Sins of the Succubus

9. Neela

9

NEELA

I stumble out of the private room, my mind reeling from the revelation. A succubus. Me. The word echoes in my head, explaining so much yet leaving me with a thousand more questions.

Adjusting my new uniform, I make my way back to the bar floor. The usual cacophony of drunken laughter and clinking glasses feels distant, muffled by the thundering of my own thoughts.

"Hey, sweetheart! Another round over here!" A patron's voice cuts through my daze.

I nod mechanically, my body on autopilot as I fetch the drinks. My eyes dart around the room, seeing the leering gazes of the patrons in a new light. Have they always looked at me this way? Or is this newfound awareness playing tricks on my mind?

As I set down the drinks, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a polished surface. Those feline eyes stare back at me, suddenly alien. How could I have been so blind?

"Neela!" My husband's harsh voice snaps me back to reality. He storms towards me, his face contorted with greed. "Where's the money? Hand it over. Now."

I blink, momentarily confused. "What?"

"Don't play dumb with me," he snarls, grabbing my arm. "The coin that demon gave you. I want it."

The fog in my mind clears, replaced by a simmering anger. "It's mine," I say, my voice low but firm.

His eyes narrow dangerously. "Everything you earn belongs to me. You know the rules."

"Fuck your rules," I spit out, surprising myself with the venom in my voice.

His hand flies out, striking me across the face. The sound of the slap echoes in the sudden silence of the bar.

For a moment, I'm frozen, the sting of the blow sharp against my cheek. Then something snaps inside me. With a strength I didn't know I possessed, I wrench my arm free and shove him away.

"Don't you ever touch me again," I growl, my voice barely recognizable.

Before he can react, I turn and storm out of the bar, pushing past gawking patrons. The cool night air hits me as I burst into the alley, but it does nothing to quell the fire raging inside me.

I throw my head back and let out a primal scream, raw and full of years of pent-up frustration and rage. The sound echoes off the alley walls, a testament to my newfound power and the fury that comes with it.

As the echoes fade, I stand there, chest heaving, fists clenched. For the first time in years, I feel truly alive. And absolutely terrified of what that might mean.

The night air cools my flushed skin as I stand in the alley, my heart still racing from the confrontation. Suddenly, the shadows seem to thicken, coalescing into a familiar form. Dremlor steps out of the darkness, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

"Well, well," he purrs, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. "Looks like someone's finally found her backbone."

I straighten up, meeting his gaze. "What do you want?"

He chuckles, the sound rich and dark. "I want to make you an offer, my little succubus-in-training."

"I'm listening," I say, curiosity overriding my wariness.

Dremlor's lips curl into a wicked grin. "For every time you can make a mortal say the words 'Neela, that's not respectable,' I'll remove a tormentor from your life. Your choice who goes."

My eyes widen. "And what's the catch?"

"Clever girl," he says, stepping closer. The scent of brimstone and something darker fills my nostrils. "Each time, you'll move closer to embracing your true demonic nature. It's a win-win, wouldn't you say?"

I bite my lip, considering. "And if I refuse?"

Dremlor shrugs, his muscular form rippling with the movement. "Then you go back to your miserable life, serving drinks and spreading your legs for whoever has the coin. Your choice."

I stand there, my mind reeling from Dremlor's offer. The alley seems to spin around me as I try to process everything. A succubus. The word echoes in my head, bringing clarity to a lifetime of confusion.

"Well, kitten? What'll it be?" Dremlor's voice cuts through my thoughts, low and tempting.

I look up at him, studying his chiseled features. "If what you're saying is true, it explains... everything. The way people have always looked at me, why my father sold me off..."

Dremlor steps closer, his arm snaking around my waist. I should pull away, but I can't. His touch sends electricity through my body.

"Your dear husband buying and 'training' you," he adds, his breath hot against my ear. "Men have always exploited your nature, Neela. It's time you took control."

I shiver, not entirely from the night air. "And your offer... you'd really help me get rid of them?"

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me. "One by one, they'll disappear. All you have to do is embrace who you truly are."

His fingers trace my jawline, tilting my face up to his. I meet his gaze, those otherworldly eyes burning with desire and something darker.

"I... I don't know if I can do that," I whisper, even as my body leans into his touch.

Dremlor's lips curl into a wicked grin. "Oh, I think you can. I think you want to." He leans in, his scent – brimstone and dark promises – overwhelming my senses. "Just imagine it, Neela. No more grasping hands, no more leering patrons. You'd be free."

My breath catches in my throat. Freedom. It's a concept so foreign, so tantalizing, that it makes my head spin.

"And what about you?" I ask, surprising myself with my boldness. "What do you get out of this?"

He laughs, a rich, dark sound that sends shivers down my spine. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in your... development."