Free Web NovelNeither of them looked particularly strong or formidable. However, that wasn't a risk Kanae was willing to take. Not yet at least. Darcy and Mercy. These two sisters had to have been sent by Ambrosia or Queen-Mother Zariah to ascertain the rumors. Archbishop Patrice's ploy worked to some extent. But if she wanted to start a war with Temptation and Ortesia, then capturing succubi who weren't even Mistresses wasn't going to do it.
"Darcy, wait." Mercy's deep brown eyes widened as she stared hard at Kanae. "This is Queen Kanae Toyomi. I recognize some pieces of Thistle, the Matron's Regalia on her. What if we kill her now and take them back to Ambrosia?"
"No, sister. It wouldn't work. Each piece is attuned to her. If she perishes without relinquishing of her own volition, it will take a century before anyone can make use of them. We focus on our mission. Nothing more," Darcy explained.
Kanae tried to move her feet. They wouldn't budge. These magical shackles had firmly anchored them in place. Even if Zone of Absolute Truth didn't affect them, other spells certainly did. Darcy must be crowned a Priest. Mercy, she wasn't so sure.
"You're not going to get anything from us," Kanae taunted.
Darcy laughed and said, "The spell beneath your feet begs to differ. Now tell us: how do we access the temple underneath the Basilica of Saint Rue?"
Alicia and Ivory's gazes flicked to Kanae. The nature of the zone spell made it so that one could only tell truths. It didn't prevent one from staying quiet or omitting information. While unaffected, however…
"You…" Kanae juggled truth and lie in her mind, unsure of what exactly to tell them. "You can't."
"Excuse me?" Darcy arched a brow.
"In order to access the temple, it needs a key. We don't have one and haven't been able to open it magically in any way," she explained.
Mercy squinted and leaned forward.
"Are you… lying?" Mercy asked.
"N-No! Don't be silly. I'm clearly under the effects of Zone of Absolute Truth," Kanae insisted and averted meeting the succubus' scrutinizing glare.
"How is Mother and Ambrosia? Still scheming while holed up in their little corner of the continent?" Alicia drew attention to herself.
"You could have been standing by their side. You, Hilde, and Claudia. Instead the three of you chose this dreadmourn-fucking slut instead of family," Darcy scoffed.
Kanae pouted.
"What did they expect?" Alicia narrowed her eyes at Darcy. "That I would run back into their arms after they imprisoned me for years in the dark? Or would I stay with the ones who freed me? Perhaps, we should try the same to you and Mercy. How does spending over a century under a temple sound? We'll free you then and ask if you would like to join us."
"Hearing you three talk gladdens me that Amethyst's family is nowhere near as dysfunctional," Ivory groaned.
"Shut up!" Mercy, Darcy, and Alicia snapped.
"Now!" Kanae seized Mercy's wrists.
Ivory clasped both hands together, shattering the restraints at their feet. Darcy panicked. Alicia lunged past with her daggers drawn.
"Penance!" Darcy fired binding shackles from her staff, knocking Alicia through the door and out the room in holy bindings.
"What are you doing, Amethyst? This isn't a wrestling bout!" Ivory jabbed Mercy's back four times in quick succession, and her body went rigid.
"What… the… fuck…" Mercy squeaked.
A beam of holy energy blasted Ivory out the door. An infuriated Darcy flying kicked Kanae into the wall, then casted a spell that returned Mercy her movement back. Kanae dipped out of the room just as another beam carved where she was just standing.
"Free me!" Alicia shouted.
Ivory performed the same skill. A single clap of her hands released Alicia from her bindings. Mercy and Darcy stepped out of the room ready to do battle.
"You're outnumbered and in enemy territory. You really think you can win?" Kanae asked.
"I'm glad you asked." Darcy produced from inside her robe a glass ampule between her thumb and index finger.
"You just had to say something, didn't you?" Ivory rolled her eyes.
"Well, if you put it that way… No, hold on. How's a tiny vial supposed to tip the scales for them?" She stifled a laugh.
Darcy shattered it on the ground. The three of them flinched, but nothing happened. No explosion, no gas, not even—
Feed…
Kanae blinked absentmindedly.
"What's the matter, Kanae?" Alicia asked.
Feed… you want to feed!
"Satine's voice… I'm hearing her voice again… What was in that vial?" Kanae's gut ached with the hunger to be filled with cum.
"What in the Supreme One's good eye is happening here?" An elderly human cleric shuffled around the corner, his cane clacking on the floor with every step.
Feed! NOW!
Unable to resist the urge, Kanae pounced on the old man. They fell to the ground as she ripped his clothes off until his cock sprung to attention. She sat her pussy down on it and pounded away.
"Ahhh! Oooh… It feels so good… but my hips… you're going to shatter my hips!" the priest cried.
"Amethyst, you idiot! What are you doing?!" Ivory tried to pull her off.
"I'd like to clarify that I don't need any rescuing!" he added.
"Tch. Alicia, after them! We'll catch up!" she shouted.
Alicia nodded. She pursued Darcy and Mercy deeper into the cathedral. Meanwhile, Kanae continued bouncing on the old man even after he blew his load into her.
More! Your hunger is all that matters. Sate it. Don't let the bitch deny you your feast!
"Don't make me hit you with Paralyzing Strike!" Ivory warned.
Kanae stopped riding. She stood up, pussy dripping with fresh cum, and turned to face Ivory. The blindfolded elf fell into a defensive stance, both palms raised.
"If you're going to deny me a nice dick, then I'll have a piece of you instead." Kanae wiped the drool from her chin.
"Snap out of it already, Amethyst. Aren't you supposed to be immune to influences on your mind?" Ivory asked.
"But I'm just so hungry— ahh!"
"I'm not done yet!" The old priest grabbed Kanae's waist from behind and shoved his dick back into her pussy. "Oooooh! I'll never have a chance to have sex with the Knight of Amethyst again! Take it! Take my shriveled cock, you succubus whore!"
A few paces away, Ivory pressed a hand to her face and sighed.
"Yes! More! More dicks… bigger dicks… I want it all! I'm cumming! Aaaahhhh!" Kanae's eyes rolled back as she climaxed.
"Oh, so tight and warm. It feels like you're still sucking me in down there." He fondled her breasts and flicked her nipples.
The voices had stopped. Kanae came back to her senses to the sight of Ivory's incredulous stare, as well as the priest still humping her.
"Get off me already!" Kanae bumped him off, bucking backwards.
"Are you you again?" Ivory asked.
"Yeah, I don't hear Satine's voice anymore. I wasn't under her control, it felt as if I was starving and couldn't help myself. Where's Darcy and Mercy?" She searched the corridor.
They bolted after them in a hurry. The length of the corridor showed signs of battle. Slashes carved into the stonework. Scorch marks from holy magic and Alicia's bolt dagger. A commotion farther in alerted them that the fight continued.
Kanae and Ivory finally caught up, and Darcy was lying flat on the ground with a dagger protruding from her back, foaming at the mouth. Mercy and Alicia's deadly clashes destroyed flower pots and vases.
"Is everything okay?!" A priest poked her head out the door.
"Go back inside!" Kanae shoved her back into the room.
Ivory rushed in and landed an open-palm strike on Mercy's back. The blow knocked her closer to Alicia than she liked, and the crowned Assassin plunged a dagger into her chest. Whatever toxins Alicia applied to both weapons paralyzed the succubus.
"What a pain in the ass. I see you've recovered, Kanae." Alicia smirked.
"Hey!" Kanae lifted Darcy up to face her. "What was in that vial you tossed on the ground?"
"...ood… of… dev…" Darcy's stiff lips could hardly could, let alone her tongue.
"Blood? Dev… Devil? Satine's blood?" She recalled the similar substance inside the crystal they had brought back from the sunken temple's depths.
Kanae had heard Satine's voice back then, too.
"What do we do with them?" Alicia asked.
More like, what did Patrice want to do with them? That crazy history buff wanted to start a war with Temptation. She concocted the lie about a cultist temple to lure them to Aidenhall.
"You were mistaken," Kanae explained truthfully. "There is no temple under the Basilica. That was a lie. If we let you leave, will you tell the Queen-Mother and Ambrosia that?"
Darcy's lips flapped open and closed like a fish out of water.
"Ivory, do you have anything to purify the toxin?" Kanae asked.
"I do, but are you absolutely sure?" Ivory hesitated.
Kanae nodded, and the elf pressed a palm to the succubus' torso. A second later, Darcy sucked in a deep and hoarse breath.
"Liar!" Darcy yelled.
"My archbishop wants to start a war that will drag the entire world into it. She lied about the temple to trick you into coming. Are you prepared for bloodshed? I'm not. You aren't either. I know you don't want your sister Mercy to be the first casualty of this war," Kanae explained.
Darcy glanced over at Mercy, who was lying still on the ground, paralyzed by Alicia's toxins.
"Wait, Amethyst. Why are you telling her all this? We're supposed to capture her," Ivory said.
"As Knight of Colors, our duty is to protect the kingdom. Does Archbishop Patrice orchestrating a war sound like protecting it to you?" Kanae asked.
"Hmph. You're bold. But you won't hear any complaints from me." The elf put her hands down.
"So, what? You're just going to let us go? Darcy returned a suspicious glare.
She nodded. "That's exactly it. When you go back to Temptation, tell them that there is no temple under the Basilica of Saint Rue. Because it's true. The archbishop fabricated it to capture you and ignite a war.
Darcy thought for a moment longer, and then agreed. Kanae motioned for Alicia to step away from Mercy, so that her sister could pick her up.
"You know it's inevitable, right? Three temples in the sky. A single champion donning the Matron's Regalia. I've heard the prophecy, too. The Queen-Mother and Ambrosia will come for you to seize the rest of the pieces," Darcy explained.
"I know. But hey. An extra few years of peace sounds nice, doesn't it?" Kanae grinned.
"Ambrosia told me not to listen to a single word that comes out of your mouth. I thought it was because your fangs would be full of venom. Maybe she just meant you were too kind for your own good." She offered a bow, kicked open a door into a nearby room, and flew out the window with her paralyzed sister.
Kanae, Alicia, and Ivory slumped against the wall and sighed.
"Well, shit. What are we going to tell the archbishop? She is not going to buy that they just escaped," Ivory said.
"Ivory's right. Archbishop Patrice chose us for a reason." Alicia shrugged.
"I'll do it…" Kanae insisted.
Late into the night and well after today's tournament had ended, a servant came to Amethyst Hall with a summons from Archbishop Patrice. She, Ivory, and Alicia were summoned together. Kanae met the other two at the Basilica doors. Rown laborers came in and out, repairing the damaged parts of the cathedral where the battle had taken place.
A timid cleric escorted them to the archbishop's office, where the usual duo of Saint Priests weren't present. Patrice called them to enter after Kanae had knocked only once. As promised, she was the one to explain what transpired earlier in the day.
"Escaped?!" Archbishop Patrice flung the book she had been reading across the room. "How? After Saint Priests Camilla and Ulric, the three of you are among the most deft-footed in Radevic. Two succubi… who weren't even Mistresses, gave you the slip?"
"One of them was a priest that shackled us with Penances," Kanae explained.
"And Ivory has the means through her martial skills to break restraints," she stormed up to them and countered. When no one said anything, the archbishop continued, "I handpicked you three specifically because your strengths combined could overpower and chase them down. Yet they escaped. What a blunder."
Out of everyone here, the archbishop looked the most devastated. It put a sour taste in Kanae's mouth that she was so desperate to make this happen.
"Perhaps this isn't a complete failure." Archbishop Patrice returned behind her desk.
"Don't tell me you want to try and lure them again?" Kanae groaned.
"No, no. I mean the strange substance they had affected you with. Amethyst, you said you were the only one to hear the voice? Alicia, can you corroborate that you didn't hear a thing?" she asked.
"Correct. In fact, Kanae was so incapacitated with thoughts of sex, she couldn't help but take advantage of an older male priest. His poor hips might never be the same again," Alicia explained in a little too much detail.
The blood of Satine, was what Darcy had called it. Whether it was really the devil's blood or some other concoction to make Kanae hallucinate, they weren't sure. However, they collected a sample after the sisters escaped. Archbishop Patrice wasted no time ordering the substance be sent to Elizabeth Bedlam for study.
"I considered keeping this secret, but there is something you should know and must never leave this room. Promise me that you won't let it slip to anyone else," Archbishop Patrice said.
"Yes, Archbishop!" they answered in unison.
"Marwin Fransk is bedridden," she explained in a somber tone. "The man most responsible for humanity's victory in the Succubus Wars is on his deathbed and doesn't have long left. You may have noticed that he hasn't been seen lately. That is why. I had hoped that we could settle the Cult of Lust and Depravity problem sooner rather than later, before he passes, and before they uncover or build a third flying temple. I fear that we will be at a severe disadvantage when war inevitably breaks loose."
