Succubus Inquisition Ch. 02

Blake nodded his head in agreement and for the first time since he met the monks he regarded one with respect. He wasn't sure if he could trust the monk and thanks to his actions, he'd never find out if their order was trust worthy, yet he found that he looked forward to working with this one. If nothing else he could worry about trust later. They had a job to do, and if nothing else, the knights could use the help, given the state they both were in.

All the while Plymouth had sat there quietly, soaking up all the information on both ends, learning why Blake had seemed to have so much hate in his heart when they entered the monastery. The room fell silent as they all began to think to themselves. Surprisingly it wasn't an awkward silence.

After a few moments of quiet reflection everyone heard footsteps. Athan quickly bounced up out of his seat and spun over to the wall, placing his back against it with such grace the knights were impressed. Given how utterly exhausted and injured they were, they hardly had any time to react.

Just as Athan was about to peak around to see who's sneaking up on them...

A giant gust of air blew into the room, kicking up all the thick layers of dust and dirt that covered every surface and swirled it around as if the underground base had just been hit by a large violent storm. The two knights dove for cover, all the while shielding their eyes.

Athan, however, sprang into action, spinning his arms around, gathering dust and dirt as he created a lot of momentum. The monk shouted out as he thrust his fists out before him, launching the dust out as if he had created a missile. The attacker was shrouded within the darkness they had created with the storm spell, features hidden from Athan's sight, his blast wave flew right past their attacker.

The monk used the distraction to his advantage and got between the shrouded figure and the knights. He couldn't see them through the thick storm cloud but could sense them behind cover with their weapons out. With his footing secured Athan pressed the attack, forcing the newcomer back into the hall. Sweat began to form on the monk's brow, full focus on the attack he moved with such speed and grace there's no way the shrouded figure would last long.

Contrary to belief all his attacks were blocked. Never before had anyone besides his mentor held their own against him. It was quite clear this figure wasn't Yshomatsu, yet he couldn't be sure. The dance continued down the hallway, each taking turns between offensive and defensive yet neither landed a single hit.

Athan was reminded of his recent duels with Elpis at the monastery. Such a promising young man, it was a tragedy what happened to the order but most of all to the young monk, to die so young before having a chance to live his life. He started to lose focus on his balance, distracted by recent events. It took all his efforts to block his attacker's next three strikes, the last of which sent his body sliding back a few feet.

The shrouded figure used the space to their advantage, launching themselves up into the air into a front flip only to slam themselves back down. The move created a loud bang and strangely enough cleared the air with a powerful blast wave.

Athan was forced to shield his face as dirt struck his body with enough force to noticeably sting, yet did no real damage. It took only a moment to recover but in that time he had expected the attacker to take full advantage of the situation, yet no attack came. He opened his watering eyes and shouldn't have been surprised.

Standing before him was the spitting image of perfection, if ever he had seen it. What troubled him was that form of perfection was also the young woman he had briefly seen in the library. Clearly he didn't get a clear look then because she looked good. He didn't realize he was staring with wide eyes and slack open jaw, yet he managed to creek out, "You?"

Strawberry blond hair flowed down past her shoulders, framing her face, high cheek bones, and luscious red lips. Her skin was pale with freckles. It all gave her an angelic look, until his gaze met her eyes, yellow eyes with black cat-like slits that made her look sinister.

She smirked at him, clearly enjoying the attention, before pouting her lips and tilting her hips, hands on her hips as she teasingly replied, "Me?"

It was the sexiest voice he had heard in a long time. When she tilted her hips his eyes wandered down her frame. She was wearing the tightest shirt he had ever seen. No village woman would be caught dead in a shirt so tight. It definitely showed off her glorious assets. They weren't large by any means but that didn't take away any of her attractiveness. Was that even a word? His mind couldn't care at the moment, his eyes kept traveling lower, down her tight, well defined abs. She had all the right lines revealed in her midsection, the shirt didn't go past her belly button.

Last but not least his eyes lingered on her sweet hips. She was wrapped up in a makeshift skirt. Only a few seconds went by as he stared, stunned and flustered but it felt like an eternity. She didn't waste any time after her amusement wore off, taking a quick thrust forward and landing the first blow between the two of them, a quick jab to his throat.

Athan stumbled back, hands covering his throat as he choked and coughed, trying desperately to regain his breath. The newly created Amber glanced over her shoulder with a predatory look on her face towards the kitchen, where the two knights were still taking shelter from her storm spell. The air in that room was still thick with swirling dust, dirt and filth.

Plymouth couldn't see more than five feet in front of his face. Sitting next to Blake they both had their weapons at the ready. They had taken shelter behind the table, having tipped it over. They couldn't hear anything over the whirling wind and couldn't imagine what the monk was doing, most likely taking shelter just like them. The knight couldn't remember the monk's name, he was sure he had heard it at the monastery but under his current duress and the events of the past few days he just couldn't remember it.

Unbeknownst to them both the new born demon could see them despite the clouded air and was regarding them with a primitive hunger she didn't think she'd ever get used to. She had only looked in their direction for a moment, mostly just to make sure they weren't an immediate threat. But that was all the time the monk had needed to recover.

Athan landed a solid hit to her midsection, causing her to fold over, snarling, and baring her teeth, showing her pronounced canines. The monk was confused beyond all reason. Clearly, she wasn't human but at the same time, she didn't fit the descriptions he had read in those books. She was flesh and blood so she couldn't be from the paranormal book but at the same time she didn't look demonic, besides her eyes and teeth.

Little did he know, all she needed was a few more souls to unlock her true potential. Amber had been sent here to find out what happened to a monk, apparently the one that released her mistress into the world. However, when she arrived there was no one here. To her dismay she almost left, but had decided to stick around. She was rewarded when a monk showed up, yet as she watched him it was clear to her that this wasn't the monk she was sent for.

Two more men showed up shortly thereafter and Amber had gotten so hungry watching them, she just couldn't pass up the opportunity for fresh souls.

Amber had since gotten a few images from her mistress Meridiana, the pure blooded succubus. The monk she was sent for had medium length golden hair, long for a man. The monk she had found had a bald head with a tattoo. Another image had followed and a wave of jealousy washed over her. It would seem her mistress had created another before her. Even though this one wasn't a succubus, it still hurt her pride knowing she wasn't the first.

The fight was back on. Even though they were mostly a match for each other, Amber could tell the monk was distracted by her body. He wasn't blocking all of her attacks like he was earlier. She pressed on the offensive. There wasn't much time before her storm spell wore off, or those two in the other room grew a pair and joined the fight. Amber knew it wouldn't matter how skilled or not those two were, three against one weren't good odds, especially since the monk was for the most part her equal.

Just then she had an idea. He might be her equal in martial skills but he clearly liked her body.

Athan could tell he was in trouble. When this creature was just a shrouded figure neither one could hit the other. Now, however, he was being pushed back towards the training room, and had that room been empty he would have had the upper hand. Countless hours sparring in that room gave one a lot of creativity during a fight. The room wasn't empty, though. It had a large bed and right now he didn't want to be in a room with a bed and this gorgeous yet dangerous woman.

The monk was about twenty paces away from that room, already struggling to block her attacks when the unimaginable happened - she started moaning with each contact. Athan would block only to have her act like the brief contact with her skin was having an effect on her.

She was playing dirty and he knew he was the one that gave her the opening for it. The monk was still attempting to figure out who or what she was. His mentor must have gotten into some real deep stuff. One thing he was certain of, she wasn't human. Perhaps the binding could work and if not, then it'll just look like he's a fool and she'll underestimate him. Either way it was worth a shot. He didn't memorize that page for nothing.

He went into a defensive trance, tuning out the beautiful creature that was slowly pushing him back. The monk's arms became an impenetrable shield, moving his arms so fast nothing she threw at him penetrated. Meanwhile he inwardly focused on the spell, wording, and everything, hoping it'll work. Now wasn't the time to second guess himself, or look at her... smooth skin that looks so soft... No stop it, the spell, concentrate on the spell.

Had he been paying attention to her, he would have noticed that his change in attitude didn't go unnoticed. She had been getting to him with her sexy voice. As he centered his mind and entered into the trance he felt her double her efforts, it was almost like she knew what he was planning.

The monk could sense every move she made, just like he could Elpis, however there were subtle changes this time. For one as he blocked he was reminded each time that this was a beautiful woman, her skin felt so smooth. It took all his willpower to focus on the spell and not her. His subconscious really wanted to open his eyes and enjoy the sight of her as she gracefully moved while attacking him. Briefly he couldn't help the image of her dropping to her knees and reaching for his pants. She must have known because at that moment she pulled back from her attacks and let out the sexiest sigh/moan he had ever heard. His heart skipped a beat.

He was just imagining things as she renewed her attack from a different angle. The change of pace helped Athan concentrate as his body did what came natural to him, defend and evade. The spell in his mind was ready, or rather the monk was ready with the spell on his mind. Quietly yet quickly he began to mumble the spell under his breath. With a mental prayer he hoped she wouldn't notice and just think he was beginning to tire. After all any fighter knows going all defense is a losing battle if you can't out last your opponent.

He was almost done reciting the spell. Under any other circumstances he would have admired her. She was an amazing fighter. Whatever creature this was, she either had a great teacher, or else --- most likely--- the demonic being in her gave the gift naturally. If Athan didn't have his gifts, or many, many years of training, he wouldn't have had a chance. He felt he had an obligation to keep her away from the knights. Even if they had been in their prime and not injured, Athan didn't think they'd stand a chance against her. He could be wrong but why risk it.

Suddenly Athan lashed out, attacking for the first time in countless minutes, hoping to catch her off guard. The last words of the spell were shouted out as he opened up his defenses, attacking the creature with all his might.

The instant Athan switched to offense, Amber puckered her lips and blew a kiss towards the monk. Completely ignoring his attack, a pink heart shape formed at her lips and flew into his face. He had started to shout but was cut off as the heart exploded.

A mixture of pheromones and her own spell-work were breathed into his lungs. His eyes rolled back into his skull as his face turned from a warrior's blood lust to... lust for another part of the world's glories. His expression turned to that of pure ecstasy as he fell back onto the bed behind him, not even realizing he had been pushed back that far.

Amber gave the monk's falling body an amused smirk and turned around, skipping out of the room, clearly pleased with herself. One threat down, two to go. These two the new born succubus could have fun with, and play she planned to. Two injured pups in need of some cheering up. She headed back to the kitchen with a primal hunger.

*****

Athan's world spun upside down. One minute he was casting a spell that should have reduced the woman to nothing more than a mortal human. Yet as he cast it, his vision filled with pink and his lungs were on fire. The last thing he saw was the sexy smirk from his opponent, a look that made his tiny mind twitch with anticipation. The next thing he knew was he felt like he was falling down a dark abyss, his vision was fading to black.

The world faded away until all that remained was the monk's sensation of falling. His gut rose up into his chest, expecting impact at any moment, but it never came. He just continued to fall. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes into hours.

The next thing he realized, he was staring at a scene that felt familiar to him. It was a dark, damp cave, drawings all over the floor, candles lit made it seem like the shadows were dancing. There were bodies lying all over the floor, those of pale, bald men with no eyes. Athan should have realized it was a memory but he couldn't place it.

Then he saw Yshomatsu and it all came rushing back. It was part of his past, it was that moment in time that changed everything. It was right at the moment where he had blacked out during the fight. It would seem whatever that creature had blown in his face was giving him the memory he didn't consciously have.

An unknown force entered both tired and exhausted monks. They gasped and simultaneously took a deep breath of air. It felt like their bodies had been struck by a bolt of energy.

Yshomatsu was defeated, on his knees, about to have his life ended by the last remaining cultist, blade raised above his pale head, ready to strike.

In the next heart beat Yshomatsu moved faster than ever before, circling around behind the pale man. With all his might the monk reached up and snapped the cultist's neck, throwing him to the side. The burst of energy faded as quickly as it came and Ysh felt the full extent of his injuries assault his nervous system, overloading his brain with pain. He collapsed to the ground and passed out.

The battle had been won and his student was safe, or at least that's what he thought, before darkness overwhelmed him.

When the power forced itself upon the monks Athan had been struggling with an urge to open his eyes. Something within him tugged at his will. He had been winning the tug of war, but was overpowered by the rush of energy. His eyes popped open as it hit him and witnessed his mentor defeat the last cultist before falling to the ground. But that wasn't what caught his attention.

The blinding light faded, to be replaced by a sight he couldn't believe. His body remained on its knees motionless and "present Athan" couldn't understand why. But then again if this was really what happened, he had blacked out, so it made sense why he just remained there.

"Present Athan" tried to move his body, but couldn't. It would appear he was just along for the ride. He wondered why he was being shown this or how that creature had even known about it. Maybe it had nothing to do with her. He was having these dreams back at the monastery, long before the attack. Only time would tell but one thing was certain, he had lost the fight and was now vulnerable.

The whole time "present Athan" was trying to figure out his situation, his body form the past remained staring off into the center of the cave.

The only being left breathing, besides the monks, was the sacrifice, who was still hanging by chains attached to her wrists. He imagined that would hurt after a while. She was suspended about a foot off the ground. Below her was a circle drawn upon the floor -- the same type of circle Athan found in his mentor's training room.

Athan had an idea he was just about to find out what Yshomatsu had gotten into.

During the whole fight the woman's head hung limp, light red hair hiding her face from view. The only difference between then and now --- besides her pale white skin glowing slightly --- was her light red hair was a deep blood red. Athan couldn't tell whether she was breathing. He found himself worrying for her. When this event happened the monk had woken up at the monastery with no memory of how they got there or what happened to the woman.

Athan grew tired of waiting, and attempted to will his body to move, to no avail. His physical self wasn't home and he didn't have any control or say in the matter. He'd be lying if he said he didn't want to see how this played out, filling a gap in his memory in the process. All he could do was stare at the hanging woman. Sure, she was beautiful, hanging there in all her glory, decent breasts hanging, glowing and...

He mentally shouted at both versions of himself, "No stop it, this can't be happening, WAKE UP!"

But at the same time he had the present time to worry about. Who knew what that creature was doing to him right now?

The monk was aware that he had to have fallen back onto the bed within the very same type of circle. He felt a twitch within his robes, was he getting turned on thinking of that creature? No that wasn't what he was feeling. It was his memory's body, the body he was trapped in. Athan realized, even though his old self was blacked out his body was still reacting to the glowing beauty in front of him.

Movement caught his attention. The woman's head was moving, rising, until she was looking into the monk's eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile. Why was she smiling? It wasn't the look one would expect from a victim desperate for help. Something was wrong.

A moment ago she hung there limp as if she was dead, and now she was looking at him with what looked like lust. His gaze locked with hers and he couldn't look away. Those eyes were captivating. Just like the creature in his mentor's base, she had serpent's slit eyes, only these were red like her hair instead of yellow. Athan didn't notice the glow of her skin begin to fade as it slowly darkened to an ash grey.

The monk had been attracted to the young creature with yellow eyes but these red eyes held power, he was mesmerized. And when she spoke, it caught him off guard. She was clearly female. Her voice was soft, sexy and enticing, but what threw him off was, as she spoke, there was an undertone that echoed in the cave. Athan almost missed it and had to concentrate on it. Whatever it was, it was evil, like nothing he had ever heard before.

Reminded of the books he had read earlier, needless to say he was worried, since the monk had lived all these years in the monastery, blissfully unaware of the true horrors of the world. Sure, he'd seen some troubling things in his day, but nothing had prepared him for the wrecking ball that had crashed into his life. First the order is destroyed and then he's attacked by an unknown creature, human in all but her eyes and elongated canines. And now, last but definitely not least, he's finding out what his body had unknowingly remembered all along.