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  SUCCUBUS DREAMS: SACRIFICE

  SUCCUBUS HAREM PART 31

  Copyright © 2019 by L.L. Frost

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the writer, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover design by L.L. Frost

  Book design by L.L. Frost

  Printed in the United States of America.

  First Printing, 2019

  Contents

  Breaking Walls

  Magic At My Fingertips

  Living Nightmare

  (un)Made

  Two Weeks Later

  Harness the Spanking

  From the Author

  Also by L L Frost

  About the Author

  Fire rolls down the hall, a scorching cloud that drives the drones back and devours those too slow to escape. Energy floods through me, and I hyper-speed forward, straight into the blaze. Ley line magic crackles from my wings, and I pull the thread faster, the ice wall caging the wild magic splintering wider.

  Iridescent magic takes life in the form of feathers spreading down my wings, and the first drone I encounter evaporates on contact, the same way the akuzal did when it ran straight into the power node on the demon plane.

  If I learned one thing from my time there, it’s how to kill without hesitation.

  When I clear the fire, baku run at my sides, and while they can’t affect the drones on the human plane, they offer a layer of confusion, some of the eyeballs spinning away to chase after their shadowed forms.

  A narrow path forms down the middle as their gelatinous bodies roll to the sides. I spread my wings up and out, leaving my body vulnerable as I drop to my knees in a slide. Magic pops and hisses as it cuts through their bodies like butter, the pieces disintegrating before they hit the floor.

  “Fire!” Tobias shouts, and my wings snap back around my body as flames roll past.

  They catch the stragglers, their charred corpses plopping to the tiles ahead of me.

  As the flames dissipate, I glance to the right, noting the number three on the door. This is where the humans barricaded themselves in, and it wasn’t even hard to reach.

  I release the energy from my limbs, not wanting to waste any more of it. A grin spread over my lips as I spring to my feet and turn toward Tobias to share the victory.

  Time slows, my heart crashing to escape, as a large drone drops from the ceiling, tentacles spread wide and gaping maw large enough to take Tobias whole. He grins as he steps toward me, caught between one step and the next. The drone must be clouding his mind, leaving him unaware of the danger.

  Half a hall separates us, and I fumble for the energy in my core as panic rushes through me.

  No time, no time. The magic slips through my grasp. Why did I let it go so easily?

  I stumble toward Tobias, my legs too slow.

  He frowns at my obvious terror, his eyes sweeping the hall for danger and doesn’t even feel the first tentacle slither around him.

  No.

  The denial pulses through me, a physical reaction that slams against the ice wall inside me, breaking it apart. Ley line magic floods out, burning in my bones and skin as it tries to unmake me. My next step closes the space between me and Tobias in a heartbeat, and I shove him out of the way.

  Wet, cold darkness closes around me as the nightmare creature’s mouth engulfs me, its spinning teeth cutting through my flesh. The pain barely registers, the agony of holding the ley line magic blocking out all other senses. It eats my bones, my blood, my flesh, layer by layer and all at once, a lifetime and an instant. Magic bursts through my skin with painful relief, and from inside the drone, I listen to it scream as it disintegrates.

  Up until now, I didn’t think the drones had voices, but I don’t just hear it with my ears. Its anger, its pain floods my mind, and for a moment, its single existence is replaced by hundreds, all with a link to the Dreamer.

  Then, light blinds me, the overhead fluorescent bulbs no competition for the iridescent glow on my skin.

  I focus past it to see Tobias still falling, confusion and rage twisting his face. Emil stands a few steps behind him, one hand on the wall, ice blooming from where he touches.

  Time picks up again, and Tobias slams onto the tiles, the floor shaking with the first tremor of an earthquake.

  Ice rushes down the hall, coating the wall in a thick layer that covers the doors and ceiling.

  Shouts fill the air as the others realize something’s wrong.

  A portal opens in front of Tobias, the hag appearing with her parasol raised in front of her like a sword, and for the first time, I notice the dagger-sharp tip that glistens with green poison.

  I hold my hands up and pull my wings back into hiding. I’m not the threat here, and after a moment, everyone falls silent.

  Tobias sits up slowly. “Are all the drones gone from this hallway, now?”

  Carefully, I inspect the ceiling, walls, and floor, then glance down at Jimboba’s shadowed form at my side. They, in turn, check with other members of the BBBB, who rush down the hall and back.

  After a moment of conferring with each other, Jimboba announces, “All clear on this side. The humans are terrified and confused, but safe.”

  I relay the news, and the hag drops her parasol with a huff of irritation. “We should have just left them to fend for themselves.”

  “You saw the size of that drone before it disintegrated.” Tobias pushes to his feet. “It completely hid from my senses. It could have taken any one of us unaware if we’d left it alive.”

  “There’s likely more of those closer to the Dreamer.” Stuffing her parasol into the loose folds of her dress, the hag opens another portal and rejoins the main group.

  Tobias and I stand staring at each other, a hundred unsaid words between us. I want to go to him, to hold him and make sure he’s whole, and by the aborted step he takes toward me, he feels the same. But the layer of magic that coats my body keeps us separate. He’s a demon of destruction, one of the most powerful I know, but even he won’t risk the raw magic that claims me at the moment.

  Then his eyes drop to my body and he shrugs out of his jacket, offering it to me with a gruff, “Don’t tempt the humans.”

  Startled, I glance down at myself and find only a few scraps of fabric remaining from my shirt. My pants and rubber galoshes fared better against the drone’s sharp teeth. I take the jacket and pull it on, half expecting the magic on my skin to melt through the fabric, but it stays intact.

  From behind Tobias, Emil yells, “Stop fucking around and get your asses back here!”

  My mouth drops open in shock. I’ve never heard my fussy demon lose his control like that.

  Tobias’s lips twitch, and we share a smile before he turns to face Emil. “We’re coming. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

  “But what about...” I trail off as I peer back down the hall to where the humans wait.

  Ice coats the door, cementing it shut. Even if a drone finds its way to them, it won’t be able to break through. They’re safe for now, so long as we don’t burn the building down.

  I follow after Tobias, who stops next to Emil and grips the other man’s shoulder. They share a hard stare before Emil finally grabs his arm in the closest thing I’ve seen to an embrace.
>
  Nodding, Tobias steps past him, only to be caught up in Kellen’s arms. Where Emil is reserved in his affection, Kellen is not. He pounds Tobias hard on the back as static lifts Tobias’s hair into a poof around his head.

  Tobias tolerates it for half a minute before shoving his friend away and smoothing down his chestnut waves.

  I stop in front of Emil and study the ice wall next to him. I took all of his power not too long ago, and he hasn’t had much time to replenish his reserves. Dredging up this much energy must have hurt. “Are you okay?”

  “This is nothing.” Filmy white eyes sweep over me, not fully white, but far closer than he should be capable of right now. “And you? It seems my power was not enough.”

  “Tobias is alive. That’s all that matters for now.” I pick at the wall of ice inside me, trying to repair the damage, but it crumbles beneath my efforts. Once broken, it refuses to be put back together. Ley line magic burns in my bones, destroying and creating, a force that won’t be contained for long. “We should continue before your ice melts and the humans put themselves in danger when they escape.”

  Emil’s lips part, questions in his eyes, but he holds them back, not wanting the answers any more than I want to give them. We both know I can’t hold this power indefinitely, but I’ll fight tooth and nail to last until everyone’s safe from the Dreamer.

  When we rejoin the group, the demons keep a careful distance from me, even Landon who’s always made a place for me at his side. The witches, on the other hand, have no such worry. And why would they? They harness this kind of magic every day.

  Our more somber group press forward toward the main ward. Julian’s pink, misty barrier pushes back the drones, and his sword flashes out to cut down any who float too close.

  Tobias and I could perform the same hallway clearing we did on the other side, but after the almost-disaster of the last one, no one voices the idea.

  What happens to a demon if a drone consumes them? After being inside one, and knowing that the Dreamer feeds on life energy, I think it might mean permanent death to be caught by one and not just a destruction of our corporeal forms. While just a theory, I don’t want to take the risk.

  We pass dozens of doorways, only entering when one of the baku reports a drone in hiding. In those rooms, we find patients lying on hospital beds, tubes and monitors slowly beeping. Xander checks the first one for life and doesn’t check another. Whether their conscious was gone before or after the Dreamer set up its lair here doesn’t change the outcome, and I wall my emotions away.

  Now is not the time to give into regrets. We just have to stop the Dreamer from claiming more victims.

  Eventually, we reach a point where the drones can’t move back any farther, and we make quick work of the few that remain, Julian’s barrier and the block behind them making it easy for Julian and Kellen to step forward with their blades and cut them down. Like shooting fish in a barrel, only easier and with more slime.

  As they fall, they reveal a set of double-doors, barred at the top and bottom by thick locks.

  Emil steps forward, careful of the slippery floor, and waves a badge over the digital lock. He must have taken it from the nurse at the front of the building while transferring her to safety. Good planning on his part.

  He hurriedly steps back as the locks whir, retracting into the floor and ceiling. Julian slowly nudges the right door open with his sword while Tobias stands at the ready, fire in both hands. When no drones flood out, I send Jimboba and the other BBBB ahead to check if a trap waits.

  After only a moment, Jimboba comes trotting back, their shadowed form passing right through Tobias to reach me. “Hall ahead is clear, but you’re not going to like what you see.”

  I crouch, hands on my knees for support. “Tell me.”

  Their small trunk curls and uncurls. “Lots of humans. And lots of drones. And more of those egg sacks.”

  My brow wrinkles. “But you said the hall is clear.”

  “It is, but this is where you access the main ward. They’re in there.” Jimboba shuffles, clawed feet stomping. “We gotta go. Aren’s preparing to enter the Between. We need to be there to back him up.”

  I nod in understanding. “When this is over, I’m buying the whole team a treat.”

  Jimboba’s ears flap in excitement. “I’ve never had a treat before.”

  “I’ll make it a good one.” Standing, I salute the small baku. “Stay safe. And make sure Tally doesn’t do anything stupid.”

  With a return salute, Jimboba vanishes from view, along with the other shadowed baku forms.

  I meet Reese’s eyes, the only other person privy to both sides of the conversation, and find my worry reflected back.

  I fear for my friend in Dreamland. She’s far older than I am, and should therefore be more powerful, but she doesn’t maintain a proper baku diet, and I’m not sure how that affects her. Hopefully, she’ll stay back and let Aren do his thing, whatever that may be, but if she sees her brother in danger, I have no doubt she’ll rush to his aid, the same as I would for any of the people here with me.

  I turn to the rest of the group. “The hall is clear ahead, but the ward is full of drones.”

  Julian wipes his sword off on his jacket. “My barrier will hold them back while the others access the Between. Adie, Tobias, Emil, and I can work on taking down the drones in the meantime. We play this safe, and we all walk away.”

  Kellen cleans his daggers and passes them to Emil. “Stay inside the barrier. Only strike when you have a clean opening.”

  Emil weighs the weapons in his hands before gripping their hilts loosely. “This isn’t my first battle.”

  “No, but it’s your first without the ice to back you up.” Tobias grips his shoulder. “We watch each other’s backs. No heroics.”

  Emil glances over Tobias’s shoulder to me. “That goes for everyone. Locking up the Dreamer is the priority. We can play drone clean up after.”

  I nod and meet Julian’s eyes. “We stick together.”

  The pink barrier of mist pulls in tighter around us as we file through the doors, finding the hall empty as Jimboba said it would be.

  Unlike the rest of the facility, the lights here are dim, creating shadowed pockets where the walls meet the ceiling and floor. We inch forward slowly, senses on high alert, and I double-check with Reese to make sure he doesn’t see something I don’t.

  Halfway down the new hallway, the wall on the right opens into a long window, and my steps slow as I look inside.

  The main ward is larger than I guessed based on the rest of the rooms we’ve checked. Unlike the private rooms we checked on the way here, this is just one large room with a dozen beds hooked up to machines that blink with lights keeping their patients alive. Drones swarm over the prone humans, tentacles sliding over their still forms, creating strings of gray mist that tether their bodies to the egg sacks on the ceiling above. Hundreds and hundreds of baby drones, enough to cast a red light over the entire room.

  “Fucking hell,” Julian breathes. “How are we supposed to fight in there with all those humans?”

  Emil steps up to my side, keeping a careful distance between us to avoid touching the ley line magic that burns in my skin. “They’re probably all dead already.”

  “We don’t know that.” Xander steps to my other side, his eyes intent on the comatose patients. “The fact they’re feeding from them says they’re still alive. This is the first place we’ve seen that.”

  I drag my gaze away to find Landon and the hag. “What do we do?”

  The hag waddles up to the window, her eyes barely clearing the bottom of the windowsill. “We sacrifice the few to save the many, of course.”

  I shake my head, unwilling to accept that as the only option, and stare at Landon. He taught me to treasure humans, to recognize how special they are. He can’t be okay with letting these ones die.

  He looks from me to the window then back again. “We could portal–”

  “How m
any tears in reality do you think I have in me?” the hag snaps. “We agreed to save the staff because we know they’re alive. But these people”–she waves a hand at the ward–“they’re only here because their families don’t have the guts to pull life support. Without those machines, they’d already be dead. We’re just accepting what nature already decided.”

  “People wake up from comas after being unresponsive for years,” Reese mumbles, his attention fixed on the patients. “But portalling them out isn’t an option. Without those machines, they’ll die.”

  My hands clench into fists. “So, you agree that we just let them die?”

  His head turns, and he blinks at me in confusion. “I didn’t say that.”

  “What are you saying?” Jax demands. “We don’t have time for you to talk in circles. Those eggs look ready to burst.”

  He’s right. They wobble back and forth as the small nightmare creatures inside roll within their cocoons. The last time I saw them do that, they’d hatched within a few hours. Do we even have that much time?

  I turn back to find Reese’s odd eyes still fixed on me. “Ley line magic is life magic. It’s possible Adie can wake the patients, at which point they wouldn’t need the life support machines.”

  “Yeah, or she’d kill them instantly.” Tobias shakes his head. “You saw what happened when the drones came into contact with her, right?”

  I nod in agreement. “It did the same thing to akuzal on the demon plane. Hell, it did the same thing to me. You can’t touch it and not be destroyed.”

  “We can,” Reese says simply. “And you’re still alive.”

  “Yeah, after it vaporized my body hundreds of times!”

  “Reese might have something here,” Slater says. “Humans can harness ley line magic. Something in our physiology lets us do it without being destroyed. You’ve seen it destroy demons and whatever these nightmare creatures are. But you haven’t seen it destroy a human.”