1: The Purple King

1702

Delanoe’s fingers danced along the piano keys, he allowed the notes to infuse him, his instincts to guide him. There were those who dissected compositions, analysed them and strung the notes together in a vain effort to create their masterpieces. Delanoe had learned that was the worst way to create such work. If he dissected a cat and sewed it back together, would it be as grand? No, it would be lifeless, and so it was with their amateur works.

No, masterpieces were living breathing things to be nurtured, not dissected. This he had learned, and so he gave his work room to breathe, to grow, even if he did not fully understand the source of it.

But then, he in fact had a good idea the source of his inspiration of late. The naked beauty lying on his piano, gazing at him lovingly with her emerald eyes. Ever since they met he could not stop compiling pieces, just when he thought he had dried up of inspiration, this ethereal beauty came to him out of nowhere. This wanton and exotic goddess with a mysterious accent. Never had he been so in love, and it was the sort of wonderful love one felt when you realise the other was feeling the same way.

They had met in the city as he studied a year ago, but still he knew so very little about her. Apparently she was of a people to the east that were all gone now, making her a rare gem indeed. She went by the name of Nina, though Delanoe knew that was not her real name. But it mattered not, whatever her scandalous roots, Delanoe knew they were lovers.

Love is the death of loneliness, Delanoe decided. Of meeting the one who filled the void within you when you are alone with your thoughts. Never did he fill so enriched as when he was with her.

“Brother?” Delanoe gradually brought his music to an end when his sister walked in. She blushed upon seeing mademoiselle Nina on the piano, “Oh, forgive me mademoiselle.”

“Nothing to forgive, Bernadette.” Nina glided easily off the piano, “The female form is nothing to be ashamed of, despite what your local priest says.” She circled behind Bernadette, taking her in, running a finger down the strings of her bodice, “Why you possess a fine form indeed, it is criminal to hide it away so under such dull fabrics.”

For a brief instant, Delanoe felt a sense of foreboding, but he laughed it off, “Go help mother with the cooking sister, we shall be down shortly.”

“Alas,” Nina bemoaned, “I still have problems keeping my food down currently. I shall join you but shall not be partaking.”

“Oh I do hope it is not a wasting illness.” Bernadette felt Nina’s forehead, recalled her nakedness, then blushed as she scampered off.

Delanoe laughed again and kissed Nina, “You are a shameless one Nina, it is what I love about you. Best put some clothes on lest you cause my poor mother’s frail heart to stop.”

Nina pouted, but went to retrieve the dress that cost more than what Delanoe earned in a year, perhaps several years. As she bent over and began slowly clothing herself, Delanoe drank her in. He was in love with her, but her presence did something else to him, something he found both wonderful and repulsive. He could not quite explain it. It was an eerie sensation that he could not shake away, such wondrous and hideous thoughts came unbidden when she was around.

Nina hooked her arm in his, “Shall we?”

******

Present

He was being watched, of that Levant was certain.

The woman gasped as he thrust into her, painted nails clawing against the alley wall in her ecstasy. She pushed her hips back to take more of him into her, not realising that every moment with Levant caused her mind to fracture that bit more.

Such was the consequence of being with a creature such as Levant, he could sense his prey’s darkest, most depraved fantasies, play upon them to win them over so that he could feed in the act of lust. But too long in his presence and they would become broken nymphomaniacs, obsessed with fucking until it destroyed them. For he is what the mortals of this age call an incubus, or the Sumerian term of Irdu-Lili as his one time mistress preferred.

Levant thrust harder, although unsatisfying he had to make this fast. He had lured this one into the back streets after she emerged from the strip club where she worked, her miniskirt and crop top had made her predilections obvious without his abilities as an immortal creature of perversity. But it also meant it would not take much to drive her down the insane path. As a rule he fed only from those who were already nearly gone or needed to loosen up in their sexual repression. That his means of sustenance could cause harm was a constant torment for him, he had seen first hand the disastrous effects his prolonged presence could bring. Unlike the succubus who had somehow turned him, Kilili, he still cared for the well-being of innocents around him.

He sensed he was being watched again.

Levant paused in his feeding and turned, ignoring the stripper’s protestations, but the alley was empty. Still, he was certain there had been something. He had never encountered any other of his kind, according to Kilili they were rare in the extreme. Apparently there are other supernatural creatures out there, but he had never encountered those either and, by all accounts, they avoided their sort since they were so depraved and dangerous. Still, whatever it was had left now. Levant turned to re-enter the stripper and finish his feast.

“Please dad,” the stripper moaned tearfully, “Do me hard, I want it so badly it hurts.”

“Fuck.” Levant cursed, knowing she was on the cusp. If he hung around any longer she would be completely lost, he would have to leave without finishing lest she become mad with lust.

As fast as shadow, he left her screaming in frustration, her every shriek like a razor edge slicing across his blackened soul.

******

“Hello.”

Levant had been idly wandering the streets of Soho, wondering whether to try again, when a woman boldly approached him, wearing nothing but a pink collar. At first Levant intended to ask what she was doing walking the streets completely naked, then he sensed her inner desires and realised she was utterly broken. The woman flicked her dark hair and puffed out her chest to proudly display the enormous breasts that no doubt had lured her predator in the first place.

Although the sight set Levant to hunger, he was more excited at the implication of her presence. “You, you were fed on by and Irdu-Lili weren’t you?”

The woman giggled, unheeding the glares and whispers of the other passers-by, “Master sent me to escort you to him. He wishes to meet you, if you are willing.”

“Is he…like me?” Levant asked, breathless at the prospect of finally meeting another like himself.

“Oh yes, he is soooo beautiful.” She laughed, then took Levant’s hand, “He sends his apologies for disturbing you while you were feeding earlier, and sent me to make up for it. Come.” She tugged at Levant’s hand and led him to a flight of stairs with a sign saying ‘Models up here.’, a common trope used to signify prostitutes. “Use me first, then I will take you to him.”

Still hungering and further so for the sight of her, Levant allowed himself to be led up the stairs into a small room with a filthy bed at its centre, clearly well used. The woman seated herself there, the bounce causing her breasts to move in a delightful manner. She spread her legs invitingly, “Come, no need to restrain yourself with me. I am well versed in an incubus’s brutal ways.”

With a predator’s growl, Levant’s clothing vanished like shadow in sudden light. His instincts took over and he was upon her, ravaging her as only his kind could. He gripped at her breasts, bit at her neck and thrust into every hole of her. For the first time in years he fucked like a true Irdu-Lili and relished in it, not having to fret over one already so broken. The woman laughed and shrieked in joy, offering no resistance, relishing in the savage pleasure also.

When it was eventually over she lay there panting, whilst Levant felt more energised than he had for a long time. “Come,” he said impatiently, knowing that he would be upon her again if they dwelled over long.

With quivering limbs and raw holes, she rose. Levant winced at the marks he left upon her, but she sported them proudly, a wide smile on her face, “Yes, at once.” She stumbled, straightened, then gracefully led the way. As Levant followed her he wondered sadly who she used to be before her mind was poisoned by one of his ilk. Had she been a stripper or prostitute working here? Or had she been a nurse, a teacher, a mother? Had she been content with her lot before falling to the worship of lust? He could only shake the thoughts away, he could not save her now, he knew of no cure for such malady.

Again, Levant found himself down a dark alley. The woman halted at a nondescript door and knocked thrice then twice before speaking aloud, “Too many sluts out tonight.” There were several loud clangs before the door opened to reveal a pair of ugly looking guards who gave Levant a murderous glare. One of them gave the woman a split-lipped smile, “Hey Dora, this the guy? Hurry it up will ya, I wanna be up your fine ass tonight.” He gripped her collar and pulled her close, fondling her.

Dora giggled and began feeling his crotch, but paused at seeing Levant’s disgusted look, “Come, master waits.” Dora grudgingly left the two bouncers, giving a playful yelp as one slapped her buttocks as she passed. They stared daggers at Levant as he entered, he wondered if they knew he could kill them both in seconds if he had a mind.

They walked through what Levant assumed at first was a club. Lights flashed and music blared, but on closer inspection he realised it was a brothel. Men were seated, drinking here and there whilst women walked around naked like Dora, all wearing collars of various colours. Levant sensed they were all as sexually deranged as she, all victims of an Irdu-Lili’s extended presence. One sucked the member of a customer at his seat, another was bent over the table and used anally. Levant sensed the men also, though not as strongly, and could tell they were all part of criminal gangs. Thugs who relished having women who were so easy and open. It reminded him far too much of Kilili’s brothel before she burned it down in a fit of anger. He had half a mind to do the same to this place.

He was taken down a set of stairs and led into a vast chamber. Dora sealed the door behind them, cutting off the sound of the music above. Levant could only take in the room, aghast.

A carpet of scarlet led from the door to the chair beyond. To either side of this were women, all were seated on the white marble floor, legs spread to offer their vulvae in the direction of the throne. But these were not like Dora, these women had been driven to a state he did not realise his kind could cause. They no longer had any fantasies or desires, their entire focus was on the core sensation of lust. Whoever they once were had been completely wiped away, now there was only whoredom, only the act of offering themselves to their master.

Excitedly, Dora took Levant’s hand again and led him along the carpet to the marble throne, sculpted exquisitely to be made up of women engaged with vulgar acts with creatures he recognised all too well from his nightmares. Beings from a world where his ex, Kilili, had been doomed to enter, and perhaps himself also one day. In the distance somewhere, Levant could hear someone screaming, and not in pleasure.

Straddling that throne, idly waving a conductor’s baton as he hummed a complex ditty to himself, was the one Levant could tell had been watching him the past few weeks. Upon reaching an appropriate distance, Dora fell to the floor in awe and spread her legs to mirror the rest, “I have brought him master.”

The man ceased his humming and looked over, “So you have, my salope. So you have.” He spoke with an accent that Levant assumed was French, but could not quite tell. Flipping his conductor’s baton aside, the Irdu-Lili deftly leapt to his feet and regarded Levant. The stranger was dressed smartly in dark purple, his dark gold curls trailed down and his hazel eyes bore into Levant’s blue. The man then grinned and pointed at his head, “I guess that bitch has a penchant for blondes, no?”

Frowning, Levant could only shake his head, “Who are you?”

“Oh yes, forgive me. I am Delanoe, and you are Levant.” Delanoe hopped down the white steps, Dora giving a yearning whimper as he passed by and gripped Levant on the shoulder, “A fellow Irdu-Lili, I cannot recall the last time I met another of our kind.”

“It is the first for me.” Levant offered a smile, “I must say I am glad you contacted me, I have so many questions.” He inclined his head, “Who is that screaming?”

“Hm? Ah, yes.” Delanoe waved a hand, “Do not mind her, she has been at it for centuries. I hardly even notice it now.” Before Levant could enquire further, Delanoe led him through the women to a curtained off part of the room, “As for your questions, brother, I will gladly answer them. We must look out for each other, you and I.”

“I am grateful,” Levant said earnestly, “Tell me, where is the Ardat-Lili who turned you? Is she still around?”

Delanoe burst into a fit of laughter at this, “Can you not tell, can you not detect her stench upon us brother?” Seeing Levant’s confusion Delanoe extrapolated further, “It was that witch bitch Kilili of course.”

Levant could only gape at Delanoe at first, he stuttered several times before replying, “Are you serious, I thought I was the only one.”

“Only second in truth.” Delanoe nodded, “But I see you escaped that monster like I did.”

Wincing, Levant could not explain why he suddenly felt the need to defend her, he had fled her after coming to the same conclusion of sorts, “She’s not a monster as such, she just very ancient, from a time when morals were very different to what they are now.”

“Ah you need not fret her hearing you here brother. We can talk freely here, I have a proposition, in point of fact. I have not been idle over the centuries, try as I might.” He gave a cold glance to Dora, “Salope, if you would.”

Eagerly, Dora rose and quickly made her way to the rope, where she pulled to bring the curtain aside, revealing a golden doorway covered in sigils where the screams came from. On the walls around the doorway were racks upon racks filled with tomes, amulets, weapons and vials all clearly malefic in nature. “What is this?”

“Weapons, brother. Nay, our vengeance. I have spent the centuries researching our kind, and I have the means now. The key.” Delanoe chuckled, “Together, we shall be free of the monster.”

“Free of the monster?”

“Why yes.” Delanoe spread his arms, “I have found the means to kill an Ardat-Lili. We shall murder that whore Kilili and have our revenge. I simply need you to tell me where she is.”

2: Lust Lovelorn

1703

“I do wish you would consider joining us at church Nina.” Delanoe sighed as he, Bernadette and their mother returned home. He sucked in a breath as he took her in, lounging on the couch, her bodice dangerously low cut.

“I wish you would consider staying away from there. Such places aren’t good for you.” Nina replied, not looking up from her book.

Delanoe was about to snap a reply at such heresy, but Bernadette interrupted with her laughter. “Oh Nina, it is not just about faith, it is about community.” She joined Nina on the couch, hugging her.

“Ah Bernadette,” Nina said before kissing her on both cheeks, “You are wasted on such a ‘community’. As are you my love.” Nina rose and embraced Delanoe. His irritation dissolved at the warmth of her touch. “I know people who could make your lives oh so much more enriched.”

Bernadette clapped excitedly, “Oh do tell Nina.”

“Not now.” Delanoe intruded, “First, I have news. I’ve been invited to perform tonight, nowhere major but its a start. Would you be my escort for the evening Nina?”

“Only if you promise to rip the clothes from me after and take me on that magical piano of yours.”

“Oh my.” Bernadette gasped, blushing.

Delanoe could only laugh, “It’s a deal.”

******

Present

‘How many cocks has this mouth sucked over the centuries?’ Kilili thought as she worked her head back and forth, expertly working her tongue along the shaft, allowing the hands gripping her auburn hair to help work her.

As she teased his cock she cast an eye at the room she was in. As expected in such a high class establishment, the walls and floor were pristine, a plant decorated one corner, the sinks and mirror were sparkling, the urinals perfumed. As one who had sucked on cocks in various toilets over her unnaturally long life, she could appreciate well maintained a WC. They had come a long way. When she was a mortal kar-kid in Akkad she recalled sucking famished phallus in those reeking buildings that were little more than holes in the ground. Not until the Roman Empire flourished did they become slightly more pleasant to whore herself in, but with the empire’s fall they became pestilent pits once more. Nowadays, with the advent of the sewage system, even the needle filled public outhouses down the road were a pleasure to fuck in by comparison.

Kilili moaned and sucked harder, realising she was letting her mind wander again. It happened a lot these days, and if she let her mind wander enough it inevitably led to thoughts of him. And the pain that came with that was still too much even now. No, best to focus on her nature, if she is lucky her goddess will grow bored of her and cast her to Gamaliel to endure eternal rape. It was far preferable to the agony she felt now, the agony she had once dared hoped to have rid herself of. The only thing that kept her going was the vague hope that maybe, just maybe…

The overpaid wretch gave a groan and ejaculated, Kilili’s body shuddered in orgiastic pleasure as it drank in the seed, absorbing it and sending it to the goddess for her dark purposes. Kilili had learned quickly that this was the sad truth to being an immortal Ardat-Lili, or succubus as they were tended to be called these days. Their sole purpose was to be undying cum dumps, to take semen in the most depraved manner possible for their goddess’ designs, until they were no longer effective and cast to Her realm to be playthings to her creations for eternity. Kilili had been resigned to that fate, until she met Levant, and until she had been announced as the End of All Flesh by the goddess Herself. Now her purpose was far more…

Her trail of thoughts were broken again as the client removed his member from her mouth, “Excellent work as usual Ms Cervice, rest assured I fully intend to invest a significant amount in your proposal.”

Kilili looked up and purred, her own designs were coming along wonderfully, “Wonderful Mr Hayes, I hope to do business with you again soon.”

As soon as Hayes left Kilili was on the move, she had another investor to win over tonight, one who delighted in her working her impressive breasts up and down his phallus. Keen to have his seed splattered across her tits, Kilili shifted across the city faster than the eye could see.

******

Kilili stepped out of the Porsche, evidence of her latest efforts shining on her chest, slowly being absorbed by her thirsting inhuman body. She had indulged in a lift back by the investor rather than as shadow, treating him to a second round as he did so. With a final wave and promise of further investment he sped off.

Giddy at her advancing plans, Kilili stretched. None of the pedestrians commented on the naked, semen covered whore standing in the middle of the street. Another handy ability of her kind, she was not invisible to them as such, rather her nakedness came across as so natural to their minds that people did not comment upon it, soon forgetting the sight of her unless as a dream. Ironically, only if she could bring herself to wear clothing would she become more apparent. She approached the book store that acted as her home, pausing briefly at the door and looking up at the stars, “Goodnight Levant.” she whispered, hoping he was safe wherever he was. A flash of guilt struck through her at the memory of their parting. She considered turning round and seeking more dicks to drain, to lose herself in lust to forget. Instead she shook her head, uttered an arcane word to unlock the door and entered the bookshop.

“Hello Esther.” Kilili greeted, having sensed her long before she entered, “How is business? Plenty of men in you I hope.”

Esther was the sole survivor of Kilili’s brothel before she burned it down, her mind completely lost to lust thanks to their close relationship. These days she continued on the path by working as an escort as well as starring in several adult films. Her breasts were larger now, to Kilili’s dismay she had them filled with silicone. She wore a tight white dress so thin as to reveal her undergarments beneath, “Yes, that ointment you gave me did wonders. I’m also booked for another shoot tomorrow.”

Striding over and flicking her hand with preternatural grace, Kilili removed Esther’s bra without disturbing her dress, “What have I told you about wearing these? Remove your underwear too.”

“There are customers who like me wearing this.” Esther complained, but stood and pulled down her thong, handing it over like a schoolgirl caught with contraband. Now her dress left nothing to the imagination.

“These are for mortals enslaved by dignity.” Kilili chided, locking the garments away in a draw covered in books, “You have the potential to become Ardat-Lili, Esther, but you must first learn to think and behave as one. Dressing and pumping yourself full of chemicals are for desperate mortals. Are you working later tonight?”

Smiling coyly, Esther pulled a smartphone from her handbag and revealed a flashing screen, “Have several bookings already.”

“Bah, websites.” Kilili spat, sitting on the table and pulling Esther close, curling her legs about her, “Where is the thrill? Ah you would have loved Rome Esther, walking the streets naked to sell yourself for a few coins. Such depraved times…”

“We live in depraved times still. Walking the streets is dangerous for me Kilili, I am not immortal like you.” Esther kissed her, then looked concerned, “I came to check on you, how are you doing?”

“Fine.” Kilili said curtly.

Esther bit her lip, “He will return you know, be patient. If not, well, I am always here for you.”

Sighing, Kilili pushed her gently to the door, “Thanks. You should go now, the more cock you take the more likely my goddess will take note of you.”

“Give him time.” Esther said as she made her way to the door, her phone buzzing impatiently, “He will come to understand you as I do. In this age we are raised to see the word apocalypse negatively, he will come to equate it with the phoenix soon enough.”

******

Later that night, Kilili found herself seated on top of a lamppost in an empty street, looking up at the night sky.

For a moment, she considered scrapping her plan, of forsaking the destiny bequeathed unto her by the insane goddess she followed. If only to bring him back. But the thought died as quickly as it arose, to forsake it was to forsake her own nature. She could not reject who she was now after so long, even as a mortal she had never really fit in, even as an Ardat-Lili, she knew she was different. She had always lacked the self-destructive spark of her kind, that her mistress Silili had possessed, that Nimeth so indulged in. As such she had spent her entire existence alone.

Until meeting Levant.

But perhaps even then? She thought she had found the cure to her undying loneliness, but he could not accept what she is, perhaps she had been deluding herself all along.

Shaking her head, Kilili vanished into the night.

3.Fading Flame

1703

Clasping the letter, Delanoe excitedly approached the door to his sister’s room. There she and Nina were discussing womanly things as they sewed or did whatever women like to indulge in to pass the time.

He could not wait to see their beaming faces when he told them. The letter he held in his hand was an invite by none other than Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar. It seemed news of his growing talent had reached the Germanic states. They would be travelling to his magnificent establishment, and if things played out well, Delanoe would be awarded a position in his court. They could all live in luxury the rest of their days, no longer playing at being aristocrats as they had too since father gambled the fortune away. No more mouldering and crumbling manor, instead they could enjoy the finer things.

“Really, Mademoiselle Nina, you are vulgar at times.”

Upon hearing his sister’s voice Delanoe paused just outside the door. Curious, he listened to Nina’s response, “Amongst my people it is a beautiful thing, what better way to create a closer, more intimate bond? So long as there is no procreation what is the harm exactly?”

“Well, that is, nothing per se…” Bernadette said, flustered, “Save that it is a sin in the eyes of our Lord.”

A husky laughter, “Oh I have so many wonderful things to teach and show you and your mother, Bernadette. Like…” Her voice dropped to a whisper.

Unable to hear more, Delanoe knocked and opened the door. Nina leaned away from Bernadette as he strode in. They were both seated on his sister’s bed. Bernadette was flushed and could not look her brother in the eye, Nina on the other hand met him with a broad smile, “My love, what brings you so?”

Delanoe felt that dim consternation at the back of his mind again, but when Nina rose and embraced him it washed away like silt in the river, “I have wonderful news!”

******

Present:

Levant staggered back into the city, struggling to stay looking inconspicuous when he felt so weak.

Delanoe had taken his rejection poorly. He had lashed out and nicked his side before Levant could get away, a minor wound that should have healed immediately, but remained. All the women there rose and had tried to restrain him, but somehow he had managed to escape out of that place before he was caught. At once, he had sought the earliest plane back, intent on warning Kilili of the approaching danger.

At first he had felt fine, but as the hours wore on he felt himself grow more and more weak. He thought to feed from one of the cabin hostesses to perk himself up, but to his horror found his member would not respond. For the first time since his turning he felt a complete absence of arousal. When he inspected the nick more closely he found it was glowing, a complex set of delicate symbols had been burnt around the cut. He did not know what happened to an Irdu-Lili who did not feed, but he was certain it was nothing good. His only hope now was to find Kilili and hope she knew some means to save him.

Or at the very least he had to warn her before his demise.

He got into the city under cover of night. His first port of call was the bookshop, but he found it locked and empty. Knowing Kilili could disappear for several weeks at a time, he dared not wait. Instead he went to various known haunts of theirs around the city, hoping to sense her. But of her there was no sign.

His strength was lagging fast. He was just about ready to give up, to fall and curl into a foetal position until whatever manner of death came for him, when his dulled Irdu-Lili senses detected a familiar broken mind. One infused with the depraved due to the extended familiarity with his one time mistress. Summoning his will, Levant struggled down a filthy alley, dragged himself up a metal staircase for use during a fire, and barged his way into the apartment where he sensed her.

Esther was naked on a bed, taking two well built men at the same time, as another held a camera and floated about them. They all paused in their shoot to see the stranger on all fours, gasping as though about to die.

Esther gave a yelp as the two men exited her swiftly and jumped to gather their clothing. The cameraman pointed the tool of his trade straight at Levant as though it could protect him. All three of them threw confused curses at him, wanting to know what the hell is going on.

Esther recognised Levant at once, she ran over and knelt beside him, “Levant? What are you doing here? What’s wrong?”

“Kilili.” Levant gasped, “Where is Kilili?”

Seeing the seriousness of his current state, Esther rose and put her hands on her hips, “Sorry boys, we are gonna have to reschedule.” When they began to complain Esther snarled, “Or I could cancel completely? Good luck selling a half finished shoot without the money shot.” With that the crew sullenly agreed.

Esther quickly put on a shirt that barely covered her breasts, a thong and high heels before helping Levant up and guiding him out. “You’re…going out just wearing that?” Levant gasped breathlessly.

Tutting, Esther rolled her eyes, “You and Kilili can debate what I can or cannot wear later. Come on.” From her handbag, Esther produced a vial and crushed it in her hand, sending a sweet scent into the air.

******

From a dark corner of the book store, Kilili emerged, concerned. She had given that vial of herbs and pheromones to Esther to use in the event of an emergency.

When she saw the scene before her, she knew it had been well used. One of the tables used to promote books had been cleared, on it lay Levant, completely unconscious. Esther was beside him, mascara running, “Kilili, I can’t make him wake up, what’s wrong with him?”

Rushing over, Kilili looked over Levant, a tumult of emotions roiling inside her. “Something is sealing his lust.” She ripped open his shirt, revealing the glowing symbols around his wound. She cursed, “What manner of wretch did this to him? How did you find him Esther?”

“He found me. He was muttering something about warning you, before he lost consciousness. Will he die?”

“Worse, he will fade into nothingness. Without lust we are but shadow.” Kilili ran down stairs to a hidden section of her book store, a place where she collected tomes on the supernatural as well as items best sealed from the world. She opened a cabinet, searched frantically, and pulled out a jar. She opened it, the scent setting her senses alight already. She dipped her finger and allowed a drop of the rare liquid to fall upon her tongue. She quickly put the jar back lest she drop it.

She gasped as her Ardat-Lili body went into overdrive. Her mouth filled with saliva, her breasts ached, eyes dilated, holes twitched. She waited for her thighs to grow warm and wet from the copious amount of nectar her vulva now generated. Her mind was a whirl of desire, but she fought to maintain control as she sped back up to Levant’s side. She slipped her fingers into her navel, moaning at the feeble reprieve the act gave. Once her fingers were slick with her juices, she began trailing symbols with it around Levant’s torso, muttering a string of dark syllables as she did so.

Esther watched, transfixed, “What are you doing?” She closed her mouth at Kilili’s hushing sound.

It was becoming hard to concentrate, she was fighting her own body as well as trying to heal Levant’s. But she managed to do it. With a wailing crescendo she trailed her fluids over the glowing symbols, at once they fizzled out and disappeared, the wound closing and healing instantly. With a sigh of relief, Kilili pressed her forehead to his stomach, “It is done. He will be alright.”

She looked over at Esther, “It will be a little while before he wakes. When he does, he will be very, very hungry. Get naked and stay here for when he rises.”

“Where are you going?” Esther asked when Kilili went for the door, “Levant said he needed to warn you, you could be danger.”

“I had to set my lust ablaze to save him.” Kilili said over her shoulder, “I’m going to go out and fuck like crazy until I’ve drank enough semen to rebalance myself. Watch over him Esther, use another vial if trouble comes.”

******

Delano grinned from the rooftop as he watched the evil whore emerge from her dreary little bookshop, then flit into darkness, on the prowl.

“Is that her, master?” Dora said quietly as she fingered herself in the darkness.

“Indeed it is, my salope.”

It had worked better than expected. Levant had led him straight to her in a matter of hours. Now he need only unleash his greatest weapon upon the remorseless slut, and watch as she dies and dies and dies.

4. When Lusts Collide

1703

Delanoe kept his hood up as he ran through the storm. The feeling of elation had not left him since his return from Weimar. He had been met with resounding approval in the Duke’s court and had been offered the position of Court Musician. He needed now only to tell his family and get them to start packing their things. He only wished he could have taken them for his initial visit, but he did not want to press his luck on the Duke’s charity. Nina was kind enough to remain and keep them company, stating her frail condition would not allow for a substantial journey anyway. Delanoe hoped she had recovered enough for one now.

He ran through the untended gardens to find the manor door locked. Surprised, he fumbled for his key and allowed himself in. He called for Nina, his mother and sister, but only his own echoing voice came back in reply. Reasoning they had gone out to some event or other, Delanoe tended to himself, cooking his own meal, lighting a fire and waiting for their return. He relaxed with a book in the armchair by the fire until weariness finally overcame him and he drifted in slumber.

At first he did not know what had awoken him, only that he had not stirred of his own volition. It was dark and rain still lashed at the window, the fire dying down to embers. Only as he began to focus did he make out the bestial grunts echoing down the hallway. Delanoe shook his head as he rose, it was not the first time some critter had found its way in to the crumbling estate. He took the poker by the fireplace and made his way down, allowing time for his eyes to adjust to the gloom.

He made out candlelight emanating from the kitchen, from which the grunts came. Now fearing that thieves has broken in Delanoe approached the doorway, poker raised and poised to strike if need be. Thinking to use the darkness and surprise to his advantage, he rounded into the kitchen in the hopes they would take flight at the sight of him.

It was not thieves.

His mother was bent over the table, looming over her was a monstrous creature easily twice Delanoe’s size, resembling the lupin creatures of folklore. Upon seeing him the monster gave a fang-filled smile, not ceasing its thrusting. Delanoe’s mother also gave a smile, “Delano! You’re back, give me a moment to finish with Weiẞ and I’ll fix you up a fine meal.”

Delanoe staggered back in horror, “Mother, why are you mating with that…that thing?”

“Don’t be rude, Del. Nina introduced us, I had been so lonely. Now I am the alpha female of his pack. I have so many lovely friends now.” She gave a low moan as Weiẞ sped up his thrusting, her body moving in rhythm to his enormous frame.

“Nina did this?” Delanoe felt his stomach knot as the suppressed caution he had felt toward Nina bloomed, “Oh no, Bernadette!” He grabbed a candle and ran upstairs, tripping and stumbling as he called his sister’s name.

He burst into her room to behold an equally nightmarish sight. Bernadette was upon her bed, swarmed by small, imp-like creatures who competed to insert their members into her. Bernadette was working herself obligingly, moving her head and hips as well as her hands to pleasure as many of them as possible.

Screaming in fear and rage, Delanoe advanced, poker swinging. The creatures gibbered in fear and, with a flap of their leathery wings, retreated under the bed, to the ceiling, where ever they could escape Delanoe’s wrath. Only when he heard Bernadette’s soothing words did he calm, “It’s alright brother, they mean no harm. Far from it.”

“No harm? The servants of Shaitan are using you and mother like prostitutes and you say they mean no harm?”

“Oh silly brother of mine.” Bernadette laughed, “Weiẞ and mama are lovers. These are our new house servants, Nina brought them saying it was wrong for me to sully my hands so with mediocre chores. She has been so wonderful to us brother. They do all the work and all they ask in return is the use of my body each night, a payment I find not wholly unenjoyable.”

Delano shook his head, “No, no, my sweet innocent sister no. It’s your soul they want, not your body.” He felt a new, vengeful rage infuse him, “Nina, where is Nina?”

Bernadette looked out the window, the wind and rain hammering against it still, “She is in the garden. She said a night like this was too lovely to waste indoors.”

She had barely finished speaking before Delanoe ran downstairs and out into the storm, murder in mind.

******

Present:

Esther gazed at the mirror, looking over her nakedness.

Behind her Levant lay on the bed, still dead to the world, or at least this one. Whilst she waited she pondered. According to Kilili, the realm of her kind could sometimes use mirrors as portals. She had watched, terrified, as Kilili had stepped through this very mirror herself, only to emerge later to send rival Ardat-Lili Nimeth to their home realm.

“Can you hear me Lillake?” she whispered, pressing her body against the cold glass, “Can you see me? Take me, make me yours as you did Kilili and Nimeth.” Levant thought her a broken thing, mad due to Kilili’s presence. But he was wrong, it had been her choice, always her choice. For there is sanctuary in lust, sanctuary from memories that clasped her mind like barbed wire. Kilili had given her that, Lillake had given her that. For doing so she would forever be theirs.

A moan came from behind, Esther spun and was at Levant’s side in an instant, “Levant, are you alright?” She watched as his form began to turn into featureless black. Thinking he was dissipating to nothingness as Kilili had feared, she felt tears begin to well. Where would Kilili be without her anchor?

A smoky black talon clasped her breast, Esther gasped at the tingling pleasure the touch brought and wiped away tears to see a featureless dark head regarding her with predatory hunger.

******

Kilili entered the impressive skyscraper, tugging uncomfortably at her business attire.

The man at the reception desk buzzed the CEO to grant her entry to the top floor, gawking at her cleavage the entire time. Kilili played along with him as he made the call, flirting as she had done for centuries, but her mind was still on Levant. After nearly a week he still lay unconscious, Kilili had begun to worry, perhaps the goddess was getting ready to claim him, or perhaps he would fizzle out entirely. She only wished she knew who had done this to him, that she could make them suffer as only one who had walked the blood-soaked path of history knew how.

But she did not want to halt her plans, lest that irked Lillake further. Instead Kilili and Esther took turns watching over him, both aware that he would be voracious when he awoke.

If he awoke, Kilili thought, and felt her heart skip in fear.

Permission was granted, Kilili went to the elevator, her skirt too tight. She had wanted to dispose of the clothing and enter the place as Ardat-Lili, riding the shadows naked to the office. But precautions were necessary. She did not know this billionaire, who had recently moved into the city and taken the once empty skyscraper for his own. There were those few who are immune to the wiles of her kind, their minds too closed and repressed to experience the joys she can bring…and horrors. If this was one of those then best she get kicked out than found out.

The elevator doors opened, the dull tune ceasing its jingle from the speakers. With the clopping of high heels echoing she stepped into an unexpectedly empty room. Empty save for an unoccupied desk at one side.

Frowning, she spoke, “Mister Hargreaves, are you there?” No answer.

A phone rang, startling her. Seeing the phone at the desk she made her way over cautiously and picked it up, “What game is this? Your answer had better be satisfactory or I’m leaving, there are others who will invest.”

A cold and vaguely familiar voice responded, “For Bernadette, whore of Shaitan.”

Before she could answer the wall beside her exploded. Something barged into Kilili and tackled her across the room. She leapt to her feet and tried to dodge the incoming blur, but it was too fast. Together they smashed through the window to tumble to the road below.

With a force that sent tarmac flying Kilili struck the road. Her pulverised body healed swiftly, enabling her to rise to see a twisted ruin of a vehicle where her assailant had landed. The attacker rose also, completely uninjured, metal shrieking as it gave way to marked flesh.

Kilili felt her blood run cold as she made out the monster. All the screaming onlookers fell silent with awe as they saw it also. A feminine form of impossible perfection stepped out of the wreck, her long mane and eyes the colour of the void. Kilili recognised the being at once.

“A lilitu?”

Kilili had to resist the urge to fall to her knees in obedience. Lilitu are the handmaidens and avatars of Lillake Herself, beings through which the deity can see, hear and speak, as well as experience many other things. Rarely did they come to the mundane realm, and when they did disaster soon followed, such is their nature. But Kilili could see something was wrong. This one had had her perfect flesh scarred in a variety of blasphemous symbols, Kilili did not recognise them all but knew enough to gain an idea of their purpose. She had not thought such a thing possible. The lilitu had been separated from the presence of her goddess.

“I need her eyes! Her eyes within me once more! That I may taste her again!” the Lilitu screamed in Lilutian, the language that shredded mortal sanity. Those who had not fled the scene screamed as their minds tried to process the impossible words. “You must cease, End of All Flesh, that I may be free of this freedom!” The Lilitu leapt and delivered a blow that sent Kilili hurtling along the street.

Regaining her feet, Kilili fled, knowing she was no match for a Lilitu. She shadow hopped as fast as she could, but she could not outrun the tormented thing and received several more blows. Still she recovered and continued fleeing each time, thinking.

Another strike sent her tumbling down steps onto a subway platform. Terrified pedestrians huddled back in fear as the Lilitu trailed after. An idea came to Kilili, she leapt onto the rail and sped down the tunnel, the Lilitu gave chase, “I see truth, not light, favoured harlot. Perish, I beg of thee!”

Kilili went on until she saw an approaching train. She knew that if she leapt aside the Lilitu would dodge it easily. Instead she halted, turned and gripped the shrieking thing. “Your embrace is sweet, but not nourishing, child of the vulva.”

The train struck them with full force. Together, they were dragged under its wheels. The driver gave a curse and hit the brakes, unsure what he had just hit. With squealing sparks the train came to a halt, passengers disregarded health and safety and began to spew from the carriages in confusion. As soon as she healed, Kilili shadow-sped away in the confusion. She had not really expected it to work, yet to her relief she saw no pursuing Lilitu behind her. For now it had lost her trail.

******

Delanoe rolled his eyes as the lilitu came skulking back toward the plaster covered desk he was seated behind.

“Imprison me to Her, I beg of you.”

“Is she dead?” Dora’s head rose to consider the wonder that is a lilitu, Delano chidingly pulled her head back into his lap, “Well?”

“You speak of rot and cease, it cannot touch her and I. Your mind is too earthly.” The lilitu fell to her knees, “I am so empty, let me be full.”

Delanoe laughed. He had not expected the lilitu to be successful, he had simply wanted to confirm that they were far more powerful than an Ardat-Lili. Now it was a certainty, he could bring about his ultimate plan, “Not as earthly as you think. Death is a matter of state, I understand you perfectly. So what is death to an Ardat-Lili, I think you know this.” He permitted himself a gasp as he released into Dora, gaining no sustenance from the act.

“Death is me, free me from death that I may burn once more.”

“Oh not just yet.” He pushed Dora away and stood, “I have something grand in mind first.”

5. Shadow Without Lust

1703

Fighting against the fierce winds, drenched and freezing, Delanoe made his way through the gardens.

Since they could not afford to maintain it the garden had been given over to the wilderness long ago. Nature ran rampant here, the fountains were choked with algae, the paths strewn with weeds, the tree roots cracked through the stonework. Poker held ready, Delanoe stepped over a toppled statue of cupid and made it to the little cabin that once overlooked a pond, now little more than dark brown sludge. Nina was within, somehow reading a book without a lantern. “Whore of Shaitan, I should have know you bewitched me.”

Nina looked up at Delanoe, sighed, and closed the book, “Sit down with me Delano, it is time I explained things.”

“No, I shall not be beguiled again. You’ve damned my family to hell, witch.”

“They were in hell already, I freed them from it.” Nina spread her arms, “Your mother was lonely, I gave her a faithful partner, a community that will look after her. Your sister has a grand future ahead of her, but only if she walks the correct path. I have set her on it now.”

Delanoe shook, tears falling, “To think I loved you.”

“You do, and I love you.” Nina followed his retreating form, her auburn hair whipped in the storm, her face pale in the night. Even now Delanoe found her achingly beautiful, “What is love but an extension of lust? Lust has saved your mother from loneliness, lust has put your sister down the path of eternity, lust has brought me to you. Together we can be a happy family, stay with me Delanoe, free yourself from the chains of conformity slapped upon you at birth.” She reached out a slender hand to him, “Say ‘I do.'”

“I do? I do?” Delanoe laughed, “There is no end to you blasphemy, demon. Well, your wickedness ends tonight!” He lunged and swung, but Nina was no longer there. Unbalanced by this, he slipped and tried to recover, instead his arm twisted and he felt the poker puncture his side. Then he was on the wet floor, feeling his life draining away.

Nina stood over him, a spectre in the rain, “Fool! You are dying! Say I do!”

“No.” He would not let her have his soul, would go to the grave free of sin.

“Deluded fool! There is no golden gate! No benevolent father! The universe is more than that! You have been deceived, you all have! Say I do! Let me show you, free you!”

“You will burn witch.” Delanoe gasped, rain washing the blood away.

For a while there is only the strangely comforting sound of the storm, he felt himself grow colder than he had ever been before. Then Nina spoke one final time, “If you do not say I do, you’re sister will be alone.”

******

Present:

Levant lay gasping, an exhausted Esther laying contentedly against him, “That was something else Levant.”

Coming to his senses, Levant looked over to her, “Esther? Where am I?”

Groaning and wanting to sleep, Esther pulled the covers tighter about herself, “We’re at Kilili’s. You just spent the past two hours or so fucking my brains out, so excuse me whilst I rest a bit.”

“Kilili? Kilili! I must warn her. She’s in danger.”

Levant rose to see a dishevelled Kilili standing at the foot of the bed, her attire shredded, hands on her hips. She gave him an unamused glare, “In danger you say? No kidding.” She raised an eyebrow at a grinning Esther, “Well, I’m glad you two had fun whilst I was busy.”

Esther grudgingly got up and stretched, “That was totally worth the wait.” She caught leaking fluids on her thigh and brought it to her lips, “You’re a lucky whore Kilili…”

“Yes, well…” Kilili shifted uncomfortably, “Thank you for coming Levant, late or no.”

“Yes.” Levant said, not meeting her eyes, “Anytime. How are you?”

“Well, thank you, well.”

“Good, good. Well, guess I should get changed and-”

“Oh hell no, we are not doing this.” Esther piped up, “Downstairs, the two of you, now.”

Surprised by this outburst, the two immortals found themselves obeying. Esther directed them to a table and had them sit opposite each other. “Somehow I have to work up the energy for a shoot tonight, so I’m off. When I get back, I expect you two to have worked out your issues. Capiche?” She put on her clothes, snatched up her handbag and stomped out.

The two sat there, silently. They both began to talk at the same time, then stopped again. Eventually, Levant spoke, “I missed you. Still do.”

Kilili managed a weak smile as she nervously fiddled with her torn sleeves, “I missed you too. Stay?”

“You know I can’t. You said you were to end the world. How can I be party to that?”

“You misinterpreted me. Even now you filter your knowledge through the lens society placed in you.” She pointed at her head, “The apocalypse is to happen here. This world’s growth has been stunted by preconceptions bred into you all. These mortals, Levant, they live as sheep without realising the shepherds are raising them for the slaughter. I have been charged with helping them ascend to become something greater than cattle.”

Intrigued, Levant blinked, “How?”

“I shall teach, tear the shroud from their eyes. It will take centuries, perhaps eons, who knows? But I shall steer humanity back on the correct course, they will grow and progress once more to Her designs.”

Levant thought on this for a time, “Sounds like you are just switching the shepherds to me.”

Kilili tutted, “I don’t expect you to understand it fully, but if you stay with me you will see, I promise. I bring an end to make way for a beginning. Please, just stay?”

Levant met her eyes, could not hide the joy at seeing her again, the same joy he felt when he first met her in that cafe so long ago to him now, “I love you, depraved harlot.”

Kilili gave a beautiful smile in return, “I love you, ignorant fool.”

Levant threw the table aside. They embraced each other passionately, smothering one another in kisses. Levant tore away Kilili’s ruined garments and placed kisses over her breasts, belly, navel and ending only to drink from her chalice. Kilili returned the gestures in kind, wrapping her lips around his phallus and letting her lust take control. She threw him to the floor, mounted and took his member into her womb, riding back and forth, this lovemaking the sweetest she had ever known in her long existence.

******

Esther paused on her way home, feeling something. Her body, aching before from Levant’s feeding frenzy, was hot again. To her surprise, she began to feel aroused. She had thought Levant’s hungry, primal affections had set her up for days, but already that need built within her. Only, it did not feel natural. It was more the sensation she got when she was in Kilili’s presence.

“Hello, I’m Dora. Who are you?”

The street had been empty a moment ago, now a naked woman wearing nothing but a pink collar stood before her, smiling. Esther’s eyes widened as the realisation clicked, “You, you’re an Ardat-Lili.”

Dora pouted, “I am me, no more or less. Master wants you, would you follow me?”

Esther began to step back slowly, she needed to get back to Kilili and warn her, “No, sorry, I have an appointment.”

“Ah, a bit too used to the presence of our kind I fear salope.” The musical voice came from behind. Esther rounded to see a tall, handsomely built man looking down at her.

“I’m sorry brother.”

“What did I say about calling me that! You are not my sister! My sister is dead!”

“Forgive me master, forgive me!” Dora fell on hands and knees, begging forgiveness.

Esther could only watch the exchange in confusion and pity. Kilili had taught her that Ardat-Lili are far more powerful than Irdu-Lili, why was this one so subservient? Unless, “You were brother and sister as mortals?”

“My sister died long ago, thanks to that whore you follow.” Esther felt her panic rise when Delano revealed a sword covered in wicked looking etching from under his coat, “Now, you can either come with me, or I can remove your arms and legs and take you. The choice is yours.”

6. Church of Reflection

1806

“Is everything ready salope?”

“Yes master.” Dora said, retreating to the far corner of the room.

Holding the grimoire up, he watched her walking away. The painful memory still jolted him now. After confronting Kilili he had awoken on his bed the next morning, Dora lying naked next to him. When she saw he was awake she seduced him, claiming they were above such taboos now. Upon orgasm, he had thrown her off and screamed at her. He did not commit incest, for she is not his sister, she is a monster to be used in God’s work and his own vengeance. Bernadette was killed by Kilili long ago, his mother spirited to some monstrous place with that beast. Only he remained.

Except he began to realise he was not himself any more. He could not die, only depravity satiated his hunger. He began to realise that he too had died, only to be brought back as a demon of Shaitan. Well, as the angels rebelled against the Lord so could he against the dark prince. He would have his revenge and do the Lord’s work.

He began the warbling chants from the grimoire he had undergone great pains to acquire. He had tried various ancient tomes, all as useless as the other, being nothing more than the inventions of some disturbed medieval scholar. But he knew at once that this one, titled Liber Lupa, was different. The words made the room vibrate. The incense smoke whirled in strange patterns. He could feel the circle etched onto the floor before him become charged with ungodly power. When his wailing chant reached a crescendo, the sound of a deafening thunderclap filled the room.

Delanoe gasped and had to control himself as he beheld the perfect thing in the circle. Dora spoke without thinking, “Oh Lillake, you’re beautiful.”

The lilitu turned to regard Dora and spoke in a language that Delanoe somehow understood, “I am whoredom, handmaiden of mine. Why do you drag me to mundanity? Swiftly now.”

Fighting the desire to fall to the floor in worship, Delanoe snarled, “I’m the master here, devil. You shall address me only.”

The lilitu rounded on Delanoe, he had to steel himself against her beautiful and consuming visage. Her voice pulled at his heart and member, “Servant of my servants, you reek of delusion.” She then spoke to Dora once more, “Have your plaything dismiss me, then I shall cast you to my children eternally for this nonsense.”

Dora spread her legs in offering, “Forgive me, I cannot.”

“I said I’m the master here!” Delanoe shouted and pulled out a ceremonial feather. He began uttering syllables that were of another world, a world the very opposite of Gamaliel. He waved the feather, every stroke creating a welt upon the once flawless body of the lilitu. “By Senoy I bind you!”

The Lilitu shrieked, a deep chiming sound, and hissed at Delanoe, “This is blasphemy. Nay, atrocity!”

Delanoe ignored her and continued, “By Sansenoy I bind you!” The Lilitu shrieked again and clawed at the markings on her body, then threw herself at the circle’s perimeter, only to be thrown back. Delanoe continued his chant and finished, “By Semangelof, I bind you!”

“What have you done? What have you done?” The lilitu screamed, “This vessel is empty, my vulva is not slick with Her. It is too much, I am the void. Undo this, I beg of thee!”

Delanoe paid no heed to the screams, instead glaring at Dora, “Bring the chains salope.”

******

Present:

“So why does this Delanoe want to hurt you so badly anyway?”

Kilili winced as she picked up the mail from the doorway, “I may have, sort of, turned his mother and sister into nympho sluts.”

Levant tutted as he idly looked over an Eliphas Levi book from one of the shelves, “Why am I not surprised?”

“It’s not what you think. I wanted us all to be a happy family, if he were not so ‘holier than thou’ we would have been.” Kilili sorted through the mail as she returned, then froze.

“What’s the matter?”

“A letter from him.”

Levant jerked his head up, tossing the book away, “What does it say?”

Kilili took a deep breath, “If you wish to see your star again, repent your sins.”

Levant took the letter from her and read it himself, “I don’t understand.”

“Esther means star in ancient Persian. He is holding her in a church of some sort.”

Growling, Levant scrunched the letter up, “You realise it’s a trap, right?” When Kilili did not answer he gripped her by the shoulders, “Kilili, I’ll go, it’s you he wants. I’ll speak with him, convince him it is not what he thinks.”

“No, he is right. I must repent my sins.” Kilili shook out of his grip, “He was never suited to becoming an Irdu-lili, I should have seen as such. And now Esther is in danger. I must go.”

“Then I shall go too.”

“No! He will use you against me, force me to protect you or some such.” Kilili placed a hand against his cheek, “I refuse to lose you again.”

Swallowing dryly, Levant covered her hand with his, “Then be sure to return to me.”

******

“Do you confess to your sins?” Delanoe asked as he blared a symphony from the organ where he was seated. The centuries had not dulled his mastery of the piano.

“I confess that I am impressed Del.” Kilili said as she walked down the aisle, the folds of her black garb dripping red trails behind her, protective leather jerkin beneath. She had searched all the local places of worship, until she sensed him in the disused church waiting to be demolished in the drearier side of the city. Candelabras lit the place, revealing the walls to be covered in mirrors. Reflection upon reflection stared back at Kilili as she made her way down. She noted the miserable figure at the base of the pulpit, “Hello Bernadette, how have you been?”

Bernadette stared sheepishly up at her brother, then looked at the floor. “Hello Nina, your friend is safe.”

“You damned me and my family, Nina, or should I say Kilili?” Delanoe raged, music becoming shrill, “But I shall send you back to the foul pit you crawled from. Your slut goddess can watch through these mirrors as you are defeated by the Lord’s righteous fury over and over. Eventually, she will see how futile her desires are and remove you of your foul immortal life. You exist on a whim, whore, her whim, and it is fickle as only evil can be.” He uttered an ancient word.

The lilitu burst from the rotting confessional box, a blur hurtling towards Kilili. The Ardat-Lili swore, not realising it had been hidden there. Just when she was about to be struck another form struck the lilitu and tumbled across the stone floor with it, fists pummelling uselessly. “Now Kilili, go!”

“You idiot Levant!” Kilili raced across to them, only to be blocked by Delanoe.

Quick as a snake, he brandished his sword and impaled her. She gasped and gripped the blade, Delanoe grinned fiercely, “This blade holds the power of the three angels that sealed your slut goddess’ power. Can you feel it? Your immortality draining away?”

Stone and woods shards flew up behind Delanoe, Kilili heard Levant give a yell. The Lilitu would destroy him soon if she did not hurry. She slapped Delanoe hard. He staggered back, pulling the sword with him. Kilili advanced and slapped him again. Delanoe backed against a pillar, stunned, “How?”

“I recognised the symbols you placed upon the lilitu and knew your intent.” Kilili lifted her drenched garb, “I soaked this in the blood of shedim babes. Lillake had to satiate those three angels by sacrificing her own children to them. Those monsters you call angels are far worse than she, if you were not such a fanatic in your will to believe dogma you would know this.” She produced a large jar from under her robes full of red liquid.

Fast as shadow she ran by Delanoe, seeing Levant being tossed about like a rag doll, but rising and intercepting the lilitu before she could focus on Kilili. “Enough Levant!” She pulled off the lid and threw the jar.

The lilitu pirouetted and made ready to leap at Kilili, then was doused by the jar’s contents. Satisfied by the sacrificial blood, the entities released the seals covering the lilitu’s body, the scars fading away to leave perfect ivory once more. The lilitu staggered as she felt her deity’s presence fill her once again. With wild eyes she regarded Kilili, Levant, then Delanoe. She screamed, the mirrors heeded her and revealed another world.

“Kilili!” Levant gripped a pew and cried out to her as they all began to be sucked into the portals. Unaffected, the lilitu strode sinuously to one of the mirrors and hopped through.

With nothing to take hold of, Delanoe and Kilili were quickly sucked into the mirrors. Screaming for her brother, Bernadette willingly followed after. Cursing, Levant let go of the pew and followed also.

7. Escaping Qlipphoth

2147 BCE

Kilili coughed and spluttered after the client removed his cock from her mouth. A coin fell onto the dirt covered cobbles beside her as he walked away.

She made no effort to spit out the seed as so many fellow kar-kids do. She swallowed, picked up the coin and moved on. Business had been hard in Akkad. With the increasing Gutian raids, another failed harvest and drought; poverty and famine was higher than ever. Since few could now afford the temple nu-gigs, men were paying for the services of the kar-kids. But as more and more women resorted to the trade competition became fierce.

Kilili walked the back alleys naked, displaying her wares to the passing men, many fresh from the taverns. Unlike most Kilili had chosen this life, felt compelled to whore herself. She had never felt normal, but not special in the usual sense either, she knew this was because she is not. The only time she could placate the crushing loneliness that this brought was in the throes of sexual ecstasy, the thrill she gained when she surrendered her holes to the use of strangers. Only by allowing her vulva to lead her could she find reprieve.

She had come to Akkad from a small village that was now but a charred ruin. There she had seduced her father, brothers and most of the men in the village before a Gutian band came storming down from the mountains and laid waste. Now her family and many lovers there were only so much ash.

She rounded a corner and paused when she saw the group. They were all men, gathered around a woman hard at work pleasuring as many of them as she could. One held her leg as he thrust inside her, whilst her mouth worked another, her hands working to keep others hard for their turn. Kilili watched, mesmerised, as she watched the woman gorging on phallus. She was positively beautiful in the act, her long red mane more luxurious than Kilili’s own, her tanned skin and large breasts screamed sex. She worked clients as though her body were made for that sole purpose. Kilili admired the kar-kid for some time as she worked all her holes manically, then aided her, sucking and working her own holes so that they could stay erect and ready for their turn on this perfect kar-kids body.

Only when they were well into the sweltering day did the group dissipate and clear. Exhausted, Kilili lay on the ground covered in all manner of bodily fluids, aching for more and aching for rest. The magnificent kar-kid stood over her with no sign of exertion, speaking with an alluring voice that dripped with perversity, “Do you desire rest, fellow kar-kid?”

“No.” Kilili found herself saying, allowing her vulva rather than her head to guide her as always. She felt her legs spread wide, wanting to break herself on phallus, to drown in seed. But more importantly… “I desire company, death to loneliness.”

“Ah, then come with me, and I shall teach you wonders little mortal. There shall be no loneliness, only the thirst for semen.”

Kilili stood, “I am Kilili, who are-”

Her body flushed with warmth as the kar-kid kissed her deeply, “Silili.” She whispered in her ear.

Arm in arm, Silili guided Kilili in the direction of the temple of Inanna. “What is it you desire, Silili?”

She gave Kilili a smile that set her thighs damp, “You just saw it my love.”

******

Levant slowly got up from the dusty floor, “Where are we?”

He felt a slender arm help him up, Kilili’s voice answered, “Gamaliel.”

Heart stopping, Levant looked at Kilili, then around him. He felt his jaw drop at the sight. They were in a city, an ancient one going by the architecture. They stood on a cobbled road that was clear for the most part, but down all the branching alleys were men and women fornicating, committing every manner of act Levant could comprehend, as well as those he could not. Some of them were clearly not human. The alleys were swamped with them. The roadside gutters were flooded with viscous fluids running from those same alleys. “What is this?”

“We are in the Brothel-City of Zemargad. Fortunately for us, it is not where the core being of Lillake Herself dwells on this sphere.” Kilili said as she removed her bloody clothing. She presented her back to him, where the lace of her leather jerkin was tied. “Could you?”

Numbly, Levant did as asked. Grinning, Kilili pointed to two women deep-throating men side by side against a wall, “Hear them? They are speaking in…” she proceeded to make a wet, choking noise.

Levant shook his head as he worked, “I’m not interested in a tour Kilili.”

Unperturbed, she went on, “It translates roughly as cock-tongue. Those who dwell here suck dick so often they have learned to make a language as they do so. I’ve heard women engage in full philosophical debates as they choked on dick.” She laughed.

“That’s just ridiculous.” Levant finished, allowing Kilili to shirk off her remaining garments, her body patched in crimson by the blood she had used.

“The whole sphere is ridiculous,” Kilili agreed, “It is where the most depraved and perverted ideas of the unconscious dwell. Be glad we are here in the more ‘rational’ area. Beyond this city is the wilds. Phalluses the size of mountains jut from the plains where the lust-harpies fly, semen rivers run where the sperm-maids frolic, caves in the form of wombs offer warm and moist shelter to those seeking it. Everything here is formed around the art of lust and whoredom. In the darkest parts is where our kind dwell, receiving our reward for our service to Her.”

“Marvellous.” Levant said tonelessly as he looked about, “How do we escape?”

Kilili took his hand, “Levant, does this not feel like home to you?”

He tightened his grip on her, “Home for me is where you are.”

She faced him and felt herself grown warm, she became serious, “Alright, truth is, I’m unsure, but see that tower at the centre? I suggest we head there.”

They walked hand in hand down the road, Levant looked up at the starless sky, “So we are on another planet? Is earth out there somewhere?”

“No.” Kilili said, eyes taking in the busy citizens around her, “We are on earth as you call it, but another layer of it. This qlipphotic sphere is further down from the emanation.”

“I don’t understand. I’m not sure I want to.” Levant glumly watched the city-wide orgy, “So this is where we’ll be dragged to one day?”

“Eventually, it happens to us all. This is home for our kind. But then, I am the End of All Flesh, and you are my Irdu-Lili. I came and I returned once. Who knows, perhaps in time we’ll be able to traverse back and forth between the spheres as we wish some day. Only Lillake can tell.” Kilili brooded for a bit as they neared the tower, “The Ruin of Akkad is in this sphere somewhere, being fucked over and over endlessly.”

“The one who turned you? Want to save her?”

Kilili shook her head sadly, “It’s what she wanted, all she ever wanted, like most Ardat-Lili. She was a true whore of Lillake. I, I was always different, be it as a mortal as Ardat-Lili.”

“Yes, you are a wonder.” They reached the tower, the entrance had an open entrance. The walls were filled with carvings of lewd scenes, some so utterly impossible it made Levant’s head ache painfully. They went inside, the room was empty save for a stairwell, “I guess up is where we want to go?”

“Up is where our sphere is, in a simplistic context.” They ascended the onyx stairway, every step shaped as a creature in a depraved act.

They reached the top floor, where a single mirror stood at the centre. The sight of electric lights in its frame proved it to be a portal back to their home. Kilili hugged Levant excitedly, “This tower is a way station back to Malkuth, I knew it.”

Something flew by and struck the mirror, cracking one side and causing the scene to distort. “We stay in hell together, bitch.” Delanoe stumbled in, his form seeming to dissolve and evaporate slowly. Half his face was but formless shadow.

“Delanoe.” Kilili shook her head, “I’m so sorry it turned out like this.”

“Is he dying?” Levant asked.

“Not exactly, he is losing himself. His mortal mind simply is not compatible here, so it is being stripped away, leaving only the dark, primal side of himself behind. He will be a mindless creature hunting prey to fuck in the wilds or alleys.”

Delanoe tried to give a retort, but could not recall the words. Grimacing, he stumbled closer. Bernadette emerged from the doorway, she placed a hand on Delanoe’s shoulder and, with a strength only an Ardat-Lili could have, forced Delanoe to his knees, “That’s enough brother, it is over, this ends now.” Bernadette gave a sad smile to Kilili, “Forgive him Nina, he always was stubborn, I should never have turned him. Go, quickly.”

Kilili reached out a hand, “Come with us. I am gathering funds to form an influential coven, I need to gather Ardat-Lili to my side to bring about a new world. You could be part of that.”

“I never cared for grandiose ideals Nina, you know this. I just wanted my brother as my lover. Here, I can have that forever.” She pulled away her pink collar and tossed it to Kilili, “Off with you now.”

Levant grimly stepped through first. Kilili held up the pink collar in salute, then followed after.

8. A Gradual Apocalypse

“So what now? I follow you around, exasperated as you try to change the world? Having seen what you consider home I’m not sure I’m keen on that.” Levant said, as they gazed up at the starlit sky from the rooftop of the bookshop.

“Didn’t you say home is with wherever I am?” Kilili chided, lounging beside him after a bout of lovemaking under the open night sky.

He gave a shrug, “I suppose so.”

“You will understand one day, I know it. Humanity is still evolving, Levant, it has the potential to bring about great wonders. I only wish to ensure that future. Besides,” She tickled his side, “What do you mean exasperated? If anything you exasperate me with your backwards modern views.”

Laughing, Levant was about to start on her again when the hatch opened, Esther emerged bearing three bottles, a beer for herself, and another two of unspeakable fluids for her immortal friends. “You have no idea how hard I had to work and how many favours I had to pull to get these.”

When Kilili and Levant emerged through a changing room mirror in a shopping mall, they found Esther waiting for them back home. Apparently the lilitu had returned, freed Esther from the church basement where she was held, and sent her off after a lengthy speech in broken English that left her more aroused than ever.

As she drew near the embracing couple they saw that, inspired by the lilitu’s presence, she had been walking around the city wearing nothing but lingerie. They both spoke at the same time, “Put some clothes on!”/ “Get those clothes off!”

Laughing, Esther handed out the drinks, then sat with them and held up her beer, “To lust, love and friendship.”

Together, they raised their bottles in toast, and drank.

THE END