The Succubus's Plaything

Chapter 48: Just Enjoy It

After an entire school-week of being gone, the homeward train draws to a stop.

A few students will be staying on the train until the next stop, but for most of us, our trip ends here. Home.

A red Honda.. I spin around and try to find Valorie's car just like I've been instructed. And sure enough, there it stands. In a nearby parking lot, just under a streetlight, Valorie is waiting for me.

I wave towards the car, and beneath the reflections, I think I can make out Valorie calmly waving back at me.

"I gotta rush to my bus, but see you Hal!" Running into me from behind, enough to make me stagger forwards, Hina throws her arms around me.

"Uhm.." Not allowed the time to think, I simply go with it. "Yeah, see you on Monday."

And just as suddenly as Hina had appeared, she rushes away.

"Who was she?" Valorie asks me when I get into the car next to her.

Oh.. Unsure of how she might respond, I hesitate for a split second, which of course Valorie notices, proceeding to speak before me.

"You needn't worry about me. Like I've apologized for, the way things have turned out is less than ideal." Glancing at the mirrors she backs up the car. "If that is a girl you like, you don't need to hold back for my sake, and on the contrary just know that I'm here to lend an ear."

"Okay.." Why am I getting the impression that this is amusing to her?

"Besides, if you are to worry about anyone, worry about how Inesa might react when she smells another girl's scent on you." Here it came. Valorie lets out an amused chuckle.

"Wait.. Is that gonna be an issue?.."

"Possibly. While she may temporarily overlook it, Inesa is definitely going to be rather prone to jealousy in her current state." Valorie's already mischievous smile intensifies. "And with how much you smell like perfume right now, even an ordinary girl would suspect you."

"Is it really that bad!?" Now that I'm thinking of it, I can still faintly smell Hina's perfume, although there is no way that scent can linger from just a hug? It has to be mainly my imagination.

"She gave you a little spray when she ran up and hugged you."

"She did!?" So that's why she hugged me from behind!? So I wouldn't notice!?

"She did."

Silence ensues for several minutes, me trying to psyche myself enough to not be nervous, and Valorie reading me enough to know not to bring anything up.

I don't really feel the need to ask about Inesa's condition, because I already suspect that it is pretty severe. If I'm looking for assurance, I am definitely going to be let down.

The cars on the right side of the road all whoosh by, their headlights briefly blinding me with every pass.

"How was your trip? Were you able to properly relax?" She has apparently decided that I've had enough time in my own head, and that some distraction would do me better.

"Pretty good." I pause and try to decide whether or not it was relaxing. "I did actually relax." Somehow in spite of Hina's shenanigans, I was able to not stress. While my short answers are bordering on antisocial, Valorie doesn't seem to mind.

"By the way. I got you this. I would recommend you down the whole thing." Reaching down into the glove compartment, Valorie fishes out an unopened pack of Lipovitan.

"Energy drink?.. Is that.. Like, really necessary?.." Sure, from the combination of light sleep-deprivation as well as weariness from today's travels, I do feel tired, but energy drink?..

"It will help you last longer, but the main point is that it'll also enrich your blood."

"Enrich my blood?"

"That's right. The moment you show up, Inesa will likely be unable to hold herself back, and that'll only stop once she's been satisfied, and that is once her life force has been replenished."

Valorie goes quiet, and I have to verbally poke at her to get her to continue. "Aand, does an energy drink give me more life force?"

"The younger and healthier you are, the more you produce. You also produce more when you aren't sleep deprived and have all your physical needs met. So food, water and sleep are prerequisites for you to maximize your life force production. Energy drink temporarily negates sleep deprivation and boosts your vitality."

The way she says it it's almost as if I'm like an animal to fatten before slaughter, but I do however take her advice, and removing the plastic cover, I down the drink in one gulp.

Just in time too. Valorie parks the car.

"Good luck." Valorie pats me on the shoulder. "You'll be fine. Just enjoy it."

"Yeah.." 

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Hina: So what did you think of my little trick? *Grins*

Lupus: You mean how you put your perfume on Hal?

Hina: Yup. Now that my scent is wrapped around him he won't be able to help but have me stuck on his mind. There is also the added effect that now that he's been marked, Inesa will have to think twice about goin near him.

Lupus: I.. Don't know about that..

Hina: Huh? What do you mean? Isn't it obvious?

Lupus: Succubi.. Are.. emotional. It will probably backfire.

Hina: Backfire, how? I'm counting on her being emotional. I want to split them apart.

Lupus: It's more like.. You'll get it eventually..

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A/N

So, I have two options. Either I start with Inesa's POV, or Hal's. I do plan to write at least something out of both, but what are you guys more excited for?