Shadow of the Abyss

It was as Ashara had said—there had been a parade to greet him, or rather the Dutchess and Old Duke. They were the ones with the power of a Transcendent. The Old Duke was even a war hero, said to have lived through seven Great Wars. Men and women, mostly nobles of lower houses, were no different than proper beggars, lacking the dignity of an actual nobleman.

Ashara had pointed out seven who had succumbed to her girls, no different than thralls. It went without saying that they would obey. They hadn't much choice when it came to mortal men, much less transcendents or even gods. The succubus art of subduction was unmatched. Only those of a palatine could hope of resisting.

Atelia and Noct were both aboard his carriage, staring out the window, waving at the men and women as some pointed, exploding with cheer. Atelia was the first to blush, then Noct, apparently not so used to such a throng of celebration. Altair himself wasn't used to it but managed to maintain his decorum.

The old Duke and Corsant were required to be on horseback—a returning hero ought to show their return, even if they were old. He could, of course, have joined, but his debut into high society was not worth the trouble.

Somewhere along the way through the streets, as Ashara fed him Tarvika, some sort of tangerine-type fruit, he smiled, sensing a shift through his spatial awareness, a pulling towards danger. The attack Ashara had been talking about? Whatever it was, Altair paid it no mind. His Valeguard was more than enough to keep his hands clean.

As the day continued, Altair saw Corsant and the Old Duke off on their way towards the palace, which they knew better than to offer an invitation, too. On any other day, he might want to troll the king of Vastroph, but not today. No, today and onwards were all about finding everything he could about Vampire Spawns. Better yet—why the Origin System want them dead?

Ashara's emissaries had done more than what he had hoped. From low-rank nobles to high officers, the various succubus had been sent to seduce the various children of those lords before trying for the lord's themselves. It was a systematic attack targeting those with the highest authority, whether they visited local brothels or Torneys. Ashara's girls were quite adept at manipulating men.

For one, Altair nearly gaped when he learned of the ten young masters willing to share one woman, begging merely to even kiss her feet. It was all rather terrifying, though it didn't make much sense when he thought about how Incubus were banned from the Myriad Heaven while a Succubus was allowed to run free. They both had the ability to compel and seduce just about anyone.

When he had told Ashara about his interest in the matter, she laughed, saying, "Men got jealous, and women were furious they were being used as such. So they joined together. When it comes to succubus… Well, the men all universally agreed that there needs to be a few temptations in life."

Altair sighed over the matter, surveying the walls of his new office in Vastroph. An open-concept room filled with books about the history of Almor, which he read with a touch of his finger and a flash Of Omniscience; hells, did he love that ability.

"Tasha," Altair said, knowing the woman was listening despite her eyes wandering about studying the antechamber. "I would like for you to spread a few rumors for me. Give it to the nobles and young masters and high-rank nobles. Inform them of a Vampire Uprising that is fast approaching. Tell them that a new Vampire Lord has descended."

Ashada blinked, snapping her head to him. "Isn't that a bit too on the nose?"

"It's because it's too big to believe people will believe it. But it's not for common people to believe. People are bound to believe anything if you feed them enough lies mixed with truth. What I really want is to make these Vampire Spawns more brave than cautious. Let us give them hope."

"And the Vampire Nobleman that controls them? I—" Ashara stopped herself, suddenly comprehending what he had in mind. It was all to lure out the one who first created the first Vampire Spawn. Altair wanted to create a false Lord to whom he would force the True Master out from behind the shadows in the hopes of keeping his men under his thrall.

"That's brilliant!" Ashara said though Altair thought otherwise. That was merely the prelude to his true plan for the Spawns. He still had to take over the Shadow Tower and remove Atticus before he grew too powerful. Still, he smiled, finding little compliments to his liking.

Ashara seemed to notice as she slid to his side, running her arms around his chest to massage his shoulders.

"We've worked to do, Tasha," he warned, but the woman ignored him.

"Of course, your Grace." Her lithe fingers never stopped dancing along his flesh as she applied one of the Lilm's most terrifying abilities—Erokinesis— that made Hands of the Incubus look like a plastic butter knife by comparison. Not only could she control his desire by circumventing his will, but she also went so far as to alter his state of being into whatever she desired. Kirean was a good example of that when she changed his gender before offering him up to a gentlemen's club.

"Also, the nobleman I told you about is on his way," Ashara said, her voice like hot honey on his ear. He quivered as the pleasure regions of his brain began to stimulate his nerve endings just enough for tension he didn't realize was there to melt away. He could really die under her hands; they were so magical.

"Send him in when he arrives."

"By your command," Ashara said in that dangerous voice, suggesting that she wanted something more, though her massage and her control over his emotional response never waned. Not for a second. Even after the training he had put her under. She was as patient as the day he met her. No, she was far more dangerous now than she was before.

He stopped her, pulling her into his arms, ignoring the surprised look, and nestled her on his lap. She was warm. More than warm, the woman felt as if she was burning up like there was a forge cooking down there.

Suddenly, she looked abashed—a trick, no doubt, but Altair didn't quite mind—he preferred her as such—seizing a taste of what was naturally his. He had never kissed her, purposely refraining from any such actions, though he could not say what brought on the urge today. Perhaps it was her blatant use of her lustful manipulation; Altair didn't know. But the woman did deserve something.

And her tongue was simply so decently sinful that he couldn't quite resist.

Panting, Ashara pulled away, utterly flushed, "Master… shall I call Alyssa and myself to your chamber tonight to… christen your new home?"

****

Stepping through the halls, Serling Vahn could only gape at the luxurious decor that made his manner look more than a commoner sty. Be they the luxurious carpets that made silk feel like granite or the chandeliers and various works of art predating the last four kings of the realm, Count Vahn could not even imagine the sheer cost of such items in the current market.

It was simply not fair; Vastroph was not even in the north, yet such a manor had been gifted—Gifted! To Lord Edgar and his Father during the War Of Two Princes. Through sheer luck, they had chosen to back the right prince, leading him to war, something Sterling was certain he could do and would do.

The Lady Tasha Vil De Asmodeus had promised a chance to serve one who might allow him to finally possess the love of his life. When he had learned that his love, Myra Cendara, had fallen from grace, Sterling practically leaped at the chance to free her from her ill-fated reality.

A knock at the door pulled him from the recess of his mind as the raven-haired woman gave a knock at the door, though not before shooting him a glare he had only seen in other transcendent. Even veiled, those stunningly clear amethyst eyes pierced deeper than any sword.

"Come in," A deep, mellifluous voice fluted from the chamber.

The woman opened the door to the antechamber. And without wasting any time, Sterling sauntered past the serving woman. He nearly gaped, recognizing Nox De Nier and the noblewoman who held the reins over his fiance, resting on his lap like a docile cat.

Once again, an involuntary gulp came over him, taking Tasha in from head to toe. She certainly was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He flushed, realizing how blatant his gaze was as he bowed.

"Count Sterling Vahn at your service, Young Master." peeking through the strands of his blond hair; he frowned at how reluctant Tasha appeared as she slid from off his lap. He frowned even deeper as the raven-haired servant stood side by side with Tasha behind Nox.

'Not a servant,' he realized, a bit too late. He cursed his luck, admitting that perhaps he was too focused on freeing Myra than paying close attention to his surroundings. If he wanted to free her, then he needed every favor to compliment his name. But how did Myra get caught up with someone from the Nier Family?

Before he could speak more, Nox passed a hand through his silvery hair; he was far too handsome. "Count Vahn, you wanted a meeting. What can… we do for you."

The Count took a breath and bowed once more, "Young Master, do forgive my unexpected arrival, but I've come to broker a deal for the debt the lady Myra Cendara owes you."