Qrow.

Chapter 43 | Incubus

Steam danced about the bathroom after Ryan had just finished with a quick shower. As night fell, he was having to rely on candle light, making it dim for him to prepare himself. He took an old fashioned razor, gliding it across his skin carefully. His hands were surprisingly steady. He titled his head back, taking the blade down his neck. It'd been a few days since he'd had a good shave. In fact, he was behind on most his self maintenance. His hair was starting to get long enough it could reach below his eye.

As he took a final sweep over his Adam's apple, he stopped at the bottom. Something in him made him freeze for a moment. He couldn't explain it, but it was as if for a split second, his body wasn't his own. A hand wrapped around his, being careful not to push the razor into his throat. Ryan felt the cold draft on his back disappear momentarily. The most sinful of lips lightly graced the edge of his ear.

"Ti sto aspettando. Sarai mia. Questa sera, si ball*."

The pressure against him left with a breeze. Ryan drew in a sharp breath, dropping his shaving razor in the sink. He looked up in foggy mirror, managing to see he was alone. There was no forgetting that voice. He knew it was Asher tempting him into a trap. This was idiotic. Letting a demon take advantage of him was something he never thought he'd do before. After all they'd done to him and Vinny in that dungeon, all those years ago, he would rather die than submit to one of those bastards again.

Yet, here he was. He wasn't just that he had no other choice. Part of him wanted this. He had no fucking clue why. Whether Asher knew it or not, Ryan did understand what he said. His Italian was rusty but he could make out enough to know he was about to give up more than just his energy for a night. In fact, this decision may alter the remainder of his life. It was the price he was willing to pay to save his family.

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Shae glanced over his shoulder when he heard footsteps behind him. He could recognize Ryan's cologne by now. That's why it didn't startle him in the least. He'd just finished letting Dusk have Tokyo for the evening. She would behave, knowing the consequences if she didn't. There was already a sense of darkness seeping out of her room. Passing by the door, Ryan could feel the grip of her evil grasp.

"The power dampeners in their rooms have been turned off." He said.

Ryan raised his hand to his neck as he remembered what had happened about ten minutes prior. "I know. I could tell."

Yuki whined a little in his sleep and snuggled his head against his husband's shoulder. Shae gently kissed his forehead, telling him to go back to sleep. As he turned forward, he replied, "Good luck. He's going to try to break your mind. Don't let him. He'll get plenty of energy just from the sex and I would like you to remain one of my coworkers, instead of becoming a patient."

"Is he that powerful?" He asked.

"Unfortunately. I wish I knew if it was the power that corrupt him, or his corruption that made him so powerful. Maybe, a combination of both. He's been starved of lust for several years. I wouldn't keep him waiting any longer." Shae continued to walk down the hall to the armory.

It really said something when a demon was wishing a vampire good luck. Ryan was worried about how concerned the aid was. Shae had treated Asher for many years. He knew very well what he was capable of, much more than Ryan did. Although, by the way some people talked around here, he was starting to get a good idea.

The doors had been unlocked. With a deep breath for courage, Ryan entered the demon's chambers. A fog rolled across the floor. Beneath it, the pentagram was glowing a deep red. It was a chilling sight. Asher laid on the ground, like he typically did. Tonight, it was much more different. The demon finally had been given access to his power.