Inc Inc 3 -CH8- (Patreon)

The four wheeled cart trundled onward. In front of the cart was the automaton Sam had made to pull the cart.

The automaton pulling the cart was shaped like an oxen. It was filled with a smidgen of Essence so it would eternally pull the cart that held him, Carissa, and Irma. All he had to do was put more into it whenever it got low.

Moving ever toward the horizon on the strange road that they traveled the mindless golem trudged on. Traveling away from Adam’s little hamlet and toward the city.

They’d come to a very amicable arrangement with the Demon and had left, heading out as quickly as they arrived.

They’d quickly come to the realization that using an Essence driven golem was the best way for them to travel. It would use the least amount of resources, and of the resource it used was refillable.

Making Carissa or Irma walk would drain their energy, causing them to have to eat more food. There was no telling how often they could restock on food consumable by mortals.

Essence was as easy as having sex though. Which he could use to replenish their energy, power the automaton, and trade with others with.

Using a cart like this was indeed ideal, as Sam could even generate more Essence as they traveled along.

Which he was currently doing.

Thrusting into Irma twice more, Sam let out a slow breath as his seed filled her up. The lovely Imp was pinned to the floorboard of the cart beneath him.

Using a speck of the Essence they generated between them he cleaned her up and refreshed her. The rest of what the Essence generated he socked away for later.

“Should I take a turn?” Carissa asked from the bench.

Groaning, Irma’s hands held to Sam’s shoulders. Then she shook her head.

“No, I can handle another round, I think. I’m going a little numb down there but it isn’t painful yet,” Irma said, her ankles resting against Sam’s thighs. “I just need a five minute breather, I think.”

“Okay,” Carissa replied as if this were nothing out of the ordinary anymore.

Considering they’d spent the last six or seven hours having sex like this, alternating between the two, it really wasn’t out of the ordinary.

Irma’s eyes slowly opened and she gazed up at Sam, even while he was still deep inside her.

Giving him a shy smile she seemed to search his face. Then she laughed and reached up with one hand to pat his cheek.

“I didn’t realize I’d go to Hell and spend the whole time on my back,” she said, laughing. Then she let out another sigh, still stroking Sam’s cheek. Then her face took on a curious expression. “It really was weird wasn’t it?”

“What, Adam?” Sam asked, settling himself down between Irma’s thighs.

“Yeah, I mean… he didn’t even look at Carissa or I. Didn’t even bat an eye that we were there, in fact,” said Irma, her fingertips moving across Sam’s cheek. “Just answered every question you asked, didn’t bother bartering for the price of any of it, and sold you the cart and supplies without a fuss.”

“He wanted us gone. My opinion remains the same,” Carissa remarked. “That’s the only answer I can come up with, anyways.

“Clearly he was afraid of Sam, was more than willing to give him anything he asked if it meant he would leave, and wanted us gone. Reminded me of when we had a few firebrands back when I was a-when I fought against the government.

“Good to have in a pinch, terrible to deal with when you’re trying to win over a population. Just as likely to hurt friendlies as our targets.

“We let them go start their own group so long as it had a different name and had nothing to do with us.”

Sam couldn’t disagree with Carissa.

The more he thought about it, the more he’d found himself agreeing with Carrisa’s opinion. Adam had just wanted them gone.

“There’s no reason for him to have feared us though, is there?” Irma asked, still looking up at Sam.

Is there? I didn’t really do anything that would have set him on edge.

Nor had I threatened him or told him I planned to take anything from force. In fact I was pretty sure I told him I had no interest in his lands.

I did tell him that I had the power of a Duke, though. But that shouldn’t have been that terrifying. Duke’s are certainly rare but not that rare.

Back in my time in Hell there were at least forty of them.

“I did tell him I was at least as powerful as a Duke. I honestly didn’t think much of it at the time, but I suppose that could be it,” Sam murmured. “It isn’t like there are only a handful of Duke’s, though.

“There were literally at least forty in the area I inhabited when I left. Rare, certainly, but not unheard of either. That and I needed to make him aware of the fact that attacking me would have just caused him to misfortune. I’m fairly certain he was planning it.”

“I wouldn’t expect it to be that then,” Carrissa replied. “It’d have to have been something else ent-what’s that?”

Lifting his head up and breaking the lingering gaze with Irma, Sam looked to Carissa. Following her gaze he looked out in the same direction she was.

Distantly, he could see what looked like the spark and flash of lightning. Though it clearly wasn’t lightning as it was a clear sky.

There were no clouds, nor would there ever be in Hell.

“Essence battle,” said Sam after a moment of processing. “Large one. But… it doesn’t feel right. Rather than two individuals it seems more like-like two armies battling.

“Thats why there’s so many pulses, rather than just two large ones. It could be a battle between Demon lords.”

“Best we avoid it then,” Carissa muttered. “Though I think it’s right in our way to the city Adam mentioned. Could it be the city lord itself?”

“Possible,” murmured Sam.

“Could we use this to our advantage?” asked Irma. “Just how strong are you, Sammy? I know you have some martial skill but how does that translate to this plane?

“Are you able to assist the city-lord and earn us a few favors from them? It’d be a good way to start in this city. We are, after-all, quite good at making deals and brokering exchanges as a company.”

“I mean… I haven’t gone all out in a very long time,” Sam said with some hesitation. Being on his home plane had most certainly woken some long dormant memories. Memories of being a Lord of Hell before becoming a Planar-Lord.

Of storming across battle-fields and ripping the life-force out of his enemies. Tearing across their ranks with sword and spell. Drinking down their souls only as a Spirit of Gluttony could.

The feeling he was experiencing felt hollow and oily. That no matter how much water he might run over it, he could never quite clean it.

“Sammy,” Irma said firmly, catching his attention. Looking back down into her face he realized they were still in the missionary position. That he was actually still inside of her. “Regardless of who you were before, or what you did, you’re not who you were.

“Even if you repeated your previous actions, you’re not the same person now. You’d feel differently and alter your course.

“You’re a Demon, Sam. An Incubus. But you’re also the man I love and soon to be a father. It’s all one in the same.

“But your previous actions no longer define you. They only give you the experience to make better choices.”

The words were spoken softly but they left a deep mark upon Sam’s mind and psyche. Regardless of anything else, she clearly believed in him.

Even if he were to give in to what he was and be the Warlord he once was before he gained his Planar abilities. To become that Demon amongst Demon’s again.

“So… maybe it’s time to be Sameerixis Fidenis Xilin Fisch Elh Caerwin Aderin Telis the married Demon who escaped Hell. Who battled forces good and evil to carve out his own path,” Irma whispered, tilting her head to one side as she gazed up at him. There was a teasing look to her at the moment. “And maybe, just maybe, I want to see the man I tamed really let loose and make that city-lord owe us. Because I’d feel awfully powerful if I managed to tame such a Demon-lord.

“Show your little Imp wife what a Demon you were?”

Of all the mortals across his incredible life-span so far, only Irma had found ways to provoke his desires. To poke at his inner-needs and demons.

Only Jes, who had magical abilities to see what he wanted, could do better than her.

“I’ll set off and find the battle-field,” Sam said gruffly. Her words had hit the mark and were correct.

Hell was Hell.

If he could slaughter an army to curry favor with the city-lord, that would be a good usage of his Essence.

First though, he had to confirm that’s what this was.

“If it’s the city-lord, do what you must,” Carissa murmured. “We can always recharge you after.

“If it isn’t, assess, then address. We’ll support whatever you decide.”

Irma nodded her head, grinning at him. Her ankles pulled at his thighs, as if inviting him to pummel her insides again.

I mean… do I have two minutes?

I have two minutes. Right?

“Have your favorite snack, then go, my love,” Irma whispered at him huskily.

I definitely have two minutes.

***

Sam was flying on the outskirts of the battle.

From what he could tell, they’d witnessed the very first touch of combat from the wagon. When both sides had launched some lean skirmishing blows. Each side committing only their weakest Essence Sorcerers and combatants.

From what he could see, the field was littered with mortals, Cambion, and Demons. They were all intermixed, fighting against, and with, one another.

There were no differences between any of them as they all fought in the field. They all bled into the ground in the same way.

What Sam also noticed was that one side was wearing a uniform, and the other seemed to be a hodge-podge collection of everything. No two people looked to be dressed the same.

Well.

That certainly means one side is the government, isn’t it? That’d be the city-lord. Which means I have a chance to earn favors, just as Irma suggested.

Turning his attention to the rear-ward units of the uniformed soldiers Sam found what he was looking for. Or at least, what he suspected he was looking for.

A command group of officers and likely the leader of the army.

Arranged out behind the mass of soldiers they were in a clump. Watching the battle through telescopic eye-pieces, spells, or just with their eyes. Clustered around a rather large Demon standing at the center with what appeared to be a two-handed sword held on one shoulder.

Folding in his wings Sam began to dive toward that group. He was planning on landing perhaps thirty feet in front of them.

Landing any closer than that would likely get him a few spells tossed at him. As it was, it was fairly likely they’d attack him just for landing where he planned.

With little more than a quiet bump Sam landed gracefully. He folded his arms behind his back and stood up straight. His wings flexed outward for several seconds, then laid across his back.

Taking a step to the side, he angled himself partially away from them. This also happened to be an easy position to step into a defensive stance with a sword if he was attacked.

It was a position he’d learned to cherish. He wasn’t sure how others saw it, but he felt it was rather dignified but also imposing.

“Greetings, city-lord,” Sam called a second after he’d landed. “I’ve come to offer my services. For a fee, of course.”

The large Demon in heavy-plate armor was already moving towards him. They gave off a feeling of someone who wanted to rush off to fight rather than be at the back of the battle.

“And what is it you’re offering, little Demon?” growled the city-lord.

“To dispose of the enemy, of course,” Sam replied in a good natured way. “Providing that you absolve me of any crime I might commit while doing it, protection of my wives for the period of one year, and that I keep any Essence I steal from the enemy. ”

Stopping ten feet away, the imposing city-lord was peering at Sam through his helmet. Then the Demon made a swatting motion with his hand.

“Easy enough to promise,” they grumbled. “That’s all you want? You lay no claim on their general? I want their general for myself. Alive.”

Sam blinked slowly as he considered how to respond.

The request was simple enough and he didn’t see an issue with it.

“Mm. I’d want a few favors from you in the future as well, of course. But I have no idea what they would be yet. Though they wouldn’t be too terrible. Resources, more than likely.

“As to the general… I would only ask why? It would be quite easy for me to eliminate them for you,” said Sam. “Harder to capture them.”

“She had my favorite mistress raped by a great many of her soldiers then killed. So I’m going to fuck her till I put a kid in her,” spat the Demon. “After she gives birth, I’ll give the baby to my wife, then put another kid in her. Maybe after five or six, what my mistress would have given me, I might kill her.”

Ah… yes. Hell.

Hell is… Hell.

Disgusting and despicable. But that’s why we escaped.

Evil fighting Evil.

Clicking his tongue disdainfully, Sam barely kept himself from rolling his eyes.

“Fine, fine. I can certainly swear to the idea that I personally will not kill the opposing general,” offered Sam. “I’m not responsible for her well-being, however.

“The rest is as stated. I keep the Essence of what I take, you absolve me of crimes, protection for my wives for one year. Are we in accord?”

Sam pulled his left hand from behind his back and held it up.

Channeling a trickle of Essence into a spell-construct, he called up a two-dimensional version of his brand. It wouldn’t be enough for anyone to gain any insights into it, but it would serve quite well as a binding of a contract.

Enforcing the whole thing with their agreement that’d been spoken, Sam worked to bring it forth. A second later and the binding flared to life above his palm.

The command group, including the city-lord, didn’t respond. They were all contemplating Sam’s offer, he imagined.

“I… accept,” said the city-lord in halting tone. Then held his palm out toward Sam’s binding construct.

A thin-trickle of weak Essence met the binding as the city-lord’s agreement met the contract.

“Agreed, bound, and settled,” Sam said, closing his hand and concluding the contract. “Do forgive me if I leave the contract concluded as it is. I only seal with sex for female clients. I’ll need a tunic or tabbard so I don’t stand out.”

The city-lord nodded their head slowly. Turning their helmeted head to the person at their side they held out their hand.

In a matter of seconds that individual had pulled off their own tunic and given it to the city-lord, who in turn gave it to Sam.

“Now, I have some work to do, don’t I?” Sam asked and turned to look toward the battle after pulling the ill-fitting fabric down over his head.

Lifting a finger he bled some Essence into the material so that it would fit him better.

That done, he turned toward the battle Sam contemplated how he wanted to do this. If he was looking to maximize his gains from this, he would be best served heading to the right flank of the city-lord’s army.

If he engaged in physical combat there, he could drain his enemies of their life-force directly. All it would take was a touch.

But will I become the addict that I was previously?

I might… but… Irma is here now. She’ll be able to help me through it.

Not to mention all the Essence I gain from this I can use to hopefully bring us back to the Prime.

Mentally sighing, Sam realized that this had been exactly what she was talking about. He would be who he was and learn to direct himself based on his previous experiences.

With any luck, he wouldn’t become a drain-addict, and they’d be gone from Hell soon enough.

Creating a sword of Essence Sam swung his right arm out. The weapon materializing in his hand. He could use it as a way to drain his opponent so long as he was able to stick them with it.

Expanding his wings Sam launched forward toward the flank with a single pump. Using them again as soon as his feet hit the ground he popped back up into the air.

He was literally bounding across the field with each beat of his wings. Each one bringing him closer and closer to the fight as a whole.

Well. This’ll be interesting. I haven’t taken the field like this in a while.

I didn’t even try to drain that Arch-Angel. I could have curtailed that fight pretty early if I’d been willing to do that.

Then again, nothing good comes of draining an Arch-Angel. I would have been sick for weeks.

I didn’t try on Seville either for that matter. I wonder if that would have even worked on him.

Ah well, laments and regrets for another time.

For now, it’s time to become a Lord of Hell once again.

Sam reached the front lines.