CHAPTER 4: LOVE, LIGHT AND LUST

He felt the soothing touch at his wrists even before his eyes opened. Instinctively, he reached out and grabbed the other person's hands. He opened his eyes and was momentarily blinded by the brightness of his surroundings.

When his vision adjusted to the light, he saw that the person he was holding was a woman – a beautiful woman with shoulder length, glossy black hair and soft brown eyes. She had a sweetly innocent air about her that made him trust her instantly.

"Who are you?" he asked.

She bestowed a small smile on him. "Who I am, Seto Kaiba, is not important at the moment. What is vital is that you know who and what SHE is."

He jumped slightly, startled and his grip tightened on her wrists. "You know her? The person who has been doing things to me?"

"Yes, Seto. But she is not a person at all." Her voice turned grim. "Do you know what a succubus is?"

Seto nodded. "A female demon that preys on men for sex." His eyes widened. "Are you telling me that………." His voice trailed off.

She nodded. "She is – or at least close enough to be referred to as one." Her eyes took on a faraway look. "She was also a creature like myself."

"W-What?" Seto exclaimed. "Then are you a demon as well?"

The girl shook her head. "No. We were created as guardian spirits of this island, her and myself. For hundreds of years, we were happy, content with our lot in life. But Davaya became restless. Then, as the world became more civilized, people began to come to the island. Davaya appeared in human form to some of them and enjoyed the attention that she got from the men. Soon, she began to realize the power that she had over males. She began seducing them, using sexual wiles and perversions to get what she wanted.

"But we are creatures of light. Sex is forbidden to us or else we lose what we are. Davaya began to change – becoming more and more evil." She paused and regarded Seto sadly. "Unfortunately for you, Seto Kaiba, she had set her sights on you the last time that you had visited here. At that time you were preoccupied with the Duel Monsters scandal, but now that you are weary as a result of working too hard, she has been able to insinuate herself into your mind. She has been attracted to you, not only because of your looks, which alone is enough to interest her, but as well for your wealth and power."

"So how do I stop this Davaya?" Seto asked.

The spirit shook her head. "I do not know. With each human that she has seduced, her powers grow. I fear that I am no longer a match for her. She gains her strength from draining the very essence of life itself from her victims. They still live but most are nothing but mindless shells. The ones that remember are raving lunatics."

Suddenly, her head whipped around and fear flitted across her features. "She is coming. Say nothing of your encounter with me; your sanity – and possibly your life – depends on it."

In a puff of mist, she was gone, taking the light with her and leaving Seto in darkness.

"Awww, fuck," he groaned, trying to see something, anything. Gradually, he became aware of someone standing in front of him and his body tensed. Cool hands reached out to rest on his bare shoulders. Seto struck them off, and out of the darkness, manacles and chains descended from the air above him. His arms were raised above his head, preventing him from repeating his defiant maneuver.

"Can't you accept it by now, Seto?" she purred in his ear. "You are mine and nothing is going to keep me from having you."

To prove her point, her lips trailed hot kisses down his throat and onto his collarbone. She alternated between nipping and licking his skin and trailing her mouth down to his nipples.

There, she would suck on one hard enough to cause him to cry out in pain, then blow lightly on the area, sending shivers throughout his body. Seto tried to fight against the waves of pleasure threatening to engulf him and she laughed softly.

"You will beg me before I am finished with you," she promised.

"Never!" he spat, eyes blazing.

"So you say," was the diffident reply. She began to lick her way down his smooth chest, dipping her tongue into his navel and making slow swirls around it. The utter darkness only served to heighten his senses and arouse him further, despite his struggles.

Her nimble fingers unzipped his jeans and pushed them down his hips.

"No……….stop!" Seto protested, although his body told a different story.

She touched the bulge in his underwear. "Stop lying to yourself, Seto," she advised. "Just relax and things will be so much easier."

"You fucking whore!" he ground out viciously. His angry curses turned into a moan as his boxers were jerked down to follow his jeans and her questing mouth fastened on his erection.

She proceeded to drive him crazy as she moved her mouth up and down on him, sometimes taking his entire length and at others, flicking her tongue over the head.

Every time he felt ready to climax, she would pull back and wait for the urge to pass before she began again.

Finally, after she had teased him so many times, that he lost count, Seto's pride broke. "Please!" he cried out.

"Please what?" she asked, running her fingers lightly on him.

He didn't reply and she bent her head again. He felt himself nearing the brink and once again, she began to draw away.

"No! Don't stop! Oh God, please don't stop!" he begged, hating himself and her all the while.

He felt her lips curve into a smile. She took him back into her mouth and this time, she brought him, shuddering and trembling, to a powerful orgasm. The manacles and chains disappeared and Seto fell to his knees, head bowed, body covered in sweat. He felt her caress his cheek before darkness once again overtook him.

000000000000000000000

Seto opened his eyes to daylight. He groaned and got out of bed. A wave of weakness washed over him and he stumbled, falling heavily to the floor.

He grunted and raised himself on his elbows. "What the hell is happening to me?" he wondered aloud.

He staggered to his feet and managed to make it to the bathroom. Little, by little, he began to gain strength, although he still felt weakness threatening him.

He brushed his teeth and showered, changing afterwards into a light blue, short sleeved button up shirt and soft, cream coloured trousers. After running a comb through his hair and quickly spritzing on his customary cologne, he left his room in search of Yami. He found his friend in the dining room, having breakfast with Mokuba, Jonouchi and Anzu.

"Jeez Kaiba, you look like shit warmed over……….twice," Jonouchi blurted out, before Anzu smacked him over the head.

"Watch your language, idiot," she warned him.

"Hey!" Jonouchi exclaimed, rubbing his head. "How come pretty boy over there never gets hit?"

"Because," Anzu patiently informed him, "Kaiba does not use such profanity in my presence."

Seto sat himself down at the table. Instantly a servant appeared at his elbow, asking him what he would like to have. Seto shook his head and requested a cup of coffee. The servant looked a little surprised but nevertheless, scant seconds later, a steaming, aromatic cup of it was placed in front of him.

Seto sipped at the hot liquid. As he put down the cup, he caught Yami's eye and shook his head almost imperceptibly. Yami's brow creased slightly and he nodded in return. The group finished breakfast, then Yami and Seto made their excuses and left.

Once in Seto's room, Yami turned to him. "She visited you again, I presume?"

Seto nodded. Not only that, but another girl showed up first."

"Did she - ?" Yami began.

"No," Seto interrupted. "She a good one. She told me that the other's name is Davaya and that they were both Guardian Spirits of this island." He then proceeded to tell Yami everything of his meeting with the girl.

Yami listened attentively and when Seto was done, he looked up at him. "Well at least you now have another ally."

"Yes," Seto conceded. "But she herself does not know how to stop this creature, so a lot of good she's going to do me." His voce turned rough with worry. "I'm getting weaker Yami. I can feel it. Physically and mentally, she is beginning to take control of me. I'm afraid to go to sleep because I know what is going to happen."

Yami stood up. "Come with me, Kaiba. There is an extensive library in this house, plus we have access to the Internet. There MUST be some information on how to help you."

Seto and Yami made their way to the second floor library. Yami made Seto search the Net while he proceeded to leaf through the volumes in the supernatural section. He found many articles on succubi, but none of them told how to banish one.

"Any luck, Kaiba?" he asked Seto.

"Not yet," came the frustrated reply. Just then, there was a knock on the door and Anzu popped in wearing a barely there, white bikini.

Seto grinned, imagining the look on Yami's face. By the time he looked over however, Yami had composed his features and was smiling at Anzu.

"You guys up for a swim?" she asked.

Knowing that Yami would refuse on his behalf, Seto spoke up. "That sounds great, Anzu. We'll meet you there in ten minutes."

Anzu gave them the thumbs up and left. Yami turned to Seto. "What are you doing, Kaiba? We have work to finish."

"Yeah, but we can continue later. This is supposed to be our vacation, remember?" Seto replied. Before Yami could protest further, Seto had shut off the computer and stood up. "Just for a couple of hours okay, Yami?" He winked at his friend. "Besides – think about what that bikini will look like once it gets wet."

Yami stared at Seto's retreating back for a couple of seconds, then a slow smile spread over his face. He hurried out of the room, pulling the door closed as he left.

00000000000000000000000000

They ended up relaxing for the entire afternoon and it was only when the sky grew dark that the quintet headed indoors. None of them was very hungry, so they had a light dinner and afterwards they ended up lounging on the comfortable, overstuffed chairs in the main television room.

The curious energy drain that Seto had experienced had dwindled as the day progressed and he had chalked it up to the injuries that he had sustained during the race. Suddenly, he was snapped out of his daydream by the sound of the others laughing loudly.

"What's the joke?" Seto asked.

In response, Mokuba pointed to the television screen where a photograph of Seto and Callie was plastered for all to see.

Seto groaned in dismay as he heard the telecaster's words. "Rumour has it that Seto Kaiba and supermodel Callista Laurel are through. Although their relationship has been kept quiet, Kaiba was noticeably absent from Laurel's company for the past couple of weeks and when asked about the pair, Laurel's publicist refused to comment." The reporter flashed a huge, fake smile. "Kaiba has reportedly left the country as well, although where he has gone to is anyone's guess." He paused and winked at the camera. "Maybe somewhere quiet in order to avoid the mad rush of young women clamoring for his attention?"

Seto made a rude noise and switched channels. "Don't these people have anything better to do with their lives?" he grumbled.

Mokuba laughed. "Sorry stud, but that's what you get for being a multi-billionaire."

Seto lunged for his brother and a playful tussle ensued. Finally Mokuba cried out, "Okay! I give up!"

Laughing, his brother released him, ruffled his hair and stood up. "I don't know about you guys, but I am exhausted. I think that I'll go up to my room and relax for a while."

"Yeah!" Anzu chimed in. "And be more careful about where you walk from now on."

'Will do," Seto said, with a perfectly straight face. When Anzu had asked about the bandages on his arm and forehead, he had told her that he was walking outside in the dark, had slipped and fallen.

Yami stood as well. "I'll walk to your room with you, Kaiba. I have something to speak to you about."

Seto nodded and the two men made their exit.

As they walked up the stairs, Yami commented, "What about leaving the island Kaiba? I mean, if she is a Guardian Spirit – or was one – then she can't follow you right?"

Seto glanced at his friend. "That sounds like a plan but I still want to find out how to get rid of her, Yami. My leaving will solve nothing in the long run because she will still be there, no matter what, and that means that not only will I be unable to return here ever again, but that no man here will ever be safe.

"Have you not realized how many servants we have lost in the past five years since we developed this island? I thought that it was just coincidence – or maybe drugs – but now I know the true reason for all of those employee breakdowns."

Yami frowned. "How very true," he mused. "The thought that this creature might be the cause of those incidents never even crossed my mind. Now we know exactly how dangerous she can be."

"Yes," Seto agreed. "During our search today, I took the liberty of requesting my P.A. to find out what happened to those men, how much were affected and the state that they are in today. She should have e-mailed the information to me by now."

They entered Seto's room and he switched on his laptop. His email indicated that he had twenty four new messages, but he ignored the others, homing in on his P.A.'s report. He opened the file, read the message and then cursed fluently.

"I take it that you go bad news?" Yami questioned dryly.

"Uh-huh. It says here that for those five years, a total of ninety-nine men have been affected. Thirty are in mental asylums, twenty five are comatose and the remaining forty four – they are dead."

"Dead?" Yami exclaimed. "But how?"

"No one knows exactly, but it looks as if they all committed suicide," Seto replied. "They probably couldn't take what was happening to them." He laughed harshly. "I know the feeling."

"Uh – Kaiba?" Yami questioned tentatively, "If you feel the urge to…………you know………"

"Don't worry Yami," Seto reassured him. "I can vouch for the fact that I am not going to put a bullet between my eyes or wrap a rope around my neck!"

Yami laid a hand on Seto's shoulder. "That's good to hear, my friend," he said quietly.

Seto bowed his head. "I can't leave Yami. I refuse to turn tail like a coward and run."

"But Kaiba," Yami protested. "Too much is at stake here! Do you want to go through the rest of your life as a mental case if she wins?"

Seto turned to face him, his blue eyes bright with the light of battle. "Then we will just have to make sure that she doesn't. Put yourself in my place, Yami. Would you back down? Or would you fight until the end?"

Yami sighed. "You know the answer to that," he replied. "I would never surrender."

He locked eyes with Seto. "Promise me one thing, Kaiba."

"What?"

"That if things get out of control, you will leave this island in order to fight another day."

Seto hesitated, then nodded. "I promise," he said, albeit reluctantly.

"Good." Yami stood up. "Now, try to get some rest. We have work to do tomorrow. Good night, Kaiba."

"Good night," Seto replied as Yami left his room. His mouth twisted bitterly. "And sweet dreams," he whispered.