Across Eternity Bk. 07 Ch. 05

Fine Dining

Clean, clean, clean; that was all Bella seemed to do these days. Although she and Cyrilo had suffered a nasty falling-out, her days at the Knight's Sheath were far better than her time spent under Andromeda's thumb. She hated working for the platinum-haired bitch, hated all of the cleaning and chores she was given. Andromeda seemed dead-set on grooming her to be a loyal and dutiful maid, and she and her peerage were quick to chastise her about her posture, manners, and everything else they deemed as subpar. The twins were especially obnoxious.

"The stupid whore can't do anything right, can she, Aro?"

"All she knows how to do is spread her legs, Ora."

"I still see dust, Aro. Chalk that up to another in the long line of failures in her life."

"That's why nobody loves her, Ora. Even Mistress Andromeda will get sick of her and toss her into the sun to burn."

The two ghouls danced through the halls, leaping around Bella while mocking her, using their inhuman bodies to perform complex acrobatics and stay out of reach of Bella's claws. "Just you wait. Soon, you won't be able to prance and skip after I've ripped you limb from limb," Bella snarled, struggling to keep her temper under control. As easy as it would be to slaughter the two foul-mouthed sprites, killing Andromeda's peerage would earn grave consequences.

"Ooh, very scary, Aro," one sister giggled.

"Very scary, indeed, Ora," replied the other.

"If only her skill was as quick to rise as her anger, Aro."

"Maybe then she wouldn't be such an embarrassment, Ora."

The two scampered off, leaving Bella to swallow her fury and return to her hated work. As a Profane, she could shrug off a stab through the heart without the slightest twitch of pain, and run and fight for days without rest--so long as she wasn't exposed to sunlight, yet there was something about scrubbing floors that exhausted her and left her racked with aches and pains.

Thankfully, she had spent enough time on her knees at the Knight's Sheath that even before becoming a Profane, she could kneel on gravel without feeling anything, so that was one part of her body that could withstand the work. Regardless, she did what she had to so she could be allowed to stay, all so that she could help her beloved Darling.

Her real mission was to prepare for the prince's escape, and all of her cleaning was helping her memorize the layout of the manor and evaluate the numbers and strength of her Darling's enemies. It was truly vast, built like a labyrinth, and capable of housing hundreds, even thousands, of Profane like herself. Though their ranks were far less than that, they were steadily growing. Andromeda kept a full staff of Profane servants and had numerous guests often passing through. In this house of the Profane, she should have felt at home, surrounded by her own kind, but all she wanted was to return to her Darling.

Each member of the Profane was superior to a regular human in every category, but those strong enough to be considered elite were few and far between. That said, Bella was seeing more and more ghouls with parasites attached, all being recruited and trained to fulfill the work of their masters. When one of them made a snide comment about her, she finally snapped and yanked out his spine like she was peeling a banana. Andromeda gave her a thorough shock session as punishment for that. It was actions like that that left Bella in the dark as to the Profane's true objectives, with no one seeing fit to trust her with important information. However, she did have one source.

"Look at this," said Duska, holding up the harkonen orb Noah had given her. She was speaking to Bella in the attic, specifically an area that received the least attention. It was midnight, three days since Noah last summoned her.

"What is it?" Bella asked.

"Master said he can use this to communicate with us, but--"

Bella snatched it out of her hands and pressed it tightly to her cheek. "Darling! Darling! Darling! Darling!" she cheered, causing Duska to sigh.

"Only he can initiate conversations, so he can't hear us unless he's activated it. Here, hold this chain with me and imbue it with your mana. This will tell him that it's safe for us to talk, though there is no guarantee that he'll see it and reach out to us." Duska held out the locket, and Della wrapped the chain around her finger, with the two of them pouring in their mana, hoping it would reach Noah. "He can also send me a sign through my mark when he's about to contact us."

Bella's eyes narrowed. "Why do you get a mark and I don't?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask him when we reach him."

"Darling will want to talk to the prince, won't he? I still haven't met him. No one will tell me where he's hidden."

"Considering that you killed his father and you aren't exactly friendly with the other Profane, can you blame them for keeping you in the dark? He's no good to them, eaten. He's in the northeast section of the mansion, the fifth room in the eighth corridor. However, Nell will be a problem."

"Nell?"

"My sister succubus. She loves the prince the way you love Master, and wants to stay locked up in that room with him for the rest of eternity. Our trying to free him gets in the way of her romantic bastion."

"So, I'll kill her. Got it."

"No! I may not like her, but she is still my kin. Besides, how do you think Andromeda will react?"

"Well, I need to meet the prince before I can save him."

"Nell receives periodic mana transfusions from Helena because Lupin doesn't have enough to support her. You'll have to do it then. I'll let you know when it happens. I also think--oh!" Duska put her hand on her mark. Normally, when Noah activated the mark to summon her, it was a continuous surge of stimulation, unceasing until she reached him. Instead, this was a steady pulse, like a heartbeat. "I think Master is about to reply!"

Bella was giddy with excitement, and the two stared at the orb. Nothing happened for the first few minutes, likely due to Noah giving Duska a chance to reach the orb if she hadn't already. Then, a projection of Noah's image merged from the orb, and he stood before them. He looked around, scanning his surroundings before saying or doing anything. While it was true that he was invulnerable to harm in this state, he liked to be cautious.

"It appears my timing was perfect. Bella, Duska, it's good to see you."

"Darling!" Bella cheered, trying to tackle Noah but passing right through the projection.

"Sorry, Bella, but this spell only works for communication. I can't physically interact with you or anything. Since the two of you are together, and looking around, I can assume this is the Andromeda Estate."

"That's correct, Master."

"Excellent. Well done, Duska."

"Darling, what about me?" Bella whined.

"You too, Bella. Thank you for all the work you've put in. I doubt it's been easy infiltrating the Profane. And let me just say that that maid outfit looks very good on you."

Bella blushed and shook her tail in happiness. "My sweet Darling! You're so good to me. The woman who runs this place has been an absolute slave driver! I'm not meant to do chores and housework for people like her! I'm supposed to do sexy, fun things for you, like breast fucking and ass-to-mouth! I should be on my back, not breaking it!"

"I'm sorry, Bella. You've been patient and loyal, and I'm thankful every day that I have you."

Once again, Bella's switch was flipped, and she went from miserable back to giddy. "Stop it! You're making me blush!"

"So, Lupin is being held captive here somewhere. Once my friends and I arrive, we'll bust him out."

"Master, there is something you should know, something I just found out. Andromeda is going to host a Profane gathering soon, to celebrate their revival and toast to the anticipated return of Zyrga. When Somerset fell and the Profane kingdom was laid to waste, most of the survivors chose to go into the long sleep, hibernating for centuries until the world dropped its guard. Others waited until they lost the ability to produce venom, and had to hope that those left behind would find a cure to our extinction. They've been awoken by our recent rise in activities, and will now be looking to Ragar for leadership."

"How many will be attending?"

"Hundreds, including several elites. Guests are already starting to arrive. I worry that it'll be too crowded to get Lupin out."

"That is a problem. Sneaking in and out shouldn't be too much of a challenge for me, but if a fight starts, it could get bad. Then again, that could also be the best time to do it, when the Profane are all focused on their party and each other. Any chance you can get the orb to Lupin so we can talk face-to-face?"

"As I was telling Bella, the problem is getting around Nell. She rarely leaves the prince's side, and she doesn't want him to be free. She'll go running to Andromeda the moment we threaten her fantasy. However, there are periods where he's all alone."

"How well would Lupin take it if we kill her, even to win him his freedom?"

"Not well. She may be a Profane, and keeping him captive, but it's clear he still loves her from when she was human. Because of the mark you've given me, I'm able to go against my Profane allegiance, but she won't hand him over, both out of love for him and loyalty to her race."

"That reminds me, Darling, why didn't you give me a mark like you did Duska? I want one too. I want the world to see me as your woman." She bit her lip and rubbed below her stomach. "Right here, like hers, right where you deposit your seed."

"I didn't give you one because I knew the Profane would be suspicious of you. Duska was able to slip right back in among their ranks without anyone noticing it, right, Duska?"

"Yes, Master. No one has any reason to suspect my loyalty."

"When this is over, I'll give you a mark. I'll just need to extract your venom to do it."

Bella's ears drooped. "I don't have any. The skull dwarf said that I was made without a venom gland in exchange for my powers. Because I drank Profane venom, it spread throughout my body instead of going straight to my brain."

"Skull dwarf?" Noah asked Duska.

"Curcio, the one who developed the parasites. Bella was at his lab for a while."

"Well then, I'll just have to find another gift for you, Bella, but that can wait. Right now, our focus is Lupin. We'll have to either convert Nell to our side or incapacitate her when the time comes. Start probing the waters with her. See if there is a weakness we can exploit to make her join our cause, but don't give her any reason to suspect you're working against the Profane. If you see an opportunity to get me in the same room as Lupin without Nell or other Profane finding out, take it. However, it'll have to be at midnight."

"Understood, Master."

"You've both done so much for me, and I'm proud of both of you."

Noah reached out with his illusory hands, and though they couldn't touch him, Bella and Duska both leaned in, as if to let him caress their cheeks.

"Darling," said Bella, dreamily.

"Master," Duska purred with the same longing.

"Thank you for all of your hard work. I'll see you soon." Then, he vanished in front of their eyes.

Days passed, with Bella and Duska waiting for the planets to align for them. Finally, the night came, and Nell left Lupin's side so she could receive proper sustenance. It was late in the evening, and with her gone, they snuck into her and Lupin's room. He was knocked out by Nell's powder, not even hearing the door open and close. In the darkness, Duska held out the locket.

"You have the orb?" she asked.

Bella nodded and then opened her mouth, proceeding to swallow her hand and reach down into her throat up to the elbow. After a second, she pulled out the orb and wiped it off.

"You keep it in your throat?" Duska asked with grimace.

"More like I keep it close to my heart."

"We have to wait until midnight," said Duska, pulling out a small dwarven clock. Hopefully, it would go unnoticed from Andromeda's collection until she could return it.

"How long does it take for Nell to come back?"

"Usually an hour or so." Duska bit her lip. "We'll be cutting it close."

The two of them waited in the darkness, watching the minutes tick away, ever closer to midnight. Any moment, they expected Nell to return and open the door, or another Profane would suddenly appear to keep an eye on the prince and discover them. Either scenario would bring about the same questions, questions that would be hard to convincingly lie about. Finally, the time came, and both women grasped the chain of the locket and channeled their mana, causing it to open. They both continued to wait, hoping Noah would get their message, and after a few minutes, Duska shuddered in pleasure.

"I can feel it. He's coming."

Moments later, Noah's clone was projected from the orb. As before, he took a moment to situate himself in his environment, ensuring that no one who might see or hear him was nearby. It was dark, but even in this illusory state, his senses were sharp. He recognized Lupin in the nearby bed, and Bella and Duska were behind him, with no other presences in the room.

"Master," said Duska.

"Darling!" Bella exclaimed.

"Good work, girls," he said, turning to them.

"Forgive me, Master, but I need to leave. Nell will surely be returning soon, but I can buy you some time."

"Yes, thank you, Duska."

Duska left the room, and Noah turned to Bella. "It's good to see you. Now, I need you to wake up Lupin so I can speak to him. Have you and he met since you got here?"

"No, this is my first time seeing him."

"Before he was taken, we were in Welindar, and he had just received word that his father was killed. It didn't seem like he knew that it was you specifically who did it, or of our relationship, but that might have changed since he got here. If he hasn't found out about you, then it would be best that that remains the status quo, at least until after we get him out of here. If you save his life, it may lessen his anger when he's inevitably told the truth."

Bella pouted in annoyance. "Hmph! I did that out of love, so you'd come back! Why doesn't anyone get that?!"

"The intent was understandable, but the methodology was highly problematic. Anyway, wake him up."

Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, Nell was getting her mana replenished, though she was not fond of the method. She was lying on Helena's bed, gasping and whimpering from her touch. The two succubi were naked and spooning, with Helena's hands roaming her underling's soft flesh. Both of them had retracted their wings so as not to get away. With one hand, Helena rubbed Nell's modest breasts, small but sweet, with each tweak of her nipples making her writhe. With the other hand, she stroked Nell's wet pussy, her fingers slipping and sliding within her, with Nell not wanting to admit how good it felt.

Compared to Nell, Helena was far more well-endowed, and Nell could not ignore the feel of their warmth and softness on the back of her head, which were equal in size. There was also a distinct height difference between them, making Nell feel like a mouse being batted around by a cat. Because Helena was so much taller, she could reach down and caress every inch of Nell's body, all while she nibbled on Nell's antennae feathers with her lips.

Succubi fed on their victims by giving them erotic dreams or infuriating nightmares, with the resulting wave of emotion lighting up their minds like fireworks and causing powerful mana reactions. However, for Nell to receive mana from another succubus, she had to experience those reactions for herself in the real world. Only during the moments of intense pleasure could Nell's body accept Helena's mana transfusion. Helena wasn't simply playing with Nell's antennae for sexual pleasure; she was transferring her mana through them, feeding her. Though her pleasure was required, she did not enjoy it.

"Every time we do this, you get a little more responsive. Why must you resist moaning for me?"

"Please forgive me, Mistress. You have my loyalty and obedience, but Prince Lupin has my heart. To lie with anyone else and betray his trust is unthinkable. I can only do this with you because you sired me."

Helena sat up and gripped Nell's throat, but continued fingering her with building intensity. "You're being quite ungrateful. I remind you that I only do this because you refuse to feed on anyone but him. I bestow my own mana, my very life force, onto you, all so you don't starve to death, yet you act like it's some big inconvenience that you must endure."

"I'm sorry, Mistress," Nell gasped, fighting both to breathe and to keep her voice steady against Helena's touch. "I am eternally grateful for your mercy and charity. I simply want to be faithful to the man I love, even if I must be unfaithful to survive."

Helena responded by deeply kissing Nell, swirling her tongue around the young succubus's mouth for several moments. "I will admit that the reluctance in your eyes is quite arousing. You can pretend you're faithful to the prince, but you're no different than any other desperate girl whoring herself in order to get by. It's clear you don't share my love for the taste of women, but that makes it all the sweeter when you have to taste me." She then moved on top of Nell and turned around, almost sitting on her face and forcing Nell to gaze at her pussy. "Go on, take care of your Mistress. It doesn't matter who or what you prefer. That soft tongue of yours, and every inch of your body, belongs to me."

Given that it was a direct order from Helena, Nell could not refuse, but she still had to coax herself to raise her head and suck on Helena's wet slit. Helena panted in pleasure from Nell's reluctant tongue flicks, feeling an extra spark of sadistic joy from the efforts of the unwilling. She dropped her weight onto Nell's face, forcing her to eat her out at full force and intensity. Since Nell was shorter than her, Helena couldn't go down on her for mutual cunnilingus, so she continued fingering her instead, targeting Nell's G-spot.

After all of Helena's caressing up to this point, Nell had reached the limit of what she could endure silently. She could feel an orgasm threatening to erupt like a volcano, all while she suffocated under Helena's pussy. She licked her out fervently, putting aside her reluctance and hoping that diligent effort would be rewarded with a breath of fresh air. Nell soon climaxed, making her back arch and her legs spasm as euphoria swept through her, but her moans were smothered by Helena's ass.

Helena soon experienced her own orgasm and made Nell drink her nectar. She dismounted, leaving Nell gasping for air, but Helena wasn't done yet. She spread Nell's legs and voraciously went down on her, forcing out the moans that Nell could no longer restrain.

"You taste so sweet," Helena said between licks. "Clearly, I was right to turn you." Her tongue was seasoned, and her technique well-honed after centuries of experience, all being utilized to draw another climax from Nell. The young woman's choir-like moan answered her efforts, with Helena using that opportunity to pour her mana into Nell. "Well, now, I think that should hold you over for a while."

"Thank you, Mistress," Nell panted.

"By all means, do keep starving yourself for that pet of yours. It gives me more excuses to have my way with my adorable servant, not that I need them."

"Yes, Mistress."

"You can leave now."

Nell got out of bed and put on the dress she wore around the mansion. The Profane didn't usually adhere to constructs like shame and modesty, but Nell was still adapting to her new instincts, and she held a lingering bashfulness from her time as a member of the church. Besides, as a rule of the house, everyone staying as a guest, subordinate, or comrade had to maintain a presentable appearance. Andromeda and her servants were perfectionists, and anyone staying under her roof had to adhere to her sense of order and aesthetic.