Molly was still sitting in the centre of the magic circle, knees up and arms wrapped around her legs. As I strode into the room, she flinched before recognising me.
"Master!"
I froze.
She wasn't alone.
A demon stood beside the protective circle, shaking her head and tutting critically. She was slim and sexual, with every curve competing for my attention. She couldn't even stand without looking seductive.
Small bat wings, not much bigger than a bat's, fluttered between her shoulders. Her blushing pink skin and glowing green eyes looked both alien and alluring.
She turned to me, and my breath caught at her beauty.
How could it not?
She was a succubus.
"Count Dracula," she purred. The smile she gave me chilled me to my core. "After so long, you rise yet again from the grave. My Lord is so displeased. He had been so looking forward to entertaining your soul. Is it true that nothing can kill you? You're like a cockroach."
I bowed from the waist. This demon would always have my respect.
"Please pass on my regrets," I said. "I was unable to accept your Lord's invitation, but I would welcome his insight."
Her laughter tickled my ears. "I just bet you would," she danced towards me, ethereal and irresistible. Her fingertip brushed my shoulder, and I felt the frigid cold almost blister my skin beneath my torn shirt. "You look terrible, Count. You really ought to look after yourself."
"It's a temporary problem," I said with a light shrug. "My Meridians are damaged."
"Oh?" She frowned, leaning in. I could feel her gaze slide through me. There was nothing I could do to stop her. Not yet. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Damaged is an understatement. Gone, is I think the word I would use. Your shirt is in better condition, and that's barely hanging off you. Although, I admit I prefer you dressed like this than when you wrap yourself up in layers."
"I can repair them," I said. "And I have more shirts."
"You do?" She leaned in close, her lips so close to my cheek as she whispered into my ear. "Would you like me to help you get changed?"
I shivered at the thought.
A hundred memories glittered through my mind, revealing more of her than I'd expected. But Molly shifted in the circle, and I shook my head.
"Another time," I said. "I came to release my Renfield. The danger has passed."
"I'm still here, though," the succubus giggled. "And don't say I'm not as dangerous as those mortals you were just toying with. I'll be most offended if you do."
"I wouldn't dare," I said, a genuine smile forming on my lips as her name slid into my brain. "Kalista."
"Oh, you remember my name!" She let out a delighted squeal and danced back with a girlish spin to face Molly. "Did you hear that? I thought he'd completely forgotten me. A hundred years I spent teaching him magic. Loving him every night. And how does he repay me? Turns a few tarts into vampires and puts me on mute. On mute, Molly! Was that a nice thing to do? I cried for decades, you know. My tears formed a lake. Do you know how hard it is to form a lake in Hell?"
Molly's frightened eyes flicked from the succubus to me.
"I'm sure I had my reasons," I said, frowning. No memories surfaced, though.
"Your reasons?" Kalista laughed. "Oh, you and your games. I haven't missed those. Did you know, Molly, that my Lord has played exactly three games of chess with your master and lost twice! Twice! He still gets mad if he's reminded of it."
I did?
That memory, too, didn't surface.
"I'm sure you're exaggerating," I sighed.
"I am not," she said with an indignant snort. "He's very sensitive is my Lord."
I approached the protective circle, lifting a hand to check its condition.
Kalista watched me.
And rolled her eyes.
"Do you want me to dismiss it?" She asked. "If I do it, you can pretend it's not yours. Honestly, Count, I haven't seen such a dodgy magic circle from you since the one you first drew to summon me. That was horrendous, Molly. He even used the blood of a common mongrel."
I shook my head. "It was werewolf blood."
"A common mongrel," she insisted. "I've never been so insulted."
"The circle isn't mine," I told her. "I was just using it as it was convenient."
"Convenient? It's not convenient at all. It's useless. Look at this here. It's all smudged." She stamped her foot at the edge of the circle. "And here. Look! This isn't even blood! It's paint! Paint, Molly! Why would anyone use paint in a magic circle? What were they hoping to summon? A Van Gogh?"
Molly clapped her hands over her mouth, but I caught the snigger.
"Don't encourage her, Molly," I sighed.
The little succubus flounced over to me, her breasts bouncing perfectly. Staring up into my eyes, her lip quivered. "Don't you love me anymore?"
Leaning down, I kissed her softly on the lips.
I felt a buzz of energy as some of my lifeforce was leeched away.
That's the price for kissing a succubus.
And it's worth it, I promise.
"I may have forgotten much," I told her. "But my feelings are the same. When I look at you, I feel great care and respect."
"Care and respect?" She shrugged it off, but I could see her cheeks had flushed. "Well, I suppose that's better than nothing. Which is what I've had from you for the last 150 years. Why is that?"
"I've been dead," I reminded her. "You know that."
"Yes, I do." She flashed a mischievous grin. "And why were you dead? Who killed you?"
"My Brides."
"That's right!" She jabbed a finger at my chest. "Because of the tarts. You can drag them out of a brothel, Count, but they'll always be tarts. Right, Molly?"
Molly winced. "Umm…"
"Are you afraid of him, Molly?" She bent over the protective barrier, peering through it at my Renfield. "You don't need to be afraid of him. He's all bite and no… Hmm. That doesn't work. Forget it. If he upsets you, you just let me know. I'll make sure he'll regret ever getting up in the evening. In fact, between you and me, I'll make him go running back to his tarts so they can ash him for another 150 years. It might just burn some sense into his little brain."
As she ranted, the little bat wings on her back fluttered angrily with her.
It was almost cute.
Which was a strange thing to think about a succubus. Because while she looked like a sweet innocent sex demon, Kalista could easily drain my lifeforce completely which would leave me in a state of Torpor for eternity.
No amount of blood would be enough to draw me back to conscious life. I'd be locked inside my body forever. Unable to die. Unable to live.
Not a pleasant way to exist.
"I might owe you an apology," I said thoughtfully.
"Oh, you think?" She turned on me like a fierce kitten. "An apology might be good for a start. And roses. Red roses. Also chocolate. Expensive chocolate. Not the nasty stuff you get in a convenience store. And some jewellery. Something nice I can wear around my neck. With matching bracelet and earrings. Diamonds. Lots of diamonds! Big diamonds, too. I want diamonds as big as your balls!"
Molly snorted, closing her eyes.
"I'll see what I can arrange."
"And you arrange it yourself," Kalista snapped. "Don't you be sending this lovely girl out to do it all for you."
"Alright."
"Alright." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Molly. I've been holding that in for a very long time."
"That's okay," Molly squeaked. "I don't mind."
Kalista showed her a happy grin. "I like you, Molly. Do you want to be my student? I'm a really good teacher, you know."
"I, umm…"
So, that was it.
Kalista had come for Molly.
It made sense. My ties to Hell were tenuous at best. In the past 150 years, no doubt a lot had changed. Lucifer would be eager to reinforce the thin ties we had.
And might also want to play chess again.
"Yes," I put in for her. "She would be honoured, Kalista. And I would be grateful."
"I bet you would," the succubus snorted.
I stepped up to her and put a hand on her cheek, feeling my lifeforce creep away. I ignored it. While I couldn't afford to touch her for long in my current condition, I was prepared to weaken myself if it meant Molly would gain even a fraction of Kalista's knowledge.
"I have wronged you, Kalista. I won't ever do so again."
Her cheeks reddened and she fluttered her eyelids. How much of it was an act, I would never know. But my instinct told me she had always been an emotional being.
Mortal legends painted demons as one-dimensional monsters.
The reality was that all monsters are, ultimately, complicated.
I know this better than anyone.
"Promise?" Her voice was small and soft.
"I swear it."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good." She suddenly whipped out a piece of parchment from nowhere. It made me think of Hina. "Because I have a contract here for you to sign."
"A contract?" The hairs on my neck rose sharply.
"Yes. And, if you're truly sorry, you'll sign it."
"No matter how sorry I am, I'd need to know what it is." I grinned at her. "You taught me to never sign a contract from Hell without looking at it."
"Look all you like," she sniffed. "It's just a standard agreement that you won't ever prioritise a tart over me ever again!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
"Of course I am!" She stamped her foot with a petulant growl. "You know how much my Lord likes you! When you were mine, I was always invited to the best parties and he sent me loads of gifts. Now, he's all but forgotten who I was. This makes sure you're mine again, and this time you stay mine! If you won't sign it, I won't take your Renfield as a student. I'll refuse."
I glanced at Molly, remembering her request to learn magic. Then back at Kalista, whose expression was giving nothing away. "Hmm."
A smile crept across her face. "What's the matter, Count? Don't you love me anymore?"
I sighed as I signed the contract.
"I'm sure I'll regret this."
"No, you won't," Kalista said, giving my cheek a happy pat. Then turned to Molly and threw her arms out in joy. "Hello, my little student! I expect you to be at class at exactly midnight Friday, two weeks from today. Your master should supply you everything you need. He's useless at most things, but I'm sure he can manage that. Can't you, sweetie? Oh. I'll send you a uniform by Hell Express, Molly. You'll love it. Well, your master here will love it…"
Molly looked at us, confused. "Umm. Where am I going?"
Kalista's grin turned wicked.
"Why, to Scholomance, of course!"
I really was going to regret this.
***
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