Bliss (Succubus Series Book One)

Chapter Two~Garrett~

“Can you believe this place?”

There was not much Garrett could believe at the moment. Most of all why he had let his friend Caleb convince him to come here in the first place. He knew his father would never approve of him coming to an event like this, especially in the Kingdom of Vulroo who were not the best of allies at the moment. The Kingdom of Rylan was determined to wage another war and Vulroo was not willing to stand by his Father’s side this time. His father wanted to overtake the kingdom to the south of Rylan which were old allies of Vulroo. Garrett was not very supportive of his father’s idea, as well, since the Kingdom of Aurelia was a peaceful people. His father was just power-hungry and seemed to be obsessed with gaining more land while the people of Rylan suffered.

Rylan was the most powerful and largest of all the Twelve Kingdoms but there were still many things they could learn from their neighboring allies. Especially from the Kingdom of Vulroo which was the wealthiest of them all. It was also the most exotic place Garrett had ever been to in his life. You would never guess that the land that surrounded Vulroo was pretty much a wasteland. A large desert in which the only life was scattered throughout the few oases to be found. The heart of Vulroo, though, was their capital city of Odesis in which all their slave-trading took place. It was situated near the eastern border of Rylan next to the sea.

That’s where Garrett found himself. In one of the most beautiful cities, he had ever seen on the day of a large celebration they called The Yearning. All the streets were crowded with people and merchants, selling food and beautiful keepsakes only to be found in Vulroo. Strange, but alluring music filled the air, the pounding of drums never seeming to dull. It was a hypnotic atmosphere and Garrett was surely falling under its spell.

“Garrett! This way!”

Garrett turned around quickly to see Caleb heading towards a large building that towered over all the others in Odesis. It resided in the center of this mysterious city and many of the people were headed in the same direction. Garrett ran to catch up with his friend.

“What is that place?” Garrett asked.

“The Oracle. It's where the people of Odesis go for all their entertainment… and business.” Caleb Replied.

Garrett knew what he meant by business. Vulroo was widely known for its slave trade. They sold slaves of all different species and races known to the Twelve Kingdoms. Some were indentured servants, selling themselves into the trade for an allotted amount of time with the promise of money for themselves and their families. While others were spoils of war or born into it. However, there was one creature that you could only find in the Kingdom of Vulroo.

The Succubus.

They were a mysterious species, their origin just folklore now. Some say they were originally from the forests of Rylan but now could only be found in the slave markets of Vulroo. A Few of the tales went that a young Vulroonian Prince got lost in the forest on his way to the Rylan Stronghold to the North. He had been traveling there to visit the old Rylan King to negotiate the release of the King’s new prisoners of war into the slave trade. It was one reason why Vulroo and Rylan were probably the oldest of allies.

While in the forest, the Prince came upon the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. It was told that her hair had been dark as night and her eyes like shining stars. She had been bathing naked in a nearby stream, her skin seeming to glow in the darkness of the dense forest. The Prince was completely entranced and the Succubus called him to her. Stripping the Prince naked and pleasuring him as he had never experienced before. Afterward, while the Succubus slept, he stole her away back to his kingdom to breed and produce more Succubi. Selling them into the s*x slave trade. Her name had been Lilith and she was the mother of all Succubi and Incubi in Vulroo. They were all her descendants.

“Lord Garrett!”

Garrett turned at the sound of his title. He did not think anyone would recognize him in this place. At first, he worried it was one of his father’s guards but was relieved to see a man in Traditional Vulroonian dress approaching him. The man was dark-skinned with dark hair and eyes, the typical coloring of the Vulroonian people. There was also something almost familiar about him that Garrett could not place. Maybe he had seen him before in Rylan?

“My Lord! I thought it was you. Why are you coming through the commoner entrance? Please, you and your friend must come with me.” The man said, smiling warmly while pointing towards a side door.

“And you are?” Garrett inquired.

“Oh yes! How very rude of me. I am the Prince of Vulroo’s Steward, Peru. The Prince thought he had seen you wandering the streets and had sent me to fetch you to him.”

“Well, then we better not disappoint him!” Offered Caleb with a devilish grin on his face.

Of course, Caleb was all in on getting the special treatment. Garrett tried not to let his disappointment show as they made their way through the doorway and up a few flights of stairs. Garrett had enjoyed being a nobody for as long as it had lasted but it seemed it was time to be the Prince of Rylan once again.

They made it to the top of the stairs and down a long hallway before walking through a large arched opening that led to a balcony. Garrett walked towards the edge and looked down into what appeared to be an arena. A large open ring surrounded by raised seating, thousands of people all waiting for what may appear through the gates on the other side.

“Quite a Spectacle? Don’t you think?”

Garrett smiled, he knew that voice. He turned to see Raja, the Prince of Vulroo, standing beside him. They had played as children in the many hidden passages of the Rylan Stronghold but it had been a long time since they had seen each other. Their fathers at the moment were not on the best of terms and the last time the King of Vulroo had visited Rylan, it had not been a pleasant meeting. Garrett extended his hand to Raja who took it in his own, giving it a good shake before releasing it once again and bowing his head slightly towards Garrett. It was something they had always done as children, doing both of their customs for greeting one another. Garrett bowed his head back before looking over Raja’s shoulder to see his friend Caleb waiting for an introduction.

“Raja, let me introduce you to my friend Caleb. He is the son of my father’s second in command.” Garrett explained, moving towards Caleb.

Raja turned and bowed his head towards Caleb before looking him over.

“You are Colum’s son? I must say you look nothing like the old mongrel.” Raja said, a slight taunting note in his voice.

“A good thing at that too! Or else I would scare all the pretty maidens from here to Kalzan!” Replied Caleb, referring to the Kingdom in the far north that was known for all its innovative thinking and Inventions.

Raja smiled slightly before moving back to his chair which seemed to have a perfect view of the arena below. He motioned to the two vacant seats beside him, his steward standing off to the side.

“If you have come to Vulroo looking for maidens I am afraid you have come to the wrong place, my friend, especially on the day of The Yearning,” Raja stated.

Garrett moved to sit beside Raja. Looking down into the arena and noticing men looking as if they were setting up what appeared to be beds in the center of the ring. He looked back to Raja, finally asking the question he had been wanting to ask since he arrived in Vulroo.

“What exactly is The Yearning?”

Raja looked at Garrett a bit surprised but with amusement filling his amber eyes.

“You are telling me you traveled all the way to Vulroo without even knowing what you are here for?”

“Well, to be fair, I was dragged here by Caleb. He heard that there was a large celebration going on in Vulroo and it was a once-in-a-lifetime event.” Garrett answered.

“Well, your friend is correct that the celebration is large this year. The Yearning happens every year but this year it is… special, I guess you could say.” Raja replied while reaching for a glass of clear liquid, which was most likely rum, and taking a drink.

“Why is that?” Caleb asked, also curious as to what all the commotion was.

Raja looked sideways towards his Steward who then cleared his throat and took a step forward.

“The Yearning is the ancient ceremony when a Succubus becomes fully matured. After midnight tonight, the Succubi who are of age will be overcome with an intense need for s****l pleasure. It will be the first time they experience the hunger that is their very existence. It is Vulroo Tradition to offer willing male mates as sacrifices to them. Tonight, however, we have three Succubi who are coming of age and are the last of the Sarafina line. The most beautiful Succubus in all of Vulroonian history other than Lilith herself. This will be the last chance some Masters have to get their hands on Succubi of the Sarafina pedigree. They have come from all over The Twelve Kingdoms to be here and witness The Yearning of these young Succubi. Some have come just to be witness to their beauty.”

Suddenly the beds being set up in the middle of the arena made sense. Garrett had no idea how to reply to the news of what they were about to witness and he was definitely not prepared for what Raja asked next.

“Would you like to be a sacrifice for one of the most beautiful creatures in all The Twelve Kingdoms?”