by M. Gregg Roe
“Ah. You want me to cut it off you, right?”
“Yes. Exactly. My dagger is on the shelf above the fireplace. You are supposed to slowly cut off my dress while I beg for mercy.”
“And then?”
“Have at it.”
“Do I untie you first?”
“I don’t know. Surprise me.”
He managed to surprise her twice.
32
‡ Succubus ‡
Almera was watering the plants in her greenhouse when a warning tone sounded in her head. Someone who registered as both an extra-planar creature and a human spell-caster had just entered the grounds and was now following the route that visitors often mistakenly thought would quickly lead them to the front of the mansion. It was actually a circuitous route, which gave her plenty of time to get cleaned up before going to meet them.
When she arrived at the entryway, she opened the right-hand door and looked out. She wasn’t surprised to see Aliva standing about ten yards away, but it looked like she was about to cast a spell. Almera yelled, “Stop that!” and then walked up to her. As she had heard, Aliva was trying to disguise her voluptuous body by wearing loose clothing and tying her hair back.
“I was going to cast an Ice Arrow at the bell pull,” explained Aliva.
“That’s clever, and it would probably have worked. But I was alerted as soon as you entered the grounds.”
“I didn’t know you could do that.” Aliva shook her head and frowned. “I’ve never been here before. I thought I’d be able to get closer than this.”
“No. The warding extends outside the mansion. It’s an oval shape.”
“This is beautiful,” said Aliva as she looked around, but she was still frowning. “I wish I’d come here sooner.”
Almera was becoming impatient. “What do you want, Aliva?” she asked.
“I’m looking for Audrey. I just got here from Rohoville. She mentioned starting a dress business.”
A quick query showed no sign of Audrey. “I think she’s out shopping this morning. That’s what she said at breakfast. Do you want to wait for her in her cottage?”
“Cottage?”
“Yes. She wanted to move out of the mansion, so we built her a cottage.”
“I didn’t know that. I only saw her briefly in Rohoville when she was on her way back.” Aliva’s frown deepened. “I forgot about Violet and her husband. How are they?”
Almera’s impatience was changing into concern as she noticed how oddly Aliva was behaving. Something must be wrong. “They’re doing well. I go to visit them sometimes in Dymar. Where are you staying, Aliva?”
“I’m not sure. My father is supposed to be coming here to visit. I’m having difficulty controlling my succubus half and I hope he can help.”
Almera couldn’t imagine how Albert could help his daughter, even if he was a powerful wizard. But Aliva was clearly distraught. “I’m certain that he will be able to help. Tell him we would like to see him while he’s here.” But then she realized that would be awkward because Aliva couldn’t enter the mansion.
“Okay. I don’t know where I’m going to stay yet. Where’s the cottage? I might as well talk to Audrey while I’m here.”
“It’s easier if I show you. The paths are confusing.”
“Okay. Thank you, Almera.”
The two of them ended up having to cut through the landscaping twice because the warding blocked some of the paths. After delivering Aliva to the cottage, Almera made her way back to the greenhouse. Those plants weren’t going to water themselves.
♦ ♦ ♦
Light rain was still falling as Audrey finally returned from her shopping trip. It was a chore, but also something she frequently enjoyed. She had become proficient at haggling, which she found earned her respect from shop clerks and vendors. Today was food shopping, and she had gotten an excellent deal on a smoked ham.
Audrey had been trying to keep track of everything in order to create a real budget, but it was a struggle. The list of things she still wanted to buy kept growing instead of shrinking. And many of the things she had become accustomed to when living in the mansion were expensive. She had bought cheaper hair and skincare products, but she really didn’t care for them.
She had come to the Witch’s City a simple peasant from a small village, and she still thought of herself that way. But after living in incredible luxury for nearly a year, she had become thoroughly spoiled. She didn’t feel the need to dress in fancy clothes, but otherwise, she was little different than Saxloc and his parents. She could no longer imagine living somewhere that didn’t have on-demand hot and cold water and indoor toilets.
Audrey had actually closed the door after entering the cottage before she spied Aliva lying on the rug in front of the fireplace. Aliva had completely removed her own clothing—tossing items around the room from the look of it—but she was covered in other clothes, practically wallowing in them. They were clothes from Desires that were awaiting mending, many of which hadn’t been washed first. Audrey realized what must have happened and took a step backward feeling real fear. Aliva had lost control.
“Audrey!”
Aliva stood up, now completely naked. Her violet eyes seemed to glow as she gazed straight at Audrey. It felt like Aliva was looking into her soul. Frozen in place, Audrey gazed at Aliva in fascination. She had never seen anyone so beautiful and desirable. Aliva was magnificent—a goddess—and Audrey desperately wanted to worship her.
“Take off your clothes,” purred Aliva in a sexy voice.
“Yes. Of course.”
Audrey didn’t understand why she hadn’t thought of it herself. She dropped her satchel and hurriedly began to strip as Aliva walked toward her, smiling saucily. She nearly tripped removing her underpants, but Aliva caught her. And once she was completely naked, she eagerly went into Aliva’s embrace and began to kiss her. Some part of her knew that what she was doing was wrong, dangerous even. But that didn’t matter, because Aliva’s touch was ecstasy.
♦ ♦ ♦
It was curiosity that led to Aliva’s undoing. She had simply been looking around the cottage while she waited for Audrey to return. Everything was fine until she found Audrey’s sewing room and what was lying innocently on the table there. Clothing. Clothing that reeked of sex. Some of it was actually stained with bodily fluids. Aliva found herself sniffing the pile and rubbing items across her face as she rapidly became aroused.
Her human half was back in control now, but it was too late. Audrey was lying on her back on the rug in front of the fireplace. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes closed, her arms and legs spread wide. Aliva was still breathing hard as she knelt next to Audrey, closed her eyes, and began to cry. Her body was filled with the energy that she had stolen as she and Audrey pleasured each other. Audrey had seemed a willing participant, but Aliva knew better. Audrey had succumbed to her succubus glamour.
Aliva opened her eyes and then reached out and gently touched her victim’s cheek. Audrey murmured, working her lips, and Aliva’s heart leapt. The possibility hadn’t even occurred to her, but Audrey was still alive! She quickly placed one hand on Audrey’s forehead and the other on her stomach. Closing her eyes, she focused her will. “Recovery!”—the word initiated the spell of healing. Aliva concentrated on channeling energy into Audrey, striving to replace what she had taken. She continued until she had completely exhausted her own magical energies.
Audrey was still unconscious, but there was color in her cheeks and she was breathing strongly. Aliva stood up and began to search for her own clothing. She could still smell the clothing that had affected her, but it wasn’t a problem. She had just pulled on her shirt when the front door opened revealing Almera, wet with the rain that was now falling steadily.
“What happened?” asked Almera as she stepped forward. She looked both concerned and wary.
“I lost control,” explained Aliva. “But Audrey is still alive.”
“Thank the gods for that.” Almera
glanced around. “It was the clothes, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. Where are they from?”
“Desires. Audrey works for them as a seamstress.”
“I had forgotten about that.” She did remember Audrey mentioning it once. “That explains it. Can you gather them up and put them back?”
“Yes. Does Audrey need additional healing? I’m assuming that was the magic I detected being used here.”
Aliva had just opened her mouth to respond when Audrey said, “I’m okay.” The two of them watched as she sat up and stretched her arms. Audrey glanced down at herself and then rose to her feet looking very embarrassed. “I’m going to clean up and get dressed.” She quickly picked up her clothes from near the door and then went into the bathroom.
“That’s a relief,” said Almera as she began to gather up the items of clothing. She carried them away and Aliva heard her close the door to the sewing room before she returned. Almera walked over to the rug and pointed at it. “This needs to be cleaned.”
The stains made Aliva feel guilty again. “I’ll hang it out back. I saw a clothesline there.”
Almera nodded. “That’s a good idea. Did being with Audrey satisfy you?”
“Yes, it really did.” She felt fully in control again.
“Then this might be part of the solution. It also suggests somewhere you could possibly stay. I’m going back now, but I’ll return by mid-afternoon. That will give the two of you time to discuss your dress business.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Aliva hung up the rug, getting herself very wet in the process. She returned to find Audrey using a cloth to clean some spots on the wood floor in the sitting area. Audrey looked over and said, “Why don’t you get cleaned up and hang your clothes to dry in the bathroom? You can wear my robe.”
“Okay. You’re not mad?” asked Aliva, trying to look contrite.
“After how amazing that was?” said Audrey sheepishly. “No. But no more today. I feel weak.”
“And I don’t feel the need. I’m sorry for what I did, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Audrey grinned. “I can’t wait to tell Violet. She’ll be so jealous.”
Aliva burst out laughing. Audrey was joking, but she was also trying to comfort her, and that made her feel warm inside.
♦ ♦ ♦
“I’m definitely interested in trying to sell demon dresses,” said Aliva, “But where will I sew them? It can’t be here.”
Audrey laughed. “You’re right about that.” She still felt embarrassed about what the two of them had done earlier. At the same time, part of her desperately wanted to do it again, because it had been incredibly pleasurable. “It’s too bad you can’t go in the mansion. There’s a lot of free space there.” She saw the look on Aliva’s face and added, “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. There are advantages to being a demon, and disadvantages. It would be better to have a separate place to run our business, where women can come for measurement and fittings.”
“That’s true. A place like Dora has with living quarters above would be perfect for you, but I don’t know how much that would cost.”
“Probably too much,” said Aliva, frowning. “The Witch’s City is expensive, and we need to conserve our money, at least at first.”
“You’re right about that, and I have no idea of how to go about it. I’ll have to talk to someone.” She was thinking about asking the man who ran Witch’s City Clothing, one of her favorite shops. “Where are you going to stay for now?”
“Maybe with Grasapa. I stayed at the castle last time, but Mardan really doesn’t like me. I’m not comfortable there.”
Audrey knew how rigid Gabriel’s father’s views on things were. “I’m sure Grasapa will let you stay. Was Dora mad about you quitting?”
“No. I had told her it was only temporary. And she’s completely caught up on orders now. She was so happy she gave me a bonus.”
“And I’m going to use the money she paid me to get our business started.”
“I’ll go see if my clothes are dry,” said Aliva before walking away from where the two of them were having tea.
Audrey got up and used the teapot to refill their cups. Her life just seemed to get more and more complicated. Now she felt obligated to offer herself if Aliva was in need. But it could be worse. Saxloc or Draymund might have come to her cottage before she arrived home. That would have been very bad.
♦ ♦ ♦
“In summary,” began Kora in a steady voice, “you are a friend of Audrey’s. Your father is a friend of Grasapa’s and lives far away. Your mother was a succubus. You can’t have sex with men without killing them, but you had sex with Audrey this morning and she survived. You want to rent my spare room. You may want to have sex with me.”
Aliva smiled at the young woman, feeling embarrassed. Almera had come to the cottage and announced that she had a place for her to stay. She even insisted they go to the docks and retrieve Aliva’s possessions from storage before going there. Aliva found both the house and its occupant surprising.
“Yes,” replied Aliva, trying to look as friendly as possible. “I would like to stay here for at least a while. You don’t have to have sex with me.”
“I wouldn’t mind,” said Kora. “You are very beautiful. But I don’t want to risk dying. This is very odd.”
“Yes, it is. I’m very odd. You don’t have to decide now. You can do research on what a succubus is. You can ask people about me. You can say no. I can probably stay with Grasapa for a while.”
Kora shook her head. “I have already decided that you can move in for now. Almera brought you here and I trust her. But we will have to discuss the sex issue. I’ll talk to Audrey.”
“Okay. After this morning, I feel in control. Kora, do you ever bring clients back here?” She was very concerned that Kora still worked as a courtesan.
“No. Never. But I do sometimes date and have men sleep over. Is that a problem?”
Aliva shook her head. “No. Just tell me in advance and I’ll stay out of the way.”
“All right. Is your father from Kaldir?”
It was a surprising question. “Yes. He lives there now.”
Kora nodded. “I have been learning about Andoran, and I know about the other continents. I know Grasapa and her family are from there, but I’m still having trouble believing some of the things she has told me.”
“I don’t blame you. Some of it is pretty strange.” She decided not to mention the completely unbelievable place she herself was from. She would just tell Kora she was also from Kaldir.
“All right. Let me show you to your room so you can get settled. Shall we go out to dinner this evening?”
“Okay.” Having a place to live was a huge relief.
“Do you know how to play Sparrow?” asked Kora with a serious expression.
“No, but I’ve heard of it. I’m willing to learn.”
Kora broke into a broad smile. “Good. I think we’ll get along just fine.”
33
‡ Bianca ‡
Siljan was not getting along with Bianca. Not at all. She had tried—she really had—but everything about the woman irritated her. And the feeling was clearly mutual. The two of them were constantly snapping at each other and getting into arguments.
Bianca was up at dawn and never seemed to run out of energy or enthusiasm. Siljan liked to sleep in and avoided extra work as much as possible. Who wouldn’t? Bianca volunteered to do extra work. That was just nuts in Siljan’s opinion. If she spotted extra work coming, she pretended to be busy or went into hiding. That’s what sane people did.
It didn’t help that Bianca looked and sounded more like a man than a woman. Siljan hadn’t really believed that Bianca was female until a shared bathing session, which ended in an argument, of course. And then there was the fact that Bianca had somehow gained the attention of one of the better-looking guards. Siljan just didn’t understand.
The sound of the door openi
ng woke her, and she quickly picked up the book sitting next to her and opened it. Alessandra’s expression was not encouraging as she arrived at the spot in the storeroom where Siljan was “studying”. She suddenly noticed that the book was upside down and prayed that Alessandra wouldn’t notice.
“Can I help you, Alessandra?” she asked while sporting a friendly smile. “I’m just here reading my assignment. It’s a nice quiet spot.”
“Siljan!” barked Alessandra in a tone that sent chills down Siljan’s spine. “You are loafing again. You were supposed to help fix lunch today.”
“I’m sorry,” said Siljan hurriedly. “I forgot.” That explained why she was hungry.
“You were asleep,” Alessandra countered. “Why do you keep lying to people that you know can detect untruths?”
Siljan shrugged. “Habit?”
Alessandra relaxed and began to laugh. “That was amusing, but also probably true. Siljan, you are a priestess now, but you keep shirking your responsibilities. Kyran has accepted you and you must now work hard to justify his faith in you.
“And then there is Bianca. To you she is new, but she worked here for over a year before giving her life in defense of this temple. She is not going away simply because you do not like her. We are all thoroughly tired of the arguments between you two.”
Alessandra frowned and pointed toward the door. “Go to your room and start packing.”
Siljan was horrified. Gods! I’ve gone too far. She’s going to send me home! What’ll I do? Think, you idiot!
“Please don’t send me home,” begged Siljan as she stood. “I’ll try harder. I’ll do my work. I’ll find some way to get along with Bianca.”
“Did I say I was sending you home?” asked Alessandra, smiling thinly.
