Ezrylliil’s carriage had a certain understated quality to it, small, all black, windows covered. I didn’t realize it was her until she stepped out. Her dress was long, black with a slight shine to it, and a split on one side showed off her leg. A golden vine was embroidered on, starting from the bottom and winding its way around the dress, splitting, and ending in small flowers. It matched the gold rings she had in her horns and ears. She was the picture of a succubus, if any of us were royalty they would look like her, carry themselves the way she did, confident, wings held up and open a little, making her even more imposing.

“Zalgeth!” She smiled like she was happy to see me. I smiled back, not sure how to greet her. To my surprise she gave me a quick hug.

“It’s good to see you.” Her voice was warm, she sounded almost a little excited. Taking my hand she led me to the carriage. The driver was a devil in a simple black suit with a pistol on his hip and to my surprise a sword of some sort on his back. We made eye contact before he looked down at the revolver on my hip.

“You should have told me she would be armed,” he said in a low voice, turning to Ezrylliil.

“I told you she was a soldier, it was a possibility, and it’s fine. Zalgeth, I would like to introduce you to Sergaz, he is my security, and often my driver as well.”

I reached out my hand and thankfully he shook it without hesitation.

“I assure you,” I said to him, trying to be confident, “I know how to use it.”

He shrugged and Ezrylliil led me into the carriage. The interior had the same understated wealth as the outside. Nothing looked rich, no gold or ivory, no decorations, just well built and comfortable.

“You know you are very exciting.” Ezrylliil said to me as we started moving. The suspension on the carriage was amazing, so much so I was distracted for a moment. Ezrylliil continued, “In this city when there is a successful succubus we know of her ahead of time, as she is working her way up, but you show up out of nowhere, young and wingless, with enough capital and connections to get whatever you want.”

I took a little longer than I would have liked to respond, “It’s overwhelming. In the short term I am going to work with the army again, not enlisted, contract work, and I can’t say anything about it, but I already had more money than I know what to do with, now I’ll have income from that job too…”

“I get it, investing, whether stocks or in yourself or in someone else is scary. It took me a while to work up the courage, but it paid off, literally, and as a demon the extra security is nice, financially and otherwise.” I nodded knowing that all too well. “It’s good though, opportunity is always good, but be careful, not that they don’t mean well, but getting investors is hard, and it is easier to convince another succubus, someone who doesn’t look down on us, never mind your reputation. You are the most publicly acceptable succubus right now, your presence at any demon’s business would give it legitimacy that they couldn’t get otherwise.”

“You mean they are going to try to take advantage of me?”

“I wouldn’t say that, these are my friends, they will want to help you, just in ways that also help them.”

“And is that what you want with me?”

She didn’t answer right away, instead opening a drawer under her seat and taking out a small box.

“Your girlfriend explained the basics of your situation,” she handed me the box before continuing, “it’s cheap, don’t worry, but I wanted to give you something useful, something to remind you that there are others like you, succubi who have a degree of power and influence, and we try to do right by each other, all demons. A rising tide raises all ships.”

Inside was a simple watch, bronze, white face, bronze hands. I put it on, not sure what to say.

“Do you have any experience working with money, or numbers?” Ezrylliil asked.

I quickly collected myself, “yea, my mom has a pharmacy, I helped with the books and some measuring, I wouldn’t say I’m good with numbers but I know my way around a budget and basic arithmetic.”

“That’s good. It’s an easy enough skill to learn, but when you grow up with it, you get this sense that helps, and you have experience on how a business should run. That will help you know which ones are worth investing in.”

“It’s just a small rural pharmacy.”

“Doesn’t matter, experience is experience.”

There was silence for a bit before Ezrylliil continued. “The city changes a little, you have to be more punctual, and make decisions faster, and there are more choices in terms of suppliers, advertising matters more, but a well run business is a well run business no matter where it is.”

This was my chance, “Actually, I was wondering, do we have pharmacies, demons I mean, or doctors?”

“Sort of, this is somewhat my area of expertise. I started with just selling make-up, but skin care was a logical way to expand, and from that into more general health stuff, but doctors, no. There are some experts but with no accreditation system and the lack of information on our bodies, it’s not great, but it could be worse. Why do you ask?”

I considered blaming Anne, like she offered, but it didn’t feel right hiding behind her.

“I’ve never seen a doctor, or taken any medicine.”

“You should know,” Ezrylliil’s voice was too kind, “you’re horns, they –”

“I know, I’m working on it, it was a lot worse a couple weeks ago.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Really?!” I recoiled at her surprise. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have, it is good it’s getting better.” Silence again. “The army shouldn’t have let it get so bad, they don’t deserve you.” I shrugged, no one got what they deserved, and it was how I met Anne so I couldn’t be mad about it.

“Here,” Ezrylliil said, handing me her business card, “stop by at some point. I don’t have the best healthcare, but it’s a start, and I’ll ask around, you deserve all you can get after what you’ve been through.”

“Are you offering out of kindness, or do you want my support, or investment.” I regretted asking as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I didn’t want to be suspicious of her, and deep down I don’t think I was. Thankfully Ezrylliil has a sense of humor about it.

“Both, but not just for me. I have been around nobility, for work, and their lives are pathetic. They don’t work, not for themselves, not for their people, it makes them weak. You don’t seem like the type to fall into it, but work is good for the soul, and there is a pride that comes with working for yourself, for your people, building yourself up, one you won’t get doing contract work for the army, especially since contract work usually doesn’t last long.”

I looked out the window of the carriage. “I’ll think about it.”

It was only a couple minutes before we arrived at the restaurant.

“This place is exactly what you want in a nice place,” Ezrylliil explained, “good, simple food, seafood in this case. If anything on the menu looks too complicated, or has some long winded explanation on what it is, it’s a scam, trying to appeal to those who want to feel rich, not eat good food.”

I nodded in agreement like I thought it mattered, like I hadn’t lost all focus on the world around me. I was meeting a group of people like me, I couldn’t care about much else. It was a small restaurant with an open kitchen. There wasn’t really any decor, just dim light from the gas lamps. The dark wood tables and chairs contrasted against the white walls, but there was nothing really to look at, no excuse to delay the inevitable.

There were two empty seats at the table of succubi. It was hard to imagine that they hadn’t planned for us to be the last to arrive, so they could be waiting for me looking, not imposing, or intimidating, but something close to it. They seemed sincerely happy, maybe a little excited, to see me, but they all looked so perfect, put together. Maybe it was their wings, some instinctual part of me recognizing that without any of my own I was in some ways a child compared to them. They were women, grown, in designer dresses, beautiful, and I felt silly in my suit, I wasn’t a girl, I grew out of that, but I wasn’t a woman, not the way they clearly were. I couldn’t look them in the eyes right away, but I was quick to get some courage, this shouldn’t have been so hard. They were all looking at me, and I didn’t know what to say. Thankfully Ezrylliil took over.

“So, introductions?” she said, looking at her friends and not me.

“Lilly, singer, bandleader.”

“Elle’axan, I own a casino.”

“Malvalaan, madame, some event planning.”

“Alex, investor.”

“Xelraan, madame.”

I don’t know why but I expected them to say more about themselves, but this was a group of wealthier succubi, I guess it made sense they would focus on what got them the money.

“I’m Zalgeth, and um, I was a soldier, and I am technically a military consultant or contractor now.”

“Don’t be modest,” Ezrylliil said. I looked at her, confused. “She’s a war hero.” Ezrylliil sounded like she was proud of me.

“Oh we know,” Lilly said, smiling. I could tell she was a performer, something about her made it hard to look away, and it didn’t help that her dress was tight and a shade of red only a little darker than her skin. “We all keep up on any news about us, and the first succubi to get a royal shield, an audience with the King, you’re a part of history, of course we know about you.” I shrugged, she continued, “the real question is how Ezrylliil got you here.”

“The royals hired me for her medal ceremony, and as I’m sure you can tell she’s not from around here, and her girlfriend explained she didn’t know anyone, so I figured why not invite her, it’s good for all us to know each other.” Right, my accent, I had forgotten about it.

“So I have to ask,” Alex asked, a little excitement in her voice, “what was the King like?”

I took a moment to make sure I said exactly what I meant. “In public he was imposing, powerful, but in an understated way, in private, surprisingly casual, it was unsettling.”

“What did you talk about?”

“I think it is best I don’t say, he is the King, but still, it was a private conversation.” Not that I really gave a shit about him, but I didn’t know how they felt about royalty, and I already wasn’t like them, if they knew he gave me citizenship I would be even more alienated.

More silence, I didn’t know why it was so hard for me to hold a conversation with them. Thankfully the waiter showed up. I let them order for me since they seemed to have such a high opinion of this place and I didn’t know what any of the fish on the menu tasted like.

“So,” Lilly asked, “what was the first thing you did when you got the money and were out?” She seemed happy for me, that helped me relax a little.

“A horse.”

“You can ride?”

I nodded, “Had to, grew up in the middle of nowhere, deliveries, hunting, travel, there was no way around it.”

“You must think so little of us city dwellers who can’t do anything like that.” I was pretty sure Lilly was teasing me.

“No, of course not. It really isn’t anything special, it’s just how I grew up.”

“I bet you’re a good shot too.” It felt like Lilly was flirting with me, but that didn’t make sense, Ezrylliil had mentioned I had a girlfriend.

“I do well enough, but honestly it’s easy enough to learn, and I’m more impressed by all of you. I did what I had to and somehow ended up here, you took risks you didn’t have to.”

“It always seems easier to do the things you’ve already done. That’s why it’s better to just do things, so it will be easier the next time.” Xelraan added.

The waiter brought our drinks and the conversation moved on. I didn’t really keep up. They talked about people I didn’t know, issues in the city I didn’t understand, made jokes I didn’t get. They worked for years to get the lives they had now, it only took me a few hours at most. I was there with my malnourished horns, no wings, thick accent, and when the food arrived I had to make myself eat, not that it was bad food, but I was nervous, and with my horns. I didn’t know why I was here, what I was thinking. I couldn’t even tell how old they were, they seemed ageless. But they kept talking to me, asking what I thought, letting me smile and laugh with them. I made sure to mention Anne but Lilly was still so warm, kind to me, her eyes met mine at every opportunity, and she would give me the slightest smile every time. They didn’t let me pay my bill, and I somehow ended up in front of the restaurant, smoking with Lilly as dusk brought some colder air. Ezrylliil was waiting by her carriage so I went to leave when we finished the joint but Lilly wrapped her arms and wings around me, holding me. I hugged her back for what felt like the right amount of time, but when I let go, my arms falling to my side, she kept holding me, her horns pressing against my chest. I couldn’t think, and her, the air, the smell of the restaurant, the sounds of the city, it was too much.

Ezrylliil didn’t say anything and when I got home to Anne and she asked me how it went I sat on the bed and cried.