An Incubus Life - 162

Chapter 162

We were all trapped in the library for now. Aurora was content to sit and selectively eat from her massive plate of food. Bedelia was in a chair but using her spells to keep watch on the Matriarch Gundella and the members of her household. I doubted she was done plotting.

Iris worked through the titles and stacked titles that I should add to my mind space.  She focused on all the relevant clan cultures and laws of Mercanious. Whenever someone was coming down the hallway, Bedelia would alert us. I paged through book after book so my mind constructs could distill the information for me. I was worried about what tomorrow would bring with the Sending.

Vida was sitting discontentedly in a chair. I was done guessing and relying on Vida. Maybe I could find a way to send Vida back to Earth. Her presence here was not required, and I think her advice and presence had actually made this quest more challenging. She was fingering the turquoise bead of the warrior Vakgar. I paused on the book I was reading, “You can put the bead in my hair while I read Vida.”

She jumped up and worked on braiding the bead into my hair while I worked. Letting her do this should hopefully keep her content for a time. I admit—it was also needed. She ended up braiding all my hair into dreadlocks, but one had the bead prominently showing.

The hours passed as I worked. Every hour or so, someone came by to ask if I needed anything or if I would be returning to the bedroom for the evening. When Bedelia said she was taking a nap, everyone was much more cautious as I worked into the night. Eventually, Iris and Vida both fell asleep in chairs, leaving only Aurora and me awake.

“They are afraid of you,” Aurora noted.

“What? Who?” I paused, paging through a book on how to issue a challenge to the head of a clan.

“Everyone. Gundella, the shamans, the servants. Use it to use your advantage,” she said while paging through one of the orc books on sexual positions that Pandora wanted. “Vida was right about one thing. Play the role of the Champion,” she looked up with her clear blue eyes, “You see something you want, just take it.”

I felt like her eyes were inviting me to take her right now, but this might be the last time I had access to this library. I took the next book, and it almost fell apart as it was so old. The title, Fluidic Aether Connectivity Across the Layers, was obscure. It was the first book on magic we had found, and the pages almost crumbled as I turned them.

My eyes popped as the book was about the Pyramids and how they worked! Why am I just getting this text now? It was not even in the pile that Iris had set aside for me. And I soon learned why, there was no title on the spine. It was just on the front cover. I eagerly paged through it. There were a number of diagrams and a lot of math.

Even with my poor understanding of the language, the pictures helped me understand the mechanics. The keystone was not a portal across the cosmos. Instead, it tied into the transit thread and opened a terminus at another transit thread on another planet. So, people passing into the gate in the Pyramid were sent up the thread to the next higher layer, across the layer, and then down the transit thread onto the faraway planet.

After finishing the book, I gave Lilith time in my mind to read and assimilate it before joining her. Aurora had fallen asleep when I had ignored her invitation. I entered the library in my mind space. Time only slowed when I was actively in the mind space. Lilith had a large dry-erase board with formulas and diagrams from the book.

Lilith looked at me, “I don’t understand a damn thing. This is only one book of a series of books, Caleb. I do not know how it entered the Whispering Rock library, but this is about the construction and use of the Pyramids.”

“I already checked all the other books without titles on their spines. This was the only one of this nature. So you didn’t learn anything?” I said dejectedly, thinking I had found something important, but we couldn’t use it.

“Not really. The Pyramids built on the three planets of Mercanious, Everhome, and Earth connect the planets. It is how the World Gate works seamlessly and without technology. If we destroyed the Pyramids on Earth, they would not be able to connect to the planet.”

“That is a lot of information! How do they choose which transit to exit at? They obviously do not exit inside the Pyramids,” I presumed.

Lilith shrugged, her black neglige squeezing her body. “No idea. A wild guess is they have some device on the other planet that attracts the gate to a specific location. I think the Mayan pyramids functioned similarly but were connected to Everhome and not Mercanious.”

“That is a lot to take into consideration. Maybe there is a library inside the Pyramid?” I guessed. “Maybe I will have to talk with Elder Ergoth tomorrow and ask a favor.”

Lilith perked up, “If you get me the rest of this collection, I will be able to figure it out,” Lilith said confidently. “For now, I can work on this, but it is like trying to learn a new language without an alphabet.”

I left my mind space and continued to work into the night. Iris was the first one to wake up. “Did I just have a bad dream, or are we actually on another planet with no way home, searching for clues to find my parents?” She looked confused before saying, “Nice hair.”

I whipped my dreadlocks, and it made Iris laugh. It woke Bedelia, who looked terrible from taxing herself. I warned her, “Don’t Bedelia. Just rest. You have been doing too much.” A knock at the door woke Vida and Aurora.

The fat gray orc servant entered without waiting for permission, “Breakfast is served. The Fiery Snow Elders have invited you to the banquet before the Sending at the Pyramid. Do you wish to attend?”

“I do. Breakfast can be brought into the library,” I informed him.

The orc servant had a constipated look, “The table has been prepared, and Gundella is awaiting your presence.” He waved his hand quickly, “And that of your companions.”

Aurora offered, “Good, I am hungry.” She stood and smiled at me knowingly.

When we arrived for breakfast, Gundella was at the head of the table. Dozens of appetizing dishes were spread across the table the scents appealing. Gundella was dressed in some type of formal wear. I sat opposite, taking everything in. Gundella asked, “Have you finished with Whispering Rock library, Champion Maestro.”

I nodded, sitting, “I have gotten everything of value out of your collection. I will see if the Fiery Snow Clan has what I am looking for today.”

Gundella frowned, and it was clear she was being more submissive today after my anger at her yesterday. Aurora interrupted the conversation, “Didn’t you mention that you planned to spend the morning with Tevega?” That had everyone at the table snap their attention to me.

I could see what Aurora had figured out. Or at least guessed at. I needed to keep Gundella on my side and not push her too far away. She might lash out against me and my interests if I pushed her away. “Yes, I was considering spending some time with her after breakfast,” I looked around, “Is she available?”

Gundella let a small smile escape her lips, which told me Aurora was correct. “She will be. She is currently training with a sword master I hired. She was inspired after seeing your honor duel yesterday.” I doubted the sincerity of the statement but would follow through.

After a filling breakfast, we were led to a training yard to find Tevega drenched in sweat and attacking a dummy with a heavy-looking wooden sword. A green-skinned orc directed her blows and corrected her stance and swings. She was focused and oblivious to our approach. The orc instructor stepped back, locking his hands behind his back, and Tevega spun in surprise.

Gundella addressed her daughter, “The Champion has come to see you, daughter, do not disappoint him.” Tevega nodded sharply. She put away her practice blade and approached.

“I can bathe if that is what you prefer, Champion Maestro,” Tevega said respectively. I sniffed her, and my orc body responded to her strong scent favorably.

“No, I will bathe myself after, lead the way,” I instructed her. “Wait for me in the library,” I requested of my companions. Vida looked agitated, but the others understood I needed to do this.

I followed Tevega to a bedroom. It was clearly hers, with a massive walk-in closet. I looked at the clothes while she waited for instruction, still damp from her workout.

I finished looking at the array of clothing, I turned my attention to her. Tevega guessed my readiness and stripped off her damp clothes for me.  Her body was already transforming in just a day and a half.  Maybe that had something to do with her use of the adept powers.  Her muscles flexed easily under her skin.  I think my orc body was pleased with what she was showing.  “Do you know what I have done for you?”

After some thought, Tevega gave her answer: “You taught me how to access my aether and use it to increase my strength, speed, and endurance.”

I nodded in agreement, “Good.  You are not completely stupid.”  She didn’t even flinch when I insulted her.  “Do you want to carry a child of mine?”  She nodded sharply.  “Good, then excite me to take you.”

Tevega dropped to her knees in front of me and pulled down my pants.  My semi-hard phallus was taken in her hand, and she stroked it.  She was not an expert.  Her grip was too tight, and she focused too close to the base, hitting my balls with the heel of her hand with every jerk.

“Use your mouth,” I instructed.  She immediately started bobbing her head on the first three inches.  “Use one hand to massage my scrotum,” I added.  Tevega did as instructed, and I enjoyed her forceful but inexpert technique.  The slight pain as she rolled my testicles in her hand was getting me aroused. Her salivary glands were in overdrive, and she must have been enjoying my taste.  It created a steady drip down her chin.  The slurping sounds grew louder and louder.

“More tongue,” I ordered, and I felt her coarse tongue circle my head as she continued bobbing.  One thing was for sure: she was trying to please me.  I activated my lust aura and added an adjacent vortex to harvest just aether.  I couldn’t use salvia on her as her core was fragile, but I should be able to get something from this encounter.

Her sweat started to blend with her feminine arousal.  I wanted to take her head and force myself deeper into her throat, but I held back.  Instead, I challenged her, “Get my entire length into your mouth.” At first, she was confused as, after four inches, my shaft hit the back of her throat.  Trying to overcome her swallow and gag reflex was not easy.  My thick head was also a tight fit into her throat.  “If you cannot do it, then this is the only hole of yours I will use,” I warned her.

She forced my shaft past the back of her throat.  The pressure squeezing me was amazing, and she released it and coughed slightly.  I let her get used to swallowing before telling her, “Good, you have earned a choice of how I will fuck you.”

Tevega stood, and I could see her quickly thinking.  Orc women get more pleasure from sex than males, so this would be an interesting decision.  “I want you on top of me from behind.  Like when you pinned me to the ground.  I want you to be rough, too.  Like how you showed me no mercy when you taught me to access my abilities.”  I arched an eyebrow and then swept her legs.  She yelped in surprise and landed hard on the floor of the room. I locked her arms in a chicken wing.

Tevega tried to resist, but I soon had her pinned on the rug.  Her knees were spread, and my phallus head was already kissing her opening.   I did not even need to use my hand to guide myself into her.   She was well-lubricated, and I buried my full length in a single thrust. We both grunted in unison.  I could feel ripples along my shaft as she came just from a single thrust.  I didn’t relent and began a rhythm with my hips.  Her vocal grunts soon matched my effort.

“Do not just lie there. Work for it!” I berated her.  She had been lying there for minutes and had come twice more.  I was doing all the work.  Her hips finally came alive.  Soon, she was working against me in mock resistance, squeezing my shaft with her vaginal walls.  “Good,” I whispered in her ears as I increased to a crescendo and released into her with my strength seed.  I had not planned on giving her any enhancements prior as the increased core was enough. Seeing her train and being so obedient to this coupling, I caved.  I grunted three times, with a three final thrusts.  I lay there while she panted, with my body weight pressing her down, sliding easily on the sweat from her body.  I stood after a few moments.  I did not say anything more, dressed, and left the room.

I knew where the baths were and used them before returning to the library.  Hopefully, this act would keep Gundella happy.  We would need to leave before she figured out my seed was sterile.  Well, not sterile, just not capable of producing children.  The elixir would help Tevega to become a fighter much quicker.

Aurora smirked when I entered, “They brought us all robes for lunch in the Pyramid.  They are all neutral gray as well.  Gundella did not want to anger you by tricking you into wearing her house colors again.”

We were dressed in our new robes and left for the Pyramid with an escort.  Gundella was with us in the steam carriage transport.  When we arrived and were escorted inside the Pyramid, Gundella frowned when we entered the banquet room.  She leaned into me and said, “Those males in the corner are from the Haunted Waters clan on the southern continent.”

It looked more like a formal dinner party with no chairs and orcs taking food off buffet tables.  “Will I have to fight again?” I asked, a little angry.

“No, they are not Champions.  I think the clan members are here to observe the Sending.  But they will send a new challenger to try and regain the first bead of Vakgar,” Gundella said honestly.

I moved to talk with Elder Ergoth as I had one goal here at this celebration. I found it distasteful that they were celebrating sending nearly a hundred young orcs to die.  I got a lot of stares as I sampled the delicacies on offer.  I managed to get close to Elder Ergoth and asked him about his library, “I hear the library in the Pyramid is exceptional.  Would you have time to show me now?”

“A warrior and a scholar?  Remarkable.  If I had any daughters of age, I would lock them in a room with you, Apollyon.  I might be able to find some granddaughters if you give me time.”  he had on a toothy smile, which I returned with a false smile of my own.

“Perhaps later.  The library?”  I pressed.   He considered and then nodded.  We snuck out of the party to a chamber higher in the Pyramid.  The library was only twice the size of Gundella’s.  Thankfully, I had gotten a good enough grasp on the language to figure out where I needed to go.  This library actually had a much better organization system.

“Looking for something in particular?”  Ergoth asked as I walked the rows of shelves.

“I was curious about the construction of the Pryamids,” I admitted. Ergoth frowned as I reached for the books I was looking for.

“Champion, those books are secrets the Fiery Snow clan holds, as do the other clans in charge of the Pyramids. I cannot let you read them,” he stepped forward to stop me.

I used my voice to calm him and my eyes to charm him. The old bastard had some natural resistance to it, which was a struggle. His eyes went wide, and he attempted to break eye contact and flee. I was too fast and pinned him to the wall, thankful we were the only ones in the library. I should have figured someone so ancient would have developed some resistance to mental attacks over time.

I forced him to look me in the eyes, “Relax. We are friends. I am not going to hurt you, and I have the best interest of the Fiery Snow clan in mind.”

As he stopped his struggles, I felt my charm take hold. He nodded, “Of course you do. Would you want to see all the books about the Pyramid then?”

I smiled broadly, “Definitely.”

We walked to his private chambers, passing a few shamans, but no one stopped us. Inside his small room, he led me to a secret chamber in the back. Inside was an array of artifacts and ancient books. I immediately recognized the same material of the book I had scanned into my mind space. Twenty-two books in total in this collection, twenty-three if the one I already had was the last one. These were also ancient but in much better condition than the books in Gundella’s library. They had been treated with care over the centuries.

With the Eldar under my spell, I asked, “Are these all the books for this collection?”

“One was stolen long ago. We assumed it was Gundella’s mate, but when we killed him, he did not have it on him,” the Elder replied conversationally.

“You killed her husband? So is that why she hates you?” I asked as I started scanning the first book.

“She accused my mother of the act, but it was never proven. It has put a strain on our clan relations for some time,” the shaman admitted.

As I scanned the books, I asked more questions, “What is the true purpose of the Sending?” The diagrams and equations made no sense to me, but hopefully, Lilith could work them out.

Ergoth answered honestly, “It is what the angelics want. There will be an angelic here this evening to open the gate. You can ask her. She will know the true purpose.”

I paused on my second book. “An angelic? Do they always come to the Sendings?” I thought this was weird as the angelics had abandoned Earth, and I had not heard of them yet on Mercanious.

“Sofiel travels from Pyramid to Pyramid, supervising the Sendings. She will be in guise, but I can point her out to you if you have questions for her,” he replied helpfully.

“Is she already here?” I asked, concerned.

“I have not seen her yet, but she will come. She always does,” he smiled broadly, thinking he was helping.

“How much longer till the Sending starts?” I asked patiently.

He looked at something akin to a watch on his forearm, “Seven hours, eighteen minutes.”

I nodded and continued to page through the books. I hoped this angelic was not as strong as Kushiel. She would be present if she was at every Sending, no matter which Pyramid I attempted to enter the transit. But also, it seemed like she was possibly in charge of manipulating the transits, and she might know how the angelics planned to cut Mercanious from the Source.

I finished with the books and looked at the artifacts in the small secret room. I was sure they were all valuable but did not want to raise suspicion by taking any. Even assimilating them into my mind space could be risky. I left everything as it was.

As we left, I told Ergoth, “When you see Sofiel, do not tell her anything about me and discreetly point her out to me.”

I was not excited about the prospect of confronting another angelic, but it felt like we had finally made some progress in the mystery of the Pyramids. I would give Lilith some time with the ancient books before entering my mind space. We arrived back at the party, and I hesitated at the archway. A female ice orc on the far side of the room was talking with Vida. She had a guise on, but my abyssal sight easily penetrated her disguise. She looked like a human underneath with golden hair.

Ergoth offered helpfully, “Oh, what luck! Sofiel is already here! She is the one by the window talking to your green concubine. Do you wish to be introduced?”

The angelic, Sofiel, looked in my direction, and I could tell by her expression that she had already seen through my disguise as well. The question was—what now?