Chapter 2: Finding My Name
Their hands were impossibly soft yet imbued with a strength that took me by surprise. As they laced their delicate fingers with mine, a shiver of warmth coursed through me, pulling me deeper into the heart of the chamber. A sea of plush pillows enveloped our every step, muffling the sound of our movements and replacing it with the soft rustle of silk and the gentle, melodic jingling of intricate jewelry. The air was thick with an intoxicating scent, a captivating blend of lush roses steeped in decadent wine, intertwined with the heady notes of something darker, spiced, and ancient.
Around me, the women—my newfound sisters—laughed and swayed rhythmically, their laughter a harmonious symphony that echoed through the haze of flickering candlelight. Everywhere I turned, there was a mesmerizing display of curves, grace, and an undeniable spark of fire. Each one was a unique tapestry of beauty—some bore towering horns that arched elegantly like the crown of a ram, while others had small and subtle obsidian nubs just barely peeking through their flowing hair. Their wings were a breathtaking sight, ranging from grand, bat-like expanses to refined, feathery arcs that caught the light in exquisite glimmers.
Tails danced behind them like sinuous serpents—some slender and graceful, others thick and commanding—many adorned with glistening silver chains, delicate piercings, or ribbons of flame and shadow that shimmered enchantingly in the soft glow surrounding us. And yet, despite the vibrant tapestry of our differences, they were all united by one unmistakable trait: an intoxicating power that thrived on pleasure, radiating warmth and allure that pulsed like a heartbeat through the very air we breathed.
The woman seated to my right leaned in, her presence enveloping me like a warm embrace. Her smile was inviting and flirtatious, radiating a secret delight as if she was privy to a joke that danced just out of reach of everyone else. Her eyes, a captivating shade of amethyst, shimmered with a playful glint, while her wavy dark hair tumbled over one shoulder in soft, lustrous cascades. Her skin glowed with the richness of deep caramel, illuminated by flecks of gold that caught the light and sparkled like tiny stars.
Above her head, her horns twisted gracefully, resembling polished bone adorned with delicate golden rings that added an air of elegance to her fantastical appearance. “I’m Melody,” she purred, her voice smooth and nurturing as she took my hand in hers, giving it a gentle yet heartfelt squeeze. “You’re going to love it here.”
Her words flowed like silk slipping through fingers, wrapping around me in a cocoon of warmth. “We’ll take you to Sophie in just a moment. She’s the one who names all of us,” Melody continued, her tone imbued with reverence. “She has this extraordinary ability to discern the perfect name for every soul—almost as if it’s intricately woven into your very essence long before you arrive here.”
I nodded slowly, allowing the weight of her words to sink in, still entranced by the surreal beauty that surrounded me. The air was thick with enchantment, humming with possibilities, and I felt like a wanderer on the brink of discovering a world beyond my wildest dreams.
Melody's voice took on a slightly more instructional tone, yet retained its sultry edge, weaving a spell of its own. “But first, allow me to unveil the nature of our existence within these enchanting walls.”
With a graceful flourish, she gestured outward, her free hand sweeping across the room to encompass the lounging succubi, each one a vision of allure. “We are the summoned, the captivating succubi. Master Summoners reach across the veil, calling upon us from the mortal realm—typically for their own indulgent pleasures, of course.”
A chorus of light laughter erupted around us, playful and inviting, with one succubus even winking conspiratorially, her eyes sparkling like gemstones.
“In exchange for the exquisite pleasure we grant them,” Melody elaborated, her tone teasing yet earnest, “their souls become bound by a tether to Hell. It’s a connection that is neither painful nor noticeable to most mortals—a seamless bond that tethered them to our realm. Yet, we feel it acutely—the link that sustains us. We thrive on it—their ecstasy transforms into our essence, our power.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief and intrigue. “And you’d be astonished at the number of Summoners out there, yearning for release, for connection, for something more than the chill of solitary existence and the awkward clumsiness of mortal interactions.”
I blinked, taken aback by the revelation. “They can’t feel pleasure?”
Melody's lips curved into a sly smirk, her eyes shimmering with mischief. “They try, oh how they try. But most of them? Poor souls struggle to grasp even a sliver of the ecstasy we savor. Their joy, their soft moans, their deepest highs… it all courses through the bond we share, fueling our strength.”
With a playful flick of her wrist, she released my hand momentarily, allowing her slender fingers to glide sensuously up her own side, her skin emanating a soft, ethereal glow from the magic intricately woven into her very being. “Once we accumulate enough of that precious energy, we earn the right to breach the veil between our worlds. We can traverse the mortal realm, unshackled from the confines of summoning circles. That’s when the real intrigue begins.”
My eyes widened, a mix of astonishment and curiosity swirling within them. “So you can just… step into Earth? At will?”
Melody's laughter rang out, a low and sultry sound that reverberated through me, sending delightful shivers along my spine. “Only once you've cultivated your strength,” she purred. “Until that moment, your summons serve a dual purpose: they are your training ground. Each contract you forge builds your power. Every encounter becomes a feast, nourishing and enhancing your abilities.”
She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper that sent a shiver down my spine. “I have fifty-eight active links right now,” she continued, her eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and mischief. “That means fifty-eight souls siphoning their energy to me. Some are more nourishing than others, of course, but a select few? Oh… they tingle with power, keeping me not just satisfied, but gloriously well-fed.”
Around us, a small group of sisters erupted into playful claps and cheers, their laughter swirling like music in the air. One voice playfully rang out, “Show-off!”
Melody simply smiled wide, brushing off the teasing remark like it was the softest feather. “The ones strong enough to slip through the veil and roam freely on Earth? We don’t take part in the summonings anymore. That duty falls to the new blood. To you.”
An unfamiliar sensation nestled into my chest—not dread, not quite fear—but a heady rush of anticipation. The mere thought of being summoned, of stepping into the mortal realm with the essence of power coiling beneath my skin, electrified me. I could almost envision the strongest of humanity confronting me, their bravado fading as they realized how utterly helpless they would be beneath my touch…
It didn’t terrify me; instead, an exhilarating thrill coursed through my veins. Melody leaned in, her presence intoxicating, her lips barely grazing the shell of my ear as she murmured, “You’ll be great at it. I can already tell. You have that spark.”
A shiver of anticipation danced along my skin, igniting every nerve with a tingling electric charge. For the very first time, I sensed something deep within me beginning to stir—not merely the softness of her touch but a more profound awakening. A coil of heat unfurled inside, a pulsing rhythm of dark magic gently unfurling from its long slumber, whispering secrets of power and possibility.
In a distant corner of this grand hall, shrouded in shadows and whispers, my name lay in wait like a precious jewel hidden amongst the debris. The moment I uttered it, a transformation would occur; I would shed the remnants of that bewildered spirit who had perished in frantic flight from a glinting blade. Instead, I would rise anew, reborn into something altogether different—something divine, radiant with purpose and strength.
Sophie approached with a tranquility that felt almost sacred, her movements fluid and deliberate, each step imbued with a sense of ritual significance. Unlike the others, she exuded a quiet power, reminiscent of still water concealing profound depths beneath its surface. Her skin was pale with a delicate iridescent shimmer, akin to pearl dust glimmering in the soft light of the moon, and her slender horns curved elegantly behind her ears, resembling a crown meticulously sculpted from starlight itself. Cascading down her shoulders, her silver-white hair flowed straight and unbound, reminiscent of a gossamer veil that whispered secrets of the night.
Kneeling gracefully before me, Sophie’s eyes radiated a gentle yet mesmerizing inner light, illuminating the space around her with a soft glow. “As Melody explained,” she began, her voice a harmonious blend of gentleness and richness, “I am here to uncover your soul’s name—the true name that resides deep beneath your mortal identity. It is not something we assign; rather, I assist you in revealing what has always belonged to you, waiting patiently to be discovered.”
I nodded, my breath barely a whisper as I lowered myself delicately onto the soft pillow in front of her. The others had subtly shifted back, creating a circle of space around us, their eyes glinting with curiosity and anticipation. Melody, ever the playful spirit, gave me a cheeky wink from her perch beside me before folding her legs gracefully, settling into a calm demeanor with her hands resting serenely in her lap.
As Sophie reached out, I found myself instinctively placing my hands into hers. The instant our skin met, an electric warmth ignited between our palms, reminiscent of honey poured slowly over warm toast—rich, golden, and viscous. It surged through my arms like molten silk, spreading outward to envelop my chest in a cocoon of heat. That sensation rose into my throat, a soft pressure that felt as if it might spill over, before it cascaded downward, curling deep into my abdomen. There, it settled in a place that felt unfamiliar yet strangely vibrant, awakening sensations within me that had long lain dormant.
My eyes fluttered open, a soft gasp escaping my lips as a warm sensation pooled deep within my womb—a feeling not entirely erotic, but instead profound and transcendent. It was as if something ancient and distinctly feminine had stirred to life within me, awakening a long-buried essence. In that moment, a tether snapped into place—not to the shadows of the past, but to the very core of my truest self.
Sophie’s gaze locked onto mine, and for a fleeting instant, it felt as though she was piercing through the layers of my being. She wasn’t merely observing who I was at that moment; she was gazing into the depths of every version of me that had ever existed—across lifetimes, through forgotten realms of the cosmos.
Then, a smile blossomed on her lips, warm and knowing, illuminating the quiet hush of the chamber around us.
“Your name,” she intoned softly, her voice reverberating gently against the stillness, “is Andria.”
The word resonated within me like a bell tolling in the depths of my soul, vibrating through my very core.
Andria.
It felt like the perfect fit in a way that nothing else had ever come close to. Not merely a name I was experimenting with, but rather a dawning realization of who I had always been. It rolled off my tongue with an exquisite familiarity, each syllable dancing in my mouth like a melody. As it settled into my being, it felt as though roots were intertwining with my essence, grounding me in a way I had never known possible. In that moment, I felt… whole.
Around me, the other succubi let out soft, melodious sighs, their approval evident as a few of them nodded, their eyes sparkling with warmth. Some whispered the name softly to themselves, as if etching it into the very fabric of their memories.
Sophie leaned in, her lips cool and delicate as they brushed against my forehead—a simple, tender gesture filled with warmth and acceptance. “Welcome, Andria,” she murmured, her voice a soothing balm. “Now… you are truly born.”