An Incubus Life - 165 - (Patreon)

Chapter 165

Sharn and the orcs of the Molten Fist looked confused and maybe even afraid as I landed in my incubus form and walked calmly while transforming back into my orc body.  My true nature had surprised them, and now they were trapped in a desert with a demon and his companions.   When I landed on the beach, the Molten Fist Clan had formed a tight circle, half of them with weapons drawn.  I ignored them and walked to Bedelia and Aurora.  Maybe this would make it easy to ditch the clan.

I tried to understand what had happened.  I did not understand why Sofiel fled.  I did not sense her break the hold of my charm spell.  It was frustrating as nothing was going as planned.  I wanted to curse Carrie for saying I needed to find Andromeda.

Aurora and Bedalia came over to me.  Bedelia eyed the orcs, and Aurora spoke, “Why did you chase her?”

“She was running,” I said with exasperation.

Aurora arched an eyebrow, “Are you sure she was not just scouting to see where we were?  She obviously had some knowledge of the area and was probably trying to find landmarks.”

My jaw did not work for a moment as I replayed what had happened when we arrived.  Sofiel had known what continent we were on and had not seemed agitated at all.  She had also been flying more straight up than away from our group.  “Shit,” was all I could say.  Aurora seemed amused, and my fuck up.

Bedelia was sweating, shielding her eyes from the sun, and asked, “What are we going to do about them?”

I looked back at the Molten Fist Clan.  The old orc with a missing hand was feeling the pressure of being on a layer with too much aether density for his aether core to withstand.  He was sitting in the sand, the two twin boys shielding him from the sun.  Bedelia noticed me looking at him, “He will acclimate, but he can not travel to a higher layer, or he will experience aether toxicity.  Iris and Vida would have been fine on this layer.”­

“I know, but once I recover my aether, we will be going to the twenty-first layer.”  I decided to deal with Sharn and the orcs first.  I walked over to Sharn, who stood protectively in front of her clan members.  Glasha was behind her with a spiked mace.

Sharn hissed at Glasha, “Lower your weapon.  We do not stand a chance.”

I smiled, “Yeah, so the cat is out of the bag.” She was confused at my reference so I pressed on, “I am a demon and not an Orc Champion.  Surprise!”  I offered my belated revelation with slow-motion jazz hands.  Sharn took a step back, fear in her eyes.  “Well, I felt bad for you and your predicament, so you are free to go,” I handed her the parchment that had transferred their service to me from the Whispering Rock Clan.

She didn’t take it, so I dropped it in the sand in front of her.  I waved my hand, “You can go and do whatever you want.”

Sharn gathered herself and stated levelly, “Do whatever we want?  We are in the middle of a desert, demon.”  I looked around, and that did seem like a problem.

“I will scout and find you a direction to travel where there are people,” I offered.

The male shaman I had rescued unexpectedly fell to his knees.  “This one wishes to contract to you.”  His head touched the sand, and he would not make eye contact.  I couldn’t make a demon contract, but I was not going to offer that information.

“Stand.  Ganon was it?  No need to offer a contract.  You are free as well to do as you please.”  I stated firmly.  I was not going to enslave anyone or start a cult.

He continued to appeal to me, “I am strong.  I have been told so.  I was never taught anything for fear; I would use it against the ice orcs.  I just drained my aether every day, day after day.  I can be your faithful servant and burn your enemies and shield you allies with my life.”  His head never came up from touching the sand as he spoke.

“No, you will not even look me in the eye.  My companions have their freedom and enough spine to stand with me, not below me.”  His head snapped up at me to look me in the face.  His eyes were no longer dead and beaten but had a fire in them.  “I wish to serve,” he said emphatically.

Aurora moved to stand beside me, “He is giving his service willingly.  You can use more guardians to protect your assets.”  She nodded at Bedelia.

I frowned at Aurora.  Ganon continued to appeal to me, “I was told my ancestors served the great demons.  I was told that was why I could not be taught spells.  My blood was tainted.  I wish to serve as my ancestors once served.”

I hesitated and used my abyssal sight, studying him intently.  His aetheric aura did resonate with me slightly.  I somehow knew if I had a contract ability, it would be stronger and more binding if I used it on him.  The demons that had fought onMercanious must have embedded some extra restrictions in the blood of the green orcs, and also, the mixed species grays had traces of it.

I came to a decision, “Fine.  If you can keep up with me on my journey, then you can return and serve me on my home planet.”

Ganon stood with a massive grin.  “Will you bind me then and share your strength?”  That was what demons did. They gave their servants and followers strength.

I grunted uncommitedly, “Maybe later.”  This felt a little off. I think it was because this would be the first non-female in my company.

“We chose to serve as well,” Sharn said unexpectedly.  She had been watching the proceeding and had decided for her entire clan.

I spun slowly in the sand to face her and her small clan fragment.  “Why?”

Sharn stepped forward confidently, “You are not a Champion Maestro.  What you did to Tevega was share your demon power.  You tricked her into serving you but gave her power in return.  I want that for my clan.”

I said exasperated, “I didn’t trick anyone, well, maybe Gundella.  The power I awakened in her was her own,” I responded truthfully but did not add that it could only be awakened because I had increased the size of her aether core.

Sharn was too smart for her own good.  She didn’t believe me, “Demons twist words and offer half-truths.  Then, use their minions like pawns on a chessboard.  I offer myself to be used.  Just give my daughter and the three children of the Molten Fist the power you gave Tevega.”  Seeing my indecisiveness, she picked up the scroll in the sand, “The orcs of the Molten Fist are honorable.  We serve faithfully and without question.”  She held out the scroll for me to take back.

“I will consider it,” I turned to Bedelia and Aurora, not taking the scroll.  “Will you two be okay if I go and scout?”  Bedelia was sweating from the heat, and Aurora had somehow thickened her aetheric chains into an umbrella to block the sun.

Bedelia nodded and drank water from her backpack canteen, “Are you really taking on these orcs?  Should I feed the one named Ganon?  He is thinner than a starving elf.”

“Yes, feed him.  I don’t know what I am going to do.  Carrie set me on this path without direction because she could see the future.  Maybe taking them into my service is one of the things that is supposed to happen to save Earth?”  I needed to think. I looked at the desert and transformed into my incubus form, my black wings spreading out.  “I will look for shelter,” I told Bedelia.

I took to the air and scanned the dunes in the distance.  It looked like an endless sea of sand on one side and an endless sea of water on the other.  Sofiel had flown out to sea, so I flew in a sweeping arc over the sand, gaining more and more height as I flew.  Finally, a black speck was visible in the sand, maybe thirty miles into the expanse of sand.  I hovered there and entered my mind space.

I appeared in the central chamber and went to the library to find everyone working except Casper.  The massive white wolf was having his belly serve Lilith’s footrest as she rubbed it with her bare feet while she read.  Everyone looked at me as I entered.  “Well?”  I asked, knowing they had a visual feed from me in the real world.

Lilith put down the book, “About the angelic, planet or the orcs?”  She asked.  I rolled my eyes, indicating I wanted all the advice I could get.  She started with the angelic, “Aurora was probably right.  She was just scouting, and seeing you in your demon form charging at her broke your charm over her.”

I sighed, “Fine, I screwed up.  What about the planet?  And what should I do with the orcs I brought with me?”

“The planet has many names; Planesia is what the angelics call it.   Rincewind’s books say the angelics control the planet and keep the two indigenous races constantly at war.  The desert where you are should have a few oases, but you need to cross the ocean to get to civilization.”

Nashima offered, “One of the books mentioned human nomadic tribes in this southern desert but it was a few hundred years old.  So you may find people.  The black spot you are looking at may be an oasis with people.” I nodded in thanks for some useful advice.

Pandora offered advice on the orcs, “The male shaman looks decent enough.  You should go all succubus on him and...”

“No,” I said angrily.  “I may give him an elixir, but I am not doing that,” I said it so forcibly the entire mind space shook.

Lilith’s eyebrows went up in surprise, and she wanted to say something but changed her mind and instead talked about the orcs.  “It is true the demons added something to the blood of the greens to make them more susceptible to being controlled by demonic influence.  It is probably an ability you can unlock on your banner.”

Curious, I went to the center room where the banners I used to track my abilities were located.  I thought about the ability as described.  Something I could do to a being to make it more susceptible to my other abilities.  A new ability appeared.

Tainted Aether Core, Life Essence Cost 1000; this ability leaves your demonic signature on a being’s aether core, making it easier to influence them.  It will be passed down to their descendants, its effect weakening over the millennia.

Pandora looked at it, “I don’t think that is correct.  That ability only affects beings to you specifically.  There must be a more general ability.”

I thought about the alteration, and a new ability appeared.

Demonic Subservience, Life Essence Cost 5000, This ability subjugates a being and all their descendants to the will of demons.  It will fade with time but never disappear.  The original demon can renew it. It can never be entirely removed.

“I am not interested in either ability.  Both feel like slavery,” I said.

Pandora muttered, “It is just marking your property.”  I gave the construct a hard stare.  Lilith didn’t say anything, but I could read her thoughts.  She was thinking, I say that now, but who knows how I will feel in a few hundred years.

I shook my head, “It doesn’t matter.  I will not enslave or mark anyone.  Besides, the life essence costs are far beyond me.”

Pandora offered, “There are three female orcs in the clan.  You can harvest some life essence from them to get started.”

I focused and created a field of silence around Pandora’s head.  “I appreciate varying points of view, but you know me well enough to know what not to say. Anger me further, and that silence will be permanent.”

Nashima surprisingly sided on taking the orcs into my service, saying, “You should feel some responsibility for the Molten Fist Clan.  You freed them and gave them an opportunity for a meaningful and moral life.  The books from Gundella’s library indicate the lower clans function on a system of loyalty.  If you can get them back to Earth, they could help Artica in her role as your bodyguard.” The idea of having a number of orc bodyguards did sound appealing.

I briefly wondered how Artica and the others were doing in my absence.  I was sure they were partying every night and spending my fortune on clothes and cars.  I said a thank you, directed at Nashima and Lilith, and left.  I was once again above the desert and flew toward the black dot.  The heat waves thinned as I approached, and the black dot turned green.  I flew over the small oasis, and only small creatures were scattered.  There was just a small pond in the center of the acre of short trees and bushes.  The ground was hard with thick roots.  Some rodents that looked like rats scattered, and the birds went silent.

I could see a pillar in my abyssal site, indicating I could open a portal here to the transit. I walked the area cautiously and tested the water for drinking.  It had a very slight iron taste, but my senses were superior to the others.  It appeared this was a safe spot, fed by some deep spring bubbling up.  I returned to the group and landed next to Bedelia.  “There is an oasis deep in the desert.  We will camp there until I gain enough aether to open another portal.  Any problems while I was gone?”

“Just Glasha arguing with Sharn.  Glasha is not excited at the prospect of serving a demon.” I looked at the orcs, and Glasha had hard and fearful eyes studying my incubus body.

Bedelia continued, “I sent out my own senses, and there is a reef about four miles out to sea, but other than that, I did not find anything useful.” She bit her lip, “I think it is strange there are no shells on the beach.  There are a number of shellfish in the water—why no shells?”  Bedelia said while wiping her forehead of sweat.  I guessed some type of scavenger ate or collected the shells. It did not seem important at the moment.

Aurora came over, and I told my two companions what I had learned, “The planet has both humans and orcs, and they fight each other, so you two can remove your morphing earrings if you wish.” I pointed in the direction of the oasis, “About thirty miles that way is water and shade. We will camp there until I can open a portal there.”

“Are we going to walk?” Bedelia asked unhappily. Aurora could generate shade, but Bedelia was already burning—her white orc skin turning a bright, angry red. The morphing charm could not protect her. The other pale orcs were also turning pinkish in the sun. I didn’t feel the heat, so I was overlooking the danger to everyone.

“We are headed that way,” I announced. “There is water and shade through the sand. It is not close so we need to move now. Sunset is a ways away. If you want to follow me, then this is your first test.”

The old orc had no chance of making it to the oasis, but Sharn immediately helped him to his feet and started helping him in the direction I had indicated. The sand was covering a firmer surface, and it was not difficult to walk on like a beach, but the going was still slow, especially up inclines. I walked behind the procession with Aurora.

“Can you make that umbrella larger?” I asked her.

She pursed her lips, “I can cover maybe three others, but it would drain my aether much quicker. Do you want me to cover the old orc and Bedelia?” Those were the two who were struggling the most, and we had traveled less than two miles.

“Just the old man. Sharn is practically carrying him. She is going to exhaust herself. I will start flying people to the oasis,” I decided.

I took Bedelia first and landed on a small sand hill overlooking the oasis. “I did not see anything in the oasis or sense danger. Use your own abilities to search the area. I will be back with more people.” The flight was about thirty minutes each way.

I took Aurora second and landed next to a relieved Bedelia, “Time passes so much slower when you are alone in this heat. I only saw rodents and birds. I explored the underground as well. The spring that feeds the pond is about fifty feet below the surface.”

Aurora took a step toward the green oasis, and I grabbed her arm, “Wait here. I want everyone to go together.” She nodded but did not see the need. The sun was getting closer to setting, and the night might bring something else with it.

I returned and landed among the orcs. They had made about seven of the thirty miles. They were all burnt and struggling with heavy packs. They had probably drank most of the water they had brought with them. They paused as I stood in their path, “You have made it about a quarter of the way.”

The group deflated, but Sharn rallied them, “The sun is setting, and the heat will lessen. We are the Molten Fist. Heat can not break us.”  I admired the tenacity but I was curious if perhaps they thought I would fly them to the oasis like Bedelia and Aurora. Instead I started walking with them instead.

It was a mile before the youngest of the group, the orc girl, said, “Demon, are you not going to carry us too?”

“Do you wish to be carried?” I asked the young orc.

The old orc spoke for her, “She will walk and face the trial with her clan.” The old orc was slowing them down, so maybe he feared being left behind.

“What about you?” I asked Ganon, the shaman. “Do you wish to be carried?”

He considered, “No. I do not deserve to serve you if I can not endure a little walk in the fresh air.” I nodded and left the group, launching into the air and heading to check on Bedelia and Aurora.

When I landed, I told them the orcs were going to make it to the oasis on their own power. I walked down to the oasis with them, set up camp, and waited for them to arrive. The sunset, and there was no moon. I took to the skies and checked on our wayward orc clan. They were still only halfway to the site. The temperature was dropping rapidly, and some of them had blisters on their skin. They still refused any aid. I helped them orient themselves with the stars to make sure they headed in the right direction.

It was almost midnight—at least what I guessed was midnight when they reached the oasis. All of them made it, even the old orc. I admitted to myself they were growing on me.