In the Lobby - AKA Rhabbi's second assignment.

[Rhabbi]

How had this happened? Things like this were not supposed to happen to people like her. Falling in love? A succubus should be unable to love. With this man, no less, her traditional prey, a clergyman. Her sisters would laugh if they knew she had fallen for anyone, especially a “Man of the cloth.”


The first time she had seen Brother Hubert, standing mired in the muck of the midden heap, and drunk, she thought that he would be easy prey for her. That night she appeared to him and allowed her form to shift according to his lust as she prepared to feed, but the symbiosis did not occur. He looked on the woman who could be anyone he dreamed, and saw her as she was. He saw the truth, did not flinch, and she had no idea what power that gave him over her.

Unlike her sisters, she never felt the need to kill; something had always been different. The one time she killed she swore never to do it again. She had learned to feed only when necessary, and only enough to survive. She would prefer not to feed at all, but existing as a formless spirit condemned only to watch was worse.

She wondered why this man would accept her as she is, and not want to see her as a beautiful woman. What made him different? She settled in the area to watch him. He was often opinionated and gruff, and had the reputation in the area of being a bit curmudgeonly. He was intolerant of those who felt that they new all the answers, and would not back down from those he viewed as fools, no matter their power. This often led to scrapes between him and the local authorities. They felt the clergy should only speak on eternal matters, not temporal.

Settling into one area could be dangerous, she still needed to feed, but, Brother Hubert tugged at her in a way she could not explain. She traveled as much as possible to disperse her victims over a wide area, but this part of the country had no farms. The only reason this town even existed was the confluence of a river and the mountain pass to Leithunstien. This town was not properly a part of Leithunstien, but the Baron often sent his troops to keep order here. The troops often rotating out compensated for the remoteness of the posting. This made it easier for her by enlarging her pool of victims. Also, the troops had no other outlet for their lust, other than a few fisher wives, and the doxies of the dockworkers.

Every time she appeared to Hubert, he saw her not as the girl of his dreams, but in the form that she fell into naturally. Her natural form was that of a rather large and unattractive human female. Most people would not give her a second look in that guise, but Hubert would actually talk to her about his day, and he did not look on her with pity either. She soon realized that she was in love with him, and that she would be willing to give up immortality to be at his side, if only she could.

She needed to take others because no single man could ever keep her alive, anymore than a single sandwich could keep a human alive for any period. This had never been a pleasant experience for her, but now with Hubert it was a betrayal of her love for him. She even went to him and confessed her love, but though he had his doubts about many things, he would not lie with her unless they married. If only she could.


One night she felt a strong presence attracting her, Eric von Ross. She knew him as soon as she saw him that night. She had encountered the victims of the Witch Hunter General before, and it had always given her a degree of pleasure to ease there misery, if only for a night. This night she went to him, but something about his reaction had been different from the beginning, and she left as soon as possible. He had been searching for her ever since, and now he was in Fulbright.

Not that he was any danger to her. What could he do to her, even if he caught her in corporeal form he could not hurt her, all she would have to do is turn incorporeal and leave through the wall.

He was more persistent than she had thought; he and his men had managed to track her here. She could feel his passion for her, and it drew her like a moth to a flame. She went to him again in his dreams to find out what he wanted.

“What is your name girl?”

“I answer to Lilith.”

She looked at herself in the mirror of his bedroom, the only mirror in the town. He must think highly of himself if he paid for that extravagance, as the inn keepers wife had ordered that for her own bedchamber.

She saw red hair cascading down past her shoulders, and partially covering her full breasts. She was defiantly voluptuous, obviously Eric von Ross liked curves.

“I love you Lilith, and I want you to stay with me. I know you for what you are, and I still want you.”

“Do not be silly human; you have no idea what you are asking of me.”

“I know that unlike other succubae you do not kill. This means I am safe with you.”

“I do not kill because I chose not to. If I fed to deeply off any man I would kill him.”

“Then only feed lightly, but only from me.”

She laughed at that suggestion. This startled her, she had not laughed in many years.

“If I fed off you enough to sustain myself, you would be dead as sure as if I had set out to kill you.”

“I will not live without you. I want you now.”

She moved to him and fulfilled his lust, then left him alone. This was the usual process with her, but tonight she left with a sense of foreboding.


She found Hubert at home, bent over a cup and a flask of wine.

“Lilith, more proof that God has a sense of humor. Cursing such a lovely soul to eternal darkness.”

“You know I do not consider myself to be cursed Hubert.”

“What does it matter what we consider in the long run? The Powers That Be choose how and where we live and die. Free will? Bah!”

“Hush Hubert, you know that you believe. Talking like that only upsets you.”

“Can you be a demon? Such advice should only come from an angel.”

“Please Hubert; do not use that word to describe me. I am a succubus, a Child of the First, not a demon. Demons are fallen angels, and I, like you, can only travel this realm.”

“Alas, an even greater tragedy.” He looked up her a bit sadly, which surprised her because he was usually happy when drinking. “God has finally decided to punish me for my blasphemy Lilith. The Baron has sent the Witch Hunter General to look into my work here.”

“Hush dear; we will talk about it in the morning.”

With that, she led him to his cot and tucked him in, than sat on the floor next to him to watch him sleep. This part always fascinated her, the way that humans slept and worked out their problems. If only she could sleep.


When Hubert woke up he vaguely remembered Lilith’s visit, and looked to see if she was still there. She had tidied up again, but left to wherever she went to spend the days. He sometimes thought he saw her down by the docks selling fish, but why would she do that. He did not think she would need money, as she did not eat, other than her nocturnal forays. One day he would have to ask, but not today.

After his morning ablutions and prayers, he went to the Inn to find Eric von Ross eating breakfast with a group of the thugs that he called questioners. Torturers would be a better term.

Von Ross sat in the dining room as if he owned it, and the other patrons and the innkeeper treated him with the deference born of fear. A cadaverous man, he still had an aura of fear about him.

“This town is rife with heresy; we will need to root it out.”

“Yes, lord General, how do you want us to start?”

“The soldiers are still reporting visits by a succubus. Yet there have been no deaths. Why is that? Do they have special protection? Bring in a few of them, and round up a few of the townsmen. Search them for witch marks.”

“Yes, lord General.”

“Milord, there is no witchcraft here.”

This caused Eric to blink and turn his gaze upon Hubert. Von Ross’s eyes pierced through Hubert, examining him like a particularly nasty piece of garbage. The gray color matched the rest of his appearance, but the fire in them made them almost glow. In spite of himself, Hubert shivered.

“You would be Brother Hubert, the local cleric. How do I know you are not consorting with witches and demons yourself?”

“Because you know as well as I do that witches are simply the fears of peasants and demons have little or no interest in us.”

The room got quiet as everyone turned to look at Hubert. Although he often was short tempered, most of the town respected him, and everyone knew of his dedication to his vows and justice. He was always willing to stand up to anyone he thought was wrong, but talking back to this man could kill him.
“Rather dangerous thing to say to me, don’t you think?”

“What do I care, death might be a blessing after the time I have spent here. Besides, your authority comes from a Baron who does not even bother to claim this town. You would have to apply to the church for permission to question me. They would then have to send someone to oversee the questions, someone who would in all probability end up taking my place. I have been in this forsaken town for 10 years now, and I came here for a 6-month post. Anyone they try to assign will know that this is a lifetime post, so why take it? “

“I see you know something of the politics of your position.”

“More than you know, Milord. More than you know.”

“Well then, Brother Hubert, have you heard any reports of there being a succubus about? Or are you going to say they have no interest in us either.”

“Succubus milord? I have heard of no deaths that could be attributed to a succubus.”

As he said this Hubert pulled up a chair and sat at the table with the Witch Hunter. His men glared at Hubert and one started to reach for him, but stopped short after a curt gesture from von Ross.

“Very interesting turn of phrase in answering that question, Brother.”

“Milord?”

“I notice that you did not deny hearing about a succubus, just that there are 'no deaths'.”

“I have heard some reports form my parishioners, but as there are no deaths attributable to the activity of a succubus, there can be no succubus. That is a basic tenet of the church, milord.”

Brother Hubert watched von Ross toke his measure. He could see the keen mind behind those piercing eyes re-evaluating him. Von Ross dismissed his men with a gesture. Leaning forward he drew Hubert in with the air of a conspirator.

“I want to confess something to you Brother. My men and I have been chasing this succubus for months. Like you, I had discounted the reports because she was not killing, but one night she came to me, and I know she is real. I do not know why she does not kill, nor do I care. I will find her, brother Hubert. I must find her.”

“Why? If she is real, and does not kill, why do you seek her? Even if you found her, what could you do? Even the church can do nothing against a succubus, except to protect her victims from death.”

“I know Brother. My men are not as educated as you and I. They think I chase her to destroy her, but I mean to make her mine. You should see her, Brother. She is lovelier than anyone could be. I will make her my own.”

Hubert looked on him and felt pity. This man, so feared by so many, driven by the same urges as other men.

“Milord, there is no way that will work, even if you found her. How would you control a succubus? Even the forbidden craft of magic warns against trying that. And you would be foresworn if you tried to use those arts.”

“That might be true, Brother Hubert. Nevertheless, I am going to find her. The reports center on this town, and she has to be around here for a reason. She will be mine.”

Von Ross just looked at him before getting up and following his men.


Lilith came to visit Hubert again that night.

“Lilith, I think you made a mistake this time. I do not think he is going away until he finds you, and his men will tear this town apart looking for you. I cannot stop them. God has visited this on me for mocking him. These people are simple folk, and do not deserve this.”

“I will stop him Brother Hubert. I swear I will stop him.”

“How, Lilith? Even if he were to die, the questioners would remain and tear the town apart. There is nothing anyone can do, except God, and He does not interfere in things like this.”

With that, he rolled over and wept.


Lilith felt anger and hatred for the first time in her life. She understood how her sisters could kill. The man that did this to Hubert did not deserve to live.
When she entered the inn that night and entered the room of von Ross she allowed her form to shift to that of his lust. He was not asleep yet, so she allowed her form to turn corporeal and appeared to him. He looked up in surprise, and smiled.

“So, the stories are true. You can come in the flesh. The dream forms are only to get a humans lust up.”

“You have no idea of what I can do. What will it take to get you to leave me alone?”

“Leave you alone? Why would I want to do that? Since the first time you came to me I have been searching for you. I have looked at other women, and even desired them. I can have any woman I want, but you are the only one who ever looked on me without fear. For that, alone I would love you.
“Yet you actually came to me, and for the first time I felt the power of love and tenderness. I will never not want you in my life, I love you. I will do anything to have you, and my men and I will do whatever I have to find you. You are in this town somewhere. If you leave, I will follow you again. You can not hide from me.”

“As I told you before, if I stayed with you, you would die. There is no way I can feed off a single human.”

“I can obtain food for you my love. You can feed off the people I interrogate. What better way to punish heretics and witches than through a demon?”

“I am not a demon. You are supposed to be educated; if I were a demon, you would be dead.”

“Demon, succubus, what’s the difference? All I care about is that I can have you in my bed every night.”

“You want me as a slave? A tool to use against your enemies during the day, and a plaything at night, you call that love?”

“It is the love I know. The love my father had for my mother. The love the baron has for his wife. What other kind of love counts?”

Lilith felt the rage and hate flow through her. She no longer held to the form of his lust. She felt her form flowing, and thought she was returning to her natural form.

She looked up to see him cringing away from her, something that she had seen before. Although she knew she was not attractive in this form, she had become used to it because of Hubert. His reaction made her angrier.

She strode over and grabbed him around the neck. When she lifted him off his feet and pinned him against the wall she froze. Although her human form was strong, she had never been this strong before.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she was surprised to see that she had manifested her incubus form, something that had never happened before. Thinking about the obvious advantages of this form made her smile.

“Do you still want me in your bed?”

Ignoring his frantic attempts to escape, Lilith tossed him on the bed and ripped away his clothes.

“Do you know what they do to men who have the mark of the incubus, Eric? How they parade them through the city to show their shame?

“Of course you do, you have probably ordered it yourself.”

She flipped him on has stomach and shoved his face into the bed to muffle his screams.

Instead of raping him, she proceeded to spank him with her now large hand, enjoying his rapidly reddening fundament.

“Eric, if you truly want me, I will be back tomorrow night.

Wait for me.”