Hunt
Flash Sentry opened his eyes and beheld a darkened room. The smell of roses and wine and smoke was thick, and as his eyes adjusted he realized it was his own dorm room. He sat on the edge of his bed, facing the wall.
Was I sleepwalking? Flash held his head and groaned. He didn’t remember waking up, but here he was. But then, if it was sleepwalking, I wouldn’t remember, would I?
“Well, well, well.”
Flash stilled. He darted his eyes to the side and saw nothing. Shadows seemed to fill the room beyond his direct line of sight, as though the room was fading away. “Hello?”
“Hello, little boy.”
A woman’s voice, husky and deep. Flash gulped and stood up. He turned in a circle to survey his entire room, stopping when he was looking down at his bed. He was alone.
“Where are you?”
The voice chuckled. “Right here.” A pair of hands came down on Flash’s shoulders and pushed him forward. He landed on the bed and rolled over, at last laying eyes on his visitor.
The speaker was not a woman but a demon, over six feet tall with deep crimson skin and a dress of yellow and red flame patterns. Her hair was colored likewise, a flaming mass of yellow and red stretching up into the air. Her eyes, black and teal, looked down at him and grinned, showing off sharp fangs. “Hi there.”
Flash backed up on the bed, not taking his eyes off the demon. “Who are you?”
“Call me Hellfire.” The demon giggled. “A bit on the nose, but it works, don’t you think?”
“What do you want with me?”
“You tell me, this is your dream.” Hellfire stretched her arms above her head and let out a long, low murmur. As she did she began swaying, her hips swinging side to side. Flash lowered his gaze from her face to her body. The bulge of her breasts pressed out from her dress and swung with her movements. The demon watched him and smiled. “Like what you see?”
Flash snapped his eyes back to her face. “N-no.”
“Oh?” The demon lowered her hands to her dress. “Maybe you just need to see more?” She ran a finger down her dress. The garment caught fire in her finger’s wake and burned away, leaving her torso covered in a black bra that strained to cover her breasts. Her other hand drew itself up her thigh, burning the lower part of her dress away to reveal thin black panties.
Flash’s jaw dropped. “Uh… okay…”
Hellfire bent and climbed onto the bed, pawing to him on her hands and knees. “Still wondering what I want?” she whispered. When she was kneeling over Flash, her face inches from his, she ran her tongue over his lips. She put a hand on his collar and drew her claw down. His nightshirt burned away like her dress until his chest was bare. When she reached his groin Flash tensed.
“Wait—” Flash was silenced by a claw on his lip.
“Don’t worry. I’ll…” Hellfire grinned wickedly. “Well, I would say ‘I’ll be gentle’, but strictly speaking that isn’t going to be true.” She grabbed Flash’s chin and pulled him up into a kiss.
The electronic beeping roused Flash from his slumber. He rolled over and stared at his alarm: 8:36.
“Shit!” Flash threw off his covers and scrambled to his dresser. “I’m gonna be late!” He threw on a pair of pants and grabbed a T-shirt. He flung his nightshirt across the room onto the bed and stumbled to his shoes by the door. He toed them on and grabbed his keys and phone, then headed out the door, locking it behind him.
Late on orientation day. Great. He’d taken this job as a resident assistant for the single room dorm, with the understanding that aside from keeping an eye on students on the floor, he intended to be an active and model student - which he did. Being late on orientation day was not how to make his first impression.
Flash reached the ground floor of the dorm and headed out into the main campus of Canterlot Crystal College. He took a moment to get his bearings and ran towards the main building. He looked down at his phone. 8:39. Twenty minutes. No problem. Flash paused as he ran through the parking lot and made eye contact with his reflection in a car window
Maybe stop at the campus store and get a hairbrush on my way.
The auditorium was almost entirely filled by the time Flash jogged through the doors at 8:58. An instructor gave him a disapproving glare that he ignored. He found an empty seat three in from the aisle and pushed his way through the legs to sit down.
Made it. Flash craned his neck up and looked around the room for any of his friends that were attending the college, but if they were here he couldn’t make them out; everyone was facing forward. Well, almost everyone. Flash paused when he made eye contact with a girl sitting several rows in front of him at the end of the aisle. Bright teal eyes, long red and yellow hair, black jacket. She smiled when she made eye contact and gave a wave. Flash returned the gesture.
“Students of Canterlot Crystal College!” The auditorium lights dimmed and Flash lost sight of the red-haired girl as she turned forward and pulled down in her seat. A spotlight shone down at the red curtains on the stage, illuminating a woman with pale pink skin and hair in shades of cream, pink, and purple. “I am Ms. Amore, but you can all call me Cadance. I’m Dean of Humanities here at 3C, and also a life guidance counselor.” She paused and gave a small bow as the auditorium gave a polite applause.
“Thank you. I’ve been chosen as this year’s host for the 3C inauguration. I know many of you have toured the campus already, probably even been here for a week or two as you moved into dorms. But I still want to take the time to let you know what a wonderful college you’ve chosen to become a part of, and all the exciting opportunities you’ll have to get engaged with campus activities.”
As Cadance continued to talk, Flash’s thoughts came back to his dream. I don’t think I’ve dreamed about a demon forcing herself on me before. Granted, a very sexy, shapely demon that was beautiful in a dark way. Still, Flash wasn’t one for costume or monster fetishes; if anything his tastes were rather vanilla. Of all the sexual dreams he’d had, none of them had ever involved red-skinned demons. Try as he might to remember details of the dream, he remembered nothing save for the demon’s appearance and the amazing things she had made him feel. He shuffled in his seat as he felt himself start to get hard.
Guess it must have a hell of a dream, if I overslept that much. He yawned and blinked. In spite of getting a full night’s sleep and then sleeping almost half an hour through his alarm, he still felt tired. Might have to take a nap when I get back.
“Rough night?”
Flash turned. A girl with purple skin and deep purple and pink hair sat next to him, giving him a curious look.
“Yeah.” Flash rubbed his eyes. “Overslept.”
“It happens.” The girl shrugged. “I used to have to set my alarm an extra hour early because I knew I’d sleep until half an hour after anyway.”
“Did it work?”
“No.” The two shared a laugh. The girl smiled. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
“Flash Sentry.” Flash smiled back as his fatigue began to go away. “What are you studying here?”
“Science. You?”
“Music.”
Twilight’s face lit up. “Cool. What do you play?”
“Guitar.”
“My favorite.”
Flash gave her a suspicious look. “You’re just saying that.”
“Nope.” Twilight shook her head. “What about you, into science much?”
“Only enough to pass my high school courses. Sorry.” Flash paused. “But I did watch a lot of Mythbusters in high school.”
Twilight burst out laughing, earning disapproving looks and shushes from around her. Flash blushed and smiled as she settled down. “Well, I wouldn’t call that the most scientifically intriguing show there is, but that’s cool.” She shuffled closer. “I’m mostly into chemistry and physics. You know, how the universe works.”
“Right. I know what the terms mean, at least. Just not much beyond that.”
She winked. “They mostly mean that, rather than making stuff explode, I can tell you why it explodes.”
“Can we film it with slow motion cameras?”
“No.”
It was just before ten o’clock when Cadance adjourned the inauguration ceremonies. Flash had missed most of it chatting with Twilight.
“Here.” Twilight took Flash’s phone and tapped through it. “There’s my number. Call me any time you want to hang out.” She held the phone back with a smile.
Flash looked at the new contact she had added for herself. “Cool.”
Twilight gave a small wave and stood up to file out with the other students. Still sitting in his seat, Flash watched her go and then back down at his phone. Haven’t even been here two hours and got a phone number. Score. He had never had much trouble talking to girls, but Twilight had been so forthcoming with her interest in him. She was intrigued by all his interests, shared several of them herself, and was unattached. What are the odds I sit next to a girl like that on my first day?
“Hey.” Flash looked up. Most of the auditorium was empty now save for a couple of instructors. The girl he had seen earlier with the teal eyes and red and yellow hair was at the end of his row. She jerked her head. “They’re waiting for us to leave. We’re the stragglers.”
Flash noticed an instructor staring at them and nodded. He stood up and followed the girl out of the auditorium. She fell back into step with him in the hall. “Name’s Sunset Shimmer.”
“Flash Sentry.”
“I saw you get in late. Wanted to skip but changed your mind?”
“Nah.” Flash shrugged. “Overslept.” He furrowed his brow. “…had some weird dreams.”
“Same. I got in just before you.” Sunset looked at her phone. “My first class isn’t for another two hours. You?”
“One hour.”
“Wanna grab some brunch? The food court has some decent pizza, should be coming out of the oven in fifteen for the lunch rush.”
Flash nodded. “Sure. Lead on.” Sunset jerked her head and began walking. Flash kept pace with her. “What are you studying?”
“Health care. You’re studying music, right?”
“Yeah.” Flash blinked, surprised. “How’d you know?”
“You’ve got the look. Like the old high school guitar player who’s grown up a bit and stuck with it.”
“Sounds about right.” Flash chuckled as he remembered his old band that had fallen apart after graduation and most of them moved away or lost interest. “You date a lot of high school guitar players?”
Sunset shrugged. “Dated and boinked most of them. Usually regretted it on both counts.”
“Really?” Flash’s eyebrows lifted at how forthcoming she was with that admission. “That’s… interesting.”
“Just letting you know where I stand.”
“Huh?”
Sunset eyed him and smiled. “I like to be upfront with who I am. People know what they’re getting into with me.”
Flash fell out of step for a moment to hide his confusion and discomfort. That hadn’t been an entirely nice smile. I feel like I just missed something.
Flash strummed a few strings on his guitar to end the song and let them hang in the air. When they faded he heard loud clapping and jerked in surprise.
“Sorry, didn’t want to interrupt.” Twilight waved awkwardly from the doorway a distance down the length of the classroom. “That was beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Flash set his guitar down.
Twilight stepped into the room and shut the door behind her, slowly turning the latch until it clicked. “Why not practice in one of the music rooms?”
“They were booked. Besides, I like to practice in the empty classrooms for acoustics. Figured out back in high school they sound more natural. At least to me.”
“Seems to work. Could hear you clear at the other end of the room.” Twilight reached him and leaned against a nearby desk.
Flash looked up at the clock. “We should go, actually. A friend of mine has his class in here in ten minutes.”
“No they don’t.” Twilight replied. Flash looked at her curiously. “I have the same class, it was cancelled. Teacher is sick.”
“Oh.” Flash shrugged. “Well, I’m cool to play some more then, if you wanna hang out and listen.”
“Actually, I had a better idea.” Twilight smiled and stood up. “Let’s play something else?”
“Like what?” Flash turned to her and was pulled into a tight embrace. Twilight molded her body to his and leaned up to put her arms around his neck. “Oh.”
“Always been a turn-on for me, fooling around in class,” Twilight whispered. “Just sit at the back of the room, make sure no one is watching… then…” She put a hand on Flash’s wrist and pulled it down to the edge of her skirt. “Slowly, surely… pull my skirt up…” She drew Flash’s hand up along the skin of her thigh. “Reach down…”
Flash shuddered and gulped, his eyes closed. “Here? Really?”
“Really…” Twilight’s breath washed over his ear. “Unless, you don’t want me?”
Flash opened his eyes and looked down. Twilight’s skin had turned a darker shade of purple, and her hair, floating in the air behind her, was almost black. “I… don’t not want you…”
“Not good enough.” Twilight hopped back on a desk and pulled him forward, her legs wrapping around his waist. The heat and scent and sight of her body wrapped around him and overwhelmed his senses, forbidding him from looking away. Her otherwise conservative blue blouse and purple skirt had shriveled away into a cleavage-baring purple and black dress cut high on her thigh. Her eyes glowed with blue light as she held his gaze. “Say it, Flash.”
Flash nodded. “I… want you.” He licked his lips. “I want you, Twilight.”
Twilight smiled, her pointed teeth flashing in the blue light of her eyes “Call me Midnight.”
Any questioning of the name was silenced by her kiss.
Prey
Flash shook his head. “This isn’t right.”
“Feels pretty right to me.”
Flash looked up. The darkly beautiful demon that called herself Midnight had shed herself of her clothes and was sitting on his lap on a chair in the middle of the food court, her legs straddling him to dangle to the floor.
“That’s not what I meant.” Flash looked around. The food court was invisible beyond the shadows surrounding them, as though the lights were off and a spotlight focused on them from above. He looked over Midnight’s purple skin, dark purple and pink hair, and shining blue eyes. “Why… why do you look like Twilight?”
Midnight put a finger to her chin and gave a flirtatious giggle. “Maybe I’m just what you wish Twilight would be.”
“No. You’re a demon.” Flash swallowed heavily.
“Aw, don’t be mean.” Midnight spread her arms. The massive black and purple wings withdrew from her back and fanned out into the air behind her. “Think of me more as an angel.” She leaned down and placed kisses along Flash’s bare collar, whispering as she spoke. “A dark, sexy angel that wants her little boytoy to enjoy himself…”
Flash tried to protest but a haze had taken over his mind. Midnight’s words seemed to make sense. This was just a dream, right? There was nothing wrong with dreams or fantasies. Twilight wouldn’t be offended if she knew, right?
“Right.” Flash didn’t question how Midnight responded to his thoughts. “Just sit back and enjoy the dream.” Midnight winked and slid down to her knees in front of the chair.
Flash winced and sighed. “Never thought I’d be one for demon girl porn.”
“Maybe you just like this specific one.”
“I wish it was just you, this would maybe make sense then.”
Midnight paused in the middle of undoing Flash’s belt, and frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Flash, I want to begin by making it clear that you are not in any sort of trouble, okay?” Cadance smiled and clasped her hands over her desk. Flash nodded. “I’ve just been contacted by a number of your instructors who tell me you’re frequently late to class and keep falling asleep when you do show up.” Cadance gave him a sympathetic look. “I know it can be difficult, adjusting to college life. So I thought we could have a little talk and maybe figure out what we can do to help you manage.”
“Um… yeah…” Flash scrunched his face and closed his eyes before continuing. “I’ve just been having trouble sleeping.”
“Do you stay out late?”
“Not really. I mean, on weekends, sure, but I try to be in the dorm by eleven on weekdays. Besides, none of my classes start before ten.”
“But still you sleep in?”
“Yeah. I’ve got four different alarm times on my phone, but I sleep through all of them.” Flash took a moment to yawn before continuing. “I’ve been having some… odd dreams. Maybe that’s the cause?”
Cadance tilted her head. “What sort of dreams?”
Flash blushed. “Personal dreams.”
“Ah.” Cadance thought for a moment. “I could have one of our physical therapists have a look at you, if you’re having, shall we say tactfully, ‘personal’ physical problems.”
“I’m not,” Flash said quickly. “I’m just, you know, having some odd dreams about that stuff.”
“I see.” Cadance pursed her lip. “I must say, though, that doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that would cause prolonged sleep cycles, at least not this long. We’re three weeks into the year. Has this been happening for the whole duration?”
Flash nodded. “Since my first day.”
“Perhaps there is something else at play, then. Have you tried energy drinks or energy shots to give you a bit more pep in the morning?”
“I’ve never needed them before.”
“Well, it can’t hurt to try.” Cadance nodded and spread her hands. “As I said, it can be difficult adjusting to college life. It’s a big campus with many different instructors and facilities spread across it. It’s quite different from high school. But there’s no shame in having trouble making the change. I assure you, I speak to dozens, even hundreds of students every year with similar problems. And I see many of them that choose to give up on themselves and their facility and leave. But I work hard to try and help them so they don’t feel they need to do that. I don’t want you to be one of them, and I can see by the commitments you’re trying to keep that you don’t want to be, either.”
“Thank you.”
“So, try a diet adjustment to start, perhaps energy drinks or energy shots, to give yourself a bit more pep. If this continues, we can always see about accommodating later classes. Many of your instructors post class materials online. If they know you’re having trouble they may be willing to let you miss the class and review the material online. As long as you can keep up with assignments I’m sure they won’t mind.”
“Yeah.” Flash frowned. “But, I’m studying music. Still sucks missing class time since it’s a lot easier to learn that kind of stuff in person.”
“I know. But this doesn’t have to be permanent, just for a week or two.” Cadance reached to a holder on her desk and picked up a business card to hold out. “Here’s my card, call or email me if you need to talk. It can be about classes and college, or just life in general. I’m here to help.”
“Thanks.” Flash reached out to take the card.
“Unless there’s something else you’d like to bring up, you’re free to go now.”
Flash thought for a moment. “What about my dorm position?”
Cadance turned to her computer and clicked around a bit. “You’re a dorm assistant?” Flash nodded. “Well, that’s very responsible and kind of you. I’ll ask the dorm representatives if you’ve been slacking in your duties around the building. If so then…” Cadance hesitated. “We may need to look at getting someone else.” Flash’s face fell. “But,” Cadance said quickly, “I’ll tell them to be lenient for now. I can tell you take this seriously and if our little talk helps, then I can’t think of a reason to remove you just yet.”
“Okay.” Flash stood up and pulled his backpack onto his shoulder. “Thanks.”
“Any time.” Cadance smiled at him. “My door is always open if you need anything.”
Flash just nodded and turned to leave the office. He walked out of the administrative section of the college into the main halls and looked up at the clock. Got a half an hour before I meet Twilight for lunch. The thought of spending time with his girlfriend lifted his spirits in spite of his other troubles. He headed for the food court to stake out a table.
Three weeks into college and the demon dreams hadn’t stopped. They had only become more frequent. Rare was the night when his sleeping mind wasn’t full of visions of sexy demon girls having their way with him. The Midnight dreams he could at least link to Twilight and maybe some repressed desire to see her that way, as a voluptuous and seductive creature of darkness.
The Hellfire dreams were less easy to explain. He had realized their source a couple days ago when Sunset Shimmer had invited him to hang out between classes. Flash thought for a moment that perhaps the Hellfire dreams were inspired by her. Even if Flash wasn’t about to cheat on Twilight, Sunset was beautiful. But he had decided that wasn’t possible, he had had the first Hellfire dream the night before orientation, and he had never met Sunset before then.
Maybe I caught a glimpse of her around campus and forgot about her, and now she’s popping up in my dreams? Flash shook his head. No, that doesn’t sound right.
“This stupid dream level keeps kicking my ass!”
Flash turned his head. Three boys were sitting at a table in a study area. One of them, a boy with glasses and messy brown hair, growled and glared at his laptop. One of his friends with light brown skin and pale blue hair smirked. “Yup, those succubi are bitches, Poindexter. Watch out for the health drain.”
“I can kill them just fine, it’s the layout that gets me.” Poindexter grumbled. “Then the stupid succubi just overwhelm me until I’m out of healing.”
Succubi? Flash recognized the word, vaguely. He hadn’t been much for gaming but the word was familiar. “Excuse me.” Flash approached the table, prompting the three to look up at him. “What are you playing?”
Poindexter turned his laptop to show him the menu screen. “Demon Reign III: The Dark World. Eight-bit has already finished it.”
The boy with the blue hair nodded. “Everyone hates the dream levels. Its got a hate thread on the official forums.”
“You mentioned succubi?” Flash asked.
Poindexter turned his laptop back to him and resumed playing. “Yeah. This crazy cultist dude drugs you and tries to perform some ritual on you. You fight back through a dream level where you gotta escape a maze, but there’s these succubi chasing you.” Flash came around the table as he spoke for a better view. Rows of stone walls surrounded a man in a black coat wielding a handgun. As Poindexter explained, a shapely humanoid demon with black bat wings and claws swooped down off a wall and pounced on him. Poindexter cursed and mashed a key to roll around and throw her off.
“Thanks.” Flash turned and kept going towards the food court. He remembered where he had heard the word before.
Succubus.
Situated on a two-person booth in the food court, Flash pulled his laptop out of his bag and opened it up. He connected to the college wi-fi and clicked on the search bar. He typed and hit enter.
His screen filled with website entries about demons and women. He clicked on the first one and was taken to a website about demonology. Flash leaned closer to read.
“The succubus is an ancient demon dating back to religious traditions. According to most legends, the succubus is a female demon, or at least a demon that chooses to appear female, that preys on men through dreams. Appearing to them in the waking world or the dream world as a beautiful woman, the succubus endears herself to her prey in order to seduce him into sex. The goal in this varies, but is usually done with intent that repeated intercourse will steal the man’s soul, or in some tellings to allow the succubus to drain the life force from him for sustenance. Those who adhere more to the religious tradition say the succubus does this to drive married men to adultery and thus condemn them to Hell. The succubus has a male counterpart, the incubus, that preys on women in the same manner and to the same goals.”
Flash sat back, his eyes wide. “It can’t be.” He read over the passage again. This is just old legends and myths and stuff. But, as he read, the connections made themselves in his mind. He’d been sleeping much more often than usual or is normal. Even when awake he had no energy and was prone to napping, and had a larger appetite. The dreams had been getting more vivid, and seemingly longer. He had carried on full conversations with the two as though they could understand him and respond.
Twilight and Sunset both approached me the day of and day after the dreams… Flash scrolled down where old sketches and paintings of succubi and incubi were on the page. Maybe Sunset saw me and targeted me before we met? Then she starts acting like my friend. And Twilight… He clenched his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. This is impossible. This is stupid. My girlfriend is not trying to kill me through sex dreams.
“Heya.” Flash raised his head to see Sunset Shimmer slide into the booth opposite him, setting her bag on the seat. “What’s up?”
“Oh. Um…” Flash clicked one of his bookmarks to get away from the demonology website. Had Sunset seen what he was looking at? “Just… waiting for Twilight. We’re having lunch.”
“Your girlfriend, right?” Sunset looked. “Hope she didn’t stand you up. If she did, I could stay. I need a bite myself.”
Flash nodded. In some traditions the succubus tries to seduce the male into adultery… Sunset hadn’t pushed too hard for anything more than friendship, but she had made her interests in Flash clear. Flash hadn’t dwelled on it too much, but now that he had read up on the legends the idea that Sunset might be trying to steal him from Twilight had taken on a horrifying new potential.
“I’m sure she’ll be here,” he said evenly. Sunset shrugged and pulled out her phone. Flash bit his lip and looked back at his laptop screen, trying to think of something he could do to keep his mind off of Sunset without fully ignoring her.
“So you two are going steady?” Sunset asked suddenly.
“Yeah.”
“Is it serious?”
Flash felt a chill. “Why?”
Sunset raised her eyes. “Just kinda jealous she got to you first.”
“Sorry.”
“So am I.” Sunset smiled. “Hey, ‘friends’ is cool. But if it doesn’t work out…” She let a wink end the sentence for her.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Flash began to sweat. Absurd as it was the idea of the succubus wouldn’t leave his mind. Need an out… He looked around the cafeteria, trying to think of an excuse to leave. He saw one kneeling at a vending machine and stood up to wave his hand. “Twilight!”
Twilight turned her head and stood with a bottle of juice in her hand. As she approached, Sunset turned her head where Flash had looked. She stood up and her eyes widened. Flash turned his focus from Twilight to her. “Sunset?”
“That’s Twilight?” she whispered.
“Yeah.” Before Flash could say anything else, Twilight had reached the table.
“You’re early!” She leaned up to kiss his cheek. “And who—” Twilight turned and stopped when she made eye contact with Sunset, her cheerful expression vanishing in an instant.
Shit. Succubus rumors aside, he realized Twilight had just found him in conversation with another girl. “Twilight, this is Sunset. The friend I’ve mentioned?” Flash’s explanation was ignored. The two girls stood still, staring at each other in surprise. Flash looked between them. The hairs on his arms tingled. “Girls?” Flash saw Twilight’s hands clenched. “Do you two… know each other?”
After the prolonged, uncomfortable silence, Sunset slowly smiled. “I don’t believe we do, no. Twilight, was it?” She held out a hand.
Twilight smiled back and took the offered hand to shake it. “Nice to meet you, Sunset.”
“Likewise.”
Twilight let go of Sunset’s hand. “Flash, you should have introduced us sooner.”
“Yes, much sooner,” Sunset echoed.
Flash looked over his girlfriend. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Twilight didn’t look away from Sunset as she spoke. “I just wish you had told us you’d be inviting a friend.”
“He didn’t. I just saw him and dropped by.” Sunset reached down to grab the strap of her bag, eyes still on Twilight. “I should get going now, actually. Bye, Flash. Twilight.” The two finally broke eye contact as Sunset turned and walked away at a brisk pace.
Twilight set her mouth in a line. “She’s… interesting.”
“There’s nothing between us.” Flash said quickly. “She really is just a friend.” Twilight turned her head. “Like, she’s made it obvious she wants more than that, but I don’t.” He smiled and slipped his hand into hers. “I like the girl I have now.”
Twilight smiled back. “I know.” She kissed him again. “Let’s get something to eat. I’m famished.”
The springs of Flash’s bed squeaked and groaned like a car’s suspension as Hellfire straddled him, black and red wings spread into the air behind her. His arms pinned by bands of red magic, Flash lay on his bed fully exposed, unable to do anything but watch the succubus ride him. And listen to her curse out another.
“She thinks you’re hers. But I saw you first,” Hellfire hissed. She ducked down and kissed Flash deeply, running her tongue along his lips. “You’re mine, little boy. I’ll deal with her after. But she won’t have you. You belong to me. And soon, I’ll make sure she can never take you from me.”
“S-Soon?” Flash croaked.
Hellfire slowly licked her lips. “You’ll see. Just a little longer.”
Feed
Flash yawned heavily and looked at the clock on his laptop. Only ten? He rubbed his eyes and finished the post he was typing, then submitted it and shut down his laptop. He stretched in his chair and stood up from the desk. Nothing wrong with too early a night… as long as I can get up properly. He picked up his phone and plugged in the charger cable, and double checked the alarms. Three were set to go off in half-hour intervals starting at seven-thirty. Here’s hoping. Despite attempting Cadance’s advice – watching his diet for more energy, trying energy drinks in the morning – his sleep patterns had continued to decline. He had to nap after classes every day and when he woke up lacked the energy to go out.
A knock at the door. Flash set his phone on his dresser and crossed the room to the door. When he pulled it open he stared.
Sunset Shimmer, clad in purple pajamas and carrying a rolled-up bundle under her arm, lifted a hand to wave. “Yo.”
“What are you doing here?” Flash asked.
Sunset sighed. “Can I crash here? Just for tonight?”
Flash’s eyes widened. “What?”
“My roommate brought a boy over and they’re louder than a lawnmower. I have a test tomorrow and I need my sleep.” Sunset held up the bundle under her arm. “I brought a sleeping bag.”
“Um…” Flash struggled to think of an excuse. The paranoia over the succubus dreams and the separate but more likely possibility that Sunset was trying to take him from Twilight made him want to refuse her. But he needed an excuse. “See, thing is…”
“I’m just asking for a night, I’ll be gone before you wake up,” Sunset replied. “Please? I don’t know many other people on campus yet. I figured if anyone will let me crash, it’s the dorm assist.”
Flash bit his lip. “I’d like to, but…”
“But what?”
“I…” Flash gulped. “Look, thing is, Twilight is a bit… jealous.”
Sunset’s expression darkened. “I’ll bet. And she has every reason to be.” She frowned and her expression grew softer. “Is she coming over tonight? I’ll talk to her.”
“She… no.”
“Then she doesn’t have to know.”
Flash took a shaky breath. “…Okay. One night.”
“One night. Thanks.”
Flash moved aside to let Sunset into the room. He watched as Sunset unrolled her sleeping bag over the floor, a pillow flopping out from the middle. She looked over her shoulder. “Were you going to sleep soon, or staying up?”
“Sleep.”
“Cool.” Sunset slid into the sleeping back and pulled her pillow over. “Don’t mind me, I don’t snore.”
“Okay.” Flash slowly edged around her and sat on the edge of his bed. He looked down at the top of Sunset’s sleeping head, wondering if he could come up with some sort of excuse for why he could leave. He failed. If he left now and Sunset was a succubus, she would definitely be suspicious and who knows what she would do then. And if he left and she was just a girl in need of a place to camp for the night… That’d look great on the reputation of a dorm assistant.
“Are you nervous?” Flash jerked out of his thoughts to find Sunset looking up at him.
“A little.”
“Don’t be. I don’t bite.” Sunset smirked and winked. “Unless you want me to.”
“No!” Flash said, a bit too loudly.
Sunset snorted. “It was just a joke.”
“Sorry.” Flash stared a moment more before lifting his feet up and sliding over in his bed to lay down. He reached out to the chain for his lamp, looking down at Sunset once more; her head was back on the pillow. “Good night, Sunset.” He pulled the chain and cast the room into darkness before he heard her response.
“Sweet dreams, Flash.”
The comment might have put him on alert again if the darkness of night hadn’t engulfed him in an instant as sleep overcame him and he fell onto his pillow, his eyes shut before he felt the impact.
Flash opened his eyes. The dorm room was still dark and he was still in bed. He looked down at Sunset’s sleeping bag. It was empty. “Sunset?” He swung his legs over and stood. It was a single room save the bathroom, and its door was wide open. Had she left? No, the door was still locked. “Sunset?” He took a step forward and spun to look at the bed and the window over it, the blinds drawn. He began to sweat and darted his eyes around. “…Hellfire?”
“Right here.”
Flash jumped and spun to see Hellfire behind him. He made to move back but her claws grabbed his rear and pulled him up against her. He stared into black and teal eyes, a forked tongue sliding over his lips. Flash quivered and shook his head. “This is a dream… you’re not real.”
“Half right.” Hellfire poked her tongue over her fangs. “I really was hoping to get to try you out in the waking world. I like to sample before I dig in… oh well.” She brought a hand up to Flash’s chin. “I’ve been looking forward to this night for weeks,” she whispered. “I would have made it worth your while, this last time… but I’m the jealous sort. Sorry.” She grinned. “Open wide.” She squeezed Flash’s cheeks to make his mouth open and slipped her tongue between his lips. Flash tried to pull away as she leaned it, her tongue snaking deeper into his mouth. Her lips glowed red as coals and she closed her eyes.
Suddenly the demon in front of him was gone. Hellfire yowled in surprise as she was whipped back and slammed into the wall, slumping against it. Flash stumbled back and fell on his bed. “Wha…” A flap of wings was the only sound to signal the descent of Midnight in front of him, her arm glowing with purple light as she held her palm out towards Hellfire.
“Did she feed, yet?” Midnight growled, looking over her shoulder. Flash shook his head. “Good.” Midnight turned forward.
Flash caught his breath. “Th…thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. We’ve got business to take care of after.” She cracked her knuckles and flexed her wings. “Fighting makes me hungry.”
Flash wasn’t sure to be frightened or amused by the retort.
Hellfire was back on her feet and charged, her claws extended. Midnight caught her and the two fell back. Flash rolled away as they crashed on his bed, the wood splintering and the metal bending. Hellfire slashed repeatedly but Midnight pulled aside, the red demon’s claws only shredding Flash’s mattress. Midnight raised her legs and kicked, sending Hellfire up into the ceiling. It cracked at her impact and she fell, landing in a kneeling position. Midnight stood up, the ruins of Flash’s bed collapsing in her wake.
Hellfire looked up at Midnight, her eyes blazing. She held up a claw and flexed it. “You can’t beat me. I’m probably older and definitely more powerful than you.”
“We’ll see.” Midnight dove. Hellfire’s outstretched claw lit up in red light and she turned. The same red light appeared over Midnight’s arm and pulled her through the air, past Hellfire and into the door. Hellfire was on her in an instant, raking her claws down Midnight’s back and leaving trails of fire in their wake. Midnight screeched and turned with a swing of her arm. Hellfire ducked to avoid it and was caught with a boot to the face, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Flash watched the two demons fight from the corner of the room, his dreamland dorm being destroyed as they threw each other about or were knocked back by kicks and punches. Do I interfere? For who? They apparently both want to kill me. He looked at the dorm door. Escape? This is a dream, a dream they seem to control. If I try to run they’d stop me.
Hellfire grabbed Midnight by the leg and swung, sweeping her into a shelving unit and cracking it apart. Midnight landed on her back with the shelf contents falling around her. Hellfire snarled and grabbed her shoulders to heft her up and slam her down on the edge of Flash’s desk, the wood cracking but not breaking. Hellfire raised a knee to pin one of Midnight’s legs against the desk. “Make this easier for both of us,” Hellfire hissed, leaning over her. “I’m not into killing my own kind. Back off and consider yourself lucky I’m nice.”
Midnight looked up at her with wide eyes, the blue glow fading to reveal purple irises. She blinked and stared, her mouth slowly opening. Hellfire’s face scrunched. “What?”
Suddenly, Midnight leaned up and pressed her lips against Hellfire’s.
Both Flash and Hellfire’s eyes widened. Hellfire pulled away, stumbling and wiping her mouth. “What the fuck!?”
“I’m sorry!” Midnight shook her head and clutched her hair, the black and purple waves flowing around her fingers. “I just, the dream magic, you were so close and I saw your lips and…”
“You little shit!” Hellfire snarled, slapping Midnight’s arms away. “We can resist each other’s dream magic!”
“I’ve never needed to!” Midnight protested. “I’ve never met another succubus. And the fight, I was distracted!”
“Pathetic.” Hellfire grabbed the front of Midnight’s dress and pulled her up. “Like I said, I’m older and stronger than you. Leave now and we’ll stay out of each other’s way from now on.”
“He’s my prey!” Midnight replied, regaining her ferocity. “I saw him first. He agreed to date me!”
“I gave him his first dream! Who cares what happens in the waking world, I made the first move where it counts. If you weren’t so stupid you’d recognize I’ve marked him!”
“Marks don’t mean a thing until you actually feed!”
“Which I was going to, until you interrupted!”
“Exactly!”
“HEY!” Flash’s scream got the two of them swiveling their heads to glare at him. “Are you really arguing over which of you two gets to kill me?” He demanded.
“Yes.” Hellfire said sweetly. “Now be quiet and let the adults talk.” A wave of her free claw and a band of red magic sent Flash falling back on what was left of his bed.
Midnight looked at him and smiled. “Don’t worry, once she’s gone you’ll be mine. We’ll have the whole night together.”
“Please.” Hellfire sneered. She sniffed Midnight’s mouth. “You’ve barely even begun nibbling on him after almost four weeks. Do you even know what we do, or do you think giving him sexy dreams is just so he has something to jerk off to?”
“I take my time.” Midnight turned her nose up and sniffed. “I like to savor the hunt.”
“I like to eat,” Hellfire said simply. “You give them too much time and they wander off.”
“That’s why I dated him, keep him in line. You just kept your distance. If he was gonna escape on one of us it’d be you.”
As Midnight spoke, Flash’s heart sank. “Then it’s true. Twilight?”
Midnight looked over at him and raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “You’re only just now catching on?”
“I’m surprised it took him this long. It was kinda obvious, really.” Hellfire rolled her eyes. “Twilight, Midnight? It’s not even clever.”
“And ‘Hellfire’ is so impressive a name,” Midnight muttered. She began to glow, swirls of purple magic flowing along her arms and legs. The black and purple dress shifted into a blue T-shirt with a long purple skirt. The billowing black and pink hair lightened to purple and fell straight around her shoulders. The wings folded in and withered away.
“No…” Flash slowly shook his head as the image of his girlfriend emerged from the succubus. Hellfire looked Twilight over and dropped her, the girl landing on her feet. Hellfire closed her eyes and spread her arms, red light surrounding her. Her red and yellow dress turned black and split into a jacket over a purple top. The flaming hair fell into a long mass of curls. The wings shriveled into nothingness.
“Just so we’re all on the same page,” Sunset said, opening her eyes once the transformation was done. “Ya know, in case you weren’t sure.”
“Thanks, I figured it out,” Flash said dryly. “Figures, the two hot girls interested in me at college just want to suck the life out of me.”
Sunset waved her hand through the air. “Trust me, all girls want to suck the life out of guys they meet at college. Some just do it more literally.”
“Well that’s cynical,” Twilight snorted, crossing her arms. “They’re not all like that.”
“You don’t mean to tell me you get attached to yours,” Sunset asked, a disgusted look on her face.
“Just because I’m going to kill them doesn’t mean I can’t be nice about it.”
“And do you ask permission first before sucking them dry?”
As the two fell back into their argument, Flash eyed the door again. He slowly slid down to the floor and edged behind Sunset’s legs. He reached the other side of the room and lifted a hand to the doorknob.
“Not so fast.” Red light surrounded his wrist and pulled him back, turning him and hanging him in the air beside the two. Sunset and Twilight turned their heads. “What about him?” Sunset asked. “Definitely can’t let him live now. He knows.”
“I’m still hungry.”
“So am I.”
Twilight looked at Sunset out of the corner of her eye. “You know… there’s hundreds of students here. We’ll eat, what, maybe a dozen or so a year?”
Sunset narrowed her eyes. “What are you getting at?”
“Might not be so bad to have someone watching my back. Help cover for me, get me out of a jam if something goes wrong…”
“I hunt alone.”
“So do I. But we don’t have to be enemies about it, do we?”
Sunset looked away and pursed her lip. “…No. I suppose we don’t.”
“Truce?” Twilight held out her hand.
Sunset grinned and took it. “Truce.” They shook twice.
“Shit,” Flash groaned.
Sunset snapped her hand out and sent Flash flying to the wall, a band of red magic around his waist pinning him. He fought futilely against the bonds as Sunset sashayed towards him and grabbed his collar. “What say we seal the deal by sharing a snack?”
“Sounds good.” Twilight followed her over, running her tongue over her lips.
“No!” Flash squirmed in Sunset’s grip, his fist pounding on her arm and his legs trying to kick her. If she felt any blows he struck she didn’t show it.
“Sorry, Flash.” Twilight shifted form as she spoke, turning back into Midnight. “You’re a great guy, really. But it was gonna be someone.”
Flash looked away from her back to Sunset and found himself looking up into the black and teal eyes of Hellfire.
“It’s nothing personal. But we gotta eat.”
Hellfire opened her mouth and clamped it down over Flash’s.
The moment Hellfire’s lips closed on his, pain like nothing Flash had ever known shot through his body, setting every nerve on fire. He screamed, the sound muffled in Hellfire’s mouth. The arms holding hers shook, his nails digging into her skin. Flash’s skin paled, his veins bulged, his eyes grew bloodshot. After several prolonged seconds, Hellfire broke the kiss. A green mist filled the air in the wake of their lips and she inhaled it.
“Ooooh, that’s a rush,” she whispered, shuddering. She let go of Flash to run a finger along her lips. Flash fell forward, still held up against the wall by her magic. He groaned, his voice hoarse. He gasped for breath when a pair of purple boots stepped into his field of view.
“My turn!”
A hand on his shoulder put Flash back up against the wall and Midnight leaned in to give him another kiss. More pain flooded his senses. His legs and arms twitched wildly, his feet knocking against the wall. His eyes rolled back, his vision blurred. His skin grew tight and thin, the bones beginning to show on the back of his hands. Midnight pulled back and breathed in the green mist still leaking from his mouth, licking her lips.
“I was hoping he’d be a tasty one!” She squealed in delight.
“Quit hogging him!”
Midnight was shoved aside and Flash was kissed by Hellfire again. Flash didn’t even lift his arms to fight her off, his fingers flexing against the wall and his feet shaking.
“You’re hogging him!”
Flash soon lost track of which succubus was currently kissing him, or even what they were saying. The dorm room around him faded into darkness as he closed his eyes, his arms and legs going limp against the wall.
Twilight looked down at her phone and counted off the door numbers. “3-0-8… 3-10…” When she reached 314 she knocked twice. Sunset quickly swung the door open, glaring.
“About time.”
“I’ve never been in this building before!” Twilight snapped, stepping inside. Sunset closed and locked the door behind her. Twilight stepped up to the bed and put her hands on her hips. “Well, this is a nice mess.”
The limp body of Flash Sentry lay under the sheets, his skin milky white and shriveled. His eyes were wide, staring at nothing, and his mouth hung open, his face frozen in terror.
“It’s why I called you.” Sunset walked past her and pulled the blanket off. “Help me get the mattress cover off, we’ll wrap him in it and take him to my car.”
Twilight huffed and reached to the corners of the bed. “And how are we going to get the body past anyone who sees us?”
“He got drunk at a party and we’re playing a prank.”
“Airtight alibi. Except of course anyone who knows Flash will know it’s a load of crap.”
“Oh, shut up!” With Flash now wrapped in his sheet, Sunset unlocked the dorm door and swung it open. “It’s not like you wouldn’t have had to do the same when you decided to end him.”
“I wouldn’t.” Twilight smirked as the two of them lifted Flash and began carrying him out. “I was gonna invite him on a romantic picnic to somewhere secluded. Finish him off there and dig a grave in the middle of nowhere.”
Sunset frowned. “That’s actually not bad.”
“I know.” As they got into the hall, Sunset moved to go towards the elevator. Twilight held Flash up with one hand and pulled his dorm door closed. “Why am I even helping? You’re strong enough to lift him on your own.”
“Because,” Sunset replied, “you wanted this truce, that means we help each other.”
“I think you’re just lazy.”
“And I think you’re a dumb little twit.” They reached the elevator and Sunset pushed the button. The two waited in silence, watching the numbers above the door light up. “What was that kiss, anyway?” Sunset said suddenly, narrowing her eyes.
Twilight shrugged. “Dream magic.”
“The dream magic doesn’t induce lust, it just amplifies it.”
“So? You’re hot. If you were a human I’d probably feed on you next.”
“As if I’d let you,” Sunset muttered.
Twilight’s jaw dropped. “You so would!”
“I could get any man or woman on this campus. You wouldn’t even break the top 100.”
“I happen to be very sexy!”
“In your true form, sure.” Sunset looked her over. “What’s even with that human guise? You’re too scrawny.”
“I blend in. I don’t need to have a hot human form to get them in the dream world.”
“No, but a body worth a damn would go a long way with the whole ‘girlfriend’ schtick you’re trying.”
“It’s called ‘personality’.”
“It’s called ‘B-cup’.”
Twilight let out an indignant huff as Sunset smirked. “I’m a C, thank you!” The elevator doors opened and Twilight headed in first. “Watch his head!”
Sunset rolled her eyes as she stepped in, barely pulling the top of the sheet where Flash’s hair poked out away from the door as it closed. “So what, he’s dead. If anything we should hit him on the head, make them think someone killed him.”
“And if we’re seen dumping him, they’ll look to us first!”
“They already will when he stops showing up. You’re his girlfriend, remember? They’ll question you.” Sunset smirked. “Another reason that whole attachment thing is a dumb idea.”
“I don’t do it for all of them,” Twilight defended. The elevator opened on the ground floor and Sunset moved out towards the lobby. “No!” Twilight jerked her head the other way. “Side door, the way I came in. No cameras or receptionist.”
“Good thinking.” Sunset nodded and let Twilight lead her down the hall and around the corner. Twilight pushed the doors open ahead of them and they soon emerged on a sidewalk under an orange light on the side of the building. “My car is in the parking lot. We get him there and I know a place to dump him,” Sunset said. They hefted Flash and began walking.
“Girls?”
The two froze as white light washed over them. They turned and saw Cadance watching them, a flashlight in her hand.
“Dean Cadance!” Twilight waved, keeping another hand holding Flash. “Out for a walk?”
“Grounds patrol,” she replied, coming forward and lowering the light. “What’s going on here?”
“Just a college prank,” Sunset said. “He passed out at a party, so we’re having some fun.”
“Harmless fun!” Twilight added. “Just taking him to a friend’s for when he wakes up.”
Cadance ignored them and looked down at the bedsheet. “Put him down.”
Twilight and Sunset looked at each other, then slowly lowered Flash to the ground. Cadance knelt and pulled the sheet back to look at Flash’s face. Twilight saw Sunset watching her and discretely slammed a fist into her open palm. Sunset glanced down at Cadance, her face hidden behind her hair falling over her shoulder, and swung a fist towards her head.
Cadance calmly raised a hand and caught the blow.
Sunset and Twilight stared in shock. Cadance turned her head, a bored expression on her face.
“Please.”
Sunset tried to step back but couldn’t pull free. She and Twilight watched as Cadance stood up, her eyes glowing green. Swirls of green light pulsed over her body as it transformed. The deep purple pantsuit receded into a bright green and blue gown, cut low on the breast and high on the thigh. Three-toned curled hair straightened and turned green. Her skin turned pitch black, her fingers elongating into claws. Two transparent green insect wings sprouted on her back and flittered.
Sunset swallowed. “Y-You’re…”
The transformed Cadance sneered. “I’m older and more powerful than both of you combined, I’d wager. So don’t try that again.” She flung Sunset’s hand away, the momentum making her stumble. Cadance looked down at her, taller by several inches. “What’s your name?”
“Sunset Shimmer.”
Cadance rolled her eyes. “What’s your real name?”
“Hellfire.”
Cadance looked at Twilight. Twilight nodded. “Twilight Sparkle. Midnight.”
“Cadance Amore. Call me Chrysalis.” The new succubus looked down at Flash. “I recognized the signs, especially once he mentioned the dreams. But I didn’t expect there to be two of you.”
“Yeah, it kinda just happened.” Sunset held up her hands.
Chrysalis snorted. “You got sloppy is what happened. You didn’t know about me or each other, and now you make this mess.”
“Sloppy?” Sunset asked. “I had him fine until she showed up!” Twilight stuck out her tongue.
“So you’re the one who had the brilliant idea to feed on him in his dorm room, drag his corpse outside, haul him to your car, and drive off? When any number of people or cameras would see you? When he’s a dorm assistant and of course people will wonder where he went?” Chrysalis snapped. “Are you really this stupid, or do you want humans to catch on?”
“They won’t.” Sunset shook her head. “I move around, a year or two here and I’m gone before anyone pieces it together.”
“Amateur. We’re succubi, not vagrants.” Chrysalis gave a proud grin. “I’ve been preying on these grounds for almost thirty years, and no one has even suspected. You know why? Because I’m careful. I plan things.”
Sunset recoiled in shock. Twilight stepped up beside Chrysalis. “Plan things, how?”
“Pick the right targets. The ones with no families who care about them out here. The ones who want to drop out. The ones in trouble with the law.” Chrysalis counted off on her fingers. “The ones no one will ask questions about when they leave campus with the ‘life counselor’ one day and never come back. It’s why I maintain this cover. I can keep tabs on them and pick them off at the right time without it seeming odd for them.”
“Smart,” Sunset admitted.
“Smarter than either of your plans, I’ll wager.” Chrysalis smirked and patted Twilight on the head. “Fortunately for you children, I’m here, now. And there’s a lot I can teach you.”
“What makes you think we want to learn?” Sunset said. Chrysalis held out a hand and pulled Sunset towards her in a green aura, grabbing her throat. Sunset choked as Chrysalis leaned down, glaring fiercely with glowing green eyes.
“Because if either of you fuck up like this and jeopardize my position again, I’ll drain every last bit of energy from the both of you, and toss what’s left into a wood chipper!” She snarled. Her hand loosened and she smiled sweetly. “Or, you can do things my way, and feed to your heart’s content within my rules.”
Sunset nodded quickly.
“Good.” Chrysalis loosened her grip and let Sunset fall to the ground. Green magic circled her as she shifted back into Cadance. She cracked her neck once she was back and smoothed out some wrinkles in her outfit. “I really don’t like hurting our kind. There’s so few of us left in the world, and we need to stick together.”
“What did you have in mind?” Twilight asked.
“First things first.” Cadance grabbed Twilight’s collar without looking at her and swung her forward to kiss her. Twilight struggled against her, but the kiss lasted only a moment before Cadance tossed her back onto the pavement. A wave of her hand pulled Sunset to her feet for her own kiss and she was then left to fall beside Twilight. Cadance licked the corner of her mouth, inhaling the green mist in the air through her nose.
“We just fed!” Twilight protested.
“I can tell. He was delicious. Pity you two got to him first. He was on my short list of prey. I’ll take what’s left.”
“That’s not fair!”
“It’s fair because I say it is!” Cadance snapped. “Now, pick him up. We’ll use my car. We’re taking a drunk student to a hospital.” Twilight and Sunset obediently knelt and lifted Flash’s body, pulling the sheets around to cover him again. Cadance nodded. “Good girls. You can listen to orders.”
“He’s heavier than before,” Twilight groaned.
“It’s because we need to feed again,” Sunset muttered. “That wasn’t even a full meal in the first place.”
“You’ll get one soon enough.” Cadance chuckled softly. She took out her phone and swiped through it. “I have two pathetic little dunces ready to flunk out at a moment’s notice. They’re so lonely and horny you’ll barely have to work at them to prime them for feeding. I’ll send you their information. This weekend I’ll ask you to escort them to an ‘information seminar’ for struggling students. You can feed to your heart’s content then.”
“Really?” Sunset’s face brightened. “You already have prey for us picked out?”
“I told you, I plan things.” Cadance slid her phone into her pocket and pulled out her car keys. A press of a button and her car beeped from the nearby curb, the headlights turning on. “Put him in the back and get in.” The two younger girls nodded and carried Flash towards the car.
Watching them, Cadance inhaled deeply and swept her gaze over the college grounds. Not a human was around, and she’d already paid a visit to security to make sure the cameras in this area would have their footage lost come morning. The guard would have no recollection of the night once her charm wore off, but he would brush it off as falling asleep, hardly a reason to be suspicious. Cadance turned her eyes to the two succubi slamming the back door of the car down.
They would be dead or running in two months if they kept this up. But now they’re mine. A trio of us to hunt and feed together. I won’t even need to feed anymore. I can let them do it and drink my fill from them after, let them take the fall if it comes to that. She grinned as she thought of how much she could feed with the two of them aiding her, how much her powers could grow. She could permanently encharm faculty members, move these two into positions of influence, expand her reach across the campus, pick and choose the best prey with impunity. Six hundred years of predation leads to this. The makings of a brood in my grasp. Evolution from hunter to queen. For years to come, this college will be mine to rule.
She walked to her car. Twilight and Sunset were in the back seat. Cadance pulled open the driver’s door and climbed inside. She adjusted her rearview mirror to look at the two, her eyes flashing green.
“Buckle up, girls. The three of us are going to accomplish wonderful, wonderful things together.”
The car backed up and began to pull down the drive into the street, the wrapped bedsheet barely visible in the back window to anyone who might look for it.
