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The air produces a chilling howl as it whips against the corners of the remote shack. Within, the atmosphere is not much different. For while much warmer inside, the ongoing ritual and its hissing, wavering chant would send shivers down the spine of anyone close enough to hear it.
Luckily for the woman reciting there is no other human except her in the whole forest's vicinity. Translating the foreign text and organising for tonight’s act had stretched across many weeks and having it all be interrupted by some curious individual would’ve made all the work for nought. Now, a large circle lays illustrated across the humble floor. Multiple plates are laid inside its perimeter, all filled with different foods and liquor.
The fire in the cooking-pit rapidly dims as she reaches the crescendo of her chant and the offerings begin to clatter and shake. A darkness erupts from the middle of the circle and quickly shuts out all light, even the Moon’s silvery beams are swallowed.
The scrawny lady sits completely still in the silence, eyes rapidly trying to adjust in the abyss of her own home. Just as she prepares to rise from the ground a billowing laugh holds her in place. A presence embraces the room like silk, suffocating the familiar smell of herbs and ointments and replacing it with the heavy scent of flowers and citrus.
“My, My~ What sweet little soul has summoned me this deep into the night? Let me get a good look at you..”
The dark is quickly dispelled, banished by warm flames flickering to life in the air, calmly illuminating without igniting or burning any nearby furniture. The dark bottles of her inventory-shelf glimmer with amber and emerald iridescence as the lights slowly move through the room.
More impressive than the return of sight is the being who, had it not been for the protruding horns and sharp eyes, could’ve been mistaken for a celestial. Ebony locks frames borderline opalescent skin, the curve of their lip and heavy-lidded stare is almost enough to convince the conjurer that they were of the fairer sex. However, as the creature is draped in nothing more than an intricate yet loose-fitting robe, the opposite becomes apparent. The lack of a pair of specific endowments upon their chest quickly spoils the illusion of a maiden. Not that the woman herself has much to brag about in that department.
Her face is cupped as the beauty slowly bows to meet her eyes. A spark of something wicked gleams within his goat-like gaze as he scrutinises her.
“Why hello there~." an impish grin spreads across his lips, sharp fangs peaking out slightly amongst the pearly rows. “Tell me, what is a darling girl like you doing calling upon a demon such as I? Feeling particularly lonely this evening, are we?”
“Not exactly, no.”
“Hoh? Perhaps this was all some rookie mistake and now you're stuck with my alluring self. How frightfully delightful~.” A wide purple sleeve comes up to cover the demon’s jubilant smile and she can hear him tittering ever so slightly behind it.
“Not at all. You are an Incubus, right?” Her voice cuts the air with its monotony.
“Hm? Oh quite right. Ah~ so you were intentionally seeking me out!” In quite an improper manner the being plops itself down onto the floor. Dragging one of the plates closer with his long tail he begins indulging on the sweets, all the while keeping eyes locked upon his summoner.
“Yes, I read that your anatomy was supposedly the most similar to a humans out of all the infernal beings. Is that correct?” Her head falls to the side inquiringly.
“My! What an educated girl you are. Yes, that's right. I have all the same parts as your feeble human men do, all that and more~.” The demon’s voice falls into a sultry note, elbow supported on his knee while his head rests in his hand to lean a bit closer
“Do you function the same as them as well?”
“Very much so.” After slipping the last sweet past his lip his tongue quickly swipes across a sugar coated finger.
“Then you are exactly what I need. What should I call you?” The woman seems to smile in relief at the confirmation and the demon's tail flickers at having finally coaxed a reaction out of her. Still, he keeps up the same semblance as before.
“Hm, I keep many titles. Prince of the Moon, His highness, even Master~. For now however, you may refer to me as Jinshi.”
“Well Jinshi, I’m in need of your assistance. I'll make sure that you leave satisfied as long as you do the same for me.” She holds out her hand to shake, one which he promptly takes in his own and squeezes.
“Wonderful! Now do tell me your name, my sweet mortal.”
“Maomao.”
Grinning at her quick response Jinshi places his hands upon the wood. Crawling closer to her the incubus breathes against the witch's ear, his devilishness reaching its peak as he whispers darkly against her neck.
“Well, my dearest Maomao, tell me what you want me to do to you~.”
“I need someone to test my potions for me.”
“Huh?!” As though she had just poked him with a hot iron he recoils from her. His flat pupils bounces up and down her face, desperately trying to read her stoic body language.
“Y- You’re jesting, surely?! No way in hell have you summoned me here to- to simply try your potions?!!”
“No, that’s exactly what I need you for. I can’t ask anyone else lest it leaves lingering effects and I can't try them on myself as many ingredients have grown impotent on me.” She stands and swiftly approaches her shelf, picking out a couple of bottles from their place before turning towards the shocked demon.
“Now, would you like to try the truth serum or love potion first?” Quickly Jinshi rises from the floor, huffing and towering over her, desperation simmering within his eyes.
“Mortal, you do realise what type of demon I am, correct?”
“Yes, you are an Incubus. A being who feeds upon the lust and ecstasy of their prey. They resemble beautiful yet demonic humanoids to easier captivate humans and lay with them to obtain sustenance.”
“Mhm~ Exactly, so you can tell why this job might be quite the deal-breaker for me, yes?” Annoyance lends a twitch to his eye as he speaks through gritted fangs.
“Not quite. You see nothing brings me more pleasure than seeing the effects of my elixirs. Perhaps experiencing them myself is the only thing greater than that. But alas, as I have grown immune I need to try them on others. A demon with human functions is as good as anything.” She speaks with proudness and truth, smiling earnestly as though remembering the trials of past potions.
“You’re pulling my leg.”
“Not at all, I assure you.” Her voice falls flat and bored once more.
“If that’s the case then you really have got to get out more. Or perhaps you’re just insane. Either way I don’t believe that for a second.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Tch, oh really? Then hand me a potion and I’ll see for myself. Mind you that I have the opportunity to cancel the effects in the blink of an eye if it’s clear that you’ve been lying.” The demon swipes one of the bottles from her hand, and before she has time to warn him he has already downed the entire thing.
“Hmph, you’re not even a talented witch. This only tastes like bitter honey, I can hardly feel a thi-Hgn!” His whole body tenses up for a moment, the neck of the bottle breaks in his grip as he folds over slightly. Sweat pearls on his pale skin and he erupts in a light flush. A hazy gaze lands upon Maomao. While her stomach drops at the feral sight the fact that the potion worked so effectively makes a smile tug at her lips.
“Hgn.. Little witch~ what concoction did you have me drink, hm?” A lecherous air emits from the feverish incubus, far more potent than the sensuality he had proudly displayed before. His tail swishes and jerks along the floor as the floating flames around him slowly grow red. Maomao backs away slightly, still ecstatically looking over the results of her creation, jotting down in her memory not to brew it with such potency next time.
“I’m afraid you grabbed the love potion… Good news is that it’s clearly working, quite well might I add…” The stare of a mad scientist meets with the infatuated incubus’s, beaming with the promised elation she told him she housed towards experiments. The frenzy that look brings him feels as though he is breaking out in hives, itching to see more, craving it. The dam of his composure becoming so close to breaking.
“Never have I come across such an interesting creature, this feeling… You are very talented if this is indeed your doing…”
“Yes, I’m very happy with the results myself, to be honest... I’m impressed how quickly it took hold. Alas, I’d like for you to cancel the effects now, please.” Placing a hand over her heart she tries to calm it, she knows very well not to get too lost in her own pleasure of testing. The demon looks upon her intensely, a devious grin making him seem almost delirious.
“No.”
“Hah?!” It is the witch’s turn to become stunned.
“You and your little elixir made me like this, now come into my arms and solve it yourself~!” Opening his embrace he waits expectantly for the woman to approach, clearly impatient for her touch.
Stumbling out of her stupor, Maomao quick-wittedly grabs a bottle of pills from the counter before briskly walking over to the demon. Standing on the edges of the summoning circle he croons at her, tail almost wagging behind him. His breathing has his chest heave up and down, letting the robe slip ever so slightly lower in his delirious state.
She glares at the display like one might do at discovering larvae in the pantry.
“Yes, those expressions… I simply must see more!” A clawed hand pulls her into his body as he hugs her tightly. She can feel his tail wrap itself around her ankle as he giggles and laughs into her neck. Maomao thinks about how the plan of using a demon as a test subject seems incredibly stupid in hindsight, this scenario really hadn’t crossed her mind even once. A slight regret of the past weeks ambition showers over her. Maomao realises there is no use lamenting what is already done and concentrates on fixing it instead.
“Say, Jinshi?” Her voice is muffled against his silk garment, and the sickly sweet scent of his body fills her nose.
“What is it, my dear?” Emerging from her neck he greets her with a heavenly grin.
“Can you kiss me?” That same poisonous glare from before is thrown back at him. A heavy blush spreads across his cheeks and she swears that he is almost tearing up.
“Oh sweet love, there is hardly the need to ask.” Softly he places his lips upon hers, sharing their breath as he sighs. Jinshi’s hand finds her cheek while the other stays on her waist. Then Maomao deepens their seal. A strategic eye meets his passion as her tongue pushes past his teeth, snagging themselves on the tip of his fangs and accidentally drawing blood. Still, she continues lapping against him and as he swallows her iron-drops he feels a pearl of something slide down his throat along with them.
Shock enters his eyes and he watches her gracefully break their contact, licking her lip slightly before wiping her mouth upon her sleeve.
“That should do it.”
“Hah??” The incubus quickly feels the brimming euphoria dwindle in his chest. The flush seemingly swept away with a cool breeze.
“You told me to solve it, right? So I did. Luckily for you I keep antidotes close at hand should these kinds of things happen.” She shakes the bottle in her hand to emphasise before placing it back on its shelf.
“Oh, yes. Right. G-Good job...” Much calmer now, an awkward tug plays with the corner of his mouth. A slight shame is all that remains simmering from his previous ardor.
“Though I must thank you, you’ve been quite the help despite the slight complication here at the end.” She throws him a quick smile and suddenly it feels as though the effects of that potion might resurface again.
“And you’re feeling content, right? No lingering hunger?” Cleaning up some of the plates she goes about it as though everything that had just taken place was a normal occurrence.
“Hm? I- I actually do, strangely enough?” Jinshi finds it quite surprising that his appetite has been satiated. Was testing and talking about potions all it took to incite such intense emotion within this strange woman? In that case, he did not even get a chance to savour such a delicious meal.
“See, you got your end of the bargain, and we didn’t even have to make love for it!” A genuine laugh springs from her lips at her own obscene jab. The demon can’t help but chuckle along with her. A warmth spreads into Jinshi’s chest as he watches the witch clean up her hut and a small whisper leaves his lungs.
“Well, I’d say we did, in a way…”
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“Will you let me file off some of your horn before you go? I’d like to see if it has any beneficial properties…”
“... No, no you absolutely may not.”