✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[01] Merlin

“Binabawi ko na ang sinabi ko. Hindi pala kita type!”

“The feeling is mutual.”

“Argh! This is so annoying. Alam mo ba kung ilang tao ang hindi ko tuloy nabisita ngayong gabi dahil sa’yo? A succubus needs to do her job too, you stupid wizard!”

As much as I wanted to argue that having sex with sleeping mortals isn’t really a “job”, pinili ko na lang manahimik.

Naupo ako sa gilid ng containment circle habang hinihintay siyang kumalma. I opened a bag of potato chips and watched the devil trapped inside the magical barrier. Kanina pa nagmamaktol si Vela dahil sa ginawa ko sa kanya. I can’t really blame her, though. Once you’ve been bound to someone with a magical chain, you’ll literally become inseparable.

Yes, I just bound myself with a succubus and used half of my energy to do so.

Idagdag pa rito ang katotohanang forbidden ito, at malapit ko na talagang isipin na nasisiraan na ako ng bait.

But, of course, every is worth the risk if it means I can achieve my goals in the end.

“Ano bang kailangan mo sa’kin?” Sa wakas, mukhang handa nang makipag-usap nang matino si Vela. I guess she realized that pacing around a circle while cursing my name won’t do her any good. Lalo’t malapit nang mag-umaga.

Itinabi ko ang kinakain ko at seryosong tumitig sa kanya.

“I need you to seduce the information out of someone.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “At bakit ko naman gagawin ‘yon?”

“Dahil isa kang succubus. Trickery and seduction is your expertise. That’s why I specifically summoned you in the first place.”

She crossed her legs together, intentionally letting the robes show off her flawless thighs. Kung sinusubukan pa rin ba niya akong akitin para pakawalan ko siya o natural na sa kanya ‘to, I really don’t want to know. Vela combed a hand through her obsidian locks and spoke, “It seems like you’ve heard the rumors about me. Hindi ko naman maipagkakailang matunog ang pangalan ko sa Tartarus, but in Eastwood? Well, that’s an achievement.”

I didn’t tell her that she was specifically mentioned by a friend of mine the other night.

“At hanggang kailan mo ako gagawing alipin mo, wizard?”

I cringed at the term. The idea of slavery and taking someone’s free will from them was enough to unnerve me. The cruelty of this world is something you would never get used to no matter how many years you’ve spent living. “I… don’t think ‘slave’ is the proper term, demon—”

“Pareho lang yun,” she yawned, looking bored already. “Gagamitin mo ang ‘expertise’ ko para sa pansarili mong interes. And while we have this stupid magical chain between us, I’ll be forced to do whatever you want, blah blah blah… anong pinagkaiba nun sa pagiging alipin? You humans disgusts me.”

Sandali akong natahimik.

Kahit na plano ko na talagang mag-summon ng succubus at itali siya sa’kin para hindi siya makakawala, I still don’t want this creature to feel like I’m stripping her off her choices. Hindi ako masamang tao. Hindi ako katulad ng mga nilalang na naging dahilan para maulila ako.

Without second thoughts, I stood up and crossed the containment circle separating us.

Umupo ako sa tapat niya.

“Look, I need your cooperation to solve my brother's murder… and 'catch' the ones responsible for it.”

Dumilim ang mga mata niya.

“Hmm… So, you’re doing this for revenge, huh? Kaya pala sa sobrang desperado mo, nakuha mo pang gumamit ng forbidden magic para tawagin ako. Hindi na ako magtataka. Ilang mortal na ang kilala kong nagpakalunod sa paghihiganti nila. In fact, I even witnessed a few of them go mad,” Vela laughed and, in a blink of an eye, grabbed my throat. “Idiots like you turn me on.”

Hindi ko na namalayang nakahiga na pala ako sa sahig ng kweba.

But I still didn’t give her the reaction she was anticipating.

“You sure you don’t want me to be your ‘sex slave’, instead, wizard? Hindi pa huli ang lahat para magpaakit ka sa’kin.”

Hindi talaga niya ako titigilan, ‘no?

“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit may naaakit sa’yo.”

Humigpit ang pagkakasakal niya sa’kin. Oops. Did I just bruise her succubus ego?

My eyes never left hers as she climbed on top of me. Vela was almost squeezing my windpipe. Kahit na alam kong nasa bulsa ko lang ang Elvian wand, hindi ako kumilos para ipagtanggol ang sarili ko.

Let the devil enjoy the sight of a wizard at her mercy.

“So, will you help me, lambkin?”

Matagal niya akong tiningnan. For a moment, I thought she was assessing my soul. Maya-maya pa, hinila niya ako paupo at kinuha ang kontrata sa bulsa ng suot niyang bath robe. Just where I hid it earlier this evening.

She stared at me in amusement and disbelief.

“Ayaw mo akong pilitin pero hinanda mo na ang lahat? Sneaky little wizard.”

Well, I like to always be prepared for anything—

“But I’ll only sign the contract after you kiss me.”

Okay, I wasn’t prepared for that.

Hindi na ako nakailag nang lumingkis na naman sa’kin si Vela. There was a devilish smirk on her red lips as she sealed our deal. ‘Sana pala nakinig ako kay Johannes noong sinabi niyang mapusok ang mga succubus,’ I thought and pulled away after a split second. Inis kong pinunasan ang bibig ko na ikinatawa naman ng dalaga.

“Well, you’re no fun. That was hardly just a peck! Kailangan pa ba kitang turuang humalik, wizard?”

Napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya.

Damn this. Wala akong panahon para makipaglokohan sa mga katulad niya. After composing myself, I fetched my wand and made a quill and a bottle of red squid ink appear from thin air. “Maybe next time you’ll ask for a kiss, be more specific.”

She snatched the quill that floated in front of her and dipped it into the ink.

“Oh, I’ll make sure to be very very specific next time…” She grinned.

Nang mapirmahan na ni Vela ang kontrata, agad niya itong binato sa’kin at humalukipkip. Lalong nagliwanag ang kadenang nagbibigkis sa’ming dalawa. Kapag nalaman ni Master Zaphir na gumamit ako ng forbidden magic at tinali ko ang sarili ko sa isang succubus, baka paglinisin niya ako ng dormitory toilets nang isang siglo. I sighed and tucked the contract into my backpack.

‘Tsaka ko na poproblemahin ang parusang ibibigay nila.’

I started walking out of the cave. Syempre wala namang nagawa si Vela kundi sumunod sa’kin. The chain binding us together was around three meters in length. Far enough to give us some personal space, but also short enough that I can feel her death glare at me.

I really wouldn’t be surprised if this creature of seduction was already plotting ways to kill me behind my back. Wala naman akong pakialam. Kapag natapos na ang lahat ng ito, I wouldn’t even mind if she kills me herself.

Right now, I just want to avenge my brother's death.

I want answers.

And Vela is just a means to an end.

---