Klaus was firmly set in his purpose of finding Philip who was son of Agathor Reinecker, King of the Wizards. Until they met again, the warlock searched for other magical beings to drain their energy. Since Luca, his servant, had passed a long time ago, Klaus hired other servants to work in the castle. He witnessed they all die, generation after generation.

One day, interesting news came to Klaus. A Muslim wizard who was the right-hand man of the Ottoman Empire's chief, was having a decisive participation in the conquering of many territories and cities. Emperor Saluffar's target was the city of Vienna, which was besieged according to the instructions of his personal advisor. The strategy was simple: by invading Austria, Saluffar would have an opened door to the rest of Europe. After he had won the Venetian navy, that was trying to invade Constantinople, Saluffar felt that he was already sufficiently strong to attack Europe.

"Fratello, it's time to work. I have to get rid of that powerful wizard that is the king's advisor."

"Your desire is my path, master," the monster answered with a hideous voice as he showed his pointed teeth, something that resembled a smile.

In the main hall, the warlock consulted his crystal pyramid. He passed his right hand over the black object, and instantly it had a kind of dark cloud inside, as if it was a warning of an approaching storm. Klaus saw the enemy's exact position. He considered his target's feature. Then, he looked at his cursed copy and passed his hand through the air. Klaus opened a portal through which they both entered, going straight to Vienna. The siege had been lasting for quite a long time. Osman, the wizard, stayed in a tent far from the emperor's. From that point, he was able to observe the camping organization, and ordered his six hawks to fly over the region in order to bring him information about the enemy's line.

While the head of government slept, Klaus passed his hand over himself and became invisible. From outside, accompanied by his repulsive creature, he stared at the Moon. He was detailing the invaders' tactics, which summed down to killing the Austrians by preventing the city from receiving water and food supplies.

Nevertheless, Klaus discovered something far more interesting than men set on to fight. Osman Tabor never left his wife alone, for he was a very jealous man. Klaus saw her fixing herself up inside the tent while her husband was away in conversations with his boss to prepare the final slaughter.

The Muslim wizard did not fear external menaces for the flying animals were his sentinels.

"No soul shall be left alive in Vienna. The Austrians shall perish, and we'll have the perfect opened door to the rest of Europe. The siege must be kept until they die from starvation. Find out where the water comes from, and then we'll cut its flow to Vienna completely," Saluffar ordered his commandant, and then looked at Osman, "As to you, I want you to use your magical power to see the future. I need to know what the odds are for me to win this battle. It won't take long until the Austrians get furious and decide to strike back."

"As you wish, great emperor. I shall prepare a clairvoyance enchantment, so that I'll always be by your side to witness your victories until the day you become the sole ruler in this world."

They toasted with wine, and laughed as they thought about the coming victory that would be achieved by cutting the supplies to the city. They promised no one would be left alive. They would depart to other countries to increase their influence over the best and the biggest markets of the world. The city citizens were in great suffering. They had been in siege for a few weeks now. Children were starving, and merchants were either prevented to enter the city, or killed, while their goods were consumed by the besiegers.

Next to them, a black horse was close to the tent. The guards approached as soon as they spotted the animal. After all, it should be in the stables.

"What is this horse doing here?"

"It must have escaped. I'll take it to the right place."

The captain of the guard saw the soldier take the horse, while he kept watching the king's tent. Right after the animal was left in the stable, it trotted and then shifted into its real form: the Doppelgänger. He went straight to his master to report everything he had heard.

However, Klaus had his eyes on something else: Ayla Tabor, the Muslin wizard's wife. She was wearing a silk gown, and it was enough to attract Klaus' attention.

Since Klaus' power had increased significantly, he turned into her husband and entered the tent. Fratello waited outside and kept watch.

"You were gone just a few minutes ago and now you're back! You said this would be a long conference. Why have you come back so soon?"

The warlock looked at the glasses of wine and the dinner she had prepared.

"I couldn't resist the urge to be near you tonight, my love. I couldn't help but to think only of you. It was simply impossible to reason. So I requested an early leave. For you, my love, is the one and only priority in my life."

They looked at each other tenderly, as if he had enchanted his beautiful wife. But it was unnecessary, as she already loved her husband deeply. Her heart had already been taken over by the magic of love.

Klaus' held Ayla in his arms, and felt the warmth that emanated from her soft and scented skin. She was ready to surrender and fulfill her husband's desire.

He gently kissed her rosy lips, and then held her stronger, taking her silky hair in a grip. As Klaus heard promises of eternal love whispered in his ears, he marveled at her curvy nude body, ready to be taken.

"Wait! Hold on, Osman... I have never seen you like this. You look like an animal on heat."

"As I said... I need you tonight."

"Drink some wine. I have selected your favorite vintage," the wife bewildered him by sharpening his taste.

The Doppelgänger approached the tent's entrance and saw them kissing. For a second, he wished to be with her as well, by becoming a part of his master. A new feeling possessed his soul. Envy! He wanted to be like Klaus. Like the warlock, the creature also had the ability to shift to anything he wanted. Then, why the burden of keeping watch fell on him while the warlock was having a good time with Osman's gorgeous wife? Living in the world of Humans made the Doppelgänger long to be one of them.

Ignoring what was really going on, Ayla tasted the delicious wine, staring at her husband's eyes.

"Your eyes look greener."

"It must be the wine. I want to have some, as well, so that your eyes will make me fall in love with you even more."

He took a sip and felt the taste of the fermented grape. Then he put the glass aside. He lifted the woman with his arms and took her to bed. There, he forgot time while they made love. As their sultry bodies were getting warmer, Klaus' and Ayla completely forgot the world outside. The warlock was experimenting feelings he had put aside for so long due to his ambitious quest for power.

The wet kisses enhanced by the wine's dry taste, the softness of Ayla's skin scented by aromatic oils, the most gracious and gorgeous vision that Klaus had ever seen, and the murmurs of pleasure delighted the warlock's soul deeply. From afar, the real husband was walking towards the tent. A black smoke passed by Klaus and touched his face. The smoke whispered something in his ear while the woman was sleeping.

"Time to leave... He's almost here."

"Thanks, Fratello!"

The creature looked at the naked body. For a few seconds, he was paralyzed by desire. This behavior intrigued the warlock.

"We should go now. There's plenty of women in Tuscany for you."

They passed through a magical portal and left the place at once. When the husband entered the tent, he saw his wife lying naked on the bed.

On the floor, two empty glasses of wine. Kneeled, smelled them, and tried to figure out what might have happened.

He looked both sides to search the tent. He felt an awkward presence in there. The dinner hadn't been touched at all.

Osman decided to produce a spell, so he summoned the hawks that were flying far up in the sky. As the birds landed on a wooden pole near the tent, Osman took some of the food and threw it to them. After the hawks had eaten the delicacies with pleasure, Osman asked them: "Air hunters, did you see anyone near my tent during my absence?"

Both birds denied, since they had seen nothing. Osman sent them back to their duties, and entered the tent musing on the facts. Maybe she had drunk wine from both glasses, but it seemed odd, nonetheless. Osman would let Ayla sleep through the night, and then would ask her what had happened as soon as she woke up in the morning.

Yes, that's what he would do if tomorrow would ever come.

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Read #ThePhantomMan by #ChaieneSantos