep. You will be under my control, and obedient to my power..."

"When you...s-snap your fingers...I will fall into a...a deep...*yawn*”

“Sleep for me, Cara. Sleep for your Master.”

“S-sleep…for…my…master…”

*SNAP!*

I can just barely get the words out before my eyes slam shut at the sound of his fingers clicking, immediately pulled downwards like lead weights.

My mind clears of every stress, every worry, every nightmare that's ever plagued me vanished from existence, my inner soul at peace with how blank and tranquil I was. There was nothing on earth this good, not even sex could compare to a deep, mind numbing trance. 

The audience erupts in applause once more when my head drops forward, snoring and fast asleep under deep hypnosis. 

My body goes completely limp, and is quickly caught by the entrancing gentleman beside me, who sways me around in his arms a bit, showing off my dainty form in his grasp. 

He carries my sleeping body back center stage, setting me down onto the now collapsed box. He whispers some hypnotizing words into my ears, but they're inaudible to both the crowd and myself. 

When he begins to wave his hand above me, I feel a powerful, unseen force suddenly grip onto my being, forcing me to lay completely straight out, with my arms at my sides.

With the stagelight reflected slightly off my legs, he waves once more before my sleeping face, and my eyes reopen to stare off into the tall ceiling, lost in a hypnotic void while smiling like an oblivious dope. 

Slowly he takes a place right above me, and begins dramatically waving his arms above my midriff, moving his hands down towards me then back upwards again, as if beckoning me up into his grasp.

A few in the audience gasp when my rigid body begins to levitate, stationary at first before slowly flying up to his hypnotic hands. Many reach for their phones, while some look around my airborne figure, checking to see any wires.

My floating body comes to a gradual halt before his face, which grins wickedly as he looks over every inch of me, resisting the urge to lick my bare flesh before all these people. With a chuckle he produces a large, metallic ring, holding it up for everyone to see before passing me through it multiple times, much to the shock of many!

The applause increases for a moment before dying down, and Epicurus looks around quite pleased. He'd been longing for a full time assistant for ages, and now that he had me in his grasp, he would never again be without a beautiful woman.

With a flicker in his gaze he begins to move his hands above me once more, this time causing me to float all the way up towards the ceiling!!

I was now levitating hundreds of feet up in the air, my only expression a silly, oblivious grin. When he moves his hand about in circles, I begin to do the same, rotating clockwise then counterclockwise in the air in a spectacle of entrancement. 

"I have no thoughts...I am hypnotized...I have no thoughts...I am hypnotized..."

I feel the power over me slightly decreasing, the air against my skin as I'm slowly lowered back down, gently landing in the waiting magician's arms, who gives me a peck on my cheek.

My heels click against the floor when he sets me back on my feet, my body pressed against his own. My face slacks against his shoulder, staring off into the crowd with sleeping, vacant eyes. 

“Can you still hear me, my lovely?”

“Hhmmmnnn…Yyyesshhh….Mmasshterr….Zzz..”

"Tempting as it is to leave sweet Cara like this, I would miss her riveting conversations about literature and pasta.”

There's a few snickers, everyone watching with anticipation as Epicurus waves his hand across my face over and over, gently counting me back up from trance.

"Three...Slowly becoming aware...Coming back to your senses...Two...Mind waking up...Thoughts returning...One..Feeling so wonderful and..."

*SNAP!*

"Awake!"

He snaps his fingers right in my face, and my eyes lazily flutter back half-open. I have a drowsy, somewhat bewildered expression, rubbing my tired eyes before I let out a yawn.

"Hmm...Iss...Issit time to performm already??"

I can hear laughter, the blurry lights from the stage dancing around my vision and obscuring the hundreds of people, all with their attention on me. I felt extremely groggy, I honestly thought I was back in my bed for a moment...

With a chuckle he affectionately strokes my hair, before reaching into his suit, and holding out another bite sized chocolate for me to enjoy.

"Good girl, Cara. You're obeying so well, your master is so proud of you!"

I smile and let him place the small chocolate to my lips, inviting it into my mouth and nuzzling the strawberry sweetness with my tongue.

I become increasingly more awake when a blinding spotlight falls on us, squinting my eyes and taking a moment to compose myself before I take a bow to the cheering crowd before me.

"Of course the show would be nothing without our star, give it up for the always Beautiful and Bewitching Cara!"

The magician's voice rings out across the crowd, and they all erupt into an even more enthusiastic applause. I can hear myself being praised, along with a few whistles.

"We love you Cara!"

"You're gorgeous sweetie!"

"What a foxy babe, best hypnogirl!"

My face beams with a smile, and I take a few more bows before the lights dim around us. Soon my adoring crowd is hidden by a descending red curtain.

I spin around in place to face my handsome magician, giving him a romantic kiss when I feel him wrapping his arms around me. With a snap of his fingers, I open my eyes to suddenly find a lit cigarette in my mouth, along with a soft pink robe now wrapped around me, hugging my figure while offering a generous window of my chest. 

I smile and place my fingers to my lips, taking a long drag of relaxing smoke and exhaling through my nose. Despite being in an extremely half awake state, I felt incredibly relaxed, another long breath of smoke emerging from my dark red lips. 

"Was I...all the way up...there?" I ash my cigarette in the air, still slightly bemused and drowsy. I couldn't wait to curl up in bed with him for some traditional post show coitus.

"Indeed you were my sweet, just like the angel you are. Rest assured, you were perfectly safe." He gives me another kiss, releasing me from his grasp. 

"You're always safe in my hands. And did you enjoy the treats I gave you?" This time his voice is much more flirty, and I can't stop myself from blushing.

"I...I did like that....err, them."

I look down to the floor as my cheeks burn, smiling when I feel another chocolate bite being placed to my lips. 

I savor the sweetness paired with the relaxing bitterness of my smoke, feeling him lightly pat my head and call me a 'good girl', sending a shiver of excitement to slice through my growing tranquility.

For a moment I think he's going to give me another chocolate when he reaches back into his suit, but my heart begins to race fast inside my chest when I see him produce a golden pocket watch, holding it up in the light and letting it dangle before my face.

"Of course, the sweetest treat is yourself, Cara. And I know how much you also enjoy being hypnotized..."

My eyes instantly lock to the swinging watch, making no effort to fight or resist as my dopey smile returns. There was no point in fighting this, and why would I ever want to? He was right, I loved being hypnotized. 

And I especially loved being hypnotized by him.

"Y-Yes...e-enjoy...hypnotizzedd..."

"You are submissive to my power, my love."

"Yess...Sir...I amm...ssubmissive...to your powwerr..."

"It would feel so incredibly good to rest your eyes."

"R-rest my...eyezz….Hmmmmnn…”

"Letting them close down...down...down..."

The desire for my own autonomy begins to drift away like a distant memory, as I follow the watch and listen to his words. Before long my eyes have closed, and my body goes limp in his waiting arms, which lift me in a bridal carry.

“Good girl…You deserve all of the praise, my sweetheart.” A kiss is placed against my cheek, as I softly snore. 

As he's hoisting me up while gripping me tightly in his arms, his attention is suddenly drawn to a pair of wriggling, fuzzy legs, slowly pulling along the bird-eating horror along with them. 

"Don't think I didn't see you scaring off some sap." He gives the spider an annoyed look. 

"She worked all night on putting that merch booth together! Poor girl was looking forward to selling her art commissions!”

Gripping my snoozing form he lowers me down to the arachnid, my sleeping face inches away from her eight eyes, which all glance into my sleeping expression before quickly trailing towards a small craft service table in the corner. 

Nestled beside a pink donut box is an assortment of wallets, wrapped up in thick spider webs and pinned to the brightly colored container. The magician's expression softens towards his tarantula friend when he sees the stolen pile.

"Ah..Yes, well done. Your cut should be in there as well, though I'd appreciate if you left me a cruller or two this time.”

He carries me off, whilst Beatrice makes her way towards the donuts with a hunger in her many arachnid eyes, her fangs twitching in thirst. 

Meanwhile, my sleeping face nuzzles into his bold chest as he carries me backstage, lost in the glory of his trance. Each second in his arms sends me ten times deeper, the powerful glow overlapping my soul giving me an incredible, submissive rush.

When I feel myself being placed onto the sheets of a soft bed, I can already feel my womanhood opening with dripping wet excitement at what was to come….

With my eyes still closed I quickly fumble about with my bathrobe, throwing it open with a happy, snoozing grin. Even in my deep sleep I could feel his eyes hungrily devour me, and I begin to eagerly tug my sparking leotard off my body as quickly as I could.

“Good girl. I didn't even have to order you this time. You've fallen so beautifully to my spell..”

It's not long until I'm completely naked, hearing the faint fumblings of a belt buckle as I teasingly run my hands up to my breasts, inviting him to sample and enjoy me…

The next few hours are filled with absolute hypnotic bliss, surrendering myself to my thoughtless desires and letting him take me, again and again, showing me the pleasures of flesh over and over until I begin to see the stars…

…

𖤐  LA FINE  𖤐    

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