Some time later, Sylar was dressed in flowing robes, he was cleaned and perfumed and also tied to the back of caravan wagon. The procession moved rapidly and he sought to keep pace, his tired legs almost giving out multiple times. He was glad when everyone stopped outside a huge crystal palace. It seemed to glow with a pulsing inner light, its brilliance defying all of Sylar's logic. The gate was raised and the procession began to creep forward. He found himself in a small city. The streets were paved with fine crushed diamonds and layered with jade, turquoise and a hardened sort of kimberlite. The creatures that ran amok were of any that the human imagination could describe; winged, fanged, many with multiple arms, eyes and noses. He watched as a thing with one huge eye enclosed in pyramidal head stop to adjust its robes before going about its way. A seemingly human girl peddled her wares along the street, but as Sylar passed her he could see she had pointed ears, fangs and red eyes.
The strangeness of it all, the weirdness, grated on him and made him only wish for the mundanity of watches. He began to wish for the simplicity of gears and screws, the certainty of molecules and ions, and the great joy of understanding what was beneath his hands. The world he was in, (and he could now admit that this was no dream), felt wrong, it felt--unnatural somehow.
He was pushed roughly forward and he quickened his pace and soon they were entering an inner sanctum. The bustling streets gave way to quiet purple tree lined avenues and promenades and the air was filled with the flitting lights of tiny winged humans. Sirens sang atop ornate balustrades and their sweet voices seemed to dull his worries and continued walking. He caught glimpses of snake-haired women, their eyes shying away as they giggled behind perfect alabaster hands. A minotaur eyed him suspiciously as he made his way past and the challenge in its eyes nearly made Sylar stop and glared back at the hairy creature. The leather wrapped around his arms gave a painful tug and he was forced to move forward.
They reached a clearing and stopped. He tried to look and see what was ahead but could not make out anything distinct. His ties dropped away and rubbed his sore muscles. Three burly, mermen grabbed him and pulled him forward and he found himself thrust at the feet of Queen Mirell.
She clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, the fun can begin. My human is here! What wonderful stories shall you tell tonight my love?"
Sylar glared back at her in defiance, remembering the pain she had caused him earlier.
"Oh my, my, you're at a loss for words. I understand. You must be starving. Let us all feast, and after, he shall tell us magnificent stories of the mainland."
It was as if a collective breath had been held and in a rush of relief was relieve as music began. Sprites, fairies and all manner of creatures began to mix and mingle, and the smell of food rent the air with exotic aromas. Sylar's stomach growled. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. But he certainly refused to beg for food. He'd starve before he'd ask the queen for anything, even food. Luckily, Aydra pulled him to his feet, escorted him to a table and sat a huge plate of food in front of him.
"Eat. You will need your strength for what is to come."
"I refuse to be her entertainment."
"Then you will die a horrible death. What are a few stories for your survival?"
"I want out of this hell hole."
Aydra stared for a second, her eyes pleading before hardening back to its hard mask. "Very well, as you wish. But you cannot say I did not warn you." She turned to leave but Sylar caught her arm, his breath stopped at the tingle of electricity that warmed his hand at contact.
"Why—why is she keeping me here?"
Aydra shrugged indifferently, her response managing to indicate both aloofness and puzzlement. "Why does night exist? Why does a flower seek the sun? These are questions we do not ask because they have no answers. Mirell does as she pleases. She always has." Aydra looked unhappy with that proclamation.
"Why do you put up with her?," he paused "You could kill her," he nodded in Mirell's direction.
She snorted delicately and said under her breath, "Believe me, I have tried."
Sylar looked up in shock. "What?"
She smiled and pointed to his plate. "The wild game is very good this time of year."
"But--,"
"And try the tabby apple pudding. It's delicious." He watched as Aydra walked away from him.
Sylar sighed heavily, picked up his utensils and ate the strange arrangement of foods before him.
To his surprise, the food was absolutely delicious. In fact, it was extraordinarily delicious. He had to keep himself from licking the plate and nearly snarled at the pixie that came to take his plate away.
For the first time in a long time, Sylar was wonderfully full. He even felt—content. He tried to fight the feeling as it oozed down his spine and settled in his stomach. But it was too late. He felt a smile creeping onto his face and he slid down more comfortably in his chair.
"Helloooo, human," a voice rang out.
He turned and saw Ailil headed his way. He tried to summon agitation, but somehow couldn't make himself care enough. He settled for watching her breasts bounce in her tiny top and admired her hips as she sashayed over. Then he thought of Aydra and felt guilty. But as quickly as the strange emotion popped up, it died away.
"Hello, again."
"Hi, beautiful. What brings you around here? I thought you were mad at your friend over there," he slurred, and tried to figure out why he felt drunk.
Ailil pouted. "Well, only for a little while. I was only mad because she can be so mean sometimes. Don't you hate it when people are mean?" she whined prettily.
"I don't know. I guess not. Hey, what happens to you's guys tails when you're not in the water?," he asked and tried to sit up.
"Oh," she giggled, "We don't have to have tails all the time. Just for swimming. We can look human so that we can walk and run and do—other things," she told him and nipped gently at his ear lobe.
Sylar tried to fight the shudder of pleasure that raced down his spine and right to his groin.
"Human," she cooed, "Do you like my—endowments?"
Sylar found his eyes riveted to her breasts and struggled to make eye contact with her. "Why—why you talkin' to me 'bout endowments? I don't—I don't get into arrangements with women."
"Oh, we don't have to have an arrangement. It could be a friendship. Come, Come with me,"
His body seemed to have a will of its own. He let her lead him away, his mind buzzing with her scent, images of them doing things he hadn't thought about in years.
He trudged behind Ailil, his steps unsteady and uncertain. She led him to a chamber and into a bed. She pushed him down onto and it was like falling back into heaven.
His clothes began sliding off and he tried to protest, but she shushed him and his feelings of malaise and ennui increased, as well as his desire. It was as if he were watching from afar. He didn't want to be doing these things, but he couldn't make his body disobey.
She disrobed and slowly climbed atop him. His body was fraught with need. She slid atop his rigid member and his nearly screamed with the pleasure of it. She began slowly at first, teasing him with slow movements then increasing the tempo.
He could feel himself get close, so close….it was nothing like he'd ever felt before. He'd had women over the years, but this—this was—he cried out as he spilled himself within her.
Instead of him being spent, he felt the pressure build again and soon he found himself spilling his seed within her once more.
Each time he got his release he felt weaker and weaker. He could feel himself slipping away but could not deny himself the pleasure.
Just when he felt darkness scratching at the edges of his consciousness, he felt her convulse around him before falling in heap on his chest.
He groaned and tried to sit up. She pulled Ailil from atop him and she tumbled to the floor.
"I always knew she had a strange love for human men," Aydra said, shaking her head.
"Wh—What?" Sylar rasped.
"Do not talk. It will be a few minutes before you regain your strength."
"I—thought, you wouldn't save me again,"
Aydra leaned over him, her eyes almost tender, the corners pulled up with good natured humor, "I lied."
"What did she do?"
"Her mother is Mirell. Mirell is part succubi, therefore she is part succubi, with a fondness for humans. Whereas Mirell takes life forces in pain, Ailil does so in pleasure."
Aydra looked over at Ailil's unconscious form which lay sprawled on the floor.
"You couldn't tell me all this before she dragged me in here," he told her.
She looked down at him and shrugged. "You did not ask."
A moment later strength returned to Sylar's limbs and he sat up. Aydra had already begun to tie up Ailil and laid her gently on a chair.
"That bitch—she—raped me!," he proclaimed angrily, "And you're just going to sit her in a chair? I'm going to--,"
"You will not touch her. My sister does not understand what she does. It is her nature."
"Your sister?," he asked, the question sounded harsh and she flinched.
"She and I share the same father."
Sylar growled, "I don't understand it. Why are you helping me?"
"You are a mainlander. You can help me. Mirell stole my brother out of jealousy and spite, thinking my father favored my mother over her, and then sent him away. He disappeared into the mainland wilderness seventy years ago. I've been searching for him ever since the night she sent him to that distant place. Each time a human gets sent here, I think they may be able to help me find my brother. But no one has been able to help, but you—you are different. Special."
The words caressed him like a gentle kiss. He shivered. It must be the aftereffects of the succubi, he reasoned.
Sylar smirked. "This is all true, but I don't want to help you. I need to help myself off this island," Sylar slipped off the bed and found he felt stronger than he had since before landing on the beach.
Sylar thought he saw her face fall into sadness for a second before slipping back into haughty indifference.
"Have it your way human. It would seem only fair considering I've saved you multiple times from certain expiry since you gotten to this place. Besides, if you help me find my brother, I'll help you get off this island."
Sylar considered her offer for a moment. "I don't think you can be trusted."
"My dear, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain."
Sylar was silent for a moment. "Do you have a plan?"
Her smile said it all.