Mason peered at Nathalie in disbelief. He would've known if she lied, but she was telling the truth. "You're 252 years old?" he echoed.
"Yes, my Lord," she replied, and she smiled. This time she didn't force it, but was genuinely amused. Perhaps she'd finally accepted her fate. "I'm still one of the youngest of my kind."
"One of the youngest?" Everyone chorused.
Nat smiled, and she nodded. Her eyes suddenly lit up for a brief moment, then she turned to Mason. "We have to leave now. They found this place, too," she said.
"Who?"
"The police. They're too good at their job for no reason. We need to leave," she said. "No matter where we are, they always find us." She raised her hand and mustered something inaudible.
A portal cracked open in the air, just like the one she had conjured earlier.
Quickly, everyone stepped in. Mason was the last. When they got out, they found themselves in the deserted alley, where the door behind the waste bin was located.
"Come on!" Nat shouted as she ran toward the street. Mason and his party ran after her, leaving the alley behind.
Just as they got out of the alley, the police siren shattered the air, and they exited their cars and surrounded the area. Good thing we left the club in time, Mason thought.
The party continued running until they're sure they're far from the police. Then they finally stopped to catch their breath.
"What do we do now?" Nat asked.
Mason turned to his party and sighed.
"Don't you dare say it!" Nana groaned. "I'm not leaving you to do it alone."
"We're in this together, brother. Remember?" Raymond said. "What do you think, Vivian?"
"I think I'm opting out of this," Vivian replied, earning herself piercing stares. "I can't leave the company behind."
"Ugh! That's right," Nana replied.
"What company?" Nat asked.
"It's a long story," Mason said and turned to Raymond and Nana. "Thank you, guys." He stepped closer to Vivian and held her face in his hand.
"What are you doing?" Nat grumbled. "My Lo–harr!"
"I trust you'll do a great job, Vivian," Mason whispered.
"You know I can never be as good as you," the secretary said. "I can't do this alone, so please return as soon as possible. Alive."
"Trust me, you'd do a good job," Mason said. "Therefore, I grant you my infallible instincts. Become the Queen of investment, follow my steps, and you'd surely make me proud."
Tears flowed down from Vivian's eyes. "You trust me with everything you have?"
Mason nodded. "I've trusted you for a long time, Vivian," he said.
Vivian threw herself at Mason and kissed him. "I'll make you proud, sir," she said, but seeing Mason's expression, she continued. "I'm sorry, sir. I was so emotional that I forgot my place."
"It's alright, Vivian. I understand," Mason said and stepped back.
"How dare you kiss my brother!" Nana's voice shattered the atmosphere. She charged at Vivian, but Raymond was quick to grab her.
"Go on, Vivian. We shall meet again as long as I'm still alive," Mason said and watched her disappear among the crowds.
"What's wrong with you, Nana?" he said Nana. "She was just being appreciative."
"With her lips on yours?"
"Come on, guys, this seems more urgent," Raymond's voice cut through the tension. Mason and Nana turned back and saw him kneeling beside Nat.
The succubus was curled up in a ball, writhing in pain. What is wrong with her this time? Mason touched her, and her shivering body returned to normal. She let out a deep breath and stared at Mason.
"Kiss me too, my Lord," she said, adopting a pleading expression. "I'm bound to you, so I can be very obsessive when I see you with another lady. Kiss me now, or my pain will resume soon."
"Kiss you? And release you when you haven't found my necklace?" Mason groaned. And as though Nat could feel his displeasure, she quickly knelt down.
"How… do… do… you know, my Lord?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I've always known," Mason replied. "And if you ever play a trick on me again, I'm going to make you serve me until I grow old."
"I'd love to serve you till you grow–Forgive me, Maso–my Lord," Nat replied. "I'll never do that again."
Mason never knew. Or at least part of him knew the succubus was going to seize advantage of his ignorance and use it to free herself. His infallible instincts had told him the first favor she'd ask would be to free her.
He was the king of investment for a reason; he would fall for no such trick!
Whatever the bond he shared with the succubus must have severely hindered her ability to read his mind. Otherwise, she would have used it to her advantage and no doubt succeeded.
"Stand up already, people are watching," Mason said, and Nat obliged.
"Where are we going to stay tonight?" Raymond asked. "I doubt we can return to your house."
"Let's go to my house for now," Nat replied.
"What about the necklace?" Mason said. "I'm not safe anywhere unless I find it."
"Perhaps you forgot your servant is one of the most powerful fiends," Nat replied. "Our bonds connected me to the energy of the artifact. We'll find it tomorrow. For now, rest, my Lord."
She ushered the party to a secluded area on the street and conjured a portal there. They all stepped into the gateway and found themselves inside a large living room.
Photos of Nathalie were hung on every wall around the room.
"Wow! A rich demon," Nana marveled.
"Is this your real appearance?" Raymond's voice came from one corner of the room. Everyone glanced and saw a painting of a beautiful lady with two short horns protruding from beside her forehead. She has bat-like wings and sharp claws.
"Beautiful yet deadly," Nana said, prompting Nathalie to burst into laughter.
"I guess it's true you're young," Raymond said. "I mean, the horns. Aren't they too short?"
Nat nodded. "They'll grow as I age."
"Can you show us your real form?" Nana proposed.
"You're staring at it already," Nat replied.
"She meant the real one," Ray inferred. "We'd rather like to see it live than watch it in a painting."
"You ask for too much, humans. Go and sleep, let my Lord rest," Nat said. She turned around and saw Mason sitting down on a couch, munching on the chips on the table. He smiled as their gazes met.
"I hope this is not poisoned?" he asked.
"Why ask after eating it?" Nana said. "You would've been long gone if it were."
"And sadl–happily, I would've died with you, my Lord," Nat said. "Why would I even have poison in my house?"
"For getting rid of rats, of course," Mason said.
"I don't need poison to get rid of them, my Lord," Nat replied. "I'll just find and eat every single one of them."
The look on everyone's faces screamed GROSS!!!!
"Disgusting!" Mason coughed. "Don't you dare kiss me with those lips!"
"We had a deal!" Nat yelled. "You can't–harrr!!"
She screamed and fell to her knees. Always screaming!
"It's alright, you're forgiven," Mason said, and as though it were a magic word, Nat was freed from the pain.
The brief time he'd spent with the succubus has made him learn that to take away her pain only needs his intentions. After all, touching her was meant to free her from her pain. And if touching works, saying his mind should definitely do the same.
"You can't go back on your word, my Lord," Nat said, having recovered from the pain.
"I didn't say I would," Mason said. "You demon just can't read the mood. Wash your mouth before you get close to me, you rat-eater!"
"She's also a sperm ea–" Raymond's words died on his lips as he made eye contact with the succubus, receiving a glare that made his manhood shiver.
"I haven't eaten today, Nathalie. Do you have something I can eat?" Nana asked.
"I only eat rats, surprise!!" Nat replied teasingly.
"Why should I even ask?" Nana said and reached for the fridge ahead. When she opened it, her jaw dropped. "No one would ever believe you're a demon. Your fridge is so occupied."
"They're just there for decoration, none of it was real."
"Nonsense! Who would believe that?"
"Suit yourself then."
"Whoa, so many fruits in her–dammit!" Nana screamed, gaining everyone's attention. "They're toys. Fucking toys! Fake apples, oranges–even the meat is rubber!"
Nathalie burst into laughter. "I told you, didn't I?" She said, "Human food doesn't taste good to me, I'm just trying to blend in. My only food is… ahem… you know."
"I'm going to die of hunger," Nana said and collapsed on the ground.
"Perhaps not. I and that handsome will go and get something for you," Nathalie said, nodding to Raymond.
"Really?" Nana's eyes widened.
"You would sell me off for food?" Raymond snapped at Nana. "You know what she would do to me if we're left alone, and you'd allow her to turn me into an old man just for food?"
"I'll die if I don't," Nana replied. "I have to eat. One of us should at least survive, and I'm still too young to give up life."
"So I'm the old one who should give up life, huh?"
"Enough! Here you go," Nat said, and with a subtle gesture of her hand, a box of pizza appeared on the floor. "You don't need to thank me, what are friends for?"
Surprised? No, they're not. Hunger has suppressed such feelings. The only thing Nana and Raymond could think of now was food.
"Can we really eat this?" Nana asked as she opened the box, swallowing her saliva. She looked like she didn't need an answer before she pounced.
"Do you actually think we'd eat something brought by a demon?" Raymond said, glaring.
"I'm sure you don't," Nat said as she sat down on a couch in front of Mason. "But considering my love for my Lord, and how you're both important to him. Consider yourself safe." She turned to give them an assurance smile, but they were already eating.
"Eat slowly, Nana, or you'll choke," Ray said, his words barely understandable.
"Speak for yourself. You look like you would finish everything if I bat an eyelid," Nana mumbled, her mouth full.
"Who would've thought my house would be so lively tonight?" Nat said. "It's good having humans here." She turned and saw Mason staring at her, his eyes half closed.
"If I sleep, you won't kiss me, will you?" he asked.
"You and I know you must do it willingly for it to work, my Lord," she replied.
Mason glanced at Nana and Raymond and smiled faintly. "I trust you won't harm my sister and my friend, Netusizah."
"I will not dare!" Nat said. "Goodnight, my Lord."
"Goodnight."