“Of course you do; there’s more energy to feed off of. But don’t you have some sort of master?” Besides me, of course.
Kas snorts. “No. I’m sure you’ll be surprised to hear devils don’t really care much about their half-breed offspring.”
In fact, I know it all too well, but still, I push back. “That’s not entirely true. I’ve met succubi in Hell who are part of their parents’ entourages.”
“Good for them, but most of us are nurtured by humans.” Kas walks over to the couch and sits down, noticing the book I’d been reading. “Highlander Heroine? You like white guys in kilts?”
“It’s Minnie’s book.”
“Oh, she definitely likes white guys, so that makes sense.”
My lips contort as I recall that Alex person. Minnie’s ex-something. It shouldn’t bother me that she’s had lovers–I’ve had plenty. Then again, lover means something different in the Hells than it does here. No one ever declares their love for one another where I’m from; they only declare unions to strengthen their titles and expand their lands. I don’t believe devils can feel love. We can’t feel empathy or pity. That’s what puts us above humans, what separates us from the weeping compassion of the angels.
Regardless, I want Alex’s head on a fucking pike.
Not that I’ll ever see him again. Minnie seems pretty happy with him staying the fuck away, and I’m glad to see him gone. Which is troubling because why do I care?
After I dress myself, I try to pull Kas’ attention from the book he’s skimming. “Now that I look like a court jester, what did you want to talk to me about?”
Kas is muttering about the lack of illustrations.
“Kas,” I hiss.
He stands immediately, his cool demeanor slipping. “S-sorry.” He clears his throat. “I was just looking for the good stuff.” He tosses the book aside before turning around on the couch to look at me. “I have some people I want you to meet.”
* * *
Kas bringsme to a brick building with the wordsIndustry Loungewritten in a pink tubing across the top. Inside the building, the brick motif continues, but the ceiling is covered with overlapping draping fabric, creating an interesting sort of tapestry. The place is pretty open, with a bar on one side and couch-like seating on the other. But what catches my attention is the circle of chairs and their occupants in the center of the room.
I frown and look at Kas. “Is this meeting about me?”
He reaches up and claps a hand onto my shoulder. “Rosier, these are some of the other succubi I know.” Everyone lifts their heads at that, except for a white girl with long, inky black hair, who doesn’t look up from her phone. “Everyone, this is Rosier, aPrinceof the Hells.”
“He doesn’t look so tough,” a person with knotted hair breathes, unimpressed. A succubus wearing a monkey-suit like the one I tried on yesterday rolls his eyes.
“Where is Seira?” Kas asked.
Monkey-suit chuckles, “She’s busy. Got some vampire wrapped around her little finger. Apparently he’s on the council and everything.”
“Jeeeealooous,” the girl with the phone drones. She drops the phone in a plush looking purse before reaching in and grabbing another, different phone. She taps at the screen and continues to bitch. “I don’t get why an envy succubus wants a sugar daddy.”
“I’d like a sugar daddy,” the person with ratty hair and a stained outfit chimes in. “Less work you know. They give you food, give you clothes; they give and give, and you don’t have to do shit.”
“Open your legs,” Kas shrugs. “But I see that as a bonus.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, my face scrunching. “Hate to stop thisilluminatingconversation, but what is going on?”
“I just thought,” Kas says, “since you’re a hellish hot shot, we could help you, help us.”
“Spread the wealth,” the girl with the phone says, still not looking up.
“Explain this to me plainly,” I command. “Quickly.”
The room goes quiet.
“Let me say it another way then.” My voice rumbles. “Why would I waste my time with a bunch of lowly succubi? None of you look all that impressive. Most of you look worse than the cat I pulled out of the garbage yesterday. One of you didn’t even bother to show up!”
“Why don’t we start with introductions,” Kas interjects. “I’m Kamsa, a succubus of lust.”
