Incubus Inc. 3

by Randi Darren

  “That’s not quite true,” Aster countered as she drifted behind Erv. Her hands were now on the smaller Elemental’s shoulders. “If you’re related to the Devil, or Luke as he was actually named, then you might become quite the trump card for us.

  “If the stories are true, at least. If they’re not, you’re just a sexy Demon Lady now. I kinda like the horns by the way. I want to hold onto them and ride your pretty face.”

  Sam rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help but grin.

  Aster was often more concerned with sex than he was.

  Reaching over, he lightly pushed Aster’s hands off of Erv, then eased the Water Elemental over to walk in front of himself. Laying his hands possessively on her shoulders, he kept walking.

  “Leave my Erv alone, Aster. She didn’t invite you touching her,” Sam admonished her, then he turned his head to Wren. “Though Aster’s right. You could end up being a massive boon to us. But until we know that for sure, it’s better if you kept your Demonic traits hidden. It’d invite people to be frightened of you.

  “And frightened people can react with violence or cowardice. Goes either way.”

  “I want to continue this conversation but those flying things are converging,” said Wren as she held up a hand and directed their attention to a spot to the left of them. “Two groups became one. Far as we’ve seen so far, that’s not normal. They also seem to be heading this way.”

  “Damn,” Erv grumbled, coming to a stop. Sam bumped into her backside and came to a stop as well. “I don’t think we were betrayed by Yala, but something must have happened. Something outside of our expectations.

  “Abrah said they only flew on patrol, or to find something. I think our group would most certainly be something they would want to find.”

  Sam couldn’t disagree with that. Aster and Wren had also stopped next to them.

  “How’s your camouflage magic, Aster?” Erv asked, looking at the taller Elemental. “I think we could do some pretty strong illusion work between the two of us. So long as we use Elemental magic, it shouldn’t alert any Essence-seeking magic.”

  Aster grimaced and then shook her head.

  “I’m not great at it. You lead, I’ll assist however I can,” she said and then opened her palms. With a crackle, lightning formed in each of them.

  Erv took a step away from Sam and towards Aster. Lifting her own hands, balls of water formed. In a few seconds, they began to spread out around the group into a dome. A shimmering, flowing, spherical bubble of water.

  Aster reached up with one hand toward the dome. The lightning from both hands traveled up to the tip of her raised fingers and shot up into the dome. Flaring from the inside out, the dome of water became electrified.

  Slowly, it hardened into a nearly solid-looking substance.

  “There, that should keep us out of view,” Erv said, letting her focus shift away from the working. “It’ll even move with us and cost nothing more to upkeep. Thank you for the help, Aster. I needed it.”

  “Of course, not a problem,” Aster said, grinning at the other Elemental. Aster was still trying to get Erv interested in the idea of dating her as well as Sam.

  Moving ahead once again, Sam and his group continued down the road. The dome of magical concealment kept pace with them.

  Unfortunately, that only lasted for ten minutes. Everyone had kept an eye on the dark cloud of Winged Abominations. With a clear direction, they’d been moving straight towards Sam and his group. There was no mistaking the fact that they were coming for them.

  “I think they see us,” grumbled Wren. No one had spoken since they’d erected the dome. He imagined she wanted to talk more about her heritage.

  “We’ll find out soon enough,” Aster replied. “They could just be heading to our last known location. Depends on what happens when they get just a little closer.”

  “Let’s move off the traveled path. Just in case they can sense things on the road,” Erv said and then turned to the left, angling them closer towards the dark cloud of problems.

  Eventually, they were walking a course parallel with the road, though considerably rougher. It wasn’t the hard-packed, even dirt of the well-worn road.

  “So, boob-sweat?” Aster prodded.

  “Lots,” Erv admitted. “I just reabsorb it, though. I’m a Water Ellie. I only sweat if I want.”

  “Ugh. I’m jealous. Sweat makes it easier for me to use my element but it’s so uncomfortable,” complained Aster. Then she turned her head and looked up at the mass of Winged Abominations above them. They still appeared to be moving toward the road. “Could be worse, I suppose. I can’t imagine that an E—”

  A Winged Abomination slammed into the side of Sam, knocking him several feet to the right. Then a second monster struck him in the lower back, propelling him forward.

  Several more swooped in low to where he’d been a few seconds previously. They passed through the space that he no longer inhabited.

  None of the creatures bothered anyone else, though.

  Are they tracked onto me? Are they seeking me out and no one else?

  “Are they only after Sam?” asked Wren, stomping over to him.

  “Get back. Stay under the dome and keep away,” Sam demanded. “If they’re only after me, they only see me. Don’t reveal that you’re here unless you have to. Follow Aster’s instructions, do what you need to!”

  Moving away at a quick jog, Sam passed through the dome and then summoned his Essence rapier.

  Stabbing out at an Abomination who was dive-bombing him, he skewered it cleanly.

  Draining it of everything—all the way down to the scrap of nothing that was its soul—Sam killed it. With a flick of his arm, he cast the remains to the side and waited.

  If they wanted to attack him, he wouldn’t say no to the chance of a free meal.

  Twenty-One - Familiar Faces -

  Slashing out to the left, Sam slid to the right, and flung an underhanded spike of Essence on a tether. Draining the one his rapier connected with, then the second as the spike found its target, Sam downed another two Abominations.

  A growing mound of the creatures had piled up all around him. They didn’t seem to care one bit for their losses and were still diving in on him. A never-ending line of monsters, all doing their best to fly right into Sam.

  Those that did break through, only slammed into him.

  They didn’t bite, scratch, or claw at him. Which wasn’t something Sam had noticed in the initial attack, but he had most certainly realized after the fifth had done it.

  This was a directed attack that didn’t want him dead. Whoever was behind it, wanted Sam slowed and locked in place.

  Fifty feet away, Erv, Aster, and Wren watched. All three of them looked frustrated and angry. However, they all respected his wish and order.

  There was no telling what was going to happen and Sam wasn’t actually in trouble. If anything, he was gaining power with each and every kill.

  Reaching out with his left hand, Sam casually grabbed an Abomination by the wing. Draining it in a flash, he tossed it to the side and readied himself for the next.

  Before another Abomination could reach him, there was a massive boom from off to his right.

  Spinning on his heel, Sam drew up his weapon in front of himself.

  A small cloud of red dust swirled upward from the impact of whatever had just landed. Then it slowly began to drift downward and settle back to the ground. The air cleared within a handful of seconds.

  Standing before Sam was the Pit Demon who had devoured Tiffany and Wren. Balahtus himself in the wretched flesh. Dark leather wings, long claws, black and red skin, and horns that were easily six inches long.

  It wasn’t as big as it had been when it’d been summoned, but that was normal given the amount of energy that’d been put into the spell. Right now, it stood an easy eight feet in height, which while still quite tall, at least felt manageable.

  He’s not as strong without the summoning. We’re about e
qual in power this time.

  “Sameerixis!” called out the Pit Demon. “You’ve come to Hell and to my domain, no less. How delightful. Though you seem to be alone.

  “Did you not bring me any snacks this time? The two previous ones were so delicious, I’ve had a hard time finding anything as tasty since then.”

  Behind Balahtus, there was a series of thumps and booms. Red dirt being sprayed about with each and every impact.

  “Well, you may not have brought me any treats, but I brought you some,” declared Balahtus. “I’ve been hanging onto them for a long while. A long, long while. Before that bitch Jena stuck her brand on me, in fact.”

  Balahtus lifted a clawed hand and gestured idly.

  “Don’t kill him. I need him alive and mostly unharmed. Just… beat him up,” commanded Balahtus. “So, no lethal attacks or anything that would draw blood.”

  As the dust faded away, Sam saw what Balahtus had “brought” for him.

  Nine people stood there who Sam couldn’t have expected, or ever forgotten.

  His personal feed harem from when he was a Lord of Hell. His lieutenants, generals, and bodyguards who worked with him, and for him. All for the sake of getting him off the plane, so they could inherit all that was his.

  “Your tower harem, returned to you, Lord of the Third Tower,” Balahtus said with a despicable laugh. “Well, most of them. A few escaped me. Death, too far, changing their appearance. Most of them are here, though. The ones who surrendered to me.”

  Beautiful women from every walk of Hell were arrayed in front of him.

  From the Spirit of Lust, Bellbarie, to the Demon-Knight and inheritor of Sam’s Third Tower, Vastigat. They wore nothing more than slips of cloth that barely covered their nakedness. Any swift movement at all would reveal their flesh completely.

  “Do forgive them for not speaking. Since they took on my brand, they’re not allowed to talk,” Balahtus said apologetically even as Sam’s old comrades rushed him. “They really only moan or grunt anymore. It’s better that way.”

  Grimacing, Sam hesitated for a second as Bellbarie came at him.

  She had been his favorite once upon a time. Her beauty had been incomparable to all. She nearly outshone even Jes, though with blond hair and dark-blue eyes. She had a figure that shifted to whatever the partner wanted, and a mind that only thought of sex.

  A perfect partner for his hunger, once upon a time.

  There was no life in her eyes as she came at him. She looked more like a robot running on a preloaded command.

  Ah… I can grant her death, at least.

  “Anyway. I don’t plan on fighting you head-on. You can dispose of my pets for me, then I’ll step in after you’re tired,” Balahtus said with a deep chuckle.

  Sam lunged out with his rapier and caught Bellbarie in the chest. Just above her heart.

  Thrusting forward, he pierced straight through her, then drained her of Essence. Taking her life in a flash, his rapier slid back out of her just as he finished. Letting her soul go free.

  She hit the ground with a thump and lay dead. Her body was devoid of life.

  Sam then promptly wanted to double over and throw up. The Essence he’d taken from Bellbarie had been wrought with poison and wretched undeath. Balahtus wasn’t just using them as pets, but also as weapons specific against Sam.

  Stumbling to the side and gagging, Sam managed to dodge the attack thrown at him from Falana the Wicked, his one-time secretary. Her fist whipped past his stomach, missing by an inch.

  “Oh, did I forget to mention you can’t just drain them? Sorry,” Balahtus said and then flung an Essence spell forward. It looked like a solid sheet of spellwork.

  It was a blunt and ugly thing that looked like it would smash Sam into the ground.

  Catching up both Vastigat and Sam, the spell blasted them head over heels. They tumbled across the ground in a heap of arms and legs.

  Sam came to a stop with Vastigat practically on top of him. Her inky-black hair fell all over his face.

  Staring into her eyes from close up, he could see there was a flicker of the woman inside. A bare hint at a living person.

  Someone who really wanted to die.

  Ramming his rapier into her from the side, Sam caught both her lungs and her heart.

  Not trying to drain her, he instead threw her off of himself and got to his feet. There was no way Vastigat would survive what he did.

  Before Sam could steady himself, he was kicked in the stomach. At the same time, someone blasted him in the back of the head with what felt like an iron bar.

  Stumbling forward, Sam was treated to a sweeping kick that pulled his legs out from under him. It sent him crashing to the ground.

  Rolling over onto his back, Sam saw Falana above him.

  Slashing out, he caught her in the throat with his weapon. The blade passed from one side to the other, removing her head from her shoulders with a wet splut.

  Then several more of his old acquaintances dogpiled on top of him. Punching, kicking, and head butting him. His weapon was torn from his fingers as someone else kicked him in the head.

  Without even the ability to summon up a thought, Sam had his consciousness stolen away from him.

  ***

  Waking up slowly, Sam opened his eyes to see a stone ceiling.

  Turning his head this way and that, he found that he was in a cell made of stone with cold-iron bars. He got the feeling that there were also bars of iron that ran through the stone at regular intervals in the walls, ceiling, and floor around him.

  It wasn’t enough to completely strip someone of their powers, but it would push them to a point where they’d have to be proficient to be able to do something. Sam was certainly one of those proficient people.

  However, someone had drained him of Essence while he was unconscious. He had barely enough to survive for a few days if he did nothing at all.

  That was it.

  Certainly not going to be making any herculean efforts to escape. Nor will I be able to feed the ladies.

  Damn me.

  Slowly, Sam got himself into a seated position. Checking the room once again, he found his previous thoughts had been correct. He was most certainly in a stone cell that had been reinforced using cold-iron.

  With a groan, Sam got to his feet and rubbed at the back of his head with one hand. Whoever had kicked him had definitely rang his bell.

  I killed Bellbarie, Vastigat, and Falana. That’s… that’s a shame.

  Though I do think they’d thank me if possible. I can’t imagine their lives being very livable given Balahtus’ race. For someone I don’t know at all, he seems rather obsessed with causing me problems.

  There’s six left but I didn’t get a good look at them. I… by my twisted nethers, I hope Catalara wasn’t captured. She was one of the few that I didn’t have to infinitely bind with my brand to protect myself.

  Sam walked over to the bars and tapped them with a finger for a brief moment.

  The shock that went through his finger and up his arm told him that it was indeed high purity iron. Something he really couldn’t afford to touch as a Demon.

  How am I supposed to feel about the things I’ve done?

  They were comrades, once upon a time, but they were also people I couldn’t bring with me to my new plane. They were all twisted and broken things. People who would have benefited not at all to be let loose upon the world.

  Not to mention, they all wished to remain in Hell anyway. To inherit my lands and— well… wage war on one another and probably kill each other.

  I didn’t exactly try to cultivate relationships with them. I didn’t care about them back then whatsoever.

  In fact… in fact, if it was the same old me who saw them there, the old me wouldn’t have cared. He’d have just killed them as quickly as possible.

  “I’ve really changed, haven’t I?” Sam asked aloud to no one as he slowly paced to the other side of his cell. There was nothing else he could see, or
sense, outside of his immediate surroundings. As far as he could tell, he had been locked away.

  Most likely for Balahtus to sell me to Skipper. He wasn’t wearing my brand, otherwise, he’d have been obeying me.

  That means that he was beyond that one trail of brands I wasn’t able to take, or Skipper never actually branded him. I wonder which it is.

  In either case, I can’t imagine another reason he’d want to take me alive. We don’t even know each other.

  Does beg the question why he went so far as to get a hold of my old comrades.

  “You know, at first, I was a little jealous,” came Aster’s voice from somewhere ahead of him. “They all got to spend a long time with you in Hell. A few of them are even prettier than I am. Or Jes.

  “Then I realized that all that time was spent with a Sam that didn’t actually care about them. They were just food to you. Right?”

  “Quite right,” Sam agreed. Whether they were all food or not, he was never going to say otherwise. He knew for a fact that while Aster was recovering mentally from her captivity, her ego was still quite fragile. Despite her demeanor and behavior. “There was one who was a friend, everyone else was just food.”

  “Good,” Aster growled. “You… uhm, you ready, Erv?”

  “Of course,” declared the Water Elemental. A small globe of water appeared from midair just outside of his cell. Passing through the bars, it entered his cell and floated toward the hay-covered stone in the corner.

  A few seconds later, the globe of water spread outward quickly, and engulfed the straw and stone. As soon as it stopped moving, a small bolt of lightning zipped across to the sphere and struck it silently.

  Suddenly, the sphere was gone. Sam couldn’t see it anymore.

  In its place, was a false version of himself, lying on his side, staring at the stone wall. His back was to the cell entrance. It looked for all the world as if he were unconscious.

  “That’ll do,” Erv said. “Wren? You got that?”

  There was a grunt in response but no words spoken.

  Before Sam could ask what was going on, the lock on the cell door clunked. Swinging inward fractionally, it paused.