When she finished Alburet leaned forward and gathered her to his chest, stroking her hair. “Then I accept you Stacia Crowley, as my succubus. I will always treasure and protect you for as long as my time here lasts.”
A happy sob was his only answer as she clung to him, this time crying tears of joy as they both felt a pulse of energy wash over them. Alburet slowly brought them both to their feet, turning with her clutching him until he faced Stewart. “I will accept any punishment you think is required, except for relinquishing her.”
Stewart, who had watched the scene unfold before him, shook his head, “No, it is not my place. Besides, I can clearly see this is her desire. However, you will have someone to answer to.” Stewart's eyes went from Alburet to the passage that led into the hall.
Alistern came running out of the tunnel, his face twisted in fury, “ALBURET!!
Alburet went to put Stacia behind him, only to find himself behind her as she traded places with him. She threw out her arms and stretched her wings to their widest as she faced her enraged father. “Da’, stop it!”
Alistern faltered at the sight of his daughter, his steps slowing and his rage fading away as he gazed at her. “Stacia? What happened to you? How? Why?” His voice faltered as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.
“Da’, this is what I wanted so please calm yaself. I always wanted to be like Ma’ and me wish has been granted, due to the bond me and Alburet share. Iffin ya try to harm him I will stand in ya way, I will nay allow ya to hurt me beloved master,” Stacia spoke evenly but forcefully, her eyes glowing slightly. “As for how it even be possible, none of us know, but it has happened. Will ya try to take me happiness from me?”
Alistern’s face twisted as emotions warred within him. Eventually he turned to Lilith, who had shifted back to human guise. “Lilith, what has happened here? How is this possible?”
Lilith crossed to her confused husband and wrapped him gently in a hug, “Maybe the Dark Lord has blessed our daughter. I know of nowhere in Infernal history that this has ever happened.”
Bettzle, who had been standing there the whole time in shock, cleared his throat slightly, “It never has. Nowhere in the IRS records does an incident like this appear. I am going to have to report this to my boss.” He vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving everyone staring at the now empty spot he’d occupied.
Alburet gently ran a hand down Stacia’s spine, causing her to shiver and her wings to contract. Stepping around her, he faced Alistern. “Sir, I had no idea this was going to happen. I was shocked when Stacia appeared to me like this, but I have accepted her. I will not allow anyone to cause her harm, not even her own family. I ask that you give her what she wishes, which is your blessing.”
Face tightening, Alistern eyed Alburet for a long silent minute before closing his eyes with a sigh. “It seems me girl has made up her mind. Even though it pains me I will not stand in her way. Be warned though Alburet, iffin ya hurt her, I will pay ya back three-fold.”
“If I knowingly and willingly cause her distress that she doesn’t want I will accept your wrath, but only under those conditions, Alistern. I do have a question, though. Does the city have a ward or something that tells them if a demon is summoned inside the walls?”
“Nay,” Alistern replied quickly. “However, iffin anyone sees a demon they be rewarded for reporting it, so Stacia can’t go in that form anywhere that she might be seen inside the walls.”
Nodding, Alburet held out his arm to Stacia, “Come with me, Kitten. We are to have dinner and a bath before we retire for the evening.”
Stacia moved to take his arm, suddenly surrounded by a puff of smoke which cleared to show her in her human form, dressed in her maid attire. “As master wishes, so shall it be.”
As they walked to the teleportation rune, Alburet caught murmurs of conversation striking up behind them. Alburet paused in the graveyard outside the inn, spinning Stacia around to pull her into an embrace. He breathed in her scent as the cool night air washed over them. He was still shaken by what had occurred below. “Am I going insane?” he murmured into her hair as he held her.
“Iffin ya be doin’ so master, then please hold me closer so we do nay lose our joint insanity,” Stacia whispered back to him, her fingers tightening on his back as she spoke.
“I never thought I would really be in a relationship,” Alburet replied softly. “Much less after I committed my crime in the other world. Even less so when I agreed to be here as much as I am, yet now here I stand with a woman who has pledged her very soul to me.”
“I will never be as happy as I am right now with ya, regardless of how long I will live. As I seem to have transitioned to full blood, it means I will go on long after ya are gone and I fear that day, may it be many years away. Do ya promise to stay with me as much as ya can, master?”
Alburet kissed the top of her head, “Yes, my darling Kitten, as much as I can. Now let’s go see about dinner and a bath. I do hope you didn’t neglect those tasks before I summoned you to my side.”
Stacia shivered against him, “I didn’t have time to ready the bathin’ room before ya snatched me away to ya arms, master. Be ya goin’ to punish me for tha’?” Her voice was breathless as she spoke the last few words, the heat and desire behind them plain.
“Oh, I think I will have to punish you at least some tonight, Stacia,” Alburet replied, his voice going deeper. “A good, hard spanking at the very least.” He felt her squirm in his arms as her breathing became a touch quicker.
“Yes master, use me as ya desire,” she said as she felt her body start to respond to the images that flashed through her mind.
“But first, dinner and a bath. Come along, Kitten,” he smiled as he took her arm to lead her into the inn.
Later that night, with Stacia in her new form with her head resting on his chest, Alburet smiled. She hadn’t lost any energy, that was for certain. If anything, her desire for the rougher sexual activities had increased. He was gently stroking her hair as his mind wandered back over him exploring her wings, lower legs and tail. A small shake of his head cleared his mind but he felt at peace and happy, a happiness he wondered if he really deserved.
“Thank ya for making me the happiest person on this world, master,” Stacia murmured into his chest.
Just as he was about to reply a system notification came up in big block letters before his eyes.
THE SERVER WILL BE GOING OFFLINE IN THIRTY MINUTES.
DOWNTIME IS EXPECTED TO LAST APPROXIMATLY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS WHILE WE IMPLEMENT EMERGENCY FIXES.
ALL PLAYERS WILL BE CREDITED WITH ONE DAY OF GAME TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
A timer began counting down from thirty minutes in the upper right corner of Alburet’s vision. Alburet sighed as he read the message. It had only been a week and Mindblown was pulling the server for a day. His eyes caught Stacia’s, who was looking up at him with questioning eyes. “Sorry, Kitten. It looks like I am being recalled to the other world for a day. I should be back right after that though, so don’t worry,” he said softly, kissing the top of her head.
“Oh,” Stacia said quietly, her eyes locked on his. “Ya do promise to come back to me though, right? Ya not runnin’ away?”
Alburet leaned down to kiss her gently, “I’ll be back. The other world and this are connected by a portal or bridge that lets our souls cross over. Every once in a while, the portal is closed to repair it, or upgrade it. As soon as it opens back up I shall be back here and we shall go hunting again, to test out your new-found strength and powers.”
“As master wishes,” Stacia said, lowering her head back to his chest. “I will always trust master to do what he believes is best.”