Catcall Page50

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Callista cannot respond, though even in the shadows Annalae can see her working the ropes and gag that bind and silence her. But Jervil's voice continues unhindered as he stations his last gremlin to keep watch over the blonde woman and then carries the Cat Witch toward a curtained opening in the Undercellar wall.

"You still haven't guessed why Maladyne requires these women-... these gifts. Sorcery is like a living thing," he says with a mixture of reverent awe and suppressed fear and disgust. "It interacts differently with males and with females, although too few of either persuasion abound who are capable or will risk its dark influence for proper studies to be conducted.

"The sorceries of women tend to be more numerous and less personally costly, while that of men is more rare and costly, but also more enduring. My sorcery has taken everything I am and replaced it with that which belonged to others, mostly to these jackrats haunting the Undercellar, while yours has left you whole and beautiful, even if you've had to renew it regularly. At long last, though I am ashamed of my own oversight and stupidity in not recognizing it sooner, I believe I have found a way to test that difference and perhaps tap into the power of female sorcery, combining what I can accomplish with what you can do."

The Rat-Man pauses at the curtain before pulling it open. Annalae finds herself unwilling to break eye contact with Callista as Jervil draws the fabric aside. "Aren't you even curious, Cat Witch?" Jervil sniffles. "I believe you may find the experiment... interesting."

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Annalae was drawn using the stock photos of Lindsey. Thanks, Lindsey!

Enjoy!