***The Infernal Plane of Lust***

***Amon***

Kasdeya was a genius, but so was I, and together we turned out to be the ultimate research team. Although, I had to admit that I was relying on the vast knowledge that my initial soul provided… and a few of the other’s whispered insights here and there. But since the other was just another part of me, relying on its knowledge was just as good as achieving it on my own. Or at least I told myself that.

The only downside to our cooperation was that the woman had a mean streak of not answering questions until I found most of the answers on my own. Which led to very awkward conversations. It was her weird and, as I found, ineffective way of testing my abilities.

Then there was that tendency of hers to be overly confident in her own assumptions. This meant that she tended to repeat the same experiments several times just because she didn’t believe in the negative results. At least I partly understood her methodology of verification, because it would have been infuriating for our research to run into a dead end because of a mistaken conclusion.

Still, this meant that we could have been done faster if she had been a little more flexible, but not by much. And admittedly, the woman knew her science. Without her knowledge and her equipment, I would have spent weeks instead of hours on solving the artefact’s mysteries.

We analysed the rod with spectrometers, X-ray, tomographics, and other non-destructive methods until we slowly developed an understanding of the artefact’s inner workings and the structuring of the enchantment that made it possible.

But that was only half the project. Once we had the enchantment’s layout, we needed to take it apart and reinvent it bit by bit to come up with the more practical application that we desired.

Because simply converting mana to life-force wasn’t enough, I automated the process and Kasdeya added some functionality by giving the enchantment the ability to gather latent mana from its surroundings. We forged several amulets that would hold the enchantment and came up with different variations.

Sadly, most of the initial attempts ended up as failures until we slightly changed the start-up sequence of the matrix. The final result was something that felt like it would work.

“The enchantment still isn’t perfect. I don’t think the conjured spell matrix is stable in its current form. The wielder might get a few hours of use out of it, but the imbalanced central circuit will break down the spell matrix sooner or later. It’s only a question of time until the material itself will fail,” Kasdeya commented on my most recent attempt that was now lying in front of me. It was a palm-sized disc with a chain. On the disc, I had engraved the necessary runes and inlayed them with silver to correctly guide the energies.

“That’s true, but this is just a prototype,” I defended my work. “It would be a pain to optimize the circuit just to find out that there is some fundamental mistake in the enchantment. I wouldn’t want to waste my time like that.”

I frowned and took the amulet’s metal chain to clasp it around my neck. Before Kas could stop me, I circulated some energy through the artefact to start it up. There was a slight vibration on my chest, and a comfortable warmth spread through my torso. I immediately felt better, lighter, and much more focused.

“Hmm,” I hummed while I did my best to judge the artefact’s performance. “I didn’t explode!” Twisting my body this way and that, I tried to judge whether I felt better or worse under the amulet’s influence.

“No shit!” Kasdeya cursed. “We could have tested it on someone else. Or do you like testing your works on yourself?”

I snorted in reply. “Who? As far as I know, there is no easily disposable test subject in the castle. And I actually think it's proper to test out one’s creations yourself. It entices the artificer to work properly. And don’t worry, I wouldn’t have tried it myself if I had believed it possible to blow up. Maybe a minor dose of radiation poisoning, but that’s no problem for demons like us.”

“We could have taken one of Khorne’s men,” Kas muttered. “Anyway, how is it?”

Shrugging, I touched the slightly vibrating amulet on my chest. “Definitely needs some fine-tuning. As you already predicted, the vibrations will damage the amulet sooner or later. There is also something off about the effectiveness because I feel like I’ve buzzed myself on dragon blood. We definitely have to reduce the output in the final version or add some way to adjust it on the fly. But it feels like it’s working as intended aside from that.”

“Well, if that’s so, all that remains is to test it,” Kasdeya commented with a smirk.

“But how- ha!” My question fell short when the succubus went to her knees in front of me. Then she pulled down my trousers and sucked my organ into her mouth in a single, practised move. There was something hungry and impatient about her actions, but her skill alone had me hard and ready in a matter of seconds.

Cursing, I grabbed her horns and tried to take control of the situation, but Kasdeya took my hands in hers and insistently pushed them back down, indicating that I was allowed to watch but not to touch.

Kas proceeded to do something incredible with her tongue while she massaged my balls in a way that set me off instantly. My knees buckled and I fell back into the chair next to the workbench while I came. The amulet on my chest pulsed as it drew in the free mana surrounding us while the temptress in my lap swallowed all of it.

I was still in a world of bliss when the small female got up, opened the full-length zipper on her work suit, and swung one leg over me. I had only a moment to enjoy the fact that she wasn’t wearing underwear.

Then her naked tits hovered in front of my face before she captured me inside of her and plunged down with a sigh of satisfaction. The succubus’s small frame was just enough to bring her face up to my neck, where she continued to nuzzle my collarbone while her undulating body tried to cover every centimetre of mine.

My ability to hold back quickly reached zero and I hugged her against my chest, guiding her behind while her hips danced on top of me. When I couldn’t hold back any longer, I tried to hold her in place just to prolong the inevitable, but it felt like her tunnel kept moving while I unloaded a second time.

The odd thing was, I didn’t feel winded in the slightest, while my partner appeared like she started to feel the strain of our workout.

I smiled and cleared the workbench with a swipe of my tail. Then I stood up while lifting the female and pinned Kasdeya onto the table, fully intending to test the limits of this artefact.

***The Infernal Plane of Lust***

***Ashley***

“I am fairly certain that none of my daughters have the desire or the capability to do something like that,” I commented while I stood with the enraged Khorne in one of the castle’s many hallways. “But I will make sure to question each and every one of them. Are you certain that your man bonded properly to the castle’s Anima Stone? He might’ve respawned at another binding point and the remains in that room are just that – remains.”

The Demon Lord only grunted in reply. “Chort was the leader of my spy-ring. He wouldn’t be incompetent enough to fail something as easy as binding to an Anima Stone. No, someone killed him with soul magic. That much is certain. What I don’t understand is why only his skin is left.”

“Hmm.” I hummed, wondering whether I should withhold the information.

My daughter had led me to an otherwise abandoned part of the castle, where we had found Chort’s remains in one of the many guest rooms stretched out on the bed. It wasn’t much more than an empty shell, a little different from what I had originally expected. Aside from the body, the room showed no signs of combat or resistance.

Of course, I had no other choice but to inform Khorne right away if I wanted to keep up the facade. So I sent Diana, who had found the body, away while I instructed Hellith to fetch Khorne.

It went without question that the entitled upstart went apeshit over the remains of his man while he searched the entire room. Only thanks to my presence he reigned himself in enough not to attempt to destroy the castle in a misguided attempt to find the perpetrator.

“There is one possibility,” I admitted after some deliberation. “We have an Átahsaia in our midst.”

There were certain demonic evolutions who could create such a scene easily enough. It wouldn’t hurt to tell Khorne that much since at least one of his subordinates was bound to know if he didn’t. He would find out once he called for all of them to gather, though he had decided to keep his man’s death quiet for now. At least until he decided on what to do.

Khorne only watched me with narrowed eyes, so I continued. “It’s a demonic evolution that’s very rare. Much like succubi, they have the natural ability to feast on their victim’s souls, though the process and final result are very undesirable. Átahsaia are like parasites. They infest someone and take over their bodies from the inside out until nothing of the host remains. Then they move on.”

I gestured at the door which led to the room with the murder scene. “It would fit the shed skin, though I have to admit that even I haven’t met an Átahsaia more than a handful of times in my very long life. It’s much more likely that someone is trying to cover his or her tracks.”

“How do I know that it wasn’t one of yours?” Khorne asked. He was clearly suspicious of my motives. While we were allies on the outside, he surely knew as well as I that commandeering one of my daughters to bear him an heir would be seen as nothing less than an insult to my entire family.

Only the Infernum knew how he found out that Isabella was fertile and at the right age.

“Because succubi can’t drain their victims in this manner,” I stated flatly. “If you don’t believe me, I could have one of my daughters drain someone of his souls for you to compare the results.” I intentionally didn’t mention that the only possible candidates were Khorne and his men or the group which he invited.

It was apparent that Khorne actually considered it, but then he shook his head. “I believe you. What other possibility is there?”

“A genuine soul mage,” I suggested. “He performed the kill and prepared the body afterwards, although that’s also a little far-fetched. Why would he bother?”

“To draw the attention away from him and to cover his tracks,” Khorne growled. “Who among your daughters is capable of soul magic?”

“All of them. We are succubi,” I replied with a smile and a purr in my voice. “Though not the kind that would be required for what’s inside this room. Who among your men knows enough soul magic to kill permanently?”

“Aside from myself…” Khorne gestured with his chin towards the door. “The only one who I trusted enough to take him with me lies in that room.”

“What a shame.” I pursed my lips. “And also a hint. Whoever attacked him knew enough to take him out first. The only real counter to soul magic is soul magic after all.”

I allowed that thought to settle in, hoping that it would cause Khorne’s thoughts to wander down the wrong road. “What about that Amon of yours? I heard that he knows soul magic.”

The Demon Lord’s brows furrowed. “He is nothing more than a child. Powerful, but woefully incapable when it comes to politics and social trickery. I’ve talked to him for long enough to tell at least that much. He would have never been able to take down Chort without creating a ruckus. My men also investigated his background and there was nothing apart from his affiliation with your little personal warband.”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised that Khorne had figured out that Ebandon’s group was nothing more than my personal legion. Though, I had expected that to happen at some point and considered it in my plans.

My lack of a stronger reaction clearly bothered Khorne and I was fine with that, so I continued, “Maybe. And maybe he is much more devious than you thought. Should we go and check his alibi for the night?”

Khorne scoffed. “We can, but I am very certain of my ability to judge people. Do you know where he is?”

I tilted my head and concentrated on the warding system that my daughters had woven throughout the entire castle. “The basement. With Kasdeya.”

Khorne narrowed his eyes. “That easily. Couldn’t you just find the one who was with Chort at the time of his death?”

I blinked innocently. “Well, that could certainly be done. If there had been someone with Chort at the time of his death. The warding system recorded his mana signature entering this room and then it ceased. Nobody came near this area since then.”

“Wouldn’t that rather point towards your Átahsaia theory,” Khorne questioned. “What if Chort was taken over outside the castle and the Átahsaia shed his skin inside this very room to search for another victim? And how does it come that you didn’t get notified about his death.”

“Then we have a big problem because it would mean that the infiltrator can hide his magical signature perfectly.” Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I feigned embarrassment. “This is a succubus den, so I switched off death notifications a long time ago. Otherwise, I would be spammed with a message every time one of my daughters brought home dinner, or breakfast, or a midnight snack. Multiply that with forty-one and-”

Khorne raised his hand to stop me. “I get the idea. So, let’s question everyone individually before we continue with the accusations, beginning with the only other known soul mage in the castle. And once that doesn’t yield any results, we can call for a gathering.”

“Let’s do just that.” I gestured for Khorne to lead the way. “It’s this way.”

We made our way to Kasdeya’s basement in silence, encountering only one of my daughters in the company of one of Khorne’s men on the way. The two seemed preoccupied, so we simply walked past.

The aspiring Demon Lord didn’t seem to notice it, but I allowed myself to smirk because my daughter clearly had Khorne’s man twisted around her fingers like a pretzel. The poor fool was already worshipping her after a single night.

We were about to descend into the basement when someone called out to me.

“Mother! Where are you going?”

I turned and found Jada almost tripping down a stairway, coming from the upper floor while she led a huge beast of a demon by his little finger as if he was her personal imp.

She noticed that I was looking up at the oversized monstrosity who almost touched the generously sized hallway’s ceiling with his horns. “This is Shax, my boyfriend! Shax, meet my mother.”

“I see. One of Amon’s group?” I forced myself to smile instead of sighing at her antics. The damned child brought a new boyfriend every season as far as I was concerned. And they disappeared just as quickly.

The demon only grunted in reply.

“Shax isn’t a man of many words,” Jada explained quickly and cuffed the demon in his side which didn’t even cause a reaction.

“Be that as it may, we have things to do,” Khorne commented and turned to descent down into the basement.

I followed, and for some reason, Jada chose the same route while speaking louder than necessary. “We are about to visit Amon since he was concerned about Shax when I left him here with Kasdeya.”

“Indeed?” I asked, wondering why she was announcing our presence to everyone with a halfway decent pair of ears. “Why would you leave him with Kas?”

We reached the empty seeming basement and strode in between my daughter’s creations while I used the wards to home in on Amon’s and Kasdeya’s signatures.

“Oh, you know, because they seemed alike,” Jada commented loud enough to be annoying while she kept her tone low enough not to be accused of screaming.

I felt the muscles in the left half of my face twitch as I wondered what that was about. Luckily Khorne didn’t know Jada well enough to tell that this wasn’t normal behaviour for her, but I would assuredly try to find out why she was warning Amon and Kas about our presence. Only, I couldn’t question her while I had Khorne right next to me.

There was a squeal from somewhere hidden by the next row of machines and a flash of light, and when I rounded the corner I found Amon and Kas at a wasted workbench. Both of them looked like they had taken a gunpowder explosion to their chests. That, and they were covered in the grimy oil of a burst container.

Khorne only tilted his head upon seeing them. “What are you two doing?” He allowed his eyes to wander over the tools on the ground and the two messy demons who stank like petroleum and machine oil. Just like any man, his eyes failed to avoid Kas's torn worksuit that displayed my daughter's perfectly shaped chest.

Kas cursed and summoned another work outfit before unashamedly tearing off the old one.

Her companion wasn't as bothered by his ruined shirt.

“We are having fun,” Amon was quick to answer. “You know, sharing knowledge and magical knowhow… and stuff. Though it appears this one blew up in our faces. Is something the matter?”

Khorne slapped the ground with his tail but showed otherwise no sign that this might be an interrogation. “I just have one question, Amon. Where have you been last night?”

“I- I- have-” the questioned party stuttered, looking embarrassed while Kasdeya looked past me at Jada and raised both eyebrows.

I turned to find out what my daughters were up to, but Jada looked like the impersonation of cluelessness once I had my eyes on her.

Amon finally managed to gather his composure. “I have been with-”

“With me!” Kasdeya interrupted and stepped next to him, linking arms. “We have been researching this wondrous enchantment the entire time, and I swear by the Infernum, once we get it working correctly it will be a shocker!”

Khorne looked at me, apparently appeased by the provided alibi. “She swore to the Infernum.”

Though, I wasn’t that easily fooled. Something was going on here and my daughters were involved for sure. It was only their luck that Khorne apparently hadn’t realized that Kasdeya had used a trick in her reply. He had asked Amon a question and Kasdeya had replied with a statement that didn’t truly specify the time of its validity. Her oath could also only refer to the second part of her statement, leaving her completely clean to get away with it.

Oh, something was going on here for sure, but it felt like a grave mistake to point that out in front of Khorne.

I sighed in frustration. “Then we continue our search?”