Demons of Desire

by Debra Dunbar

  I looked around the restaurant in desperation, but there wasn’t time for me to screen likely candidates. There was no time left at all.

  “No, it’s totally on me if it doesn’t work. I’ve procrastinated, and I’m going into this with hardly any energy in my tank.”

  Darci eyed me sympathetically between bites of corn muffin. “There’s always Irix.”

  I choked, spewing a fine spray of stew across the table. Darci pounded me helpfully on the back as I coughed into a napkin and struggled to regain my breath. Irix. The ritual tonight wasn’t my only issue. There’s no way I’d meet his midnight deadline. I’d be in a circle with ten witches then. Even if I hustled back to the city, overcame my significant moral objections and pounced on the first man I saw, I’d never make it in time. I wouldn’t put it past Irix to drag me out of the circle mid–ritual, just to prove a point. He’d given me one extension; I doubted he’d give me a second. I just needed to avoid him until I could manage to resolve my little issue on my own. I’d gained energy from the dance club. Maybe I just needed to spend most of each day in one. Hopefully that would be enough to sustain me, and satisfy the incubus.

  “I’m trying to delay having sex with Irix as long as I can,” I croaked out, still coughing.

  Darci rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Right. I give you two days, three max. Any day now, I expect to come home and find a hanger on the door knob.”

  I couldn’t help but grin. That had been our universal signal in college that one of us was getting some action — kind of like a do–not–disturb sign. It worked great until Megan down the hall stole the hanger as a practical joke and Darci walked in on me and Craig … or was it Luke? She’d stared, openmouthed, for a few seconds, remarked that she hadn’t realized I was so bendy, then left. We still laughed about it.

  “At the rate I’m going, it will probably be before dawn.” I lay down my spoon and pushed the empty bowl away. “Who knew it would be so damned hard to get laid?”

  Not that I intended to get laid, ever. After what I saw at the hotel today, I was firmly returning to my abstinence routine.

  She shook her head, biting back a smile. “Well, if you’d make an exception about the sandals and socks thing… .”

  No way. Yuck. A girl had to have standards.

  “I wish I had a few days to hang out in that dance club. That would probably amount to one night of sex.” Of course, I’d have to avoid Irix for that long — which would be impossible given the odd homing beacon he seemed to have on me.

  Darci hesitated, her eyes big as she waved her spoon at me. “Wait. I’ve got an idea. How long until Jordan picks you up?”

  I caught my breath. Darci’s ideas were often spectacular — spectacularly bad. “An hour.”

  “Perfect.” She looked around, judging the distance between us in our little booth and the nearest diners. Leaning forward, she mumbled something incomprehensible under her breath.

  “What?”

  Darci’s face creased in irritation. “Fetish club only a block away.” More mumbling followed that announcement.

  “Fetish club!” I shouted in astonishment, wincing as several interested sets of eyes turned our way. This was New Orleans, though, so after a brief glance, everyone went back to their gumbo. Darci, on the other hand, glared at me, her lips in a tight line.

  “Yes, fetish club,” she muttered between clenched teeth. “A block away. I figured if dancers at a night club could give you a jolt of power, watching people actually screwing might help even more.”

  I was stunned — not at the idea of going to a fetish club, but that Darci had thought of it and actually knew the location of one nearby. I’d never been to that sort of thing before and felt a flutter of anxiety. I know — stupid for a half demon who can shoot a lightning bolt from her fingers to be nervous about walking into a sex club. Still, my stomach clenched.

  “Can you go with me?”

  Darci’s lovely brown eyes bugged out of her head. “No. Way. It was one thing to walk in on you and Mike. Totally another to watch a bunch of middle–aged swingers getting it on. No way.”

  Mike. That’s what his name was. “Please? This makes no sense whatsoever, but I just don’t want to walk into a fetish club in a strange city all by myself.”

  I tried for a pleading look, and after an agonizing grimace, Darci shook her head, covering her face momentarily with her hands before smoothing them back over her neat hair.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Darci threw a few twenties on the table and scooted out of the booth. “Let’s go before I lose my nerve entirely.”

  Bliss seemed like any other club in the French Quarter, except the doorman was far more discriminating as to entrance requirements. At first, he’d insisted this was a members’–only club, but wavered a bit once I started working my special mojo.

  “Come on,” Darci pleaded. “My friend is here from out of state. She’s a member of the … the Inferno Club up in Baltimore. You can check her references.”

  I shot Darci a horrified look before managing to control my expression. Was there even an Inferno Club in Baltimore, or did she just pull that one out of her ass? Terrified the guy would dial up this mythical club to check, I cranked the pheromones up all the way and gave him my most sultry, heavy–eye–lidded look.

  “We’re just here to watch,” I told him, my voice husky. “That’s my thing.”

  He took a ragged breath, and I saw fanged tips peeking out from his upper lip. Eyeing him suspiciously, I took a chance.

  “I’m a succubus. Surely you would not deny a demon on vacation entrance to your club.”

  His eyes widened. “You’re Ourson’s demon?”

  “Yep. He’s been an amazing host, by the way. Procured a very nice human for me this afternoon. I’m afraid I’ve been a bad girl and slipped my leash, though. I ditched him a few hours back. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

  I’ll give Darci credit, she stood by my side calm as a sunny lake while I spouted all this off. The doorman, on the other hand, looked around frantically, pulled out his cell phone then gestured at me to enter.

  “Go on in, you and your human. I’ll call … contact … I mean, enjoy yourself. Eloise will ensure you have a night that meets all your expectations.”

  “Hour.” I corrected him as I opened the door. He was too busy texting to do it for me. “I’ve got a witch friend picking me up in an hour, so I need to fit in as much viewing as possible in that timeframe.”

  The doorman grunted, clearly not hearing me in his messaging frenzy. Darci and I slipped through the door to be greeted by a platinum–haired beauty, nearly six–feet tall with skin so pale I could practically see the blue of her veins.

  “And you must be Eloise,” I commented, assuming that vampires had some sort of telepathic link with others in their family.

  The beauty smiled regretfully. “No, I’m Helen. I overheard you mention that you’re one of our VIP clients. Welcome to Bliss. Please enjoy the club room, and Eloise will be with you shortly to escort you to more interesting activities. She’ll also provide you with any refreshments or ‘snacks’ you may require.”

  I glanced over at Darci and grabbed her hand, thinking that “snacks” didn’t refer to alligator bites and shrimp with grits. I’d need to keep a close eye on her, just in case management got the idea she was on the menu. I mouthed “vampires” at her as we followed Helen to a second set of doors. Figuring it would be terribly rude if my cell phone went off in the middle of a particularly hot and sweaty moment, I sent a quick text to Jordon on where to pick me up then turned it off and stashed it in my pocket.

  The door in front of us looked like it belonged on a medieval castle — a castle for giants. Huge rough–hewn oak planks bound in thick black iron nearly touched the nine–foot ceiling. Helen swung the massive door open with ease, and I waltzed in to collide with a naked man.

  * * *

  14

  Well, almost naked. He was wearing a lavender ribbon
around his neck. Where the goth club had sported enough leather to single–handedly support the tannery industry, Bliss took a more minimalist approach to clothing. There was leather, as well as rubber and a variety of metals, but the tiny scraps were clearly decorative.

  “Don’t you dare leave me,” Darci whispered, clinging to my arm. She nervously clutched her purse with the other hand, and I doubted all her unease was due to the mass of mostly–naked flesh in front of us. She’d faced Ourson with great bravado this morning, but she didn’t have her weapons now, and who knew how many vampires were here.

  “I won’t. Don’t worry, they won’t touch you. They think you’re my human for the evening, and I’m some sort of VIP when it comes to vampires.”

  As long as they didn’t figure out that I was half elf, that was. Still, my words reassured Darci, and she relaxed her death grip on my arm and looked around.

  There was a lot to see. Bodies churned about on the dance floor — twosomes, threesomes and more, all pressed against each other with intent. A trickle of energy spiraled into me from the dancers and those at the dimly lit booths doing “other” stuff. One man licked slowly along a woman’s foot, her discarded shoe pressed between his legs. Two women stood by the bar, important parts of their anatomy covered by balloons. A man next to them lovingly caressed not their naked flesh, but the pink and blue inflated objects.

  “What are the ribbons for?” Darci asked.

  “To identify fetish, maybe?” I had no stinking idea. The guy worshiping balloons wore yellow, and Foot–Licker wore blue. There was a whole rainbow of ribbons, and some people wore several.

  “You getting anything in here?”

  I shook my head. I was, but not enough. This Eloise better hurry up.

  “There!”

  Darci pulled me through the crowd of dancers where I was experiencing more contact with naked flesh than I’d had in months. The crowd around us thinned at the edge of the dance floor, and I finally saw where my friend was headed. Another large door loomed before us, a copy of the one Helen had led us through, except for the word stenciled on the front in blood–red.

  Revelry.

  “Sounds like the action room to me,” Darci announced with surprising cheerfulness.

  She yanked on the door, nearly falling to the floor as it swung open easily. On the other side was a set of gauzy curtains, not quite hiding the rhythmically moving shapes behind it. Low moans came from a good percentage of the occupants, and the warmer temperature carried the unmistakable aroma of sex — lots and lots of sex. Action room, indeed.

  Darci took a deep breath, evidently steeling herself for whatever lay behind, and pushed her way through the curtain. I followed, and what I saw was precisely what I’d imagined on the far side of the gauze.

  Naked bodies in various stages of copulation littered the floor, sprawled across the sofas, and leaning against the walls. It was intense, but what really got my attention was the people milling about, drink in hand. It was as if they were at an X–rated art auction, casually moving from painting to painting as they admired each in turn. I felt stupid just standing there, gawking at the sweaty bodies thrusting against each other. I wished I had a drink, if only to have something to do with my hands. I didn’t, so I crammed them in my pockets and tried to appear nonchalant about what was going on.

  “Good Lord,” Darci choked out. “Is he … what … wow.”

  She hadn’t descended to pointing, but I followed her eyes and saw a burly blond man in a sixty–nine with the woman on top. The remarkable thing was the dark–haired man straddling the blond man’s head, his cock buried deep in the woman’s ass. As I watched, the blond guy reached a hand up and fondled the other man’s balls.

  “Looking away, looking away,” Darci muttered.

  I was not looking away. My monster was like a feline rolling in a field of catnip, and my skin felt the sparks of all the sexual energy. I let go and basked in it, savoring the rush as I took it all in. My heart thudded. My skin sensed every tiny stirring of air. I took a deep breath and felt high at the scent of sex. Humans had their heroine, but this was my drug.

  A man writhed in ecstasy as another rode him. Two women were covering every square inch of an ebony–skinned man with their tongues. A large woman sprawled on a couch, the man before her thrusting his cock between her huge breasts. I wanted to join them — wanted to join them all. My monster reared her head like a hydra, demanding that I take them all. Male, female, married — it didn’t matter to her. I’d deprived her too long, and as delicious as the energy was, I knew she wanted to be a participant.

  “I need to get out of here.”

  Bless Darci for being the friend she is. She grabbed my arm and practically dragged me through the door, back into the dance floor area. We didn’t stop until we’d reached the bar, where she got me a glass of ice chips and a Captain and ginger.

  Irix’s drink. Damn. And I needed a shit–ton more ice than what was in this pint glass.

  “Thanks. I was barely holding it together in there.”

  Darci grabbed me in a big hug, holding me tight. I fought back tears. She got me, really understood what I was feeling. My best friend. Finally she pulled back, smoothing a hand over my hair and smiling tremulously. Her eyes were suspiciously bright.

  “Well, you can always fall back on the rapists and con men idea.”

  I laughed, although there was an edge of hysteria to my humor. Leave it to Darci. She always managed to yank me out of any pity party I might be indulging in.

  “Excuse me.”

  I turned to see a girl behind me. I mean girl. She barely looked over ten years old, but her eyes held a weary knowledge far beyond that of a child. Even vampires wouldn’t allow an underage girl in a sex club. This must be Eloise.

  “I see you found the Revelry room. Was it not to your liking? You are welcome to pick any sexual partners of your choosing — as many as you wish.”

  It was disturbing, hearing such things from someone who bore a striking resemblance to a pre–teen Shirley Temple. I stared at her golden curls and bright–blue eyes in shock, unable to force even a polite response from my mouth.

  She smiled, increasing my unease. “Normally we restrict demon access and choices, wishing to mitigate damage and any potential discovery by angels or human law enforcement, but sex demons are different. We welcome you and are pleased to provide you with anything you wish.”

  We were lesser demons, considered far less dangerous than others. I could imagine the vampires were relieved to find a succubus and not a plague–bringer, or a dreaded imp.

  “Thank you.” I finally managed to find my voice. “I did find the Revelry room to be very stimulating, but I’m afraid I have only a short time to enjoy myself. Is there somewhere I could watch, and yet be removed from the temptation to join in?”

  Eloise tilted her head and regarded me. “Certainly. We have a peep–room and a show about to begin. If you see anyone you particularly desire, please let me know and I will detain them until you’ve completed your other business.”

  Peep show. Well, at least it was consensual on the part of the participants. And her invitation to return gave me an idea. I wouldn’t be selecting anyone for a sexual partner, but I could return later. If I stayed long enough, perhaps I’d gain enough energy to satisfy Irix and put off what I so desperately wanted, but wanted to delay.

  I glanced at Darci, and she shrugged. “Sure. Seen one room full of people bonking, seen it all. What’s one more?”

  We followed Eloise to a wrought–iron spiral staircase to the side of the bar, and up to a long hallway with a series of doors. Each one had a slot cut into the wood above the door handle that read either “busy” or “open”. The vampire opened one of the “open” doors and gallantly ushered us inside. The room was tiny, barely four feet by four with two cushioned chairs and a small stand with chilled champagne, two glasses, and a plate of delicate puff pastry appetizers.

  “I will return after the show. If
you need anything, please move your slide bolt to “open”, and I will enter to refresh beverages or provide you with any assistance you may require.”

  With a surprisingly deep bow for a vampire barely over three feet tall, Eloise closed the door behind her. I immediately noticed the sliding deadbolt above the door handle and moved it to the locked “busy” position. Less than two seconds later, Darci launched into a furious tirade.

  “What in Christ’s name was that? A vampire? Who would do that to a child? Someone turned a little girl!”

  “Hush!” I waved a panicked hand at her. What if these booths were monitored? I could protect Darci now — they wouldn’t retaliate against her if they thought she was my human, but I’d eventually go home, and I didn’t want to worry that she’d offended a group of powerful creatures.

  “A child!” At least Darci had lowered her voice to an angry whisper. “Bad enough they’re going around the city drinking blood from us like a bunch of oversized mosquitoes, but turning a child?”

  “She’s got to be at least five–hundred years old,” I whispered back. I really didn’t know, but from the look in her eyes, I probably wasn’t far off. “Things were different back then. Maybe she was dying and this was something she or her parents wanted. Maybe it was an accident.”

  Darci’s face was red, and I could tell she was struggling to hold her temper in check. I didn’t blame her; it was revolting to think that someone would have done this to a child, but I was in no place to condemn an action that had taken place hundreds of years ago. I doubt at this point she’d have chosen death over vampirism. She seemed fairly satisfied with her life.