Izzbelle didn't know why she decided to follow Cobalt to his family home. All she remembered was seeing Karazelle and Whitney follow him out of the dormitory's while she was sitting outside with Jelli. The Glutton asked where he was going, and he explained that he was going to see his mother, before sighing and saying that she may as well come along. After much stuttering and flustering, Jelli decided to go as well, and Izzbelle wasn't about to let her go without a chaperone.
She still didn't have Cobalt figured out, but she didn't quite trust him with the Glutton. Not yet.
But with Cobalt now sequestered to the downstairs bathroom to get his hair cut, his mother told her guests to nip back to the school and grab some overnight clothes and other such supplies, seemingly ecstatic at the prospect of hosting so many people. Izzbelle had to admit; Jezebel was a really nice woman. A little eccentric, but what thespian wasn't?
Frowning, she glanced down at the duffle bag slung across her shoulder. A vest, a pair of boxers, spare underwear and some toiletries. The Oni didn't need much to get by, and as a result, she was the first one back to the house.
"Why am I doin' this...?" she wondered, stepping into the empty front hall.
Well, she knew the obvious answer. She was there to keep Jelli safe. She had only gotten to know the Glutton in the past few months, but since becoming her friend, Izzbelle began to direly wish she had introduced herself when they first met back in first year. The girl was so gentle and sweet, it made her blood boil to think how many people sated themselves on treating her like shit!
Feeling herself getting worked up, Izzbelle unclenched her fists.
Maybe there was another reason, too. Cobalt still took up a permanent place of residence in her head, and it was driving her insane. His words from that night in front of the dorms still echoed in her head as she tried to sleep, and by the time she saw the Incubus in her morning classes, she didn't know whether to try to be nice or punch him in the face.
It was frustrating.
"Fuck it... May as well call dibs on somethin'..." the Oni murmured to herself, climbing the grand staircase.
Reaching the landing, she began to stroll through the upstairs hallways, looking around for any of the spare rooms that Jezebel had mentioned. However, rather than find where she was to bed down for the night, Izzbelle stumbled across a different kind of room.
Unlike the rest of the house, all of the furniture and decor had been cleared out, and the wood-paneled walls had been sturdily reinforced. Over by one end of the room, a collection of practice dummies and worn punchbags lay ready for action, whilst on the other, an impressive collection of exotic weaponry sat displayed on wall-mounted racks.
The Oni's eyes widened, impressed. Tonfa, nunchucks, knuckledusters, knives, hatchets, staves, chakrams... all and more lay spread out before her, like a buffet of violence.
"Like them? It's my personal collection," spoke a strong voice from the door, startling her.
Leaning in the training room's entrance was a Succubus, dressed in worn denim and bearing a red bandanna in her raven-black hair. She looked to be in her third stage, and as Izzbelle gawked, she grinned and winked.
"Scarlet. Cobalt's sis. You must be Izzbelle, huh?"
The Oni frowned and nodded. Strange; she was nothing like her brother.
"Yeah..." Izzbelle mumbled, returning her attention to the weapon racks.
Thankfully, Scarlet also seemed more interested in the instruments of war rather than trying to make small talk.
"I make my bread as a travel journalist, for demons wanting to visit places on Earth. Most countries I go to, I bring back a little piece of their martial history. See these cesti? Got them in Rome. And this here kasarigama? Got that on my first trip to Japan," she explained, pointing to a pair of leatherbound knuckles before picking up a strange-looking sickle with a weighted chain on the end.
She spun it around a few times before frowning.
"Wanted to bring back a katana, but I couldn't for obvious reasons," Scarlet sighed, placing it back on the rack.
Izzbelle raised an eyebrow.
"The fuck's a katana?"
"A type of sword."
"Ah."
Figures. Swords were taboo in Hell for... some reason. Cobalt probably explained why in some History lesson or another, but Izzbelle generally spent those classes catching up on sleep.
Planting her hands on her hips, the Incubus' outgoing sister flashed the Oni a confident grin.
"So! Can I see your axe?"
Izzbelle staggered back, shocked by the sudden request.
"What? Why?"
"C'mon! Please...?"
"Uh. I guess so... Ocov et. Amra ilobaid."
Reaching into a flaming rift formed in the air, Izzbelle grunted and pulled her Bronze Axe into existence, heralded by an impressed whistle from Scarlet. She held it before her awkwardly as the Succubus inspected the labrys, gently gripping its coarse leather-wrapped haft and running a finger along the rough bronze blades.
"Looking good, killer. Yeah, you're just the kinda girl I been looking for," she commented, taking a step back.
Dispelling her weapon, Izzbelle raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"The Hell you talkin' about?" she asked, folding her arms.
Scarlet shrugged.
"Well, I'm not one to mash words. It's about Cobalt."
Izzbelle's fists clenched as something in her chest throbbed.
"Personally, I'd rather leave him to his own matters. But Mom's been worried sick about him. About what he's eating and how he's coping, yeah, but mostly she's worried about who he's been fucking."
She made a few gesticulations.
"Or lack thereof."
Izzbelle bared her teeth. She didn't like where this conversation was going...
"So I got to thinking. The guy's a total herbivore, anyone can see that. Simple fact is; he needs a proactive partner. Someone strong and willful. Someone hot and badass. Someone like you, killer," she concluded, gesturing to Izzbelle.
Her fists balled tightly as her face grew very, very hot, to the point where smoke began to curl from the corners of her mouth.
"What the fuck are you takin' me for?! I ain't into that scrawny lil' shit! No fuckin' way!" the Oni barked, swinging her arm.
Scarlet raised her hands and took a step back.
"Hey, I wouldn't be either. But Mom's been talking about something worrying. Now, she might be joking about this, but I'm not one to leave things to chance."
"Then fuckin' spit it out!"
She sighed and shook her head.
"Mom's a Phrodival girl, see. Now it's a nice place, but it's got one flaw. No men. And no men means no kids. Now, from what I know, most Phrodival gals get by with whomever they can get. But I heard Mom say that if she can't get through to Cobalt about his love life, she might just have him sent back home to be a communal husband. A dead tradition, but she's always been the traditional type," Scarlet explained, arms folded.
Izzbelle's eyes widened.
Could Jezebel really do that? Send Cobalt back to her home village to... No. No! That was ridiculous! Even if it were true, he would never go without a fight! The Incubus loved his job, and she knew for a fact that somewhere in that scrawny little frame of his, he had the guts to stand up for what he believed in!
"You're full of shit," Izzbelle growled, pushing past Scarlet.
"Am I? I'm telling you, killer; someone's gonna have to pounce on him before this night's through. Otherwise it's bye-bye Mr. Trayer!"
The Oni heard her laugh as she disappeared into the hall.
"So it may as well be you!"
-----
The Trayers had a nice back garden. It was filled with all sorts of plants that Lottie didn't recognise, despite Quinn desperately trying to teach her. Trees with pink leaves and flowers with purple petals, grass with red tips and mushrooms that glowed green. It was all very dazzling to the befuddled Golem, and for the longest time, she found herself just standing on the lawn, amazed by it.
Since they got their overnight bags, she had been following Quinn around as she searched for things to pocket, but had since gotten separated from the Imp.
Not that she minded, of course. The plants were very pretty.
"Ooh," Lottie gasped, taking a few plodding footsteps deeper into the garden.
The air was sweet, and she could almost taste the nectar on the wind, despite it being so cold. Bugs buzzed by her ears and birds called from on high, causing Lottie to crane her neck backwards until she almost fell over. She didn't know how long she spent there, or when she finally managed to find what she decided was her favourite part of this magical place.
The Golem sat down in the middle of a beautiful rockery, quietly cooing with awe as she ran her hands over the smooth pebbles all around her. Most seemed to be made from granite, but there were a few she recognised as quartz, and even some polished glass. With a sigh, she lay back onto the carpet of stones, only to see that she was being watched by somebody.
A sleepy-looking Succubus, to be precise. She wore a set of ruffled orange pajamas and a pair of mismatched slippers, despite being outside of the house. Her face was finely freckled, and as she gave a mighty yawn, her frizzy hair seemed to bounce all over the place.
"Who are you?" she asked, rubbing one eye.
The Golem thought hard for a few moments.
"Um... Lottie. Who are you?"
The Succubus squinted, as if trying to remember something.
"Uh... Amber. Whatcha doing?"
"Lying down."
"Can I join?"
"Yah!"
Her slippers crunched against the pebbles as she lay herself down next to Lottie. Hands clasped over her stomach, Amber stared at the clouds for a moment before turning her head.
"Who'd you say you were again?" she asked.
"Lottie," said Lottie.
"Ah. Sorry. Bad memory."
Extending a finger, the Succubus prodded the side of her head.
"Took a bad whack to the noggin when I was little. Can't really get a job because of it. Sucks." she sighed, letting her arms flop by her side.
The Golem frowned. That was so sad!
"Mom takes care of me good, though. Viridi and Azul and them too."
"Quinn helps me look after me," Lottie said.
"That the Imp I seen in the house?"
"Yah! She's my bestest friend!"
They continued to lie there in comfortable silence, watching as the clouds drifted across the crimson sky. Occasionally Amber would point out one that looked like a dog or a cat, much to Lottie's fascination.
"That one looks like a moocow!" she cried excitedly.
"Oh yeah. So do you."
"Do I?"
"Yeah. Hooves. Patches. Udders. You got it all."
The Golem laughed at Amber's observation. She liked cows; they were her favourite animal. Maybe it's because she used to spend a lot of time with the monastery cattle that she started to resemble one? She did drink a lot of milk. Milk was nice. Better than water. Water tasted like boring.
"Hey," the Succubus said after a few peaceful moments of cloud watching, "do you know Cobalt?"
Lottie nodded enthusiastically.
"Yah! Mr. Traya's my teacher!"
"What do you think of him?"
What did she think of Cobalt? He was nice, that was for certain. He didn't yell in class, and never got angry at Lottie for falling asleep at her desk. He helped her with her schoolwork, and kept at it even when she got things wrong, over and over again. Her old teacher used to get so cross...
But not Mr. Traya!
"I like him!"
Amber nodded slowly.
"Huh... Cool. Mom's been freaking out over him, cuz... uh... lemme think..."
She screwed up her face.
"... Oh! Right, yeah. She's worried cuz he's got nobody to sleep with. I think."
"Nobody... to sleep with? Does he need a teddy bear? I got some!"
Amber shook her head.
"Nah, I think she means like... nobody to sleep with," she repeated, stressing her words.
Lottie nodded understandingly. Of course, how could she be so silly? It was getting colder at night, and no teddy bear would be enough to keep somebody warm. With another person in the bed, however, they could share their warmth! And save space! And sleepovers were fun!
"Lottie, right?"
"Yah!
"You wanna do it?"
The Golem nodded enthusiastically. She didn't mind sharing a bed, after all.
-----
The Trayers had an impressive library, the likes of which Jelli didn't expect. After trying and failing to locate Izzbelle upon returning to the house, the Glutton began to panic and found herself stumbling through the downstairs hallways, whereupon she came across a large room absolutely filled with books. Her fear momentarily overtaken by fascination, she left her belongings at the door and began to peruse the bookshelves.
"So viele Bücher..." she murmured to herself, running a finger along their spines.
Many appeared to be modern printings, but quite a few also appeared to be rather historic, bound in leather, wood and even iron. On the lowermost shelves, she found romantic novels and salacious literature, but as she delved deeper and deeper, she began to find more tomes relating to Succubus psychomancy.
Spinning the Mind. The Art of the Whispered Command. Thirty Ways to Capture Hearts. Kiss, Bite, Enthrall. Uses of Psychomantic Medical Practices. Dreams, Their Meanings, and How You Can Change Them.
Though not a Succubus herself, Jelli had to admit that the art of psychomancy was one that intrigued her, ever since she bore witness to the Dream Intrusion at the hands of Cobalt and Karazelle. To be able to not only influence thoughts, dreams and fears, but to be able to delve deep into one's psyche and fix any problems from the inside out? It sounded... amazing.
Much better than the boring magnimorphisis that Gluttons were capable of, anyway...
"Ah!"
Caught up in her own thoughts once again, Jelli stumbled over a haphazardly stacked pile of books and collapsed onto the carpet, narrowly avoiding banging her head off a bookshelf. Cursing her own stupidity, she got to her knees and began to tidy them away, only to freeze up upon spying the title upon one of the covers.
Incubi: Where Do They Go?.
Eyes wide, she picked the book up and stared hard at it, before looking at the others.
The Twenty-One Year Countdown. Our Blue-Tinged Problem. The Peculiarites of Incupsychosis. Debates on Incubus Rights: Man or Beast?
"What...?" she breathed, teasing one of them open.
Before Jelli could even glance at the first page, however, she was suddenly startled by the sound of someone entering the library, causing her to drop the books. As they scattered about her feet, she heard soft footsteps padding against the library, growing closer.
"Hello? Are you one of Cobalt's guests? Are you lost?" called the voice of a woman Jelli didn't recognise.
Swallowing hard, the Glutton frantically shoved all the books back onto the shelf before nervously stepping out into view.
"Um... H- Hello..." she stammered, waving shakily.
There stood a tall Succubus, dressed in a sharp green shirt and a pair of glasses. Her hair was tied up into a bun, with an ink pen pierced through it. Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, she gave Jelli a scrutinising glance, before she smiled warmly.
"Oh, what have we here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she folded her arms.
The Glutton's tail began to wag nervously, a bad habit that Jelli hated about herself.
"M- My name is Jelli, m- miss."
The Succubus laughed lightly.
"No need to be so formal. My name is Viridi. It's a pleasure to meet you."
She took a step forward and presented her hand. Unsure of what else to do, Jelli tentatively shook it, only to yelp in surprise as Viridi leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand, turning her face bright red.
"My, I had no idea that my brother parleyed with such illustrious company," she stated with a smile.
The way she wielded the common tongue was enough to scramble Jelli's already flustered head, scattering her thoughts to the wind and leaving her quite confused.
"U- Um... are you Mr. Trayer's sister...?" she asked, desperately steering the subject of conversation away from herself.
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"That I am. One of five, in fact. I don't suppose you've seen me up at the hospital? I'm currently working an internship there."
She sighed and plucked a psychology journal from one of the nearby bookshelves.
"My dream is to one day bring psychomantic techniques into general practice, but I must confess, I found myself quite taken by biological matters over the course of my studies. To become a doctor of body and mind. Sounds rather romantic, does it not?" she asked, flipping through a few pages.
Incapable of collecting herself, Jelli just nodded dumbly.
"I couldn't help but feel some excitement at the thought of Cobalt's visit. Taking a tumble off a building of that height and surviving...? Clearly, there is something strange going on with his biological makeup."
The Glutton swallowed hard, trying not to think of that particular incident. When she heard that Cobalt had been hospitalised after a grave injury on Halloween-
She bit her tongue. No, it wasn't called Halloween here. Stupid.
- The Autumn Festival, she cried herself to sleep, worried sick about her teacher. It wasn't fair that such a nice man had to suffer such grievous bodily harm; she direly wished she could have swapped places with him, to spare him the agony.
"W- Will he be okay...?" she asked, creeping closer to the Succubus.
"Hm? Oh, of course. A few months on wheels, perhaps, but after rehabilitation and physical therapy, he should be up and about. With crutches. For the first while, anyway."
She shook her head.
"No, my dear brother's physical condition is nothing to be worried about. If only so much could be said about other matters..."
Jelli gasped. Something was wrong with Cobalt?!
"You're right to be shocked. I know I was too when I heard the news."
Flipping through the book, she found the chapter she was looking for and sharply tapped the page.
"A Lust demon's sexual activities are linked with their psychology, in that performing such acts release dopamine, stabilise nerves and even help soothe any mental issues, moreso than any other kind of demon. In laymen's terms, coitus is in our blood; a way of life, so to speak. One that keeps our minds and bodies sound."
Viridi snapped the book shut.
"But Cobalt? He's never even gotten to first base, never mind doing the deed. He's abstained his entire life, and never even took part in onanism growing up! I mean, the man's a virgin, for hellfire's sake! That can't be healthy!" she cried, clearly befuddled by Cobalt's lack of love life.
Jelli - face beet red and tail going a thousand miles an hour - just stood there with her jaw hanging open, scarcely able to comprehend what she was listening to. All this intimate knowledge about her teacher, about his... his se... sexu...
"Does he have needs? Is he actively suppressing his urges? I mean, I wouldn't be able to if I had a lovely companion such as yourself, Jelli."
The Glutton stumbled back.
"Entschuldigen sie?!" she cried.
But by now, Viridi had gotten whipped up into an inquisitive frenzy, scarcely registering Jelli's reactions.
"It's a problem, one Mother has taken quite seriously. And I suppose I am now too, consider the implications this could have on his health... Hm... Solutions, solutions..."
Biting the tip of her finger, the Succubus thought hard, before her gaze gradually drifted back towards Jelli. Slowly, a smile spread across her face.
"Of course...!"
Surging forward, Cobalt's scholarly sister grasped her shoulders, startling the Glutton.
"You, my dear, you! It's so simple! You like my brother, yes?!"
That was a loaded question! One Jelli wasn't able to answer! Yes, Cobalt was a wonderful man, and yes, she enjoyed the time they spent together, but someone as nice and kind and gentle and smart as him couldn't possibly like someone as pathetic and unlovable as her! For her to even dream of such a thing was... it was an impossibility!
She wanted to say all this, of course, but all that came out of the Glutton's mouth was a selection of confused whimpers.
"Excellent! Then you need only steal into his room in the middle of the night, and take his virtue! It'll open his eyes to what he's been missing, therefore clearing up any future problems arising from his abstinence, and Mother will finally stop worrying about him! It's brilliant!" Viridi exulted, shaking Jelli with glee.
"B- But I c- can't...! H- How do... I don't... I- I- I'm not..!" she stuttered, her entire world going around in circles.
Letting go, Viridi darted over to one of the lowermost bookshelves.
"A lack of practical experience need not be an issue, as long as you have a theoretical idea of what to do. But just in case, I advise you to read these."
Pulling out multiple books, she piled them into the dazed Glutton's arms. Jelli tried to protest, but when she looked down, she saw that they all looked like incredibly smutty novellas, turning her protests into a high-pitched whine of shock.
From somwhere else in the house, the sound of two pots being banged together echoed loudly.
"Oh, kiddies~! Dinner's ready~!" called the sing-song voice of Jezebel Trayer.
Grinning, Viridi patted Jelli's shoulder and gave her thumbs-up.
"Don't let me down, Jelli!"
With that, she darted out of the library and headed for the dining room, leaving the Glutton alone with her new stack of salacious reading material. Shaking all over, she opened one up.
She read the first line, before her knees buckled and her legs gave out altogether.
-----
Jezebel was an excellent cook, there were no two ways about it. In the short time she had to prepare since inviting everybody to stay the night, she somehow managed to whip up an amazing meal for them all. A spicy beef stew with fresh bread, baked fish for Lottie, and a marvelous vegetable soup for Whitney. For dessert, she served up a sweet ice-cream cake, and even though the Nymph considered herself to be a light eater, she wound up completely cleaning her plate.
It was one of the best meals she had ever had. Rather than the awkward silences of her own family meals, dinner at the Trayer's place was lively and full of laughter. Cobalt's sisters were a lively bunch, constantly teasing their little brother as they chatted amongst the dinner table. Even the Incubus - his hair freshly cut - seemed to lighten up a little, cracking a smile every now and then throughout the meal.
With dinner out of the way, Jezebel announced her intention to prepare the guest rooms, and gave her visitors free reign of the house, much to Cobalt's alarm. He tried to keep them all in the living room, but just as he failed to control his class, his words didn't find purchase. Even Whitney - who came simply to support the Incubus - eventually succumbed to curiosity and began to explore.
Before long, she found herself standing before a spacious walk-in closet, the likes of which typically had to be custom made. Eyes wide, she stepped inside, enthralled by the sheer amount of clothing on display. Whilst the Nymph had no interest in making or modelling clothes, she still enjoyed perusing them.
"Must be Jezebel's..." she breathed, running her hands across a rack of stately dresses.
It wasn't just formalwear, either. Everything from simple tracksuits and jeans to lacy lingerie filled the closet, like a treasure trove of fabric. There were even some stranger-looking pieces, like a Victorian gown or a piecemeal leather harness that looked straight out of some post-apocalyptic wasteland.
"Movie props?" Whitney reasoned, raising an eyebrow.
She could think of no other explanation. Regrettably, the Nymph had never seen any of Jezebel Trayer's films, owing to her own mother's dislike of romantic fiction. But from what she understood of Karazelle's simpering at the table, the woman's acting skill was legendary. From the stage of the Brimstone Theatre where she started her career, to the far-flung studios of Bramble Close, each and every one of her performances were both heart-wrenchingly beautiful and wonderfully spectacular.
Making a mental note to rent some Jezebel Trayer movies when she got back to the school, Whitney delved deeper into the closet, eager to find more props that she might later recognise.
But instead, she found an old trunk, beaten from years of use and covered in a fine layer of dust. It had a padlock on it, but it had been left open.
"What's this...?"
Easing it open, the Nymph peered curiously inside.
It was filled with all sorts of things, and none of them were mere props. A dented hipflask, a leather knapsack, a handful of what looked like bullet casings, a few scattered wrenches, a roll of boxing tape, a collection of death metal records... All of that and more lay stuffed into the trunk, smelling heavily of cologne.
"Hm?"
There was one article of clothing amongst the miscellaneous tat. Reaching deep into the trunk, Whitney pulled out an old, dusty biker's jacket. Made from some heavy, black material, its sleeves had been roughly cut off at some point in the past, and it was covered in custom patches. On the back was a pair of dog heads - one red, one blue - with the words - "DUSTOP HELLHOUNDS" emblazoned above it. It sported a pair of wingholes, but - with no offence to her host - it looked far too small to fit Jezebel's frame.
"Dustop... That's in the West Country, right?" Whitney pondered, struggling to remember anything from her Geography classes.
Turning the jacket around, she spied a patch sewn onto the inside.
If lost, return to B. Trayer. If stolen, go fuck yourself
"Eh?"
Suddenly, she heard footsteps from outside.
"Who's that in Mom's closet?" called the voice of one of Cobalt's sisters, though they all sounded too similar for the Nymph to differentiate.
Heart pounding, she instinctively flung the jacket back into the trunk and slammed it shut, clicking the lock into place for good measure. Just as she spun around, somebody else stepped into the closet.
She was a Succubus with a kindly face and neatly braided hair, bearing a blue apron over her clothes. From what Whitney could remember from the controlled chaos of the dinner table, this was Azul Trayer. She remembered her being friendly enough, especially towards her brother.
A little too much, actually.
"Oh, hi! Checking out Mom's old clothes?" she asked, clasping her hands behind her back.
Whitney nodded shakily, eyeing up the trunk.
"Y- Yeah! My, uh... My dad's in the clothing business. Guess that kinda rubbed off on me," she lied, grabbing one of the dresses for effect.
Thankfully, Azul didn't even bat an eye at the old trunk.
"Oh yeah, you're from the Brode family! I remember Mom taking me to one of those dinners they held once! Kinda boring, but nice food!"
Whitney hated those functions. As a big businessman, Charles Brode regularly held interpersonal events at their house, hosting dozens of other bigshots from all over the city-state and beyond. She used to attend them when she was younger, but before long, she just sequestered herself in her room whenever people came over.
"Yeah, Daddy's kind of a talker. His speeches last hours sometimes."
Azul laughed, but soon fell silent as she nervously fidgeted. Clearly Whitney wasn't the only person who didn't far well in conversations.
As she racked her brain for a suitable topic, her curiosity suddenly piqued.
"So... Cobalt. What was it like growing up with him?" she asked, interested in learning more about her teacher.
Azul's reaction to being question on her brother was... explosive, to say the least.
"It was just the best! Oh, you should have seen him when he was a baby! He was so cute and small and he had the chubbiest little cheeks and stubby little horns and wings that flapped when he was happy! Sometimes when Mom had shoots or something and she had to stay the night somewhere else she'd let me move his crib into my room and I swear I used to watch him sleep for hours and hours and hours! And when he was in his first stage he had the cutest widdle speech impediment! He couldn't pronounce the letter S properly, so he thounded like thith! And when he started to play the violin he looked so cute I just can't- Agh!" she cried, immediately becoming much more animated at the mere mention of the Incubus.
Whitney's eyes widened, taken aback by this sudden change in demeanor. Cobalt did mention on the way to the house that his family could be a little strange, but this really took the cake. Unsure of how to react, she laughed weakly.
"You really love your brother, huh?"
Azul nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! I was so sad when he moved to England for college, but really happy for him too, because we all thought he wasn't gonna make i-"
She suddenly stopped herself, eyes wide. Clearing her throat, Azul took a deep breath and stepped back.
"A- Anyway, you're in Cobalt's class, right?" she said, changing the subject suddenly.
"Yeah, he's our core teacher. Language, Science and History, too."
"Is he doing okay?"
Whitney nodded and did her best to smile reassuringly.
"I think so. I mean, some of my classmates can be, like, total dicks to him, but he's never really gotten that mad. Well, he kinda did once, but I totally deserved it," the Nymph laughed.
"Are you two... close?"
Whitney raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, I guess? We're pretty good friends. I- I even got to visit his room once, but that ended kinda weirdly..."
"Oh, I see. So how far have you two gone?"
The Nymph cocked her head.
"What do you mean?"
Azul shrugged.
"Like, have you maybe sucked his-"
"AGH, NO! NO, WE'RE NOT THAT CLOSE!" Whitney cried, raising her hands in front of her face.
The Succubus stuck out her lower lip. She looked genuinely puzzled.
"Huh... What about those other girls?"
"None of us are! At least... I don't think we are..."
She nodded slowly, before her eyes opened widely, as if something had just dawned upon her. Rushing into the walk-in closet, Azul suddenly grabbed Whitney's shoulders and fell to her knees.
"Please, you have to sleep with him!"
"I- I HAVE TO WHAT?!"
Stranger still, the Succubus began to cry.
"Me and Mom were talking one night and she said she was worried about him, and that if he didn't find someone she'd have to send him back to Phrodival to be a c- communal husband to everyone there! I- I thought she was joking but she looked really concerned after dinner a- and I started to panic and think 'maybe he's secretly with one of his students and he just doesn't want anyone to find out' but now you say he's not and I- I don't know what to do! I don't want Cobalt to be sent away and married off to a bunch of women I don't know and I don't want him to go and -aauuuugh!"
With tears flowing from her eyes and little snot flowing from her nostrils, Azul Trayer began to sob loudly on the floor, still clinging tightly to the Nymph, who was wearing an expression of confusion, pity and fear all mixed together.
"Augh... snff... Plea' don' led theb tage hib away!" the Succubus wailed, hugging Whitney's waist.
With a shaking hand, the Nymph awkwardly patted her head.
"I, um... I'll see what I can do? I guess?"
Wiping her nose on her sleeve, Azul got back to her feet and wiped her face.
"Y- You will...?" she asked, eyes wide and quivering.
Whitney just sighed and nodded, knowing damn well that she had no intention of invading Cobalt's privacy like that.
A little glimmer of joy returned to the Succubus' face as she began to root though one of the clothes racks. Pulling out a cardboard box, she pushed it into the Nymph's arms.
"H- Here. Mom ordered this years ago, but it was too small and she forgot to return it. Maybe it'll fit you?"
Opening the lid, she peered inside and saw that it contained a set of very lacy underwear. Blanching at the sight of it, Whitney forced a smile.
"Gee... thanks, Azul..."
Sniffling and wiping her eyes, she smiled at the Nymph.
"Th- Thank you, Whitney... I- I better go help Mom with making the beds."
Bowing apologetically, she pattered out of the closet. Whitney - still holding her 'gift' - just swallowed hard and slumped her shoulders, fully aware that she had just been pushed into a very awkward position.
Oh well... Maybe she could head to Cobalt's room and explain the situation to him? Maybe?
-----
There had to be something in the basement. Something worth rooting around all the dust and cobwebs for. Something Elya could take back to her cold, desolate apartment and add to her shrine. She already had so much, but she needed more. Forgotten undergarments. Half-used toiletries. A tissue he sneezed into. A scribbled note he discarded. All of this and more lay enshrined back home, but she needed more. She needed more.
KEEP LOOKING.
But there was so much forgotten tat in the Trayer's basement, packed into boxes and left to gather dust. She'd go through all the trouble of slitting them open and peering inside, only to be disappointed upon finding some worthless ornament or useless keepsake.
KEEP LOOKING.
But she could not be down here for two long. Jezebel - Elya's rightful mother-in-law - had been gracious enough to offer the Fallen a room of her own, up in the house's converted loft, and it would not do for her to remain hidden down here for long. Additionally, her uniform was already covered in a fair amount of dust, and she couldn't risk soiling the only set of clothes she owned.
KEEP. LOOKING.
"There must be something of his here..." she muttered, moving onto another stack of sealed boxes.
She was lucked when she spotted him leave the campus when she did. With Cobalt in his crippled state, he could do little to stop her from accompanying him, but that wasn't where the problem lay.
THOSE LITTLE HARLOTS.
Yes, his so-called 'students'. Deceivers, each and every one of them, planning and scheming to take away what rightfully belonged to her. But as she was forbidden from harming them openly, lest she incur Cobalt's ire or risk her cover as a nurse, she was struggling to find more clandestine methods of getting rid of them. Procuring suitable poisons was proving to be difficult, and besides, Elya much preferred to slaughter up close and personally.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
Whirling around, the Fallen drew Immoderata from her stock, eyes narrowed and teeth gritted.
"Tatum siroproc. Iluco, sirbenet."
The magic took effect in an instant, lighting up the gloomy basement as if it were basked in pale sunlight. With her night vision engaged, Elya glanced around for any sign of danger, only to be alerted to the orange glow of a cigarette butt. Knife gripped tightly, she stepped around an old storage shelf and faced down the intruder.
A Succubus was leaning against the wall, casually smoking by a half-open window set high into the wall. Her hair was short, her face was pierced and she wore a collection of purple patches on her leather jacket. Elya recognised her from the dinner table. Violet Trayer, her sister-in-law.
NO THREAT. SHE'S FAMILY.
"You're looking well, crazy-eyes. Last I saw you was, what? Four, five years ago?" she stated, flicking ash onto the floor.
The Fallen relaxed a little, but kept a hold of her dagger.
"What do you want?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Violet scoffed.
"Fuck, age hasn't done your temperament much. You know, I think I remember you being much shyer, back when you and Cobalt were first friends."
"That was because I was unenlightened. Now answer my question."
Violet grinned and shook her head, cigarette still clenched tight between her teeth.
"Easy, crazy-eyes, I ain't trying to take your sweetheart from you," spoke the Succubus, folding her arms.
SHE MOCKS YOUR DEVOTION.
"If you have nothing to say, then leave me be."
"I have a proposition regarding the little shit."
The Fallen's ears pricked up.
LISTEN.
"I'm listening," she growled, quietly sheathing Immoderata.
"Things are tense with me and Mom right now, since she sprung me from the pigsty a few days ago for possession charges. Bullshit situation, but that's besides the point. See, I feel like this whole family looks down on me for trying to grift, so I'm trying to curry a little favour with them, you get me?" Violet explained, folding her arms.
"State your point," spat Elya.
She rolled her eyes.
"It's about Cobalt. Mom's losing her shit because he hasn't found himself a lover. No surprise there; the kid's a dipshit."
SHE DARES TO SAY SUCH THINGS?
"Watch your tongue," hissed the Fallen, baring her teeth.
Violet just made a face.
"He's my brother, I'll say what I fucking want to about him. Anyway, it got me thinking. See if I manage to get someone to finally lay with the little scrote, then it'll get a Hell of a lot of judgement off my back."
She jabbed a finger in Elya's direction.
"So that's why I'm asking you, crazy-eyes. I know you got a thing for him, so it works in both our favours. You understand?"
SHE IS GENUINE. SHE IS AN ALLY.
But Elya wasn't so quick to trust her. True, Violet didn't seem to be lying, but why was she so willing to offer up her brother's body just like that? And why did she go straight to Elya instead of one of the other contemptuous whores that thirsted after him?
"Why me?" she asked, raising a thin eyebrow.
Violet snorted.
"Besides your massive crush on him? Because I get the feeling that you'd do it rough and dirty. Get the job done, so to speak."
A FAIR POINT. IF A CRUDE ONE.
"... Very well. I shall take you up on your offer. But know that I do not require your permission to partake of my beloved's divine flesh."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Look, I don't care if it's a quick fuck or full-on babymaking. Just get it done and do us all a favour, will you?"
Tossing her cigarette to the floor, Violet stamped it out. Nodding in Elya's direction, she headed for the door, leaving Elya alone in the dark once more. Eyes lingering on the smoking cigarette butt, she pulled Immoderata out and slowly ran a finger across the tip of the blade.
STRIKE TONIGHT. HE CANNOT RUN. HE CANNOT HIDE.
Her eyes glinted.
"Prepare yourself, my love..."
-----
As wonderful and expansive as the Trayer's house was, it still suffered from the many problems of having such a large family, that being the bathroom situation. With the sun having long since set and with fatigue weighing everybody down, the polite decorum upheld by the girls soon devolved into a mad scramble to see who could first get to the bathrooms in order to prepare for bed. Even from where Karazelle stood on the ground floor, she could hear the frantic yelling and screaming of Cobalt's sisters coupled with the struggling of her own friends.
Thankfully, she had the foresight to brush her teeth and wash her face in the downstairs bathroom, which had been overlooked in the ensuing chaos. Perhaps because it was much smaller, or perhaps it was because some of Cobalt's cut hair still lingered on the floor.
Karazelle didn't mind. What she did mind was having to share a bed with Whitney, but Jezebel had already gone through so much trouble to prepare their lodgings, she wasn't about to go pestering her over such a small issue.
Taking a swig of mouthwash, she gargled and spat it into the sink, before looking into the mirror and smiling.
"There we go," the Succubus commented, packing her toiletries away into a small bag.
With that out of the way, she stepped out of the bathroom and began to make her way back through the hall and towards the stairs.
"Karazelle?" called a voice from the living room.
Raising an eyebrow, she turned on her heel and popped her head through the door.
The electric fireplace had been switched on, and Jezebel Trayer sat in an armchair beside it, dressed in a fluffy pink gown. She was nursing a glass of wine, and upon garnering Karazelle's attention, she smiled warmly and gestured for her to take a seat opposite her.
"Mrs. Trayer?" she asked, sitting down and clasping her hands.
Jezebel sipped her wine.
"Just wanted a chat, is all. How's your mother doing?"
"Alright, I guess. We don't get to talk all that often, what with all her work stuff."
The matronly Succubus nodded slowly and stared deep into the electric flames.
"She always was diligent. Did you know she used to run the student council?" she said, rhythmically tapping her fingers against the glass.
Karazelle cocked her head.
"But B.I.D. doesn't have a student council."
"Oh, not since the Council House burnt down some twenty years ago. But she ran a tight ship, your mother did. Kept all the societies in line."
"We don't have those either."
She nodded with a knowing smile.
"I know. It was your mother that did away with them once she became Headmistress. Too much snobbery and marginalisation around them, she said."
Playing with the cuffs of her pajamas, Karazelle raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Were you in school together?" she queried.
Jezebel laughed.
"Oh no, sweetheart! I was expelled before she even enrolled!"
Her eyes widened.
"Expelled?! What for?!"
"Well, getting pregnant on school property was a fairly big mistake at the time. But, if I didn't, I never would have had my lovely girlies!"
Honestly, Karazelle was impressed by Jezebel's optimism. To be kicked from school, saddled with five kids and left to work two dead-end jobs would be enough to break anyone's spirits. But not only did Mrs. Trayer survive, but she managed to get herself noticed and eventually make it big in the acting scene. It was inspiring.
"Y'know, when I found out my teacher's mom was none other than Jezebel Trayer, I honestly thought I was dreaming," Karazelle admitted, scratching the back of her head.
"Oh stop it, you little flatterer!"
She grinned.
"Guess that's where Cobalt gets all his talent from, huh?"
But as soon as she said that, Jezebel's smile faded. Sipping her wine, she returned her gaze to the fire.
"If only it were that simple, sweetheart..." she sighed wistfully.
She gazed at the flames for a few moments, swirling her drink.
"He was always such a happy little boy, even when times got tough for him. And for the longest time we didn't think he was going to be able to live out his dreams. So, I wanted to make sure Cobalt lived his life to the fullest, in every way," she explained.
Jezebel smiled, but there was a strange sadness to it.
"And then, just like that, our fears were put to rest, and my little boy went off to university. I'm so proud of him, but... I can't help but feel like he's denying himself all of life's little pleasures."
She made a fair point. Karazelle knew all to well that Cobalt wasn't one for indulging himself in any regard, no matter how stressed or worn-out he became.
"I'm worried that he's going to let the world walk all over him, sweetheart. He's such a kind and gentle boy, but that doesn't always work in people's favours, especially not in his current career field."
"Do you think there's a way we could get him to, I dunno... be less harsh on himself?" the younger Succubus asked.
Cobalt's mother sighed.
"I've tried for years, sweetheart, I really have. Just to get him to have a taste of the simple pleasures that make us who we are. I tried coercion. I tried encouraging him. I even said that I'd have to send him away to be a communal husband for the girls back home if he didn't get his act together. I was frustrated and I didn't mean it at the time, but..."
She stared at her feet.
"I'm worried about him, Karazelle. How he's living his life right now... it's not natural for a young Lust demon. Surely you understand?"
Karazelle nodded slowly. Sometimes she wondered whether Cobalt truly enjoyed his job, as tortuous as it seemed to be sometimes. When left alone in his room, all he did was grade assignments or work on getting the next class organised. Even at Quinn's Mutov Singi, he just wished for others' happiness instead of his own.
It was problem that ran far deeper than simple abstinence. Cobalt really wasn't all that kind to himself.
"I haven't touched an alembic in months, but I cooked up something as a last resort. I'm not sure how, but if his health starts to decline, I'll be forced to use it."
Reaching into her gown, Jezebel produced a small stoppered phial filled with a glowing pink fluid.
Karazelle's eyes widened. She knew that the Succubi of Phrodival still practiced the time-honoured art of alchemy, but she never would have guessed that Jezebel herself partook of it.
"Red Rose Extract. Possibly one of the most potent aphrodisiacs one can brew," she announced, holding it up to the light.
"Do... Do you think you'll have to use it?" Karazelle asked, eyeing up the phial.
Jezebel sighed and shrugged.
"I don't think I could bring myself to..."
Rolling it over in her hand, she held it out before Karazelle.
"... which is why I'm entrusting it to you."
The glowing phial dropped into the palm of the Succubus' hand. It was warm to the touch.
"B- But, Mrs. Trayer...!"
Jezebel raised a hand.
"He's a grown man despite his looks, I know. But I'm his mother, and I'm never going to stop worrying about my little boy. Just... promise me you'll take action if he gets any worse?" she asked, looking her dead in the eyes.
Karazelle swallowed hard and glanced down at the aphrodisiac in her hand. Now that she was presented with a surefire way of getting into bed with Cobalt, did she really want to...?
"... Okay. I- I will."
Cobalt's mother visibly relaxed as she leaned back into her seat, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Thank you, sweetheart. Truly, thank you."
Getting out of her seat, she pocketed the phial and bowed her head.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Trayer," Karazelle said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Jezebel patted it.
"Goodnight, sweetheart. And thank you for looking after my boy."