The Fall-From-Grace Diaries

Chapter 7: The Return of the Incubus

Zeno couldn't believe his mother was making him take this year's tribute to Baator. Usually Darkwind took her own tribute to the devil Cor'da to ensure protection, making sure they knew exactly who was seeking protection. It was a common belief among the various races of Tanar'ri that devils had trouble telling one demon from the other, even though that wasn't necessarily true.

Dammit Mom, Zeno though, I thought I was your favourite. This is not how you treat a child that you want to see alive again!

It had been six years, and Zeno had no clue that Wingspirit was still alive. He still thought about it sometimes. There was just something about that girl that was so different from all the other succubi, something Zeno had only seen before in mortal women. The incubus couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was, but he knew it was real.

Zeno was dragging the huge carcass of some sort of greater demon behind him. It was so mutilated he had no idea what it had once been. It took thirty of Darkwind's clan-mates to bring it down was all he knew. He couldn't fly since it was so heavy.

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Wingspirit had all but forgotten learning to fly, but it wasn't because she had forced herself to not think of it, it was because of Ra'mear. The Erinyes wouldn't teach her to fly, but she would teach her other things merely because she hated her and wanted to make her a little more tolerable by making her think like an Erinyes.

"There are many ways to steal a mortal's soul, little succubus. Can you name some?" Ra'mear asked.

"I can't believe this. I'm a descendant of Lilith, and I shouldn't be treated this way!" Wingspirit snapped.

Ra'mear swatted Wingspirit. "Little succubus, all your filthy kind are descended from that dirty bitch Lilith! That's one of the reasons your race is foul! We Erinyes are so much better! We're Greek!" She screeched.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Wingspirit asked, fangs bared.

"It has everything to do with everything!" Ra'mear yelled, a crazed look in her eyes. She was right in Wingspirit's face.

"Somebody should lay off the espresso," Wingspirit said, "it's making you even more hyper than usual, Miss Ra'mear."

"I need it! Now answer my question and lose the sarcasm or I'll make the next few hours Hell!" Ra'mear yelled.

"Ra'mear, we already live in Hell, so how can you possibly make it worse?"

Ra'mear couldn't argue with that logic, but she could still be a total bitch. "I am your master, little succubus! Obey me or you'll be answering to Sav'kaa, and he can do awful things to you!"

"The main means of stealing a mortal's soul involves sexual intercourse. At the moment of orgasm, the body's hold on the soul is weakened and the succubus or Erinyes can take it," Wingspirit said in almost a whisper, her head hung. She wasn't really afraid of Ra'mear, but she was terrified of Sav'kaa. Pit fiends like him were horribly powerful, but Wingspirit at least had a chance against the overly-caffeinated Ra'mear.

"Very good, little one. Tell me other ways the mortal soul can be taken," Ra'mear said, calming down a degree from finally making Wingspirit listen to her.

"I…don't know," Wingspirit squeaked.

That did it. Ra'mear went berserk and started throwing things at Wingspirit. The succubus ran outside with the Erinyes hot on her trail, only to run smack into Zeno.

"Could you two maybe watch where you're going and tell me where the devil…By the darkness! Wingspirit, could it really be you?" Zeno asked.

Ra'mear grabbed Wingspirit before she could reply. "You vile little succubus! Learn to take your punishment for being stupid! I'm taking you to Sav'kaa, and you're going to wish you were never born!" she roared. Wingspirit struggled and bit, and tore at Ra'mear's feathered wings.

Zeno managed to get a good look at the girl. It was Wingspirit. How was it that the devils hadn't killed her? The poor thing didn't look too good either. The devils clearly didn't feed her much or treat her well at all. She had some fight in her for sure, still struggling in that vile Erinyes' arms. Wingspirit was also getting to be very pretty, but with the way the devils were treating her, she was never going to realize it.

"Anyway, would you know where the devil Cor'da is? I have tribute for her and such…" Zeno said.

Ra'mear hissed and bared her teeth. "We do not speak that name here! Sav'kaa is the master!" She growled.

Zeno took one last look at Wingspirit, sorry he couldn't help her at the moment, and started dragging the demon carcass off again. He decided that somehow he'd find a way to free the succubus child,