Ch 297: The Bloodfang Association.

"A pity you refused to accept me as your leader, Broken Sword." grunted Heidi as she dragged the gagged and bound girl toward the waiting carriage. A God Punishment stone was chained around the girl's throat.

"Mphisph! mphdon phou pfhis!"

"Your power would have been useful to me. But you know how it is. The lone wolf is cast out."

As the two women got near the carriage, guarded only by two soldiers and the coachman, its side door opened, Heidi climbed inside, and Broken Sword, despite her desperate struggles, was half dragged, half carried in by Heidi and the guards.

Lord Heinrich Farren nodded in greeting to Heidi, watched Broken Sword with a critical eye, appreciating her dark silver eyes and hair, her full chest, pale skin and attractive face, and smiled.

"I like her already. I am very pleased, Lady Morgan."

"The God Punishment stone stays on this one." warned Heidi. "She can turn herself into a sword. She is unable to move, see or hear while she is in that form unless someone holds her, but we do not want for one of your servants to find a sword lying around while cleaning your dungeon and mistakenly put it away in your armory."

"Naturally." nodded Heinrich. "I know not to lower my guard, and I will inform the servant cleaning this particular part of my manor. You are the only witch I take any chances with."

He took from his pocket a leather pouch, heavy with gold coins, and handed it to Heidi, who pocketed it without bothering to check its contents.

"Well then, I wish you many pleasant moments with your new toy." nodded Heidi, reaching for the door's handle.

"Before you leave, Lady Morgan, I have a matter I need to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"There are two witches, or at least, I assume them to be witches, making a name of themselves in a most disconcerting and brazen way. Ciel and Caren. They are visiting one noble after another in the southern part of the Kingdom and are specifically asking for you, Lady Morgan."

"For me?" exclaimed Heidi.

"Yes. They have already attracted the attention of the Inquisition, I am afraid, but they seem to have eluded capture so far. If those witches ever knock at my door, should I deny any knowledge of your whereabouts, or point them in your direction?"

"Are you sure they are witches?" frowned Heidi.

"I can only report on the rumors that reached my ears." shrugged Heinrich. "According to those, no one has seen those women display any witch power, but they also didn't deny being ones when accused. And no guards managed to capture them, so they shouldn't be ordinary women."

Heidi nodded, pondering on this surprising news. If the guards each noble surrounded themselves with couldn't capture them, they surely were witches. And it wasn't all that surprising that they would search for her.

She, after all, had a claim to the throne of Wolfheart. Despite her relative and very temporary downfall, she still had some power behind the scenes and many connections. It made sense for a pair of smart witches to seek her out, to benefit from her connections, sponsorship, or protection.

There was also the possibility that it might be a trap from the Inquisition, but Heidi needed to seize any opportunity to grow her budding faction.

"…If you meet them, please deny having seen me recently, but send me a message with their descriptions to one of my informants, the innkeeper of the Silver Fork in Silverbell Town. I will be around the Pale Flatlands for about a month before I return to this area."

"Very well." nodded Lord Farren. "I wish you a good night, Lady Morgan. What is left of it."

"Likewise, Lord Farren. When I sit on the throne, I will not forget your support." smiled Heidi, leaving the carriage.

With her gone, Lord Farren breathed a sigh of relief. Heidi Morgan and himself might share some common interests and mutually benefit from their cooperation, but she was still a very dangerous witch, and one who could kill anyone near her in a particularly horrific way. This wasn't something Heinrich could just forget.

"She isn't ever going to sit on that throne. Still, she has her uses." muttered Heinrich, before looking at Broken Sword, who was scared stiff.

"As for you." smiled Heinrich, reporting his attention on the prize he just paid two hundred gold coins for. She flinched, more tears falling down her cheeks. "I will not do anything with you tonight. I need some sleep after all. But starting tomorrow, you will entertain me every night with your body."

"Mfpht!" exclaimed Broken Sword through the knotted rope gagging her, shaking her head in denial and fear, but the Lord ignored her pleas and knocked three times on the carriage's frame. One soldier entered, keeping a close eye on the bound witch, while the other climbed on the bench with the coachman, and they started their journey back to the Farren Manor.

…

Ciel woke up slowly, feeling very comfortable. She snuggled against the comfortable, warm body pillow. A body pillow that faintly smelled of leather, something she had learned to relish.

The body pillow shifted slightly, and Ciel lazily opened her eyes. Taking her smartphone from her spatial ring, she checked on the hour. it was about time she got active.

With a yawn, she sat on the bed and started undoing the lacing of her body pillow. Soon, Alicia was freed from the leather sleeping bag and discipline helmet.

"Good morning, Alicia." smiled Ciel.

"Good morning, Ciel-sama." nodded Alicia, using the form of address Ciel had taught her.

"How do you feel, Alicia?"

"…Conflicted." admitted Alicia, blushing. "I can't decide if I hate you for kidnapping me and treating me like your toy, or want to thank you for kidnapping me and treating me like your toy."

Ceil chuckled and patted her head.

"Your training is progressing nicely. Soon you will just be happy I took you."

"…I am missing my colleagues in the Judgment Army." sighed Alicia. "Or maybe I should say former colleagues. I am worried about what will happen to them when the invasion of Demonic Beasts starts."

"I understand… There is still some time before winter comes. I would have to consult with the others, but maybe we could send a few of us to help out. Hopefully, Akeno will have gained the ability to share our Lord's powers with you by then."

"A blessing received from afar…" nodded Alicia.

"Yes, that is an accurate way to describe it. Anyway, let's eat breakfast and get you prepared for the day."

"I hope you and Caren-sama will find those witches quickly. What this Heidi does is… Even the most hardheaded members of the Inquisition would be outraged."

"I do not doubt it." nodded Ciel.

The two girls moved to the bathroom where they showered together.

"I still can't decide which of the things you made me discover I like the most, the shower, or the toothpaste." said Alicia once they were done eating breakfast.

"I think what you like the most is all the delicious food." replied Ciel, and Alice chuckled. Ciel wasn't wrong.

"Alright, time for your outfit." said Ciel, and Alicia nodded.

First was a chastity set, made of a belt with a single plug, metal bra, and metal belts going around Alicia's thighs. The set was held together by short, thin chains linking each element to each other.

When everything was snug and secure, Ciel helped Alicia put on a dark green and white witch uniform. Once her training was over and she received Noah's abilities, she would let people think she was a witch.

The black leather collar around her neck remained, and black leather knee-high boots were the last elements of Alicia's outfit.

"I'm going to join Caren. See you later, Alicia." said Ciel.

"Yes, Ciel-sama. Please be careful."

Ciel smiled and disappeared, and Alicia was alone in the house. But she was starting to get used to this. She knew Ciel and Caren manipulated the time flow of the Sanctuary so that time would pass normally when the two Agents were both outside but would be accelerated whenever one of them was with her, so that Alicia would get several days' worth of 'training' for every day that passed in reality.

Thankfully, there were a number of books in the house, and Alicia loved to read about stories happening in other worlds. Not that she would end up reading a lot, as the belt would tease her for most of the day and make it hard to focus. She didn't mind anymore. On the contrary, she was looking forward to it. Somehow, she was starting to like being denied, being deprived of the control.

And she knew that, by the time Ciel or Caren returned, she would be very eager to do whatever they wanted, as long as it involved the belt being removed.

…

"Greetings. We would like to speak to Lord Farren." smiled Caren as she and Ciel walked to the two guards by the garden's gate.

"Who are you? Do you have an appointment?" asked the first guard, looking at them suspiciously. Caren and Ciel were dressed in clean, undamaged clothes, clearly a cut above those worn by farmers or miners, but not gaudy enough to be part of higher nobility. They could pass as minor nobles or moderately successful merchants.

The other guard, however, was frozen stiff and looked at them with wide eyes.

"We do not have any appointment." shrugged Caren. "Your friend, however, seem to have heard of us. Please lead us to Lord Farren. We will not leave without speaking to him."

"Hum? Who are they?" frowned the first guard as he turned to the other, only now noticing his colleague's state.

"T-The… the witches." whispered the terrified guard, and the first one flinched.

"Your Lord, now." said Ciel with a firm tone.

The guards gulped, then nodded and led the way to the manor.

"P-Please wait in the reception room. I will warn the Lord." said the first guard.

"Thank you." smiled Caren, producing two gold coins. "For the inconvenience."

The guards muttered thanks as they took the coins, seemingly more motivated by the fear of offending the witches by refusing than by the coins themselves.

One of them stayed by the door, while the other disappeared. Less then two minutes later, he came back along with two other guards, and a richly dressed man in his forties, with black eyes, black hair and a short, pointed beard.

"Are you Lord Heinrich Farren?" asked Ciel.

"I am. And who might you be?" asked the man with a wary voice.

"My name is Ciel, and this is Caren. This is a pleasure to meet you. We won't take up too much of your time. We are searching for Lady Heidi Morgan. Would you have any information about her whereabouts?"

"The shame of the royal family? No, I haven't heard from her since she disappeared last year." smoothly lied Heinrich.

Caren and Ciel looked at each other, keeping the sudden anticipation from showing on their faces.

"We heard that she was in the business of selling witches as playthings for some… less than scrupulous nobles, let's say. Have you heard anything about it?"

"Not at all." frowned Lord Farren. "And I can assure you that you will find no witches in my home, if that is what you are here for. Do you work for the Inquisition?"

"We don't. We work for someone much more powerful." smiled Ciel. "Someone who could take on the whole Inquisition single-handedly and crush them in minutes. Someone who gave us the ability to see through lies."

Her voice had turned ice-cold at the end, and Lord Farren paled.

"So, how many witches are here?" asked Caren.

"What are you accusing me of? There are no witches here!" insisted Lord Farren.

"There is no point lying to us. Now, you can tell us everything you know about Heidi and her Bloodfang Association, and we will take your cooperation into account when it comes to deciding what to do with you. Or we will do thing the hard way and torture you, then heal you, then torture you again, until you speak."

"Guards! Kill them!" shouted Lord Farren, dashing toward the door.

Caren used Shunpo to appear between the door and him and slapped him when he couldn't stop his momentum and got close to her, sending him careening to the side, while Ciel dealt with the guards, appearing near them and striking their arms with enough force to make them drop the swords they had just drawn, then creating light chains to restrain them.

Someone knocked on the door.

"My lord? Do you need anything?" asked a man.

Caren opened the door, revealing the stunned face of a butler. The man took one look at what was happening in the room and shuddered.

"There is at least one witch held in this estate. You will bring me to her. Now."

"No, Victor!" shouted Heinrich, his mouth bloody. "Fetch the guards! Aoww!"

Ciel interrupted his words with a kick to the face.

"My lord!"

"Don't listen to him." cut in Caren "He likely won't be alive to see tomorrow. Your own life, however, depends on how cooperative you are. Bring me to the witches. Now."

"I…" started the butler, only to stare at the Light sword appearing in Caren's right hand. "I understand! I will bring you to her!"

"Good. "Now, start walking." said Caren.

While Caren walked out, Ciel picked up the swords on the ground and transferred them into her spatial ring.

The Lord tried to jump through a window to escape, but a light chain wrapping around his left ankle jerked him back.

"Not so fast." smiled Caren. "Tell me about Heidi and her group."

"She'll kill me!" cried Lord Farren.

"If that witch we are going to meet tells us what we think she will, you will die today anyway. The only difference is how much pain we will make you endure if you resist." said Ciel with an indifferent tone. "When and where did you last meet her?"

"Please! I have money and connections! Just name your price!"

Ciel seized his left hand and broke his little finger.

"Ouch!" sobbed the Lord. He had very little tolerance to physical pain, and the sight of his finger bent into the wrong direction made the pain so much worse.

"You damn witch! Release our Lord?" commanded one of the guards, his arms bound against his sides by the golden chains.

"Where and when did you meet Heidi?" asked Ceil, seized the little finger of his right hand.

"Please don't! I haven't seen her recently, I promise!"

Ciel broke his little finger, and the ring finger as well, making him scream.

"That was for the lie." said Ciel. Then she used Greater Healing on him, fixing his mouth and his fingers. Heinrich Ferran stopped screaming, surprised.

"This was just to prove that we can torture you to near death again and again." said Ciel, dashing his hopes, and breaking his left little finger again. "Now speak. If breaking your fingers repeatedly doesn't do the trick, we can start tearing our nails out, flaying you, and do many, many other painful things."

The threat broke something inside Lord Farren, and he… gave up.

The butler returned, followed by Caren and a scared girl with dark silver hair.

"There are no other witches here, Ciel." said Caren with a grim tone. "According to that butler, Heinrich Ferran bought two other witches from Heidi before, and had their bodies dumped into the river when he grew bored of abusing them."

Ciel nodded, and swiftly kicked Heinrich's groin, making him scream terribly. The guards winced and pressed their legs together.

…

By the time they were done extracting any useful information from Heinrich Farren, only a handful of servants had been spared. All the others, servants and guards alike, had been executed as accomplices.

Broken Sword was shivering slightly, held in Ciel's arms as they flew over a kilometer above ground, high enough that people looking up from the ground would barely notice a pair of small black dots.

"Are you cold? We can stop and give you warm clothes if you want." asked Caren with a motherly voice. "Or are you afraid of heights?"

"Ah, no. I'm not cold." replied Broken Sword. "It's just, I can't seem to calm down."

"You have been through a lot. But I promise you, you are safe with us. We are very strong, and we won't put you in danger."

"…What is going to happen to me, now?" hesitantly asked Broken Sword.

"Our Master will take you in." smiled Ciel, flying beside Caren. "He is a very kind person, and he treats his servants well. We will also properly punish Heidi and her accomplices for what she has done, to you and many others."

"Will you kill her?"

"No. That would be too easy, and too wasteful. We will break her thoroughly, then rebuild her into a different person. And then, she will spend the rest of her life working to help other people."

"Heidi is dangerous." frowned Broken Sword. I have seen her use her power on some animals. It was a terrible sight."

"What does her power do?" asked Ciel.

"If anything is hollow, she can crush it." shuddered Broken Sword. "If she uses it on someone, because lungs are hollow, that person's ribcage will compress around itself so much that the ribs will break and the soft inner organs will be squeezed out through the mouth."

"That's nasty. Does that power have a weakness?" frowned Ciel.

"I do not know. If it has one, Heidi didn't speak about it."

"I see. What about the other witches of the BloodFang Association? What are their powers?" asked Caren.

"Iffy can imprison her target inside a magic cage and shrink it to torture her prey. Softfeathers can make things stick together. Nightfall can create seeds to either poison or help heal others. Skyflare can breathe fire."

"Four witches to neutralize, then?" asked Ciel.

"Yes. There were more, witches who couldn't fight well, but Heidi kept finding people who could… shelter them. That is what she told us. How could she do something so terrible?"

"Because she is simply an evil person." shrugged Caren.

"Look over there, Caren, Broken Sword." said Ciel as she pointed into the distance. In one of the roads was a group of five people, one of them on a horse.

Broken Sword peered down. She was too far away to see any details.

"Broken Sword, do the Bloodfang Witches wear dark red cloaks?" asked Ciel, using a scope to zoom in on the group.

"Yes."

"It's very likely them, then." smiled Ciel. "Caren, we'll raid them tonight, using invisibility to get the first strike in."

"Better yet, let's separate them using the Sanctuary." suggested Caren, and Ciel nodded.

…

Heidi put another log into the campfire and sat back on the log, her eyes staring at the flames, her mind busy. The money she had gained from Broken Sword's sale would help pay the informants and with procuring supplies for a while.

But the situation still wasn't great. Skyflare knew the truth and fully supported her actions, aware that great causes required some sacrifices. Softfeathers and Iffy readily accepted what Heidi told them, but Nightfall was starting to grow suspicious.

…Maybe, it was time to answer Tilly Wimbledon's invitation. She had refrained so far, as she didn't want to be under someone else's orders even if only for a while, but there were a lot of witches in Tilly's group. Witches Heidi could gradually bring under her banner, convincing them to join the winning side before moving against Tilly, that weak witch that had only her name and status to support her.

She more she thought about it, the more the idea grew on her. She would need to make some preparations here before leaving the Kingdom for an extended period, but…

A small noise about two meters behind her made her turn suddenly, but she didn't see anything. There were no dangerous snakes or spiders in this cold region, and larger predators wouldn't be able to sneak up on her. it was probably just a mouse or a small critter.

Shrugging, Heidi returned to watching the fire and her four sleeping companions.

Tilly's messenger had informed them that they would relocate to Sleeping Island just before the winter, so she would have to secure passage with a ship captain, and...

Something hard closed around her neck with a soft click, and suddenly, she was sitting on a grassy plain, on broad daylight.

"What?" exclaimed Heidi, trying to jump on her feet, but hands seized her and forced her on the ground. She used her power, aiming at her invisible assailant, but her power didn't respond to her will!

Her eyes bulged in shock and anger as golden chains appeared, binding her.

It had to be a witch.

"You wench! Unhand me, and maybe I won't slaughter you!" screamed Heidi.

The invisible hands tore off her clothes, exposing her chest, and Heidi hollered in anger and humiliation. She struggled and squirmed and screamed, but her enemy didn't stop until she was completely naked save from the metal collar she felt around her neck, and metal shackles were fastened on her wrists, keeping her hands behind her back.

She felt a finger on her nape, moving as if to draw a pattern. The gesture was repeated two more times, and the hands left her body, the golden chains disappearing. Finally, her opponent appeared, a woman clad in a black leather bodysuit and glossy, featureless black helmet.

Heidi kicked the woman, but she didn't react in the slightest, and only removed her helmed, revealing a face framed by neck-length blue hair, and cold, deep blue eyes staring at her.

The women gestured with her left hand, and the door of the nearby house opened, revealing… Broken Sword? She was glaring daggers at her. Heidi ignored her. Broken Sword wasn't the dangerous one here.

"Welcome to your Nightmare, Heidi Morgan." said the blue-haired woman with a voice that could have frozen a lake. "Here, your actions will finally receive their just recompense."

"Who are you!"

"It's Owner." replied the woman.

Heidi frowned, not understanding those cryptic words, but the golden chains were suddenly back, keeping her still, and the woman had a black something in her hands. It took Heidi a few seconds to understand that it was some kind of leather hood, but there were no holes for the eyes or mouth. Suddenly, she knew she wanted nothing to do with this, but the girl started stretching it over her head.

"From now on, It isn't a witch. It isn't even a human being. It is a thing, to be trained and molded into whatever its Owner deems suitable."

"No! You can't do this! You… mmph!" protested Heidi, starting to feel some real dread as the confining leather was mercilessly stretched over her face.

…

"Are you scared, Broken Sword?" asked Alicia, standing beside her as they watched Ciel deal with Heidi.

"No. She deserves this." sighed Broken Sword. "I am just wondering, will this really change her?"

"From what Ciel-sama told me, this Heidi isn't the first evil woman who is being… changed and turned into a decent person. Not a good person, mind you. This would be too much to ask. But a decent person. The others are still somewhat selfish, but they do not do evil acts anymore. When Ciel-sama is done with Heidi, she will not want to be a queen anymore. She will only want to earn Ciel-sama or Noah-sama's approval."

"…I think I understand." nodded Broken Sword.

Ciel was done strictly binding the hooded witch and took that device she had called a 'smartphone' before putting on her helmet and becoming invisible again.

Ciel and Caren had explained their plan to her. Whenever Ciel would be ready to receive the next witch, she would use her smartphone to make the one owned by Caren vibrate once, and Caren would send the next one over.

…

Iffy woke up suddenly as something closed around her neck, and she wasn't where she had fallen asleep!

Before she could understand what was happening, unseen hands forced her arms into her back, and steel shackles. She tried to use her power, but for some reason, couldn't.

"I rather like your outfit." said a young woman's voice with an appreciative tone, making Iffy glance down at her body after a second. The light purple leather bodysuit with a window showing some cleavage under her dark red robe of the BloodFang Association, with the few black leather straps around her shoulders, were the same as usual. She simply liked to wear tight clothes, as they were easy to move in.

"You!" started Iffy, before noticing several other members of the Association on the ground nearby, already bound and gagged or hooded, and two people standing near the door of the house.

"Broken Sword? Why are you here? What is happening?"

Broken Sword didn't answer, and another woman with long silver hair and golden eyes appeared.

"This was the last one. Do you need help?"

"I have things handled, thank you." replied the invisible woman. "But maybe you can bring Heidi into the basement, and the others into the living room? We need to determine their culpability."

"Yes." nodded the girl, picking up the hooded captive.

Moments later, Iffy, Softfeathers, Nightfall and Skyflare, still wearing shackles and collars, were sitting on a pair of sofas inside the house, facing a brooding Broken Sword as well as the three women who had captured them. At least two of them were witches, but she wasn't certain about the brown-haired one.

"Broken Sword, why did you betray us?" asked Softfeathers, looking hurt.

"I didn't betray you. You betrayed me. Some of you, at least." glared Broken Sword.

"What?" blurted out Softfeathers.

"Skyflare." cut in the blue-haired witch. "Broken Sword told us that you were Heidi's second in command. Did you know what she really was doing with witches like Broken Sword?"

"I don't know what you mean." replied Skyflare, and Iffy frowned. There was something wrong with her tone and her expression, as if she was really, really scared.

"I have the ability to see through lies." nodded the blue-haired witch. "So, you are her accomplice. How many, Skyflare? how many witches did you send to become playthings for nobles?"

Iffy flinched as she heard those words. She suddenly thought about Annie, the witch who had saved her almost two years ago when they were pursued by the Inquisition. They had both reached the BloodFang Association, but been separated since Annie's power couldn't let her fight, and Heidi had told her she had used her connections to smuggle Annie out of the country.

"What?" exclaimed Softfeathers, equally shocked.

"It's true." nodded Broken Sword. "Yesterday, Heidi tied me up and sold me to Lord Ferran. He held me captive in his secret basement, and if Ciel and Caren hadn't found me while they were investigating the Bloodfang Association, I would be enduring terrible things right now!"

"Your name is Iffy, right?" asked the blue-haired witch, turning her attention toward her. "I would ask you if you were Heidi's accomplice, but I can see from your reaction that you are innocent. Same with Softfeathers. What about you, Nightfall? You didn't seem surprised. Did you know or participate?"

"No." replied Nightfall, shaking her head. "But… I was starting to think that something was wrong. Heidi had too much money to throw around for someone in exile, and she always seemed to know some people ready to offer shelter to a witch."

"You too are innocent." nodded the witch with silver hair.

Iffy felt sick for not having noticed the signs, now that Nightfall had pointed them out. If she wasn't bound right now, she would be laying her hands on Skyflare.

"What are you going to do to us?" asked Nightfall.

"Skyflare will join Heidi in the basement, where we will do whatever it takes to get the names of the nobles they sold witches to, and we will pay each of them a visit. Any witch we find, we will rescue. The nobles will die." said the silver-haired witch.

"As for you, we declare the BloodFang Association to be hereby dissolved. We will take you along with Broken Sword to the Graycastle kingdom, where Prince Roland is creating a city where witches will not be oppressed and can live in peace. Once you convince us that you won't attack Broken Sword or Alicia or do anything equally stupid, we will remove your restraints and treat you as friends."

"Also, I apologize for the rough treatment so far." nodded the blue-haired one. "Until we could determine who is guilty and who isn't, we needed to treat you as a possible enemy. And speaking of enemies…"

She grabbed Skyflare and put her over her shoulder, then headed toward what Iffy assumed to be the basement.

"I will assist Ciel in the interrogation of Heidi and Skyflare. We need to move fast to increase the odds of rescuing more witches. Alicia, why don't you tell them about what you have seen of Prince Roland and Border Town, and about the upcoming war against the Demons and the Sea Demons?"

"Alright." nodded the brown-haired woman.