Lylianna

Lylianna looked out over the balcony, the whispering wind ruffling her black feathery wings and white gown, hinting of the magic of the night. Far below her, below the cliffs the house overlooked, the ocean beat against the rocks and sand in a never-ending crescendo of gently crashing waves just barely audible at this height. Moonlight spilled across the night reflecting off the tides, the marble floor and pillars, the gold of her shackles and collar, even off her very eyes; bathing her in a soft eerie light.

She closed her eyes and gave her flings a flutter, letting this moment sink in as the bittersweet memories of wandering the astral planes and interacting with the gods and goddesses passed through her mind. With only the slightest tinge of regret she shoved those thoughts from her mind with a soft sigh. It was too late for that; far too late. The feel of the cold metal collar and shackles on her skin served as a reminder that her home was now the mortal realms of the prime plane.

“Not that I would go back even if I had a choice,” she thought to herself with slightly sad smile. Her heart would not let her.

With one last sigh she furled up her wings just as strong arms wrapped around her waist. She felt the chain which ran from her collar down through the cuffs on her wrists and ankles to a post inside the room behind her pull tight as a length of it was brushed aside by a foot. She felt cold lips brush up against her neck and inhaled sharply as she felt the twin tortures of pleasure and pain as fangs almost but didn’t quite penetrate the skin of her neck in a teasing manner before disappearing only to return nibbling her ear lobe.

“Second thoughts, my pet?” the whisper in her ear sent a shiver of fear and anticipation down her back. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t wish.”

But there was no choice. In her heart, she knew that, even as she turned to face him, dark eyes looking up into his pleadingly. “No master. No second thoughts. Only memories best remembered and forgotten, my love.”

His answering smile was at once warm and terrifying. She watched his eyes focusing on hers, felt the shiver of attraction knowing that it did not matter that she was immune to his thrall; she was still drawn to him by a force at once more biding and more fickle. She smiled and nodded, lowering her eyes submissively. “Yes, master.”

She let him guide her back into the room, bare except for two stone biers and three small tables with candelabras. Upon one of the biers lay a cloth of black and crimson velvet lined with rose petals of the same colors. A matching pillow lay atop at one end.

She did not resist at all as he untied the laces at her neck, shoulders, and both sides of the skirt allowing the dress to fall away from her in two pieces without having to remove the chains that held her bound. She smiled softly as he gently lifted her on to the bier and laid her out upon it. She watched in anticipation as he climbed up beside her. She moaned and threw her arms around him as he cradled her back and head in his arms tilting her head so she faced the far wall, opposed of the balcony.

Four points of ecstasy and pain sank deep into her neck, throbbing bringing her to subspace and beyond as he master began feeding off of her as he had countless times before. But tonight was no ordinary feeding. This time she knew, as a smile reached her lips, it would not be complete until he drank all of her blood. Seconds ticked past, followed by minutes as each throb, each swallow drained more blood from her angelic form.

Slowly at first, then more quickly, her awareness of the world began to dim. So it was with a second of confusion she regarded the mist that began creeping into the room from under the door. Too late, as she felt the last of her blood drain away, did she realize the mist was coalescing into a solid form, that of a man. She tried to squeeze her master’s arms, to make a noise to warn him, but she had no strength left; her life fleeting away.

So her master was unaware of the figure behind him unlocking the door as he drew his dagger across his wrist. He was likewise unaware of the other forms that began to materialize near the first. Even as he placed his wrist across her lips, even as instinct kicked in and she bit down unable to control the sudden overwhelming urge to feed upon his blood, she struggled in vain to force her arm to squeeze, her eyes widening just ever so slightly in alarm.

Too late, he heard the lock click and the door swing open. He never had time to turn around before the first vampire raised a crossbow and fired a wooden bolt into his back. The aim was perfect, striking him through the heart.

It didn’t kill him. He was far too strong for that, but it did weaken him, slow him down just enough that he could not escape the next attack.

Unable to look away, to scream, or even move, Lylianna watched in horror as the elderly paladin from the hunters guild—the one whose son was rumored to have been kidnapped by the members of the vampire clan just nights before—cast his spell calling forth a pillar of fire and divine energy that incinerated her master in her very arms. Though her body refused her command, every fiber of her soul cried out in agony and pain as her master, her lover, turned into a billion specks of ash and dust that exploded in a million different directions.

Even as her head fell back onto the pillow she saw one of the vampires shove a young boy forward into the paladin’s arms. The boy stumbled and fell into his father only to explode in a similar manner as his forehead came in contact with the holy symbol that hung from the paladin’s neck; his turning to recent for him to have built up any resistance to the holy magic stored in the amulet.

The last thing she saw as darkness claimed her were the streams of healing magic spewed forth in anger by the paladin that engulfed the vampires even as they tried to raise daggers and crossbows.

She did not see the paladin prevail against the vampires that had so underestimated him, did not see him cut them down with the raw fury born out of his hatred of their betrayal and the murder of his son. Nor did she see him stagger toward the bier she lay on, his steps a bit unsteady as he bled from a dozen life-threatening wounds. She neither saw nor heard his sad sigh as he drew his own dagger across his wrist allowing the blood to fall between her lips before beginning the words and motions to a powerful spell, one few paladins—and even few clerics—could master.

It had been midnight when the vampires had charged into her master’s room. It was nearly two hours later she awoke. Her screams could be heard for miles and lasted until dawns rays seared her throat and silenced her ability to scream. Through it all the dying paladin held her. After she quieted he dragged her into the shadows where the sun could not touch her, and where her body slowly began to heal.

With the last of his strength, he brushed the tears from her eyes. Falling across her, he whispered “We were both robbed of the ones we loved this night, fallen one of the heavens, and it is up to you to end the evil and pain those that stole them from us bring to the world.”

As dusk, she shoved his cold body off of him. She picked up his sword and used it to break the chain. Detouring only long enough to scoop up her dress, she left the room. A short time later she left the house, dressed in breeches, a thick belt with the sword tucked loosely inside, boots, a loose blouse, and a heavy cloak. In the bag upon her back were the dress, a few keepsakes, and whatever provisions for a journey she could scavenge from the house. Dark cold crimson eyes gave the manor a final once-over, burning the image into her mind, before she turned and walked away, never once looking back.

Succubus Companions ch5 pt 2

Vician followed Seraphine down the ladder and waited while she cracked the door to the warehouse open and peeked outside. She motioned him forward and he stepped on outside. Seraphine pushed the warehouse door shut and Vician locked it behind them. Less than half an hour had passed since Vician’s breathless arrival and warning.

Their journey out of the city was uneventful. Seraphine slipped her arm through Vician’s and leaned her head on his shoulder. She sensed his initial surprise and then a bit of contentment as they found a matched rhythm and walked away together, never once looking back. The closest that the pair came to excitement were a few of the derogatory comments made as the pair made their way down the various avenues that Vician led them through one of the eastern gates to the city. Seraphine was a little worried that they might be stopped at the city gate, but the guard simply gave Vician a knowing wink and they hurried on through.

Several farms intermingled with small clumps of woods lay to the east of the city. The road that they traveled wove through several of these farms and small clumps of woods.

Seraphine was having the time of her life. She was seeing, hearing, and smelling things she had only heard about in stories and hadn’t in her wildest dreams imagined she would ever be able to actually experience. Things like Vician pausing near a fence and handing her some sweetgrass to feed a goat, her giggling when felt its cold nose on her hand, or watching butterflies and bees dancing among the flowers.

To someone who had lived nearly her whole life indoors the walk was full of marvels for Seraphine. Her curiosity made Vician smile as the young succubus took in her surroundings with wide-eyed wonder; each new sight alternately prompting squeals of glee, terror, or multitudes of questions that he did his best to answer.

It was at least an hour’s journey the outer gate of the city to the woods that occupied a large portion of land to the east, but to the mage and his demoness familiar it seemed like minutes. The mage would never have admitted it, but he was enjoying Seraphine’s exuberance and when they reached the woods, he was a little sad.

He needed have worried. The farms fascinated the demoness, but it was the woods she fell in love with. As they entered the woods, she fell silent as a sense of awe fell upon her, her eyes widening even further as she let her hand slip from his so she could turn a full circle and take everything in. “Everything is so… so alive!” she exclaimed at last before bursting into a series of questions that left Vician holding up his hands and calling for patience as he tried to answer what he could.

A short way into the woods, Vician led the succubus off the road onto a hidden trail. They followed this to a clearing where a man and a woman stood waiting with four saddled horses.

Two of the horses were a little bigger than the others. They were jet black with white markings on the forehead and near the hooves. In addition to their saddles, these two carried heavily packed saddle bags.

The man and woman pushed back their hoods, and Seraphine could see they were older than Vician by several years if not decades. Both greeted him fondly as “Master Vician.”

“The guard surrounded the house and were conducting a search,” the woman explained. “But we were able to get most of what you asked for. We also took the liberty of procuring some travel supplies you didn’t think of, and invested a portion of your money and gems with a few different money lenders as a precaution.”

Vician, walked over and checked the packs carefully. “You did well Felicia, both of you.” he nodded and turned to the man. “I’ll keep in touch. Let me know if you or Felicia need anything.”

The man held up a gem exactly like the one that Seraphine saw Vician use in the warehouse. “I’ll be here. Good luck, Master Vician.”

The woman kissed Vician’s forehead. “Take care, Master Vician. I hope you can return soon.” Seraphine was a little chagrined to realize she felt a little jealous. She shifted uncomfortably.

Vician took the reins of the two black horses and led them over towards where Seraphine stood. “Have you ever ridden before?”

Serpahine shook her head. “No.”

Vician nodded. “Well, it isn’t that difficult though the first few times may seem hard. We need to lead the horses back to the road and then I’ll teach you to ride.” He handed her the reins to one of them and set back out along the path.

Succubus Companions Ch 5 pt 1

Seraphine packed quickly.  Except for her spellbooks, regents, and potions, many of Seraphine’s possessions were already in or on her pack, so she simply stuffed her clothing into her pack and tied her bedroll and pillow in place.  She was already dressed in pants and a loose blouse and to this she added a belt in which she tucked her daggers and wands.  She grabbed three potions and tucked them carefully in her pack and then placed two more in one of the pouches on her belt.  The rest of the pouches she quickly stuffed with regents for the most practical of her spells.  Under Vician’s orders, she also chose through her spellbooks and selected a half dozen she figured would be most useful.

She finished more quickly than Vician so she helped him choose between his spellbooks, alchemist supplies, wands, and regents. Because Vician did not have a pack with him, they wrapped everything but the spellbooks and regents into a blanket and tied it off with a short piece of rope.

As they  worked Vician explained that his father had come to the market square with several paladins and city guards in tow and demanded to know where Seraphine was.  When Vician refused to tell them, they attempted to arrest him.  Vician launched a fireball at the paladins and then used his spells to escape in the confusion.  He attempted to return to his home to grab some supplies but it was surrounded by guards and paladins so he came to collect her.

At last Vician reached into a hidden drawer and pulled out four rather ordinary looking bags.  Two were made of a velvet-like material lined with leather.  The others were simple tanned leather.  He gave the leather ones to Seraphine.  “These are bags of lesser holding,” he explained as he tucked his spell books into one of his velvet bags.  Despite the fact that he put several books into a bag that was barely able to fit a book through the opening, the bag looked no more full than when he put them in.  “Put your books into one and leave the other free for now.” 

Seraphine tied one of the bags he gave her to her belt.  After that, she placed her books into the other bag. When she was done, she tied that bag off to her pack.

As she was doing this, Vician pulled a small round blue gem out of the pocket of his robes and whispered into it.  Seraphine was unable to hear what he was saying, but she felt alternate waves of frustration, worry, relief, and finally gratitude come through her bond.  When he was done, he motioned Seraphine to the door.  “Come, it’s time to leave.”

“Wait,” Seraphine said.  She reached into her pack digging out her new cloak.  Quickly reversing it so that the dark side was out, she placed it on Vician.  “If the guards are looking for us, we should disguise ourselves,” she explained.  “This at least will hide your robes.”

“What about you?” Vician asked.

Seraphine smiled and stepped back from him.  Her features seemed to shimmer, and melt.  When they stopped the change made Vician’s jaw drop.  Instead of the dark-haired beauty he was used to seeing, stood a slightly taller wisp of a girl with a slightly larger bosom and long cascading blonde hair, bright green eyes, and slightly pointed hears.  Even her clothes looked different, instead of pants she now had a flowing but slightly sheer skirt.

“How did you do that?” Vician asked, slightly awed.

“Succubus, remember?” Seraphine kissed his cheek.  “Lean over slightly.  A little more.  Perfect.  Now instead of a young wizard and his succubus, people will see an aging lord and his half-elf whore.  Mostly they will see the whore.”  She winked at him then led him down the ladder.

Succubus Companions ch 4

“I went for a walk,” Serpahine looked down and took a few deep breaths trying to deal with the waves of anger and fear washing over her.  Her demonic instincts fueled her desire to fight.  She opened her mouth to retort, but a second wave of emotion cut the ground out from under her. 

Anger and fear she was prepared to deal with.  The worry and fear, especially when it was for her, she was not.  She looked up at Vician.  “The hunger was starting to grow beyond what I can control,” she explained softly. “I was afraid of losing control while you were here.”  She risked looking up and her eyes met his blue ones.

“Did you feed? Are you okay now?”  Vician asked her, his eyes seeming to peer into her very soul.

“No, I did not, and yes, I am,” Seraphine answered.

If Vician sensed there was something she was leaving unsaid, he didn’t show it.  “Good,” he said brushing the matter off with a wave of his hand.  “My father said he saw you.  He paid a visit last night out of concern for my moral well being.”  Seraphine didn’t need to feel his emotions to sense the contempt and sarcasm in that statement.  It oozed out of every word.  “It ended badly for him,” Vician finished smugly.

Seraphine blinked suddenly worried.  “Is he alright?”

Vician chuckled.  “Oh he’s fine, except for his pride and his delicate sensibilities.  He’s known for years I don’t buy into his faith or his sense of morality.  Last night I finally told him what I think of him.  He didn’t take it well.”

Seraphine felt the satisfaction and amusement and her eyebrows arched as she looked at him.  “What did you say?”

Vician practically cackled with glee.  “I told him that he had no right to speak to me of morality to me.  As far as I am concerned the half-Drow wizard that first taught me how to use magic was more of a father to me than he was and that he can take his moral superiority with him to the Nine Hells for all I care.  I even offered to open him a portal to help him on his way.”

The demon in Seraphine rejoiced in the chaos but another part of her felt repulsed and she took a step back from Vician.  “He is worried about you,” she said softly.

Vician’s blue eyes shown with a cold burning hatred.  “I was his bastard.  He didn’t show an interest in me until after he stood by and allowed my mother to die.  He could have saved her.  He knows plenty of healing spells.  He would visit her occasionally until she got sick.  After that he never came back until she died and he came to collect me.  She sent him messages begging him to come to her.  Instead he turned his back on her and chose to let her die. He has no right to worry about me or tell me how to live my life.”

The sheer hatred stemming from Vician nearly overwhelmed Seraphine and the look on his face reminded her of ones she had seen on many of the more powerful demons she had known.  She backed up until she bumped into one of the tables not quite able to keep the fear under control.  She reached back grabbing the table top with both hands so hard that the blood drained from her knuckles.

Seraphine’s fear must have broken through Vician’s anger because his rage subsided somewhat and he offered Seraphine a reassuring smile.  “Don’t worry the hatred I feel for my father has nothing to do with you.  I was upset that you left the attic, but in hindsight I should have expected it.” 

He approached Seraphine and leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead as waves of protectiveness and worry swept over him.  “Please bear this a short time longer.  I will try to come up with a way to hide what you are from the priests and paladins in the city, and then you can start accompanying me.  Just give me your word you won’t sneak out again without first clearing it with me.” 

Seraphine nodded.  “I promise she said softly.”

“Good.  I must tend to my duties now, but I will return in a few hours,” Vician promised her.

Seraphine nodded and accepted a hug before watching him leave.  This was the first time Vician had shown her true affection and her thoughts and emotions were a bit in turmoil as she settled down in her corner with a book on potion-making.

It wasn’t even two hours later when Vician breathlessly burst through the trap-door.  “Hurry!  Pack what you can in the next ten minutes.  We have to leave the city before the guards find us!”

Succubus Companions Ch 3 pt 4

“I barely know him!” Seraphine’s reply was just a little too fast, a little too loud, and a little too weak and she knew it.  “I barely know him,” Seraphine repeated a little softer.  “I’m grateful to him for getting you to save Melrazia, nothing more.”  She started to say something more then changed her mind.

The priest saw her hesitation.  “You were about to say something more.  What is it?”

Seraphine shrugged.  “It’s probably nothing.”

“If it is nothing then why are you so hesitant to share?” the priest pressed her.

Seraphine shrugged and tired to change the subject.  “I hope the merchant I traded with for this cloak receives a good price for the potions I gave her.”

“Do not worry, I gave her ten gold pieces apiece for them,” The priest assured her.  “Now tell me what you were going to say.”

Brushing her dark hair away from her eyes, the succubus met the priest gaze with one of her own.  “He scares me sometimes,” she admitted.  “He has a passion for darker spells and a desire for power that rivals—even exceeds—many of my own kind.  I worry that his desire for power has corrupted him.”

“If what you say is true, it is simply because you corrupted him,” Vician’s father’s voice dropped into a chill.  “My son is a good man.”

Seraphine stood up and looked down on the man coldly.  “Cast a truth spell if you do not believe me,” she hissed.  “I met your son because he screwed up a summoning spell attempting to capture a quasit.  He is by far more powerful a mage than I.  He is the one teaching me spells, not the other way around.  I told you before he was on a dangerous path!”

With that she drew her cloak around her and stormed off down the street.  Behind her, she heard the priest calling out after her but she hurried on.  By now it was starting to get dark and the street lanterns had not yet been lit.  Belatedly, Seraphine realized she had run the wrong direction on the street.  Still she figured if she could find a side street or alley she could cut back over where she needed to go. 

She found such an alley within a few minutes and turned down it.  The alley was full of twists and turns, and after one tight turn she came to an open doorway in the wall adorned with a small ring of seven stars and a rising red mist.  Something drew Seraphine to this doorway and before she could help herself she pushed the door the rest of the way open and stepped inside. 

Instantly, Seraphine could sense something different about this place.  Something deep in her core felt the remains of a neglected and tattered power that seemed to reverberate in the room.  For some reason, Seraphine got the mental image of a tattered web or cloth made of massive strands that had been torn and put back together.

The room itself was simple.  A few benches to either side all facing a far wall upon which a small stone altar lay.  On the altar lay a stripe of cloth with the same symbol that Seraphine had seen outside flanked on either side by two candles lit with a blue flame.

In the very corners of the room to either side of the altar sat two small tables.  A small wash basin, a bar of soap, a pitcher, and towel occupied one table.  On the opposite table sat a small collection plate that held a few coins.

Seraphine washed her hands in the basin and was mildly surprised that the pitcher did not seem to contain any less water after she filled the basin than it did before.  She emptied the basin into a small drain in the floor and walked over to the altar. 

Some impulse Seraphine couldn’t explain caused her to kneel before the altar and pray.  Before she realized it, she was spilling forth her fears and concerns, her desire to find a place to fit in, her confusion over her feelings for Vician, and her struggles to control her hunger.  By the time she was done tears were streaming down her cheeks from both eyes.

“The Lady, hears you,” a voice behind Seraphine made her jump and she turned around to face a woman seated on one of the benches.  To Seraphine the woman seemed both young and old at once, dressed in simple breeches and a blouse.  Seraphine somehow felt that this woman could utterly destroy her if she wanted and she swallowed.

“Have you been there the entire time?” She asked trying to keep her voice neutral.

“I was here when you walked in, yes,” the woman confirmed.

“Why couldn’t I sense you there then?” Seraphine asked.

The woman merely smiled.  “Because if you had, you would not have had the chance to plead your cause to The Lady,” she explained patiently.  “Nor would I have been able to give you her answer.”

“Her answer?” Seraphine felt confused.  “What answer?”

“My dear girl, you have a long painful journey ahead of you.  The Lady is not the one you are looking for, but she will give you what little help she can.”  The woman approached Seraphine and laid her fingers upon Seraphine.  “Receive The Lady’s gifts,” she said closing her eyes and throwing back her head.

Instantly Seraphine felt waves of magic and power flowing over her, through her.  Some of that magic flew into back corners of her mind locking itself away into small chunks.  Other pieces danced more in the front of her mind showing her relationships and insights into magic she had not seen before granting her an understanding of magic that was even more intrinsic than before. 

Finally, she felt some of the magic melting into her soothing her hunger.  It didn’t completely disappear but it was no longer threatening to consume her.  She felt as revitalized as if she had just fed but without the guilt of taking another person.

She let out a gasp as the woman stepped back and smiled.  “The spells in your mind will reveal themselves to you when the time comes for them. Do not worry you will know when it is time.”

“How, how will I know?” Seraphine stammered.

“Trust me, you’ll know,” the woman insisted, holding up her hand to forestall more questioning. “You’ll feel it when it is time.  I cannot tell you more than that so you will have to trust me and The Lady on this matter.”

Seraphine nodded though she still felt overwhelmed and confused.

“There are two more gifts that The Lady has to bestow,” the woman continued.  “The first is this:  The knowledge that your nature does not need to control you, to define you.  If you cease to fight it, and instead learn to control it, to master it, instead you can eventually find peace with yourself.  To kill is not always an evil act.  It is the intent and circumstances that can make it evil.  Sometimes, killing can even be an act of mercy.”

The woman gave Seraphine a moment to let that sink in before continuing.  “Lastly, The Lady bids that you should take the offering in the collection plate.”

“I beg your pardon?” Seraphine was shocked.  Residents of the plane she was from worshipped the most powerful demons such as the lord she served and to steal from them was a death sentence and often a very slow and painful death at that.  From the few human slaves that Seraphine had talked to, she had known stealing from the collection was almost as bad depending on which deity it was they stole from.

“Go on.  You will need it in the journey ahead,” the woman assured her.  “The Lady knows you will need it more than She does and bids you take it.  Just be sure not to spend it lightly. As with the spells, The Lady says you will know when to use it.”

Seraphine nodded and reluctantly turned to the offering plate and was surprised.  What she had at first taken for a few meager coins probably totaled somewhere between thirty and fifty gold pieces.  As she reached for them, she felt a light caress on her cheek and shoulder as if to reassure her this was alright.  She scooped the coins into a pouch and turned around to see the woman holding the door open for her.

“Go on, you have someone waiting on you,” the woman smiled.

Seraphine headed out into the street and was surprised to find that it was daylight.  In fact it was likely late morning or early afternoon from the amount of sunlight that managed to make its way into the alleyway.  She turned toward the door, surprised to find instead of the door she remembered coming through, a crumbling ruin of a doorway with the remains of the door itself nailed shut and the symbol all but faded into nothingness.  Swallowing hard she hurried back to the warehouse.

It took her about half an hour to find her way to the warehouse.  She quickly opened the door and slipped inside.  Hurrying to the ladder she climbed up, pushing on the trapped door and surprised to find it unlocked.  She threw it open and climbed up the rest of the way. 

She quickly shut the door and turned around to find a furious Vician standing there with his arms folded.  She froze unsure what to do when he practically screamed “Where in the Nine Hells have you been?”