The water was nice. Heated by the molten magma left over from the meteor impact all those years ago, it was pumped directly from an underground spring into the Undercroft, where it was mixed with a special blend of herbs that promoted healthy skin, relaxed muscles and rejuvenated the body. The bath itself was large and open; a basin lined with seats carved right into the meteoric iron and decorated with mosaic depictions of Lady Fesser's life and deeds. It was hot and murky. And bar the stinging in Cobalt's back as his whip wounds began to heal, it was soothing.
The Incubus lay at the very bottom of the baths, staring up at the light eking through the water as he slowly processed what had happened to him.
When his tenure in the Punishment Chamber had been interrupted, at that moment it felt like his entire world had been completely shaken to the core. The Fesserites didn't know what to do; some screamed for order, others demanded the guards to attack the Devil in their midst, while others just cried out in confusion at the sight of the Incubus sitting out of his cell. In that instant, the cold hatred burning in Cobalt's stomach was extinguished, replaced instead by an emotion he couldn't quite fathom.
One he was still trying to figure out.
Once Felicity restored some semblance of order, his shackles were removed and he was swiftly bustled to the baths to recover from his trial. The last he saw of Cherry, she was being dragged off by her subordinates, and he had no idea where Karazelle or Lilith were.
But right now, he wasn't thinking about them.
He was thinking about Brass.
His father. The man - no, the hero - he had been hearing about ever since the Diate incident. The Incubus who led the Damned Defence against the Devil the first time around. Who instigated the student riots. Who burned down the Council House. Who stood up against Viola Terna. A man who had captured everyone's hearts, who could rally a city-state against terror, who could...
Deep within the bath, Cobalt could feel his tears mix with the water all around him.
The man who his mother fell in love with. Who she knew only had a little time left, and yet she allowed her heart to be broken all the same. Who asked her for little more than a legacy.
Him.
What was Cobalt supposed to say to a man like that?
When he first decided to bring Cordelia Fesser's cure to Phrodival, he only had a half-baked plan in the back of his mind. Part of him was adamant that it wouldn't work, but he went through with it anyway. And now here he was; his father was just a stone's throw away from him, and Cobalt had no idea what to say.
And even aside from all that, there was what happened during the psychflensing, when the cat broke him free of Cherry's influence. The conversation they had chilled Cobalt to the bone, and he could still feel a shiver deep within his heart. The idea of pushing the girls away hurt to even think about, but... deep down he knew it was the best thing for them.
He wasn't a fool. He knew there was something wrong with him, and that it was only a matter of time before he completely broke down. It was better for everyone if they were far away from him by then. He couldn't give them any reason to stay close.
He couldn't hurt them. Not any more than he already had.
If he did...
He...
He was going to drown.
Climbing to his feet, the Incubus breached the surface of the bathwater and took a deep breath of the steamy air. He stood there for a few moments, staring up at the chemical lights high above him. The subterranean bathhouse - usually filled with Succubi and visitors to the Undercroft - was nearly completely empty. The sound of flowing water echoed off the metallic walls, and the gently thrumming water pumps filled the chamber with a low, sonorous tone.
"Y'alright?" spoke a voice from behind him, echoing throughout the chamber.
A strong voice, strongly accented with a West Country twang.
"Y- Yeah," Cobalt responded, "I'm okay."
He looked down into the surface of the murky water, right into the eyes of his own reflection. He had a hard time recognising his own face anymore. His skin had lost his luster, his eyes looked wild and manic, and his smile had become a mockery of its former self; a crude beartrap of razor-sharp ivory.
"Just take it easy, alright? You look like you've been through it."
He felt a lump form in his throat.
"... Wanna talk?" the voice asked, edged with concern.
Cobalt looked over his shoulder at the silhouette lounging amidst the steam.
"It's alright if you don't. I get this is probably a big change for you. Big change for me too, I mean, but if you'd rather just soak, I ain't gonna-"
"No, I'd... I'd like that."
Turning around, Cobalt waded through the water, towards the seats cut into the edge of the bath. There, Brass Trayer sat, his wheelchair sitting just by the edge of the water. Despite his bedraggled hair and pale skin, his smile was wide and confident, and the spark in his eyes seemed to set Cobalt at ease. He shuffled over, allowing his son to sit next to him. Side-by-side, he realised that Brass was actually rather tall.
"Listen. I get this is all really fuckin' strange. I'm not about to start askin' you to call me 'Dad' or nothin' off the bat," the older Incubus said, leaning back against the edge of the bath.
He took a deep breath, causing the steam to swirl.
"Hell, I'm still gettin' used to the idea. Not that I mind it. It's the opposite, if anything. Fuck, what am I tryin' to say...?"
Brass turned to face Cobalt. The heat flushing his skin made the burns stand out more. Following his son's gaze, he laughed.
"Oh, these? Got into a losin' fight with a pot of boilin' oil when I was a kid," he laughed, running a hand across his right arm.
Cobalt's eyes widened with alarm.
"That's... I am so sorry," was all he managed to say.
"Why? Ain't your fault."
"I- I know, I just-"
Brass put his hand on Cobalt's shoulder, silencing him.
"Hey. S'alright. Just take a second," he said, giving him a reassuring smile.
Nodding, he sunk down lower into the water, his mind running at a thousand miles an hour. He had so much he wanted to express to Brass; relief that the plan worked, excitement at the prospect of meeting him at long last, worry for how Jezebel would react... but after a long time, all Cobalt could say was:
"... I'm sorry."
Raising an eyebrow, his father glanced over at him.
"For what?"
"When Mom told me about you, she said that you wanted to have a child. I... I'm sorry that it was me," he breathed.
Brass nodded understandingly.
"Your Devil friend explained. You got that Everlast thingy, right? Hell of a break to catch."
Shaking his head, Cobalt stared down into the water.
"Even so... I haven't done much to live up to you. Nothing to make you-"
"Gonna stop you right there, son. Look at me."
He couldn't bring himself to do so, but Brass just squeezed his shoulder.
"It don't matter to me if you're an Incubus or not. Don't matter what you've done, what you're doin', or where you plan on goin' with your life. The fact that you're here is more than enough for me," he said gently, poking Cobalt in the chest.
Slowly, Cobalt looked up into his father's beaming eyes.
"And believe me; I am so fuckin' proud of you."
Tears welled in the corners of his eyes.
"Y- You've only just met me."
"I know. I only just met you, and the first thing you do is save my damn life. Ain't no-one but a Trayer could pull somethin' like that off."
"I didn't think it through. That syringe could've killed you."
"Thinkin' things through ain't our way, believe me. Besides, weren't like I was livin' the good life anyway."
"But-"
"Cobalt. You can hit me with every and, if or but you got, and it still won't change my mind," Brass sighed, leaning back.
He took a deep breath.
"Fact that you're here and breathin'... That's enough for me."
A moment of silence passed between the two. It wasn't uncomfortable silence, but Cobalt still felt tense. He was afraid of saying something wrong, like he was one poorly-phrased sentence away from tarnishing his image in Brass' eyes forever. Thankfully, his father broke the silence before he could even begin to think of something to say.
"So," the older Incubus sight, scratching his neck, "tell me about yourself."
"Me?"
"If you wanna."
Cobalt nodded slowly.
"... I'm a teacher at B.I.D. I took a training course in Oxford, and... I'm enjoying it a lot."
"A teacher? Damn, that's your mom's smarts at work, then."
"Y- Yes, well... I've been at it for two years now."
"Good man. How've your sisters been?"
"They're doing okay. Scarlet's a travel journalist now. Viridi's working in the hospital, and Azul at the daycare. Amber stays at home mostly, and Violet is, uh..."
Brass laughed.
"Still raisin' Hell, I hope?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Cobalt nodded slowly, prompting him to burst out into laughter. He had a strong guffaw; the kind of laugh that other people couldn't help but smile at. But after a few moment's, Brass went quiet and his smile faded, replaced instead by a wistful look in his eyes.
"... and Jezzy?"
"She..."
He went quiet for a moment, wondering just how to word it.
"... still misses you. A lot," he admitted quietly.
Brass stared into the water and took a shaky breath.
"Wouldn't hold it against her if she moved on. Shoulda figured she wouldn't. Fuck, that's just like her," he sighed, rubbing his eyes.
A pang of guilt ran through Cobalt as he looked back and smiled.
"I've missed her too. All those years trapped in that nightmare, and a part of me still clung to her face. Fuck... can't wait to see her again."
Cobalt frowned as he thought about what he witnessed on Valentines Day. Jezebel told him that she signed herself up for inevitable heartbreak when she decided to marry an Incubus, but he had the feeling that she wasn't even aware of just how deeply Brass' fate had affected her. To bring him back to her now... would she be able to cope...?
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Somewhere far behind him, he heard the doors to the bathhouse chambers open. An entourage of robed Succubi entered, carrying sets of clothes and fresh towels. They approached the edge of the bath, whereupon one of them cleared her throat and stepped forward.
"The Matriarch wishes to speak with you, Mr. Trayer," she said, clearly unnerved at the prospect of speaking with an Incubus.
"Which Mr. Trayer are we talkin' about here?" Brass asked, leaning back to face her.
"You, sir."
He nodded and turned to Cobalt.
"You comin' with or do you wanna soak a lil' longer?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Is it alright if I stay?"
His father smiled.
"Sure thing. Take all the time you need, son."
As Brass lifted himself out of the bath with the assistance of the Fesserites, Cobalt pushed himself back out to deeper water, his mind plagued with confused thoughts. With one last look to his father as he was wrapped in a towel and settled into the wheelchair, he shut his eyes and sunk back down into the water. He floated here, confused and unsure, thinking of a hundred things and nothing in particular, all at the same time.
-----
When Cobalt finally extricated himself from the bath, his wounds had healed and his entire body was squeaky clean, but his head was still filled with cotton wool. He kept his eyes to the ground as he dried himself off and dressed himself in one of the robes left behind for him by the Fesserites. Beyond the walls of the bathhouse, he could hear all sorts of uproar. The entire Undercroft had been thrown into disarray by the emergence of Brass Trayer.
Taking a deep breath, the Incubus massaged his temples.
"Get it together, Trayer... Just..." he sighed to himself, clenching his fists.
He shook his head and walked towards the door. The Matriarch would probably want to talk to him. To demand an explanation for everything.
Opening the door, he stepped out into the ornate halls of the Undercroft's uppermost floors, staggering back as he was almost knocked over by the Succubi rushing to and fro. They were so frazzled by the appearance of a sapient Incubus from the depths of the Undercroft that they didn't even notice the second Incubus standing in their midst. Save for the single Succubus leaning against the far wall, dressed in trendy casualwear that contrasted sharply with the more simplistic robes all around her. She rushed across the hall, eyes wide with worry as she threw her arms around Cobalt.
"Oh sugar! You're okay!" Karazelle gasped, hugging him tight.
He didn't return the gesture. He didn't speak. Cobalt didn't know what to do.
"Nobody's telling me anything. What's going on? First that Devil, and your dad, and now everything is just..."
Taking a deep breath, she firmly held him by the shoulders and pulled back in order to stare deep into his eyes.
"Are you alright, sugar?" she asked in a soft voice.
"I'm fine, Karazelle. Just a little tired," he sighed in response.
She looked from one eye to the other, a look of worry darkening her features. He knew that she didn't believe him.
"Let's just... Let's just go see Gramma. She has an office down here; she's probably there," Cobalt said.
"Sugar-"
"Let's go," he quickly added, shaking the Succubus off.
She flinched away from him, surprised by such a cold response. He tried not to think about it. Thinking wasn't doing him any good.
With Karazelle following close behind him, Cobalt trekked through the Undercroft, passing by gossiping Fesserites, confused alchemists and frazzled-looking security guards. The all gave him suspicious glares as he passed them, but by then the Incubus had grown used to the constant stares. Passing through a few incense-choked shrines, he entered the Undercroft's administrative area; a warren of libraries, archives and Succubus garbed in parchment-laded robes. They were deep in discussion regarding the latest phenomenon, but he left them to their debates and made a beeline for the hand-carved door at the end of the corridor.
"Hey," spoke a harsh voice to his left, one that struck a distinct chord with him.
He stopped in place, causing Karazelle to blunder into his back. Clenching his teeth, he turned to find Cherry Lattess sitting on a bench just outside of the Matriarch's office. Her arm was in a sling, and she had a dour look upon her face. The security chief's eyes burned into him, but he met her stare without flinching away.
"Got something of yours."
Standing up, she reached into her pocket and pulled out his tie. Eyes widening, Cobalt snatched it out of her hand and clung to it tightly.
"I was just doing my job, you know that, right?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Bullshit," breathed Karazelle, though Cobalt gestured for her to stand down.
Looking Cherry in the eyes, he took a deep breath.
"... Sure."
The Succubus opened up her only usable arm.
"Hug it out? No hard feelings?" she suggested, raising an eyebrow.
Her eyes showed not a single hint of remorse, and the corner of her mouth was already twitching, ready to twist back into that cruel grin of hers. But Cobalt was sick of shying away from those who frightened him. Nodding, he stepped forward and allowed the Succubus to hug him. Almost immediately, she gripped the back of his robe and hissed into his ear.
"You're still in there, pup; saw that for myself up close. I fucking mourned you on the night of my Aging Ceremony, you know. I mourned losing a good dog, and now you're back, little more than a pathetic sheep."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Cobalt replied through clenched teeth.
She cackled softly in his ear.
"Sure. You keep telling yourself that."
Cherry reaffirmed her grip on his back, digging her nails into his skin.
"This isn't over by a long shot, pup. I'll have a collar on you again, just like old times. You can count on that."
"Alright, that's enough!" Karazelle cried, grabbing Cobalt's shoulders.
Wrenching him away, she planted herself between the two and stared Cherry down. She just scoffed and took a step back.
"Better keep him leashed if you know what's good for you."
"I know what's good for me already."
"Just some friendly advice, is all."
She winked at Cobalt.
"See you around, pup."
With that, she sauntered off, tail swishing and wings fluttering. The Incubus stood with his fists clenched as Karazelle looked back to speak with him, but before she could get a word out, he just shook his head and pushed open the doors to the Matriarch's office.
It was a large, comfortable chamber filled with display cases and glass cabinets, each filled with artifacts from throughout Phrodival's history, such as fertility idols, psychomancy spell scripts, ancient alchemy alembics. Portraits of Matriarchs from years gone by decorated the wall behind the large rosewood desk at the far end of the office, each a member of Cobalt's ancestry. Plush armchairs ringed the room, each facing the desk, and a fireplace burned merrily in the corner. As the door clanged shut behind them, the room's inhabitants all looked up to face Cobalt and Karazelle.
Felicity was seated at the desk, clutching a quill in one hand as she used the other to dab a handkerchief to her forehead. Lilith was sitting in one of the chairs, flanked on both sides by armoured guards. She looked annoyed by her escort, and narrowed her eye at Cobalt when he entered. Brass was there too; waving to his son as he idly played with a lighter he plucked off the Matriarch's desk.
"How are you feeling, dear?" Felicity asked, clearly exhausted by the entire day's ordeals.
Cobalt glared at her.
"You sent me to the Punishment Chamber. All things considered I'm not feeling great," he responded.
"I understand that you're upset, but it was out of my hands. I can't change our laws on a whim; I had no choice."
"You could have put anyone else in charge of carrying it out."
"I didn't know that Cherry had such a bone to pick with you, dear."
She sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"I assure you, everything you said won't be repeated outside of these walls. Everyone present signed an agreement," she explained.
"I did too," Karazelle added, inching closer to Cobalt.
He frowned, but said no more. As indignant as he was, he couldn't refute her point. The Matriarch was just doing her job, and nobody could predict that Cherry was such a loose cannon. Conceding, he sighed and sat down in one of the armchairs. Karazelle sat next to him, constantly glancing over at Lilith as she tried to make herself comfortable. There was a tension in the room, cut only when Brass piped up.
"Anyone got smokes?" he asked, peering around the office.
Felicity glared at him, prompting him to shrug.
"What? Haven't smoked in twenty years; I think I've earned one."
Sighing, she opened a drawer in her desk and produced a box of cigarettes. Passing them to him, she clasped her hands and faced Cobalt.
"There's... a lot to talk about, so let's start with the major one."
She pointed at the Devil, who scoffed and rolled her eye.
"What the Hell are you doing with a Devil?" Felicity asked, leaning back in her chair.
All eyes turned to him.
"... Her name is Lilith. And she can speak for herself," he murmured, eliciting a quiet gasp from Karazelle.
"Finally," the Devil sighed, standing up.
The two guards immediately drew their batons, but as they tried to strike her, she expertly struck them both down, forcing them to drop their weapons and toppling them to the floor. Stretching her wings, she raised a hand as Felicity fumbled for her Leather Whip.
"Please. I'm not here to hurt anybody, not if I can help it," she sighed.
"And why should I believe you, monster?!" the Matriarch hissed, narrowing her eyes.
"You don't really have any reason. But if you hurt me, you'll be hurting him too," the Devil replied, pointing at Cobalt.
Eyes wide, Felicity looked at her grandson, her eyes tracking over to his dark iron horns.
"A contract...?" she breathed.
"My fault. I pushed it on him. But it was for good reason."
"What reason could that possibly be?!"
"Believe it or not, but not all Devils dream of retaking Hell. Some of us realise that our time has passed. I'm one of those Devils."
Felicity bared her teeth.
"And where the Hell does my grandson fit into these ideals of yours?" she asked, her fists balling.
Lilith stood her ground as her guards struggled to climb back to her feet.
"Cobalt's become a symbol; something representing resistance against Devils. I first intended on using his body as a disguise, but over these past few months, I'm glad the contract fucked up. Together, he and I have managed to put down four Devil attacks."
Over by the fireplace, Brass choked on his cigarette, casting smoke everywhere.
"Four of 'em?!" he cried, eyes wide with shock.
"That's right. One blew himself up, two of them went down without much fuss, and the last is buried so deep that-"
"Lilith. Please stop," Cobalt interrupted, holding his head in his hands.
She shook her head.
"... He and I are inextricably linked. That's why he trusted me to get his old man out of your basement."
Brass nodded and puffed on his cigarette, grimacing as pink smoke coiled from his mouth.
"Fuck's wrong with regular tobacco, these taste like shit... Yeah, she explained as much on the way up, Felicity. Like it or not, this gal's legit," he said, stubbing the cigarette out.
"Brass, you can't seriously-"
"If she were like we believed, she woulda killed me down there. Hell, she woulda kill all of us. From what I know about Devils, they don't like even bein' near us 'lower demons', never mind workin' alongside us."
Felicity slumped back, staring into the middle distance.
"... But why?" she asked, looking back to Lilith.
The Devil scoffed.
"The less you know, the better."
"I'm asking the question here, Devil."
"Sure. That doesn't mean I have to answer them."
"Now just you wait a-!"
Pulling a face, Lilith melted into a cloud of magic before she could finish her sentence. The Matriarch watched with wide, shocked eyes as she floated over to Cobalt. Karazelle scrambled out of the way as it fused with his body, returning his strength to him.
"I think I can safely say you owe me for this one, kid," the Devil sighed, sounding utterly exhausted.
"Well I'll be damned..." Brass breathed, leaning forward in his chair.
Felicity looked about ready to blow up, but to her credit, she successfully managed to take a deep breath and calm down. She ordered the guards out of the room with a wave before she took a second to organise her thoughts.
"... How?" she asked in a quiet voice.
Cobalt looked around.
"How what?"
"How did you do it? Incupsychosis has plagued us since the genesis of our people, and you just... cure it. Just like that."
"Wouldn't say it's a perfect cure, " Brass piped, leaning back in his wheelchair, "Hurts like Hell to move my legs, and I'm havin' a hard time concentratin' on the rest of my body. But I'll take it over another second in that cell any day."
Clearing his throat, Cobalt spoke up.
"I found Cordelia Fesser's journal in Mom's library. Inside was a recipe for a potential cure to Incupsychosis."
Felicity's face went deathly pale.
"Cordelia Fesser..." she breathed, getting out of her seat.
She walked over to the fireplace and stood in front of it for a few moments, her hands clasped behind her back.
"... Every one of the scientific advancements she brought us were paid with their weight in blood, dear. She was intelligent, yes, but she was also a madwoman. You could have killed him!"
"But he didn't," Brass said with a smile on his face.
The Matriarch pinched the bridge of her nose.
"We're going to have to look you over, Brass. Don't get me wrong, dear; I'm overjoyed to have you back, but there all kinds of dangers that come with relying upon Cordelia's work. We'll make arrangements for care and observation, and once we can ensure that you're okay, we'll see about rehabilitation, and then..."
Clearing his throat, the older Incubus nodded his head as he wheeled himself over to his son.
"Sounds great, Felicity. But I'm gonna have to turn you down."
"What?!"
Wheeling himself between Cobalt and Karazelle, he reached out and put his arms around both of them.
"As much as I love this lil' underground clubhouse of yours, I'm about ready to see the sun again. Think I'll tag along with my son and his girlfriend."
"Oh, I'm not his girlfriend, sir," the Succubus said, much to his amusement.
"Smart and polite. I like this one," he laughed, nodding to Cobalt.
Shaking her head, Felicity folded her arms.
"You can't be serious! You're in no condition for travelling!" she cried.
"Ain't in any condition to sit around on my ass either. I got a family waitin' for me, Felicity. Your daughter, who I promised to look after from the second I put a ring on her finger. I still plan to uphold that oath, and I ain't gonna wait around a moment sooner," Brass said resolutely, giving the Matriarch a sidelong grin.
Shocked, she turned to Cobalt.
"Please dear, talk some sense into your father!" Felicity begged.
The Incubus looked over at Brass. He was grinning at him, his teeth just as sharp and jagged as his son's. Despite everything, Brass was alive and well, itching to get home and reunite with a family that he hadn't seen for over twenty years. That smile finally thawed that cold sensation in his heart, filling him with a warm, unfamiliar feeling. Taking a deep breath, he fixed his grandmother with a gaze just as steely as his father's.
"Thanks for everything you've done, Gramma. But I think I'll be taking Dad home with me."