Chapter 41 ∣  Fight For Her

-Maverick

It was a relief to know that a great number of demons living in Hell despised the royalty of this world. Apparently, there was even a rebellion group that used assassins who were not loyal to the crown in order to take them out. It didn't look like they were doing that great of a job if Keegan's father was still the ruler. In fact, they were terrible. Vampire assassins could probably have done a better job, as I don't see why electricity was considered as powerful as it was.

Is there something I don't know? Something I'm overlooking?

Thanks to that succubus, I learned exactly how time works here...it'd already just been a little over a month in the time it had taken me one day from Earth to arrive.

Damn this all to Hell!

I just fucking want to see Eris again...I don't need my blood magic in order to kill Keegan or his father. I'm a pureblood vampire...there are few in this world that can knock me down.

I attempted to clear the shadow of a doubt that struck my mind, stating, 'you're not in your world anymore.'

The direction the succubus had led me in, came to a gnarled bridge that overlooked the crags, a pit of lava and fire spewing from the depths below. It wasn't quiet. In fact, there were many demons approaching the bridge, crossing it, and heading into the splendid looking palace that sat on its own rock island.

"What's going on?" I asked under my breath, the succubus standing beside me.

"If I'm not mistaken, the announcement went out not more than a few hours ago of Prince Keegan's coronation ceremony," she appeared thoughtful, her eyes looking from one demon to the next, saying, "Although, I was quite surprised when they notice stated that the ceremony would last more than four hours. That's not the normal amount of time one of those lasts. When King Bram took the throne, it was a little over two hours."

My heart stopped in my chest, skipping a beat as I breathed in sharply, eyes lingering on my form as demons continued to make their way across the bridge.

"I wonder..." the succubus' voice drifted off, placing a hand to her forehead and then sighing, "No, that would just be silly..."

"What?" I asked. She just shook her head, motioning toward the bridge.

"If you cross that bridge, you will be caught," she glanced to a separate set of rock stairs that led beneath of the lava, "But if you approach from underground, you shouldn't have any problems."

I nodded, taking a step away from her and then turning, saying, "Thank you."

"If you actually love this succubus," she smiled, her tail flicking back and forth, "Then fight for her. She's much better off with someone who truly loves her, not a lust-filled seduction."

I didn't say another word, afraid I would break and show every emotion that was running through my head. I wouldn't be weak. I wouldn't be afraid. Eris meant the world to me—no—she is my world and I won't have it shattered.

I took off down the shrouded pathway, leaning down over the cliff face and letting my dark combat books touch the dusty ground, turning around and gazing down at the endless fire river before me. I knew there was an opening somewhere that would lead down beneath the lava and a glint from a cave opening caught my eye. Moving along the edge, I placed my right hand around the side opening, pulling myself from the heat.

She wasn't lying, the cave barely ten feet deep before gradually morphing into steps, darkness surrounding the abyss. Even though the surface had been scorching, as my feet resonated off each step, the deeper I descended, the colder it became. Having had my shirt discarded back on Earth before Rook had so kindly plunged that silver dagger through my heart, I was left without it in this one as well, my onyx cargo pants the only thing keeping the cold at bay.

Thankfully, I could see perfectly well, winding down the dark steps until I reached the landing, a long and ominous corridor appeared from the opening.

This must be the passageway.

I'm going to find you Eris and when I do...I'll never let you go again.

Being impatient, I took off at full speed down the dark tunnel, the wind passing me by. This must have been slowly dug over the years for the assassins to attempt to kill the royal family. It didn't appear that it had been used for a while now. Did they have a change of heart? Or were they not strong enough and tired of losing lives over it? Either way, it was my one access point that hopefully no one was expecting me to come from.

The hallway ended, my speed teetering off as I came to the bottom landing of another spiral staircase.

Great...more stairs.

It didn't take long to climb them, my boots touching the top landing as my left hand left the banister, gazing around the small room. It was just as dark as the passageway, my eyes following the smashed remnants of the room and coming to rest on a wooden door. Cobwebs and what smelled like death filled the room, the cold was the least of the problems. Moving closer to the door, I brushed the cobwebs away, the mechanical handle in my grasp.

Here goes...I breathed in deeply, lowering the handle. The door barely made a sound, sliding open sideways and allowing just enough room for me to scoot out of the opening. Once I had appeared in the elegant hallway, the door immediately slid shut, tossing a glare over my shoulder at how suddenly it had been to close. It hadn't occurred to me, exactly how I would use this entrance to leave with Eris. I saw no buttons or levers from this side.

Well, if I kill them all, I'm damn well walking out the front door.

The sound of footsteps made the presence of guards known to me, wandering the halls. The unfamiliar territory wasn't something new to me, after all when you're not wanted anywhere, you figure out how to blend in.

If I keep calm and focused, I can stay hidden within the shadows. I just must concentrate...

Inhaling and then exhaling slowly, my mind clouded, focusing on the shadows clawing at the walls of the long corridors, feeling myself meld with the darkness. The next moment when I opened my eyes, I felt everything around me, bypassing the halls at such speeds even in a regular pureblood didn't possess. I had moved past quite a few guards, their full incubi and succubi forms pronounced as they held onto their dark energy, on constant high alert.

Such a shame, they never could focus and draw on my energy, cloaking every part of my vampiric heritage, my body halting as I came near two double doors standing wide open.

This must be it.

The numerous creatures that had traveled from their place of residence, trekking across the bridge that suspended above the fire lava river, and finally finding their way into the safety of the palace. All these creatures were walking directly through the doors, and I was about to become one of them, circling around the outskirts of the doors.

Keeping focus, I entered the grand ballroom. Knowing it had no meaning to me, but it did bring back many memories of when I lived with my parents, hosting parties and events. Stopping near the edge of the room, I could feel the heat coming through the soles of my combat boots, the heat radiating through every fiber of my being.

Oh my...damn...

There she stood, my beloved, her long dark hair falling gracefully behind her back, the deep crimson dress she wore just came to above her knees, her demonic form hidden away. She looks good in red...

There were, however, two things that appeared different about her. One, she had some type of collar around her neck, and I could only assume Keegan had brought her back into slavery. Two, when she gazed out at the crowd, as they continued to fill the ballroom, her eyes were solid gray, a glassiness reflecting from the overhead lighting.

She's not herself.

My hands clenched into fists, Keegan approaching with another incubus who wore a crown, the portrayal of a king quite grand. I was about to lose it when Keegan wrapped an arm around Eris, bring her into the side of his body. She wasn't fazed in the slightest, her eyes continuing to daze off as though she were in a trance.

A stinging sensation tugged at the back of my mind, a grimace crossing my face as I winced, my breathing becoming somewhat erratic as I tried to maintain my hold of the shadows.

Maverick?

Lucette?

No, it's the Easter Bunny...of course, it's me you idiot.

Stop contacting me, I can't focus.

Rook...he says you don't have that long, maybe another few hours.

So?

Your blood magic will forcefully leave me and embed itself into your body, the dagger will be pushed out of your heart and you'll return...without Eris. He says he's not sure if he'll be able to send you back again so soon, and by then, Eris will be too far gone.

Thanks for the vote of confidence...

I sighed, letting go of the connection as I had desperately tried to connect to Eris again, but I couldn't. It had been temporary, as Rook had stated, but I didn't know I'd only get to contact her briefly and just once.

"My son will not only be crowned king tonight," the incubus king announced, his voice carrying out over the heads of the ballroom. I hadn't even noticed that the doors had closed, sealing me in with the rest of the demons that had attended this idiotic ceremony. It really wasn't like any of them really wanted to be here willingly.

"We will also crown a queen," he finished.

Excuse me?

I attempted not to slice the skin of my palms, my body shaking in anger. Stepping through the crowd unnoticed, the shadows surrounding me, I held back my will to end both two incubi's lives.

My steps took a sudden halt at the front line of the crowd as he said, "And, she is with child."

Hearing my blood pounding in my ears drowned out the sound of cheering from the crowd. I hadn't expected them to be so thrilled over the news of potentially having another ruthless leader coming into this world.

I turned my back on her, hate building within me.

The was another sting that pierced through my mind, making me turn around to face her once again. Her glassy eyes were looking directly at me, her voice breaking through my mind.

It's a lie. He'd kill me if I wasn't.

Eris...

The gray that had clouded her eyes was immediately lifted, her scream echoing the room as Keegan shoved her forcefully to the floor. He must have had control over her mind and heard our thoughts. Maybe that's why we couldn't connect. Maybe she knew and was forcing me out to keep me hidden.

"Where the fuck is that damn vampire?!" Keegan's enraged voice broke her scream, catching herself as she hit the floor.

"I'm right here," the shadows dissolved around me, revealing my identity to not only Keegan but to those surrounding my sides.

Published on Amazon as an ebook and paperback.

To Seduce a Succubus by K. A. Young.

If you don't have a Kindle and can't purchase the book off Amazon, you are more than welcome to join my Patreon page and receive downloadable PDFs under the Pack Tracker Tier.

Please click on the link on my bio.

https://www.patreon.com/SerenityR0se