by Rory Miles
Damn, prideful demon.
He’s half-dressed, wearing only dark pants and boots. My eyes stray down the planes of his stomach. A knowing glint shines in his eyes and I try to ignore how much I want him despite knowing he’d be no good for me.
Best to steer clear of princes. Especially the ones that make such good dinner company.
The thought of losing to him before I can make Berith submit eats away at me, so I slip my hand across Dante’s lap and watch as he follows the movement. I smile as Beelzebub’s eyes remain riveted on my palm caressing the incubus’s thigh. Dante coughs and shifts slightly. Beelzebub looks away. I give Dante’s thigh a pat before placing my hand on my hip.
“Is it cheating if we both beat him out in one go?”
He snickers at my whispered question, but his eyes snap to Levia who is approaching the incubus with a determined look on her face. I hear her whisper hello and turn away when she flicks her blond hair over her shoulder. Levia and Verrina have come to an informal sort of arrangement where they don’t bother testing me or Naomi. The women are less inclined to engage in pissing contests with succubi when they can play with Dante and Shane.
Little Bubbster’s face is reddening, likely with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Anger for losing his focus and embarrassment for so openly displaying his lust for the both of us. Can’t really blame the guy, though; we are made to seduce, and even the most powerful of beings can’t resist our thrall.
This power is exactly why we sit up on stage as well. We don’t fall within the hierarchy, but the succubi and incubi are simply too powerful to place below the power structure.
Berith, Prince of Violence, glares at me. The desire to punch him in the face washes over me, but I ignore the power being thrust upon me. I’ve prepared for this, so I stand and walk over to him before unleashing the last of my control over the glamour. I’ve purposefully dulled my power for everyone else, but not for Berith. The demon will beg for me. It’s the least I can do for all the times he’s tried to hurt me. His eyes widen and his pupils dilate, and only a second later he drops his gaze and reaches out to me with greedy hands. I smack his arms away and turn, adding an extra sway to my gait.
“What a tease,” Berith says haughtily.
Beelzebub’s rumbling laughter reaches my ear. “You’re only angry because you lost, again.”
“I’m not the only one,” Berith volleys, and Beelzebub’s chuckle catches in his throat. There are grumbled warnings but I tune them out and make my way back to my seat.
Naomi and Shane have just taken their seats. Naomi, the second-born succubus, is slightly curvier than me but she entices men, demon, and fae alike all the same. She’s beautiful, with long blond hair and cutting green eyes. Her skin glows in a way spray-tanners would envy. I’m five foot seven, where she’s five foot five. The shorts she’s wearing reveal full thighs that would make any demon’s mouth water.
“Naomi.” I sit and give her an amused look when I see Bubbsters lose his focus once again to a succubus.
She shoots me a devilish grin. “Shera, you look hot as fuck.”
I chuckle. “As do you.”
She winks before continuing her own battle of wills with the princes.
Shane, who could be her twin, with longer honey-blond hair and bronzed skin, smiles at me before focusing on Levia. The woman has her foot up on his chair and, with the short blue dress she wears, is practically shoving her vagina in his face. He appears unimpressed but can’t seem to shake her.
I pull my brows together the longer they engage in the struggle of dominance. Shane should have broken her already, but Levia shows no signs of wavering. Dante and I share a concerned look. When was the last time he fed? He has to be near empty to struggle this hard.
When she drops down into his lap and seals her lips to his, I know he’s lost this round. Which doesn’t bode well for his night. Our ability to outweigh the princes and princesses directly impacts our interaction with Lucifer. For once, I’m relieved to not be the one failing. Though I pity Shane. He will regret not feeding soon enough.
Levia gasps in delight as Shane takes some of her essence; the dull red glow surrounding his body lightens and she wiggles in his lap. Carnivea hoots from the front row, encouraging them both in their shameless display. Levia begins to pull away, but Shane has her snared and isn’t letting her go until he takes his fill.
She may have won the first round, but now, firmly in his control, she’ll lose the battle of wills. He rolls her so hard she cries out his name and a blast of lustful energy emits from his body into the auditorium.
The crowd erupts into pandemonium as people begin writhing against one another. Beelzebub stands and walks over to them, jerking Levia off of Shane’s lap. Levia protests but the words die on a squeak when his talon-tipped fingers dig into her shoulder.
“Enough,” he grinds out between clenched teeth.
The princess of envy pouts but returns to her seat. Shane stretches his arms above his head with a self-satisfied smirk.
“What was that?” Naomi whisper-yells at him.
He gives her a look and asks, “What was what?”
Dante huffs. “You know what. When was the last time you had a proper feeding?”
I stay quiet, not feeling the need to butt into Shane’s business. Still, I lean forward all the same so I can hear his answer.
“It’s been a few months.”
Months? Devil below, how has he managed to make it that long? A hungry incubus is a dangerous incubus. What was he thinking?
“Fuck me, Shane,” Naomi begins and he interjects with a “I’d love to.”
She levels him with a glare. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
The four of us are not close, but being part of such a small species connects us in a very intimate way. Plus, none of us like to be put in that damned box.
“ENOUGH.” A booming voice quiets the randy crowd of demons. The disconcerting hush filling the room is stifling and I pull at the top of my dress. When did it get so hot? I’d been freezing when we first arrived but now, I’m burning up.
Lucifer strolls onto the stage with a swagger even I can’t ignore.
He’s in a good mood.
Just fucking great.
The High Lord of Hell looks exactly like you think he would. Smug as shit with a double dose of bow to me, minion. Too bad the Creator is the only reason he’s lord of anything. He wears tight black leather pants but remains shirtless. His shoulders are broad and his frame tapers into a V-shape. Each ab muscle is distinctly defined by a deep line.
Short, spiked black hair covers his head. His face is perfection; symmetrical, beautiful even—the two horns dotting his forehead don’t detract from this—and yet masculine and handsome enough to make even the princesses give him inviting looks. A long leather necklace hangs around his neck; a tooth of a dragon, a powerful demon creature, dangles from the cord. Beelzebub may hold the power of pride, but Lucifer flaunts it just as well.
He walks across the black marble floor, opening his arms and reveling in the applause and screams from the low born demons. Those on stage and in the first three rows aren’t nearly as welcoming, yet we still stand and clap lightly as required.
My eyes lock with Rosie, and she rolls her eyes at the fanfare. I ignore the duchess of sexual impurity trying to play nice. She tried to kidnap me, so it’s a no from me. The other duchess and dukes sit in the first row with her. I also see the earl and countess from the third hierarchy. Surrounding them are the more pure offspring. The purer of blood sit closest to the stage and are considered high born; from there and all the way to the top of the seats (four floors up) is filled with demons whose blood is so muddled identifying their heritage would require lab work. Those are the low born.
I can’t see their faces from so far away, the auditorium is too dark with only the occasional fire lit torch in a sconce, but I feel their essence.
The human.
I’d let the posturi
ng distract me from identifying the source of the pure essence. I scan the front rows of demons but don’t find the creature.
Lucifer drops his arms and the crowd instantly quiets. No claps or cheering carry on after his cut-off; we all know better.
“Can you feel it?” he asks, strolling across the stage with bare feet. He paces in front of the throne and continues, “The thrum of unadulterated, pure innocence?”
We don’t answer because he’s not seeking a response. The devil merely likes to hear himself talk.
“I can feel that purity burrowing into my black heart.” He places a hand over his chest. “Almost all-consuming like the attentions of a succubus.”
Sitting a little straighter, I uncross my legs and scoot to the edge of my seat. With my glamour all the way down, I send the strongest wave of allure yet straight at him. This is twice as strong as what I hit Berith with. His head whips around and his black gaze finds mine.
“Ah, Shera, my pet. Lovely to see you.”
We hold each other’s eyes, locked in a struggle of wills. His power beats at me, black and slithering. It feels as though a thousand ants are marching across my skin and making a home within my heart. The slithering power wraps around the muscle just as my own wraps around his. With flared nostrils he takes a step toward me, his rigid hardness pressing against the leather pants. A low murmur begins in the crowd as the grip he has on me loosens. They can’t see the struggle of powers, but they know I should have succumbed to his mighty strength.
He’s failing.
I smirk, running a finger down between my breasts. Right before I hit him with what would push him over the edge, another power smooths over my body. Beelzebub’s presence jolts me out of my stupidity and I back off, fully submitting to the high lord.
Lucifer drags a breath between his lips and the murmuring ceases.
I don’t meet his gaze, fearing I’ve gone too far. The battle of wills is expected, but pushing him like I did, was not. His Creator-given reign applies to every demon in Hell. Including me. What I just did is the demon equivalent of treason.
In an auditorium full of loyal demons, what I did was foolish.
“Shera,” he calls, and I have no choice but to raise my eyes. His black orbs are ringed in red, demon power fully on display. “Please join me.”
I stand even as a tremor runs over me. Breathing through my nose, I settle my nerves and sashay to him. He holds his arms open and I curl into his side, pretending to enjoy the unnatural warmth radiating from his being. Pointed fingertips dig into my arm as he wraps me in a hug and a trickle of black blood runs down my arm.
“Bring me the box.”
Every ounce of hope I had built when Shane failed vanishes, and I steel myself for what’s to come. Four lower demons carry out what resembles a large coffin. The wings sticking out of their backs indicates some relation to Beelzebub, but the scales covering their bodies tell me Lucifer’s blood runs powerfully though their veins as well.
They set the box down with a soft thump on the marble floor. Lucifer turns me toward him, sharpened teeth sneer at me, and I know exactly what comes next.
I will die.
“Shane,” Lucifer says. “Come here.”
I fight the urge to furrow my brow and stare unblinkingly into his black eyes. They flit over my face and narrow as his sneer turns into an ominous smirk.
Leaning forward, he whispers into my ear, “Patience, my little succubus.”
I don’t feel an unfurling of power at his nearness, nor do I desire to seduce him. My mind is frozen and consumed with one thought. Death. Though it’s not final, I’ve never enjoyed it.
Shane steps up to join us at the head of the dais. “Yes, My Lord?”
Lucifer tears his gaze from mine and looks at Shane. “Open it.”
Shane’s assistance is not a normal part of the ritual, but others have helped before, so I don’t question his command. The wooden lid creaks open and Shane gasps. The human essence I felt before slams into me and I jerk my head, eyes landing on a homely woman. She’s crying, but doesn’t scream at the sight of Lucifer. Hand covering her mouth, she looks around the room with ever-widening eyes.
“Anna Beth?” Shane whispers.
He knows her. My mind reels at the heartbroken look he’s wearing. Devil below, he hasn’t been feeding. Suddenly it all makes sense. Shane has been attempting monogamy with a human and has been avoiding feeding off of her. Her life experiences have barely Tainted her essence. The cross hanging around her neck tells me she’s clearly a full believer of God, one of the deities Gaia created.
Unholy devil, what I wouldn’t give to know what she must be thinking in a room full of demons.
“Shane, what’s happening?” The tremor in her words makes the crowd laugh. Her eyes skate over the different levels of the auditorium, taking in the wings, horns, sharpened teeth and claws.
Lucifer clucks his tongue and I wonder if he knows Erma. “Now, now. Don’t tell me you haven’t figured out who I am.”
She avoids the high lord’s gaze. “What have you done?”
Stepping forward, Shane extends his hand. “It’s okay. I’ll get you out of here.”
I quirk one eyebrow. Surely he doesn’t believe this human will make it out of here alive. The devil himself gives me a look, as if to say: could he be so foolish to believe such a thing? Shane sees the look and pales.
“She is innocent.”
With a smile that makes me shiver, Lucifer says, “Oh, trust me, I know. She is wonderfully naïve.” He steps forward and rips the necklace from her throat.
Anna Beth gasps and clutches her bare neck.
Holding out the necklace, he shows it to the crowd.
“Is there anyone more deserving of pity than a true believer?”
Some demons laugh at that. The princes and princesses on stage shift in their seats, ready to be done with whatever Lucifer has planned for this woman. Berith leans forward, the only one who seems excited by the display. The woman begins to sway on her feet.
“I wonder,” Lucifer turns toward Shane, “why you haven’t fed from her yet.”
“I’ve been busy with others,” Shane responds.
He’s the worst of liars and fools no one.
“Well, good thing we have plenty of time for a feeding now.”
“What’s he talking about, Shane?”
He ignores her. “I will not.” His jaw ticks.
Like a predator sizing up its prey, Lucifer narrows his eyes and tilts his head. “You will not defy me.”
I glance back at Naomi and Dante, who are both clenching their fists. We may be outside the hierarchy, but weakened such as he is, Shane’s in no shape to take on Lucifer.
“Perhaps just a taste will do?”
Shane snaps his gaze to me. “Stay out of this.”
Lucifer whistles. “Succubi and incubi at odds. What a day it is.” This gets a laugh from the crowd. “If you will not do it, Shera will.”
Bless his heart. I won’t take from this woman; Shane wouldn’t allow it.
“No. I’ll do it.” Shane turns toward Anna Beth. “Do not fear me.”
His words only seem to worry her more. She gasps when he moves to her side, frantically trying to get out of the box but falling all over herself in the process.
“No. No! Please, God help me.”
Her pleas draw loud laughter and mocking from the crowd. Shane grips her arms.
“Please, relax.”
She kicks at him. “Get your evil hands off of me.”
A stricken look ripples over Shane’s face when he tries and fails to calm her with words alone.
“Ah, I knew she recognized me,” Lucifer says to me in a whisper. “Do you think she knows what he is yet?”
Ignoring him, I watch as Shane pushes his allure at her and the screaming ceases. He kisses her lips gently, then more forcefully when she moans against him. He feeds on her essence, but not enough to hurt her. When he pulls back, Lucifer is frowning.
Anna Beth reaches toward Shane, eyes hungry for more.
“My boy, you still look famished. Please, take some more. Take it all.”
A vein in Shane’s forehead pops out but he controls his anger. “I’m not hungry.”
The devil chuckles. “You lie to yourself and to me. How foolish. Shera, please help drain this human.”
As I have no choice but to obey, I take a step forward. Shane glares at me as though I’ve betrayed him when really he has done the woman a great disservice. Only a demon seeking death would think he could deny his nature for a human.
“Stay back. I’ll do it.” His eyes hold more sorrow than I ever knew a demon capable of feeling. Face wrinkling with apology, he begins to drain her essence.
The woman is still pliant from the last round, and eagerly wraps her arms around him. Sex is not needed for this; a passionate kiss is all an incubus needs. He wraps his arms around her, kissing her like the human movies show when lovers are reunited, scarcely giving her time to breathe. Though, I guess it doesn’t matter if her body gets oxygen, he’s going to kill her anyway.
Dante and Naomi are watching with carefully controlled looks, no emotion showing on their faces. Lucifer is watching with a deranged smile that sets my nerves on edge and makes me want to rip his head from his body. I turn away, meeting Beelzebub’s gaze which is pinned on me rather than Shane and the woman. Berith, sitting next to him, is leaning forward in his seat, almost as eager for Anna Beth’s death as Lucifer. Stupid prince of violence. The same murderous urge from before rises within me and it’s becoming harder to stifle.
This is unnecessary. Shane knew better, but his starvation and eventual loss of the woman he loved would have been lesson enough. I curl my fingers and clench my fists at my sides.
Beelzebub shifts, pulling my attention from Berith and back to him. I narrow my eyes, asking what? with the look I give. Something I don’t understand flashes across his face. Those dark eyes bore into me and I startle when his power brushes over the center of my chest. My vision goes red and I feel my hunger rise. Why is he challenging me now? A low, purring growl rumbles in my throat. He leans his muscular forearms on his legs, smirking at me in challenge.