"Ahhhh..." Syndra sighed. "What a day," she whispered, taking a seat on her bed.
Having parted ways with Asmodeus, she finally had some time for herself, and she would spend it sleeping a whole lot.
But visions of the day’s events replayed over and over in her mind, especially Asmodeus’s words.
If anyone treated me the way I treated you back then, I would want to kill them.
’That’s a huuge step,’ Syndra thought to herself, nodding proudly. ’Being able to put oneself in another’s shoes is a huge step in a child’s development. It’s the birth of empathy... Or something.’
It didn’t take long for her focus to shift away from Asmodeus, and towards how those around him treated him, including herself.
’To be honest, it hasn’t been easy for us either. He is an annoying brat, but he doesn’t know better. He was just born earlier today after all.’ She pursed her lips. ’But it’s difficult for us too.’
Indeed, the problem went further than simply the way Asmodeus acted.
’We’re Succubi. To us, males are either prey or enemies... And these days, they are enemies most of the time.’
To Succubi, male and female weren’t simply sexes. Males belonged to entirely different Species, since all Succubi were female.
’Being so used to seeing any male as an enemy or as prey, it’s only natural we would have trouble accepting a male as one of our own, as an ally, or as family.’
Still, the day had ended on a positive note, so Syndra felt optimistic about the future.
***
Yawwwwn-
"Are you tired, my love?" Nyl asked Asmodeus, who was seated on her lap.
"No, I’m fine..." Another yawn betrayed his tiredness. "Yes, I suppose I could sleep."
"Let’s go sleep, then!" Nyl said enthusiastically, as she laid her hands on Asmodeus’s bare waist, sending goosebumps all over his skin. "We can deal with this tomorrow," She added, turning towards Tariana.
"Of course." Tariana nodded. "We’ll need to keep an eye on the Incubus Generals and Commanders. With over twenty Soldiers killed in a day, they are bound to get suspicious."
Nyl and Asmodeus walked out of the throne room hand in hand.
"Normally I have servants opening and closing the throne room for me," the Queen explained somewhat awkwardly as she closed the doors behind her.
"Why aren’t they here?" Asmodeus asked.
"Well," Nyl scratched her cheek. "I haven’t explained the situation to everyone yet... I’ll do that tomorrow."
"Hm." Asmodeus nodded. "Then will I be able to go out without everyone looking at me weird?"
"Who looked at you weird?" Nyl’s eyebrow twitched with repressed anger.
"Kind of everyone..." He answered and remembered Malika and Syndra’s words. "But I guess it’s not their fault."
"Oh, my love!" Nyl leaned in to kiss him on the forehead. "You’re growing so quickly!"
That’s one way to put it.
Eventually, the two made it into their room.
"How was your time outside?" Nyl asked.
She felt so comfortable and at ease that she started undressing without even thinking about it.
"It was great!" Asmodeus answered cheerfully. "I got to see Incubi, as well as one of those rivers! A Styx River? A river of Styx?"
"Really, huh?" Nyl pulled on her dress with her back to Asmodeus. "It’s quite a sight, isn’t it?"
"Yes, I’m really curious about them."
"Some say that Styx Rivers are actually tiny manifestations of something much bigger," Nyl explained as she undressed. "They say that the real Styx River is underground, far below us, and that it’s the core of our world, of the Demon World..."
Her words trailed off. ’Wait... Why am I undressing?’ Nyl thought with an embarrassed gulp.
The Queen had already discarded her dress, and had started taking off her bra.
’I-It’s normal, isn’t it? I mean... This is the time when I should be breastfeeding my child, so there’s nothing wrong with him seeing me naked, is there?’
"The core of the Demon World..." Asmodeus muttered while rubbing his chin. "Syndra said that they appear when too much blood is poured into the ground."
"Yes!" Nyl said as she turned around, almost shouting as she shook her head. "So they say, at least."
She was unable to shake the embarrassment, though. Nyl remained in her underwear and quickly hopped into bed, covering her body with a blanket.
"I’d like to..." Asmodeus yawned again. "See that again soon."
"We can arrange that." Nyl tapped the mattress. "Now, come to bed, my love."
Asmodeus, having completely forgotten about the long, comfortable skirt he wore, didn’t take it off and joined her in bed.
Nyl lovingly pulled her blanket over him and turned to lie on her side, brushing her child’s hair with a tender hand.
"Nyl."
"Yes, my love."
"What would you do if I killed someone?"
"Is there someone you want to kill?" The Succubus Queen asked. Her hand brushing his hair did not falter or pause.
"No..." Asmodeus answered, pursing his lips. "I guess it’s a stupid question anyway."
"Is something on your mind, my dear?"
The two, heads on their respective pillows, talked about many things, at length, including Incubi, Asmodeus’s sisters, and more.
***
Meanwhile, a couple of floors down within the castle,
"What is it?"
"Oh, you’re here."
"Why did you summon me, Naima?"
Naima grinned widely as she turned towards the guest, who did not take more than two steps into the room.
"We need to talk," She said. "About the child."
"What is there to say?"
"He can drain us, Succubi," Naima explained as she turned back towards her desk. "It’s quite extraordinary." Her fingers caressed her throat for a moment. "I didn’t believe Syndra at first, but it’s true. It’s likely that he can drain Incubi as well, as she has suggested, though I did not see that with my own eyes."
"And?"
"He didn’t expressly try to drain me of my energy. In fact, he took such a tiny amount that it took me a while to realize it," Naima continued. "His draining ability allows him to drain Incubi and Succubi, while being just as strong as Nyl’s, so strong that he cannot turn it off completely."
The guest listened silently.
"He isn’t a Succubus or an Incubus. He is of a different category altogether. A category that does not exist, or that exists no longer. Perhaps, something that has gone extinct long ago," Naima explained. "Able to drain Succubi and Incubi... You understand, right? He is our natural Predator. Our kind’s one and only Predator."
"Why did you call me here, Naima?"
"You, just like Tariana, believe in Destiny. Tariana has a strong dislike for me, so I couldn’t go to her. But you understand, don’t you? The Succubus Queen and Incubus King will fight. One will survive and rise to be Demon Lord of Lust. That isn’t the case anymore," Naima said and turned towards her guest, staring with narrow eyes. "A third being capable of ascending now exists. A being that is the natural Predator to the two other contenders, to the Incubus King and the Succubus Queen."
"You think that the child will grow to defeat the Incubus King... And Nyl?"
"Yes, that’s why I’m saying that the child must-"
Naima’s words were interrupted. Her back collided with the wall, creating cracks all over it.
’This again?’ Naima thought as she strained. ’Goddamnit!’
"Measure your next words carefully, sister," Zarath said with narrow eyes as she tightened her grip around Naima’s throat. "This is Nyl’s child you are talking about."
Naima’s throat gave in, and Zarath’s fingers went through.
"Tsk." Zarath clicked her tongue as Naima’s body slowly dissipated into a crimson mist. "A clone."
Before she could turn around, Zarath felt the tip of a blade kiss the side of her neck, and two others came into contact with her waist.
She slowly turned around, gazing at the three Naimas holding weapons against her body.
"You know better than to show your true body in front of me, huh?"
Beyond the three, a fourth Naima was standing with the small of her back pressed against the edge of a desk.
"Understand that," Naima continued. "If left unchecked, he will kill the Incubus King, and he will kill our Queen, Nyl. It is Destiny, and the fact that he was born now, when all eyes in the Demon World are turned towards the Land of Lust, proves it. That’s why I’m saying that..." Naima stared with critical eyes. "The child must die."