***The Infernal Planes of Lust***

***Amon***

Khorne's expression looked like he wanted to murder me for behaving like I owned the place, but I had enough of playing the meek little servant. Up until now, I thought that being cooperative would make staying at the castle easier on me and my minions in the long run. But the attempt on my life had almost succeeded, and only because I had allowed myself to be commandeered around by others like some minion.

If I had been in charge of this plan, I would have never played the assassination target by presenting myself openly in the courtyard where I was within the jumping distance of every demon in the castle.

Actually, I would have just slaughtered all of Khorne's men, since they were the fucked up tentacle thing's obvious targets. It was most likely to hide amongst them.

I glared at the two Demon Lords but didn’t back off. Either they would deal with the fact that I was a third force to be reckoned with, or they would not. The matter was in their claws now.

It was only thanks to Shax that I was still alive. If he hadn't pulled me away from the swinging assassin, he could have easily gotten a few more cuts in. And a wound in the chest wasn't as easy to cut out as chopping off a hand was.

One could say that the experience had woken me up.

I could still feel the cold, necrotic grasp of the dagger's soul magic as the curse ate its way through the magical pathways in my arm as it sought my soul well to corrupt and destroy. Had I hesitated in cutting off my arm, I would now likely be one of those who hadn't respawned.

The curse on that dagger was a nasty one. Even the other's intervention had bought me only just enough time to catch the blade with my palm instead of my chest.

'Just stay away from soul weapons from now on.'

I took a look at the stump that was left of my arm. There was no other choice but to deactivate the healing amulet since I didn't want to reveal its true capabilities as long as it wasn’t necessary. At least Jebril's healing magic had helped with sealing the wound quickly.

There was no hurry. I could activate the amulet at night and restore myself, allowing others the misconception that regrowing the hand had taken a lot of time.

Before Khorne could say something about my offending behaviour, Ashley thrust a finger at me.

“Someone... has to clean this up!” Her accusing finger moved towards the building pile of corpses. As she pointed, another body spawned and joined the mess.

So many eyelids and tongues!

I unconsciously began to salivate and something must have shown in my expression because most of the people facing me took a step backward.

It was exactly what I had hoped to achieve when I created the enchantment on my new spear! The perfect solution to harvest multiple tongues from a single enemy! There was just one tiny, little problem, and it was similar to the issues I encountered when hunting lizard things once I reached adulthood.

Spawning entire bodies just to harvest some tongues was a huge mess!

I worked my lips against each other as I considered what to make of the implied order since I certainly wouldn't be the one to clean the castle's entrance hall. Even if the odour of decay wasn't present yet, the smell that wafted out of the hall reminded me entirely too much of a hatchery.

Then I remembered that I had minions of my own! Hadn't I learned the power of delegation already back in Baaar?

I turned and looked at my minions who had stuck protectively to my side since the attack had happened.

They had listened and looked at me, then past me into the hall, and then a pecking order amongst their own revealed itself.

Shax looked at Philomena.

Philomena looked at Jada, who was still hanging off Shax's neck, then quickly changed her intimidation attempt towards Kitia.

Kitia only met Philomena's gaze for a few seconds before she looked at Jebril.

It took a moment, but once she lost the standoff, Jebril didn't hesitate with changing her angle of attack towards Uphir and the two of them had a silent staring contest for a few seconds until Uphir looked behind himself, finding nobody there. He looked at the ground and sighed in dismay.

Apparently, the frequent recent challenges he had made to my authority – and lost – had done his reputation amongst the rest of the group no good. To the point that even Jebril, the nice and meek newcomer, had a higher social standing than him.

I just wondered how that affected his relationship with Philomena. It wasn't a secret amongst our group that the two of them were an item as far as demons went.

Turning back towards Ashley, I gave her a thumbs up. “The problem is solved.” It would take Uphir some time to clean up, but he would get the job done. After all, he was the fastest demon I knew... except for Ex.

The succubus matriarch shivered in frustration, likely guessing that it would stink a lot more before things got better. Thankfully, she didn't call me out on what was obvious. After a moment of consideration, she growled. “I will have my daughters help.”

“So, have you guys decided how this will happen?” I rubbed my hands together and looked at the rest of Khorne's men. Or... at least I tried to. Having only a stump of a hand made the action look somewhat awkward.

***The Infernal Planes of Lust***

***Isabella***

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that Amon was alright. The attack had almost given me a heart attack since I had been too far away to be of any help. All I could do was watch the scene unfold.

And by the time I had fought myself to the front of the crowd, it was already over.

After that, there was no choice but to stay hidden amongst the crowd of Khorne's demons and my sisters while Amon checked the remaining demons.

It remained a mystery whether the Átahsaia had been actually amongst those who were permanently killed. The assassin didn't reveal himself with further attacks. But the next time it killed, there would be no doubt about who was responsible.

Personally, I deeply suspected that the Átahsaia had just rigged some hapless victim to take the fall for him. Judging by how easily the mind reaper had taken one of Khorne's men after the other, I thought it highly likely that the assassin had just brainwashed the demon and pressed the dagger into his waiting hands.

My sisters and I would have to be doubly watchful in the future when it came to interactions with the castle's visitors. And as much as I liked them, I shouldn't forget that Amon's minions were also easy targets.

I stared on in silence as I waited unbeknown amongst the others for the examinations to be finished.

When the gathering was finally declared as over by Khorne and people started going their ways, I set out to steal Amon away before anyone else could get the same idea, but a mental link touched my thoughts, bringing down an overbearing pressure that almost made my knees buckle.

'Isabella Ashborn, Jada Ashborn. I want to see the both of you right this moment while Khorne is still busy with his men! Meet me at the fountain in the castle's outer garden.'

'Yes, mother!'

I replied immediately, feeling the echo of a similar response from Jada. Then I started chewing on my lower lip, unable to help myself.

This wasn't good. Mother only used our full names when she knew that we had done something bad! Was she truly onto me? Had she learned about Amon’s and my relationship?

It should be impossible since I had been very careful. I even took Danielle’s coaching on how to avoid the castle’s surveillance system.

Or was this just a ruse to get us to talk because she suspected something?

I practically squirmed my way out of the courtyard and down the path that led between the inner castle and the walls towards the small garden that was protected from the storm.

The garden was nothing much compared to the verdant forest that surrounded the castle during the fertile season. It was a stretch of green that contained Felicia’s most favourite plants and herbs. The garden formed a half-circle that faced with the open half towards the castle’s entrance. Bar the courtyard, it formed a patch of green between the inner castle and the walls.

The fountain was located directly on the building’s other side from the main entrance, but if one stretched her wings, the distance was easy to bridge in under a minute.

But I took my time and walked slowly as I thought of all the developments this meeting could create.

When I arrived, I found that Jada was already there, awaiting my arrival with Ashley and Hellith. I was just in time to catch the tail-end of their conversation.

“So you know nothing about Amon's history? If I find out that you are lying, a chastity belt will be the least of your problems this time around,” Ashley threatened while she threw Jada a glare that made my sister hunch up.

“I swear that I can think of nothing truly exceptional about Amon's group,” Jada pleaded. “They are from Gluttony, and they were involved in that incident that stirred up Baaar a few cycles ago. It allowed them to make a huge jump in their evolutions, but that's the only real exceptional thing I know about them.”

“The fact that you regard someone breaking Baaar’s Lode Stone as an everyday feat is worrisome in itself!” Hellith reprimanded Jada. “The things are generally regarded as indestructible for a good reason.”

Jada scratched the back of her head. “To be honest, I never talked all that much with Amon. I am into the big guy who is with him, Shax! And, well, we have been doing pretty normal demon things since they arrived in Lust. But nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Why did you help them join Ebandon's warband?” Hellith added another question to speed the interrogation along because it was nothing less than that. An interrogation.

Jada shrugged. “They needed help and seemed somewhat lost when they arrived here. Just a bunch of demons in search of power who had their tails pulled out from beneath them. I just wanted to help.”

Hellith did nothing but blink at Jada, knowing that there must be more to it. Jada doing something that benefited others? That wasn’t the demons’ way.

Incidentally, I also thought that Jada’s white lie couldn’t be more obvious.

“... and get the big one to bone me,” Jada added reluctantly, breaking beneath the scrutiny of two of our elders. “There is nothing wrong about that! It’s not like you guys wouldn’t crave for a hunk like Shaxi!”

Ashley moaned as if she had gotten a migraine and slapped a hand onto her cheek. “You know, I can actually somewhat believe you, Jada. Your motives haven't ever been particularly complicated. Boiled down to your essence, you are just in it for a good ride.”

“Hey!” Jada reached for her chest and feigned being hit by some curse, then stated what should have been obvious to Ashley and Hellith. “I am a succubus!”

“Which brings us to you.” Mother's judging gaze wandered over to me. “How are you involved with Amon?”

I wrung my hands and hurried closer, avoiding the poisonous shrubs that Felicia had planted between the walkway’s large tiles. I was prepared to lie like never before. If I managed to pull this off, then this would be the first time I actually managed to lie to my mother and get away with it.

“Involved? I don't know-”

“You are lying,” Ashley interrupted dryly without showing the slightest emotion. “Try again.”

I clicked my tongue, knowing that I was off to a bad start. “How did you find out about the contract?”

“Which contract!” Ashley hissed and my sisters looked at me with shocked expressions.

Misdirection achieved!

I allowed my expression to fall. “Oh, so you didn't know about it.”

“You have a contract with Amon!?” Ashley screamed at me.

I think some of the larger vines on the outer wall actually slithered a few steps away from mother. They were definitely a new addition to the garden. I would have to question Felicia about them at the next opportunity.

Ashley took a step closer when I didn’t seem to pay enough attention. “Which one? Is it endangering the negotiations with Khorne?”

I slapped my tail onto the ground and brought it around to fumble with the tip. “You don't have to react like that. It's just a small verbal one. That’s actually why I got to know Amon a little better than Jada.”

“Liar, liar, tail on fire,” Jada mumbled, unable to hold back a mad giggle.

I used my tail to whip her in retaliation, causing a red welt on her upper thigh.

“Ow!”

Ashley covered her face with both hands. “You have a verbal contract with Amon? Have you learned nothing...”

“It's just a small one, Jada is exaggerating, and he was a demonling at the time at which we made it!” I defended my actions.

Hellith looked aghast. “You made a verbal contract with a demonling!? Have you lost it completely?”

“Yeah, it wasn't really intentional, well...” I sniffed. “Oh, whatever, it had to come out sooner or later.”

I threw up my hands, making a show of giving up. “I met Amon on an outing in the mortal realms. Some third-class warlocks summoned us and...” I launched into the tale, hoping to burn as much of mother's time as possible. If there was something that could get a succubus' attention, then it was a story that involved gang-banging a group of foolish mortals, followed by some fun with weaker demons.

“You tried to use him as a dildo!?” Hellith interrupted. “What's wrong with you, Isa?”

“I am actually uncertain whether I should praise your for ingenuity, or lock you down in the cellar with just Kasdeya as company.” Ashley looked conflicted, while Jada nodded, clearly impressed with me.

I actually managed to look a little guilty at that. Mother wouldn't have all of us if she wouldn't dote on any demon offspring. Back then, after the dimensional fissure that brought Amon to me, she even saw to it that all of the surviving demonlings that fell onto our castle were caught and brought to a decent hatchery. One of those which she personally founded to provide new recruits to Ebandon's warband.

“Well, he was a runt of a demonling, and just the right size.” I indicated it with my hands. “I figured he would squirm a lot and there was always the tail to pull him out. Don't blame me! I was rather randy after having sucked dry a whole class of trainee warlocks with their incompetent master.”

The other three succubi looked at each other, and I just hoped that I hadn't given Hellith and Jada stupid ideas. I didn't believe that Mom would go so far. Demonlings had it hard enough in the Infernum.

“Anyways.” I waved a hand to dismiss the matter. “We were interrupted and I kind of offered him to help him out - if he just bought me some time to escape and he ever happened to visit Lust. I knew from the summoning circle he came with that he was from Gluttony, so I thought nothing much of it. Guess my surprise when he actually managed to fulfil the conditions and then appeared here. As an adult demon no less!”

Jada looked even more impressed. “Wait, you haven't been to the mortal realms that often. So Amon went from demonling to an adult evolution in less than a year?” She whistled. “And you caught him right after arriving in Lust. If that isn’t the definition of robbing the cradle, then I don’t know what is.”

She mumbled and massaged her chin. “You know, I am almost far enough to say that you surpassed me in wickedness, little Isa. A few more such feats and you will be the teacher between the two of us.”

I facepalmed. “Whether I had some fun with him isn’t the concern of any of you!”

Then I threw a pleading look at my mother. “I have been helping him and his group to get back on their feet since they arrived here. That's why I ran off so suddenly when the fissure appeared above the castle.”

“And why did you and Amon search my records in Irkos?” Hellith raked the coals in my story to find the ash.

So that was how mother found out about me and Amon. I reminded myself that I should have been more careful about Hellith’s loyalties.

There was no changing it now.

I threw up my hands. “I don't know. He was searching for some guy who slighted him in the past! Some Sozzudon who tricked and used him back in Gluttony when he was a demonling. Amon didn’t give me the exact details. He was searching for a way to pay Sozzudon back. Amon is the kind of guy who holds a grudge and suddenly comes after you centuries later if he sees the opportunity. We were searching for things he could use in the future.”

“Sozzudon?” Ashley frowned. “Sozzudon isn't exactly an unknown person, you know? He is as old as I am. Don't tell me that he will come after us next!”

I rubbed the back of my hand. “I don't believe Sozzudon will be a problem because we ran into Ostreios on the way and-”

Ashley held up a hand. “Yes, Ostreios had a talk with Amon during that last battle. Do you know something?”

I shook my head. “Look. If you really want to know the details, why don't you ask Amon directly? It's not like he actually talks all that much about his time in Gluttony.”

Verbally, that is. We had quite the lengthy telepathic exercises when we lay in bed after thoroughly exhausting ourselves.

Ashley and Hellith looked at each other as if they were afraid of Amon.

Inwardly, I grinned. Outwardly, I for once showed no sign of emotion, taking Claire's lessons to heart. Amon had become quite the intimidating warrior since I had snatched him up and created plenty of opportunities for him to grow.

I wished I could have laughed openly at my double innuendo.

“One last thing.” Ashley looked at us as if she was ready to drop the hammer. “Which one of you stole one of Hellith's historical records?”

Jada shrugged, looking as innocent as a barely dressed succubus could. “What are you talking about? No clue.”

“I didn't steal anything!” I replied honestly.

Ashley and Hellith studied the both of us for any sign of deception, but there were apparently none. Which was made easier since Jada indeed didn't know about the records, and I hadn't stolen them.

Mother sighed and looked at the inner castle wall, or rather, something that was beyond it. “I have no more time for this. Khorne is on the prowl again and bothering your sisters.”

She turned towards me. “Isa, try to limit your interactions with Amon. They won’t do you any good in the long run. Especially if it’s true that he is so young. He might be powerful for his age, but there is no way for him to beat Khorne.”

“Maybe,” I admitted stubbornly, wondering what mother meant with that. Had she seen through my intention of pitting Khorne and Amon against each other?

I waited until Ashley and Hellith made their way around the bend in the garden’s walkway, then slowly let out a sigh that I had been holding.

Jada only looked at me from the side, grinning from ear to ear.

“What?” I asked.

She shrugged. “You are getting better.”

Then she also walked away and left me alone to ponder my thoughts in the garden – which didn’t take long because that creepy vine slithered back down the wall and came a little too close for my liking.

I quickly fled, avoiding the shrubs on the way.