Princess of Hell

"Do you want to call it a night?" I asked gently, studying Faith's conflicted expression. "We can head back if this is too much."

Faith was quiet for a long moment, her red eyes distant as she processed everything we'd discussed. Then, to my surprise, she straightened her shoulders with new determination.

"No," she said firmly. "I need to get used to this. To what I'm becoming." She looked toward the club entrance, resolve hardening her features. "I want to go back in."

Aria's face lit up with delight. "Now that's the spirit! I knew you had it in you."

We walked back toward the Den of Debauchery, but this time Faith moved with purpose rather than hesitation. Her posture was confident, her stride steady. The uncertainty that had plagued her earlier seemed to have melted away, replaced by determination.

As we re-entered the club, I watched Faith carefully, prepared to intervene if she became overwhelmed again. But my concerns proved unnecessary. She moved through the crowd with growing ease, no longer flinching at the heavy atmosphere of concentrated pheromones and magical energy.

"Much better," Faith murmured as we found a spot near the dance floor. "I was overthinking everything before."

Aria laughed, bumping Faith's shoulder playfully. "You have that in common with Lily—always overthinking things. I've told her the same thing so many times." She gestured dramatically. "Overthinking is the enemy of a succubus! You've got to learn to just feel and respond."

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't deny the truth in Aria's observation. My analytical nature had caused me plenty of grief during my early adjustment period.

"She's not wrong," I admitted. "I spent weeks trying to logic my way through every sensation and impulse instead of just accepting them."

Faith nodded thoughtfully, watching the dancers with new appreciation rather than the wariness she'd shown earlier. "It's strange how much easier it feels when you stop fighting it."

"Exactly!" Aria beamed. "The more you resist your nature, the harder everything becomes. But once you lean into it…" She gestured toward the writhing crowd. "It all starts making sense."

I felt a wave of relief watching Faith's transformation. She was adapting far more quickly than I had during my first weeks at the Academy. Where I'd spent months in internal conflict, she seemed to be finding her footing in a matter of hours.

"I actually feel better now," Faith said, surprising me further. "More… grounded, I suppose. Like I was fighting myself before and now I can just breathe."

Aria practically vibrated with excitement. "See? This is what I've been trying to tell you! Stop thinking so much and start feeling. That's what being a demon is all about."

Faith's lips curved into the first genuine smile I'd seen from her all evening. "You might be onto something there."

* * *

Several drinks and a few more dances later, we finally stepped back out into the plaza. The relatively cool night air felt refreshing after the club's heated atmosphere, I saw Faith's shoulders relax as we walked away from the pulsing music.

"That was actually fun," she said, sounding genuinely surprised by her own admission. "I didn't expect to, but once I stopped fighting everything…"

"You would have had even more fun if Lily hadn't chased away every incubus who tried to approach us," Aria interjected with a pointed look in my direction. "Seriously, you were like a guard cerber all night."

I laughed, remembering the way I'd deliberately positioned myself between Faith and a group of particularly aggressive demons who'd been circling our table. "I don't think Faith is quite ready for that particular aspect of succubus social life yet."

"Another time," Faith said to Aria, her tone carrying more promise than I'd expected.

Aria's eyes lit up with delight. "I certainly hope so. Because I cannot stand another prude like Lily." She gestured dramatically. "One is bad enough, but two would be absolutely tragic for my social life."

I raised an eyebrow at being called a prude. The word didn't exactly fit my self-perception, especially considering some of the things I'd done over the past seven months. Though I supposed by succubus standards, I wasn't particularly hedonistic. By human standards, on the other hand, I'd probably be considered quite immoral and liberal at best. It was all a matter of perspective.

"Speaking of social life," I said, changing the subject, "would you like to take a look around, Faith? If you're going to join us next term, it might be good to see what you're getting into beyond just the dorms and their immediate surroundings."

Faith nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good idea. I should probably know what I'm walking into."

"Perfect," Aria said, already heading in the direction of the Academy. "We can give you the full tour. Show you all the best spots and the ones to avoid."

As we walked through the northern district toward the Academy's imposing walls, I found myself looking forward to sharing this part of my life with Faith. The Academy had become such an integral part of who I was now—it would be nice to have her experience it too.

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"The main building is where most of our classes are held," I explained as we approached the gates. "Four floors plus the tower. The library takes up most of the west wing."

"Don't forget about Professor Scarlet's classroom," Aria added with a mischievous grin. "That's always an experience."

Faith raised an eyebrow. "What kind of experience?"

"Let's just say she has very creative teaching methods," I said diplomatically. "You'll understand when you meet her."

As we passed through the gates onto the Academy grounds, Aria chuckled. "Hopefully we won't run into Valentina tonight. That would just ruin the whole tour."

"Valentina?" Faith asked, glancing between us.

"Our classmate," I said with a slight grimace. "She behaves a bit like some villainess from a romance novel. Very dramatic, very entitled."

"She's a pureblood," Aria added, as if that explained everything. "Thinks everyone else is beneath her notice, but she's obsessed with Lily for some reason."

Faith looked intrigued. "Obsessed how?"

"In ways that would probably make more sense if this were actually a romance novel," I said dryly. "But since it's real life, it's mostly just annoying."

We approached the main building, its Gothic-like architecture looking particularly dramatic in the moonlight. The crystal formations embedded in the walls cast prismatic patterns across the obsidian stones, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.

"This is beautiful," Faith breathed, looking up at the soaring spires. "It's so different from anything on Earth."

"Wait until you see the inside," Aria said proudly. "The entrance hall alone is worth the trip."

I pulled open one of the massive oak doors, revealing the vaulted reception hall beyond. The floating crystal light sources cast everything in a warm, welcoming glow, while the polished obsidian floors reflected our images like dark mirrors.

"The grand staircases lead to the upper floors," I explained, gesturing to the curved staircases on either side. "Classrooms are on the second through fourth floors, with the specialised laboratories up top."

Faith walked slowly through the space, taking in every detail. "It feels so… substantial. Like it's been here forever."

"The Academy has a long history," I said. "Though I'm still learning about it myself."

Aria bounded ahead of us. "Come on, let's show her the your favourite spot! Meridia might still be awake—she practically lives there."

As we headed toward the west wing, I felt a warmth settle in my chest watching Faith explore this place that had become so important to me. Her careful attention to each detail, the way she moved through the corridors with growing familiarity—it felt right somehow.

* * *

After showing Faith around the Academy's corridors, classrooms, and the library where we'd indeed found Meridia still awake yet seemingly sleeping, we made our way back through Ardorkeep's winding streets toward the main plaza. The night air despite its inherent heat felt cool now, carrying the familiar scents of sulphur and brimstone that had become as natural to me as London's fog once was.

Faith walked between Aria and me, her steps more confident than they'd been earlier in the evening. The tour had gone well—she'd asked thoughtful questions about the curriculum, laughed at Aria's dramatic re-enactments of Professor Scarlet's more memorable lessons, and seemed genuinely intrigued by the Academy's unique approach to education.

"Thank you for tonight," Faith said as we approached the transport gate's crimson glow. "I feel like I understand what I'm getting into now."

"Just wait until you actually start classes," Aria said with a grin. "The tour doesn't really capture the full experience."

I nodded, watching Faith's face in the gate's shifting light. "You'll do fine. You're adaptable—you always have been."

The transport gate hummed with energy as Faith stepped through, her form dissolving into particles of light before reforming on the other side. Through the shimmering portal, I could see her wave goodbye before heading toward the palace's entrance.

"Well, that was fun," Aria said as we turned away from the gate. "She's definitely warming up to the whole demon thing."

"She is," I agreed, though something nagged at the back of my mind as we walked back toward the Academy.

"So," Aria continued, her tone taking on that particular inflection that usually meant she was about to say something that would make me uncomfortable, "when are we taking Faith for a proper feeding experience?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean?"

"Come on, Lily. She's a succubus now—well, half succubus. She's going to need to learn how to feed properly, not just on blood. And who better to show her than us?"

The thought sent an odd twist through my stomach. "She's only experiencing blood cravings right now," I said, my voice coming out more carefully neutral than I'd intended. "The other urges haven't manifested yet."

"Hopefully they will soon," Aria said cheerfully. "It would be such a shame if she never got to experience that side of herself."

"Yeah," I muttered, "hopefully."

But even as I said it, an unwelcome image flashed through my mind—Faith with someone else, experiencing her first time feeding as a succubus without me there to guide her. The thought made something ugly and possessive coil in my chest, which was completely ridiculous. I'd been with Aria, Isabella, and Bellas countless times. I'd fed from strangers on field trips. I had no claim to Faith's experiences, no right to feel jealous about theoretical future encounters.

Yet the feeling persisted as we made our way through the Academy's gates and up to our dormitory room.

"Finally," Aria sighed as she pushed open our door. "All that clubbing and touring made me absolutely ravenous."

Bellas looked up from where he'd been reading on the small sofa, his blonde hair catching the room's soft lighting. "Welcome back, mistresses. Did you have a pleasant evening?"

"Very pleasant," Aria purred, immediately moving toward him with that predatory grace that came so naturally to her. "But now I'm in need of some… refreshment."

I closed the door behind us, the strange jealousy about Faith still churning in my stomach. But as I watched Aria trail her fingers along Bellas's jaw, felt my own hunger responding to the familiar dynamic, that uncomfortable emotion began to fade into the background.

"How thoughtful of you to wait up for us," I said, joining Aria beside the sofa.

Bellas's pulse quickened visibly as both our attentions focused on him. "Of course, mistresses. I live to serve."

"Such a good answer," Aria murmured, already beginning to work at the fastenings of his simple tunic. "Isn't he well-trained, Lily?"

"Very well-trained," I agreed, my hands moving to help with his clothing while my own hunger sharpened to a pleasant ache.

The evening's events—the club, Faith's transformation, the strange jealousy—all of it faded as I focused on the immediate present. Aria's fingers were already tugging at her own clothes, and I found myself following suit, the familiar ritual of feeding and pleasure taking precedence over everything else.

This was what I knew, what I understood. Whatever complications Faith's presence might bring to my life, this was mine.