Underworld - Book 8 - Chapter 35

Our visit was a blur. Lilith was too accustomed to asserting authority to get anxious, but she ushered us out of there before “the girls” had a chance to return. As soon as we left the cabin, she walked us around back, opened a portal, and we returned to the same room from which we had left.

Once we were back, she faced us. “The succubi have incredible potential with our ability to drain through Succubi’s Caress. The problem is that we’re enslaved to our lustful appetites. You’ll remember, that’s why I brought you here. That’s why I created the siphoning spell with help from the lich. But after centuries of trying everything, I found a solution that didn’t involve self-loathing and dullness of life in the last place any succubi would look.

“To one of my kind, Owen offers nothing I desires. If anything, his lack of talent and mana was rather revolting—at first. And yet, his lack has allowed for the birth of something miraculous. Nava is not like other succubi. She has our strengths, but none of our weaknesses.”

Aeris was as direct as I’d ever seen her as she replied, “And her sisters?”

Lilith smiled before she could hide it. “They are like their father. Any of their talents are with professions, and they lack the ability to manipulate mana.”

“Congratulations are in order,” my wife said, beaming up at her.

My mind went in another direction. “Does he know you’re a succubus?”

To my surprise, she didn’t seem offended as she replied, “No. I’ve deceived him from the beginning and used him for my experiment.”

Aeris asked, “But your experiment is over, and you’re still with him?”

The Head Mistress nodded. “It has been a unique experience being in a relationship with a man without being tempted to drain the life out of him.”

I knew to tread carefully. I hadn’t forgotten who she was even if she wanted to pretend at times she was something else. It was the kind of plot that horror stories were made from. At the same time, I realized that just as the nymphs put themselves to sleep so that they’d remain faithful to their Satyr, she may have found the solution to her kind being able to reject their curse and live beyond their nature. It had only taken her a thousand years.

“I’m a monster,” she admitted before I could say anything. When Aeris tried to encourage her, Lilith gave her a pointed look. “It’s true. I know very well that he’s living a lie, and I have no intention of revealing it to him or our daughters. Not even Nava.

“She’s not like me, and she’s different from her human sisters. She’s a succubus, but she’s not. She doesn’t share our appetites. That’s why she seems lost around others of her kind. She’s given herself over to combat because it’s something she’s good at. Something she excels at more than her peers. It gives her a place in the world. But she’s not some battle crazed orc. You’ve seen glimpses of who she is. Her compassion for her pets. Her silly insistence on going without shoes while she’s off on her little adventures.

“It’s conceivable I did the worst thing for her in removing her from her father, but as an infant, in a fit of rage, she could’ve killed him with little effort. So I did what I thought would protect them both. How was I supposed to tell them when I knew this day would come? That there was a day I’d have to send her away because of the war I started.

“So if you commit to her protection and helping her grow, I’ll willingly remove the siphoning spell. You’re not wrong that it might draw the eyes of the wrong people. Especially if you fall into the awareness of those ancient vampire lords. Come closer.”

Pressing the tips of her index fingers into her thumb nails, she drew blood. Then phantom red keys started to form. She placed them to the sides of our necks.

Her finger jabbed deep into the side of my neck. Then with a twist, she removed it. It happened so fast.

I healed Aeris immediately, finding Lilith standing there was smoking collars with chains. I felt—mostly the same. There was no difference in power. No sense that something had been weighing me down.

Ignoring the fading pain, I looked this ancient monster in the eye. “I promised Nava that as long as she stopped attacking our friends, then she’d be a little sister to me. As her mother, I’ll give you the same promise. We’ll protect her and help her advance as if she were one of our own.”

Aeris nudged me with her shoulder. “What El is trying to say is that we already view her like a little sister, so we would do as you ask whether you asked us or not.”

The succubus grinned. “I’m confident that you will. Now, there’s business we must take care of.”

The door in which Lilith had entered through when we’d first come to meet with her opened and several familiar faces were lined up against the wall. Napalm’s men, the other human group taken from the surface, stood there not daring to meet our gaze. The eight of them that were left were all there. The heavily tattooed men of varying nationalities wore bland grey shirts this time without the plate armor leggings. The mouthy pipsqueak, tall redheaded woman, and the plump woman tank also wore the same garb. They weren’t in great condition.

My hand shot out to hold Aeris back. I’d never forget her reaction when she’d stepped through that portal to return to Sanctuary. She’d very nearly crushed them to death with her wind magic. Then I felt her hand on my gut. Looking over, it seemed she had the same idea. Instead of attacking them the moment she saw them, she had moved to hold me back.

Her eyes narrowed.

I could tell she was humored by my reaction, but I hadn’t guessed wrongly. Neither had she. We were both simply more concerned with each other’s wellbeing. That didn’t mean we didn’t yearn to see them dead.

It had only been a number of weeks. Our time at Sanctuary had been a good distraction, but what had happened to us during my time away in the Vampire Realm hadn’t been undone. And after what had happened to Jasmine…

“I remember the ones that laughed when Napalm mocked Travis and they thought he was dead,” I mentioned. “Should I start with them?”

A few of the guys continued to act tough, but the Hispanic guy began ringing his hands, while the redheaded woman started trembling uncontrollably. Their reactions were among the most obvious, but it was the pipsqueak poison mage that had the most embarrassing reaction. He wet himself.

“El,” she said softly.

“I’ll do it Aeris. Now that I’m back, this isn’t the kind of thing you have to worry about.”

She spun to face me, crossing her arms over her chest. “Are we really going to argue about who’s going to execute our prisoners?”

I didn’t back down. “No, because I’m going to do it. As far as I’m concerned, you’ll never going to do it again.”

She glared at me, and her jaw flexed.

I glared back.

After a few long moments, she puffed a gust in my face. “What I was going to say is that there’s another option. They’re under Sister Nava’s siphoning spell. We could just give them to someone who would keep them under control and allow her to continue gaining from their existence. If they were made gladiators, they could continue to grow in level and provide her more benefits.”

“Wouldn’t that just be letting them off?” I asked.

She shrugged. “That depends. There’s a variety of ways prisoners are treated here. Torture isn’t common, but some of the worst are locked up and just left there. Then there are those like the Erryl family who are kept together and in relatively good conditions. There’s also the question as to weather they are all equally guilty.”

“Yeah…” I frowned. As I continued, I watched the group against the wall squirm. “I do like the idea of them of sticking around so Nava can take advantage. Since we don’t have time for a trial, should we send them back to Sanctuary and let them handle it? All the guys were kicking themselves for holding back because these guys were human. There’s no way these guys would provide much of a challenge to them after the beast tide. Too bad Napalm still isn’t around. Letting Travis and Skyler take turns beating him might be good for their mental health, or just a good time.”

I remember enough to know that they were guilty of violent crimes on the surface. If there were any on the more perverse side, I wouldn’t even consider letting them go.

As if hearing my thoughts and desperate to prove me wrong, the redheaded woman met my gaze with the most pitiful look imaginable. She pleaded, “We aren’t all like Napalm. If we didn’t follow him, there would’ve been consequences. Please, spare us. I’ll do anything.”

It was the way her hand fell slowly as her fingers ran down the side of her neckline, collarbone and down toward her chest that indicated exactly what she meant.

“It’s okay if you want to kill her outright,” I said to Aeris.

She wrinkled up her nose while stifling a chuckle.

“Idiot,” the large black guy said giving the woman a death glare. Rubbing his beard, he made sure he looked presentable. “Look man. We messed up, but she’s not wrong. I have a temper. I fight at the drop of a hat and always have. But that guy was on a power trip. I’m not saying there wouldn’t have been conflicts when we arrived at your dungeon. At most, someone would’ve gotten a beating and we would’ve left it at that. Give me a chance and I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’m in,” one of the bald white guys chimed in. “Anything but sitting in a cell.”

A few of them straightened, proving they shared the man’s sentiment. Including the short guy that wet himself.

I was of the mind to have them locked up considering that’s the last thing they wanted. At the same time, if they leveled up, Nava would grow more powerful. As much as some part of me still wanted to view her as our enemy, I just couldn’t after all I had learned. It wasn’t even because I believed everything Lilith had said. I’d seen Nava’s awkwardness—her quirks—firsthand. I knew she was different.

There was also an opportunity here to show Lilith how serious we were about supporting her daughter. Considering she’d just removed the Underworld surveillance system she had magically chained to us, I was also in a generous mood.

“Fine,” I said, turning to Lilith. “Head Mistress, do you have any suggestions in how we could manage them?”

She took a moment to consider it before grinning. “You sure you don’t want to turn them over to Master Mather? The arena is about to get very busy as the sisters prepare for war. You could profit.”

“I think it would be for the best if we never saw them again. We’re at war. If they can be of use, then so be it.”

“Then I’ll arrange it.”

With a motion of her hand, her attendant began ushering them out.

The black man lifted his voice as if it were a rebuke to the rest of them. “Thank you.”

As soon as he said it, the others muttered their own halfhearted thanks. Then they were gone.

Aeris squeezed my wrist.

“Now what?” I asked.

Lilith gave me a genial look. “I regret you won’t be able to make use of one of our Light Veins as you intended. I’ll be making use of the idea by building a structure next to one that reflects light mana into a factory filled with your industrial spell emulators.”

“That reminds me,” I replied. “I have some of the emulators—”

She held up her hand. “Keep them. I’ve already spoken with Master Mather. We have what we need. I’ll provide more where they’re needed. I believe you two have some shopping to do and some friends to see?”

“But Jasmine was almost killed while we were shopping,” Aeris objected.

“You had a squad from the Illuminated Cathedral following you around and were in your human and sprite forms. It’s time you practice the disguise you’ll use while traveling. So come now. Let’s see it.”