Succubus Corruption: Chapter Ten

CONTENT WARNING:

This is a dark sapphic romantasy with multiple male and female love interests. It was supposed to be a novella just to get a weird brain bug out of someone's head but it kept growing. It's rough (both in terms of content and the lack of editing) and it's dark. Reader discretion advised.

Our heroine Tassa may start off weak and unassuming, but the dark path she ventures down transforms her forever. She embraces the darkness within her and, in so doing, becomes something truly terrifying. Her journey is filled with intense experiences, some that happen to her, and some she inflicts on others, especially those who have harmed her in the past.

If you object to futanari, huge insertions, extreme creampies, inflation, tentacles, bondage, fisting, dubcon, sexually-charged body horror, or a succubus revenge-fucking a guy to within an inch of his life, then this is not the story for you.

***

Nix rose as the members of the Unspoken Word filed into the conference room within the Questing Guild's Al'Kurtos chapter. Jestin held the door for the twin mages Melora and Simmuri, then smiled pleasantly as a young catgirl jaunted in after them.

"Sir Jestin," Nix greeted with an air of cool detachment. "It's good to see you again."

"Miss Fellborough." He gave her a respectful nod, then closed the door.

Everyone but the catgirl settled into their seats. The young demihuman possessed long white hair tied off with a headband beneath her high, triangular ears, each tipped in a furry tuft. Her eyes gleamed a vivid blue, and her fluffy tail swished energetically as she settled against the wall behind Jestin and the others. Her form-fitting clothes were padded around the right breast and she wore a glove on her left hand in the manner of an archer.

You poor thing, Nix thought mournfully. You have no idea what kind of scum you've landed with.

"Foreena said you've got a monster kill contract for us." Jestin raised an eyebrow. "Another one so soon?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Not really, though I must say you've kept us busy as of late."

"True, but as you've performed well so far, neither I nor my client see reason to deviate from the arrangement. As before, the Unspoken Word gets first crack at this job before it goes public."

"Where do you have us traipsing off to this time?" Simmuri grumbled.

Melora elbowed her sister in the ribs.

"What?" Simmuri rubbed her side. "I'm only asking."

"It's not what you said, but how you said it."

"Whatever." The witch rolled her eyes.

"Ladies, please." Jestin sat forward. "Let's keep it professional. We're in front of the client."

"We're sorry, Sir Jestin," Melora replied with an air of refinement.

"Yeah, sorry," Simmuri muttered.

Jestin gave Nix an apologetic shrug.

"Colorful as always, I see," Nix commented.

"We get the job done," Jestin replied. "And speaking of which ..."

"First things first." Nix extended an open hand toward the catgirl. "I believe some introductions are in order."

"Ah, yes." Jestin waved the catgirl over. "Leelin?"

She hustled over to Jestin, but then flinched in surprise when he slung an arm around her narrow waist. She settled down after that and smiled bashfully.

"This is Leelin. She's the newest member of our team. Just signed up with us."

"You're an archer?" Nix asked.

"Yes, ma'am!" the catgirl replied excitedly. "I'm a crack shot, and I've got an eye and nose for danger. I'll be scouting ahead of the others when duty calls. They haven't made the trap I can't sniff out!"

"How long have you been silver-tier?"

"Three months and counting." Leelin beamed proudly.

"Congratulations," Nix said, her tone polite and all business. "I wish you better fortune than your predecessor."

Melora looked up, her gaze not exactly sharp, but neither was it friendly. Next to her, Simmuri grumbled something under her breath.

"My ... predecessor?" Leelin's tail flicked and she glanced down at Jestin with a hint of concern.

"An unfortunate incident," the monk explained smoothly, letting go of her waist. "Some people aren't cut out for this line of work."

"Oh?" Leelin's ears drooped. "What happened?"

"We lost our rogue a few jobs ago," Melora said.

"Yeah, but she was a casualty of her own incompetence," Simmuri grumped. "A copper-tier hoping to move up in the world. We gave her a chance, and she blew it."

"She triggered a series of traps that boxed her in," Melora explained. "We tried to get her out, but that ooze monster got to her before we could."

"An ooze?" Leelin asked. "What kind?"

"Orange."

"Oh my!"

"Yeah ..." Melora shook her head mournfully.

"We did everything we could to save her," Jestin assured the catgirl. "But in the end, it sadly wasn't enough."

"Eaten by an ooze?" Leelin shivered. "What a horrible way to go!"

"We managed to kill the ooze," Jestin went on. "It was a long, tough fight. We pulled through in the end, but it took too long. She was already dead and partially dissolved by the time we pulled her out of that monster."

Jestin and Melora let out synchronized sighs. Melora elbowed her sister again, and the witch joined in like it was Amateur Thespian Night at the inn.

"I see. I see." Leelin nodded thoughtfully, then faced Nix. "Yeah, that can happen sometimes. Some copper-tiers don't know their limits."

"A mistake you won't make, I trust?"

"No, ma'am!" She pumped a fist. "I'm as sharp as they come!"

"Good. I'm sure you'll do fine," Nix said without a hint of emotion, despite how a part of her wanted to reach across the table and rip all three of her companions' heads off.

She could have if she'd really wanted to.

But she had far more restraint than that. And besides, killing them now would spoil the surprise, one she'd worked hard to prepare for Tassa as a small gift to commemorate her rebirth.

Though I wonder how Leelin would react to me killing them, Nix thought. I'd likely traumatize the poor girl.

"So," Jestin said, "what's this job all about?"

"My client has located another monster of interest." Nix slid a folder forward. "He'd like you to kill it and extract certain valuable resources, same as before."

Jestin opened the folder and spread the documentation. He and the two mages examined the contract, map, handwritten notes, and detailed instructions for the retrieval and transport of any harvested materials. Leelin rose to her tippytoes and leaned over them.

"A succubus' demonic essence?" Jestin grimaced. "Your client has unusual tastes."

"He's a wizard. His experiments often require unusual materials."

"Figured as much."

"Will the succubus be a problem?"

"Is it just the one, or is there a whole sex of them?"

"Just the one according to my client's information, but you know how these things are. There're no guarantees in this business."

"Fair enough, but if we're up against a loner, how are we supposed to come back with a whole quart?" Jestin raised an eyebrow. "You don't expect us to 'milk' her for you first?"

"Certainly not!" Nix laughed.

"But then--"

"The amount won't be a problem." Melora made a shooing gesture. "Succubi overproduce when they detect potential victims, which she'll consider us initially. A single corpse can yield upwards of one or even two gallons since the fluid is retained under pressure in her breast glands. Those aren't used for lactation, even if they look the part. We can either pump the fluid out of her breasts or chop off the end of the tail and drain her there. Either method will work for a short while after death."

Jestin and Simmuri turned to face the sorceress.

"What?" Melora asked after a while.

"You knew that off the top of your head?" Simmuri snipped.

"Eh." Melora shrugged. "You never know when weird facts'll come in handy."

"I suppose that's one less concern," Jestin replied dryly. "Anything else we should be worried about?"

"These ruins might tie into the old Kanta'Stol network," Melora noted. "That adds to the risks."

"Should I assume that means a markup is in order?" Nix asked.

"We don't take on extra risks for free," Jestin said.

"Naturally." Nix sat back and knitted her fingers on her lap. "How's an extra fifteen percent sound? Same as the first job."

"Twenty-five."

"That's a little extravagant, don't you think?"

"We lost someone on that first job of yours, remember? And that's because that damn tower did connect with Xaia'Stol and there was trouble seeping up from the depths. An orange ooze, remember?"

"This location shouldn't be nearly as dangerous."

"'Shouldn't,'" Jestin stressed pointedly.

"Even if the location does tie back to an ancient labyrinth," Nix went on, "Kanta'Stol has a reputation for being a 'beginner dungeon.'" She added air quotes to that last statement. "You're overestimating the danger."

"Twenty-five. Take it or leave it."

Nix grimaced and tapped her foot, meeting the monk's stonelike gaze.

"Oh, very well," she conceded, feigning her disappointment at the price. "I agree to twenty-five."

In truth, the amount was lower than she'd expected, and it wouldn't matter in the end anyway. None of them would coming back to collect.

"Will you take the job?"

Jestin checked with his mage companions. They both nodded, and he turned back to Nix.

"We will."

***

"Twelve should be enough for this morning." Tassa bent forward with both hands against the wall as she stretched her shoulders.

While she'd begun to familiarize herself with her wings and tail in the weeks since becoming a succubus, the newness of those body parts--and how they interacted with the rest of her--could tug at muscles in weird and uncomfortable ways. Stretching helped, and so she'd developed a regimen for before and after any workout.

"Twelve, Mistress?" Xaia's voice resonated worriedly in her mind.

"Yeah, twelve."

Her half of the conversation echoed within the dungeon's main training hall: a vast, high-ceiled expanse of black stone, its floors cratered from yesterday's spell practice.

"And a siege golem. Send me one of those. I'm feeling extra feisty this morning."

"Are you sure that's wise? You're still growing accustomed to your new powers."

"Don't think I can handle it?"

"It's not that. It's just Lady Nix would be quite stern with me if you're injured in her absence."

"Not this again," Tassa griped.

"Perhaps something more modest to start the day? Eight skull knights would be a suitable warmup, don't you think?"

"Either give me my targets, or I'll go ask Arcani for a sparring match instead."

"Mistress, please be reasonable!"

Tassa smiled, happy she'd rattled the dungeon spirit.

Arcani's full name was Malathrix Arcanum, and she was a black dragon who'd sworn allegiance to Vyran around three centuries ago. Tassa had first encountered her in Vyran's throne room, and Nix had introduced them more formally the night before heading out on yet another Fellborough business trip. The dragon had Polymorphed into a petite raven-haired woman and donned an elaborate gown before joining the two succubi for a sumptuous dinner.

After which, Arcani had served herself as dessert.

"I don't mean to be critical," Xaia continued, "but perhaps sparring an ancient black dragon is a bit much. At least for now, I mean."

"Great! I'm glad we see eye to eye on this."

"We do?"

"Absolutely! So hurry up and send me my skull knights. That way I don't have to bother Arcani."

"I ... as you wish, Mistress."

Tassa pushed off the wall, then gripped a heavy eyebolt with the end of her tail and stretched it out. She'd worked her way through most of her wing stretches when a nearby wall slid aside with the sound of grating stone.

A procession of skull knights entered through the gape. They were hulking humanoid skeletons, each half again as tall as Tassa, clad in heavy plate armor and wielding a variety of weapons: giant scimitars, huge poleaxes, massive greatbows, heavy spiked flails, and axes so large their heads could serve as dinner tables.

"Hey there, boys!" Tassa greeted them with a wave. "How you all doing?"

The skull knights raised their weapons or dipped their heads as they filed out.

"Strong Jaw, Wobbles. Nice to see you two again." Tassa nodded to each knight as they passed. "Rib Rack, Missing Tooth, Nice Smile, Pelvic Thrust, Boneus Maximus the Fourteenth. A pleasure as always. Hey, Baldy's back! How's the shoulder?"

The skull knight she'd named "Baldy" chattered his teeth and rolled his shoulder before giving her a thumbs-up.

"I know, but I was worried. It took us forever to find all your pieces last time." She didn't know how her mind could interpret their rapid clickety-clacks as words, but that seemed to be an ability she had now.

Baldy clicked his teeth again and shrugged off the incident as if it were nothing.

"Yes, I know it's for a good cause, but I still appreciate you being so understanding." She glanced down the row. "Let's see here. Who else do we ..." She pointed at one of the knights. "You? Have we met?"

The skull knight nodded.

"You sure? You look new."

The skull knight clacked his teeth together.

"The throne room? Sorry, but I don't remember. You must not have stood out from the crowd."

The skeleton chattered back, then shrugged.

"Yeah, I know your faces can get a little samey. You have a name?"

He shook his head.

"You want one?"

The undead seemed to hesitate. He glanced around at his comrades, who all either chattered at him or nodded emphatically for him to say yes. He faced Tassa once more and gave his own resolute nod.

"In that case, I've got two options for you." She held out one palm. "Serious." She held out the other. "Or funny. Sorry, but my imagination only operates at those two speeds."

The undead deliberated for long seconds, then finally pointed out his selection.

"Serious, huh? Let's see here." She made a slow circuit around the skull knight, then stopped in front of him. "You're a tall one, so how about ... Backbone."

The undead checked with his companions, as if unsure of the results. Several started clapping, and this seemed to reassure him. He clacked his approval.

"Great! Welcome to the club, Backbone." She counted out the skull knights. Twelve in total. Good. Xaia didn't try to shortchange me again.

She cracked her knuckles, but soon froze when the wall began to slide back in place.

"Xaia?" Tassa placed an impatient hand on her hip.

The wall halted with a judder. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Where's my golem?"

"I'm sorry, but would you please reconsider your request? Twelve skull knights should be plenty for a warmup, wouldn't you agree?"

"Listen: I want my golem, and I want it now."

"But, Mistress--"

"No buts." She wagged a finger. "Don't make me punish you again. You know I will."

"Oh, Mistress! Would you?" the disembodied voice somehow managed to convey a girlish blush followed by breathy panting.

Tassa frowned.

This was one area where becoming a dark, demonic mistress had surprised her with its challenges. Sure, she could give Xaia orders, and the dungeon spirit would obey them far more often than not, but she'd yet to figure out how to handle the spirit's personality quirks as smoothly as Nix could.

Plus, it didn't help that the line between stick and carrot was a blurry one in the Lust Empire.

"Xaia?"

"Yes, Mistress," she replied in a dreamy tone.

"Just give me my damn golem."

***

Xaia deployed one of the dungeon's siege golems to the training hall, and Tassa sized it up as it took up position behind a wedge of skull knights.

It was a hulking amalgamation of stone, crystal, metal, and magic that towered over the already impressive undead. It didn't carry any weapons--clearly that was a step too far for the dungeon spirit--but its fists could splatter most foes with a single swing. Two cutout eyes blazed with inner fire, set against an otherwise featureless face.

"You boys ready?" Tassa shook out her wings and cast Energy Barrier followed by Adamantium Skin and Greater Magic Resistance.

The skull knights clicked back with affirmations, hunkered down into fighting stances, and raised their weapons.

"All right." Her orange eyes gleamed, and she grinned toothily. "Here I come."

She dashed forward, spread her wings, then bolted into the air.

The skull knights loosed arrows, shot bolts of ice from their bony hands and blasted necrotic beams from their mouths. Most missed, unable to track her darting aerial acrobatics, and the few that did land rebounded off her defensive spells.

A lucky arrow zipped toward her left wing, but she caught it, whirled around in a tight pirouette, and flung it back. The arrow impaled one of the skull knights and he went "down" from the injury.

She flew over the knights, then divebombed into the middle of their formation, releasing a powerful Force Wave that flung several of them off their feet. A huge axe swung toward her from the left, accompanied by a giant sword from the right, but she stood her ground, catching both attacks barehanded.

She cut up with one wing, cleaving through the sword off near the hilt, then looped her tail around the axe-wielder's ankle and yanked him off his feet. A flail raced toward her head, bows twanged from either side, and a huge hammer arced with crushing force toward her back.

She shot up over the melee, leaving the knights with empty air to swing through, then cast Dark Blaze into her palm. She flung the burning ball of black fire, and it erupted in a mighty snap-flash of darkness that sent skull knights flying.

Any thrown off their feet rose but didn't return to the fight. Instead, they collected their missing bits--arms, legs, a head in one case--and stepped aside. This was a training session after all, and while skull knights were hardy combatants and were more than willing to fight until she blew them to bits, they were also a pain to put back together.

Tassa bombarded them with spell after spell--Dark Lightning, Force Cataclysm, Manaburn, Mass Enfeeble, Entropy Cloud, and more--until the skull knights had all been broken and scattered.

She executed a three-point landing and rose to face the golem.

"Just you and me now."

The golem thumped its fists together and stomped forward, the floor shuddering with each heavy stride. It was too resilient to magic for her spells to be much use; she'd have to fight it hand-to-hand, and she grinned at the thought.

She charged the golem, empowering her fists with Sunder.

The two swung for each other, her tiny fist meeting the golem's boulder-like hand in a brief, violent clash. The golem's massive digits cracked, and her arm punched through, shattering the golem's hand in a shower of rock and glassy crystals. It raised one of its legs and brought it down for a crushing stomp.

Tassa caught its foot with both hands, then shoved it back. The golem stumbled backward, then steadied itself with its good hand spread across the floor. It rose to face the succubus--

--but Tassa was already upon it.

She punched through one knee in a spray of stone, then kicked a chunk out of its shin. The golem toppled forward, its damaged limb unable to support it, and Tassa unleashed a flurry of punches, kicks, wings swipes, and tail stabs. She blurred with violent motion, smashing her way through the golem, bits of the construct flying everywhere until it sagged under its own ruinous weight, reduced to nothing more than a pile of rubble.

Tassa rose atop the heap and wiped her brow.

"Whew! Good warm-up, guys." She faced the cluster of skull knights. "See you again after lunch?"

The skull knights nodded or bowed, those with their heads and arms still attached, and they began to file out of the training hall.

"I see you've kept yourself busy."

"Nix!" Tassa spun around to find the other succubus standing near a side entrance. "You're back early!"