Lilith stretches as she watches Vaela from a sun-drenched spot on the kitchen counter, lazily grooming her thick, luxurious fur.
Vaela sat hunched over a laptop, her face dug deep into its screen, surrounded by empty coffee cups and sticky plates scarred with the remnants of strawberry pancakes and fresh honey.
"Is he even real?" Vaela mutters as she scrolls through yet another article..
"Who? Virgil?" Lilith scoffs. "Very real, I'm afraid."
"But these stories. And the rumors! It makes him sound like a freaking demi-god."
"Or something worse." Lilith chuckles, flicking about her tail.
Vaela had spent most of the previous day mourning Lucien. A bottle or two of red wine, a dozen tacos and hours of weeping into soft, silk sheets would help her overcome her heartbreak.
By morning she had redirected her energy toward researching Virgil DuCroix, her ultimate target, and the man whose love, she hoped, would release her from Lilith's curse.
But the more she read of him, the more impossible he seemed.
An infamous billionaire tyrant with a stone-cold stare. Rumours of mind control, fear-driven deals and political puppeteering abound wherever he spread his influence. Talk of vampiric powers that made him sound like the lords of legend, able to bend the wills of lesser men.
"Don't worry about Virgil, he's a long way off." Lilith assures her. "Focus on your next target."
"Dominic Martinez." Vaela said. "If I can't have Lucien, I might as well ride something… louder." she smirks, sliding her phone across the kitchen counter to Lilith.
"From billionaire play-boy, to bike-riding bad-boy. Quite the change in pace. Why him?" she asks as she stares at the screen with a raised brow.
"Just… look at him!" Vaele smirks.
Lilith suddenly bursts into a puff of crimson smoke, reappearing in her humanoid form. She purrs softly as she bites at her lip and stares at the picture on the phone screen.
It showed a mountain of a man. Broad shouldered and rugged with tattoos scrawled down his neck. The crest of The Lost Brotherhood hung on his right arm. His head beset by a long, feral mane, and eyes that bore the unmistakable glint of a werewolf alpha.
"Say no more." she smiles. "Also, I owe you a reward for completing your first task."
"Oh, really? I get a prize for seducing a vampire billionaire and rocking his world so hard it changed his entire view on life? How nice." Vaela sneers. "What's my reward?"
"Close your eyes." Lilith whispers as she floats toward Vaela, softly pouting her lips.
"A kiss?"
"A really good one."
"Seriously?" Vaela asks. She puckers her lips reluctantly and leans into Lilith's caress, the demon's soft wet lips wrap onto hers as she slips her tongue between Vaela's teeth.
A licentious sensation suddenly erupts across Vaela's body, detonating through her flesh like the aftermath of a thousand orgasms. Her knees buckle as she succumbs to the succubus' power, eyes swirling about in her skull as she's sucked into sensual euphoria.
"Holy fuck. What was that?" she gasps in a daze as her eyes wobble back into focus.
"My gift." Lilith smiles, slowly wiping wetness from her lips with a finger. "From now on, when you kiss someone… when you really kiss them… they'll experience something like that."
"So… like a power-up?"
Lilith chuckles at her words. "Yes, like a power up. Every time you complete a task successfully. You'll get a powerup. And you're gonna need all of them if you want to make Virgul DuCroix yours."
Vaela smiles, brushing her fingers across her quivering lips. "A succubus' kiss. That's so cool." she mutters. "But it's not how I want to get Dominic."
"Oh? Pray tell. What's your plan, kitten?"
"Pretty simple, really." Vaela smiles as she turns back to sipping her coffee. "I'll be feeding the hunger in his heart. Not just the one in his pants."
She flicks her laptop over to Lilith, who turns to the screen, brow furrowed in confusion.
"Moonblood Mercies?" Lilith chuckled, staring at the logo on the laptop. "Oh, I see where this is going. Clever!"
Vaela nods, smiling proudly.
"I must say… I thought the whole Lucien thing would break you. You're handling it really well considering all that crying you did yesterday."
Vaela's smile fades. She takes a deep, wistful breath and releases a long, regret-filled sigh.
"I'm not over him." she admitted. "He's so beautiful. And sweet. And caring. And did you see his… ugh! I can still feel it in me." Vaela says, quivering with memories of sensual delight. "I want more. I want him. I want Lucien." she cries, slumping onto the kitchen counter. "But…" she says, quickly perking up again. "There's no use crying over spilt milk. I've once survived a year on a single bag of moldy bread and toilet water. I can handle a little heartbreak."
Lilith twirls through the air over to Vaela, squeezing her head next to hers and rubbing together their cheeks.
"You're so much stronger than anybody I've cursed. You might actually be the first one to break it, kitten. I believe in you, for what it's worth."
"W-What?" Vaela blinked. "It's never been broken before?"
"Nope." Lilith shrugs. "A few really tried, But none made it past their third conquest. But there's something about you. You've got a different kind of bite, kitten."
Vaela nervously turns back to her screen and reviews the rapid progress of Moonblood Mercies. With the help of high-powered consultants and attorneys, she had set up the non-profit foundation overnight.
Through Moonblood Mercies, she had solidified her support of the orphanages in the city by setting up numerous funds to pay for improvements to their infrastructure, food supply and medical support.
Her organization now funded food drives, rehab centers, community support programs, and most importantly, senior care centers and group homes around the city. Putting in billions in funds and comprehensive plans to incrementally improve and upgrade facilities across the Veruna.
"So what have you learned about Dominic?" Lilith asks, puffing back into her feline form to stretch out her paws as she curls under the sun, letting the warm light caress her exposed belly.
"He's an alpha." Vaela responds. "He fought and clawed his way to the top of The Lost Brotherhood, the biggest gang in the city. They control most of the Quicksilver that flows through Veruna. He's very connected and very powerful. One of the biggest names in the city's underworld."
"Oh, nice… Biker, gang leader and drug dealer. And here I thought it was his arms that made you choose him."
Vaela huffs, rolling her eyes. "He has a soft side. He was orphaned young, and spent most of his youth in a place called North Pines. It's an old-age home. He was raised by the residents for more than 7 years before social services found him. He's had a soft spot for the people of North Pine Retirement Home ever since. Calls them his family. He visits every Sunday for two hours, like clockwork. That's where I'll find him."
"Hence the donations you've been making." Lilith purred proudly. "Moonblood Mercies… patron saint of Veruna's old and infirm."
Her phone suddenly starts vibrating across the kitchen counter, startling her from her fixation.
"Lucien!?" She gasps.
She stares at Lilith with confusion and at the phone in disbelief, hesitating to answer.
"Lucien?" she asks cautiously as the line connects.
"Vanessa," he answers. His voice slithering across her ears like warm velvet. "Forgive the call. If you're busy—"
"That's ok." Vaela answers softly. "I can speak."
"Thank you. I called because your name crossed my desk this morning. It should not have surprised me to learn you have started a foundation to support those in need."
"Oh… yes, Moonblood Mercies. I literally just started it. How did you know?"
"Word travels almost as fast as money. Billions in donations within hours… that doesn't go unnoticed. "
Vaela blushes. "That makes sense…"
"I've read your filings. I want to help. Let me join your board. Let me be a part of Moonblood Mercies. I give you my word. I will do everything in my power to ensure your venture succeeds."
"Lucien, that's… that's an amazing offer. But I couldn't. You have don't have to—"
"I want to." he interrupts. "No strings attached. I promise. You've helped me, Vaela, please allow me to return the favor."
"Okay." she whispered softly. "Thank you… Lucien."
The line clicked dead and Vaela released a long, emotionally-filled sigh as her head refilled with thoughts of the young, sexy vampire.
"What the hell just happened?" Lilith scowled, her face carved in confusion.
"I-I don't know." Vaela stuttered. "But… I think he meant it."
"You've seduced him so well his volunteering for charity now?" Lilith purred as she flopped onto her back. "I'm not even gonna try to make sense of this anymore."
Vaela stares at the image of Lucien on her phone and then at Dominic's portrait on her laptop screen, her mind burning through a tangle of thoughts and emotions.
"Forget about Lucien." Lilith snaps, swatting the phone from her hand. "You've already got him wrapped around your finger… and you're well on your way to having Dominic wrapped around the next one. Focus!"
Her eyes turn back to Dominic's portrait. Dark, powerful and magnetic. Just looking at him seems to tickle at animalistic urges hidden deep within her.
Vaela's mouth curls into a grin as she pulls the laptop closed, her eyes gleaming with dangerous potential.
"Time to hunt a wolf."