"Us Succubi... Well, us Demons," Malika corrected. "Don’t get along with each other. We don’t have instinctive empathy and sympathy for each other."
Asmodeus listened carefully.
"The only ones for whom we can have those instinctive feelings are our family members," She explained. "But even that isn’t a given. Most Succubi leave their children as soon as they are born. Incubi do the same. Most Demons do."
"Nyl did not," Asmodeus muttered. "She would not."
"No, she would not," Malika smiled. "Nyl is a very special Succubus. A very special Demon. She brought us together, made us allies, gave us shelter, and above all introduced us to the concept of family."
He fell silent.
"You don’t like it, do you?" She smirked. "The fact that Nyl considers us, too, as family."
Asmodeus didn’t answer.
"I can understand." Malika lowered herself to sit on the ground. "We don’t share blood, you and I, Nyl and I. We have been calling ourselves your family, but you don’t feel that way, do you? Only Nyl is truly family to you."
"I’m not trying to berate or reprimand you," Malika continued before he could say a word. "It’s perfectly understandable." She thought for a moment. "I heard that you watched Syndra get hurt by a group of Incubi."
"I did."
"How did you feel back then? As a baby?"
Asmodeus pursed his lips and only answered a couple of seconds later. "I could not... I did not... Hmm... I suppose it felt the same to me."
"What did?" Malika asked.
"Whether it was Syndra or the Incubi getting hurt. I knew Syndra was useful to me, I knew that she would get me back to Nyl, but I didn’t feel anything seeing her get hurt."
"What about after you grew? What about now?" Malika glanced at Syndra, who stood with her back against the castle wall in the distance. "How would you feel if she got hurt now?"
"Hm..." Asmodeus scratched his head. "I... Don’t want her to get hurt?"
"Is that a question or an answer?"
"I’m not sure!" Asmodeus sighed and took a seat on the ground facing Malika. "It’s confusing to me. I just don’t feel it. Nyl is family. You all are Nyl’s family. But..."
"But that doesn’t make us your family, huh?" Malika grinned. "It’s sad to say, but family is simply the title we’ve given to our alliance and relationship. I, personally, cannot stand Naima. I know that Saphyra cannot stand Syndra, and that Naima dislikes Tariana," She explained. "We’re a rather dysfunctional group, all things considered, but so are most groups made up of Demons."
"So why are you still together? If you dislike each other?" Asmodeus asked.
"Because Nyl is the glue that holds that together. Nyl is the one that brought us together." Malika stretched her arms above her head. "I love Nyl, so I’ll put up with Naima."
"Hm..."
"You’re still young, exceedingly so, which means that the concept of putting up with something or someone might sound strange to you," Malika continued. "I bet you’re thinking, ’Why should I not do what I want all the time?’, aren’t you?"
Asmodeus shrugged.
"You could. It’s your birthright as a Demon." Malika raised a hand. "You see, if you were the Son of the Incubus King, he would probably celebrate you killing those around him."
"I didn’t kill anyone, though..." Asmodeus whispered as he looked away.
"What I’m saying is that it’s not so simple." Malika shrugged. "Everyone wants to do what they want, but you need to bend a bit and be flexible if you want to get along with other Demons." A sly smile appeared on her face. "You think you only need to get along with Nyl, don’t you?"
Asmodeus sighed, slightly frustrated that she was reading him so well.
"Well, either way," Malika pushed herself up to stand. "Like I said, I’m not here to reprimand you, Asmodeus. You can try to get along with me, or you can tell me to go fuck myself, or you can even try to kill me." She grinned. "Of course, I will defend myself."
"..." Asmodeus’s gaze went to his palm for a moment. "I don’t want to kill you."
"That’s a start." Malika chuckled.
"I don’t necessarily..." Asmodeus frowned slightly, confused by his own emotions. "Want any of you to die."
The Succubus was momentarily surprised.
"Although..." Asmodeus continued. "This Love you talked about... I only feel it for Nyl."
"Well, little brother," Malika patted his head tenderly. "Maybe you will make space for me one day. Maybe enough space for all of us." Her gaze drifted to her cousin, their cousin. "Maybe Syndra will be the first. You get along well, don’t you?"
Asmodeus nodded silently.
"We give her plenty of shit because she’s weaker than us and because Nyl refers to her as her niece," Malika muttered. "But I’m pretty sure Nyl did not make Syndra her daughter simply because she knew we would not accept her at the time." She tapped his shoulder playfully and started walking away. "There’s no one in this castle more dependable and trustworthy than Syndra, and I am pretty sure Nyl thinks the same."
"Is that so?"
"It is." Malika stopped momentarily. "I’ll let you in on a little secret. When you disappeared, Nyl, to me, seemed relieved that it was with Syndra, at least." She scratched her head and chuckled. "In the first place, the moment you were born a Male, Nyl wanted all of us to stay far away from you. The only one she trusted to keep an eye on you was Syndra."
"Well," The male scratched his cheek. "You are Succubi."
"Yeah," Malika licked her lower lip and resumed walking away. "That we are."
Asmodeus was left alone, seated on the ground, and deep in thought.
Could the feelings I have for Nyl really spread to the others? When we don’t share blood? When we were never one?
"Are you alright?" Syndra asked, leaning forward, hands resting on her knees. "How did that go?"
There was a lot to think about.
"Ha..." Asmodeus sighed and pushed himself off the ground. "We didn’t even wrestle."
"Oh..." Syndra pursed her lips. "The two of us can wrestle, if you’d like."
Asmodeus stared into the distance for a bit.
"Syndra."
"Yes, Asmodeus?"
"Why are you so nice to me?"
"Hm...?" She raised a confused eyebrow.
"I was thinking about what Malika said... If anyone treated me the way I treated you back then, I would want to kill them." He turned towards her. "Do you want to kill me?"
"No," Syndra answered honestly while shaking her head.
She was surprised. This sudden burst of self-awareness wasn’t expected.
"Why not?" Asmodeus frowned. "Why are you nice to me?"
Syndra stared at him for a moment before letting out a chuckle.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Haha! It’s nothing." Syndra hid her mouth with a hand but couldn’t contain her laughter. "Just the first time I’ve seen you this perplexed over something."
"Well?" Asmodeus’s foot tapped the ground anxiously. "Answer my question."
"I don’t think I will," She chuckled. "I’ll let the mystery brew."
"Whatever," Asmodeus started walking away. "I’m going to sleep."
"Yes, the sun is setting." Syndra followed. "Let’s head back inside."
"Why are you following me?" Asmodeus’s frustration seemed to grow. "Nyl didn’t order you to follow me around or to help me in any fashion."
"That’s true." Syndra shrugged. ’Man, I wish I’d eavesdropped on that conversation.’