Succubus

Chapter 5: The Underworld

Chapter 5: The Underworld

Vine hated family functions. In the underworld everyone was vaguely related, so any major event turned into a family function. She was trapped like Brutus between her aunts, Mara and Mag, as they flipped through a photo album.

"And here's your father before he went on his first trip to the world of mortals," Mag said. She pointed at a photo of a tall dark haired man with sharp features waving while he stood next to a summoning circle. He had white goat horns growing out of the top of his head.

Mara flipped the page. "And here he is when he got back." She pointed to a picture of the same man but his hair was mussed up and there were different colored lipstick marks on his neck and collar.

"I should probably head upstairs," Vine said. "I want to make sure I'm ready for when the procession arrives."

"Wait, you haven't seen the wedding photo yet."

Vine had seen the wedding photo half a dozen times already, but she knew arguing was useless. She let herself sink down into the couch and wonder whether this was a circle of torment.

Mag pointed to a bigger photo framed with lace. The dark haired man from before was wearing a black tuxedo and was smiling nervously for the camera. Standing next to him was a scowling woman. She was half a head taller than him and had scars criss crossing on any visible part of her skin. Her hair was white and cut jagged as though with a knife. She looked like she was about to smash the camera once the photo was taken.

"Everyone was shocked when they announced it. Imagine an incubus wooing a demon of torment. Satan himself might have heard about it."

Vine didn't want to hear about her father's accomplishments for the millionth time. For as long as she could remember people had been telling her what a miracle it was that her father and mother had ended up together. An incubus was measured by his ability to woo, and her father had done the impossible.

"Your first visit to the mortals is only a few decades away now, right Vine?"

"That's right, aunt Mara."

"Right around the corner. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it after a few tries."

Vine imagined Aunt Mara getting trampled by a horse. She shook her head to dispel the image. Her mother's influence was taking over.

The front door opened and Vine's older brother Erlik walked in. He was the spitting image of their father with his tall narrow build and beautiful face. Their mother's only contribution were his red eyes, whereas their father's were blue, but it didn't detract from his appearance one bit.

Mara and Mag stood up and formed a line to hug Erlik. He hugged them back with convincing sincerity, but over their shoulder he widened his eyes at Vine. She stuck her tongue out at him. He could stand to carry some of the burden.

"How was the mortal realm?" Mara asked.

"Very connected. They carry computers around now and tell each other everything. I have to be careful not to feed on too many people in one spot, otherwise word starts to get around. Did I miss the procession?"

"It's only a few hours away," Mag said.

"Then let's be ready for them."

The family split off to get dressed. Mags and Mara wore bell bottoms and corduroy jackets because they hadn't been to the mortal realm since the 1970's. Erlik wore a military uniform. He wasn't in any military, but he said he earned it by being his mother's son.

Vine wasn't sure what to wear, so she settled on her school uniform. They were learning about the greatest sinners of the 1950's, so the uniforms matched the decade. Vine scowled at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like her mother if her mother couldn't swing a sword. By human standards she was attractive in a tired-college student way. As a succubus being attractive was a given, but Vine didn't think she was ethereal the way her father was, or her brother was becoming.