Princess of Hell

I woke with my face pressed against Aria's shoulder, one of her legs tangled with mine. The sheets had twisted into a chaotic mess around us. My muscles ached in a way that felt satisfying, like after a particularly good workout—if that workout involved five hours of intense fucking.

I lifted my head and looked around. Bellas lay on the floor, his back propped against the bed frame, his blonde hair sticking up in every direction. His chest rose and fell in slow, deep breaths. Dark circles shadowed his eyes even in sleep. The enchantments that allowed him to withstand multiple succubi had held, but just barely. We'd pushed him to his absolute limit.

Aria stirred beside me, stretching her arms above her head. A small, satisfied sound escaped her throat.

"Morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"Morning." I sat up, the sheet falling to my waist. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." She rolled onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow. Her purple eyes had regained their usual mischievous glint. "Much better. There's nothing like an hour or two of mindless pleasure to reset your brain."

"Five hours of mindless pleasure," I corrected.

"Five very thorough hours." She grinned. "Poor Bellas. We really did a number on him."

I glanced at our unconscious slave again. "He'll recover. He always does."

Aria swung her legs off the bed and stood, apparently unconcerned with her nakedness. She padded over to the washroom without another word. I heard water running.

I needed to contact Mother about what we'd discovered. The situation with Sombra, Nyx, the memory manipulation—all of it was beyond what three Academy students should be handling alone. Isabella had been right about that.

I summoned paper and ink from my spatial ring, arranging them on the small desk near the window. The morning light streaming through the glass made the white paper almost glow. I picked up the pen and began writing, organizing my thoughts into clear, concise paragraphs. Everything we'd learned about Sombra's manipulation of Nyx, the memory techniques that worked on demons, the coercion through false emotional attachments. I included our theory about needing to kill Nyx to purge the fabricated memories, and Aria's own concerns about whether she'd been similarly manipulated.

When I finished, I read it over twice, making sure I hadn't missed anything critical. Then I folded the letter into thirds and held it in my palm. Magical energy gathered beneath my skin, flowing down through my arm and into the paper. The letter dissolved into crimson smoke that curled upward, forming elegant spirals before dissipating completely.

"That's always such a cool trick," Aria said from the doorway. She'd put on a simple black dress that hugged her curves. "Magical mail."

"It's efficient." I stood and moved toward my wardrobe. "We should get ready. Don't want to be late for Biology."

Aria made a face. "Right. Professor Tiamatha and her 'hands-on approach.'"

I selected my Academy uniform from the wardrobe and began dressing. The familiar routine—white shirt, red necktie, black corset, short skirt—had become second nature over the months. I pulled on the thigh-high stockings, smoothing them up my legs.

By the time we left the room, Bellas still hadn't stirred. We walked through the Academy corridors, our heels clicking against the stone floors. Other students passed us in groups, their conversations creating a constant low buzz of noise.

Isabella waited outside Professor Tiamatha's classroom, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Her silver hair had been pulled back into a tight bun, emphasizing her sharp features.

"Morning," she said as we approached. "You two look remarkably refreshed."

"Five hours of sex will do that," Aria said cheerfully.

Isabella's eyebrow rose a fraction. "Five hours? Poor Bellas."

"He'll be fine." I stopped beside Isabella, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "I sent a letter to Mother this morning. Told her everything we discovered."

"Good." Isabella's expression remained neutral, but I caught the faint tension in her jaw. "What's the plan for today?"

"Normal classes for now," I said. "After we're done, I want to visit Professor Moira. She still has my phone, and I'd like it back. Plus, she might have heard something from the Headmistress about the investigation."

"Makes sense." Isabella pushed off from the wall. "Do you think your mother will respond quickly?"

"Probably. This kind of manipulation—memory magic that can affect demons—she'll take it seriously." I glanced down the corridor. Other students were beginning to gather near the classroom door. "The question is what she'll do about it."

"Nothing good for Sombra, I imagine," Aria said. Despite the lightness in her tone, something hard glinted in her eyes.

"No," I agreed. "Nothing good at all."

The classroom door opened. Professor Tiamatha stood in the doorway, her red curls cascading over her shoulders. Her lab coat hung open over black lingerie that left almost nothing to imagination. The tiny golden bells on her horns chimed softly as she moved her head.

"Come in, come in!" She beckoned to the gathered students with both hands. "We have such an exciting lesson planned today. I've acquired a particularly impressive specimen for our anatomy demonstration."

Students began filing into the room. Isabella, Aria, and I exchanged looks.

"Here we go," Aria muttered.

We followed the others inside.

* * *

The classroom smelled of sulphur and something organic that reminded me of seaweed left in the sun. Professor Tiamatha's "impressive specimen" dominated the far wall, bound by thick chains that ran through iron rings embedded in the stone.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

It took me a moment to process what I was seeing.

A single massive eye, easily three feet across, stared out at the classroom. The iris shifted through colours—blue to green to purple—like oil on water. Smaller eyes, dozens of them, circled the central orb in concentric rings. Each one blinked independently, tracking different students as we filed into our seats.

Twelve tentacles sprouted from below the eye cluster, each one smooth and obsidian black. A thin coating of slime covered the creature's entire surface, making it gleam like wet tar under the classroom lights. The tentacles writhed in slow patterns, occasionally reaching toward the nearest table before the chains pulled them short.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Professor Tiamatha walked to stand beside the creature, one hand resting against the wall near its bulk. "This is a Gazer. Native to the Underdark Realm—though 'native' is a loose term now that their home dimension has fragmented across multiple worlds."

I sat between Aria and Isabella at our usual table. Aria leaned forward, her purple eyes fixed on the creature with obvious interest. Isabella maintained her typical composure, though I noticed her gaze tracking the movement of the tentacles.

"Gazers are hermaphroditic," Tiamatha continued. She gestured to the creature's lower section, where the tentacles merged into a central mass. "They reproduce through self-fertilization or with other Gazers when available. After fertilization, they lay eggs—anywhere from eight to twelve in a typical clutch."

One of the creature's tentacles extended fully, revealing itself to be slightly different from the others. The tip flared into a rounded opening.

"This," Tiamatha tapped the tentacle with one finger, "is the ovipositor. The eggs themselves lack hard shells, which presents a problem. They require constant warmth and protection during the three-month gestation period."

She moved to her desk and retrieved a glass jar containing what looked like translucent spheres suspended in amber liquid. Each sphere was roughly the size of a chicken egg.

"When warm bodies of water aren't available, Gazers capture incubators instead. They prefer female mammals—specifically humans, as their body temperature hovers at exactly the right range. Though deviations of a few degrees are acceptable."

Tiamatha set the jar down and returned to the Gazer. Its central eye had locked onto her, the pupil dilating and contracting.

"The process is quite elegant. The Gazer uses its primary eye to induce a hypnotic state. The victim experiences complete memory suppression of the implantation. They return to their normal life, unaware they're carrying eggs in their womb. The size matches early pregnancy—first or second trimester depending on clutch size."

I shifted in my seat. The idea of walking around for three months, completely unaware of what grew inside you, made my skin crawl despite my demonic nature.

"Three days before hatching, the hypnotic compulsion brings them back to the Gazer's lair. They give birth, and the cycle repeats." Tiamatha's smile widened. "Sustainable, efficient, and beautifully simple."

"What happens to the women?" someone asked from the back row.

"They survive the process. Exhausted, confused, but alive. The Gazer has no interest in killing its incubators—that would defeat the purpose." Tiamatha walked to the front of the classroom. "Now, for us, this presents unique opportunities. Succubi are completely immune to Gazer hypnosis. Our natural mental defences prevent the mind-affecting aspects."

She picked up the jar again, holding it up to the light.

"The eggs themselves contain concentrated vital essence. A single clutch provides enough energy to sustain a succubus for the entire three-month gestation period. No feeding necessary. This makes them invaluable during extended infiltration missions where feeding might compromise your cover."

Aria's tail twitched beside me. I could practically feel the interest radiating from her.

"The eggs can be absorbed immediately, or kept as living storage within your womb. They'll maintain themselves using a small portion of the essence they contain." Tiamatha set the jar down. "Though, I do recommend absorbing any remaining eggs before they hatch. The hormonal signals they produce to induce labour are… intense. Even for us."

She moved to stand directly in front of the Gazer, her hand extended toward the ovipositor tentacle.

"So. Who would like to demonstrate the implantation process?"

Hands shot up across the classroom. Aria's arm went up immediately, her enthusiasm completely unsurprising. I counted at least a dozen volunteers.

But Professor Tiamatha's green eyes had already found me. Her lips curved into a knowing smile as she pointed directly at our table.

"Miss Nightstar. You're always so quiet during my demonstrations." She walked toward us, her lab coat swaying with each step. "Would you care to volunteer today?"

Every eye in the classroom turned to look at me. The Gazer's tentacles had stopped their lazy movements, all twelve now oriented in my direction. Its massive central eye fixed on me with terrible focus.

I felt my throat go dry.

* * *

Before I could respond, the classroom door slammed open. The sound echoed off the stone walls.

Professor Auriel strode through the entrance. Her golden braid swung against her back with each step. Her eyes swept across the room, passing over the students until they locked onto Professor Tiamatha.

"Tiamatha." Auriel's voice cut through the classroom's murmur. "You're needed. Immediately."

Professor Tiamatha's smile vanished. She moved away from our table, her posture shifting. Her shoulders pulled back, her hands no longer relaxed at her sides.

"What's—"

"All faculty. Headmistress's orders." Auriel's wings materialized, the blackened feathers spreading partway before folding tight against her back. "Now."

The Gazer's tentacles coiled inward, responding to the sudden tension in the room. Its central eye rotated between the two professors.

Tiamatha looked at us, then back to Auriel. She grabbed her lab coat from where it hung on the chair, pulling it over her shoulders.

"Class dismissed." Tiamatha walked toward the door, her heels clicking against the floor. "We'll continue the demonstration next session. Return to your dormitories."

Students began gathering their things, conversations breaking out in whispered clusters. I reached for my bag, my fingers fumbling with the strap.

Auriel's voice rose above the noise. "Listen carefully." The room fell silent. "You are to remain in your dormitories until further notice. The Academy will not take responsibility for anything that happens outside them."

My stomach dropped. The weight of her words pressed down on everyone in the classroom.

"That includes the halls, the library, the dining hall." Auriel's golden eyes scanned the students. "Your dormitories. Do you understand?"

Murmured acknowledgments filled the space. Auriel turned and left through the door, Tiamatha following close behind. The door swung shut behind them, the latch clicking into place.

Chaos erupted. Students pushed toward the exit, voices rising in speculation and concern. Isabella stood first, her movements calm despite the rush around us. Aria bounced to her feet, grabbing my arm.

"Well, that saved you from the tentacles!" Aria's grin stretched across her face. "Lucky timing, Lily."

I pulled my bag over my shoulder, my tail wrapping around my left leg. "Don't joke about it."

"What? They looked harmless." Aria's fingers drummed against her bag's leather strap.

"Tentacles are still on the list of things I'd rather keep away from me." I moved toward the aisle, following the flow of students toward the door. The Gazer watched us leave, its eye tracking each person who passed.

"Aww." Aria's tail swished behind her. She leaned closer as we entered the hallway. "But really, what do you think this is about?"

The corridor stretched ahead of us, already crowded with students from other classes. Voices echoed off the walls, speculation and worry mixing together.

"I don't know." I kept my voice low. "Perhaps something to do with the letter I sent."

Isabella moved to my other side, her ice-blue eyes forward. "Well, if it's that, then we should really get to our dormitories quickly."

We joined the stream of students heading toward the residential wing. My heart hammered against my ribs. Whatever had prompted Headmistress Valencia to summon all faculty and lock down the Academy, it couldn't be good.