A/N: Sorry again for the long wait time! Writer's block, a hectic personal life, and other projects is one hell of a combination. I promise though I'm not giving up on this story, no matter how long the hiatuses. This story has amassed a few dozen more faves/follows so to those who joined I say welcome! Please leave me some love on the way out - it really does help me stay motivated! Thanks loves! Hope you enjoy! XOXOX
Chapter 17
Bloom panted as she ran to the corner of the arena, chest heaving and red vision searching rapidly for any oncoming threats.
These attacks were relentless, not even a second's worth of time to catch her breath before more assailants descended upon her. They rushed at her with claws and fangs bared, leaving no room for going easy. They knew Bloom could fight back, that she was supposed to fight back.
There were barely two seconds to duck before the claws aiming for her head impaled themselves on the stone wall, scraping down with the most ear-piercing shriek. The sound gave Bloom her window, and she dodged extended arms, landing a roundhouse kick to her assailant's gut. The force sent the creature flying backwards, knocking into another would-be attacker. Her chest welled with pride, finally able to nail that move after many failed attempts.
A punch to the gut sobered her ego, knocking what little breath she had out of her lungs. Red vision blurred even darker and fuzzier, but not because of rage. No, because of thick arms reaching around and strangling her by the neck.
Claws flew up to gouge at these evil arms, but the held fast and strong. This assailant had to be at least twice Bloom's size, if not bigger. It really wasn't fair, Bloom cursed mentally before throwing her bodyweight upward and slamming back to the ground.
That hurt...like a motherfucker...but it was worth all the bruises that would result. Because her attacker loosened their grip just enough for her to land an elbow to the gut and then a foot to the face. Bloom could feel the spray of blood against her bare heel as soon as it made contact. Of course, the grunt of pain from the creature now unconscious on the ground was also a good assessment of her attack.
Three down, one to go...
The last opponent was still half way across the arena, staring Bloom down like a shark, studying her. It unnerved Bloom to watch equally red eyes tear her apart without a single physical blow. This one was dissecting her, assessing her, watching her every move and figuring out what the most devastating strike would be.
Bloom sucked in a breath while she could and prepared for the worst.
Footsteps charged in her direction.
Bloom exhaled.
Her eyes flew open just in time to a compact body slam into her abdomen and send them both tumbling. The only difference was, Bloom landed in a series of bone-cracking thuds while her attackers rolled gracefully to their feet, lithe frame springing up and ready for more while Bloom groaned and had to pick herself up off the ground. Her shoulder crunched upon pushing her body upward, and Bloom fought not to cry out. That was a sign of weakness, and weakness would not be tolerated. Weakness only led to more pain.
Face to face, her assailant looked impassive and focused, not at all fazed by Bloom's growing rage. Rage was something she was still learning to control. Her rage made her unpredictable, and being unpredictable would get her killed. Or so everyone told her. In this moment, the beast was giving her power, giving her energy, giving the will to move forward and destroy this insolent bitch.
In a bout of beast-fuelled mania, Bloom flipped her assailant over her shoulder and threw them to the ground. The echo of the body hitting the ground rang in Bloom's ears like sweet music, the fight ending in her favor.
Finally, she could rest.
"Well done."
Bloom looked up to see her mother, Queen Abaddon, looking down at her. The succubus was clapping slowly, pleased with Bloom's display of strength. Pride swelled in Bloom's chest, happy to make her mother so proud.
Bloom extended her hand and helped her assailant up off the ground, hopeful there would be no hard feelings. It was just sparring practice after all. The creature simply bowed her head - something Bloom was still getting used to everyone doing - and left the arena with the others so that Queen Abaddon could take their place. Not that the queen wanted to spar. No, that would not be fair to Bloom to go up against someone so skilled, and it was unlike a warrior such as Abaddon to go easy on anyone. No, her mother wanted to talk, and about something important if her expression served.
"I am impressed, my daughter. Your strength and prowess grows every day."
"Thanks," Bloom replied, unable to stop the blush creeping up her cheeks from the compliment. One year spent on Eros and she was still getting used to being proud of what she was, fighting off the fear of using the red-eyed demon under her skin and replacing it with confidence.
The red-eyed demon which she now knew was her inner succubus nature fighting to get out.
"Still a way to go on maintaining composure I see," the queen tutted, and Bloom stood up a little straighter, trying to be more intimidating. "Fret not. It will come more naturally in time and as you become more attuned to your body. After all, you're still a growing young succubus. You are years from full maturity. I am just hard on you because...well...you are my daughter, and one day these people will be your people. They will look to you as leader; you must learn to carry yourself as one."
"I understand."
"I know you do. It is part of why I know you will not disappoint me." Abaddon's smile was cruel, but Bloom could see the genuine love hidden beneath the armor. "Walk with me."
The command did not have to be said twice, Bloom following in her footsteps as they ascended from the arena, going nowhere in particular. Part of what Bloom admired most about Eros was the openness of the architecture - all the buildings were intertwined and open, allowing for wandering eyes to look into any hall they desired. Right now, onlookers gazed up at their queen and heir in awe, making Bloom feel both self-conscious and proud.
It had not taken long for Bloom to grow attached to Abaddon. Out of all the people she had known - including her own Earth parents whom she still dearly missed and wanted to help as soon as she got the chance - the succubus queen was the only one who truly understood and accepted Bloom as she was. Bloom's friends had turned on her as soon as they saw her true colors, not even bothering to hear her side of things. Daphne was dead, and worse, completely useless. Even Mike and Vanessa were suspicious when Bloom went through puberty, noticing that their daughter was more inherently endowed than all the other girls, something that Mike especially struggled to come to terms with.
All throughout her life, people had been trying to change her, trying to cover her up and push her into tiny boxes of what she should be. Now, Bloom was free to be who she really was without repercussions. She didn't have to cover up with oversized sweatshirts and turtlenecks; in fact, succubi prided themselves on their bodies and often went in the nude (Bloom wasn't quite at that level of confidence yet, preferring to wear loose-fitting robes instead). She didn't have to pretend to be something she wasn't, or fake that everything was okay.
For the first time in a very long time, she didn't feel like a monster.
"You remember what I told you of our history?" Queen Abaddon asked as they meandered the halls. Bloom was used to such questions - innocent enough but lined with expectation.
"That the Succubi were once a great people, that Eros was once a shining city in the Realm of Magix."
"Precisely, daughter mine," Queen Abaddon cooed, pleased with Bloom's memory. Bloom treasured these tiny praises, collecting them in the confines of her heart. "Eros was once a glorious nation, a gem amongst the rubble, and we were a thriving people. Then, the Great War came and now look at us, trapped and forced to live underground like insects. It is demeaning, completely unacceptable, and yet it is what we were forced into when the Company of Light took over. The Ancestresses promised us an empire beyond our wildest dreams, a vast people over which to rule. Empty promises...or so I thought."
"Is that where I come along?"
"Yes, you, my radiant beacon of hope," Abaddon praised, claws reaching out to hook Bloom's chin, raising it high with might. "You were born of the most ancient and omniscient powers, the very thing Eros needs to rise once more."
Bloom's stomach clenched.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to lead anyone. I only just learned I was a succubus."
For as much as Abaddon cared for Bloom as her child, the Succubus Queen was more obsessed with Bloom's former possession of the Dragon Flame, seeing it as some kind of sign that she was sent down to liberate the Succubi and lead them to greatness. While it was flattering to have so much faith placed in her, Bloom was also very wary of falling out of her mother's favor should she prove to not live up to her acclaimed prowess. Right now, she fought more like a child than a warrior, something that improved every day but not fast enough for Bloom's liking. The quicker she could rise to Abaddon's standards, the better.
"My understanding is complete, but Succubi live much longer than other creatures. Our lives are longer, fueled by the energies that drive longevity and lust. We can play the long game," Queen Abaddon said, unwilling to yield on her vision. "I am a patient woman, my daughter. I have waited this long; I can wait until you are ready."
That was only half true. Bloom knew that Abaddon had high expectations. If Bloom did not possess her power soon, then she would not last until the next year. Perhaps Abaddon would not throw her out, but Bloom would lose her royal privileges for sure, and it was pretty nice to have people tend to her every whim.
"Have strength," Queen Abaddon encouraged, turning away. "It will not be long until you wield the Flame once more. I can feel it."
With that, she walked off flanked by two of her armed guards, their long capes trailing behind hulking bodies. Not that she needed them. No, they were more for show, a display of wealth and power so that no one dared defy her. As if anyone would dare if she were on her own. Bloom always felt a sense of wonder watching Abaddon walk away.
That could be you one day, Bloom though to herself.
"She did not give you too much hell, I hope."
The voice was low and rumbling, but not unfamiliar. Bloom turned to find the dark haired incubus, her sire and prince consort, Wrathis, leaning up against a pillar. It had taken her longer to get accustomed to his presence, mostly because he felt like a ghost only from her dreams. Now, she found his presence more soothing than Abaddon's.
Wrathis wore a thin-lipped smirking, indicating that he had at least dropped in on the tail end of that conversation.
"As much as expected," Bloom said with a shrug, fighting the urge to hug him in need of comfort.
Succubi, she had come to learn, did not like to be physically touched unless in an intimate or combative setting. Things like hugs and pats on the back and handshakes were not acceptable social practices. Bloom had to have this explained to her when she went to hug Wrathis once, which then he told her would appear to any onlooker like she was trying to hook up with her father, which was just...gross... So now they settled for smiles, which were another rarity in Eros.
"I assume she told you about her grand plan at universal domination."
"Something like that, yeah," Bloom laughed, looking at Wrathis with curiosity. He had moved from the pillar and out of the shadows, though the dark robes wrapped around his waist did nothing to lighten his figure. She wondered how much he knew, how many secrets he kept hidden close to that sculpted chest. "Did you know what she was planning?"
"Of course. Abaddon's insatiable ambition is the main reason I fell in love with her."
"You make endless war and bloodshed sound romantic."
"Is not Earth known for its epic ballads of love amidst times of chaos and carnage?" he challenged, playing Devil's Advocate. Bloom knew that he would never go against his queen outright, that Abaddon's word was law and to challenge it was equivalent to treason. It was pointless for her to try and sway him into changing Abaddon's mind.
"You have a point, but in defense, I never really got to that stuff before I got put in magical fairy school."
"To think, a succubus amongst fairies," Wrathis scoffed, the whole situation unendingly funny to him. Every time he was reminded of Bloom's stay at Alfea, he found himself chuckling. "That is a farce of its own calibre."
"Thinking back on it, I never did fit in there. Dragon Flame or not, I was never meant to be a fairy."
"No, you were meant to be so much more," Wrathis agreed. His dark eyes were filled with something hard and resolute, as if daring Bloom to say otherwise.
"So you agree with her plan, then? That once I'm fully 'matured' and mastered the art of combat, I should reclaim the Dragon Flame and lead the armies of Eros to greatness?"
"You do not?"
"Not exactly...there's just one problem: I gave the Dragon Flame up. I don't have it any more. How can I reclaim something that's no longer a part of me?"
"The Great Dragon is a celestial force. It cannot be tied down in one place in its entirety. Parts of it live on within every corner of the universe, and within every person it touches," Wrathis said sagely, expressing his years from behind the immortal face of a young man. "You still have that flame buried somewhere inside of you. The trick is getting you to ignite it, which Abaddon and I believe will come through time and training."
"If you say so..."
"You are so young, my dear. Do not place so much weight upon your shoulders just yet. Despite what your mother may want, you must do what is best for you at your own pace. Focus on knowing yourself before leaping into more unfamiliar territory. If you do that, the rest will follow, trust me."
"I do trust you. I think I trust you more than anyone else."
"I am honored, truly, but remember to leave some of that trust for yourself," Wrathis advised. Then he cleared his throat and canted his head to behind him, gesturing for Bloom to get up and follow. "Come. I have a surprise that may lift your spirits."
"A surprise?" Bloom asked, both excited and nervous as she went to follow her father. Her last 'surprise' was a set of sai blades and the one before that was a mace, both from her mother. Dragon willing, her father's gifts would be a little more like...well...gifts.
They both entered her private room and Bloom stopped short as she saw what was waiting for her.
There, kneeling in the center of her oversized four-poster, was an incubus. He was young - around her own age - and collared at the throat, a chain connecting him taut to the headboard. His head of unruly inky curls was bowed, hands folded behind his back, knees sinking into the plush mattress, ankles crossed. And he was completely naked, her eyes immediately drawn to the patch of dark hair between his legs where his cock laid half-hard against one muscular thigh.
Bloom's mouth ran dry at the sight.
"What is this?" she rasped, taking a step closer to get a better look.
"This servant is to service all of your needs," Wrathis said, watching Bloom survey her new toy. "I know you do not frequently partake in such activities, but as your powers grow, so will your appetite. You may have noticed the change already. If you suppress it, the more volatile it becomes - even going as far as killing your lover. Learning to exercise control will be key."
Although she neither confirmed nor denied her father's claim, Bloom had noticed a change. She had been more agitated lately, more restless. It felt like she had an itch she couldn't scratch, a hunger that could not be sated by food alone. She found herself staring at the members of her mother's court longer, feeling herself get heated at the slightest of accidental brushes.
However, as appealing as this creature was and as practical as her father's intentions seemed, she could not look past the chain. She had never seen such a display during her time in Eros thus far. Surely, there had to be some kind of qualm with keeping what appeared to be the equivalent of a slave.
"Do not feel badly for it," Wrathis assured Bloom, though she did not miss the way her father called the man 'it', like he was some sort of object instead of a living breathing individual. "We Succubi do have a sense of justice. Any that dare to break our Queen's law are subject to a sentence of servitude. The worser the crime determines the position and duration of the punishment. This position is actually one of the more coveted ones, reserved for committers of lesser crimes or those who have exemplified good behavior elsewhere. This creature's service to the throne will be considered part of its reconditioning. Once it has served its time, or you grow tired of it, the poor thing can return to society."
That made her feel somewhat better. Only in a succubus society would sex be doled out as both a pastime and punishment. Maybe one day she wouldn't feel so weirded out by her heritage and its customs. Besides, now that she was really paying attention, the servant did seem rather docent, not at all resentful of the position he found himself in. In fact, he looked rather...intent. His eyes were downcast with his head but the energy buzzing around him was full of anticipation.
It was getting harder and harder to control her urges, inching closer and closer to the bed.
"Let go, Bloom. Indulge," Wrathis encouraged, his smile sharp and enabling. "You cannot hurt one of your own kind. Well, unless you scratch too hard, but I think you will find that this one likes a little violence."
With that, her father left the room and shut the door behind him, leaving Bloom free to do what she pleased.
The first thing she did was unhook the chain from the post, freeing the incubus' neck, but he did not move a single muscle.
"Lie back," Bloom instructed, the creature moving obediently at her word.
His head fell back against the pillows, body lying perfectly straight in the center of the large bed. The sheets were crimson, pale skin standing out like a piece of artwork in a sea of satin. Bloom perched over the torso of her new toy and ran her hands along the solid planes of his hairless chest, making sure to add in the light scrape of her nails. True to Wrathis' word, he shuddered under her touch, flesh prickling and cock twitching where it rubbed up against the cleft of her buttocks.
This creature was irresistible, flawless and beautiful, his musky scent rising into the air and stirring the beast from where it slept beneath Bloom's skin, tinging the whole room a fiery red. She wanted him. Badly.
But she wanted something else first.
Sliding up, Bloom positioned herself over his perfectly chiseled face, pussy dripping right over those pouty lips. His eyes darkened, and Bloom could tell that he was trying very hard to remain still.
"Eat me."
Teeth and tongue assaulted her core. The onslaught was so overwhelming that she nearly fell over, grasping for balance as she twisted one hand in the sheets and the other in his hair, holding him in place. He devoured her as she rode his face, tongue twisting and thrusting into her core as if he would his cock before dragging across her folds to lavish her clit. He sucked on her nub with unrelenting pressure, so much so that she already felt an orgasm building.
This boy was talented, and with a few more strokes of that devilish tongue he had her coming. Her body tensed like a live wire, shaking as she came down from the high. She could feel him lapping up her juices, licking up every drop. Rising, she could see dribbles of it running down his chin. He bored those dark eyes into hers as his tongue darted out from behind swollen lips to catch it.
If possible, he was even more enrapturing when he looked thoroughly fucked. Bloom wanted to keep him that disheveled and covered in her cum always.
And you can, a dark voice in the back of her head whispered, tinging her vision with red. He is yours to do with as you please, to use and abuse and fuck as much as you want.
The possibilities and the power went to her head, a dizzying effect when combined with post-coital bliss.
The boy, Dragon bless him, was still painfully hard and, try as he might, was unable to stop a whimper from escaping those plush, ruined lips.
"What's your name?"
"Azazel."
"Azazel," she purred, settling in his lap and running clawed finger over his lips, drawing just the faintest bit of blood. "You and I are going to have so much fun."