Authors: Simone Beaudelaire
“By all the light of Heaven, I would rather face a nest of succubae than babysit those young fools!” he said to no one in particular. “All they think about is glory and adventure.”
“Can't you remember being that young, Phillip?”
“Lucien! You're back! No, I was never that young.”
“No?” Sarahi could hear the amusement in Lucien's voice. “So I never had to pull you out of a nest of reveling Japhethites and succubae?”
“Of course not,” Phillip said, flashing his gleaming teeth. “So what's been happening around here?”
“Amazing things. You'll never believe it.”
“Well, spill. I want to get a spot in the shower before those wild beasts use up all the hot water.”
“They've rescinded the vow of chastity for Nephilim!” Lucien exclaimed. “We will be expected to live by the same rules as any other cleric. I…” he stopped, then pressed on. “I'm getting married this afternoon.”
At last it appeared the Naphil noticed Sarahi. He focused his gaze on her and blinked.
“Hello,” she said. “I'm Josiah's mother.”
He blinked some more. “Congratulations,” he said. And then he staggered off down the hallway in an obvious state of shock.
“Love, which bedroom is Josiah's?” Sarahi asked. “I need to see my son.”
“Come on,” he told her, leading her down the hall and opening the door of one of the dormitories.
“This is the room Josiah shares with three other young men.”
Sarahi looked at the four identical beds. Her hands began to tremble.
“Do you want me to stay?” he asked her.
She shook her head. “Go get ready.”
He nodded and kissed her softly before leaving the room and shutting the door.
Sarahi sat down on the bed and waited.
***
Josiah walked down the hallway towards his bedroom, pulling a sweater over his head as he went. Fighting had been exciting, disturbing, and exhausting. Now all he wanted to do was take a quick nap. The other boys had galumphed off to the kitchen in search of snacks, but Josiah wasn't particularly hungry. As always, his thoughts turned to Annie. He wondered if she liked teaching the little ones, if she was happy with her studies. If anyone had caught her interest.
If she ever thinks about me.
He still didn't understand what had happened that day in the meadow. The event had never been repeated. But when he had seen a real live succubus for last week, something inside him had responded to her in ways he had not expected. She was beautiful. Of course she was. But it was more than that. She had a magnetic pull. It had resonated through him like a gong.
Josiah shook his head. If Father was finally home, he'd ask about it later. The other boys had denied feeling it, so maybe it was a Naphil thing. He opened the door and blinked in surprise.
A beautiful woman with long red hair was sitting on his bed. Upon seeing him, she rose to her feet, tiny and graceful, and walked across the room until she stood directly in front of him.
“Josiah,” she said.
“Do I know you, ma'am?” he asked.
Don't you?
The voice sounded in his head. He tilted his head and looked at her again. He was quite sure he'd never seen her before, and yet she seemed… familiar.
He closed his eyes and a fragrance wafted over him. Again, he could almost swear he'd smelled it before; like cactus flowers, night blooming jasmine, and something else less easily defined.
“Rose,” he said without thought, and then opened his eyes.
She was looking at him with a puzzled expression. “Where did that come from?”
“I don't know,” he said. Something about you just seems… pink. Enough games. Who are you and why are you in my room?” He hadn't meant to sound so gruff, but the presence of this woman was causing the strangest sensations to well up inside him.
“Pink.” She grinned. “That's what your father always said. Josiah, my name is Sarahi. I'm your mother.”
Mother?
Josiah closed his eyes again and reached out with those inexplicable senses he seemed to have. Yes, that was the scent he recalled from his dreams, when the sparkling pink woman held him in her arms and whispered words of love and encouragement which left him feeling renewed for hours or days afterward.
“Have you been in my head all this time, in my dreams?” he asked.
“Yes, Josiah. I've never left you.” She wrapped her arms around him for a warm hug. In his dreams she'd been big, like a mother with a child. But he was adult-sized, over six feet tall, and her petite body felt child-like. He hugged her back.
She sniffled. “Can you ever forgive me, darling, for leaving you all these years? I had to do it, but I hated it every day.”
“I…” He started to give a neutral answer, but that dream-scent washed over him again. It seemed to be coming from her hair. The rational part of his mind told him it was just shampoo, but his overwrought, exhausted nerves were finally overwhelmed by the power of her aroma.
“Mom,” he said, and his voice broke. He crushed her in trembling arms and struggled not to break down completely.
His mother had no such reservations. She wept unabashedly in his embrace. “Look at you, darling,” she said, her voice a little broken. “I'm so proud of you.”
“For what, Mother? Growing up? I sure took my time about it.”
“You're a unique creature, Josiah.” Sarahi wiped her eyes and met his gaze. “Who knows how one such as you should grow?”
“That's what Father said,” Josiah replied.
“And he was right, wasn't he?”
Josiah made a face, but nodded.
“What?” she asked him. “Was he not a good father?”
“He's all right, I guess. But he thinks he knows everything. And he never listens. Sometimes it makes me really mad.”
“I bet,” she said. “You know, I never had a father. Not really a mother either. My sisters took care of me when I was little. It seems to me that having a father, even one who doesn't do everything perfectly, is still better than no father at all.”
She was right, Josiah knew it. But he didn't want to admit it yet. He gave his mother one last squeeze and stepped back.
“I'm really glad you're here, Mom. I've wanted to meet you. I have so many things I want to know about you, about where I came from and who you are and… everything.”
About what could be so dangerous that you had to be separated from your child for two decades, to start with!
“But it's a little… overwhelming right now. Would it be okay… could I have some time to… to kind of take it all in? Figure out how I feel?”
The woman blinked. “Yes, of course, Josiah. I'm not surprised you need a moment's peace. When you're ready, let me know and I will answer any question you have. I have something I have to do right now, but come and find me when you're ready and we'll talk, okay?” She pulled him down and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Josiah.”
She smiled, the kind of smile which warmed hearts whether they wanted it or not, and turned to go, waving at him with two fingers as she walked out of the room. Josiah sank heavily onto the bed. When he'd arrived home, he'd been exhausted, worn out, and grumpy. Now he was also confused.
***
Sarahi stepped into the hallway, shut the door and leaned against it. Soon she would have to meet Lucien and Mr. Smith in the chapel. That would be… amazing. But seeing Josiah was better. She could see he was conflicted, and no surprise. The child in him still felt the sting of abandonment, no matter how necessary it had been. And of course, he didn't really understand yet why it had been so important. She wondered if he knew she was a succubus. Likely not. That would be another revelation, and he was so confused already. She could feel a deep resentment and animosity radiating from him. Not toward her exactly, or at least not entirely. Her boy was disenchanted about a great many things, if his obvious rage was any indication. Part of it, she supposed, was a young man's angst. Based on what she had heard so far, it was not entirely unjustified. It sounded like he'd faced systemic prejudice in this place throughout his whole life. And that was before they found out he was one quarter demon. His loyalty to the Order of Clerics was far from secure. He needed a strong tie to someone in this place or he could still be lost. And neither she nor Lucien would be the one to provide that bond. Parents never were.
While she had been standing there, several people had passed in one direction or the other, intent on various tasks. Some of the men had eyed her curiously, making her smile. A few women had given her an ugly look, which she'd ignored. But a passing figure made her wandering thoughts gel into a sudden, radical decision.
“Annie?”
The white-clad person stopped and turned. Sarahi grinned. Her suspicion had proven true. The Assassin, the unknown warrior the clerics trusted without knowing her face, or even her gender, was also the girl her son loved. Her hosts would hate her for what she was about to do, but the stakes were too high for squeamishness.
“Sarahi, hello,” the young woman behind the mask said, not realizing she had just been outed.
“Take off that mask, please, Annie. I don't like to talk to people I can't see.”
The girl scanned the hallway and, finding it empty, lowered her face covering.
“It's so good to see you, darling,” Sarahi said.
“You too. How are you adjusting to this place?”
“Well enough, I guess. I don't think I'll ever really fit in here.”
“Everyone is jealous of you.” Annie grinned. “You have a freedom they lack.”
“I'm about to give up that freedom for good,” Sarahi smiled back. “They've decided Lucien and I need to marry immediately. In fact, I'm on my way there right now.”
“Wow!” Annie's brown eyes widened. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you.” Sarahi's smile spread until her cheeks hurt. Then she set her crafty little plan in motion. “I'm running late, and I need to get to the chapel about ten minutes ago. But I left something in the room over there. Would you be a darling and get it for me?”
“Okay,” Annie agreed. “What is it?”
“You'll know it when you see it,” Sarahi said.
Annie's desire for Josiah glowed so brightly, Sarahi was amazed she'd never noticed it before. She sent a little pulse of enhancement energy into her, then she dashed down the hall before the girl could ask any more questions.
Sarahi opened a couple of wrong doors before she found the chapel. High on one wall, a small, round stained-glass window admitted a shaft of multicolored light. Two sections of red-cushioned chairs waited for Sunday service. But today they stood empty. Only Lucien waited at the front for her, and Mr. Smith stood behind the pulpit.
“The dress, Sarahi?” Mr. Smith questioned.
“Sorry. I misplaced it. Does it really matter?” she asked.
I suppose not. It's not as though anyone is under the illusion that you're a virgin, after all." He sighed. “Come on then.”
She smiled and walked up the aisle to her lover, taking his arm, ready to make her own vows.
***
Annie stepped through the door without stopping to consider what room it was or what she might be looking for. Inside she came to a dead stop. Josiah sat on the bed staring at her with a stunned expression on his face. She hadn't so much as said hello to him since that disastrous day in the meadow three years ago, after Grandfather had forbidden it. But she had never forgotten him. No one meant as much to her as Josiah. No one.
“Annie?” his eyes clung to her like a starving man with a juicy steak. “Why are you here, love?”
“I'm not sure,” she said. “Your mother…”
“You met her? Isn't she beautiful?”
“Yes, Josiah, she is. We've been friends a long time.”
He smiled, but it was obviously an effort. “You should leave, Annie,” he said.
“I know,” she said. But she didn't leave. Instead she stepped closer, drinking in the sight of him. Short, messy black hair which couldn't decide if it wanted to be curly or straight. Chiseled, angelic features. Glowing green eyes. Kissable lips she hadn't tasted in far too long. Bulky shoulders to which a thin black sweater clung enticingly.
“Annie, leave now.”
“Yes. I'm going.” She walked even closer, close enough to touch. Then she sat down on his lap and slid her arms around his neck.
“Don't do this, Annie,” he warned. “I've tried to live by your grandfather's rules, to stay away from you, but my willpower is low right now. I'm tired. And… and I want you.”
“I want you too, Josiah. Surely you know that.” She kissed him.
“I thought you were mad at me,” he said when she pulled back to breathe.
“Never. Why would I be?”
“The meadow. I wasn't thinking. Wasn't listening. I didn't mean to hurt or dishonor you, Annie.”
“You didn't. I loved how you touched me. I didn't want you to stop. Do it again.”
“Annie, if I touch you, your grandfather will throw me out.”
“He won't. I won't let him. We're adults now. He has no right to interfere. I know what I want, Josiah. Touch me.” She kissed him again and guided his hand to her breast. Then she pulled back and watched. His expression was conflicted as he caressed her nipple, as though against his will. She saw the exact moment his resistance collapsed. They fell back on the bed, kissing and touching. This time, no seduction was necessary. Each was wild to have the other.
Josiah had Annie out of the white suit in a flash, faster than she'd even realized he was capable of moving. Finally free to do so, he explored her slender body, caressing her little breasts, kissing her with wild passion as he pressed against her with the weight of his body.
“I love you, Annie,” he whispered. A thrill shot through her belly, part sexual arousal, part deep love. How long she'd wanted to hear him say the words. After grandfather's ultimatum, she thought it would never happen. And now here she was, right where she wanted to be, in Josiah's arms, naked in his bed. She felt no shame, convinced this was meant to be.
“I love you,” she whispered back.
She lifted his sweater over his head and pressed kisses all over his chest and shoulders. Josiah returned the favor, lifting her breasts in turn, and nibbling and sucking the sensitive peaks. She sighed with pleasure. He was a natural at this. Unless…