The Mage of Stonewall

Chapter 3: Collection

We sat under the pipe I had found earlier. The heat from it kept us both warm, and provided plenty of light for us to see by, thanks to the shimmering waves of heat.
Rikati sat like a child, her knees pulled up to her chin with her arms wrapped around them for more warmth. I had found a blanket on the ground nearby and had draped it over her shoulders. It was filthy, covered in grime and patched so much it looked more like a quilt, but it covered her naked body, a fact I was grateful for. Night had fallen above our heads, and nighttime always messed with my inhibitions. It was a lot easier to control myself when this girl wasn't in the nude.
"So," I started off slowly, "you're a demon."
She nodded. "Yep."
"And you call yourself a succubus."
"Yep."
"Why target me?"
Rikati shrugged. "I dunno. You seemed to smell familiar, so I was attracted to you. Among other reasons." She winked and started releasing that pink mist again.
I conjured a quick fire and burnt it away. "Enough of that. Have you no self control?"
Rikati giggled. "Of course I do, silly. I'm a succubus, I can manipulate emotions of any living creature. You don't seem to be affected, but oh well!" She giggled again. This girl was disturbing me.
I used my staff to flip the blanket back over Rikati's unmentionables and cleared my throat. "Rikati, being a demon is not something you should take lightly. You need to-"
"And what would you know?!?" she suddenly blurted out. She was suddenly angry, a far cry from her cheery demeanour earlier. She started spawning the mist again, but this time it was a dark red. I suddenly felt like punching someone.
I stood up and let my wings reveal themselves, drawing back my hood to make my horns visible. "I know because I am one, you ignorant brat!"
The word "brat" seemed correct, because despite her apparent lust, she couldn't have been more than fifteen years of age.
Rikati crawled backwards extra fast, fear in her eyes. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't know."
I calmed down instantly at the tone of her voice and lowered my wings. "Not your fault. I wasn't exactly making it obvious." I sat back down. "Now, do you need help? You don't really have any clothes, and you're skin and bones."
I didn't know what I expected. Maybe a thank you, maybe a refusal.
Instead she started crying.
I waved my hands frantically, panicked. "I-I'm sorry! Did I offend you? I didn't mean- oh, Chri-"
My tongue suddenly burned white-hot. Damn it, I can't believe I forgot about that! Ever since I became a demon I've been unable to say the Lord's name. Curse eternal damnnation. Can you curse a curse? Gah, too many thoughts at once!
Rikati sniffled and looked at me with watery eyes. "No one...has ever offered me help before....they all think I'm a freak...but y-you're accepting of m-me..." She held my gaze for another moment, and I was tempted to hug her.
Suddenly, she squealed and jumped me, her hands wrapping around my neck. She was still naked, and I felt part of my willpower diminish.
"Eeeeeek! You're perfect! You're the one! You'll be my husband!"
Wait, what?
I grabbed Rikati by the shoulders and set her down, glaring at her. "What in the nine hells do you mean, you're husband?" I could feel my cheeks burning, though whether I was embarrassed or literally on fire I couldn't tell.
Rikati made a pouty face. "Well, I was told that if I met a man who didn't reject me while in a clear head, he was to be my husband! That's you now!" She smiled again, and despite all the warning signs in my head, I sighed and said, "Fine, if that's how fate has decided to direct me, you can call me whatever you wish."
I hadn't even spoken the last syllable when Rikati jumped me again, this time trying to kiss me forcefully. I held her back, pushing on her face. "Just what are you doing?"
Rikati frowned. "Couples kiss all the time, right? Isn't that how it works?" She tried again and I pushed her off me completely.
"Not quite yet. I need to...adjust to the situation." I held up a hand to stop her from jumping again. "You need to agree to behave yourself, and that means you need to wear clothes and hold back your cravings. Got it?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
I sighed again and stood up. "Alright, now that we have that settled, we should find something to cover-"
I felt a sudden pain shoot through my spine, and I flew backwards. I realized later that someone had yanked on my tail with superhuman strength.
I soared through the air and slammed into the alley wall, sending a shockwave through my spine and crushing a bone in my wings. I yelled out, "Rikati, run!"
I was slammed against the wall numerous more times, vaguely aware of animalistic grunting through the haze of pain. I thought I saw a tall dark shape with four arms looming over me, holding some sort of weapon.
Then I blacked out.