Incubus Life - 173 - Eshanya

Chapter 173 Eshanya

I was still in shock at hearing that name. Rincewind had arrived on the twenty-second layer?  Was he looking for me?  I walked the ship’s length with Captain Aida, thinking about the implications.  I realized the Captain’s armor made her completely silent as she walked just in front of me.

“Is Rincewind injured?”  I asked the Captain as her pace was fast, but she did not seem to be rushing; she was just efficient in her long stride.

The Captain asked the question into her retracted helmet, got an answer, and replied, “He was injured in the fight to capture him.  As well as the sword-wielding woman with him.  They have both been treated and restrained.  They will live, for now.”  Her tone was detached, and the congestion of elves in crew and Marine uniforms increased as we moved toward the front of the Shadow Fall.

A large gray metallic door slid open, revealing a large bridge with dozens of terminals manned by the elven crew, most in the crew uniforms but a few scattered crew sported the Marine combat armor.  Captain Aida ignored the activity and marched to the right.  I paused, taking everything in. It was, after all, the bridge of a spaceship.

Captain Aida snapped her fingers to get my attention, and I caught up with her.  We were standing before a door flanked by two male Marines, who appeared to be twins at a cursory glance.  I could deduce that this was the Captain’s room, or in this case, Admiral Eshanya’s.  The two Marines went on alert.  The door opened on its own, and a strong feminine voice rang out from inside, “Just send in the incubus alone.”

Captain Aida stepped aside, and I walked into the room alone, into the lion’s den.  It was a large futuristic office, favoring glossy white, black, and metallic silver in its decor.  An elf with silvery white hair sat behind a desk in the same Marine armor that Aida had worn, her helm retracted.  Her white hair did not make her appear aged.  Instead, it framed a youthful elven face that would appear on a human in the late twenties and lead to a sizable bust.  Her chest was much larger than any female elf I had seen on the ship so far.

Her metallic blue eyes took me in, and she huffed, “So you are the human boy that Andromeda was so interested in.”

“I am sorry, but I am at a disadvantage here.  You know me, but I do not know you,” I replied respectfully.  It was clear I was here to be evaluated, and the fate of Rincewind might be in my hands.

Eshanya smiled, her teeth a bright pearly white framed by thin, rosy lips, “I just know Andromeda talked fondly of you and your potential.  Maybe she was hoping you would replace me at her side one day.  I was her favorite lover and confidant.”  As she stood, I got a sense of a lioness hunting prey from her movements.

I stepped back reflexively. “Well, now that we are both free of her control, replacing you will not be necessary,” I replied glibly.

Eshana’s slender fingers danced on her hips as she studied me using her powerful abyssal sight.  I could feel her senses penetrate and read me and was powerless to stop it.  “I can see why she wanted you in her back pocket.”  She stood and walked around me, studying me from all angles like a piece of meat—or a prize.  “Why have you come here, child?”  She sais in a matronly tone.

“To rescue Andromeda,” I repeated my absurd pronouncement. The closer I got to my goal, the more I felt I was in over my head.

Eshanya’s musical laugh echoed in the room.  “You are a lost little puppy seeking a master.”  Her hand touched the small of my back, slowly worked its way up to my shoulder, and then cupped the back of my neck softly.  A tingly feeling followed her hand on my skin, but I could not identify what she was doing to me.

“I can be your master.  I will treat you better than Andromeda and not throw you like helpless fish in a sea of predators.  I will teach you things you would take centuries to figure out on your own.”  I knew Eshanya was testing me.  I had to win this interaction, or I would lose her respect.

I stepped away, her hand falling from her contact with me in disappointment.  “I am sure your price would be too high.”

Eshanya’s eyes narrowed somewhat dangerously.  “I have given you my hospitality and security. I have not even made you an offer, yet you dismiss me.”

“I plan to remain free of bondage and any tax on my life essence.  I came here because I felt I owed Andromeda for what she gifted me,” I said somewhat confidently.

A devilish smile appeared on her face, and it made her appear extremely sexy.  I immediately realized she had activated her lust aura.  “Andromeda always said you were a good investment.” She sat on her desk, her legs in a provocative and inviting pose.

“It is a waste for you to reside on the twenty-third layer.  Your core can sustain as high as the fourteenth.  Join me,”  she said, trying to recruit me again. Her eyes locked with mine, and I found her trying to bend me to her will—to subdue me.  Inside my mind space, I could sense my constructs fighting back against the outside influence.

As the battle for control raged against the succubus, I wished she had not been wearing the armor.  It concealed her core strength from my abyssal sight.  If I had known how strong she was, I might have been better prepared for this encounter.  Her eyes suddenly glittered in amusement.  “I can see why Andromeda favored you.  You have come so far in so short a time.”

She seductively approached me and put her hand on my chest, “Perhaps you can stand beside me.  I can give you as many Eladrin women as you want to satisfy your needs and grow your power.”

“Eladrin?”  I asked.  I felt I had passed her test and was now considered an equal, or at least not a child ny longer, in her view.

“The pure elf lineage.  Andromeda raised me from an Eladrin.  I have preserved the Eladrin purity on my ship.  The yield of life essence is good life.  If you want, you can sample some of the women, or men if that is your preference,” Eshanya had a playful look on her face now. I could feel her lust aura working on me, but since I was aware of it, I was able to resist.

I was searching for the right thing to say.  Did she just offer her crew to me?  “I am planning to return to Earth on the twenty-third layer.  I am not prepared for the higher layers yet. I must decline your offer to join you.”

Eshanya smirked, “A pity.” She looked me over again, and licked her lips.  “Come and let us meet this Rincewind who tracked you to my ship.”

Eshanya stepped out the door and followed behind her.  Was Rincewind tracking me?  How did he even know I was here?  Captain Aida and the two Marines flanking the door fell in behind us as I walked next to Eshanya.  Her pace was relaxed as we walked off the bridge and back into the large craft.

Eshanya’s demeanor changed to a professional tone, “What can you tell me about the wizard and his angelic escort?”

“Angelic escort?”  I asked, surprised.  “A woman or a man?”

“A woman,” she noted with a side glance at me, and I remember Captain Aida mentioning Rincewind was with a woman.

“It could be Sofiel.  She was an angelic who was managing Mercanious.  When we arrived here, she got upset and left us.  I had charmed her, but she overcame it,” I informed the succubus.  I was sure that Eshanya and her crew could handle her.  Most of her crew, who were not in marine uniforms, were lower tier two, between 1.20 and 1.40 in core strength, as I caught glimpses of their cores as we walked.

“Sofiel?  We captured that angelic yesterday.  Do you want to deal with her?”  I was a little shocked at that news.  Then again, Eshanya’s ship and crew came from the seventeenth layer, and I think Andromeda was fairly strong on that layer.  What would I do with an angelic prisoner?

“I don’t think I have any use for her,” I said as we continued toward the detainment center.

“You could push her over the edge and rupture her core.  From such an angelic, the harvest would be magnificent,” the Admiral said without emotion.

“Is that what you would do to her?  Rupture her core and harvest the life essence?”  I asked.  Had I condemned the angelic to a death at the hands of this succubus?

“When I get around to it, maybe.  Right now, she may have other value I am not aware of,” Eshanya said.  We turned into a corridor guarded by more Marines in the tight-fitting black power armor.

I decided to make a play, “Your combat armor is amazing.  Can I convince you to outfit my companions?”  I knew I was reaching for favors when we had not even come to a real accord other than that I was weak in her eyes.

“It would be useless to anyone without at least a lower tier two core.  Also, the aether on this layer is so thin that the operating time is less than four hours a day.  It has hampered my subjugation of the planet as we wait for the aether condensers to accumulate enough aether to charge them,” she explained.

“I thought the wearer charged them?”  I asked, recalling what Captain Aida had said.

“They can be.  Upper tier two individuals can maintain the suit’s function if they have enough control over their aether and a large aether pool.” She nodded at the Marines, “It is a requirement of my captains.” She had indicated the twins and Captain Aida with her head. I now understood why Captain Aida had drawn the focus to her in the attack on the nomads. She could maintain her shields longer than her men.

I decided to lobby for the suits, “A few of my companions could utilize the suits.  The tall blonde human woman is upper tier two.  Two of the orcs and the short human female are lower tier two.”

“What about yourself?  Do you not want one, too?”  She stroked her suit, “Even I am not too proud not to wear something that increases my survivability in battle.”  Her face was hiding something, and maybe she was teasing me and never intended to give me the power armor.

I decided to pretend like she had just agreed to my request, “Yes, one for me as well.  The shielding was amazing when I saw it in action; it was much better than the shield belts I brought from Earth.  I can perhaps raise the core strength of my other companions high enough to utilize the suits.”

Eshanay stopped walking, “Amdromda did say you were playing around with raising the cores of your servants. What is your efficacy? Have you been using the demon’s elixir as well?”

“Demon elixir?” I said, confused.

Eshanya cupped her breast, “Succbus milk to enhance your followers.”

“Oh, that, I produce it another way,” she understood and glanced down at my crotch, smirking in thought. I continued, for some reason uncomfortable, “But yes, I use it on my followers as a reward. As for the efficacy of core enhancement. It has been one hundred percent and about half a tier.”

Eshanya’s eyes went wide, “Half a tier?” She gave it some thought, “Perhaps the beings on the lowest tier have a more pliable core. I have not gotten better than two-tenths a core and sometimes fail.” I knew by fail, she meant the person died. “Perhaps you do have something to offer for the suits. Captain Aida, have your core been tampered with?”

Aida turned, “No, Admiral. I drank your milk for quickness and strength. I have not earned my third.” She answered respectively.

“Can other succubus and incubus make use of the elixir?” I asked. I had not even thought about trying my own.

“Haven’t you tried it on yourself?” Eshanya guessed and had amusement on her face. “No, our physiology is already superior to the lesser races. But if you want, you can suckle on my breast to confirm.”

Eshayna could, at one moment, seem the serious leader and, the next, be lecherous and playful. It was an unusual combo that was throwing me off. For just a moment, I wondered what suckling her large chest would be like, but then I remembered my one kiss with Andromeda, where her superior power sucked my life essence from me. “I think I will pass on the tempting offer.”

“The offer is open as long as we are friendly.” She squeezed her breast for emphasis.  She also made a decision, “For each of my crew you successfully raise the core of, we will fabricate you one suit.”  She motioned to Aida, “You can start with Captain Aida.”

Shock and a little fear played on Aida’s face but quickly melted. Was she worried about being whored out or that I might kill her. “Agreed, but only females,” I responded.

Eshanya seemed to smile and hold back a laugh, “You are holding too tight to your nature, boy, and denying yourself all nature of pleasures. But if that is what you wish. If you kill my Captain, I will be most distraught with you.” She nodded at Captain Aida as if that was some assurance her death would be avenged if I failed. How did it seem that wherever I went, I was using my abilities to raise strangers?

Eshanya, “You are getting the bargain here. Each suit cost 2.6 million G credits. But be aware of how difficult it will be to utilize them on the twenty-third layer. Maybe it will encourage you to join me.”

I had no idea what a G credit was, but I was not going to show my ignorance.  “Yes.  Since you are not going after Andromeda, I need the best equipment for my team.”

“Who said I was not going after Andromeda?”  Eshanya said, suddenly irritated.

I cautiously responded, “You indicated that now you were free, you would do what you want, and it would take years to repair the Shadow Fall. I don’t have that kind of time to wait, and neither does Andromeda,” I danced around the topic, trying to get her to reveal her plans without asking directly.

“Yes, the Shadow Fall is grounded.  But I plan to subjugate this planet and then transit up to the next layer to use as chips in getting Andromeda released. Rushing blindly forward will only get you killed. That is why Andromeda is in the situation she is in.”  I learned that Eshanya did have some loyalty to Andromeda by her statement. Maybe I did find an ally to rescue Andromeda.

We stopped at a cell in the brig.  Sofiel was seated in a chair, her arms at her side and encased in solid metal.  She was also apparently unconscious.  I didn’t think Sofiel was bad as angelics went.  She looked pathetic, too.

Eshanya was studying me as I looked at the angelic.  There was nothing I could do for her at this moment other than get a guilty conscience. I looked away from the helpless angelic, “Where is Rincewind?”

We walked further down in the brig. A blonde, muscular woman shared the cell with Rincewind. He looked, his eyes sparkling in recognition. It was the blonde woman who approached, “Demon Queen, are you too afraid to fight me one-on-one? I challenge you for my freedom!”

The furious blonde woman had a core that was burning bright in my abyssal sight. Upper tier three, maybe around 2.6, but I could not be sure as I had not seen many people as powerful as she was.

“Kristiel, calm down,” Rincewind replied from behind her. “If you had not attacked the Eladrin, we might not even be imprisoned here.” Rinewind was focused on Eshanya, but I saw hope in his eyes in my presence.

Eshanya dashed his hopes, “No, you would still be in here, mage.  You asked for this demon.  Now here he is.” She indicated to me.

I interrupted, “How did you know I was here?”

Rincewind had a slightly guilty look on his face. “I placed a tracking spell on you in New York. It went off when we were brought aboard. It was to protect Yasmin.” Yasmin was Bedelia’s real name, but she seemed to have taken to favoring Bedelia.

“Why are you on this planet, Rincewind?” I asked.

“Merlin, do not treat with these demons!” the blonde woman shouted in frustration behind him.

Rincewind winced at the anger and the volume of her scream, “This is my daughter, Kristiel.” He talked quietly to his daughter, and she calmed down and went to sit down at the back of the cell. He then focused back on us. “I was investigating your concerns, Caleb? Apolloyon?”

“You can me Apollyon,” I said.

“We were following the leads,” he indicated, his irate daughter behind him. “Unfortunately, you were correct. But we did find the Cartwrights.”

“You found Iris’ parents?” I said excitedly, stepping forward. Of course, they were not currently with him, but he must know exactly where they were right now.

“Yes, they are being held by an angelic deva named Ramiel in the transit to the twenty-first layer. Unfortunately, he was not so happy to see us and wouldn’t release them, and we retreated here only to be detained by the Eladrin.”

My mind was spinning. Iris’ parents were so close. “What about the succubus, Andromeda?” Eshanya asked.

“She is not in the transit. But we heard whispers a powerful demoness was being held on the twenty-first layer,” Rincewind said.

Kristiel behind him, “You should use your knowledge to get them to release us, Merlin.” Rincewind rolled his eyes.

“Eshanya, can you release the mage and his daughter?” I asked.

Rincewind replied softly, “It is best if you leave my daughter in here until you are ready to let her leave the ship. She has not mastered her temper.”

A short while later, Captain Aida was escorting Rincewind and me back to my room. Kristiel was left behind, furiously cursing everyone.