Over the last few weeks, Karina and Reece had been inseparable. Their companionship was based on mutual respect and a familiarity akin to love. It didn’t hurt that they enjoyed each other’s company, either.
Now it seemed like a new dynamic was about to interfere with their ever-growing bond. Reece winked at her to let her know that he was in control and was seeing through the vixen’s attempts to seduce him. After all, it was his job to manipulate this new girl into trusting and confiding in him. The former astronaut wasn’t about to lose this battle of wills. He’d been through way too much for that.
"Why don’t we get everyone settled in," announced Reece loudly, breaking the spell that had fallen over the group.
"Right," replied Angel, shaking his head as if waking himself from a strange dream.
As Reece began giving instructions and guiding the new arrivals to newly prepared living quarters in a nearby building, he gently pushed Ciera away and indicated with his head that she should follow Angel out as well. She hesitated for a moment but thought better of it and left with the group for their new quarters at the space center.
Once the group had left, Reece headed over to Karina who was giving him the business with her eyes as she walked away from the remaining community members who had just shown up, three middle-aged men and an older woman who were all busy talking amongst themselves.
"What?" asked Reece incredulously while throwing up his hands in mock surrender.
"Oh, my hero...protect me, hold me, love me," imitated Karina in a mockingly seductive voice as she hugged herself and pretended to sniffle.
"Yeah, okay...she was a little over the top," replied Reece in mild agreement.
"A little," she laughed. "What I don’t understand is why everyone fell for it so quickly and completely."
"You noticed that too, huh? I could almost feel something alluring emanating from her. It was even more palpable the closer she was and the harder she looked at me. I’ve never felt anything like it before."
She looked at Reece for a second as she mulled something over in her head.
"I felt something too. Something subtly altering my feelings about her," explained Karina. "Instead of caution, I was feeling pity for her for no good reason."
Then her eyes shot wide as she had an epiphany.
"She’s a succubus!" she exclaimed to Reece in a whisper as she made sure to check around them for eavesdroppers.
"She sure is," laughed Reece, not catching on.
"NO, love. She is an actual succubus, like a lamia or yakshini from mythology. I had heard stories about them a very long time ago but thought they had been extinct for hundreds of years. They had been persecuted to the ends of the earth. They are ageless, beautiful females that can potentially live forever if they can manage to sustain themselves without drawing undue attention."
"And how do they do that?" asked Reece, nervous about her answer and unwilling to admit he’d never heard of a lamia or yakshini either.
"Through sex somehow, but that’s all I know," Karina answered, shrugging. "It’s not like I’m an expert on them. I don’t even know how or if they procreate. This is the first one I’ve ever met, assuming that is indeed what she is. I do know that there is definitely something inhuman about her. Nobody looks that good in the middle of an apocalypse without a very interesting backstory."
"Well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see then," replied Reece in complete agreement. "Wait... an apocalypse? I thought there was just one."
"Of course not, this is actually the third one I’ve seen, though it’s been a while, so I can understand your confusion," came Karina’s matter-of-fact reply.
"Well, I guess that bodes better for us than I thought then," rationalized Reece as he considered the implications of her answer.
It was then that Angel came back with Ciera in tow. The others must have gotten settled and Angel wanted her somewhat isolated until they could determine her motives. She seemed oblivious to the ‘special’ treatment she was receiving, but that could also be an act.
"I’ve gotta get back," said Angel as the two approached Reece and Karina. "Could you take Ciera to the single’s dormitories? I explained to her that these units are for families."
"Be good," whispered Karina to Reece as she got up from the table and slapped him lightly on his left cheek before walking out of the room.
"Sure thing," Reece seemingly replied to both, as he forced a smile at Ciera.
"Thanks," said Angel cheerfully, not really caring if Reece’s answer was for him or Karina. He simply waved at the two and walked back out the way he had come.
"Well, shall we?" Reece asked as he offered his arm to Ciera.
"Sure, lead the way," replied the beautiful young woman as she stood there waiting for him to lead her to her dormitory room.
Reece dropped his arm and smirked as he turned and walked out of the Welcome Center and headed for the solo dorms. He had expected her to take his arm, but she had flipped the script on him by ignoring the proffered limb. She acted cute and simple, but if what Karina had said was true, she could be far older than she looked. And with age comes wisdom and knowledge.
Reece would have to be careful; his only advantage was that she didn’t know that he already suspected her of not being what she seemed. He turned to see her following and noted that she held her head up with an air of confidence that increased her attractiveness even more. Noticing him looking her way, she flashed him a disarming smile. Yes, he would have to be very careful with this one.
They walked in silence for a time, which surprised Reece. He figured she’d be using this opportunity to soak him for as much empathy as she could manage. Realizing that this tact wasn’t working, Reece decided to engage the woman in conversation.
"Once you get settled," Reece began, indicating the backpack she was swinging gently from her right arm as they made their way across multiple parking lots, "I can show you the dining hall if you’re hungry, or just give you a tour of the place...or, if you prefer, I can leave you to your dorm so you can get some rest, or just some peace and quiet."
"I’ll think about it," was all she said in response.
Reece hadn’t figured out what kind of game this ‘woman’ was playing, but he was confident that the game was afoot. After a few more minutes of walking in silence, they were finally at the dormitory. It used to be an old onsite hotel with five floors for guests and tourists to stay in. The rooms and building were in good condition, so they decided to use them as living quarters for most of the community. Families were afforded the larger townhouses near the welcome center.
"What’s your room number?" Reece asked Ciera over his shoulder.
"412," she replied after examining the key card she had been given by Angel.
Reece led her inside the main lobby and over to the left stairwell. They climbed to the 4th floor, where Reece led her to the room with the same number affixed to the door that she had told him. Reece stood back and indicated she should try her keycard. She gave him a confused expression.
"You’re probably wondering how the card-readers are powered, right?" asked Reece rhetorically. "This is a newer hotel and is a solar/wind hybrid, with fully charged batteries that will last for several days. So, give it a try."
She frowned at him but tried the card anyhow. A green light flashed across the top of the card reader and an audible ‘click’ emanated from the shut door. Ciera tentatively tried the door and it pushed open. She entered the dorm room as the lights flickered on and soft music began playing through the overhead speakers. She left the door ajar as she inspected the room with double beds and checked out the bathroom as well.
"The shower works too," called Reece from outside of the dorm room. "There’s a desalination plant on the southern end of the island and we pump water from there to a pair of large cisterns on the roof, just under the solar panels. Oh, just inside the door is the control panel for the lights and sound system. Make yourself at home, I’ll be in the hotel gym on the main floor for a bit if you need me. I’ll check on you after that. Enjoy."
Reece shut her door before she could respond and headed down to the gym. He was quickly finding his new mission to be a waste of time, so he figured he could at least get a workout in and take out some frustration. This gym was fully stocked and even had a large red kickboxing bag, the standing type. There was nothing better to take out his issues on, at least without causing any damage--including to himself.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
He entered the men’s locker room and switched into a white tank-top and black shorts. He taped his forearms and shins and brought a pair of speed gloves with him for later. Sitting on one of the mats, he did some yoga to limber up.
As he went through various poses and stretches, it reminded him of Thato, Sora... and Aika. Two, at least...were dead. The third had been brainwashed to betray them. Reece’s heart still ached when he thought of Aika. He quickly dismissed the unpleasant thoughts and refocused on his exercises.
His mind wandered of its own accord and he wondered where Sora was and if she was still alive. She had been a sweet girl before they had gotten to her with their serum. And Naeva, where was she? It had been two months since they found her note. Was she still alive? Did she know if he was alive and where he was? He had tried to locate her, asking everyone who had a radio if they had seen her, but no one had given him the slightest indication of her whereabouts.
He finished his yoga and jumped onto the treadmill, starting at a brisk jog. He activated the gym’s sound system from the treadmill’s touchscreen and classic rock from the early 2000s began playing. He cranked it up and jogged faster, using his frustration and anger to energize his body and push through the burn in his muscles.
It felt good to crush the ache of unsatisfied longing with feelings of determination and defiance, even if it was only for a few moments. Thoughts of Commander Rogers and his over-entitled band of nepotistic assholes that ruined the world were swirling through his head. He had genuinely enjoyed working with Angel and building their community, but although Rogers was dead by his own hand, the world was still filled with evil and near mindless unliving killing machines that someone had to deal with sooner or later.
Reece decided then and there to finish his little inspection mission with the new girl, Ciera, and then use Pasha’s notebook to track down and take out the Order and their horrid creations one at a time. He rode the adrenaline high through the rest of the run. He finished up with a cooldown walk and hopped off the machine, put on the speed gloves, and took his rage out on the well-used kickboxing bag. He worked the bag with hands and feet, letting the energy of his pent-up fury lash out against the inanimate object.
As he began to finally tire, a feeling like he was being watched began to tickle the back of his mind until he finally consciously acknowledged it. Turning quickly and looking behind him, he saw a face in one of the gym’s windows briefly before it disappeared out of view behind the gym’s wall.
"Who’s there?" he called out, not really expecting an answer.
He dashed to the door and grabbed the doorframe, using it to change his momentum, and kept running around the corner of the gym to get a view of whoever was spying on him. He got a better glimpse of the person before she could round the next corner out of the hallway she had been running down.
It was Ciera, which confirmed to Reece that she was up to no good. He had to let her know that she was caught so she’d stop running since it wouldn’t do her any good at that point.
"Ciera! Stop!"
Reece waited a few moments before a dejected-looking Ciera came back around the corner to face him. She stood there, staring at him defiantly before her shoulders finally slumped and she sank to her knees against one of the hallway walls, crying and beating her fist against it in anger and frustration. Over what exactly, Reece didn’t know but he intended to find out. After all, he had one last mission to complete here.
"Relax," he said to her as he approached her sobbing form. "It’s going to be fine, just tell me what you’re really doing here."
Once he reached her, he offered her his hand to help her up. She tentatively took it and he pulled her gently to her feet and pulled her close. She was trembling, which Reece knew was very hard to fake. He didn’t trust her, but he knew she was distraught for some reason. When she calmed a bit and slowly pulled back to look him in the eye, he glanced down at her neck and that’s when he noticed it.
Under the wide black choker that she wore, he caught a glimpse of brown leather under its lacey edges, stirring a memory. Before she could react, he pulled the black choker down with one of his gloved hands, his fingers just being able to grasp the cloth of the garment. Once the black cloth had been pulled down, it revealed a shock collar.
It was just like the one he had removed from Karina shortly after he had first met her. His eyes suddenly went wide, and he backed away from her in the realization of what her role here must be.
"You’re spying for them, aren’t you? You’re under the Order’s control!" exclaimed Reece in shock.
A look of anguish washed over her face followed by a myriad of other emotions before she settled on surrender. Just when Reece started to lower his guard, she attacked. She hadn’t surrendered to him; she had surrendered to whatever the Order had told her to do.
She wasn’t strong, but she was incredibly fast. She had hit him a half-dozen times before he could even get his hands up. He counter-punched and connected with her face. As he pulled back his padded-glove-clad fist, she smiled at him and licked the trickle of blood dripping from her nose. Then she dropped to the floor, and using her hands for support, kicked him in the gut with both her legs.
His stomach was instantly on fire as he flew backward and landed hard on the hallway floor. The thin carpet did little to soften the landing. He used his momentum to roll over and come back up on guard which was immediately tested by a quartet of kicks levied at him by the beauty who turned out to be surprisingly skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
On top of that, Reece was already exhausted from his workout. Despite his size advantage, he wasn’t confident he could take her. Regardless, he moved in and feinted a kick before dropping his whole body to the right and coming up with a left upper cut followed instantly by a right cross.
He was able to connect with both and had the girl reeling for a moment. He threw in a reverse-spin kick he had learned from Aika and despite her blocking the kick with both arms, the power of the kick sent her flying backward. Somehow, she turned the fall into a backflip and landed on her feet in a crouch.
She stared at him with determination as she slowly stood up and put both hands behind her back. When they reappeared, they were each holding wicked-looking daggers. Each had a double-edged blade over a foot long. Reece’s chances just went to about zero and he knew it. Yet, he’d fought under worse odds.
Running would accomplish nothing as she was much faster than him, especially considering his exhausted condition. He did the only thing he could and assumed a fighting pose, waiting for her to come to him. He would expend as little of his precious remaining energy as he could.
Taking his stance as an invitation, she rushed him again. This time, however, she aimed for the hallway wall and the door set within it. Jumped high into the air, she landed with one foot on the doorknob and used it to launch herself even higher.
She came down hard and fast with both daggers aimed at his face. He went to grab her forearms, but she changed her angle of attack and went for his chest instead. He was still partially successful at stopping her dual assault, but she was able to sink both daggers into him. One stuck in his left shoulder and the other stabbed into his right upper pec muscle about an inch deep before hitting a rib. He had managed to reduce her attack’s effectiveness, but he was almost out of the fight.
She wrenched on both daggers in an attempt to retrieve them. She was only able to recover the weapon that struck his chest. The other dagger was lodged in his shoulder’s humerus bone and she couldn’t budge it in time, so she backed off with one dagger remaining. Reece stared at her defiantly and gritted his teeth against the pain, before pulling the dagger in his shoulder lose and brandishing it against her as he unsteadily stood back up.
As she approached him, he could feel his limbs grow heavy as darkness closed in around him. He still managed to block several attacks as he slowly fell to his knees and toppled over and onto his back. The dagger fell from his numb fingers as the carpeted floor rushed up to meet him. Looking up at the woman who was his doom, Reece didn’t feel anger or fear, just sadness for what he had lost and even a little empathy for the poor puppet before him.
He watched helplessly as she dropped onto his chest, pinning his arms with her legs. She brought the single dagger up over her head and stared down at him with more emotion than she had a right to feel considering the circumstances. She drove the dagger down into Reece’s face, straight into his left eye.
Except he wasn’t dead. Ciera was still straddling him, and she still had ahold of the killing dagger. Only it wasn’t sticking out of his head, but out of the floor next to his ear. Faster than he could register, she must have changed her mind for some reason and stopped herself from murdering him. Tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto his chest, mingling with the blood from Reece’s wounds. She stared at him with fear and worry written across her face.
Then her beautiful dark-skinned face hardened into something else and she leaned down and kissed him deeply, snaking her tongue into his mouth without so much as asking permission. Reece was too stunned, exhausted, and weak to do much of anything.
On top of that, he was pretty sure he was dying, bleeding out from his shoulder and chest as he lay there. Her stay of execution just delayed the inevitable. His eyelids flickered a few times before finally shutting for good as blackness finally took him completely.
As he lay dying, a landscape of fire and rock stretched before him, undead creatures of every shape and size pulling their hideous bodies from cracks and chasms in the broken ground. A black sun shone down upon all, energizing the beasts, but filling him with a surge of power as well.
He looked into the darkness of the sun and recognized the shape as the nightcore, the mysterious artifact he had found aboard the space station and which now rested in his dorm room just two floors down. As the creatures closed in on him, bearing down on the solitary man with bloody teeth and blackened, shriveled faces...he felt a presence behind him.
Aika came up beside him, her katanas in her hands. On the other side, another presence made itself felt before materializing into Naeva who quickly changed into her menacing hybrid wolf-like form with six-inch claws directed towards the oncoming hoard. He found that he had a wicked sword in his hand, the very one he had made for himself aboard the station but never had the opportunity to use.
The three of them began a furious dance of devastation with the closing horde. Just as they started losing ground, a huge black blade on a silver chain flew forth and neatly sliced a full dozen bloody mutant nightmares in half. As their blood and viscera poured onto the group and ran into the cracks and chasms that had coughed them up, Reece looked back and saw that Karina had joined them in the battle against the bloody and rotting horde.
The four weaved and fought and created a path of gore in their wake, yet the horde came on and on until one creature escaped the barrier of blades that protected him and stabbed him deeply into the same wounds in his chest and shoulder that he had suffered at the hand of Ciera. Aika decapitated the beast as Reece dropped to his knees and fell backward to the hot rocky ground.
Unable to rush to his aid, the three struggled to keep up against the relentless horde. Just as Reece felt the darkness closing in again, a face appeared within his field of vision from the top of his head and bent down to his where he suddenly felt warm lips on his. It was a strange sensation in such a place, and it got stranger as he felt a tongue enter his mouth and the pain of his wounds began to subside.